cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Education in pediatrics in US colleges and schools of pharmacy

Objective. To determine the extent to which pediatrics is taught at US doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs and to characterize what is being taught and how. Methods. A 40-question online survey instrument was sent to accredited and candidate-status US PharmD programs. Results. Of 86 participating programs (67.2% response rate), 81 (94.2%) indicated that pediatric topics were included in their required classroom curricula (mean, 21.9 contact hours). A pediatric elective course was offered by 61.0% of programs (mean, 25.9 contact hours). Advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) in pediatrics were offered by 97.4% of programs, with an average of 27 students per program completing this practice experience annually. Conclusions. Almost all responding programs incorporated pediatrics in their required curricula. Pediatric elective courses provided an adequate mean number of contact hours, but 39.0% of programs did not offer an elective course. One-fifth of students completed a pediatric APPE prior to graduation. Continued expansion of pediatric-focused classroom and experiential curricula across US PharmD programs is recommended.
Indium and gallium on Si(001): A closer look at the parallel dimer structure

Indium and gallium have been shown to self-assemble on the surface of Si(001) into long single atom wide chains in a structure known as the parallel dimer structure. Previous theoretical studies of the similar Al/Si(001) system have calculated the energy of the structure, simulated scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images, and proposed a nucleation mechanism for row growth. These proposals are compared with STM data for In and Ga.
Outpatient thyroidectomy is safe and reasonable: experience with more than 1,000 planned outpatient procedures.

Background Thyroidectomy has traditionally been performed as an inpatient hospital procedure, but low risk and high patient tolerance make it acceptable as an outpatient procedure. Study Design All thyroidectomies performed by a single surgeon between March 2003 and June 2009 were retrospectively and prospectively reviewed as planned outpatient or planned inpatient operations, noting the patient's American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, success of completion as an outpatient procedure, time to same-day discharge, postoperative emergency room visit, hospital admission, and complications. Results Overall, 1,136 of 1,242 thyroidectomies were planned as outpatient procedures and 1,063 (93.6%) were successfully completed as such. Including 1 outpatient procedure initially planned as an inpatient procedure, 1,064 outpatient procedures were performed, of which 613 were total and 451 less-than-total thyroidectomies. These outpatient procedures had a mean time to day-surgery discharge of 2 hours and 42 minutes. Of discharged outpatients, a postoperative emergency room visit within 30 days occurred in 83 cases (7.8%), with subsequent hospital admission in 25 of these patients (2.3%). Excluding 153 cases of isolated and self-limited asymptomatic hypocalcemia (14.4%), substantial complications occurred in 122 discharged outpatients (11.5%), including 56 symptomatic hypocalcemias (5.2%), 39 transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries (3.7%), 4 permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries (0.4%), and 2 hematomas (0.19%). None of the patients with postoperative hematoma required bedside decompression and only 1 occurred within 24 hours of the outpatient procedure. Discharged outpatient thyroidectomy patients were younger (53 years versus 60 years; p Conclusions Outpatient thyroidectomy in experienced hands is safe and reasonable with favorable patient acceptance and the potential for substantial health care cost savings.
Site-directed mutagenesis of human endothelial cell ecto-ADPase/soluble CD39: requirement of glutamate 174 and serine 218 for enzyme activity and inhibition of platelet recruitment.

Endothelial cell CD39/ecto-ADPase plays a major role in vascular homeostasis. It rapidly metabolizes ADP released from stimulated platelets, thereby preventing further platelet activation and recruitment. We recently developed a recombinant, soluble form of human CD39, solCD39, with enzymatic and biological properties identical to CD39. To identify amino acids essential for enzymatic/biological activity, we performed site-directed mutagenesis within the four highly conserved apyrase regions of solCD39. Mutation of glutamate 174 to alanine (E174A) and serine 218 to alanine (S218A) resulted in complete and ∼90% loss of solCD39 enzymatic activity, respectively. Furthermore, compared to wild-type, S57A exhibited a 2-fold increase in ADPase activity without change in ATPase activity, while the tyrosine 127 to alanine (Y127A) mutant lost 50−60% of both ADPase and ATPase activity. The ADPase activity of wild-type solCD39 and each mutant, except for R135A, was greater with calcium as the required divalent cation ...
Modified guanines representing O6-alkylation by the cyclophosphamide metabolites acrolein and chloroacetaldehyde: Synthesis, stability, and ab initio studies

Alkylation of DNA by acrolein and/or chloroacetaldehyde may result in the mutations that lead to the therapy-induced leukemia associated with cyclophosphamide (and ifosfamide) treatment. O6-(n-Prop...
‘Fast Money’: Financial Exclusion in the Mexican Economic Adjustment Model

Research on the restructuring of financial markets in advanced industrial countries has focused primarily on the consequences of changing regulation and of concentration of capital and control. At an international geographic scale, these processes have produced strong financial centers and new outposts for capital transactions. They have also resulted in the reworking of domestic capital markets with significant consequences for the location of economic activities and access to financial services. In Mexico the financial infrastructure is ‘thin’ both with respect to the variety of institutions and in space. As a consequence of privatization and state innovation, a financial infrastructure is developing with important implications for access to capital by different segments of the economy and regions. This new financial infrastructure has a distinctly bimodal character. We describe the development of the Mexican financial infrastructure after financial market restructuring and speculate on the consequences...
Classifying ultra-high risk smoldering myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) always evolves from a precursor state, either monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance or smoldering MM (SMM).1, 2 These precursor states are defined by the absence of MM-related organ damage (‘CRAB’ features: hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia and bone disease).3 SMM has a highly variable clinical behavior, where some patients have an imminent risk of developing CRAB features and others have a substantially lower risk.4, 5 A recent study has demonstrated that the treatment of high-risk SMM patients with lenalidomide and dexamethasone resulted in fewer CRAB events and improved the overall survival.6 This provocative study suggests that treatment of high-risk SMM may be beneficial. However, identifying patients at ultra-high risk of progression (>80% at 2 years) has proven difficult.7 Both the Mayo Clinic and PETHEMA models fail to define such a high-risk group.4, 5, 8 Furthermore, the PETHEMA model employs a flow cytometry technique, which is not widely available or validated. Genomic approaches have also failed to identify ultra-high risk groups.9, 10, 11 Notably, a recent small study highlighted a fair degree of discordance among these models in SMM.12 Bone marrow plasma cell (BMPC) infiltration of 60% in SMM patients is associated with a 95% risk of developing MM within 2 years.13 A major limitation remains that these models have not been validated in other populations.
Continuous positive airway pressure in immediate postoperative period after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: is it safe?

Background Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition in the morbidly obese population. Many patients undergoing bariatric surgery require postoperative continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Few data have been published evaluating gastrointestinal anastomotic morbidity in patients receiving CPAP therapy immediately after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). The objective of the present study was to examine the short-term morbidity of postoperative CPAP in patients after LRYGB in a research setting. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of 310 patients who underwent LRYGB from June 2005 to August 2006. The hospital and office charts and respiratory treatment records were reviewed from the completion of surgery until the first postoperative visit at 2 weeks. The data collected included age, gender, body mass index, presence of obstructive sleep apnea, in-patient CPAP use, and perioperative complications. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who used immediate postoperative CPAP therapy and those who did not. Patients requiring revisional surgery and other bariatric procedures were excluded from the present series. Results Postoperative CPAP was required by 91 patients (29.3%) and 219 did not use CPAP (70.7%). The mean patient age was 47.2 and 43.9 years (P .05), followed by wound infection in 4 patients overall (1.2%; 3 patients in the postoperative CPAP group; P >.05) and gastrointestinal bleeding in 1 patient (.32%) in the group without postoperative CPAP. The difference in overall morbidity, unrelated to the integrity of the anastomosis, between those who used CPAP postoperatively and those who did not was not significant (4.5% versus 3.6%, respectively; P >.05). Conclusion The use of CPAP after LRYGB did not result in increased the morbidity in our patient series.
Seasonal Fluctuations in Susceptibility of Guinea Pigs to Experimental Cavian Poliomyelitis.

SummarySerial propagation of cavian poliomyelitis virus from guinea pig to guinea pig was not significantly influenced by seasonal fluctuation of any sort. However, the mode of transmission of murine poliomyelitis virus from mouse to guinea pig functioned more effectively in the winter than in the summer, as judged by the ratio between paralyzed and non-paralyzed animals. The described phenomenon appears to be due, preponderantly, to cyclic variations in the susceptibility of the guinea pig to the paralyzing effect of the virus when passed by intracerebral injection from one host to another.
Reforming the Global Reserve Regime: The Role of a Substitution Account*

The governor of China's central bank recently revived a proposal for the creation of a ‘substitution account’, managed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), into which central banks and governments could deposit dollar reserves in exchange for claims denominated in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the Fund's quasi-currency. This paper summarizes simulations that measure the potential cost of such an arrangement to the United States were it to guarantee the solvency of the account. The simulations show that those costs would be small relative to the size of US external assets and of the US economy. The paper also shows how the costs could be shared with the depositors. Creation of a substitution account could make the SDRs the principal reserve asset in the international monetary system, achieving a major reform of the reserve regime and enhancing the role of the International Monetary Fund.
Did Proposition 13 Affect the Mobility of California Homeowners

In 1978, the voters of California cut the property tax paid by home owners whenthey passed Proposition 13. However, home owners lose much of this tax savings if they sell their homes and buy others, because, under Proposition 13, recently purchased property is assessed at a higher rate. This may create a lock-in effect, and as a result home owners may be less likely to move from their present homes. Using the Census Bureau's Annual Housing Surveys (1975, 1978, 1982), I compare home owner mobility rates after Proposition 13 with rates immediately prior to the initiative. I find that mobility did decline in the years immediately after the introduction of Proposition 13. However, the data suggest the decline in mobility in California may be simply a part of a national decline in mobility, because there was a concurrent decline in mobility in the rest of the nation.
Role of Diet in Rheumatic Disease

Millions of people suffer from rheumatic diseases such as gout, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. These can be incapacitating and detrimental to quality of life. Diet, nutrition, and weight loss have shown promise in alleviating some of this disease burden. These lifestyle changes may give patients a feeling of control and ownership over their disease as well as a nonpharmacologic means of treatment. This article reviews the available research on the effects of diet and nutrition on rheumatoid disease.
Defining the provenance of red slipped pottery from Texas and Oklahoma by petrographic methods

Abstract Ceramics are among the most important artifacts that archaeologists use to reconstruct patterns of prehistoric trade and exchange. Petrographic analysis of ceramic thin-sections, in addition to providing detailed technological data, enables the identification of sand-tempering agents. These raw materials are potentially important evidence for ceramic provenance, assuming that such common materials themselves would not have been traded. Here we apply methods developed by sedimentary petrographers to the problem of determining the provenance of Red Slipped sherds from late Prehistoric (c. AD 1000–1400) sites in the Caddoan area and contemporaneous Plains Village sites. Modal frequencies of different kinds of quartz, feldspars and lithic grains are used to construct several triangular graphs that reveal compositional patterns indicative of provenance. Sherds from the Plains Village sites exhibit higher frequencies of lithic grains, feldspars and polycrystalline quartz relative to the sherds from sites in eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma. While anomalous sherds were identified, the longstanding assumption that Red Slipped sherds in Plains Village contexts were traded from the Caddoan area is not supported by these data. These methods have strong application potentials for other, geologically diverse portions of North America.
Can Information Alter Perceptions about Women's Chances of Winning Office? Evidence from a Panel Study

When the 113th Congress convened in January 2013, women occupied only 17.9% of the 435 seats in the U.S. House, ranking the United States 80th globally in terms of the percentage of women serving in the lower legislative assembly. The underrepresentation of women is particularly puzzling, as political scientists since the 1990s have consistently shown that women candidates are not of demonstrably less quality than men on average (see Fulton 2012, 2014; Fulton et al. 2006; Lawless and Fox 2010), do not suffer from a gender-related funding disadvantage (Berch 1996; Burrell 2008; Gaddie and Bullock 1995; Fox 2010; Herrick 1995, 1996), and do about as well as men at the polls, accounting for differences in incumbency status (Fox 2010; Smith and Fox 2001).
On the geometric requirements for concerted 1,2-carbonyl migration in α,β-epoxy ketones

Abstract The stabilizing influence of neighboring group participation by the carbonyl group in concerted 1,2-acyl migration is related to the ability of the molecule to assume a transition stage geometry resembling a cyclopropyloxenium ion.
NMR vs. molecular modelling. Part II—steroid chemical shift calculations

Using the steroid hormone estrone as a model, DFT GIAO calculations of 13C chemical shifts were performed using geometries determined by different methods and different basis sets for the GIAO calculations. It was found that considerable savings in CPU time could be effected by using geometries determined by molecular mechanics using the MMX force field. The best results for the GIAO chemical shift calculation were obtained with the BPW91/6–311G** basis set. However, replacement by the more rapid BPW91/3–21G* basis set gave reasonable results only if one used an augmented basis set for those atoms which were part of the aromatic or carbonyl structures or attached to the oxygen heteroatoms. Using the MMX force field, satisfactory results were obtained for cholesterol using the BPW91/6–31G** basis set, serving as a compromise to the previously mentioned basis sets. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Addition of Hydrogen or Ammonia to a Low‐Valent Group 13 Metal Species at 25 °C and 1 Atmosphere

Mild-mannered: The low-valent aryl gallium(I) species :GaAr' (Ar' = 2,6-(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))(2)C(6)H(3)) undergoes addition to H(2) or NH(3) at room temperature and one atmosphere of pressure to afford 1 or 2 (see scheme), which were characterized by X-ray crystallography and NMR and IR spectroscopy.
The golgi apparatus is present in perisynaptic, subependymal and perivascular processes of astrocytes and in processes of retinal Müller glia.

The Golgi apparatus (GA) of innervated rat and chicken skeletal muscle is present in a typical perinuclear location, and in subsynaptic areas where it disperses after denervation. It was suggested that the subsynaptic segments of the GA are linked with functions involved in the maturation and targeting of synaptic proteins. Similarly, the GA of rat myocardium is found in a perinuclear location and between myofibrils, adjacent to the T system of tubules. These findings raise the question whether the GA of polarized cells is present in a typical perinuclear location, for the performance of general "housekeeping" functions, and in distal areas, for the mediation of specialized functions. Astrocytes may contain GA within their long cytoplasmic processes which are difficult to identify in thin sections. To ensure the astrocytic origin of GA in otherwise unidentifiable small processes, we used transgenic mice expressing the rat MG160 medial Golgi sialoglycoprotein only in the GA of astrocytes, and visualized the GA with monoclonal antibody 10A8 (mAb10A8) which reacts only with rat MG160. Thus, we identified cisternae of the GA in distal perisynaptic and subependymal processes, in perivascular foot plates of cerebral astrocytes, and in processes of the Muller glia in the retina. A similar strategy may be adopted in future investigations aiming at the detection of elements of the GA in distal processes of neurons and oligodendrocytes. The functional implications of GA in perisynaptic astrocytic processes and other processes are unknown. However, the isolation and molecular characterization of the perisynaptic subset of astrocytic Golgi may be feasible, since others have purified the astrocytic glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) from crude synaptosomal fractions in which astrocytic processes are probably unavoidable contaminants.
Risk factors for symptom exacerbation among treated patients with substance use disorders

Aims The purpose of this study was to develop an index of risk factors to identify patients prospectively with substance use disorders whose substance use symptoms exacerbate during or shortly after treatment, and to identify characteristics of care that may reduce the likelihood of exacerbation. Design, setting, participants On the basis of data obtained from a nation-wide outcomes monitoring system, a group of 2809 treated patients experienced an exacerbation of their substance use symptoms. These patients were matched on baseline substance abuse problems with 5618 patients who remained stable or improved. Measurements and findings Risk factors for substance use symptom exacerbation included younger age, non-married status and residential instability; long-term use of drugs, prior arrests, prior alcohol treatment, alcohol and drug abuse or dependence diagnoses, cocaine abuse or dependence and more severe self-rated drug problems; and psychiatric problems. High-risk patients who obtained a longer episode of mental health care were less likely to experience an exacerbation of symptoms. Conclusions Clinicians can identify at treatment entry patients whose substance use symptoms are likely to exacerbate and, by providing these patients a longer duration of care, may reduce the likelihood of symptom exacerbation.
Targeted Sequence Capture Provides Insight into Genome Structure and Genetics of Male Sterility in a Gynodioecious Diploid Strawberry, Fragaria vesca ssp. bracteata (Rosaceae)

Gynodioecy is a sexual system wherein females coexist with hermaphrodites. It is of interest not only because male-sterile plants are advantageous in plant breeding but also because it can be a crucial step in the evolutionary transition to entirely separate sexes (dioecy) from a hermaphroditic ancestor. The gynodioecious diploid wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca ssp. bracteata (Rosaceae), is a member of a clade with both dioecious and cultivated species, making it an ideal model in which to study the genetics of male sterility. To create a genetic map of F. v. ssp. bracteata, we identified informative polymorphisms from genomic sequencing (3−5x coverage) of two outbred plants from the same population. Using targeted enrichment, we sequenced 200 bp surrounding each of 6575 polymorphisms in 48 F1 offspring, yielding genotypes at 98% of targeted sites with mean coverage >100x, plus more than 600-kb high-coverage nontargeted sequence. With the resulting linkage map of 7802 stringently filtered markers (5417 targeted), we assessed recombination rates and genomic incongruities. Consistent with past work in strawberries, male sterility is dominant, segregates 1:1, and maps to a single location in the female. Further mapping an additional 55 offspring places male sterility in a gene-dense, 338-kb region of chromosome 4. The region is not syntenic with the sex-determining regions in the closely related octoploids, F. chiloensis and F. virginiana, suggesting either independent origins or translocation. The 57 genes in this region do not include protein families known to control male sterility and thus suggest alternate mechanisms for the suppression of male function.
WE‐B‐201B‐03: Fractal Dimension Analysis of Kinetic Feature Maps in Contrast‐Enhanced Breast MRI

Purpose: To investigate whether CADx performance on breast DCE‐MRI can be improved by estimating the spatial complexity of lesion kinetic feature maps using generalized fractal dimension lesion descriptors (FDLDs). Method and Materials: A database of 181 histologically classified breast lesions visible on DCE‐MRI was analyzed as follows. Initially, each lesion was segmented from the parenchyma using a previously developed and validated fuzzy C‐means clustering technique. A kinetic curve was obtained from each lesion voxel, and kinetic features were extracted from each kinetic curve. These features were used to generate 3‐D kinetic feature maps for each lesion, and generalized FDLDs were calculated for each kinetic feature map. The diagnostic efficacy of the individual FDLDs was then evaluated using ROC analysis. Next, to explore whether the FDLDs could improve the performance of previous CADX methods, a conventional set of kinetic and morphological lesion features was compared with a feature set containing conventional features and FDLDs. Each feature set was merged using linear discriminant analysis(LDA) and evaluated using ROC analysis, together with a leave‐one‐case‐out method to minimize database bias. Finally, the area under the ROC curve (A z) values of the two feature sets were statistically compared using ROCKIT software.Results: The individual FDLDs obtained a maximum performance of A z = 0.85 ± 0.03. The conventional features achieved A z = 0.87 ± 0.03, and the FDLDs combined with conventional features gave A z = 0.90 ± 0.02. The A z value of the conventional features and FDLDs was significantly higher than the A z value of the conventional features alone (p = 0.023). Conclusion: The work suggests that generalized FDLDs could potentially be beneficial to a clinical CADx system for breast DCE‐MRI in the future. Conflict of Interest: Stockholder: R2 Technology/Hologic; royalties: Hologic, GE Medical Systems, MEDIAN Technologies, Riverain Medical, Mitsubishi and Toshiba.
CCTV in jail housing: An evaluation of technology-enhanced supervision

Surveillance cameras are widely used in correctional settings, but there has been little research on their effectiveness, especially in jail settings. Employing a mixed methods approach, this article examines how implementing closed-circuit television in jail housing units in a large Eastern city influences inmate perceptions of safety and incidents of violence and misconduct. Data collected through surveys with 101 inmates and 68 months (56 months from before and 12 from after camera implementation) of administrative records of inmate infractions, incidents of self-harm and officer use of force were analyzed through χ 2 tests, independent sample t-tests, and structural break (time series) analyses. Semi-structured interviews with 14 correctional staff were analyzed qualitatively to provide contextual information. Findings indicate that while inmate perceptions of safety changed after implementing cameras, analyses of reported incidents did not yield any effect. These mixed results may be because of a combination of deterrence and detection effects or to cameras not being paired with more effective monitoring.
Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in soil and water.

Listeria monocytogenes survived over 8 weeks in pond water, with no evidence of multiplication. Listeria multiplied in sterilized soil during the late winter and early spring. The growth rate in soil was correlated (p<0.005) to the ambient air temperature. The evidence was interpreted to suggest that soil is the reservoir of Listeria on the George Reserve.
Anti-Anti Terror: Color Coding and the Joke of “Homeland Security”*

Humor is, among other things, a form of critique in American politics. This is particularly true with regard to public policy about which we are sensitive. One aspect of the Bush anti-terror policy...
Down-scaling of SEBAL derived evapotranspiration maps from MODIS (250 m) to Landsat (30 m) scales

problem with high spatial resolution satellite images from Landsat 7 is that imagery is not available very often (i.e. every 16 days or longer) and the coverage area is relatively small (swath width 185 km), while images of lower spatial resolution from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are available daily and one image covers a relatively large area (swath width 2330 km). This article considers the feasibility of applying various down-scaling methods to combine MODIS and Landsat imagery in order to obtain both high temporal and high spatial resolutions. The Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) was used to derive daily evapotranspiration (ET) distributions from Landsat 7 and MODIS images. Two down-scaling procedures were evaluated: input down-scaling and output down-scaling. In each down-scaling scheme, disaggregated imagery was obtained by two different processes: subtraction and regression. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the diff...
2‐Diazo‐3‐[[(1,1‐dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy]‐3‐butenoic Acid, Methyl Ester

[166392-81-0] C11H20N2O3Si (MW 256) InChI = 1S/C11H20N2O3Si/c1-8(9(13-12)10(14)15-5)16-17(6,7)11(2,3)4/h1H2,2-7H3 InChIKey = XLIWNMXKBCISIR-UHFFFAOYSA-N (precursor to highly chemoselective metal carbenoid) Physical Data: IR (neat) 2950, 2107, 1714, 1669, 1466, 1352 cm−1; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 4.98 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 0.90 (s, 9H), 0.21 (s, 6H). Solubility: soluble in most organic solvents including hydrocarbons. Form Supplied in: not commercially available. Preparative Methods: 1 triethylamine (2 mL, 14.3 mmol) was added to a stirring solution of methyl 2-diazo-3-oxobutanoate (3.1 g, 10.1 mmol) in dichloromethane (26 mL) at 0 °C under an inert argon atmosphere. tert-Butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (2.8 mL, 12.2 mmol) was added over 5 min and the mixture was further stirred for 30 min at 0 °C. The reaction mixture was diluted with hexane (100 mL), and the organic phase was subsequently washed with dilute aqueous sodium bicarbonate (100 mL) and brine (100 mL). The organic layer was dried (MgSO4), and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure to yield the title product as an orange oil (essentially quantitative yield), which was used without further purification. Purification: the title compound can be used without further purification, but usually it contains a trace amount of bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) ether as a major impurity. The compound can be quickly purified by flash chromatography in silica gel with hexane containing 1% triethylamine. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the title compound is labile under acidic conditions. Unlike other vinyldiazoacetates, which slowly undergo electrocyclization to form pyrazoles, this diazo compound is thermally stable and can be stored in a refrigerator for several months without significant decomposition. As with all diazo compounds, caution should be emphasized in handling this compound, and excessive heating should be avoided. As a precaution, it is recommended that all procedures using this compound should be conducted behind a blast shield.
Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research in Road Traffic and Safety

Ia. Mathematical model (nonprobabilistic). lb. Physical model. Ie. Probability model. Id. Economic model.
Electronic health records and patient safety: should we be discouraged?

For decades we have looked hopefully to electronic health records (EHRs) to aid efforts to make healthcare safer.1 Early research gave basis to this hope: automated alerts and reminders were shown to improve preventive and chronic illness care,2 electronic records could be better organised and more easily delivered where needed,3 automated computerised decision support (CDS) can help make diagnoses4 and plan treatments,5 and computerised practitioner order entry (CPOE) was shown to reduce risk for serious adverse drug events.6 Since 2009, the USA has joined other countries in broadly adopting EHRs.7 ,8 Through the meaningful use programme, and other efforts, use of CPOE has also grown tremendously. This transition has not been easy and has uncovered weaknesses in EHRs, including problems with usability,9 interruption of workflow,10 and concerns for altered interaction with patients.11 We are discovering that the transition from paper to electronic records is a long, difficult journey that is far from complete. There is an enormous need for improvements in EHRs, and efforts to do so are reinvigorated by evidence that we have made not made as much progress in patient safety in the last decade as we had hoped.12 The difficult question is how to make these improvements. In part, the answer is that we get better …
A Modified Equation for Neural Conductance and Resonance

A modified equation, the S-K equation, fits data that the current neural conduction equation, the K-R equation, does not. The S-K equation is a modified Heaviside equation, based on a new interpretation of cross terms. Elements of neural anatomy and function are reviewed to put the S-K equation into context. The fit between S-K and resonance-like neural data is then shown. Appendix 1: Derivation of crossterms that represent combinations of physical laws for a line conductor of finite length. Appendix 2: Evaluation of crossterms that represent combinations of physical laws according to consistency arguments. Appendix 3: Some background on resonance. Appendix 4: Web access to some brain modeling, correspondence with NATURE, and discussion of the work in George Johnson's New York Times forums.
60Co gamma radiation effects on DC, RF, and pulsed I–V characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Abstract Total-dose gamma radiation effects on static, high-frequency, and pulsed current–voltage characteristics of silicon nitride passivated AlGaN/GaN HEMTs were investigated. Passivated AlGaN/GaN HEMTs were exposed to a maximum total dose of 600 Mrad using a 60Co source under nitrogen ambient. The magnitude of the changes in the DC characteristics exhibited a monotonic increase with increasing radiation dose. At 600 Mrad dose, −0.1 V shift in threshold voltage and 3% increase in maximum transconductance was observed. High-frequency small-signal characteristics did not exhibit a significant change. Pulsed current levels increased in relation to the shift in threshold voltage, indicating no radiation damage related degradation in large signal transient behavior. The mobility, sheet carrier density, contact resistance, and sheet resistance of the sample did not exhibit measurable changes. The limited response of the devices to the high radiation dose indicates that the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs can have very high radiation hardness. The observed effects are consistent with radiation-induced trap creation.
Effect of oral appliances on genioglossus muscle tonicity seen with diffusion tensor imaging: A pilot study

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine whether the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique can be used as a modality to represent the structural deformation in the in vivo genioglossus (GG) muscle fibers with oral appliances (OAs). Study Design Three healthy subjects were recruited for the pilot study. A custom-made OA, which is modified from a tongue retaining device (TRD), was constructed for each subject before the DTI acquisitions. Recordings were made with and without OAs to compare the GG muscle fiber deformation. Result DTI provided good resolution of tongue muscle fibers in vivo and successful isolation of each muscle fiber bundle. In particular, the GG muscle fiber deformation due to OAs was clearly visualized. Conclusions This DTI technique may be used not only to identify the individual myoarchitecture, but also to assess muscle fiber deformations in vivo, such as constriction, dilatation, and rotation with OAs. Clinical studies for OSA patients will be the next step.
Density and porosity of the upper oceanic crust from seafloor gravity measurements

The exposure of 1300 meters of upper oceanic crust at the Blanco Fracture Zone allows near-bottom gravity measurements to determine the in situ density of the seafloor as a function of depth. Gravity measurements along the north wall of the Blanco Depression indicate an outcrop density of 2530 ± Kg/m³ for the upper 800 meters of crust and a calculated porosity of 23%. The lower 500 meters of crust (800 to 1300 meters below the sea floor) has a measured density of 2710 ± 130 Kg/m³ and a porosity of 14%. These data indicate that most of the extrusive volcanic oceanic crust is highly porous and can act as an aquifer and large-scale reservoir for hydrothermal fluids. These direct crustal density measurements also support previous interpretations that low seismic velocities observed in Layer 2 are due to the high porosity of the upper extrusive section.
CHROMOSOMES AND HYBRIDS OF ECHEVERIA X. SOUTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF SERIES NUDAE

Abstract Seven mostly long-stemmed species of Echeveria Series Nudae and many intermediate forms from the Andes of Venezuela to northern Peru have gametic chromosome numbers of 21 or 22, and a few are tetraploids with 42 or 44. They hybridize freely with each other in cultivation. In the hybrids most of their chromosomes form pairs at meiosis. All species in Series Nudae appear to be very closely related and probably descended from progenitors that arrived only recently in South America. They can also hybridize with species of most genera of Mexican Crassulaceae and belong with them in the same vast comparium of more than 200 species. In these hybrids, segments of their chromosomes can pair with segments of chromosomes from other species and genera, but no part of any of them can pair with any other chromosome of their own basic (conspecific) genomes. Each of the 21 or 22 gametic chromosomes differs from one another, and there is no evidence of any polyploidy in their ancestry. Acaulescent or short-stemme...
Mediator-induced macrophage activation, as shown by enhanced cytotoxicity for tumor, requires macrophage surface fucose and sialic acid

Abstract Macrophage-activating factor (MAF) activates macrophages so that their cytotoxic capacity is enhanced. This effect of MAF is inhibited by removing fucose from the macrophage cell surface by incubation with fucosidase, or by removing sialic acid by treatment with neuraminidase. After incubation with fucosidase or neuraminidase the average inhibition of cytotoxicity was 92 and 73%, respectively. β-Galactosidase had no effect. Addition of the specific products, fucose or sialic acid, to the incubation mixture of macrophages and enzyme blocked the effect of the enzymes. Taken together these observations indicate that macrophage surface fucose and sialic acid are essential for the interaction of MAF with macrophages which results in enhanced cytotoxicity for tumor cells.
Point-of-care glucose testing: effects of critical care variables, influence of reference instruments, and a modular glucose meter design.

Abstract Objective.—To assess the clinical performance of glucose meter systems when used with critically ill patients. Design.—Two glucose meter systems (SureStepPro and Precision G) and a modular adaptation (Immediate Response Mobile Analysis-SureStepPro) were assessed clinically using arterial samples from critically ill patients. A biosensor-based analyzer (YSI 2700) and a hospital chemistry analyzer (Synchron CX-7) were the primary and secondary reference instruments, respectively. Patients and Setting.—Two hundred forty-seven critical care patients at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center participated in this study. Outcome Measures.—Error tolerances of ±15 mg/dL for glucose levels ≤100 mg/dL and ±15% for glucose levels >100 mg/dL were used to evaluate glucose meter performance; 95% of glucose meter measurements should fall within these tolerances. Results.—Compared to the primary reference method, 98% to 100% of SureStepPro and 91% to 95% of Precision G measurements fell within the er...
Unstable Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 10 (ATTCT)·(AGAAT) Repeats Are Associated with Aberrant Replication at the ATX10 Locus and Replication Origin-Dependent Expansion at an Ectopic Site in Human Cells

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) is associated with expansion of (ATTCT)n repeats (where n is the number of repeats) within the ataxin 10 (ATX10/E46L) gene. The demonstration that (ATTCT)n tracts can act as DNA unwinding elements (DUEs) in vitro has suggested that aberrant replication origin activity occurs at expanded (ATTCT)n tracts and may lead to their instability. Here, we confirm these predictions. The wild-type ATX10 locus displays inefficient origin activity, but origin activity is elevated at the expanded ATX10 loci in patient-derived cells. To test whether (ATTCT)n tracts can potentiate origin activity, cell lines were constructed that contain ectopic copies of the c-myc replicator in which the essential DUE was replaced by ATX10 DUEs with (ATTCT)n. ATX10 DUEs containing (ATTCT)27 or (ATTCT)48, but not (ATTCT)8 or (ATTCT)13, could substitute functionally for the c-myc DUE, but (ATTCT)48 could not act as an autonomous replicator. Significantly, chimeric c-myc replicators containing ATX10 DUEs displayed length-dependent (ATTCT)n instability. By 250 population doublings, dramatic two- and fourfold length expansions were observed for (ATTCT)27 and (ATTCT)48 but not for (ATTCT)8 or (ATTCT)13. These results implicate replication origin activity as one molecular mechanism associated with the instability of (ATTCT)n tracts that are longer than normal length.
Matrix Metalloproteinase Gelatinase B (MMP-9) Coordinates and Effects Epithelial Regeneration

We studied the role of the matrix metalloproteinase gelatinase B (gelB; MMP-9) in epithelial regeneration using the gelB-deficient mouse. We report the novel finding that, in contrast to other MMPs expressed at the front of the advancing epithelial sheet in wounds of cornea, skin, or trachea, gelB acts to inhibit the rate of wound closure. We determined this to be due to control of cell replication, a novel capacity for MMPs not previously described. We also found that gelB delays the inflammatory response. Acceleration of these processes in gelB-deficient mice is correlated with a delay in signal transduction through Smad2, a transcription factor that inhibits cell proliferation, and in accumulation of epithelial-associated interleukin-1α, a cytokine that inhibits Smad2 signaling and promotes the inflammatory response. GelB-deficient mice also reveal defects in remodeling of extracellular matrix at the epithelial basement membrane zone, in particular, failure to effectively remove the fibrin(ogen) provisional matrix. We conclude that gelB coordinates and effects multiple events involved in the process of epithelial regeneration.
Trafficking of the Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase in Ischemia and Reperfusion: Relation to Interstitial Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity

Background— The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to regional remodeling after prolonged periods of ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), but specific MMP types activated during this process re...
Spectroscopy of semiconductor meta-device building blocks (Presentation Recording)

Inspired by the potential of designing highly efficient nanophotonic optical elements, numerous researchers are currently exploring the use of dielectric resonators in constructing meta-devices. A wide range of optical components have been demonstrated, including metasurfaces that act as two-dimensional lenses, gratings, and axicons. At the core of these devices is a dielectric building block, typically a Silicon nano-disk or nano-rod, that supports Mie-like leaky mode excitations with a geometrically tunable amplitude and phase response. Here we present a comprehensive experimental characterization of these building blocks. We elucidate their multipolar mode structure, and explain the dependence on the underlying substrate. We find that fundamentally new buried magnetic modes emerge in high-index substrates, and that Fabry-Perot effects in silicon-on-insulator platforms can be utilized to enhance or suppress specific modes. When individual resonators are arranged into arrays with sub-wavelength periodicities, inter-particle coupling leads to a shift in the resonant response. When the periodicities are on the same order as the operating wavelength, the localized resonances may couple with the global diffraction modes, leading to the possible formation of distinct high-quality-factor surface-lattice-resonant modes, similar to those encountered in plasmonic gratings. We conclude by exploring the behavior of resonators constructed out of active materials, such as polar materials that support phonon-polariton excitations, and phase-change materials with tunable dielectric constants. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Colonial legacy and gender inequality in Uzbekistan

This article examines how the historical interaction between colonizer and colonized influenced gender inequality in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan. The study demonstrates that the interaction had cultural and structural components that contributed to the establishment of gender conservatism as a national virtue. After the failure of other initiatives in the region, the Soviets launched a massive unveiling ritual in Uzbekistan that led to widespread resistance, including a wave of murders of unveiled women. At the same time, the Soviets left in place local patriarchal networks that reinforced this gender conservatism. To underscore the critical nature of these interactions and their variability, the study includes evidence from neighboring Kazakhstan, a nomadic society where women did not veil and where local networks were disrupted through Soviet-led collectivization and sedentarization. The study argues that these two societies interacted differently with the Soviet modernizing project, with impl...
A Health Knowledge Test for the Seventh Grade

Abstract A valid and reliable instrument was developed for the purpose of measuring the extent of health knowledge possessed by seventh grade pupils. Appropriate vocabulary burden, level of difficulty, and curricular validity were primary factors considered in item formulation. Experimental test forms were subjected to an extensive refinement process prior to the construction of two final, alternate test forms. The alternate forms were administered in a random sample of public schools in Indiana. Analysis of test results yielded statistical evidence of the equivalence of forms.
Comparison of the C-MAC video laryngoscope to a flexible fiberoptic scope for intubation with cervical spine immobilization.

Abstract Study Objective To compare the C-MAC video laryngoscope to the standard flexible fiberoptic scope (FFS) with an eye piece (but without a camera or a video screen) for intubation of patients undergoing cervical spine surgery with manual inline stabilization. The primary end point was the time to achieve successful tracheal intubation. Secondary end points included glottic view at intubation and number of intubation attempts. Design Prospective, randomized, single-blinded study. Setting Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Patients One hundred forty patients (American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I-III), aged 18 to 80years undergoing elective cervical spine surgery. Intervention Patients were prospectively randomized to undergo tracheal intubation using either an FFS (n=70) or the C-MAC video laryngoscope (n=70). Measurements After performing a preoperative airway evaluation, patients underwent a standardized induction sequence. The glottic view was assessed at the time of tracheal tube placement using the Cormack-Lehane and percentage of glottic opening scoring systems. In addition, the time required for successful insertion of the tracheal tube, number of intubation attempts to secure the airway, the need for adjuvant airway devices, hemodynamic changes, adverse events, and any airway-related trauma were recorded. Main Results The glottic view at the time of intubation did not differ significantly with the 2 devices; however, the C-MAC facilitated more rapid tracheal intubation compared with the FFS ( P =.001). The peak heart rate response following insertion of the tracheal tube was also reduced ( P =.004) in the C-MAC (vs FFS) group. Conclusion The C-MAC may offer an advantage over the FFS with respect to the time required to obtain glottic view and successful placement of the tracheal tube in patients requiring cervical spine immobilization.
Conquest and Consolidation: A Comparison of the Wari and Inka Occupations of a Highland Peruvian Valley

A recent archaeological survey was conducted of a highland Peruvian valley in order to evaluate the effect on a local culture of the expansion of empires. The strategy employed in the consolidation of a region under an imperial administrative structure is the result of two general factors: the needs of the empire, and the level of extant local political organization. Evidence of Wari and Inka imperial facilities in the Carahuarazo Valley is interpreted in light of changes in the local culture during each occupation to provide a more complete picture of this process. A relatively greater Wari presence and lesser Inka presence are interpreted as the result of differing administrative needs on the part of the respective empires, as well as differing local systems at the time of each conquest. Similarities in goods and services extracted by each empire serve to indicate that although imperial strategies differed, the end result of consolidation of the area into each empire was roughly similar.
Hausdorffization and polynomial twists

We study dynamical equivalence relations on the moduli space $\MP_d$ of complex polynomial dynamical systems. Our main result is that the critical-heights quotient $\MP_d \to \cT_d$* of [4] is the Hausdorffization of a relation based on the twisting deformation of the basin of infinity. We also study relations of topological conjugacy and the Branner-Hubbard wringing deformation.