cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of morphometrics as a predictor for survival in female patients with breast cancer spinal metastasis: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background Context The current standard of care for prediction of survival of cancer staging is based on TNM staging. However, for patients with spinal metastasis, who all have identical stage IV disease, identifying accurate prognostic markers of survival would allow better treatment stratification between more aggressive treatment strategies or palliation. Analytical morphometrics enables physicians to quantify patient frailty by measuring lean muscle mass. Morphometrics also predicts survival in patients with lung cancer metastases to the spine. Purpose Our study evaluates whether morphometrics is predictive of survival in patients with breast cancer spinal metastasis. Design This is an observational retrospective cohort study. Patient Sample This study includes female patients with breast cancer spinal metastases and patients who have undergone stereotactic body radiation therapy. Outcome Measures Overall survival was the primary outcome measure. Methods Morphometric measurements of the psoas muscle were taken using computed tomography scans of the lumbar spine. We then stratified patients into tertiles based on the psoas muscle area. Results We identified 118 patients, with a median survival of 104 days (95% confidence interval [CI]=73–157 days). Overall survival was not associated with age, chemotherapy, or number of levels radiated. Patients in the lowest tertile of psoas size had significantly shorter survival compared with the highest tertile (68 days versus 148 days, hazard ratio 1.76 [95% CI=1.08–2.89], p=.024). The shorter survival was also true for the lowest tertile versus the middle tertile (68 days versus 167 days, hazard ratio 1.95 [95% CI=1.19–3.19], p=.007). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to visually illustrate the differences in survival between different tertiles. Conclusions Morphometric analysis of the psoas muscle size in patients with breast cancer metastases to the spine was effective in identifying patients at risk of shorter survival. Further research is needed to validate these results, as well as to see if these methodologies can be applied to other cancer histologies.
Pharmacology of Colloids and Crystalloids

We have attempted to review body fluid distribution by compartments so that the reader understands the physiology of ICF and ECF, and the relationship between interstitial and intravascular fluids. Crystalloids such as NS and RL are distributed to the ECF, whereas colloids primarily remain intravascular for longer periods. Although effective, crystalloids tend to require larger volumes for infusion, and edema remains a problem. Colloids as a group are extremely effective volume expanders, but none is ideal. Albumin, hetastarch, dextran, and the less commonly used colloids each have significant toxicities that must be considered when using them. Intelligent choices can be made to optimize use of these fluids.
Methods for Inferring Phylogenies: A Statistical View

I thought that I should start off by delivering some unpopular opinions. Although they have always seemed to me to be self-evident to the point of tedium, I find that these are wildly controversial, and that only a small minority of systematists agrees with them.
Design of Phonon Detectors for Neutrinos

The development of detectors for very low energy neutrinos is one of the more challenging problems in experimental high-energy physics. Important topics in neutrino physics include the neutrino spectrum of the sun (the solar neutrino problem), and the related question of neutrino mass and oscillations [1]. For neutrinos of reactor energies or greater, conventional neutrino detectors rely principally on nuclear transmutations induced by the neutrinos. At low energies the cross-sections for these processes are extremely small. In the chlorine experiments of Davis et al [2], for example, the detector has a mass of 600 tons, but the solar neutrino flux (6 × 1010 cm-2 sec-1) produces only of the order of one event per day.
Identification of Pathway-Modulating Genes Using the Biomedical Literature Mining

Although biomedical literature is considered as a valuable resource to investigate the relationship among genes, it still remains challenging to effectively use it for the identification of the relationships among genes mainly because most abstracts contain information for a single gene while the majority of approaches are based on the co-occurrence of genes within an abstract. In order to address this limitation, we recently developed a Bayesian hierarchical model that allows to identify indirect relationship between genes by linking them using the gene ontology (GO) terms, namely bayesGO. In addition, this approach also facilitates interpretation of the identified pathways by automatically associating relevant GO terms to each gene within a unified framework. In this book chapter, we illustrate this approach using the web interface GAIL which provides the PubMed literature mining results based on human gene entities and GO terms, along with the R package bayesGO implementing the proposed Bayesian hierarchical model. The web interface GAIL is currently hosted at http://chunglab.io/GAIL and the R package bayesGO is publicly available at its GitHub webpage (https://dongjunchung.github.io/bayesGO/).
PDID: Database of Experimental and Putative Drug Targets in Human Proteome

Abstract The paradigm in drug discovery has shifted from magic bullets targeting a single protein involved in a disease process to a systems level approach considering the inherent binding promiscuity of biopharmaceuticals. Multitarget drugs hold the promise to expand therapeutic possibilities, including polypharmacology and drug repurposing, and to provide better control over side effects. Nonetheless, drug-protein interaction networks are not only far more complicated than originally anticipated, but also sparsely and nonuniformly covered by experimental data. On that account, known interactions are often complemented by those predicted with high-throughput computational methods at the proteome scale. In this chapter, we describe the Protein-Drug Interaction Database (PDID), a new resource located at http://biomine.cs.vcu.edu/servers/PDID/ that comprehensively covers experimental and putative drug-protein interactions. The PDID builds on annotations generated by three state-of-the-art predictors, eFindSite, SMAP, and ILbind, offering molecular level details for interacting molecules. This unique catalogue of biologically relevant interactions can be used to support a variety of studies related to network pharmacology.
Identifying Components Necessary for an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Pathway for Elective Intracranial Surgery: An Improvement Project Using the Quality of Recovery-15 Score

Objective To identify the domains of recovery, as determined by the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score, that needed improvement to develop initial interventions for an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for patients undergoing elective intracranial surgery under general anesthesia. Methods A paired-availability design was used to assess 2 groups of 41 patients undergoing elective intracranial surgery. The baseline QoR-15 score and scores 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours after arrival in the intensive care unit characterized the postoperative recovery trajectory. The lowest scoring domains of the QoR-15 score were identified in the preimplementation group, and pharmacologic interventions were initiated in the postimplementation group. Results Postoperative analgesia and postoperative nausea and vomiting were identified as the lowest scoring domains. The pharmacologic interventions implemented were chosen because they produced minimal sedation and were easy to administer—1 40-mg oral preoperative dose of aprepitant to target postoperative nausea and vomiting and 2 perioperative 1-g doses of intravenous acetaminophen to improve analgesia. We observed a clinically significant as well as statistically significant improvement in analgesia on arrival in the intensive care unit and at the 6-hour postoperative time point. The total QoR-15 score was improved through the 12-hour time point. Conclusions In this quality improvement project, the QoR-15 score allowed us to identify domains that slowed the recovery course in this patient population. Two 1-g doses of intravenous acetaminophen improved patients' well-being and analgesia after elective intracranial surgery.
What Type of Barriers Prevent CarFit-Trained OT Practitioners (OTPs) From Participating in CarFit Events or Using the CarFit 1:1 Model?

Date Presented 04/05/19 This study allowed researchers to understand how OTPs trained in the CarFit program utilize the CarFit 1:1 model in practice. Researchers collected 268 surveys. Those who used the 1:1 model reported that it was quick, easy, and helped them determine AE for driving. However, the model will likely be underutilized, as 86 respondents were extremely unlikely to conduct a 1:1 session in the next year due to barriers related to time, billing, and lack of training. Primary Author and Speaker: Judith Ismail Additional Authors and Speakers: Laura Miear
Evaluating psychometric determinants of willingness to adopt sexual health patient portal services among black college students: A mixed-methods approach

AbstractObjectives: To describe, using mixed-methods, perceptions of access to sexually transmitted infection test results via electronic personal health record (PHR) and correlates of willingness ...
Forging quantum data: classically defeating an IQP-based quantum test.

In 2009, Shepherd and Bremner proposed a "test of quantum capability" arXiv:0809.0847 that is attractive because the quantum machine's output can be verified efficiently by classical means. While follow-up papers gave evidence that directly simulating the quantum prover is classically hard, the security of the protocol against other (non-simulating) classical attacks has remained an open question. In this paper, I demonstrate that the protocol is not secure against classical provers. I describe a classical algorithm that can not only convince the verifier that the (classical) prover is quantum, but can in fact can extract the secret key underlying a given protocol instance. Furthermore, I show that the algorithm is efficient in practice for problem sizes of hundreds of qubits. Finally, I provide an implementation of the algorithm, and give the secret vector underlying the "$25 challenge" posted online by the authors of the original paper.
An Automated Approach to Modeling Jupiter’s Synchrotron Radiation from Radio Telescope Observations

In this study, we used 2.295 GHz radio telescope data to study synchrotron radiation from Jupiter’s magnetosphere. We processed scans of Jupiter and calibrators taken by the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope on various dates, developing and automating algorithms for outlier removal, baseline subtraction, and Gaussian fitting in order to determine the peak intensity of each scan. Comparing the peak intensities of Jupiter to those of the calibrators and the known fluxes of the calibrators, we computed the flux of Jupiter on each scan. Plotting Jupiter’s flux against the longitude facing Earth at the time of each scan revealed a periodic relationship between the variables and thus a model for expected synchrotron flux from Jupiter observed at a given longitude. This estimate can corroborate other flux measurements of Jupiter at similar frequencies, such as those taken by the microwave radiometer on the Junoprobe.
Automated Leakage Current Measurement Capability for Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards

We have developed a new measurement module that can be installed in existing National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Programmable Josephson Voltage Standard (PJVS) systems to provide automated leakage-current measurement capability. The system utilizes several relays to switch between normal PJVS operating modes and leakage-current measurement modes without any manual operator actions. The simplicity and convenience of this automated method enables the verification of system leakage current characteristics on a frequent schedule. Full automation of these tasks provides significant advantages over traditional measurement methods performed by an operator, including reduced noise and drift, and reduced sensitivity to other activities in the nearby environment.
Microwave induced dielectric heating for the on-demand development of indomethacin amorphous solid dispersion tablets

Abstract The poor aqueous solubility of drugs challenges their pharmaceutical development and oral bioavailability. At present, the development of dosage forms with poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by means of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) approach has been an active area of research. Meanwhile, dielectric heating, a process in which a radio frequency (RF), radio wave or microwave electromagnetic radiation heats materials with dielectric properties, has been applied in the food industry and synthetic organic chemistry for many years. In this work, tablets of indomethacin (IND) ASDs with various polymer matrices were successfully obtained utilizing a novel dielectric heating method on-demand. A series of solid-state analyses, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and polarized light microscopy (PLM) were used for examining drug/polymer miscibility, drug crystallinity and to determine the thermal stability of IND/polymer compositions. In addition, the comparative studies between the amorphous tablets and conventional directly compressed (DC) tablets exhibited higher hardness/compaction results for ASDs tablets (for Soluplus®, HPC HF), but smaller values for the other polymers (HPMC, HPMCAS, E PO, and P EO). The amorphous IND tablets showed improved drug release performance because the polymer matrix stabilized the solution that can maintain a thermodynamic environment for IND. An advanced release mechanism and kinetics study revealed that all ASD tablets exhibited mostly a Fickian diffusion. In contrast, non-cellulose polymer matrices showed swelling, erosion, or both swelling and erosion-controlled drug release. In summary, dielectric heating techniques offer a simple way to manufacture amorphous drug products and presents an alternative solution to the patient to optimize their treatment with conventional dosages.
Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-induced lung vascular disease: potential role of complement

The outbreak of COVID-19 disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2 beta-coronovirus, urges a focused search for the underlying mechanisms and treatment options. The lung is the major target organ of COVID-19, wherein the primary cause of mortality is hypoxic respiratory failure, resulting from acute respiratory distress syndrome, with severe hypoxemia, often requiring assisted ventilation. While similar in some ways to acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to other causes, lungs of some patients dying with COVID-19 exhibit distinct features of vascular involvement, including severe endothelial injury and cell death via apoptosis and/or pyroptosis, widespread capillary inflammation, and thrombosis. Furthermore, the pulmonary pathology of COVID-19 is characterized by focal inflammatory cell infiltration, impeding alveolar gas exchange resulting in areas of local tissue hypoxia, consistent with potential amplification of COVID-19 pathogenicity by hypoxia. Vascular endothelial cells play essential roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses, and are considered to be "conditional innate immune cells" centrally participating in various inflammatory, immune pathologies. Activated endothelial cells produce cytokines/chemokines, dynamically recruit and activate inflammatory cells and platelets, and centrally participate in pro-thrombotic processes (thrombotic microangiopathies). Initial reports presented pathological findings of localized direct infection of vascular endothelial cells with SARS-CoV-2, yet emerging evidence does not support direct infection of endothelial or other vascular wall cell and thus widespread endothelial cell dysfunction and inflammation may be better explained as secondary responses to epithelial cell infection and inflammation. Endothelial cells are also actively engaged in a cross-talk with the complement system, the essential arm of innate immunity. Recent reports present evidence for complement deposition in SARS-CoV-2-damaged lung microcirculation, further strengthening the idea that, in severe cases of COVID-19, complement activation is an essential player, generating destructive hemorrhagic, capillaritis-like tissue damage, clotting, and hyperinflammation. Thus, complement-targeted therapies are actively in development. This review is intended to explore in detail these ideas.
A satellite-data-driven framework to rapidly quantify air-basin-scale NO x emissions and its application to the Po Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract. The evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates timely estimates of the resultant perturbations to anthropogenic emissions. Here we present a novel framework based on the relationships between observed column abundance and wind speed to rapidly estimate the air-basin-scale NO x emission rate and apply it at the Po Valley in Italy using OMI and TROPOMI NO 2 tropospheric column observations. The NO x chemical lifetime is retrieved together with the emission rate and found to be 15–20 h in winter and 5–6 h in summer. A statistical model is trained using the estimated emission rates before the pandemic to predict the trajectory without COVID-19. Compared with this business-as-usual trajectory, the real emission rates show three distinctive drops in March 2020 ( −42 % ), November 2020 ( −38 % ), and March 2021 ( −39 % ) that correspond to tightened COVID-19 control measures. The temporal variation of pandemic-induced NO x emission changes qualitatively agrees with Google and Apple mobility indicators. The overall net NO x emission reduction in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to be 22 % .
Forensic Neuroscience and Violence Risk Assessment in Prenatal Drug Exposure Cases

This chapter addresses forensic assessment of persons exposed prenatally to substances of abuse and the relationship of such exposure to violence. In addition to alcohol, this chapter’s focus includes other drugs commonly used by high-risk mothers during pregnancy, such as stimulants (methamphetamine, cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA], commonly referred to as ecstasy), cannabis and nicotine, and opioids such as heroin. The brain-based effects of these substances on postnatal functioning are examined, with particular emphasis on brain-behavior relationships as they affect criminal behavior and violence. This chapter describes how this information may be used in forensic legal proceedings pertaining to mitigation and violence risk assessment and offers an empirically driven and structured violence risk assessment approach that emphasizes distinctive risk factors for offenders with significant prenatal substance use exposure.
Incidence of spontaneous intracranial hypotension in a community. Beverly Hills, California, 2006-2020.

Abstract BackgroundSpontaneous intracranial hypotension is diagnosed with an increasing frequency, but epidemiologic data are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate of sp...
IV pentamidine for primary PJP prophylaxis in adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplant.

IV pentamidine for primary PJP prophylaxis in adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplant
Introduction Physiological implications of products in the arachidonic acid cascade

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the physiological implications of products in the arachidonic acid cascade. Physiology is the study of function. The classical procedure used to define physiological roles is by extirpation, ablation, or nerve section to reveal inadequate or inappropriate function in the absence of the postulated mechanism. This approach cannot be used to study the physiological role of arachidonate metabolites because they are not organ-localized like the adrenal steroids or concentrated in specific cells like the adrenergic transmitters. The problem is also compounded by the fact that arachidonate oxygenation is almost a universal phenomenon. The oxygenation of arachidonic acid yields an extensive series of products, which are universally distributed in all animal species and nearly all cells. These metabolites constitute a modulating system for maintaining homeostasis—for example, for preserving hemostasis, hemodynamic and renal function, for signaling pain, and for regulating immunological responsivity.
Activation of GPR18 by cannabinoid compounds: a tale of biased agonism.

Background and Purpose GPR18 is a candidate cannabinoid receptor, but its classification as such is controversial. The rationale of the study presented herein was to consider the effects of N-arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) and cannabinoids via differential G-protein coupled pathways, in addition to β-arrestin signalling. Cellular localization of GPR18 receptors was also examined. Experimental Approach Calcium mobilization and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were quantified in a cell line stably expressing GPR18 (HEK293/GPR18 cells). In addition, using the DiscoveRx PathHunter® CHO-K1 GPR18 β-arrestin cell line, recruitment of β-arrestin was quantified. Key Results Concentration-dependent increases in intracellular calcium and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were observed in the presence of NAGly, abnormal cannabidiol (AbnCBD), O-1602, O-1918 and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in HEK293/GPR18 cells. The initial rise in intracellular calcium in the presence of NAGly, O1918 and THC was blocked by either Gαq or Gαi/o inhibition. The ERK1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited by Pertussis toxin and N-arachidonoyl-L-serine (NARAS). Recruitment of β-arrestin in the PathHunter CHO-K1 GPR18 cell line revealed a differential pattern of GPR18 activation; of all the ligands tested, only Δ9-THC produced a concentration-dependent response. The localization of GPR18 receptors within the HEK293/GPR18 cells is both intracellular, and on the plasma membrane. Conclusions and Implications These findings suggest that GPR18 activation involves several signal transduction pathways indicative of biased agonism, thereby providing a plausible explanation for the apparent discrepancies in GPR18 activation found in the literature. Additionally, the results presented herein provide further evidence for GPR18 as a candidate cannabinoid receptor.
Analysis of Pavements Designed by CBR Equation

Using the layered computer program, the parameters computed for the pavements included: (1)The elastic stresses, strains, and displacements; and (2)the accumulated permanent deformations in the subgrade in conjunction with laboratory repeated load test data. These results showed that, for pavements designed for the same performance level but for various conditions, the elastic displacements at both pavement and subgrade surfaces and accumulated subgrade permanent deformations vary with the subgrade strength and the wheel load. An exception is the elastic vertical strain at the subgrade surface, which is nearly independent of these factors. The surface permanent deformations measured from field test pavements are also examined. Two factors must be emphasized: (1)Surface rutting is not considered as a primary factor in judging pavement failure in most failure criteria; and (2)the computed results and the measured surface ruts are strongly related to the failure criteria employed in judging the pavement performance.
Bounding the effect of penguin diagrams in a CP ( B 0 → π + π − )

A clean determination of the angle $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ of the unitary triangle from $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ decays requires an isospin analysis. If the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ and $\overline{B}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ decay rates are small it may be hard to carry out this analysis. Here we show that an upper bound on the error on $\mathrm{sin}2\ensuremath{\alpha}$ due to penguin diagram effects can be obtained using only the measured rate $\mathrm{B}\mathrm{}{(B}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})$ and an upper bound on the combined rate $\mathrm{B}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})+\mathrm{B}(\overline{B}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})$. Since no $b$ flavor tagging is needed to measure this combined rate, the bound that can be achieved may be significantly better than any approach which requires separate flavor-tagged neutral pion information.
Reply to “comments on energy dispersive x-ray measurements of thin metal foils”

Comments are made on an earlier paper by Zaluzec, et.al., regarding the effects of foil thickness on the absorption of x-rays during energy dispersive x-ray analysis using transmission electron microscopes. (GHT)
Minority carrier injection and storage into a heavily doped emitter. Approximate solution for auger recombination

Abstract An analytic solution for the injected carrier distribution in a linearly graded, heavily doped region is given in terms of Hermite polynomials. The properties of this distribution are compared with those for the more usual diffusion length solution. An expression is given for the effect on high frequency response of the stored charge in the emitter region of a bipolar transistor.
Professor Brest on State Action and Liberal Theory, and a Postscript to Professor Stone

Paul Brest, as always, has powerfully illuminated his subject. His analysis of the state action problem is searching, subtle, arid generally sound. The part I find most intriguing, however, is thie one with which I least agree. I refer to Brest's attempt to establish conceptual and historical connections between the state action doctrine and two substantive constitutional theories, positivism and natural law, representing polar tendencies in liberal thought. My comments will be addressed primarily to this aspect of Brest's paper. I also comment briefly on Professor Stone's excellent discussion of governmental tort immunity.
Effect of serum cotinine on vitamin D serum concentrations among american females with different ethnic backgrounds.

Objective To investigate the effect of blood serum concentration of cotinine among non-smokers, passive/light smokers and active smoker females in the United States population as it compares to vitamin D blood serum concentrations. Materials and methods National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) that is designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n=22,196). Results The analyses demonstrated that among all three smoking categories, black female active smokers have lower vitamin D (13.374 ng/ml), than hispanic (19.213 ng/ml) or white (24.929 ng/ml) females. It was demonstrated that the active smoker black females have the highest percentage of vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy in the population compared to other ethnic females. Conclusion The cotinine blood serum concentrations can also affect vitamin D concentrations in addition to other factors such as gender, ethnicity, dietary supplement intake and sun exposure.
Thermal degradation of amines for CO2 capture

Amine scrubbing will be an important technology for CO2 capture and storage. The degradation of the amine at 100–150 °C limits the maximum T/P and therefore the energy performance of the solvent regeneration. This is a review of the rate, products, and mechanisms of thermal degradation. Primary and secondary ethanolamines and ethylenediamines degrade at 100–130 °C as they form cyclic oxazolidinones and ureas. Tertiary amines can be more resistant to degradation if they do not include methyl and ethanol groups. Piperazine structures and long chain diamines such as hexamethylenediamine degrade by ring opening and closing and can be used at 150–160 °C. Thermal degradation can produce products that are more volatile than the parent amines.
Strategy for Pesticide Use: Frequency and Applications

A pest control model with multiple treatments is presented. Population dynamics and damage rates are temperature dependent with predation affected by pesticide application. Pesticide tolerance distribution is used for constructing the estimated kill function. Mathematical‐numerical optimization is applied, selecting frequency and dosage which minimize control costs and crop damage.
The Caring Needs of African American Male Juvenile Offenders

This naturalistic field study, using ethnonursing methods, was conducted to describe the social and cultural care needs of African American juvenile offenders. This focus is important to consider when planning transcultural nursing care to this group. Data were collected using Leininger's Observation-Participation-Reflection Enabler, and general and key informant interviews with five juveniles (12 to 15 years old) living in a southeastern inner city in the United States. The data analysis revealed a general theme of survival in the face of loss. Losses were conceptualized as the departure or absence of something or someone of value in the juvenile's life. Losses were categorized into the domains of family losses, social losses, and self-identity losses. Four categories of losses unique to each domain were a loss of caring, a loss of protection, a loss of discipline, and a loss of support. The threat to survival was the dominant theme of each type of loss. Implications for transcultural nursing care were formulated based on Leininger's three modes of culture care: cultural care preservation, cultural care accommodation, and cultural care repatterning. These care modes guided culturally congruent nursing actions with African American male juvenile offenders who have experienced losses which were a threat to their health, well being, or survival.
Abiding by Sri Lanka Qadri Ismail's way

Qadri Ismail's book, Abiding by Sri Lanka: On Peace, Place, and Postcoloniality (2005) suggests that literary theory might help Sri Lankans re-imagine the colonial social categories and histories that underwrite their long-running conflict. Ismail also argues that the social sciences (particularly anthropology) and history fail Sri Lanka. They fail either because, like anthropology, their colonial origins render them epistemologically unable to ‘abide by’ Sri Lanka (or to see its politics as political); or because, like history, their embrace of an empiricist belief in an objectively real history betrays them into reconfirming nationalism. My article will argue that while the first part of Ismail's thesis is fascinating and useful (if a bit lacking in practical details), his claim that anthropology and history writing as such must be ‘de-authorized’ is too broad. It concludes by arguing for a cease-fire in Sri Lanka.
The Conventional Langmuir Trough Technique as a Convenient Means to Determine the Solubility of Sparingly Soluble Surface Active Molecules: Case Study Cholesterol.

Abstract The feasibility of a method based on mass preservation [G. Schwarz, J. Zhang, Chain length dependence of lipid partitioning between the air/water interface and its subphase. Thermodynamic and structural implications, Chem. Phys. Lipids 110 (2001) 35–45] to determine the solubility of Cholesterol in water from monomolecular films on air/water interface was investigated. Using a mass balance equation, it was found that Cholesterol undergoes an exponential desorption at very low surface pressures followed by an almost linear desorption into the subphase at higher surface pressures until monolayer collapse. Processing of the surface pressure measurements as a function of trough area in accord with the theory, enabled the accurate determination of the molecular dimensions of Cholesterol as a function of surface pressure. Slight modification of the theory enabled accurate quantification of the surface pressure-independent apparent solubility of Cholesterol and the amount of Cholesterol desorbed into the subphase as a function of surface pressure, in the nanomolar range.
5 SERUM 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D(250HD) LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)

5 SERUM 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D(250HD) LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)
Effectiveness of clickers as a pedagogical tool in improving nursing student's examination performance

Abstract A small number of research studies exist regarding the effectiveness of clickers as a pedagogical tool, specifically in improving nursing students' examination performance in the classroom. A pretest and posttest design with a comparison group was used to determine whether there was a relationship between the use of clickers (independent variable) and nursing students' examination performance in an adult health course (dependent variable). Independent samples t tests revealed that the control group showed greater improvement in scores postintervention than did the experimental group. Therefore, the use of clickers was not effective in increasing nursing students' examination scores in an adult health course.
PRECISE CONTROL OF AN EDUCATIONAL ROBOT TO PICK AND PLACE AN OBJECT USING BOTH CONVENTIONAL AND SOLAR ENERGY

The goal of this project is to conceptualize, design, and build a reprogrammable and multifunctional Boe-Bot robot to simulate a manufacturing environment. The designed robot is completely autonomous and will navigate its way using sensors responding to the external environment. The robot will operate off its own battery power and solar power and will be governed by a computer code specifically designed to help the robot function in a manufacturing environment. The Boe-Bot robot is largely composed of two servo motors to operate the wheels, a servo motor to operate the gripper, and a Board of Education (BOE) carrier board. This motherboard is controlled by a robot coding program called BASIC Stamp. It is expected to be a great learning tool for high school and college students interested in the applications o robots in manufacturing. Index Terms - Boe-Bot, Programmable, Robot, Solar Panel, Solar Energy.
STUDIES ON BLOOD FACTORS RhA, RhB, AND RhC

Observations are described of the incidence among Caucasians and Negroes of the blood factors Rh(A), Rh(B) and Rh(C) which occur associated with the Rh(0) factor in typical Rh-positive blood. The antiserums used for the tests were derived from Rh-positive patients who had had hemolytic transfusion reactions or erythroblastotic babies. Among a large series of individuals, it was found that only rarely is any of the blood factors Rh(A), Rh(B), or Rh(C) lacking from "standard" Rh(0)-positive blood. On the other hand, about half of the specimens of Rh(0) variant blood lack one or more of the factors Rh(A), Rh(B), and Rh(C), which, when present in such blood, are also almost always variants. Judging from the incidence of specimens lacking one or more of these factors, Rh(A), Rh(B), and Rh(B) appear to be relatively independent of one another despite their association with blood factor Rh(0). Tests for factors Rh(A), Rh(B), and Rh(C) distinguish new rare varieties of Rh and Reh agglutinogens, each genetically determined by corresponding allelic genes. There is no doubt that more clinical cases will be found in which sensitized Rh-positive individuals have antibodies resembling anti-Rh(0) in specificity. Four such cases have already been studied by the present authors, and in each case the antibodies were shown to be different from anti-Rh(0) in specificity. Since they were also different from one another, they have been assigned the symbols anti-Rh(A), anti-Rh(B), anti-Rh(C), and anti-Rh(D), respectively, the first three being the antiserums used in the present study. Obviously, in order to avoid confusion of nomenclature, the specificity of antiserums from other similar cases will have to be compared with anti-Rh(A), anti-Rh(B), anti-Rh(C), and anti-Rh(D) and shown to be different from all four, as well as anti-Rh(0), before a distinctive symbol is assigned to them.
The tragedy of a comic: fundamentalists crusading against fundamentalists

Christian Fundamentalists used to read the apocalyptic scenario through the “red” filter of communism, but since the 1980s the target has shifted to the “green tide” of Islam. One of the more colorful Fundamentalist diatribes against Islam is cartoon evangelist Jack Chick’s The Prophet, a comic book that calls Islam a Satanic plot hatched by the Catholic church. This article examines the rhetoric of Christian Fundamentalist diatribe against Islam in light of apocalyptic scenarios drawn out of biblical prophecy. Chick’s comic and the millenarian Hal Lindsay’s The Late Great Planet Earth are placed in the context of doctrinal attacks on Islam in medieval Christendom. In tracing the usage of “Islamic fundamentalism,” I argue that the term “fundamentalism” is problematic for cross-cultural studies of religious expression and movements.
Status Consumption and Price Sensitivity

This paper describes a study of status consumption and price sensitivity. The pervasive desire for social prestige motivates consumers to pay higher prices for goods that confer status. We suggest that three constructs—involvement, innovativeness, and brand loyalty—mediate this relationship. We test a model using data from 409 U.S. college students. Status consumption does influence price sensitivity; and this influence is largely, but not totally, mediated by involvement, innovativeness, and brand loyalty. The results are consistent with previous studies and theories regarding these variables and attest to the importance of status consumption in consumer behavior. Understanding how such psychological constructs interact to produce their effects improves consumer theory and marketing practice.
Optimal control of a flexible robot arm

Abstract This work is a computer simulation of the control of a flexible robot arm. The dynamic equations for a single-link flexible robot arm have been derived rigorously. This arm has two degrees of freedom in rotation and one in translation so that the workspace is three-dimensional. The payload is simulated by attaching additional mass to the arm at a specified location. The governing equations of the plant and the measurements are nonlinear. The process of control is divided into two stages: coarse control and fine control. Based on the optimal control theory, a linear observer is constructed for fine control. The numerical results are presented here.
Evidence for the presence of a ganglioside transfer protein in brain.

: An extract from rat brain has been shown to catalyze the transfer of ganglioside GM1 from sonicated vesicles to erythrocyte ghosts. It also enhanced the transfer of GM1 to a crude neuronal membrane preparation, whereas myelin took up only a very limited amount. The transfer activity was heat-labile. Similar transfer activities were found in extracts from bovine gray and white matter, that of the former being comparable to rat brain whereas the latter was greater per milligram protein.
Basic Biological Sciences Remodeling of Compact Bone Studied with Lead Acetate as an Intravital Stain

Remodeling of the osteons or Haversian canal system in compact bone was studied in young monkeys that received serial injections of lead acetate as an intravital strain. The successive stages of the formation of an osteon have been demonstrated. The rate of the filling of the lamellar bone decelerated as the lumen of the Haversian canal decreased. The total formation time of individual osteons was estimated.
Production Of Ground State Atomic Oxygen In A Multifactor Stress Environment

A system for the production of ground state atomic oxygen, 0(3P), has been constructed and tested. Prime importance has been given to the use of a generation method in which the 0-atom flux could be accurately characterized with respect to both the exact identity and the absolute flux of the 0-atom species produced. Additionally, the system has been designed to permit multi-factor stress studies of test samples while they are being exposed to the 0-atom flux. A modular system of construction has been used for maximum flexibility in order to facilitate rapid changes in the experimental setup. 0(3P), atoms are produced by the well-known reaction of nitrogen atoms with nitric oxide to yield 0( 3 P) and N 2 . The reactions occurring are chemiluminescent and the reaction of N-atoms with NO is 'titrated' so that the number of oxygen atoms produced can be calculated from the measured flow rate of NO at the stoichio-metric end-point of the reaction. With all of the NO exactly consumed, the gas stream contains only helium carrier gas, a known concentration of oxygen atoms, and chemically unreactive N2. By means of a suitable excitation and detection system, the resonance fluorescence of O( 3 P) is monitored. This continuous but relative measure of 0-atom concentration is then calibrated from the absolute value of the 0-atom concentra-tion, as previously described, to provide a continuous measure of the absolute concentration of atomic oxygen at any desired location in the system. Stress factors which can be applied include UV light (4000-2000 A at 50 suns intensity), temperature (ambient to 700 K), and electrical potential (0-5) kV).
A qualitative analysis of bariatric patients' post-surgical barriers to exercise.

Research has shown that some bariatric patients overestimate post-surgical exercise levels, while others struggle with negative cognitions and follow-through on intentions to exercise; however, little exists on specific barriers affecting bariatric patients' post-surgical exercise behaviors. Considering that regular exercise is a predictor of weight loss maintenance, further research is warranted. Survey methodology was utilized to assess post-operative exercise barriers as well as beneficial post-surgical exercise services among a sample of bariatric patients solicited from an online support website. Qualitative assessment of responses was completed using inductive content analysis. Higher-order themes for exercise barriers included internal, external, and no barriers; generic categories determined for internal barriers included motivational and physical barriers. Of the participants, 78 % reported at least one internal motivational barrier, and the most frequently reported subcategorical barrier was time (28 %); physical barriers were reported related to surgery (9 %) or other chronic conditions (19 %). Higher-order themes for exercise services included positive descriptions such as benefits from exercise prescription as well as the importance of facilities and individuals, while negative descriptions included no services available or services that were unhelpful. Participants cited the benefit of community-based facilities, so providers might consider partnering with local professionals to deliver exercise services. Staff should be aware of physical barriers specific to bariatric populations including issues with post-surgical stamina and chronic comorbid conditions in order to provide appropriate exercise prescription. In addition, as motivational and time barriers occur frequently, providers should be well-trained on how to help patients overcome these impediments to exercise maintenance.
Altruistic social interest behaviors are associated with better mental health.

Objective This study investigated whether altruistic social interest behaviors such as engaging in helping others were associated with better physical and mental health in a stratified random sample of 2016 members of the Presbyterian Church throughout the United States. Methods Mailed questionnaires evaluated giving and receiving help, prayer activities, positive and negative religious coping, and self-reported physical and mental health. Results Multivariate regression analysis revealed no association between giving or receiving help and physical functioning, although the sample was highly skewed toward high physical functioning. Both helping others and receiving help were significant predictors of mental health, after adjusting for age, gender, stressful life events, income, general health, positive and negative religious coping, and asking God for healing (R2 =.27). Giving help was a more important predictor of better reported mental health than receiving help, and feeling overwhelmed by others' demands was an independent predictor of worse mental health in the adjusted model. Significant predictors of giving help included endorsing more prayer activities, higher satisfaction with prayer life, engaging in positive religious coping, age, female gender, and being a church elder. Frequency of prayer and negative religious coping were not related to giving help. Conclusions Helping others is associated with higher levels of mental health, above and beyond the benefits of receiving help and other known psychospiritual, stress, and demographic factors. The links between these findings and response shift theory are discussed, and implications for clinical interventions and future research are described.
Melatonin-induced inhibition of testicular function in adult golden hamsters.

The inhibitory effects of melatonin on the testis of the golden hamster were investigated and the effect of melatonin on photostimulated testicular growth was determined. Hamsters were housed in a room provided with 14 hours of light and 10 hours of darkness to support optimal testicular function. Silastic capsules containing crystalline melatonin were implanted. In the 1st experiment the differences in average testicular weight of hamsters without implants was compared with those who received implants and maintained them for 60-80 days. In a 2nd study sexually mature hamsters were transferred from a light/dark of 14/10 hours to a photoperiod of 6/18 hours and received a melatonin-filled 25 or 200 mm Silastic capsule. An additional 5 groups of animals were transferred to a photostimulatory light/dark of 14/10 hours at the time they received either and empty Silastic capsule or a 25 50 100 or 200 mm melatonin-filled Silastic capsule. Melatonin administered in this manner prevented or suppressed light-induced testicular recrudescence in adult golden hamsters. Melatonin given at a dose of 150 mcg/day induced marked testicular regression in sexually mature hamsters maintained on photostimulatory long days.
Underground Railroad in Philadelphia, 1830-1860:

Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, has always been recognized as the meeting ground in the nation's incessant quest for racial equality, freedom, and liberation. A natural junction on the Underground Railroad, the city was also known as an abolitionist center and had a large free Black community. From 1830 to 1860, the city witnessed unsurpassed activity as a great rail center and especially as a busy port for ships traveling northward from the South, particularly from Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. As the Underground Railroad gained more supporters among Whites and the free Black community, increased numbers of runaways headed toward Philadelphia either to stay or continue their flight toward Canada. It is reported that before 1860, nearly 9,000 runaways entered Philadelphia through various ways. However, contradictions and bigotry also were parts of Philadelphia's involvement with abolition and underground railroad. William Wells Brown, the celebrated writer and dramatist who escaped slavery three times, had claimed that, in 1854, colorphobia was more rampant in Philadelphia than it was in the city of New York,