cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Delayed Nausea and/or Vomiting in Patients Treated With Oxaliplatin-Based Regimens for Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: To measure the prevalence of nausea and vomiting 2 to 5 days after oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Sixty-four patients (55% men; 44% women) enrolled onto this cross-sectional study. Fifty-three (83%) had colon cancer and received oxaliplatin biweekly. Eleven (17%) had rectal cancer and received oxaliplatin weekly. We collected data on 23 patients for thefirst cycle and on 41 patients for the first two cycles, for a total of 105 cycles. Nausea and vomiting was graded using Common Toxicity Criteria. Patients maintained a 7-day postinfusion diary of nausea and vomiting and antiemetic use. Results: All patients received antiemetics and steroids on day 1 of each cycle. For patients with data collected for both cycles, the occurrence of nausea was the same during cycles one and two. Thirty-nine percent used rescue antiemetics in cycle one, and 34% did so in cycle two. Sixty-eight percent of men reported no nausea in cycle one compared with 33% of women; for cycle two, these figures were 67% and 36%, respectively. Eighty-nine percent of patients reported no vomiting in cycle one, and 85% did so in cycle two. Seven patients (11%) had a history of motion sickness; 13 of 28 women (46%) reported history of pregnancyinduced morning sickness. Palonosetron slightly but significantly reduced the occurrence of nausea. Female sex and history of chemotherapy were significant risk factors for nausea. Conclusion: Delayed nausea associated with oxaliplatin was well controlled and evenly divided between grades 1 and 2; vomiting was rare. Factors associated with nausea were intrinsic to the patient and mostly unrelated to the antiemetics used. Sex and previous experience with emesis should be considered for efficient antiemetic management.
Role of Factor H Binding Protein in Neisseria meningitidis Virulence and Its Potential as a Vaccine Candidate To Broadly Protect against Meningococcal Disease

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative microorganism that exists exclusively in humans and can cause devastating invasive disease. Although capsular polysaccharide-based vaccines against serogroups A, C, Y, and W135 are widely available, the pathway to a broadly protective vaccine against serogroup B has been more complex. The last 11 years has seen the discovery and development of the N. meningitidis serogroup B (MnB) outer membrane protein factor H binding protein (fHBP) as a vaccine component. Since the initial discovery of fHBP, a tremendous amount of work has accumulated on the diversity, structure, and regulation of this important protein. fHBP has proved to be a virulence factor for N. meningitidis and a target for functional bactericidal antibodies. fHBP is critical for survival of meningococci in the human host, as it is responsible for the primary interaction with human factor H (fH). Binding of hfH by the meningococcus serves to downregulate the host alternative complement pathway and helps the organism evade host innate immunity. Preclinical studies have shown that an fHBP-based vaccine can elicit serum bactericidal antibodies capable of killing MnB, and the vaccine has shown very encouraging results in human clinical trials. This report reviews our current knowledge of fHBP. In particular, we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of fHBP, its importance to N. meningitidis, and its potential role as a vaccine for preventing MnB disease.
Topological Vector Spaces

While normed linear spaces presently appear to be sufficiently general for most theoretical work in economics, mathematicians have found the more general concept of a topological vector space to be quite useful. Consequently, it appears to be very worthwhile for us to be familiar with at least the rudiments of the theory of such spaces. In this chapter we will develop just that, the rudiments, beginning with the following definition.
Selective Deposition of Silicon at Room Temperature Using DC Microplasmas

This paper reports deposition of silicon at elevated and room temperatures in spatially localized areas of a microchip by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using microplasmas. The microplasmas are generated by providing dc power to thin-film Ti electrodes patterned on the microchip. Electrode arrangements include configurations in which multiple cathode elements share a single anode. At the operating pressures used, the plasma glow is confined to the region directly over the energized cathodes only, and the deposition is localized to these regions. A silane ambient allows Si to be deposited at 6.7-15.9 nm/min using cathode power densities of 3.65-9.35 W/cm2, with the substrate heated to 300degC. At room temperature, deposition rates up to 4.2 nm/min are realized. Also described is a plasma-coupling technique that permits isolated metal pads to be powered by plasma spreading from a proximate cathode at certain levels of power and pressure. This permits controlled variations of silicon thickness in a subarray of unbiased electrodes, simplifying the powering scheme.
Street-level noise in an urban setting: assessment and contribution to personal exposure

Background: The urban soundscape, which represents the totality of noise in the urban setting, is formed from a wide range of sources. One of the most ubiquitous and least studied of these is street-level (i.e., sidewalk) noise. Mainly associated with vehicular traffic, street level noise is hard to ignore and hard to escape. It is also potentially dangerous, as excessive noise from any source is an important risk factor for adverse health effects. This study was conducted to better characterize the urban soundscape and the role of street level noise on overall personal noise exposure in an urban setting. Methods: Street-level noise measures were obtained at 99 street sites located throughout New York City (NYC), along with data on time, location, and sources of environmental noise. The relationship between street-level noise measures and potential predictors of noise was analyzed using linear and logistic regression models, and geospatial modeling was used to evaluate spatial trends in noise. Daily durations of street-level activities (time spent standing, sitting, walking and running on streets) were estimated via survey from a sample of NYC community members recruited at NYC street fairs. Street-level noise measurements were then combined with daily exposure durations for each member of the sample to estimate exposure to street noise, as well as exposure to other sources of noise. Results: The mean street noise level was 73.4 dBA, with substantial spatial variation (range 55.8-95.0 dBA). Density of vehicular (road) traffic was significantly associated with excessive street level noise levels. Exposure duration data for street-level noise and other common sources of noise were collected from 1894 NYC community members. Based on individual street-level exposure estimates, and in consideration of all other sources of noise exposure in an urban population, we estimated that street noise exposure contributes approximately 4% to an average individual’s annual noise dose. Conclusions: Street-level noise exposure is a potentially important source of overall noise exposure, and the reduction of environmental sources of excessive street- level noise should be a priority for public health and urban planning.
Selection of Best Projection from 3D Star Coordinate Projection Space using Energy Minimization and Topology Preserving Mapping

This paper presents two algorithms for autonomously selecting the best projection among all possible configurations when projecting a high-dimensional (HD) data set on to a 3-dimensional (3D) space using 3D star coordinate projection (3D SCP). The proposed automated algorithms use two different objective functions that minimize the stress and preserve the pair wise distance among data points before and after the projection. The objective functions follow the principle of preserving topology similar to the multidimensional scaling (MDS). The concept of topology preserving mapping is found to be effective in autonomously selecting the best projection using the 3D SCP for visualization. Empirical analyses on artificial and real datasets are performed to show the utility of the proposed methods and their performances were also compared against linear and nonlinear projection-based visualization algorithms.
Hot‐Pressing of MgO with NaF

The results of using NaF additives in hot-pressing MgO are described and compared with the results when LiF is used. To obtain nearly theoretical density, the temperatures required for hot-pressing with NaF are ∼100°C higher than those required with LiF. Specimens made with NaF were generally translucent after hot-pressing or subsequent annealing. Sodium fluoride inhibits grain growth and can produce a duplex grain structure, whereas LiF enhances grain growth during annealing. Both NaF and LiF wet MgO and lubricate it well. The present study and other investigations of fluoride densification aids indicate that the formation of a liquid phase, with resultant wetting and lubrication, is important, especially in the early stages of densification. Possible solution of anions and cations is discussed.
Intrinsic excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurones from the rat dorsal and ventral hippocampus

The hippocampus has a central role in learning and memory. Although once considered a relatively homogenous structure along the longitudinal axis, it has become clear that the rodent hippocampus can be anatomically and functionally divided into a dorsal component generally associated with spatial navigation, and a ventral component primarily associated with non-spatial functions that involve an emotional component. The ventral hippocampus (VHC) is also more sensitive to epileptogenic stimuli than the dorsal hippocampus (DHC), and seizures tend to originate in the VHC before spreading to other brain regions. Although synaptic and biochemical differences in DHC and VHC have been investigated, the intrinsic excitability of individual neurones from the DHC and VHC has received surprisingly little attention. In this study, we have characterized the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurones from the DHC and the VHC using the whole-cell current-clamp method. Our results demonstrate that somatic current injections of equal magnitude elicit significantly more action potentials in VHC neurones than DHC neurones, and that this difference stems from the more depolarized resting membrane potential (RMP; 7 mV) and higher input resistance (R(in); 46 M measured from RMP) observed in VHC neurones. These differences in RMP and R(in) were also observed in dendritic whole-cell current-clamp recordings. Furthermore, morphological reconstructions of individual neurones revealed significant differences in the dendritic branching pattern between DHC and VHC neurones that could, in principle, contribute to the lower somatic R(in) of DHC neurones. Together, our results highlight significant differences in the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurones across the longitudinal hippocampal axis, and suggest that VHC neurones are intrinsically more excitable than DHC neurones. This difference is likely to predispose the VHC to hyperexcitability.
Proinflammatory effects of oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease: role of additional angiotensin II blockade.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in causing progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). We examined the influence of add-on ANG II receptor blockade administered as losartan (50 mg/day for 1 ...
Symbolic Black Representation: An Empirical Test

Objective. Symbolic benefits are among the results attributed to increased black political participation. This research explores awareness of the race of the respondent's state senator, a precondition of receipt of symbolic benefits by the black community. African Americans unaware that their senator is black will receive no symbolic benefits from descriptive representation. Methods. Data were gathered by the Florida Survey Research Center in six southern state senate districts, of which three had black senators. Results. Most blacks—as well as most whites—represented by an African American senator were unaware of that fact. Larger percentages of both groups knew the race of their senator when he or she was white than when black. Respondents who knew their senator's name were more likely to also know the legislator's race. African Americans represented by black senators were significantly less likely to know their legislator's race. Conclusions. Black voters' awareness of the name or race of their black senator is in line with other research into voter knowledge about candidates for other offices. To the extent that having black senators provides symbolic benefits, those benefits may go to a thin strata of the politically active.
The Functional Role of Wing Corrugations in Living Systems

Questions concerning the functional role of spanwise wing corrugation in living systems are experimentally investigated. Attention was initially directed to this problem by observation of the irregular shape of many insect wings as well as other studies indicating higher lift on these wings. First, a flow visualization scheme was used to observe and photograph streamlines around two different wing sections. One of these, a sheet metal model with geometry matching that of a butterfly wing, was studied at a chord Reynolds number of 1500 and at a Reynolds number of 80 based on corrugation depth. A steady-state recirculation region near the model leading edge was found, and the separated flow region above this recirculation zone formed a laminar reattachment to the model. A second thicker wing was corrugated on the upper surface. Closed streamlines inside these upper surface corrugations were photographed at Reynolds numbers of 8000 and 3800 based on chord length, and 200 and 90 based on corrugation depth. Reductions in pressures on the corrugated upper wing surface relative to a smooth upper wing surface were then measured.
Extending and contributing to an open source web-based system for the assessment of programming problems

This paper describes the development of a web-based programming and assessment environment for use in supporting programming fundamentals courses (CS1, CS2) taught in Java. This environment is currently linked with WeBWorK, an open source web-based system developed at the University of Rochester that is popular for administering and assessing mathematics and physics coursework, but is designed for the potential integration with other course management system (CMS) environments. In addition to the traditional multiple-choice and short answer questions that have been augmented with the extensive randomization and customization routines of WeBWorK, this new environment (called WeBWorK-JAG where JAG stands for Java Auto Grader) can automatically collect and grade free-form program fragments written in Java. Novel pedagogy has been developed based on the capabilities of this extension and preliminary classroom results are discussed in this paper. For example, when students contributed to WeBWorK by creating WeBWorK-JAG questions for their peers, they are exposed to the reality of creating comprehensive unit tests and to the wider quality assurance aspects of formulating questions and their solution sets. This work is described in the context of an emerging commercial market for web-based programming assistants and its unique contributions are summarized.
National Adoption of International Accounting Standards: An Institutional Perspective

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: Effective corporate governance requires accurate and reliable financial information. Historically, each nation has developed and pursued its own financial standards; however, as financial markets consolidate into a global market, there is a need for a common set of financial standards. As a result, there is a movement towards harmonization of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) throughout the global economy. While there has been considerable research on the effects of IFRS adoption, there has been relatively little systematic study as to the antecedents of IFRS adoption. Consequently, this study seeks to understand why some economies have quickly embraced IFRS standards while others partially adopt IFRS and still others continue to resist. Research Findings/Results: After controlling for market capitalization and GDP growth, we find that foreign aid, import penetration, and level of education achieved within a national economy are all predictive of the degree to which IFRS standards are adopted across 132 developing, transitional and developed economies. Theoretical/Academic Implications: We found that all three forms of isomorphic pressures (i.e., coercive, mimetic, and normative) are predictive of IFRS adoption. Consequently, institutional theory with its emphasis on legitimacy-seeking by social actors was relatively well supported by our data. This suggests that the IFRS adoption process is driven more by social legitimization pressures, than it is by economic logic. Practitioner/Policy Implications: For policy makers, our findings suggest that the institutional pressures within an economy are the key drivers of IFRS adoption. Consequently, policy makers should seek to influence institutional pressures that thwart and/or enhance adoption of IFRS. For executives of multinational firms, our findings provide insights that can help to explain and predict future IFRS adoption within economies where their foreign subsidiaries operate. This ability could be useful for creating competitive advantages for foreign subsidiaries where IFRS adoption was resisted, or avoiding competitive disadvantages for foreign subsidiaries unfamiliar with IFRS standards.
Entertainment Centers and the Quest for Transformation in the Periphery

AbstractThe core of the entertainment industry in almost every urban area across the globe is by historical evolution or deliberate public policy lodged in the city center. Times Square in New York and the West End of London are the most iconic of these centers, but entertainment has evolved into new sports arena formats such as Amsterdam ArenA and L.A. Live. Some of these centers develop in the core of cities, yet others evolve on the periphery of a center city. In this quest for transformation, we ask, can contemporary entertainment-oriented transformative projects create “place” and are some locations better suited for such projects? In this paper, we explain how concentrated entertainment centers develop in the United States through the interplay of public policy and market economics, we present a typology for organizing different entertainment clusters, and through a case study of L.A. Live! we demonstrate how Los Angeles created an entertainment district from scratch on the downtown periphery. We ar...
Towards universal cover decoding

In this paper, the non-codeword errors was analyzed that occur during parallel, iterative decoding with the min-sum decoder. Recently, work has been done relating the min-sum decoder to the linear programming (LP) decoder via graph covers. The LP decoder recasts the problem of decoding as an optimization problem whose feasible set is a polytope defined by the parity-check matrix of a code. It was shown that LP decoding can be realized as a decoder operating on graph covers.
A HIPERLAN Based Forwarding Algorithm for Intermittently Connected Mobile Networks

Intermittent connectivity is common in certain wireless access networks. Existing network protocols are not resilient to disruption of communication links and communication often fails when faced with sporadic connectivity. Thus in recent years there is a growing interest in Intermittently Connected Mobile Networks (also know as Mobile Opportunistic Networks) and many routing protocols have been proposed in the literature to address the problem. Most of them are evaluated under assumptions in proposed theoretical frameworks or/and through simulation. In this paper we propose a modification to the Channel Access sub layer of the Medium Access layer of the HIPERLAN/1 protocol for wireless LANs to extend its operation for intermittent connectivity. The proposal is then evaluated through simulation which takes into account realistic conditions for wireless intermittent connectivity (contention, mobility, bit errors, hidden nodes and capture).
Targeted drug delivery to magnetic implants for therapeutic applications

A new method for locally targeted drug delivery is proposed that employs magnetic implants placed directly in the cardiovascular system to attract injected magnetic carriers. Theoretical simulations and experimental results support the assumption that using magnetic implants in combination with externally applied magnetic field will optimize the delivery of magnetic drug to selected sites within a subject.
PARDA: A Fast Parallel Reuse Distance Analysis Algorithm

Reuse distance is a well established approach to characterizing data cache locality based on the stack histogram model. This analysis so far has been restricted to offline use due to the high cost, often several orders of magnitude larger than the execution time of the analyzed code. This paper presents the first parallel algorithm to compute accurate reuse distances by analysis of memory address traces. The algorithm uses a tunable parameter that enables faster analysis when the maximum needed reuse distance is limited by a cache size upper bound. Experimental evaluation using the SPEC CPU 2006 benchmark suite shows that, using 64 processors and a cache bound of 8 MB, it is possible to perform reuse distance analysis with full accuracy within a factor of 13 to 50 times the original execution times of the benchmarks.
Visualization of Uncertainty without a Mean

As dataset size and complexity steadily increase, uncertainty is becoming an important data aspect. So, today's visualizations need to incorporate indications of uncertainty. However, characterizing uncertainty for visualization isn't always straightforward. Entropy, in the information-theoretic sense, can be a measure for uncertainty in categorical datasets. The authors discuss the mathematical formulation, interpretation, and use of entropy in visualizations. This research aims to demonstrate entropy as a metric and expand the vocabulary of uncertainty measures for visualization.
Burrows and Burrow-Cleaning Behavior of House Mice (Mus musculus domesticus)

Abstract Burrow systems constructed by house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) in four large outdoor enclosures were excavated. Burrows ranged from 10–835 cm in length, contained 1–7 entrance holes and had 1–8 distinct tunnel segments and 0–5 cavities. Longer burrows had more segments, more entrances and at least one cavity. Only a few nest cavities and burrow segments contained stored food, probably because we excavated burrows in summer when food was abundant. We also recorded a novel behavior we termed ‘burrow cleaning’. During March and April we found many burrows with enlarged holes and considerable debris and/or grass deposited at burrow entrances. We propose that this burrow-cleaning behavior is designed to remove winter accumulations of older decayed material that may contain parasites. Female house mice occupy burrow systems that are longer, contain more entrances and more branches and have more cavities than burrow systems occupied by males. Possible functions of the various burrow systems include ...
Metallurgical Effects of Shock and Pressure Waves in Metals

It is a well-known fact that the mechanical response of metals depends upon the temperature, the velocity of deformation, the previous deformation undergone, and the stress state, among other parameters. As a result, various attempts have been made to incorporate these parameters into a single equation that would have the capability of predicting the response of a specific metal under a wide range of circumstances.
Dual-modality imaging and quantification of GLP-1R positive insulinoma and pancreatic beta-cell mass using a bimodal PET/fluorescence exendin-4 peptide

1172 Objectives GLP1-R targeting with exendin based peptides has shown promise for imaging of insulinomas and assessing pancreatic beta-cell mass (1,2). A dual-modality (nuclear and optical) GLP-1 ligand provides the opportunity to study GLP-1R expressing cells at the whole body level with PET and at high resolutions with optical imaging. Methods A novel sequential one-pot synthesis (radiolabeling/click reaction) is the key step in the synthesis of the multimodal imaging agent which is based on exendin-4, the chelator sarcophagine for labeling with radiometals, and a NIR fluorescent dye for optical imaging. Transgenic mice with beta-cell specific expression of EGFP and 916-1 insulinoma xenografts were used to demonstrate specificity. Results With new radiolabeling and click chemistry conditions we were able to synthesize a dual-modality imaging agent and radiolabel it with 64Cu (RCY = >95%, specific activity: 396 μCi/μg). The ligand visualized small ( Conclusions We have synthesized and characterized a new bimodal imaging agent that may be useful for pre-/and intraoperative imaging of insulinomas. Our results also demonstrate that optical imaging with a dual-modality probe can confirm specific targeting of a PET tracer at the cellular level. Research Support Supported by the Brain Tumor Center and the Imaging and Radiation Sciences Program of MSKCC (TR).
Availability of Child Care in Rural Communities: Implications for Workforce Recruitment and Retention

The objective of this study was to identify differences in child care availability by rural-urban location for all counties in Wisconsin, and describe implications for recruitment and retention of health care workforce. We used data on licensed child care slots for young children (age <5), socio-demographic characteristics, women's and men's labor force participation, and household structure for all counties in Wisconsin in 2013 (n = 72). Data came from KIDS COUNT, County Health Rankings, and the American Community Survey. We used t tests to analyze bivariate differences in child care availability and community characteristics by metropolitan, micropolitan, and non-core rural location. We then used ordinary least squares regression to analyze the relationship between geographic location and child care slots, adjusting for labor force participation and household structure. Rural counties had significantly fewer licensed child care slots per child than metropolitan and micropolitan counties. These counties also had, on average, higher rates of poverty and higher unemployment than micropolitan and metropolitan counties. The association between geographic location and child care availability remained, even after adjusting for household structure and labor force participation. The number of hours men worked and the percentage of men not working were both negatively associated with available child care slots, whereas there was not a significant relationship between women's labor force participation and child care availability. Rural areas face health care workforce shortages. Recruitment strategies to overcome shortages must move beyond individual-level incentives to focus on community context and family support, including availability of child care in rural counties.
A pilot study to assess cognition and pillbox fill accuracy by community-dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVE To assess pillbox fill accuracy and cognition among community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN A descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING Retail pharmacy. PARTICIPANTS Convenience sample of English-speaking adults older than 60 years of age without dementia, taking more than four medications, and naive to Mediset use. INTERVENTIONS In face-to-face interviews, subjects provided demographic, medical, and medication information, completed the Mini-Cog and Medi-Cog (combination of Mini-Cog and medication-transfer screen [MTS]), and filled their own medications in a pillbox. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analysis with correctly filled pill count (PC) as the dependent variable and the cognitive screens as independent variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Accuracy of the Mini-Cog, MTS, and Medi-Cog in predicting PC. RESULTS Among 50 subjects (58% female, mean age 76.4 years), only one subject failed to pass the Mini-Cog and two failed to reach the criterion level of correctly filled PC. The mean (standard deviation) Mini-Cog score for the sample was 4.38 (0.81), MTS score was 4.1 (1.31), Medi-Cog score was 8.48 (1.82), and the mean PC was 97% (8%). The Mini-Cog and MTS individually accounted for about 30% of the variance (P < 0.001); the Medi-Cog accounted for 44% of the variance (P < 0.001), indicating strongest PC prediction. CONCLUSION Nearly all study participants filled pillboxes accurately. The Medi-Cog was the strongest predictor of pillbox fill accuracy. Future studies of medication self-management abilities among community-dwelling older adults should include representative samples of this population, comprehensive assessment of health status, cognitive screening, pillbox fill accuracy, and the utilization of medications in filled pillboxes.
Population Ecology of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Foothill Environment in Kern County, California: Temporal Changes in Male Relative Abundance and Swarming Behavior

Male Culex tarsalis Coquillett swarm during the transition in illumination at dusk and dawn. Swarms formed earlier in spring and fall than in midsummer and lasted longer in relation to sunset. The time of swarm formation expressed in crepuscular units was correlated positively with temperature during the mosquito season. The relative abundance of males in swarms was not correlated temporally with the abundance of males resting in red box shelters and was inversely correlated with temperature. Pairing occurred concurrently with swarming activity; however, the observed number of mating pairs seemed insufficient to account for the insemination rate in the study population. Males usually formed either “top” or “space” swarms above or between small trees or bushes, respectively, but occasionally formed “marker” swarms with changes in ground coloration. The same swarm sites were utilized repetitively; however, alternative sites such as the vehicle or the observer's head were also utilized. Data from mark-release-recapture studies indicated that male swarming continued each evening of life and that swarming within “spaces” may be selected from the natural population during colonization.
Renal tubular secretion of magnesium in dogs.

SummaryExcretion of magnesium has been studied in dogs utilizing the “stop-flow” technic and Mg28. The evidence indicates that magnesium is secreted by the distal tubule.
Medical Students' Attitudes Toward Non-Adherent Patients Before and After a Simulated Patient-Role Activity and Small-Group Discussion: Revisited.

Introduction This study seeks to explore whether the documented decline in medical student empathy can be prevented or slowed using simulated patient-role activities and small-group discussions about the patient experience of living with a chronic illness. Methods First-year students (M1, n = 118) at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine (UCFCOM) participated in a simulated patient-role activity resembling the experience of a patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The activity included taking daily “medication,” participating in moderate exercise, and maintaining a low carbohydrate diet. At the end of the simulated patient-role activity, students took part in a small-group discussion about their experiences. Students completed the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy: Student Version (JSPE:S) before and after the activity. Additionally, fourth-year students (M4) at UCFCOM completed the JSPE:S to serve as the control, as this class completed the curriculum without any simulated patient-role activities. Results A total of 86 responses out of 118 possible M1 participants (73% response rate) were received. Of these, 62 surveys were completed and were therefore used for statistical analysis. A dependent sample t-test revealed no statistically significant increase on pre-activity (M = 111.15, SD = 8.56) and post-activity (M = 111.38, SD = 9.12) empathy scores (p = .78). A positive correlation was revealed to exist between pre- and post-activity empathy scores (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Empathy comparisons for the full sample M1 post-activity results (n = 62) and the M4 results (n = 16, M = 106.56, SD = 10.61) revealed no statistically significant difference (p = .11). Discussion Although previous authors have shown that patient role-playing activities, such as those performed in this study, should maintain and/or increase empathy in medical students, our findings suggest that on a short-term scale, empathy levels were not affected by the activity.
Use of Platelet-rich Plasma in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Sinus Tracts: A Case Series

﻿Sinus tract formation is common in a wide variety of wounds and can be difficult to manage. Nonsurgical techniques for treating sinus tracts have generally been disappointing, though many nonsur- gical options have been explored including dermal matrix injection, platelet-derived growth factors, fibrin sealant, and phenytoin. This case series explores the treatment of nonhealing chronic wound-related si- nus tracts with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in a series of patients in a single center, hospital-based, chronic wound care cen- ter. Methods PRP was prepared using the Harvest SmartPRep pro- cedure. During processing, the blood was separated into two distinct chambers: one containing packed red blood cells, and the other with autologous platelet concentrate and plasma supernatant. The plasma was injected into the entire sinus tract beginning from the base of the tract. Results Nine of 12 patients healed, and three did not heal and required other interventions (excision and flap repair). All patients, ex- cept one, received only one PRP injection. One case of infection that could be directly attributed to the PRP injection was reported. All other patients experienced no pain, discomfort, or signs or symptoms of in- fection. Conclusion PRP injection can be a useful technique in cases of straight, relatively short, persistent sinus tracts.
Traumatic avulsion of the innominate and left carotid arteries: Successful repair

Traumatic rupture of the aorta or the arch vessels is a rare and frequently fatal injury. This lesion should be considered in all cases of severe chest trauma. Early aortography is essential for accurate diagnosis. Nineteen cases of avulsion of the innominate artery have been previously reported. In only two of them a second aortic arch branch had an associated injury. The case presented here is the first successful repair of a combined avulsion of both the innominate and the carotid arteries from the aortic arch. Cerebral circulation was maintained during the operation with a heparin-coated shunt from the ascending aorta to the right common carotid artery. Reconstruction was accomplished by inserting a bifurcated Dacron prosthesis from the aorta to the innominate and left carotid arteries. The use of a heparin-bonded shunt maintained cerebral perfusion, and greatly simplified the operation and avoided the risk of extracorporeal circulation and systemic anticoagulation in a patient with multiple trauma.
Spine patient outcomes research trial: do outcomes vary across centers for surgery for lumbar disc herniation?

Background Lumbar discectomy is the most common procedure performed in spine surgery. Different centers performing this procedure may have different outcomes.
Metabolic complications of urologic intestinal substitutes.

SUMMARY Metabolic derangements are a frequent accompaniment of bowel interpositions in urologic surgery. The incidence of metabolic complications secondary to these procedures is a function of the absorptive capacity of the bowel segment used, the surface area of the bowel in contact with the urine, the length of time the urine is in contact with the bowel, and the patient's inherent ability to handle an added electrolyte insult. Each of these factors must be considered when contemplating bowel interposition in the urinary tract.
Microvascular Free Flaps for Soft-Tissue Defects

Included in this discussion of microvascular free flaps for soft-tissue defects is an examination of the oral and pharyngeal lining, the epithelial-line conduit between the oropharynx and esophagus, skull-base defects, total glossectomy defect, facial augmentation, external skin coverage, and muscle transfer.
Fractures of the femoral shaft and associated ipsilateral fractures of the hip.

Summary 1. Ipsilateral hip and femur fractures are uncommon injuries. 2. Fractures of the femur require routine x-ray evaluation of the joint above and below the obvious injury to rule out hip fracture or patellar injuries. 3. Open reduction and internal fixation constitute the treatment of choice for the hip fracture in these patients. 4. The femoral shaft can be treated with traction or internal fixation. 5. If a patellar fracture occurs with this combination of injuries, the fracture of the hip and femoral shaft should be treated with internal fixation. The patellar fracture is treated by excision or repair, as indicated.
Effect of ammonia on the agglomeration of zirconia nanoparticles during synthesis, and sintering by spark plasma sintering

Abstract Synthesis conditions have important impacts on the properties of ultrafine nanoparticles; understanding the interdependences of such properties on specific synthetic parameters can lead to controlled and optimized products. Here we discuss the effect of coprecipitation conditions during the synthesis of ultrafine yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nanoparticles and gadolinium doped YSZ. We focused on the effect of ammonia concentration as precipitating agent. Although based on the nucleation theory one expects smaller particle sizes for higher concentrations of NH4OH, the usage of 1 M or 5 M of NH4OH lead to similar grain sizes (
WINDS Agricultural Simulations

This chapter demonstrates the use of WINDS for modeling crops, ET, and water content in agriculture. The chapter describes the WINDS algorithms for infiltration, evapotranspiration, crop stress, dry and wet zones in fields, and remote sensing. Infiltration can be specified as a fixed depth or calculated with the Green-Ampt infiltration model inside the WINDS model. Evapotranspiration is calculated with the dual component evapotranspiration model. Yield reduction is based on water stress and the sensitivity to water stress during the growing season. Fields with drip irrigation or alternative furrow irrigation can be modeled as partially wetted fields, which can provide a better estimate of available water capacity in some cases. Two case studies are presented. The WINDS model is used to schedule irrigations in a cotton remote sensing experiment in Maricopa, Arizona, and it is used to evaluate farming practices for a rainfed farm in a tropical region. Finally, this chapter reviews the stress algorithms for salinity and nitrogen in the WINDS model.
Abnormalities in Electrocardiogram Secondary to Systemic Pathology

The electrical findings on an electrocardiogram are influenced by many systemic aberrations affecting the heart. This chapter reviews ECG changes associated with abnormal electrolytes, those secondary to systemic diseases, and changes secondary to pharmacological agents. This chapter is a valuable resource for pediatric cardiologists and pediatricians when assessing the effect of a disease or pharmacological agent on the cardiovascular system.
Brachytherapy Should Not be Omitted When Treating Locally Advanced Neuroendocrine Cervical Cancer with Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy

Abstract Purpose Neuroendocrine cervical cancer is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis, yet there is a paucity of data to guide treatment decisions when managing patients with this diagnosis. Specifically, there are little data to aid practitioners in deciding if there is added value to brachytherapy given the additional time, cost, discomfort, and toxicity to patients. Methods and Materials We used the National Cancer Data Base to identify women with locally advanced neuroendocrine cervical cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy to determine if the addition of brachytherapy improves outcomes in this disease. We also assessed outcomes based on chemotherapy timing in this cohort. Results We identified 100 patients with locally advanced nonmetastatic neuroendocrine cervical cancer that were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy between 2004 and 2012. There was a substantial improvement in overall survival when brachytherapy was administered in addition to external beam radiotherapy. In multivariate analysis, the addition of brachytherapy, compared with external beam radiotherapy alone, was associated with an improved median survival of 48.6 vs. 21.6 months (hazard ratio (HR), 0.475; 95% CI, 0.255–0.883; p = 0.019). We observed no difference in overall survival for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with the group who received chemotherapy started concurrently with radiation (HR, 0.851; 95% CI, 0.483–1.500; p = 0.578). Conclusions Brachytherapy should be considered an essential component of definitive chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of neuroendocrine cervical cancer. Chemotherapy timing, however, does not impact outcome.
The Treatment of Complicated and High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) with Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab (FCR).

Abstract Between November 2000 and November 2004, we treated 11 patients with the FCR regimen for complicated CLL. The median age was 64 years (51–80 years) and the median number of prior regimens received was 1(0–4). Median number of FCR cycles delivered was 4 (2–6). Four patients were treated due to active autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), three patients due to massive lymphadenopathy, two patients for short lymphocyte doubling time, one patient for active AIHA and immune thrombocytopenia and one patient for progressive splenomegaly. Two patients received only 2 cycles of FCR due to prolonged pancytopenia secondary to hypoplastic bone marrow. Four of the patients with AIHA had prior splenectomies. Overall response rate, according to NCIWG criteria, was 100% including the patients who had received only 2 cycles. One patient achieved a complete remission, seven patients achieved nodular partial remissions and three achieved partial remissions. Among the 7 patients with nodular PR's, 4 had no evidence of residual CLL by flow cytometry and are continuing to be in remission at a median follow up of 53 months. The other 3 patients with nPR who had evidence of disease by flow cytometry relapsed at a median of 23 months (16–33 months). The patient who had a CR by NCIWG criteria, still had evidence of disease by flow cytometry and relapsed at 35 months. All patients with AIHA and immune thrombocytopenia achieved a remission of their autoimmune processes, including those who failed splenectomy. Grade 3–4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia occurred in 8, 2 and 2 patients respectively. The median progression free interval was 33 months (9+ to 54 m) and the overall survival was 56 months (9+ to 56m). Four patients had expired at the time of this report due to progression of CLL(1), sepsis while still in remission(1), high grade transformation and subsequent sepsis(1) and complications of allogeneic transplant(1). Cytogenetic remissions were achieved in 7/9 patients. Three of them continue to be in remission at the time of this report with a median follow up of 53 months since initiation of therapy. Conclusion: FCR is an effective treatment regimen for CLL associated AIHA, even after failing splenectomy and can result in high response rates and prolonged remissions. Flow cytometry remission seems to correlate with prolonged disease free survival in patients achieving nodular partial remissions according to the NCIWG criteria. We suggest treatment with FCR until elimination of minimal residual disease by flow cytometry irrespective of histopathological remission.
Assessment of Mycotoxins in Vitis vinifera Wines of the Southeastern United States

Mycotoxins pose a serious worldwide threat to the safety of numerous food commodities. Red wine is prone to contamination from ochratoxin A, produced by black-spored Aspergillus spp.; it was recently discovered that some of these species can also produce the mycotoxin fumonisin B2. Although wine surveys in most world regions have determined that mean ochratoxin A levels are below the European Union’s recommended guideline maximum (2 μg/L), monitoring toxin levels in poor vintages and in emerging regions is imperative to ensure safety. The hot, humid environment of the southeastern United States proves challenging to winegrapes because of opportunistic fungal growth and high disease pressure, yet 550+ wineries exist in this expanding region. To determine the mycotoxin potential in southeastern vineyards, 30 cluster samples (representing 10 grape varieties, eight vineyards, and three states) were collected during the 2013 harvest and analyzed for ochratoxin A and fumonisins. Additionally, nearly 200 bottles of 100% southeastern U.S. red vinifera wines were tested for mycotoxins via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These wines represent 18 grape varieties grown across six states during vintages between 2001 and 2013. Only four out of 157 (2.5%) wine samples tested positive for ochratoxin A, with the highest toxin quantity being at a safe level of 0.48 μg/L. Most wines (25/27, 92.6%) contained total fumonisins (B1, B2, and B3) at extremely low concentrations (
Elasticity and Rigidity Constructs and Ratings of Subjective Workload for Individuals and Groups

Differences in workload inherent in a task have indirect and nonlinear relationships to performance differences because of coping strategies that people can deploy. Thus subjective ratings of workload have become commonplace for evaluating task workload. It has become apparent, however, that those ratings are affected by individual differences in personality and cognitive traits that correspond to a general theme of elasticity versus rigidity. Additionally, workload can originate from both the task and group dynamics when team work is involved. This study explored the relationship among 11 such constructs related to anxiety, coping, and fluid intelligence and ratings of individual and group workload. Participants were 360 undergraduates organized into 44 groups of different sizes who engaged in an emergency response (ER) simulation against one or two opponents. Regression analyses indicated that task conditions accounted for 7–10% of variance in individual workload ratings, and elasticity accounted for another 1–2% of the variance. Task conditions accounted for 2–4% of the variance in group-level workload ratings, and elasticity accounted for another 2–4%. Results support the continued investigation of elasticity-rigidity in the understanding of workload arising from the task and group dynamics.
Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy (VPSEM)

The conventional SEM must operate with a pressure in the sample chamber below ~10−4 Pa (~10−6 torr), a condition determined by the need to satisfy four key instrumental operating conditions:
Self-Esteem: An Operational Definition and Ethical Analysis:

Self-esteem can be formally defined in ways that require radically different ethical assessments. An examination of the phenomena usually associated with high self-esteem, however, allows an ethica...