cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corticosterone as a potential confounding factor in delineating mechanisms underlying ketamine's rapid antidepressant actions

Although ketamine represents a new line of antidepressants with unique clinical advantages, its use as a long-term treatment has limitations, particularly its dissociative psychotomimetic effects and abuse potential. In rats, we observed that a subanesthetic dose of ketamine (10mg per kg) induced a 3-fold increase in corticosterone (CORT) levels in both serum and brain tissue, within an hour of administration. This increase took place in both male and female rats, in both naive and stressed animals. However, no CORT increase was detected in rats injected with (2R, 6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), an active metabolite of ketamine, that is believed to contribute to ketamines antidepressant effect. In response to the release in CORT, ketamine injected animals displayed a significant increase in the expression of sgk1, a downstream effector of glucocorticoid receptor signaling, in the hippocampus indicating the initiation of a transcriptional program. We hypothesized this surge in CORT release was a manifestation of stress experienced by the rat in response to ketamines psychotropic effects. When sensory perception was blocked under isoflurane anesthesia, administration of ketamine did not increase circulating CORT levels as compared to animals injected with saline. Taken together, ketamine administration triggers a behavioral stress response that has downstream molecular consequences. The resulting CORT release, virtually concurrent with the timing of ketamines rapid-acting antidepressant actions, necessitates the consideration of potential involvement of this pathway when trying to dissect out the relevant molecular mechanisms underlying ketamine antidepressant action.
Effects of High-Fiber Diets and Macronutrient Substitution on Bloating: Findings From the OmniHeart Trial.

Objectives To examine the effects of high-fiber, isocaloric, macronutrient substitutions on bloating. Methods The OmniHeart study is a randomized 3-period crossover feeding trial conducted from April 2003 to June 2005. Participants were provided 3 isocaloric versions of high-fiber (∼30 g per 2,100 kcal) diet, each different in carbohydrate, protein, and unsaturated fat composition. Each feeding period lasted for 6 weeks with a 2- to 4-week washout period between diets. Participants reported the presence and severity of bloating at baseline (participants were eating their own diet) and at the end of each feeding period. Results One hundred sixty-four participants were included in the analysis (mean age: 53.1 years; 45% women; 55% black). The prevalence of bloating at baseline and at the end of the carbohydrate-rich, protein-rich, and unsaturated fat-rich diet period was 18%, 24%, 33%, and 30%, respectively. Compared with baseline, the relative risk of bloating for the carbohydrate-rich, protein-rich, and unsaturated fat-rich high-fiber diet was 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93, 1.92), 1.78 (95% CI: 1.32, 2.40), and 1.63 (95% CI: 1.17, 2.26), respectively. The protein-rich diet increased the risk of bloating more than the carbohydrate-rich diet (relative risk = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.88). Bloating did not significantly vary between protein-rich vs unsaturated fat-rich or unsaturated fat-rich vs carbohydrate-rich diets. Black participants compared with non-black participants had a higher risk of bloating after all 3 versions of the high-fiber OmniHeart diet (P-value for interaction = 0.012). Discussion Substitution of protein with carbohydrate may be an effective strategy to decrease bloating among individuals experiencing gastrointestinal bloating from a high-fiber diet.
Exploration of Mistreatment and Burnout Among Resident Physicians: a Cross-Specialty Observational Study.

Resident physician mistreatment and burnout are widespread issues in medical training, but the association between the two remains unclear. This study examines the prevalence and types of mistreatment among resident physicians in core specialties and its association with burnout syndrome as well as feelings of depression/anxiety. A cross-sectional, survey-based observational study of medical residents was conducted at the University of California, Davis Medical Center in 2014. Current residents (PGY2 or higher) in the internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, and pediatrics programs completed anonymous questionnaires addressing topics such as workplace mistreatment, feelings of depression/anxiety, and stress management. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Forty-four out of 105 residents (41.9%) witnessed mistreatment of their co-residents while 26 residents (24.8%) disclosed personal accounts of mistreatment. Seventy-one percent of residents met the criteria for burnout. Residents who had been personally mistreated were almost eight times more likely to report burnout (OR 7.6, 95% CI = 1.7–34.4) and almost four times more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression (OR 3.8, 95% CI = 1.6–9.1). Public belittlement or humiliation was the most common type of mistreatment. Encountering mistreatment was associated with higher rates of burnout, as well as depression/anxiety. While it is uncertain if mistreatment in the workplace has a causative impact on burnout syndrome, the findings reveal the need to address work-related environmental factors that may contribute to both resident physician mistreatment and burnout.
Community Benefits Agreements with Transit Agencies

Residents of Greater Boston located along the proposed Green Line rail extension have expressed concerns about potential gentrification and the resulting displacement of low-income residents. To assess these concerns, we examine the effects of the earlier Red Line extension on neighborhood demographics and housing costs. Based on our conclusion that gentrification occurred following the extension of the Red Line, we propose a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) as a tool for mitigating these effects following expansion of the Green Line. We provide a short summary of CBAs in general and then outline the bargaining structure and major provision for our proposed CBA.
English use/proficiency, ethnic discrimination, and alcohol use disorder in Hispanic immigrants.

Acculturation-related measures, often based on language, have traditionally been identified as predictors of drinking outcomes for US Hispanics. However, a sole focus on acculturation may obscure the role of societal factors such as discrimination. The present study evaluated ethnic discrimination as a mediator in the relationship between English use/proficiency and alcohol use disorder in US Hispanic immigrants. The study examined data from the 2222 self-identified Hispanic immigrant adults in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III who reported alcohol use within the past year. The study utilized multivariable binomial logistic regression analyses to test relationships between English use/proficiency and perceived ethnic discrimination; English use/proficiency and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder; ethnic discrimination and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder. Statistical mediation examined ethnic discrimination as a mediator in the relationship between English use/proficiency and alcohol use disorder. Perceived ethnic discrimination was significantly associated with alcohol use disorder in men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.99; 95% CI [confidence interval], 1.40–2.83), yet not women (AOR 1.32; 95% CI, 0.71–2.44), in a regression model that also included English use/proficiency. Perceived ethnic discrimination also acted as a partial mediator between English use/proficiency and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder for male, yet not female, Hispanic immigrants. Findings show some support for the notion that experiences of ethnic discrimination, which may accompany the process of acculturation, partially explain deteriorating drinking outcomes in Hispanic immigrant men adapting to life in the US.
The Effects of Two Mindset Interventions on Low-Income Students’ Academic and Psychological Outcomes

This study examined two widely available light-touch, writing-based mindset interventions: one that targeted students’ purpose for learning and one that aimed to increase students’ growth mindset. ...
An Introduction to Demography

WHAT IS DEMOGRAPHY? This book is an introduction to demography . A short definition of demography is the systematic and scientific study of human populations. The word demography comes from the Greek words δημος ( demos ) for “population” and γραφια ( graphia ) for “description” or “writing,” thus the phrase, “writings about population.” The term demography was first used in 1855 by the Belgian statistician Achille Guillard in his book Elements of Human Statistics or Comparative Demography (Borrie, 1973: 75; Rowland, 2003: 16). Most demographers (Hauser and Duncan, 1959; McFalls, 2007; Micklin and Poston, 2005) agree about the objectives and definition of demography. Demography is the social science that studies: (1) the size, composition, and distribution of the human population of a given area at a specific point in time; (2) the changes in population size and composition; (3) the components of these changes ( fertility , mortality , and migration ); (4) the factors that affect these components; and (5) the consequences of changes in population size, composition, and distribution, or in the components themselves. Hence, demography may be more broadly defined as the scientific study of the size, composition, and distribution of human populations and their changes resulting from fertility, mortality, and migration. Demography is concerned with how large (or how small) are the populations; how the populations are composed according to age, sex, race, marital status, and other characteristics; and how the populations are distributed in physical space (e.g., how urban and rural they are) (Bogue, 1969). Demography is also interested in the changes over time in the size, composition, and distribution of human populations, and how these result from the processes of fertility, mortality, and migration. The chapters of this book discuss these topics in much more depth and detail and will provide you with a thorough introduction to demography. I will start this first chapter with the following point: every one of us, you and I, whether we are aware of it or not, have already contributed, and will continue to contribute throughout our lives, to the subject matter of demography. I will next elaborate on the definition of demography introduced above.
Outcomes Associated With a Nurse-Driven Palliative Care Screening Tool in the Intensive Care Unit

Background Access to specialty palliative care delivery in the intensive care unit is inconsistent across institutions. The intensive care unit at the study institution uses a screening tool to identify patients likely to benefit from specialty palliative care, yet little is known about outcomes associated with the use of screening tools. Objective To identify outcomes associated with specialty palliative care referral among patients with critical illness. Methods Records of 112 patients with positive results on palliative care screening were retrospectively reviewed to compare outcomes between patients who received a specialty palliative care consult and those who did not. Primary outcome measures were length of stay, discharge disposition, and escalation of care. Results Sixty-five patients (58%) did not receive a palliative care consult. No significant differences were found in length of hospital or intensive care unit stay. Most patients who experienced mechanical ventilation did not receive a palliative care consultation (χ2 = 5.14, P = .02). Patients who were discharged to home were also less likely to receive a consult (χ2 = 4.1, P = .04), whereas patients who were discharged to hospice were more likely to receive a consult (χ2 = 19.39, P Conclusions Unmet needs exist for specialty palliative care. Understanding the methods of identifying patients for specialty palliative care and providing them with such care is critically important. Future research is needed to elucidate the factors providers use in their decisions to order or defer specialty palliative care consultation.
An Agenda for Comparative Social Media Studies: The Value of Understanding Practices From Cross-National, Cross-Media, and Cross-Platform Perspectives

We argue the descriptive fit and heuristic power of social media scholarship is much increased when incorporating a comparative turn. To this end, we offer analytical categories for organizing research that has sought to (a) rely on multicountry data from nations worldwide; (b) place the use of social media in relation to other media; and (c) examine more than one platform at a time. Building on these three strands of comparative scholarship from communication and media studies, we propose future research trajectories in comparative social media studies highlighting cross-national, cross-media, and cross-platform dimensions of social media use. Specifically, we focus on two possible pathways that seem especially fruitful: histories and languages. We conclude by reflecting on the theory-building potential of exploring the intersections across the three types of comparative work.
Using an Ordinal Approach to Compare Outcomes Between Vancomycin Versus Ceftaroline or Daptomycin in MRSA Bloodstream Infection

Vancomycin remains first-line therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections (BSI); however, its toxicity and reported clinical failures are well established. Binary efficacy endpoints evaluating alternative anti-MRSA therapies leave clinicians deciphering between segregated clinical and safety outcomes and do not provide a comprehensive patient-centered picture of comparative therapies. This study aimed to apply a novel methodology, desirability of outcomes ranking (DOOR), to compare anti-MRSA therapies. This was a single-centered, retrospective, cohort of adult patients with MRSA BSI that received vancomycin, daptomycin, or ceftaroline. A previously developed DOOR for S. aureus BSI was adjusted and applied to this cohort to compare vancomycin-treated versus daptomycin/ceftaroline-treated patients. The DOOR had five mutually exclusive ranks: (1) alive without treatment failure, infectious complications, or grade 4 adverse events (AEs); (2) alive with any one of treatment failure, infectious complications, or grade 4 AE; (3) alive with two of treatment failure, infectious complications, or grade 4 AE; (4) alive with all three treatment failure, infectious complications, or grade 4 AE; or (5) deceased. A total of 43 vancomycin-treated and 13 daptomycin/ceftaroline-treated patients were included. Baseline clinical characteristics were similar, except for higher median serum creatinine in the daptomycin/ceftaroline cohort (0.76 [IQR 0.57, 1.11] vs 1.36 [IQR 1.09, 1.91] mg/dL, P = 0.03). Patients in the daptomycin/ceftaroline cohort had a 92% probability of better outcome using DOOR methodology. Patients treated with daptomycin/ceftaroline experienced less MRSA BSI persistence (0% vs 13.9%), MRSA BSI recurrence (7.8% vs 25.6%), grade 4 AEs (23.1% vs 46.5%), and in-hospital mortality (0% vs 9.3%). Although limited by sample size, this study demonstrates the potential of DOOR to produce valuable, patient-centered results. Clinicians are encouraged to become familiar with appropriate use and interpretation of DOOR methodology as it will become an increasingly common endpoint in clinical trials.
The influence of urbanicity and built environment on the frequency of distracted driving-related crashes: a multi-state comparison

This study investigates the influence of different levels of urbanization, built environment, and socio-demographic features on the frequency of vehicle crashes associated with distracted driving (...
Analysis of Factors Associated With Length of Stay of Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits.

Introduction and Objective: Emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) is an important indicator of the quality of care in ED and is associated with patients’ outcomes and healthcare costs. However, there is limited data on how the patient characteristics affect the ED LOS of opioid-related visits. This study aims to identify and quantify the effect of patient-related characteristics on LOS of opioid-related ED visits. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of electronic health records (EHR) of patients with diagnoses of opioid abuse. The study included patients with a diagnosis of opioid abuse who visited the ED at Christiana Care Hospital from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018 (N=5,661). The opioid-related visits were identified using ICD-10 diagnosis codes. We used accelerated failure time (AFT) models, a time-to-event analysis approach to evaluate the relationships of different patient characteristics with ED LOS. Results: The mean age of the study population was 39 years. The study population had 40% female, 20% Black/African American, and 5% Hispanic or Latino. The prevalence of co-use of cocaine and co-use of alcohol was 11%, and 9%, respectively. Also, 58% had mental health comorbidity, and 1% were homeless. The distribution of ED LOS was right-skewed with a median of 4.3 (IQR: 2.6, 6.8). Co-use of alcohol (time ratio, TR: 1.31, CI: 1.23-1.40), co-use of cocaine (TR: 1.18, CI: 1.11-1.25), the presence of mental health comorbidity (TR: 1.05, CI 1.01-1.09), and homelessness (TR: 1.57, CI: 1.32-1.86) were associated with increased ED LOS. Conclusions: Co-use of alcohol, co-use of cocaine, homelessness, and mental health comorbidity are associated with the longer LOS of opioid-related ED visits.
2006 Year in Review: Constitutional Law

This chapter summarizes recent developments at the intersection of environmental, energy and natural resources law and the U.S. Constitution. Constitutional Law is playing an ever more prominent role in environmental law. In 2005, nearly two out of three federal environmental cases contained a constitutional issue. In 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court decided several important environmental cases involving constitutional questions, including those under the 5th Amendment and the Supremacy Clause. The Court is due to decide more cases that implicate environmental law during the 2005-06 term, including those containing threshold questions about the extent to which Congress can regulate activities that affect the environment under the Commerce Clause. The chapter has seven parts. Part One reports developments concerning congressional and state authority under the Commerce Clause, including last term’s Gonzalez v. Raich, and two cases before the Court this term. Parts Two, Three and Four examine developments in the federal-state relationship under environmental law and the Constitution, including the 10th and 11th Amendments, and the Supremacy Clause. Part Five explains two cases the Court decided under the 5th Amendment, Kelo and Lingle. Parts Six and Seven address developments under Article III (standing) and the Due Process Clause.
DYNAMIC BIOREACTOR MODEL TO MIMIC EARLY CARDIAC FIBROSIS IN DIABETES

In clinical diabetic cardiomyopathy, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia induce tissue injury, activation of cardiac fibroblasts and interstitial and perivascular fibrosis. Myofibroblasts repair the inj...
Neuroimaging and Invalid Neuropsychological Test Performance

Positive neuroimaging findings, when present, objectively demonstrate structural and functional brain abnormalities. Neuropsychological testing provides the framework that provides clinical correlation of abnormal brain states and their influence on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Contemporary neuroimaging utilizes a network approach to demonstrating the potential influence of brain pathology on neuropsychological test performance, including symptom validity testing (SVT) and performance validity testing (PVT). In this chapter, some basic neuroimaging and neuropathology findings in the context of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral functioning are overviewed, followed by how neuropsychological test validity and neuroimaging results inform the neuropsychological clinician about test validity. The chapter first examines how regional as well as global pathology may influence SVT and PVT measures and their interpretation. A number of case examples are provided, demonstrating why given certain neuroimaging findings, considerations about cut-scores and explanation of the results may require individualized commentaries about validity, rather than a blanket interpretation. The next section discusses neuroimaging results in forensic settings and the role of SVT/PVT findings within the context of abnormal neuroimaging. Again, case examples are given. The last section overviews experimental paradigms using various functional neuroimaging techniques in the detection of malingering and the potential for future functional neuroimaging in assessing SVT/PVT measures.
Memantine Improves Recovery After Spreading Depolarization in Brain Slices and can be Considered for Future Clinical Trials.

Spreading depolarization (SD) has been identified as a key mediator of secondary lesion progression after acute brain injuries, and clinical studies are beginning to pharmacologically target SDs. Although initial work has focused on the N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine, there is also interest in alternatives that may be better tolerated. We recently showed that ketamine can inhibit mechanisms linked to deleterious consequences of SD in brain slices. The present study tested the hypothesis that memantine improves recovery of brain slices after SD and explored the effects of memantine in a clinical case targeting SD. For mechanistic studies, electrophysiological and optical recordings were made from hippocampal area CA1 in acutely prepared brain slices from mice. SDs were initiated by localized microinjection of K+ in conditions of either normal or reduced metabolic substrate availability. Memantine effects were assessed from intrinsic optical signals and extracellular potential recordings. For the clinical report, a subdural strip electrode was used for continuous electrocorticographic recording after the surgical evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma. In brain slice studies, memantine (10–300 µM) did not prevent the initiation of SD, but impaired SD propagation rate and recovery from SD. Memantine reduced direct current (DC) shift duration and improved recovery of synaptic potentials after SD. In brain slices with reduced metabolic substrate availability, memantine reduced the evidence of structural disruption after the passage of SD. In our clinical case, memantine did not noticeably immediately suppress SD; however, it was associated with a significant reduction of SD duration and a reduction in the electrocorticographic (ECoG) suppression that occurs after SD. SD was completely suppressed, with improvement in neurological examination with the addition of a brief course of ketamine. These data extend recent work showing that N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists can improve recovery from SD. These results suggest that memantine could be considered for future clinical trials targeting SD, and in some cases as an adjunct or alternative to ketamine.
An integrated partitioning and synthesis system for dynamically reconfigurable Multi-FPGA architectures

This paper presents an integrated design system called SPARCS (Synthesis and Partitioning for Adaptive Reconfigurable Computing Systems) for automatically partitioning and synthesizing designs for reconfigurable boards with multiple field-programmable devices (FPGAS). The SPARCS system accepts design specifications at the behavior level, in the form of task graphs. The system contains a temporal partitioning tool to temporally divide and schedule the tasks on the reconfigurable architecture, a spatial partitioning tool to map the tasks to individual FPGAs, and a high-level synthesis tool to synthesize efficient register-transfer level designs for each set of tasks destined to be downloaded on each FPGA. Commercial logic and layout synthesis tools are used to complete logic synthesis, placement, and routing for each FPGA design segment. A distinguishing feature of the SPARCS system is the tight integration of the partitioning and synthesis tools to accurately predict and control design performance and resource utilizations. This paper presents an overview of SPARCS and the various algorithms used in the system, along with a brief description of how a JPEG-like image compression algorithm is mapped to a Multi-FPGA board using SPARCS.
Use of the PleuralPort Device for Management of Pleural Effusion in Six Dogs and Four Cats

Objective To describe the placement technique, complications, and outcomes associated with use of the PleuralPort device for management of pleural effusion in dogs and cats. Study Design Case Series. Animals Six dogs and 4 cats. Methods Medical records of all animals with pleural effusion managed with the PleuralPort device were reviewed. Data regarding signalment, fluid analysis, placement technique, duration of function, duration of implantation, complications, and outcome were collected. Owners and referring veterinarians were contacted for follow-up information. Results Nine animals had chylous effusion and 1 dog had pleural carcinomatosis. Eleven ports were placed with 1 cat receiving bilateral ports. Four animals developed complications. One cat developed pneumothorax immediately after implantation and was euthanatized. In 2 dogs and 1 cat, the ports obstructed. The 6 remaining animals had functioning ports at time of death or resolution of effusion and no longer required use of the port. No significant port migration, irritation, or infection of the device was reported. Excluding the cat with pneumothorax, median duration of port function was 20 days (range 1–391), and median duration of port implantation was 391 days (range 6–723). Conclusions The PleuralPort device is a feasible option for the management of pleural effusion in dogs and cats.
An Adaptive Optimal Multimedia Network Transmission Control Scheme

In this paper, we present a sender-driven adaptive optimal multimedia network transmission control scheme, which takes into account the buffer occupancy and network delay to maximize the utilization of network resources. For this purpose, adaptive network resource optimization with quadratic costs is used in the proposed scheme to provide the minimal allocation of the bandwidth and achieve the maximal utilization of the client buffer. Simulation results show that the transmission rate can be dynamically adjusted at the server according to the changing network delays and buffer packet sizes at the client to avoid the loss of packets, and at the same time to achieve the minimal bandwidth allocation at maximal utilization of the client buffer.
Incremental Validation of XML Documents

We investigate the incremental validation of XML documents with respect to DTDs and XML Schemas, under updates consisting of element tag renamings, insertions and deletions. DTDs are modeled as extended context-free grammars and XML Schemas are abstracted as "specialized DTDs", allowing to decouple element types from element tags. For DTDs, we exhibit an O(m log n) incremental validation algorithm using an auxiliary structure of size O(n), where n is the size of the document and m the number of updates. For specialized DTDs, we provide an O(m log2 n) incremental algorithm, again using an auxiliary structure of size O(n). This is a significant improvement over brute-force re-validation from scratch.
Interacting data services for distributed earthquake modeling

We present XML schemas and our design for related data services for describing faults and surface displacements, which we use within earthquake modeling codes. These data services are implemented using a Web services approach and are incorporated in a portal architecture with other, general purpose services for application and file management. We make use of many Web services standards, including WSDL and SOAP, with specific implementations in Java. We illustrate how these data models and services may be used to build distributed, interacting applications through data flow.
Effect of Histoplasmosis on Antibody Response to an Erythrocyte Antigen

Abstract Infection of mice with Histoplasma capsulatum depressed their ability to form agglutinins against foreign erythrocytes. Animals previously inoculated with 108 yeast cells of H. capsulatum showed the most significant depression, occurring when erythrocytes were injected 8 days after infection. The average log2 hemagglutinin titer was 2.7 compared to 8.0 for the control (noninfected) group. In general, depression of hemagglutinin response in all infected mice was greatest 8 days after infection, but response was back to near normal after 16 days and stayed at that level for the remaining time tested (24 days).
Coordinated control for highly reconfigurable systems

The remarkable drop in the cost of embedded computing, sensing, and actuation is creating an explosion in applications for embedded software. As manufacturers make use of these technologies, they attempt to reduce complexity and contain cost by modularizing their systems and building reconfigurable products from simpler but smarter components. Of particular interest have recently been highly reconfigurable systems, i.e., systems that can be customized, repaired, and upgraded at a fine level of granularity throughout their lifetime. High reconfigurability is putting new demands on the software that is dynamically calibrating, controlling, and coordinating the operations of the system's modules. There is much promise in existing software approaches, in particular in model-based approaches; however, current techniques face a number of new challenges before they can be embedded in the kind of real-time, distributed, and dynamic environment found in highly reconfigurable systems. Here, we discuss challenges, solutions, and lessons learned in the context of a long-term project at PARC to bring such techniques to a highly reconfigurable paper path system.
Applications of ethylene technology to climacteric fruits: a progress report.

The large losses that occur to stored perishable fruits and vegetables justify the significant effort that researchers have placed into the problem. Historically, efforts have focused on controlling postharvest handling and storage conditions of existing materials. In parallel, breeders have attempted to develop varieties with longer keeping properties. These latter efforts have focused principally out of necessity on firmness, with the trend being toward developing fruits that are harder and resist handling better. In recent years, biotechnology has been utilized to complement the existing tools available to breeders and seed companies. Most of the early efforts of biotechnology were focused on tomato. This is because of the wealth of molecular and physiological knowledge that has been amassed as well as the relative ease of genetic manipulation and the simple fact that tomato is a major horticultural crop around the world.
A comprehensive empirical comparison of modern supervised classification and feature selection methods for text categorization

An important aspect to performing text categorization is selecting appropriate supervised classification and feature selection methods. A comprehensive benchmark is needed to inform best practices in this broad application field. Previous benchmarks have evaluated performance for a few supervised classification and feature selection methods and limited ways to optimize them. The present work updates prior benchmarks by increasing the number of classifiers and feature selection methods order of magnitude, including adding recently developed, state-of-the-art methods. Specifically, this study used 229 text categorization data sets/tasks, and evaluated 28 classification methods both well-established and proprietary/commercial and 19 feature selection methods according to 4 classification performance metrics. We report several key findings that will be helpful in establishing best methodological practices for text categorization.
Inhibition of Tooth Eruption in the Rat by a Bisphosphonate

Studies of osteopetrotic rodents suggest that localized alveolar bone resorption must occur if the tooth is to To test this hypothesis directly, we injected postnatal rats with pamidronate, a bisphosphonate that reduces bone resorption by osteoclasts, The results of these experiments demonstrate that this bisphosphonate inhibits the time of tooth of both rat molars and incisors. Pamidronate does not inhibit the gene expression of the putative tooth eruption molecules, colony-stimulating factor-1 and c-fos, both of which are expressed in the dental follicle, the tissue that is required for eruption to occur. Pamidronate does increase the size of the osteoclasts, including an increase in the number of nuclei, suggesting that the precursor mononuclear cells can still fuse to form osteoclasts despite the reduced ability of the osteoclasts to resorb bone, Thus, we report the discovery of an agent that inhibits tooth eruption and also show that tooth eruption requires alveolar bone resorption.
Surgical residents as communicators: Dealing with difficult patients

Introduction Surgical residents are often faced with the challenging task of communicating with difficult patients, receiving little formal training. We used standardized patients to assess resident's ability with this task, as well as to evaluate stress levels and insight into their performance. Methods Twenty-four surgical residents participated in 3 standardized patient (SP) encounters that required them to deliver bad news and deal with angry patients. Residents completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after difficult SP encounters. The residents and the SPs completed post-session evaluations. Statistical analysis was done with Pearson's correlation as well as T-tests. Results Stress levels inversely correlated with performance for senior residents (Pearson −0.56, p=0.04) but correlated positively for junior residents (Pearson 0.49, p=0.15). Junior residents comprised 62% of the overall top third performance, but often underscored their abilities. 80% of juniors scored above average for communication, compared to 50% of seniors. SPs reported that they would follow resident recommendations in 65% of cases (90% juniors and 62% seniors), and 67% would recommend the resident to a friend (90% juniors, 50% seniors). 64% of juniors and 33% of seniors would recommend the exercise to other residents. Conclusions High-performing senior residents had low stress and more insight into their abilities, likely because of prior experience with difficult patient scenarios. Conversely, high-performing junior residents were more stressed than their colleagues, possibly asserting more effort. Overall, this was a valuable learning experience in dealing with difficult patient scenarios, likely better suited to junior residents.
Using Nail Polish to Teach about Gender and Homophobia

How might teachers help students investigate the relationship between gender and homophobia? This article describes an exercise that uses fingernail polish to do just that. The authors uses anecdotal evidence to describe the exercise in which students pair with someone of the opposite gender and paint each other’s fingernails. Additionally, the author uses a randomly selected sample of 19 students to formally evaluate the teaching goals of this assignment. Students regard the nail polish assignment favorably, with average scores ranging from 3.37 to 4.26 (out of 5). The evaluation and anecdotal evidence confirms a continuing need to address homophobia in everyday life and in the classroom. This activity offers an innovative approach to doing so
Effects of 1α-Hydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, 1,24,25-Trihydroxyvitamin D3, and 1,25,26-Trihydroxyvitamin D3 on Mineral Metabolism and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in Dairy Cows

Six mature, nonlactating, nonpregnant Jersey cows were treated with five 1-alpha-hydroxylated metabolites of vitamin D3 to compare relative potencies of the metabolites. Blood plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D peaked at about 1000 pg/ml 12 h after intramuscular injection of 500 micrograms 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 but returned to preinjection concentration within 3 to 4 days. Administration of 500 micrograms 1-alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 intramuscularly led to a gradual increase in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration to 500 pg/ml 48 h after treatment. When 500 micrograms of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 were given orally, plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D peaked at about 200 and 100 pg/ml, respectively. The decline from peak concentrations occurred more slowly after oral treatment than after intramuscular treatment. Plasma calcium was increased by 20 to 30% for a week or more, depending on 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations in plasma. All treatments resulted in calciuria. Treatment with 1 or 3 mg doses of 1,24(R),25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 or both carbon-25 stereoisomers of 1,25,26-trihydroxyvitamin D3 induced smaller and less protracted changes in plasma minerals.
Simple method for approximating Mie scattering.

A simple analytic method is provided for approximating Mie theory over an experimentally accessible range of angles and particle sizes. The approximate and Mie results for scattering by spheres with circumference-to-incident-wavelength ratios of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 are compared for angles between 0° and 60°
Dollars, disease, and democracy: Has the Director's Council of Public Representatives improved the National Institutes of Health?

Abstract The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) was established in 1998 as an advisory council to the NIH director and NIH's only wholly “public” advisory group. COPR's stated objective was, and remains, to strengthen and formalize public input into funding-allocation decisions for biomedical research by the NIH, the single largest sponsor of such research. Yet, to date, COPR's work and effectiveness have not been carefully explored. In beginning to fill this void, my goal is to contribute to the understanding of public involvement in the distribution of health research dollars. More specifically, I show that COPR has failed to promote public participation in the apportionment of biomedical research funds, but that it has been beneficially effective in some respects and likely could — and arguably should — be made more effective. The essay draws on interviews I conducted with former COPR members and discussions I initiated with executive branch employee...
Modelling and control of an automated vehicle

SUMMARY We present a vehicle model that includes the vehicle dynamics and a vehicle tire model. The model developed is then used for conducting steering analysis of an automated vehicle. We test the developed model on a step lane change maneuver and propose a model-reference based controller for remote control of a vehicle. Stability analysis of the closed-loop system using die Lyapunov approach is included.
Do job characteristics mediate the relationship between SES and health? Evidence from sibling models ☆

Abstract We focus on physical and psychosocial job characteristics as mediators in the link between education, earnings, and occupational standing and self-assessed overall health, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health problems, and depression. From sociological research on the stratification of employment outcomes, we expect that people with less education also have lower earnings and lower levels of occupational standing, and have more physically and psychosocially demanding jobs. From the occupational stress, ergonomics, and job design literatures, we expect that physically and cognitively demanding jobs and jobs with varying amounts of control are associated with health outcomes. Consequently, we expect to find that job characteristics play an important mediating role in associations between SES and health. To address these hypotheses, we use data on sibling pairs from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. We find support for our hypotheses, although the extent to which job characteristics mediate SES–health relationships varies across health outcomes and by gender.
Self-diffusion of poly(p-phenyleneethynylene)s in dilute solution determined by pulsed-field-gradient NMR

Abstract Self-diffusion of poly[(2,5-didodecyl- p -phenylene)ethynylene]s (didodecyl-PPE) was measured in dilute CDCl 3 by pulsed-field-gradient NMR spectroscopy. The reduced versions of these didodecyl-PPEs, poly[2,5-didodecyl- p -xylylene]s (didodecyl-PPX), were also examined as random-coil analogs of equivalent chain lengths (14–120 repeat units). The coefficients for infinite-dilution self-diffusion ( D 0 ) and their concentration dependence ( k F ) were determined from plots of the self-diffusion coefficients versus concentration. These quantities were fit to power laws with molecular weight ( M 0 ) and their scaling constants determined from double-logarithmic plots. For didodecyl-PPX, D 0 scales with M 0 by −0.50±0.03 ( ν ) and k F scales with M 0 by 0.51±0.08 ( α ), consistent with a random-coil conformation for this polymer in solution. For didodecyl-PPE, D 0 scales with M 0 by −0.71±0.06 ( ν ) and k F scales with M 0 by 0.96±0.06 ( α ), indicative of a semiflexible rod-like macromolecule.
Split-thickness skin graft donor site management. A randomized prospective trial comparing a hydrophilic polyurethane absorbent foam dressing with a petrolatum gauze dressing.

Objective: Traditionally, skin graft donor sites have been covered with fine-mesh gauze dressings, and a dry eschar has been allowed to form. Newer dressings that can provide a moist wound environment may facilitate reepithelialization. We compared a hydrophilic semipermeable absorbent polyurethane foam dressing that provides a moist wound environment with a petrolatum gauze dressing for donor sites. Design: Prospective randomized trial; follow-up at 14 days. Setting: Department of head and neck surgery in a tertiary care center. Patients: Sixty-eight eligible patients received one of the two dressings. Harvested skin grafts were 0.375-mm (0.015-in) thick; donor site surface areas were recorded. At postoperative day 14, the dressings were removed, and wound epithelialization was scored: 1, none; 2, scattered or spotty; and 3, complete. Donor site and operative site pain intensities were assessed by a visual numeric scale: none (0) to the worst (100) experienced over the preceding 24-hour period. Pain scores were available for 58 patients. Main Outcome Measures: Dressings were compared based on these criteria: healing at 14 days, infection, and donor site and operative site pain. Results: A healing score of 3 was seen in 37% (14/38) of patients with hydrophilic semipermeable absorbent polyurethane foam dressings and in 17% (5/30) of patients with petrolatum gauze dressings ( P =.06) by day 14. Overall, however, mean healing scores were similar in both groups. Mean healing scores for the patients who received a hydrophilic semipermeable absorbent polyurethane foam dressing was 2.3 (SD=0.6) vs 2.2 (SD=0.6) for patients who received the petrolatum gauze dressing ( P =.20). Numbers of days required for complete epithelialization in these groups were 20.6 (SD=10.1) and 19.3 (SD=5.1), respectively ( P =.49). One infection occurred in the group who received the petrolatum gauze dressing. The mean maximum pain intensity scores were lower for those who were given the hydrophilic semipermeable absorbent polyurethane foam dressing on postoperative days 1 through 3 ( P =.003,.03, and.04, respectively). Pain increased with a larger donor site surface area for the patients with the petrolatum gauze dressing but not for the patients with the hydrophilic semipermeable absorbent polyurethane foam dressing. Conclusions: The hydrophilic semipermeable absorbent polyurethane foam dressing appears to have potential advantages over the petrolatum gauze dressing: it produces less initial patient donor site discomfort and tends to produce more complete donor site healing by postoperative day 14. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995;121:1145-1149)
Optical properties of CdSe superlattices

Three-dimensional, faceted assemblies of CdSe nanocrystals were grown to microscopic sizes sufficient for identification and direct characterization. Analyses made by optical, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy showed that individual, faceted superlattices are composed of nearly single-size nanocrystals assembled into fcc lattices. Photoluminescence was measured in individual superlattices, and the results were compared to the same measurements made in amorphous solid layers and solutions of nanocrystals. Differences in the shape and peak positions of photoluminescence spectra are explained by energy transfer processes determined by nanocrystal size distribution, structure of solid layers, and presence of aggregates in solutions.
Everyone comes from somewhere: systemic lupus erythematosus and Epstein-Barr virus induction of host interferon and humoral anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 immunity.

As surely as we can infer that all progeny have had parents, we can be confident that the diseases at present thought to be “idiopathic” have origins in the differential effects of environment and genetics that await discovery.
Sorption capacity estimation for activated carbon packed columns

Abstract Rate and capacity data were collected for sorption of Rhodamine B dye on an activated carbon with constant dye concentrations of 100, 250 and 1000 μg 1 at I -1 at 25°C. A correlation between (1) unfilled sorption capacity and sorption rate, and (2) ultimate sorption capacity and dye concentration were developed which could be used to estimate dye concentrations in a larger scale packed column at any point using a model that assumes that a column is composed of finite increments of packing which are subjected to an essentially constant dye concentration under plug flow conditions.
Lean low NOx combustion concept evaluation

To investigate the potential of using the lean combustion concept to significantly reduce the emission of NO x from gas turbine combustors, a data analysis was conducted. The combustor tested comprises a prechamber in which the fuel is vaporized and mixed with air, pilot chamber, and main combustion chamber. A variable geometry feature is used to closely control the stoichiometry in the primary combustion zone to stay within the required operating limits. The combustor operating conditions used in the tests cover ranges of 1000 to 1200 K, and 0.004 to 0.01 for air inlet temperature and overall fuel/air ratio, respectively. The testing of the combustor showed that the NO x formation is sensitive to the variablegeometry position that determines the air flow split between the primary and dilution zones. An expression based on residence time and reaction rates in the combustion zones was derived to define the range of operation that gives acceptable NO x for future applications. The calculated overall NO x emissions, that combine the contributions from both the pilot and the main chambers agree well with the data. The details of the combustor flow field that directly impact the NO x formation were examined using a 3-D combustor performance model. This model combines the finite volume computations with empirical expressions. By this means, optimum operating parameters for minimum NO x emissions and satisfactory performance at all power modes, could be defined.