cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Does it Mean to be Healthy? Hispanics in the Southeastern Idaho Agricultural Industry

In contrast to many studies of first generation Hispanics residing in the U.S., our study focused on participants of both genders who were formally employed outside the home. The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of health among southeast Idaho Hispanics employed in the agro-industry. Using qualitative methodology, we interviewed twenty participants employed at a potato processing plant. We found that men and women had differing concepts of health based upon their gender roles and the value placed on work outside the home, which influenced their willingness to access formal health care. Based on our findings, there is a need for public health officials in Idaho to collaborate with employers to develop and implement workplace clinics.
Cellular Vmax reflects both membrane properties and the load presented by adjoining cells

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the electrical load seen at a microelectrode impalement site is sensitive to the direction of propagation of the approaching wavefront as a reflection of an altered spatial relationship between the impalement site and the surrounding microscopic electrical boundaries located up- and downstream. These boundaries correspond to the different sizes and shapes of the impaled and surrounding cells as well as to the distribution of the associated electrical connections between the cells. The effects of changes in these geometric relationships on maximum rate of rise of transmembrane potential (Vmax) were investigated in canine ventricular muscle by measuring Vmax in different cells while the direction of propagation was changed from along the longitudinal axis to the transverse axis of the fibers or the direction of conduction was reversed along either of these axes. Comparison of the Vmax values for longitudinal propagation (LP) and transverse propagation (TP), each in one direction, showed that TP Vmax was significantly greater than LP Vmax (P < 0.001). However, the values of Vmax were different from cell to cell during LP (93–139 V/s) and TP (110–181 V/s). The absolute values of LP Vmax and TP Vmax at the same site varied independently of each other, e.g., some of the lowest LP Vmax values occurred at the same site as the highest TP Vmax values. Furthermore, at the same site, Vmax changed considerably when propagation was maintained along the longitudinal axis but the direction of conduction was reversed. Similar prominent changes in Vmax occurred when the direction was reversed along the transverse axis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Parametric Families of Lifetime Distributions

In this chapter, we present four parametric families of lifetime distributions: Weibull distribution, gamma distribution, change-point model, and mixture exponential distribution. They represent parametric extensions of exponential distribution under its two fundamental characteristics: constant failure rate and memoryless property. The notions of increasing (decreasing) failure rate along with a more general mixture Erlang distribution family are also introduced.
Fragmentation of C60: Experimental detection of C, C2, C3, and C4 by xuv postionization.

We report experimental evidence for the loss of neutral ${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$ from photoexcited ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ and ${\mathrm{C}}_{70}$. These species are detected by postionization with xuv radiation. Interestingly, C, ${\mathrm{C}}_{3}$, and ${\mathrm{C}}_{4}$ also are products in the nascent distribution. An upper limit to the translational energy release into C atoms has been obtained using a resonant autoionization transition. The detection of these products gives insight into the fragmentation mechanism of fullerenes and may also have an impact on the field of fullerene formation.
State-of-the-art endoscopic procedures for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the twelfth most common cancer worldwide, taking the fourth place in cancer-related mortality in western countries. Despite significant efforts in understanding the tumor biology of pancreatic cancer and introducing new technologies and therapies to improve the detection, staging and treatment of this disease, pancreatic cancer continues to have a high and almost unchanged mortality. In the last few decades, the development of techniques such as endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound have allowed us to directly access the pancreaticobiliary system and fight pancreatic cancer and its complications from different fronts. Our goal with this review is to discuss the most cutting-edge endoscopic techniques available in our armamentarium to diagnose, stage and treat pancreatic cancer.
Characterization of off Chip ESD protection devices

ESD protection devices are placed on circuit boards to protect integrated circuits from ESD stress to systems. There are no generally accepted standards for characterizing the ESD performance of such devices. This article will make recommendations for the proper procedures for characterizing off chip ESD protection devices.
Various Environmental Health Structures in California

Through an administrative approach eight models of environmental health structures are examined with special reference to the Los Angeles County Environmental Management organization. The first six models represent existing California Environmental Health structures. Models I, II, and III are examples of those existing within the health departments or agencies. Models IV, V, and VI represent environmental health structures in comprehensive environmental agencies. Three major developments affected present structural organizations and programatic content of environmental health the most. These are: the California Environmental Quality Act. California Assembly Bill 3197, and Title 17 of the California Administrative Code. Looking ahead, two alternatives for future changes in California environmental health structures are outlined in Models VII and VIII.
Direct Transcriptional Repression of BCL2 by BCL6 in Germinal Centre B Cells and Its Disruption in B Cell Lymphomas with BCL2 Locus Alterations

Abstract The human proto-oncogene BCL6 encodes a BTB/POZ-zinc finger transcriptional repressor that is required for germinal centre (GC) development and is expressed in the majority of normal GC B cells and in the majority of B cell lymphoma (B-NHL), including follicular lymphoma (FL) and a subset of diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). Deregulation of BCL6, by chromosomal translocation or somatic hypermutation, is implicated in the pathogenesis of B-NHL. The precise function of BCL6 in GC development and lymphomagenesis is still unclear also due to the very few direct BCL6 target genes that have been identified. In order to identify physiologically relevant BCL6 direct target genes, we used a novel approach combining high-throughput biochemical (ChIP-on-chip), bioinformatics (ARACNe) (Basso et al., Nature Genetics, 2005) and gene expression profile analysis (Klein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 2004) of normal GC B cells. The results (see abstract by Saito et al.) have identified a core of bona fide target genes whose promoter is bound by BCL6, whose transcription is dynamically linked to BCL6, and whose expression is down-regulated in GC B cells. Among the genes meeting these stringent criteria, we found BCL2, encoding the anti-apoptotic molecule whose expression is deregulated by chromosomal translocations or gene amplification in the majority of FL and in a subset of DLBCL. Further investigations showed that BCL6 represses BCL2 transcription by binding specific DNA sites within the BCL2 promoter region. Suppression of BCL6 expression via specific siRNAs leads to increased levels of BCL2, and, conversely, constitutive BCL6 expression prevents B cell receptor (BCR)-induced upregulation of BCL2 in B cells. Consistent with a physiological role for BCL6- mediated BCL2 suppression, immunohistochemical analysis shows that BCL2 expression is absent in GC B cells where BCL6 is highly expressed. Notably, the comparative analysis of BCL6 and BCL2 expression in B-NHL cell lines showed a conserved inverse correlation between BCL6 and BCL2 levels in cell lines carrying a normal BCL2 locus. However, cell lines carrying chromosomal translocations or amplifications affecting the BCL2 gene displayed the pathologic co-expression of both proteins, suggesting that the alterations affecting the BCL2 locus prevent BCL6-mediated suppression. These results indicate that one critical role of BCL6 is the modulation of antiapoptotic function in GC B cells via BCL2 transcriptional repression, suggesting a mechanism by which B cells may die in the GC if not rescued by BCR and CD40 engagement, both of which downregulate BCL6 while inducing BCL2 expression. Alterations of the BCL2 locus may contribute to lymphomagenesis by making the gene resistant to suppression by BCL6, and therefore allowing B cells to avoid apoptosis in the absence of antigen- and T-cell-mediated rescue.
Olaratumab for advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Olaratumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that blocks the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα). Its antagonistic behavior inhibits the receptor’s tyrosine kinase activity, thereby, turning off the downstream signaling cascades responsible for soft tissue sarcoma tumorigenesis. In October 2016, olaratumab received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its use in combination with doxorubicin for treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma.Areas covered: This drug profile takes a comprehensive look at the clinical studies leading to FDA approval of olaratumab as well as its safety and efficacy as a front-line treatment option for sarcoma patients. The literature search was primarily conducted using PubMed.Expert commentary: The combination of olaratumab plus doxorubicin has provided a new front-line therapeutic option for soft tissue sarcoma patients. An open-label phase Ib and randomized phase II trial in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma dem...
Diagnosed a Patient with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy? Now What?: Management of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

The goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the management options for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). The majority of cases of acute CSCR may be managed with observation and cessation of corticosteroids, if possible, as well as lifestyle modifications including stress reduction and control of hypertension. The management of chronic disease is more challenging and may include either medication or laser-based treatment. Management of CSCR necessitates an individualized and selective treatment approach. There is overall poor evidence for the use of systemic and intravitreal medications. From this class of treatments, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists appear to have the greatest potential. Although conventional thermal photocoagulation may be used in select cases, the most promising treatment options at this time for chronic CSCR are photodynamic therapy, either half-dose or half-fluence, and non-damaging (subthreshold) retinal laser therapy.
From needs to aspirations in information technology for development

ABSTRACT“Needs” figure prominently both in the technology sector and in international development. Both fields refer frequently to people’s needs and perform needs assessments. But, the two groups differ on what needs are. The technologist’s conception is represented in such statements as, “the user needs to see shoes in various colors on an e-commerce website.” Development focuses on more basic needs such as nutrition, health, and employment. We argue that conflating these two classes of needs is a subtle but underlying cause of myopic technological interventions. While development is increasingly understood to require changes in human capital, institutional capacity, and mass values – traits internal to people and societies – the technologist’s conception of needs suggests solutions that change external context through technological artifacts. We propose an approach to ICT and development that is focused less on needs, and more on aspirations. We rationalize aspirations as a basis for action, and presen...
Whose Story Wins on Twitter

The South China Sea dispute is one of the most complicated geopolitical issues of the twenty-first century. While this international conflict revolves around military and economic disputes, in toda...
Tailoring bismuth oxide flower-, bowtie- and brushwood-like structures through microfluidic synthesis

Abstract Bismuth oxide structures resembling flowers, bowties and brushwood-like assemblies were successfully produced utilizing microfluidic synthesis approach. The molecular length of surfactant polyethylene glycol (PEG) was critical in shaping the particle morphology, while the laminar flow in micro-channels assured the complete structures without breakage. The PEG with 200 Molecular Weight (MW) assists to produce 1–2 μm flower-like structures, while the PEG with 8000 MW yields to the highly crystalline bowtie and brushwood-like structures with up to 60 μm size. The particle morphology examination along microfluidic network coupled with fluid dynamics calculations showed that the complex structures are completed at the end of micro-channel tubes, at the residence time less than 13 s. The as-received bismuth oxide particles were tested for oxidizing activity in nano-energetic material Al-Bi2O3. The formulation containing flower-shaped structures was superior to brushwood-like oxidizer, and produced the maximum pressure discharge value of about 4.9 kPa m3 g−1, which is comparable to highest reported values in literature.
Impact of student to student peer mentoring program in first year of pharmacy program.

Abstract Background and purpose Mentoring programs, a practical tool commonly used by universities, can serve to help new students adapt to challenging college life. Peer mentorship offers the potential for professional development of student pharmacists. Educational activity and setting The Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University implemented a peer mentoring program in 2014. This study evaluates the impact of that program on new student pharmacists. A post-program survey was completed evaluating students’ career perception, emotional stability, academic success, and student perception of the program's influence on these areas. Findings The results indicated that 71.7% of respondents found the mentoring program helpful in their transition to college, and that 60.4% of respondents would “somewhat likely” or “extremely likely” stay active in the mentoring program. Discussion Peer mentorship may serve as a tool to assist student acclimation to the expectations of a professional degree program. Summary It was concluded that the pharmacy mentorship program at the Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern is making a positive impact on first-year students by engaging them in the pharmacy program and aiding their transition from high school to college.
Essentials and Future Directions of Robotic Gastric Surgery

Laparoscopy determined a revolution and a larger diffusion of gastric surgery in both benign and malignant conditions. However, there are some limitations in laparoscopic gastric surgery such as two –dimensional vision, physiologic tremor, limited manipulation, and ergonomic discomfort. Therefore, to minimize these limitations of laparoscopy, a robotic surgical system was introduced in the 1990s that helps the surgeon to perform a more accurate operation and better outcome. The purpose of this chapter is to review its technical aspects, the current status of robotic gastric surgery in all modality, outcomes and also review its comparisons with open and laparoscopic surgery and the future directions.
Cell Cycle Patterns of Mutation Induction and Their Relationship to DNA Repair

From the finding that mutation induction by ethylnitrosourea is cell-cycle independent in synchronous Chinese hamster ovary cells and from the observation that these cells do not excise O6-alkylguanine, it is concluded that enhanced mutagenesis at growing points, as observed in bacteria and yeast, is due to a repair system which removes mutagenic lesions at sites other than the DNA growing point, where immediate mutation fixation occurs.
Impact of an Outpatient Cardiology-managed Urgent Access and Observation Unit on Hospital Admissions

Introduction:Alternatives to the emergency department (ED) for expedient and high-value team-based cardiology care for patients with chest pain, volume overload, palpitations, and other urgent, but not life-threatening cardiac conditions are lacking. Here, we report on the development of the Cardiac
Quantum Search on Networks

We find a lower bound on the computational complexity of Grover's quantum search algorithms in low-dimensional networks using the renormalization group (RG). It highlights the competition between Grover's abstract algorithm, i.e., a rotation in Hilbert space, and quantum transport in an actual geometry. It can be characterized in terms of the quantum walk dimension and the spatial (fractal) dimension df or, alternatively, the spectral dimension of the network, ds, even when translational invariance is broken.
Agranulocytosis from Outpatient Antimicrobial Treatment with Ceftriaxone: A Case Report.

Introduction Agranulocytosis from antimicrobial therapy with ceftriaxone is rare. We report a case of agranulocytosis resulting from ceftriaxone noted more than 3 weeks into therapy. Case presentation A 72-year-old woman who was started on ceftriaxone for septic arthritis of the left knee 3 weeks before presentation was admitted to the hospital after being found to be neutropenic on outpatient laboratory analysis. Her absolute neutrophil count on admission was 0/μL. The cause of the agranulocytosis was suspected to be ceftriaxone. The drug was stopped, and she was started on granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with gradual resolution of the neutropenia. Discussion Serious adverse effects of ceftriaxone therapy, such as agranulocytosis, must be monitored for, especially in patients who are receiving prolonged therapy or high doses. Once this cause of agranulocytosis is identified, ceftriaxone therapy should be stopped; if the patient is febrile, an infectious disease workup should be performed and antibiotics should be started; and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor should be administered with daily monitoring of the absolute neutrophil count.
Community Partners as Service-Learning Co-Leaders

Community partners contribute to fostering and sustaining service-learning partnerships. In the service-learning pedagogy, their leadership roles, although identified as partners and co-collaborator, have been under-investigated in the context of their perceptions and contributions. To contribute to the understanding of partners’ collaborative involvement, and leadership strategies, we interviewed four partners from two non-profit agencies that had collaborated on projects with a small liberal arts university for more than six years. The partners described their motivations for committing to the partnership, discussed the perceived benefits of the collaboration, and explained the strategies they implemented to address partnership challenges. We demonstrate that in service-learning collaborations, active community partners exhibit leadership competencies of knowing, being and doing, and they display the five components of leadership success outlined in the Relational Leadership Model: supporting purpose, sustaining process, ensuring ethics, maintaining inclusiveness, and creating empowerment.
Chronicle of Mud: Cross-Disciplinary Conversation Extends Our Perception in the Anthropocene

Chronicle of Mud is a video that places human experience next to geologic timescales and is sited in the Sprague River intertidal zone and salt marshes on the Phippsburg peninsula in Maine. The aut...
An initial exploration of the perspectives and experiences of diverse learners’ acceptance of online educational engineering games as learning tools in the classroom

This Work-In-Progress falls within the research category of study and, focuses on the experiences and perceptions of first-and second year engineering students when using an online engineering game that was designed to enhance understanding of statics concepts. Technology and online games are increasingly being used in engineering education to help students gain competencies in technical domains in the engineering field. Less is known about the way that these online games are designed and incorporated into the classroom environment and how these factors can ignite inequitable perspectives and experiences among engineering students. Also, little if any work that combines the TAM model and intersectionality of race and gender in engineering education has been done, though several studies have been modified to account for gender or race. This study expands upon the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by exploring perspectives of intersectional groups (defined as women of color who are engineering students). A Mixed Method Sequential Exploratory Research Design approach was used that extends the TAM model. Students were asked to play the engineering educational game, complete an open-ended questionnaire and then to participate in a focus group. Early findings suggest that while many students were open to learning to use the game and recommended inclusion of online engineering educational games as learning tools in classrooms, only a few indicated that they would use this tool to prepare for exams or technical job interviews. Some of the main themes identified in this study included unintended perpetuation of inequality through bias in favor of students who enjoyed competition-based learning and assessment of knowledge, and bias for students having prior experience in playing online games. Competition-based assessment related to presumed learning of course content enhanced student anxiety and feelings of intimidation and led to some students seeking to “game the game” versus learning the material, in efforts to achieve grade goals. Other students associated use of the game and the classroom weighted grading with intense stress that led them to prematurely stop the use of the engineering tool. Initial findings indicate that both game design and how technology is incorporated into the grading and testing of learning outcomes, influence student perceptions of the technology’s usefulness and ultimately the acceptance of the online game as a “learning tool.” Results also point to the need to explore how the crediting and assessment of students’ performance and learning gains in these types of games could yield inequitable experiences in these types of courses.
In vivo near-infrared fluorescent optical imaging for CNS drug discovery

Introduction: In vivo imaging technologies have become integral and essential component of drug discovery, development, and clinical assessment for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Near-infra...
Identification of barriers to safe opioid prescribing in primary care: a qualitative analysis of field notes collected through academic detailing.

Background Understanding barriers to safe opioid prescribing in primary care is critical amid the epidemic of prescription opioid abuse, misuse, and overdose in the US. Educational outreach strategies, such as academic detailing (AD), provide a forum for identification of barriers to, and strategies to facilitate, safe opioid prescribing in primary care. Aim To identify barriers to safe opioid prescribing among primary care providers (PCPs) through AD. Design and setting Qualitative analysis of data was collected through an existing AD intervention to improve safe opioid prescribing in primary care. The AD intervention was delivered from June 2018 to August 2018 to licensed PCPs with prescriptive authority within a large independent health system in the metropolitan Chicagoland area. Method The AD intervention involved visits by trained detailers to PCPs who contemporaneously documented details from each visit via field notes. Using qualitative analysis, field notes were analysed to identify recurring themes related to opioid prescribing barriers. Results Detailer-entered field notes from 186 AD visits with PCPs were analysed. Barriers to safe opioid prescribing were organised into six themes: 1) gaps in knowledge; 2) lack of prescription monitoring programme (PMP) utilisation; 3) patient pressures to prescribe opioids; 4) insurance coverage policies; 5) provider beliefs; and 6) health system pain management practices. Conclusion Barriers to safe opioid prescribing in primary care, identified through AD visits among this large group of PCPs, support the need for continued efforts to enhance pain-management education, maximise PMP utilisation, and increase access to, and affordability of, non-opioid treatments.
Alcohol Use Trajectories Before and After Pregnancy Among Adolescent and Young Adult Mothers

Background Moderate to heavy alcohol use during pregnancy (≥3 drinks/occasion) is linked to a range of adverse offspring outcomes. Prior studies suggest that adolescent and young adult mothers may be particularly vulnerable to these risky drinking behaviors during and after pregnancy. This study used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to examine changes in risky drinking from prepregnancy to postpregnancy and identified prepregnancy predictors representing cognitive and social factors to inform prevention. Methods Participants included 432 adolescent and young adult mothers (aged 13 to 24; 78% Black) assessed annually since childhood in the Pittsburgh Girls Study. Participants prospectively reported frequency of risky drinking (≥3 drinks/occasion) in the year of pregnancy and 2 years before and after pregnancy, as well as social-cognitive risk factors for drinking (alcohol expectancies, drinking motives, caregiver, and peer alcohol use). Results Approximately 11% of young mothers in this community-based sample engaged in risky drinking at least once a month during the year of pregnancy, with greater frequency observed for young adult (vs. adolescent) mothers. LCGA revealed 4 risky drinking trajectories across the perinatal period, including 3 relatively stable trajectories (low, moderate, and high frequency) and 1 distinct trajectory ("postpartum initiators") characterized by increased risky drinking post-childbirth. Peer alcohol use during and after pregnancy distinguished higher risk from lower risk trajectories, controlling for age, race, and age of drinking onset. Exposure to caregiver alcohol use and prepregnancy coping motives for drinking also elevated risk, but only for mothers who became pregnant in early adulthood (vs. adolescence). Conclusions Adolescent and young adult mothers show heterogeneous risky drinking trajectories from prepregnancy to postpregnancy. Pregnant women in the transitional age of early adulthood who report exposure to caregiver alcohol use, more friends who drink, and coping motives for drinking may have elevated risk for moderate-heavy drinking during the perinatal period and may benefit from targeted intervention.
The effects of a myrmecochore-produced chemical on entomopathogenic fungal growth and seed-dispersing ant survival rates and foraging patterns

Myrmecochory, a type of ant-mediated seed dispersal, is a diffuse, widespread mutualism in which both partners are purported to benefit from the services or rewards of the other. However, ant benefits in this interaction are conflicted and understudied, especially in the context of microbial third parties. Here, we investigate the effect of a myrmecochore plant-produced antimicrobial chemical (sanguinarine) on the growth of a common entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana). We then explore whether sanguinarine, through its effect on entomopathogen growth, might influence ant survival and foraging behavior. At high concentrations, sanguinarine increased the growth of B. bassiana, but fungal growth was not affected at concentrations of sanguinarine near natural levels produced in seeds. When ant colonies were exposed to B. bassiana, survival was not affected by a sanguinarine-supplemented diet. Furthermore, ant foraging patterns (preference for or avoidance of food items with sanguinarine) did not change when ants were exposed to the entomopathogen. Though sanguinarine promotes the growth of an entomopathogen at higher concentrations, which might pose an additional risk for ants in myrmecochory, we assert that social immune behavioral defenses (such as grooming or redispersal of seeds after elaiosome consumption) help ants mitigate this risk. By incorporating a microbial third party into this ant-plant interaction, we seek to more fully understand the risks and benefits provided to both partners in this mutualism. We encourage the investigation of third-party influences in reciprocal pairwise interactions to assist in the understanding of the evolution and persistence of mutualisms.
A Comparison of Nerve-Specific, Condition-Specific, and Upper Extremity-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Patients With Carpal and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

Purpose Arm-, region-, tissue-, and condition-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are available to address idiopathic mononeuropathy . This study compared PROMs with varying specificities in patients with idiopathic neuropathy of the upper extremity with respect to correlations with each another, sources of variation in scores, and floor and ceiling effects. Methods One hundred fifty patients (130 with carpal tunnel syndrome , 30 with cubital tunnel syndrome , and 10 with both conditions) completed a nerve-specific PROM (Impact of Hand Nerve Disorders), a condition-specific PROM (Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire and/or Patient-Rated Ulnar Nerve Evaluation), and an upper extremity–specific PROM (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Upper Extremity 7). We also gathered demographic and condition-related data (side, electrodiagnostic studies present, muscle atrophy , static loss of sensibility), and patients completed questionnaires measuring self-efficacy, kinesiophobia, and symptoms of depression. Correlation of the PROMs with each another and factors accounting for their variation were assessed, as well as the number of items to complete, time to complete, and floor and ceiling effects. Results Pearson correlations between PROMs were moderate to strong (0.56–0.90). Self-reported symptoms of depression were best able to account for the variations in symptom intensity and activity intolerance on all PROMs (adjusted R2 between 0.09 and 0.31). The Impact of Hand Nerve Disorders is a long questionnaire and took the most time to complete. All instruments had comparable floor effects; Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Upper Extremity had a ceiling of effect of 16%. Conclusions This study adds to the evidence that specific and general PROMs correlate with each another, perhaps in part through their correlation with mental health. Based on this line of evidence and pending testing of potentially greater responsiveness in specific settings, we prefer to use a single simple, brief, and general PROM to quantify symptom intensity and activity intolerance for both routine patient care and research. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
Early Stages of Fatigue Damage of Fastener Holes Monitored by Laser Speckle

The present work confines itself to the study of the initiation and early propagation of fatigue cracks emanating from simulated fastener holes using a laser speckle method that is a noncontact, nondestructive, and remotesensing technique. When illuminated by a narrow laser beam, the fatigue-induced surface roughness causes the laser beam to diffract into a halo modulated by a random speckle pattern. The fatigue damage information is contained in the speckle diffraction pattern. The half width and cross correlation coefficient of a speckle pattern are chosen to quantify this information. Two kinds of specimens, a thin plate with an open hole in the center and a thin plate with an oversized pin impacted into a central hole, were tested. The fatigue process was monitored by the laser speckle patterns. After crack propagation, the specimens were examined under a scanning electron microscope and their fractographic features correlated with the fatigue process.
Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test: Overview

While often confused, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and the Smirnov test are actually distinct. Specifically, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test is used to test the goodness of fit of a given set of data to a theoretical distribution, making this a one-sample test. In contrast, the Smirnov test is a two-sample test, used to determine if two samples appear to follow the same distribution. The intuition behind the two tests is the same, however, in that both compare cumulative distribution functions, either two empirical cumulative distribution functions for the two-sample Smirnov test, or one empirical cumulative distribution function and one known cumulative distribution function for the one-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Keywords: distribution function; exact test; nonparametric test; ranks
Ethical Considerations in Synthesizing a Minimal Genome

Researchers are attempting to model and eventually to create "minimal organisms," organisms with the smallest set of genes that allow for survival and reproduction. Although the ability to create such an organism is beyond current technology, the work of Hutchison et al. , reported in this issue, represents an important step in the path toward the creation of such an organism. Here we identify ethical, social, and religious issues raised by this research. Issues discussed include the potential abuse of the technology (biological weapons, environmental problems), as well as the challenge it poses to our conception of the meaning of life.
Body temperature in the immediate neonatal period: The effect of reducing thermal losses☆

Abstract Thirty-seven healthy term infants were subjected to three differing environments immediately after delivery. Infants who were exposed to delivery room conditions and then bathed on arrival at the nursery had a mean drop of deep body (core) temperature of 2.3° C. Infants similarly treated, but not bathed, had a mean fall of 1.8° C., whereas the mean drop for infants who were placed in an incubator (32.6 to 34.4° C. air temperature) was only 1.0° C. These were significant differences. The recovery of body temperature was also significantly shortened in the infants who were placed in the incubator. It is recommended that attempts be made to prevent excessive heat loss after birth. Methods of doing so are suggested.
A compact Blumlein PFN with optimized performance index

A compact Blumlein pulse forming network (PFN) was designed using lumped elements for the generation of a 50-kV flat-top voltage pulse of /spl ap/1 /spl mu/s duration. The 'performance index' of the network (which is a measure of its pulse response during transient switching) was optimized by minimizing the overshoot and the ringing in the output pulse, using a damping resistor technique. The network was analyzed and computer-simulated to achieve the best pulse shape by choosing appropriate damping resistors required to obtain the minimum performance index within the design criteria for the given system. The Blumlein PFN fabricated accordingly is capable of generating a nearly flat-top voltage pulse as predicted by simulation, and suitable for research and industrial applications where a flat-top high voltage pulse without ringing is required. It has been used successfully to characterize the preflashover behavior of dielectric materials under high electric fields.
Remarks on filling the gap between studies of two different modes of appearance: Aperture color and object color

What we perceive in daily life are predominantly object colors, and what the subject observes in psychophysical experiments with light stimuli are aperture colors. First, it is pointed out that interchangeability of psychophysical laws between the two modes of appearance has been explicitly or implicitly assumed in color science, and some uniform-chromaticity diagrams and color-difference formulas are defined on this assumption. Second, it is discussed whether saturation as a function of colorimetric purity is quantitatively the same in the two modes, and how to design a rigorous experimental test on the interchangeability.
Characterization of profile dependency on nitride substrate thickness for a chemically amplified I-line negative resist

During implementation of a chemically amplified I-line negative resist (INR) into the eight- inch-wafer manufacturing line at IBM's facility in Essex Junction, Vermont we found that the resist profiles were being undercut during development on silicon-nitride surfaces. The undercut was attributed to a `poisoning' of the photoacid generated in the resist during exposure by the nucleophilic characteristics of the silicon-nitride surface. A second-generation negative resist has since been formulated by IBM, which greatly reduces these undercut effects but does not eliminate them. This newer version of INR is referred to as INR2. To further understand the effects of silicon nitride on the I-line negative-resist profiles, we used Prolith/2 (v3.05)3 to model the underlying stack and evaluate the performance of INR2. Silicon monitors with oxide and different nitride thicknesses were patterned with INR2 using 4-Mb DRAM manufacturing ion-implant block masks and associated photo processing. The results indicated that the undercut observed by this chemically amplified negative resist on silicon nitride was not only chemical in nature, but related to the optical properties of the nitride substrate. Simulation results obtained using Prolith/2 are give and compared with resist profiles obtained from wafers processed with INR2; the accuracy of the Prolith/2 model to predict slope profiles for INR2 is also discussed.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Calcification of valved aortic allografts in rats: Effects of age, crosslinking, and inhibitors

Experiments were carried out to investigate rat aortic allograft calcification using valved abdominal aortic allografts. Results indicated that this was a potentially useful model for investigating fresh allograft calcification, as well as mineralization of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked valved allografts. Valve cusp results, however, were not comparable to those noted in large animal or human studies, while aortic wall calcification was more comparable. Calcification inhibitor investigations demonstrated that nearly complete inhibition of the calcification of the aortic wall of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked allografts was achieved using a number of individual inhibitors, including controlled release diphosphonates, and pretreatment with either ferric chloride or aluminum chloride. However, aminopropanehydroxydiphosphonate pretreatment was not efficacious, and sodium dodecyl sulfate pretreatment was only partially effective for inhibiting the aortic wall calcification in the glutaraldehyde-crosslinked allografts. It is concluded that valved aortic allografts in rats provide a useful model for investigating aortic wall (but not valve cusp) calcification and its inhibition. 0 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Socio-Technical Knowledge Management: Studies and Initiatives

Socio-Technical Knowledge Management: Studies and Initiatives is a book that attempts to ground knowledge management in sociotechnical theory and then present research results gained using socio-technical research methods. Directed to graduate students and KM practitioners, it is also useful for anyone who wishes to understand how an organization can prevent knowledge management from failing by optimizing the technical and social aspects of knowledge management.
The effect of nitrogen on the microstructure, stress, and magnetic properties of RF-sputtered FeSiAl(N) thin films

Abstract In a series of RF-sputtered soft FeSiAl(N) films, the partial pressure (pp) of N in the plasma was observed to have a profound effect on the magnetic properties, stress, and microstructure. 1% (pp) N caused the coercivity ( H c ) to more than double. H c peaked for 3% (pp) N, then decreased steeply for N>4% (pp). Stress appears to have a major influence on the magnetic properties. Film stress correlated quite closely with H c . Hysteresis loops appear to indicate a stripe domain structure in which the magnetization has in-plane components which are aligned parallel, but perpendicular components which alternate up and down. Stripe domains were observed directly by magnetic force microscopy. The microstructure also changed significantly with added N. 1% (pp) N caused the strong (1 1 0) texture to become very weak. For >4% (pp) N, there was a transition from textured columnar 100 nm diameter BCC grains to a mixture of randomly-oriented, equiaxed BCC nanograins (10 nm or less) in an amorphous matrix. Transmission electron microscopy observations appear to indicate that the grain refinement and phase separation take place by a decomposition process. Saturation magnetization also decreased with added N for >4% (pp) N, indicating that one of the two phases has a lower M s value.
The volumes of some compartment systems with sampling and loss from one compartment.

If the concentrationc 1(t)=∑ i=1 n A i exp (−α i t) for one compartment, one presumes a linear catenaryn-compartment system without sinks and loss only from the same compartment, then the volumesV i , rate constantsk ij , and concentrationsc i (t) in each compartment can be determined in terms of theA i 's,A i ′s, α i ′s, the dose injectedD o and the partition coefficientsr ij =k ij /k ji . If the concentration would become uniform at equilibrium, then the total volume of distribution may be determined without knowledge ofr ij or restriction to catenary configuration.
Extracellular matrix remodeling at the early stages of liver regeneration in the rat

Previous studies have shown that activity of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) increases very rapidly (within 1 minute) after partial hepatectomy. In view of the well-recognized roles of u-PA as one of the major initiators of the matrix proteolysis cascade and as an activator of plasminogen and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), we studied matrix degradation in liver shortly after partial hepatectomy. The activation of plasminogen to plasmin following partial hepatectomy was examined by Western blot analysis, and a small increase in plasmin at approximately 15 minutes followed by a large elevation at approximately 3 to 6 hours after partial hepatectomy was detected. In addition, we found that fibrinogen, the major substrate for plasmin, begins to be degraded at approximately 15 to 30 minutes following partial hepatectomy. Using immunohistochemical staining, we detected that the distribution of fibrinogen in normal liver is localized to the perisinusoidal space surrounding the periportal region. A decreased distribution of fibrinogen in the periportal region was found by 15 minutes and continued through 24 hours following partial hepatectomy. In addition, the distribution of fibronectin in normal liver was localized to the perisinusoidal space surrounding the periportal and the pericentral regions. A strikingly decreased distribution of fibronectin in the periportal region was found at 5 minutes after partial hepatectomy. Furthermore, we observed that the protein levels of laminin, entactin, and fibronectin in an extracellular matrix (ECM)-enriched preparation decreased shortly after partial hepatectomy, and were restored later. No changes were observed with either vitronectin or the integrin chain alpha(v). In contrast to the protein levels of the ECM components, the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of fibronectin, integrin chain beta1, and integrin chain alpha(v) gradually increased over 18 hours and then decreased thereafter. Taken together, these results suggest that rapid reorganization of selected ECM components are important for hepatocyte proliferation at the early stages of liver regeneration.
Impairment of hepatic pyruvate metabolism in phenylketonuria

Abstract In patients with untreated classical phenylketonuria, elevated plasma levels of pyruvate, lactate, phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate were observed. After about 10 days on a low-phenylalanine diet, the levels of pyruvate, lactate and phenylpyruvate in plasma of treated patients returned to normal; the concentrations of phenylalanine in plasma were markedly lowered. In plasma from hyperphenylalaninemic subjects, phenylpyruvate was not detectable; pyruvate and lactate were within normal limits. Phenylpyruvate at a concentration of about 1 mM inhibited pyruvate carboxylation by human and rat liver homogenates by about 50%; phenylalanine had no effect on this process. The values of apparent Km for pyruvate and Ki for phenylpyruvate of human liver pyruvate carboxylase were approximately 0.27 mM and 1.4 mM, respectively. These studies suggest an impairment in hepatic pyruvate metabolism in untreated phenylketonuric patients.
Impulsivity and risk for mania: Towards greater specificity

Background Impulsivity is elevated among people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and recent evidence suggests that impulsivity can predict onset among those at risk for the disorder. Impulsivity, though, is a broad construct. Objective The goal of this study was to examine whether some aspects of impulsivity are more correlated with risk for mania than others. We hypothesized that risk for mania would be related specifically to difficulties controlling impulsive responses to emotions. Design and Methods Undergraduates (N = 257) completed a large battery of measures of emotion-relevant and non-emotional forms of impulsivity, along with a well-validated measure of risk for mania, the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS). Results Analyses examined correlations of impulsivity scales with the HPS, and partial correlations controlling for lifetime tendencies towards depressive symptoms and current symptoms of alcohol abuse, both of which relate to impulsivity and often co-occur with mania. After controlling for these measures, risk for mania remained correlated with measures of impulsive responses to positive emotions, but not with difficulties in following through or with impulsivity in the context of general distress emotions. Conclusions Although impulsivity is a major concern among those at risk for mania and those diagnosed with mania, difficulties may be especially evident during positive affective states, and other forms of impulsivity may be less related to mania risk. Discussion focuses on limitations and future directions. Practitioner Points Impulsivity is correlated with risk for mania. Mania risk appears tied to tendencies towards impulsive action, particularly during positive affective states. Mania risk was not significantly correlated with other non-emotional forms of impulsivity. A better understanding of what aspects of impulsivity are problematic in bipolar disorder could guide more refined interventions.