cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Persistent intestinal metaplasia after endoscopic eradication therapy of neoplastic Barrett's esophagus increases the risk of dysplasia recurrence: meta-analysis.

Background and Aims Endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) is the main treatment for dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus and intramucosal adenocarcinoma. Although the goal of EET is to achieve complete remission of intestinal metaplasia (CRIM), treatment might achieve complete remission of dysplasia (CR-D) only, without achieving CRIM. Persistent intestinal metaplasia after eradication of dysplasia might carry a higher risk for progression into advanced neoplasia. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis after searching multiple databases to identify studies that evaluated dysplasia recurrence risk after successful eradication of neoplasia with EET. We calculated the pooled cumulative incidence of dysplasia and advanced neoplasia recurrence after CRIM and CR-D only and then compared the two using risk ratios. Results Forty studies were included (4410 patients with total follow-up of 12,976 patient-years). A total of 4061 achieved CRIM and 349 achieved CR-D only. The cumulative incidence of CR-D only was 14% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10%-19%). The pooled cumulative incidence of any dysplasia recurrence after achieving CRIM was 5% (95% CI, 3%-7%) and 12% (95% CI, 4%-23%) after achieving CR-D only. Comparing dysplasia detection after achieving CR-D only with CRIM, there was a significantly higher risk for detection after CR-D (risk ratio [RR], 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7-4.6). The pooled cumulative incidence rate of high-grade dysplasia (HGD)/esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) recurrence was 3% (95% CI, 2%-4%) after achieving CRIM and 6% (95% CI, 0%-16%) after achieving CR-D only. Comparing HGD/EAC recurrence after achieving CR-D only with CRIM, there was a significantly higher risk for recurrence after CR-D (RR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.45-9). When excluding patients who underwent ablation for non-dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus only, these differences persisted with dysplasia recurrence after achieving CR-D only compared with CRIM showing a significantly higher risk for recurrence after CR-D (RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.66-5). Conclusions CRIM was associated with a lower risk of dysplasia and advanced neoplasia recurrence compared with CR-D only. Achieving CRIM should remain the goal of EET in dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus.
Vaporization of Marijuana Among Recreational Users: A Qualitative Study.

Objective:Vaporization of marijuana products, or “vaping,” has become a prevalent mode of administration and is typically perceived to hold unique benefits compared to combustible administration me...
Love Locked Up: An Exploration of Relationship Maintenance and Perceived Barriers for Women Who Have Incarcerated Partners

Familial separation due to incarceration present numerous challenges to the enactment of relational maintenance behaviors. This study explored self-reported maintenance behaviors and perceptions of...
Colorimetric assay for detecting mechanical damage to weed seeds

Weed seeds with mechanical damage are more susceptible to mortality in soil than nondamaged seeds. In this study we introduce a colorimetric assay to distinguish mechanically damaged weed seeds from nondamaged weed seeds. Our objectives were to 1) compare steepates from mechanically damaged seeds against steepates from nondamaged seeds for their capacities to reduce resazurin—a nontoxic, water-soluble dye that changes color and light absorbance properties in response to pH; and 2) use light absorbance data from steepate-resazurin solutions to create classification trees for distinguishing damaged from nondamaged weed seeds. Species in this study included barnyardgrass, curly dock, junglerice, kochia, oakleaf datura, Palmer amaranth, spurred anoda, stinkgrass, tall morningglory, and yellow foxtail. Seeds of each species were subjected to mechanical damage treatments that collectively represented a range of damage severities. Damaged and nondamaged seeds were individually soaked in water to produce steepates that were combined with resazurin. Light absorbance properties of steepate-resazurin solutions indicated that for all species except kochia, damaged seeds reduced resazurin to greater extents than nondamaged seeds. Prediction accuracy rates for classification trees that used absorbance values as predictor variables were conditioned by species and damage type. Prediction accuracy rates were relatively low (66% to 86% accurate) for lightly damaged seeds, especially grass weed seeds. Prediction accuracy rates were high (91% to 99% accurate) for severely damaged seeds of specific broadleaf and grass weeds. Steepate-resazurin solutions that successfully separated seeds took no more than 32 h to produce. The results of this study indicate that the resazurin assay is a method for quickly distinguishing damaged from nondamaged weed seeds. Because rapid assessments of seed intactness may accelerate the development of tactics for reducing the number of weed seeds in soil, we advocate further development of resazurin assays by laboratories studying methods for weed seedbank depletion.Nomenclature: barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. ECHCG; curly dock, Rumex crispus L. RUMCR; junglerice, Echinochloa colona (L.) Link ECHCO; kochia, Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott KCHSC; oakleaf datura, Datura quercifolia Kunth DATFE; Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson AMAPA; spurred anoda, Anoda cristata (L.) Schltdl. ANVCR; stinkgrass, Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo ex Janch ERAME; tall morningglory, Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth PHBPU; yellow foxtail, Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. SETPU
Climate Shocks, Political Institutions, and Nomadic Invasions in Early Modern East Asia:

While a large literature argues negative climate shocks can trigger conflicts, recent findings suggest moderate climatic conditions lead to war. This article proposes a conditional theory by incorp...
DIAGNOSING HFPEF: VALIDATION OF A NONINVASIVE DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH AGAINST INVASIVE HEMODYNAMICS

The diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging. We sought to examine the HFA-PEFF score within a rigorously phenotyped sample of patients with HFpEF based on invasive hemodynamic measures. We included patients with ejection fraction ≥50% and NYHA class
Integrating Expressive Arts Techniques into Trauma-Focused Treatment with Children

In this article, we discuss the integration of expressive arts techniques within trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for child survivors of trauma. The TF-CBT approach is flexible ...
Minimum Clinically Important Difference in Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment: What Change Matters in Ankle Fractures

Accurate interpretation of the clinical significance of patient-reported outcome (PRO) research requires determination of the threshold where a difference in PRO score represents a clinical benefit to patients, termed the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). The Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) is one of the most commonly utilized PRO tools in orthopaedics. However, to date, no MCID has been determined. The purpose of this study was to define the MCID for the SMFA. A prospectively collected ankle fracture outcomes registry was reviewed between 2014 and 2016. Inclusion criteria were isolated ankle fracture, treatment with open reduction and internal fixation, and 6-week follow-up with completed SMFA. Two commonly utilized methods to determine the MCID, the anchor and distribution methods, were performed in this study. Overall, 105 patients met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Utilizing both the overall health anchor and the mental and emotional health anchor, the MCID was 7.3 (n = 17 and n = 19, respectively). The distribution method MCID was 7.0 (n = 105). Our study found the MCID values for the SMFA to converge around a value of 7 for the 3 analyses. This indicates that a threshold of 7 should be applied to studies utilizing the SMFA to determine the clinical significance of the results.
Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on assisted ventilation in children with asthma exacerbation.

OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on asthma exacerbation severity in children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation. HYPOTHESIS OSA is associated with greater use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) in children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. PATIENT-SUBJECT SELECTION Hospitalization records of children aged 2-18 years admitted for acute asthma exacerbation were obtained for 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012 from the Kids' Inpatient Database. METHODOLOGY The primary exposure was OSA, the primary outcome was IMV, and secondary outcomes were NIMV, length of hospital stay (LOS), and inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression, negative binomial, and linear regression were conducted to ascertain the impact of OSA on primary and secondary outcomes. Exploratory analyses investigated the impact of obesity on primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS Among 564,467 hospitalizations for acute asthma exacerbation, 4209 (0.75%) had OSA. Multivariable regression indicated that OSA was associated with IMV (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 5.33 [95% confidence interval, CI: 4.35-6.54], p < .0001), NIMV (adjusted OR, 8.30 [95% CI: 6.56-10.51], p < .0001), longer LOS (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.34 [95% CI 1.28-1.43], p < .0001), and greater inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization (adjusted β, 0.38 [95% CI: 0.33-0.43], p < .0001). Obesity was also significantly associated IMV, NIMV, longer LOS, and greater inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization. There was no interaction between OSA and obesity. CONCLUSION OSA is an independent risk factor for IMV, NIMV, longer LOS, and elevated inflation-adjusted costs of hospitalization in children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation.
Prioritization framework for improving the value of care for very low birth weight and very preterm infants.

Create a prioritization framework for value-based improvement in neonatal care. A retrospective cohort study of very low birth weight (<1500 g) and/or very preterm (<32 weeks) infants discharged between 2012 and 2019 using the Pediatric Health Information System Database. Resource use was compared across hospitals and adjusted for patient-level differences. A prioritization score was created combining cost, patient exposure, and inter-hospital variability to rank resource categories. Resource categories with the greatest cost, patient exposure, and inter-hospital variability were parenteral nutrition, hematology (lab testing), and anticoagulation (for central venous access and therapy), respectively. Based on our prioritization score, parenteral nutrition was identified as the highest priority overall. We report the development of a prioritization score for potential value-based improvement in neonatal care. Our findings suggest that parenteral nutrition, central venous access, and high-volume laboratory and imaging modalities should be priorities for future comparative effectiveness and quality improvement efforts.
Making a Revolutionary Nexus between Theory and Praxis: The University as an Instrument of Black Cultural Revolution

During the Black Power Movement (BPM) in the US--and almost simultaneously with the founding of NCOBPS, Harold Cruse posed a thesis on black cultural revolution, which wedded the BPM to its revolutionary antecedents to advance it towards revolutionary strategies and objectives. He argued that aesthetic and material black cultural institutions were key to this process and encouraged, inter alia, a nexus between campus and community the activism on campus and in community. BPM organizations applied Cruse’s strategy with some success and their lessons remain applicable today; but efforts on US campuses lag for a variety of reasons. Drawing on my experiences as a community organizer and student activist I propose that black professors employ the technique of ethnography of detail, examine, and openly discuss the processes of white supremacism that they engage regularly that persist in great part because they are concealed. That is, from the quotidian to the structural, it is important that academics bring to light the policies and practices of these institutions that are both oppressive to them individually and persist in maintaining the white supremacist status quo. In this paper I provide a blueprint of how this can be done; and in so doing incorporate and expand on Cruse's approach.
Mixed-Effects Negative Binomial Regression with Interval Censoring: A Simulation Study and Application to Aridity and All-Cause Mortality Among Black South Africans Over 1997–2013

In epidemiologic surveillance, counts of health outcomes are often censored in order to protect privacy when the number occurring in specific times and places is small. Several common approaches modeling such censored, hierarchically structured, over-dispersed count data neglect either the uncertainty in true counts from the censoring process or the hierarchical structure of the spatiotemporally clustered surveillance data. In this simulation study, we contrasted the performance of mixed-effects interval-censored negative binomial regression against three alternative approaches to illustrate how the extent of censoring, between-cluster variation, sample size, and true strength of association can affect model estimates, in the context of structured datasets where small nonzero counts may be censored. We assessed bias in parameter estimates and standard errors, 95% confidence interval coverage, statistical power, and type I error rates with simulated data. These four modeling approaches were then applied to a real-world uncensored dataset of aridity and mortality rates among black South Africans over 1997–2013, applying artificial censoring and deterministic imputation to mimic what would have been obtained had these methods been applied to a censored version of the dataset. The mixed-effects censored negative binomial regression models performed well in both the simulation study and South African aridity study. This approach may be useful in epidemiological research with longitudinal datasets that involve interval-censored exposures.
Management of Retained Products of Conception with Office Hysteroscopy

Study Objective The objective of this video is to demonstrate the feasibility of office hysteroscopy for the management of retained products of conception (POCs). Design N/A. Setting Two patients present weeks after early pregnancy loss with ongoing bleeding without fever or pain. Imaging is notable for heterogenous endometrial contents. After informed consent is obtained, office hysteroscopy is performed which visualizes retained POCs in the endometrial cavities. Patients or Participants Two patients with retained POCs are highlighted. Interventions A 5.5mm rigid hysteroscope with a 12-degree lens is used for office operative procedures so the working instrument is kept in the field of view. We routinely use vaginoscopy without a speculum or tenaculum to minimize patient discomfort. The first case has a smaller lesion which is taken down with blunt scissors in a targeted fashion. Given the large amount of products in the second case, a 5mm hysteroscopic morcellator facilitates efficient and directed removal, taking care to preserve normal endometrium. Measurements and Main Results Direct visualization of the endometrial cavities confirms complete removal of retained POCs. Conclusion Office hysteroscopy is a safe and effective approach for the management of retained POCs. It allows for targeted removal under visualization and reduces adhesion formation compared to traditional dilation and curettage. The vaginoscopic approach significantly reduces pain so no anesthesia is necessary, and patients are able to resume normal activities post-procedurally. It cost-effective compared to operating room procedures.
Managing Information Technology under Extreme Organizational Disequilibrium: the Case of Corporate Spinoffs

This paper studies the strategic management of information technology in periods of extreme organizational disequilibrium. In such periods, critical business parameters such as industry positioning, competitive strategies, organizational structures, leadership, and business processes change significantly and simultaneously, thus disrupting the very fundamental bases for strategic IT decisions. Corporate spinoffs represent such an extreme case for spun-off businesses that have to adjust most critical business parameters in a compressed timeframe and under severe resource constraints. Based on in-depth case studies on five spun-off businesses, we found that strategic IT management in the period of extreme disequilibrium largely reflected the priority of stabilizing business operations to ensure business survival. However, when organizations take shortcuts and make inadequate anticipatory IT investments, they compromise their long-term prosperity after new equilibrium emerges. A theoretical model of strategic IT management is proposed in the context of corporate spinoffs when concluding the study.
The Use of Cholinesterase Inhibitors Across All Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

Current pharmacological therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) includes the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine and the N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonist memantine. Based on the results of randomized controlled trials and several meta-analyses, ChEIs appear to show modest but statistically significant improvements on several measures, including cognition and global functioning. Given their modest effects, there is a lack of consensus among clinicians regarding issues related to initiation, optimal duration, and discontinuation of ChEI therapy across the spectrum of AD. There is evidence from long-term observational controlled studies that early initiation and persistent exposure to AD therapy lead to delays in nursing home admission and significantly slower rates of cognitive and functional impairment. In the moderate to severe stages of AD, therapeutic trials of higher dose ChEIs and the addition of memantine are recommended for patients who are no longer responding to lower doses. While side effects are generally mild and gastrointestinal in nature, these events can lead to significant morbidity in more susceptible patients with advanced disease. Patients should thus be regularly monitored for any potential serious side effects of ChEI therapy, which also may include syncope and bradycardia. At the terminal stages of AD, such as when patients become hospice eligible, attempts to cautiously discontinue all medications not necessary for quality of life, including AD drugs, should be made.
Secure passwords through enhanced hashing

Passwords play a critical role in online authentication. Unfortunately, passwords suffer from two seemingly intractable problems: password cracking and password theft. In this paper, we propose PasswordAgent, a new password hashing mechanism that utilizes both a salt repository and a browser plug-in to secure web logins with strong passwords. Password hashing is a technique that allows users to remember simple low-entropy passwords and have them hashed to create high-entropy secure passwords. PasswordAgent generates strong passwords by enhancing the hash function with a large random salt. With the support of a salt repository, it gains a much stronger security guarantee than existing mechanisms. PasswordAgent is less vulnerable to offline attacks, and it provides stronger protection against password theft. Moreover, PasswordAgent offers some usability advantages over existing hash-based mechanisms, while maintaining users' familiar password entry paradigm. We build a prototype of PasswordAgent and conduct usability experiments.
Hellinger Strikes Back: A Note on the Multi-party Information Complexity of AND

The ${\textsc{And}}$ problem on t bits is a promise decision problem where either at most one bit of the input is set to 1 ( No instance) or all t bits are set to 1 (${\textsc{Yes}}$ instance). In this note, I will give a new proof of an ***(1/t ) lower bound on the information complexity of ${\textsc{And}}$ in the number-in-hand model of communication. This was recently established by Gronemeier, STACS 2009. The proof exploits the information geometry of communication protocols via Hellinger distance in a novel manner and avoids the analytic approach inherent in previous work. As previously known, this bound implies an ***(n /t ) lower bound on the communication complexity of multiparty disjointness and consequently a ***(n 1 *** 2/k ) space lower bound on estimating the k -th frequency moment F k .
Nonlinear Control of a Batch Polymerization Reactor

This work studies the experimental application of the globally linearizing control (GLC) methodology to a batch polymerization reactor. The GLC methodology is used to start-up the batch reactor and then track a precalculated optimal temperature profile which minimizes the polydispersity of the final polymer product during the batch operation. The reactor temperature is tracked by manipulating two coordinated inputs: power to an electrical heater and cooling water flow rate.
METABOLISM AND FUNCTION OF GLUTATHIONE IN THE LENS

The mammalian lens contains an unusually high concentration of glutathione (GSH), the highest level being in the epithelium. GSH is present largely in the reduced state. The high concentration of GSH in a normal lens and the decreased concentration in most types of cataracts have led to many hypotheses on its role in cataract formation. These hypotheses are considered in the light of current evidence. GSH is synthesized and degraded in the lens. Both processes require ATP, derived largely from glycolysis. Carbohydrate metabolism is also involved in the maintenance of GSH in the reduced state. There is a direct link between the rate of formation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and the stimulation of the hexose monophosphate shunt through the generation of NADPH. One possible function of GSH in the lens is to maintain the thiol (SH) groups of proteins in the reduced state, thus preventing formation of high molecular weight (HMW) protein aggregates. The formation of HMW proteins in X-ray-induced cataracts through disulphide bond formation and the involvement of SH oxidation in HMW proteins isolated from human cataractous lenses suggest a role for GSH in protecting protein SH groups. GSH in the lens may also protect critical SH groups involved in regulating cation transport and permeability. Studies with mammalian lenses indicate that lowering the lens GSH concentration leads to increased permeability to cations and inactivation of Na+,K+-ATPase. A consequence of the changes in ion distribution is the inhibition of protein synthesis, which may explain the cessation of growth in cataractous lenses. GSH may also protect against oxidative damage to the lens. GSH metabolism is intimately involved in detoxification of H2O2, normally present in the aqueous humour. Lenses with impaired shunt activity or inhibited glutathione reductase are more susceptible to oxidative damage by peroxide. This may contribute to the formation of cataract.
Diverticula of female urethra. Diagnostic importance of postvoiding film.

Abstract Urethral diverticula are a fairly common, correctable cause of recurrent lower urinary tract infections in women; however, they are easily overlooked unless examination is carried out with a high index of suspicion. Definitive panendoscopy and urethrography are too uncomfortable, time-consuming, and costly to be considered as screening tests. The addition of a postvoiding film after standard intravenous urography can suggest the diagnosis in a high percentage of cases.
Relativistic bound states and cross-sections

We consider the role of stationary states within the context of relativistic quantum mechanics. We find that we can obtain energy levels for bound states and scattering cross-sections for particles, but that a probabilistic interpretation of the wave function requires the introduction of quasi-stationary states and the determination of a cross-section for pair annihilation leads to the use of time-dependent perturbation theory.
Reconnection in Spheromak Formation and Sustainment

The Spheromak is a magnetic confinement device that is being explored in both the US and Japanese fusion programs. It is a member of the Compact Torus family of magnetic structures characterized by a set of closed, nested toroidal flux surfaces but without any coils, transformer cores, etc. protruding through the hole in the torus. The Speromak is closely elated to the Reversed Field Pinch (RFP) in that most of the magnetic field is produced by plasma currents flowing along the magnetic field lines (a near force free field) rather than by external coils. The Spheromak has magnetic field components of comparable strength in both the toroidal (azimuthal) and poloidal (in the plane perpendicular to the azimuthal unit vector) directions. The large internal magnetic energy in the Spheromak makes it rich in magnetohydrodynamic phenomena and reconnection, in particular, plays an important role in the formation, resistive decay and instability processes.
Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields

The sections in this article are 1 Exposure and Dose 2 Sources of Exposure and Typical Exposure Levels 3 Coupling Between External and Internal Fields 4 Mechanisms of Interaction 5 Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields in Humans 6 Exposure Standards 7 Summary
Quantum correlations and violation of the Bell inequality induced by an external field in a two-photon radiative cascade

We study the polarization-dependent second-order correlation of a pair of photons emitted in a four-level radiative cascade driven by an external field. It is found that the quantum correlations of the emitted photons, degraded by the energy splitting of the intermediate levels in the radiative cascade, can be efficiently revived by a far-detuned external field. The physics of this revival is linked to an induced Stark shift and the formation of dressed states in the system by the nonresonant external field. Furthermore, we investigated the competition between the effect of the coherent external field and incoherent dephasing of the intermediate levels. We find that the degradation of quantum correlations due to the incoherent dephasing can be contained for small dephasing with the external field. We also studied the nonlocality of the correlations by evaluating the Bell inequality in the linear polarization basis for the radiative cascade. We find that the Bell parameter decreases rapidly with increase in the intermediate-level energy splitting or incoherent dephasing rate to the extent that there is no violation. However, the presence of an external field leads to control over the degrading mechanisms and preservation of nonlocal correlation among the photons. This in turn can induce a violation of Bell's inequality in the radiative cascade for arbitrary intermediate-level splitting and small incoherent dephasing.
CHANGING FEMALE DELINQUENCY IN THREE BIRTH COHORTS

Abstract The present study utilizes three cohorts over a span of twenty years to examine changes in female relative to male delinquency. The results show substantial increases in the percent female contribution to five categories of delinquency. The absolute differences between male and female behavior present different results for the offense categories. The changes in female behavior are discussed in light of the chivalry hypothesis and the women's liberation movement.
Novel effect of leptin on small intestine adaptation.

Background. Leptin is a 16-kDa peptide produced by adipocytes that plays an important role in the regulation of body fat and satiety. We have previously shown that leptin is a growth factor for normal rat small intestine. This study was designed to examine the effect of systemic leptin administration on small bowel absorptive function after massive small bowel resection (MSBR). Materials and methods. Twenty-one adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an 80% small bowel resection and end-to-end jejunoileal anastomosis. Seven days following resection, all rats had placement of a jugular venous catheter connected to a subcutaneously placed osmotic minipump and were divided into three groups based on the content of each minipump: Group 1 (n = 7) 0.1% bovine serum albumin; Group 2 (n = 7) leptin 2 μg/kg/day; and Group 3 (n = 7) leptin 4 μg/kg/day. Following a 14-day infusion period, [14C]galactose absorption was measured using a closed-recirculation technique. Mucosal DNA content was determined for all groups using a standard DNA purification kit. Mucosal RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was performed using the following primers: sodium/glucose cotransporter (SGLT-1), fructose transporter (GLUT-5), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an internal standard. PCR products were separated on a 4% agarose gel and relative band intensities were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and expressed as means ± SEM. Results. Group 2 showed a 44% increase in galactose absorption (P < 0.01) and a 14% increase in GLUT-5 band intensity (P < 0.05), but no change in DNA content or SGLT band intensity. Conclusions. This study demonstrates for the first time that leptin enhances small intestine carbohydrate absorption beyond the normal adaptive response following MSBR. Leptin may be clinically useful in patients with inadequate intestinal function.
Prescription Patterns for Asthma Controller Medication for Children with Persistent Asthma: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of Therapy Before and After a Change in Managed Care Organization Provider Guidelines

• In the state of Indiana, approximately 10.4% (55,000) of children who are covered by Medicaid have asthma. • A policy change enforced by one of the Indiana Medicaid managed care organizations in mid-2005 mandates that leukotriene modifying agents will only be covered by Medicaid in children age 5 and under if they are already on an inhaled corticosteroid, and in children over age 5 if they are already on an inhaled corticosteroid and long acting beta agonist (LABA).
Supercontinuum generation at 248 nm using high-pressure gases.

Supercontinuum generation at 248 nm has been observed, for the first time to the authors' knowledge, by focusing subpicosecond laser pulses into neon, argon, and krypton gases at pressures as high as 40 atm. In the case of neon, the continuum spans a wavelength range reaching from the visible to well into the vacuum ultraviolet. In the range of 200 to 300 nm, the continuum obtained by using krypton is of particularly high quality and therefore well suited to applications in ultrafast spectroscopy in this wavelength range.
Fabrication of SiC JFET-Based Monolithic Integrated Circuits

We report fabrication of lateral, n-channel, depletion-mode, junction-field-effect-transistor (JFET) monolithic analog integrated circuits (ICs) in 6H-SiC. Ti/TaSi2/Pt forms the contact metalization, Ti/Pt the interconnect metal, and the SiO2/Si3N4/SiO2 interlayer dielectric. The threshold voltage and pinch off current indicate that the actual channel doping and thickness is close to the nominal values specified. The wafer yield for good circuits of a single-stage differential amplifier is 54% out of 46 copies.
Evidence for more extensive deposits of epitopes of oxidized low density lipoprotein in aortas of young people with elevated serum thiocyanate levels

Abstract Elevated levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and smoking have long been recognized as risk factors for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the mechanisms by which these factors contribute to the disease have not been fully elucidated. It has been postulated from in vitro studies using serum and LDL from smokers that smoking increases the oxidation of LDL, which in turn contributes to atherogenesis. We know of no direct evidence linking oxidized LDL (oxLDL) in human arteries to increased atherosclerosis in individuals who show elevated serum thiocyanate levels (HST) as an indicator of recent smoking. We have studied arterial samples from smokers micromorphometrically and found that ‘smokers’ have a greater area in which oxLDL can be identified in the early stages of the disease than do ‘nonsmokers’, i.e., individuals with low serum thiocyanate levels (LST). This study demonstrates a positive correlation between the extent of oxLDL in the fatty streaks as well as the fatty plaques of standardized core sample areas of the thoracic and abdominal aortas of a sample group of young people, aged 15–34, who have evidence of recent smoking based on their postmortem serum thiocyanate levels.
The Here and Now

With computer systems offering the Internet's organized knowledge to our applications, we no longer live in an age where past is prologue. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/Dojn05hJNWs is a video segment in which author David Alan Grier expands on his Errant Hashtag column by discussing the potential confusion Internet postings can cause when information posted in the past still seems new today.
DOES RADIO BROADCASTING HELP PUPILS PRONOUNCE A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?1

Author's summary.— Pronunciation of equivalent pupils in radio and non-radio classes is recorded. As shown by these records radio influences pupil pronunciation
Silicon modulator with low voltage differential signaling

For exascale computing, optical interconnects will need to operate using low voltage and low power. Here, a differentially signaled silicon resonant modulator is demonstrated with 7dB extinction using 3.2fJ/bit and 500mV signal amplitude at 10Gbps.
The effects of hypoxia and pH on phenoloxidase activity in the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

In its natural coastal and estuarine environments, the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, often encounters hypoxia, accompanied by hypercapnia (increased CO2) and an associated decrease in water pH. Previous studies have shown that exposure to hypercapnic hypoxia (HH) impairs the crab's ability to remove culturable bacteria from its hemolymph. In the present study we demonstrate that the activity of phenoloxidase (PO), an enzyme critical to antibacterial immune defense in crustaceans, is decreased at the low levels of hemolymph O2 and pH that occur in the tissues of blue crabs exposed to HH. Hemocyte PO activity was measured at tissue O2 levels that occur in normoxic (5% and 15% O2, approximate venous and arterial hemolymph, respectively) and hypoxic (1% O2) crabs and compared to PO activity in air-saturated conditions (21% O2). PO activity decreased by 33%, 49% and 70% of activity in air at 15%, 5% and 1% O2, respectively. When O2 was held at 21% and pH lowered within physiological limits, PO activity decreased with pH, showing a 16% reduction at pH 7.0 as compared with a normoxic pH of 7.8. These results suggest that decreased PO activity at low tissue O2 and pH compromises the ability of crustaceans in HH to defend themselves against microbial pathogens.
Three-dimensional analysis of secondary γ′ precipitates in René-88 DT and UMF-20 superalloys

Abstract Focused ion beam serial sectioning was used to study the three-dimensional morphology of secondary γ ′ precipitates in two nickel-based superalloys: Rene-88 DT, a turbine disk alloy, and UMF-20, an experimental alloy. The precipitate morphology was reconstructed using a multi-step image-processing approach, including registration, intensity corrections, segmentation and segmentation cleanup. A total of 260 dendritic precipitates were obtained for the Rene-88 DT alloy, and 477 cuboidal precipitates in the UMF-20 alloy. The shapes of these precipitates were analyzed by means of moment invariants. The cuboidal precipitates in UMF-20 are well described by an analytical superellipsoid model. The morphological evolution of the dendritic precipitates in Rene-88 DT is analyzed by combining the affine moment invariant with the dimensionless shape quotient. This approach is promising as an objective tool for the description of complex precipitate shapes.
A complete set of local equations for large-N gauge theories

A complete set of local differential equations are derived for a non-abelian gauge theory in the large-N limit. These equations express the canonical commutation relations and the Heisenberg equations of motion in the reduced matrix formulation. There are no path dependent variables in the final result, and the only large-N approximation needed is the factorization hypothesis for Wilson loops. As an application, two alternative forms of the collective coordinate potential are derived.
Comparison of [18F]FHBG and [14C]FIAU for imaging of HSV1-tk reporter gene expression: adenoviral infection vs stable transfection.

Earlier studies involving comparison of different reporter probes have shown conflicting results between pyrimidine nucleosides [e.g., 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-β-d-arabinofuranosyl-5-iodouracil (FIAU)] and acycloguanosine derivatives [e.g., penciclovir (PCV), 9-(4-fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl)guanine (FHBG)]. We hypothesized that this reported discrepancy may be related to how the reporter gene is delivered to the cells—stably transfected vs adenoviral infection. We directly compared the uptake characteristics of [18F]FHBG, [3H]PCV, and [14C]FIAU in cell culture and in vivo using an adenoviral mediated gene transfer model and stably transfected cells. We further compared the uptake of three reporter probes using both HSV1-tk and a mutant HSV1-sr39tk expressing cells to assess the optimal reporter probe/reporter gene combination. [14C]FIAU accumulation was greater than that of [3H]PCV and [18F]FHBG in control cells and in HSV1-tk stably transfected cells (P<0.001). After infection of C6 cells with AdCMV-HSV1-tk (1.5×108 pfu), [18F]FHBG and [3H]PCV accumulation was significantly greater than that of [14C]FIAU (P<0.01). [18F]FHBG and [3H]PCV accumulated to a significantly greater extent than [14C]FIAU in C6-stb-sr39tk+ and AdCMV-HSV1-sr39tk infected C6 cells (P<0.001). Results from the nude mice supported the results in cell culture. [14C]FIAU led to significantly higher %ID/g in C6-stb-tk+ xenografts than [18F]FHBG (P<0.05); however, compared with [14C]FIAU, [18F]FHBG led to as high %ID/g in HSV1-tk expressing hepatocytes and to significantly greater %ID/g in C6-stb-sr39tk+ xenografts and HSV1-sr39tk expressing hepatocytes. Dynamic sequential images showed that [18F]FHBG was well retained in HSV1-sr39tk expressing cells (C6-stb-sr39tk+) for at least 4 h after injection, while it was rapidly cleared from HSV1-tk expressing cells (MH3924A-stb-tk+). [14C]FIAU accumulated in HSV1-tk stably expressing cells to a greater extent than either [3H]PCV or [18F]FHBG. However, the accumulation of [3H]PCV and [18F]FHBG in adenoviral infected C6 cells or hepatocytes was equivalent to or greater than that of [14C]FIAU. These results may be due to intracellular biochemical changes (e.g., thymidine) when cells are infected with adenovirus. For adenoviral studies, the [18F]FHBG/HSV1-sr39tk combination was shown to be more sensitive than the [14C]FIAU/HSV1-tk combination HSV1-tk.
An alternative method for a classical problem in the calculus of variations

A numerical technique for determining the solution of the brachistochrone problem is presented. The brachistochrone problem is first formulated as a non-linear optimal control problem. Using Chebyshev nodes, we construct the Mth degree polynomial interpolation to approximate the state and the control variables. Application of this method results in the transformation of differential and integral expressions into some non-linear algebraic equations to which Newton-type methods can be applied. Simulation studies demonstrate computational advantages relative to existing methods in the literature.
Cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: current status, biological correlates and predictors of response

Cognitive remediation (CR) is an increasingly studied behavioral intervention for improving illness-linked cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, with considerable promise for improving the disease outcome when offered in concert with other therapies. We present findings from a comprehensive, critical review of the extant literature on CR for schizophrenia. Conclusions from six meta-analyses presented to date are summarized, and existing CR interventions are categorized into three major classes: restorative, strategy-based and hybrid approaches. The crucial elements and empirical support for each class are presented. Studies of predictors of treatment response suggest that attention, motivation and clinician expertise, along with the measures of 'brain reserve', are key features of a positive treatment response. Lastly, findings from studies of neuroimaging indicate that CR is accompanied by structural and functional neural changes in key frontal and temporal brain regions.
Two bombesin analogues discriminate between neuromedin B- and bombesin-induced calcium flux in a lung cancer cell line

Abstract We examined the profile of two bombesin (BN) antagonists, (CH 3 ) 2 CHCO-His-Trp-Ala-Val- d -Ala-His-Leu-NHCH 3 ] (ICI 216140) and [ d -Phe 6 ,des-Met 14 ]BN(6–14)ethylamide (DPDM-BN EA), against neuromedin B-induced Ca 2+ mobilization in the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) line NCI-H345. Neuromedin B (NMB), a BN-like peptide sharing sequence homology with ranatensin, elicited a concentration-dependent Ca 2+ release (in part) from intracellular stores. Sequential addition of NMB attenuated Ca 2+ mobilization. Desensitization occurred between BN and NMB; depletion of intracellular Ca 2+ is a likely mechanism because thapsigargin stimulated Ca 2+ release after a maximally desensitizing dose of NMB. ICI 216140 and DPDM-BN EA competitively inhibited BN-induced Ca 2+ transients. In contrast, these compounds antagonized NMB-stimulated Ca 2+ transients in a noncompetitive manner. The pharmacological profiles obtained support receptor heterogeneity for BN-like peptides on this SCLC line, underscoring the need for thorough examination of dose-response relationships when investigating effects of BN analogues on intact cells.
Delivering individual surgeon performance data through a statewide surgical quality improvement collaborative

METHODS: An established collaborative generated a surgeon specific data set based on four quarters data from 2012 to 2013. There were 470 surgeons, 394 with sufficient data (>10 cases, expected risk >0) to analyze. Data was reported as exemplars (significantly lower observed to expected adverse occurrences) or outliers (significantly higher observed to expected occurrences). Prospective analysis verified this approach would be sufficiently powered and Poisson distributions were assumed. The model sufficiently accounts for procedure risk with breast surgery as below par risk and esophagectomy at highest.
A population-based perspective of the hospital incidence and case-fatality rates of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The Worcester DVT Study

A community-wide study was conducted in 16 short-stay hospitals in metropolitan Worcester, Mass, to examine the incidence and case-fatality rates of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients hospitalized between July 1, 1985, and December 31, 1986. The average annual incidence of deep vein thrombosis alone was 48 per 100,000, while the incidence of pulmonary embolism with or without deep vein thrombosis was 23 per 100,000. The incidence rates of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism increased exponentially with age. The in-hospital case-fatality rate of venous thromboembolism was 12%. Among patients discharged from the hospital, the long-term case-fatality rates were 19%, 25%, and 30% at 1, 2, and 3 years after hospital discharge. Extrapolation of the data from this population-based study suggests that there are approximately 170,000 new cases of clinically recognized venous thromboembolism in patients treated in short-stay hospitals in the United States each year, and 99,000 hospitalizations for recurrent disease. Because of the silent nature of this disease and the low rate of autopsy in the United States, the total incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates of venous thromboembolism remain elusive.
Payer status, preoperative surveillance, and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms in the US Medicare population.

Background To determine the factors contributing to increased rate of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) for elderly poor patients. Methods Medicare claims were analyzed for patients who underwent AAA repair from 2006 to 2009 with preoperative abdominal imaging. Repair for ruptured versus intact AAAs was our primary outcome measure. We used logistic regression to determine the relationship between Medicaid eligibility and the risk of rupture, sequentially adding variables related to patient characteristics, socioeconomic status, receipt of preoperative AAA surveillance, and hospital AAA volume. We then estimated the proportional effect of each factor. Results No differences in rupture were observed in women based on payer status. Medicaid-eligible men were more likely to present with ruptured AAA (odds ratio [OR] 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65–3.52). After adjusting for patient and hospital factors, the poor remained at higher risk for rupture (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.10–2.26). This disparate risk of rupture was more commonly observed in hospitals treating a higher proportion of Medicaid-eligible patients. We estimate that 36% of the observed disparity in rupture for the elderly poor is explained by patient factors, 27% by gaps in surveillance, 9% by hospital factors, and Conclusions Incomplete preoperative surveillance is a key contributor to increased rupture of AAA in the elderly poor. Efforts aimed at improving disparities must include consistent access to medical care.
Electrochemistry of Sulfur Adlayers on Ag(111). Evidence for a Concentration- and Potential-Dependent Surface-Phase Transition

The electrochemical deposition of sulfur adlayers on highly oriented, thin-film Ag(111) electrodes in aqueous solutions (pH = 13) containing sodium sulfide, Na2S, is reported. Three voltammetric waves, corresponding to the stepwise formation of a sulfur adlayer, are observed at potentials negative of that necessary to induce bulk oxidation of Ag. The total charge obtained by coulometric integration of the three voltammetric surface waves (206 ± 8 μC/cm2) is equivalent to a sulfur adatom coverage of (1.14 ± 0.04) × 10-9 mol/cm2, in agreement with expectations based on a complete Ag2Sads layer (θ ∼ 0.5). The dependencies of the voltammetric response on scan rate and Na2S concentration are used to support a multistep mechanism in which adsorption and oxidation of HS- yields a nearly complete layer of AgSHads, prior to a separate and kinetically slow surface-phase transition to a Ag2Sads layer. The voltammetric wave corresponding to the transition of the AgSHads layer to the Ag2Sads layer is greatly diminishe...
Complex fabric development revealed by englacial seismic reflectivity: Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland

This is the published version. Copyright 2008 American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Investment and cultural conflict: the Japanese in South Korea

After decades of heavy investment in South Korea, Japanese firms are now finding the country less than ideal for long-term investment due to numerous management conflicts. This study found that many Japanese firms would not initiate new direct investment projects or expand their operations under the existing conditions.