cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transitioning Young Adults With Neurogenic bladder-Are Providers Asking Too Much?

Summary Introduction Significant numbers of young adults with chronic health conditions fail to transition. Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate how ready transitioned urologic patients were for that process. Owing to the cognitive impairments frequently seen with spina bifida (SB), it is hypothesized that these individuals will be less prepared to transition their medical care to adult providers compared with their healthy counterparts. Methods Participants included consecutive patients in the transitional SB clinic at the study institution and controls (college students without obvious physical disability or interest in healthcare-related fields aged 18–25 years). Both groups were administered the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) over a nine-month period. Five TRAQ domains assess 20 skills necessary to transition. Likert scale responses range from 1 “no, I do not know how” to 5 “yes, I always do this when I need to” (which the authors considered appropriate for transitioned patients). Demographics and the number of daily medications taken were collected. Patients and healthy controls were compared using (1) total and domain TRAQ scores, (2) the proportion of non-transitioned skills (“1”), and (3) fully transitioned skills (“5”). Non-parametric statistics were used. Results Forty-three unique SB patients (30.8% shunted, 46.5% female) and 100 controls were enrolled. Patients with SB were older than controls (21 vs 20 years, p Discussion The transition readiness of young adults with SB compared to healthy controls and other youths with chronic health conditions is described. The limitations include the small sample size, potentially limiting generalizability, and cross-sectional nature. Conclusion “Transitioned” patients with SB had lower TRAQ scores in some domains compared to healthy college students, who themselves had scores indicating that they were not fully ready for transition. Increased attention to transition readiness in people with SB is necessary, as even healthy young adults struggle with these tasks and are poorly prepared for transition. Download : Download high-res image (104KB) Download : Download full-size image Summary Figure . Comparison of median TRAQ domain scores between 43 transitioned patients with spina bifida and 100 controls (healthy college students). *Indicates p ≤ 0.04.
A sheath of motile cells supports collective migration of the Zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium under the skin

Abstract During embryonic development, cells must navigate through diverse three-dimensional environments robustly and reproducibly. The zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium (PLLp), a group of approximately 120 cells which migrates from the otic vesicle to the tip of the tail, spearheading the development of the lateral line sensory system, is an excellent model to study such collective migration in an in vivo context. This system migrates in a channel formed by the underlying horizontal myoseptum and somites, and the overlying skin. While cells in the leading part of the PLLp are flat and have a more mesenchymal morphology, cells in the trailing part progressively reorganize to form epithelial rosettes, called protoneuromasts. These epithelial cells extend basal cryptic lamellipodia in the direction of migration in response to both chemokine and FGF signals. In this study, we show that, in addition to these cryptic lamellipodia, the core epithelial cells are in fact surrounded by a population of motile cells which extend actin-rich migratory processes apposed to the overlying skin. These thin cells wrap around the protoneuromasts, forming a continuous sheath of cells around the apical and lateral surface of the PLLp. The processes extended by these cells are highly polarized in the direction of migration and this directionality, like that of the basal lamellipodia, is dependent on FGF signaling. Consistent with interactions of sheath cells with the overlying skin contributing to migration, removal of the skin stalls migration. However, this is accompanied by some surprising changes. There is a profound change in the morphology of the sheath cells, with directional superficial lamellipodia being replaced with the appearance of undirected blebs or ruffles. Furthermore, removal of the skin not only affects underlying lamellipodia, it simultaneously alters the morphology and behavior of the deeper basal cryptic lamellipodia, even though these cells do not directly contact the skin. Directional actin-rich protrusions on both the apical and basal surface and migration are completely and simultaneously restored upon regrowth of the skin over the PLLp. We suggest that this system utilizes a circumferential sheath of motile cells to allow the internal epithelial cells to migrate collectively in the confined space of the horizontal myopseptum and that elastic confinement provided by the overlying skin is essential for effective collective migratory behavior of primordium cells.
Protective effect of melatonin on naphthalene-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in cultured macrophage J774A.1 cells.

Naphthalene is a bicyclic aromatic compound that is widely used in various domestic and commercial applications. Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated enhanced production of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in both in vitro and in vivo models following treatment with naphthalene. Melatonin (N‐acetyl‐5‐methoxytryptamine), an indole hormone, is the chief secretory product of the pineal gland and is an efficient free radical scavenger and antioxidant, both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we have investigated the ability of 1 mM melatonin to protect against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in cultured macrophage J774A.1 cells. No significant changes were observed when these macrophage cells were treated with 100 μM naphthalene. Approximately 2.0‐, 4.2‐ and 4.4‐fold increases in cytochrome c reduction were observed at 200, 400 and 500 mM concentrations of naphthalene, demonstrating the increased production of superoxide anion. At 24 h, lipid peroxidation increased by approximately 1.4‐, 2.1‐ and 2.2‐fold following treatment of these cells with 200, 400 and 500 mM concentrations of naphthalene, respectively, while 1.6‐, 2.8‐ and 2.8‐fold increases in DNA fragmentation were observed at these same concentrations. Two hour pretreatment of these cultured cells with 1 mM melatonin provided approximately 26–44% decreases in lipid peroxidation, superoxide anion production and DNA fragmentation in cells treated with 400 and 500 μM naphthalene. Cellular viability decreased significantly when cells were incubated with concentrations of naphthalene greater than 100 μM, while preincubation with melatonin significantly increased the cellular viability. These results demonstrate that naphthalene may induce toxic manifestations by enhanced production of reactive oxygen free radicals, resulting in lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, while preincubation with melatonin significantly suppressed cytoxicity in J774A.1 macrophage cells.
Therapy Response Imaging in Thoracic Malignancy

Lung cancer remains to be the leading cause of cancer death. More than half of patients with lung cancer present with advanced disease requiring systemic therapy. Remarkable advances of systemic therapy approaches have been made for patients with advanced lung cancer in the past decade, first with molecular targeting therapy that can specifically target genomic driver mutations of the tumor, and more recently with immune-checkpoint inhibitors that activate host T cell immune response against tumor. The strategies for radiographic tumor response evaluations for lung cancer have also evolved in parallel with the advances of treatment approaches for the disease. This chapter will discuss (1) recent advances of therapeutic approaches for lung cancer, (2) imaging for treatment monitoring for lung cancer in the era of precision cancer therapy, and (3) treatment monitoring of thoracic malignancies other than lung cancer, focusing on thymic tumors and malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Childhood cancer incidence among specific Asian and Pacific Islander populations in the United States.

Despite the vast genetic and environmental diversity in Asia, individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) descent are often combined into a single group for epidemiologic analyses within the United States. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Detailed Asian/Pacific Islander Database to calculate incidence rates for discrete groups among children aged 0–19 years. Due to sample size constraints we pooled incidence among regional groups based on countries of origin: East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean), Southeast (SE) Asians (Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian), Asian Indian/Pakistani, Oceanians (Guamanian, Samoan, Tongan), and Filipinos. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated comparing each API regional group to Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and East Asians. Lastly, we calculated the correlation between incidence of cancer in specific API ethnicities in SEER and in originating countries in the Cancer Incidence i n Five Continents. Incidence rates among API regional groups varied. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was lower in children of SE Asian descent (IRR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44, 0.96) compared to NHW. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was more common among children from Oceania compared to NHW (IRR 3.88, 95% CI 1.83, 8.22). East Asians had higher incidence rates than SE Asians but lower rates compared to children from Oceania. Correlation of some incidence rates between US-based API ethnicities and originating countries were similar. The variation observed in childhood cancer incidence patterns among API groups may indicate differences in underlying genetics and/or patterns of exposure.
Parole, Neighborhood and Reentry Outcomes: A Contextualized Analysis

Compared to a large body of literature on the location-sensitivity of policing, relatively less effort has been made to examine whether parole practice is intertwined with the context of neighborhood. Based on longitudinal data of released prisoners, the current study examines the location contingency of parole efficacy in the context of reentry, focusing on the outcomes of recidivism and illicit drug use. Findings suggest that net of the effects of risk factors such as financial difficulty and insufficient family support, respondents who returned to less cohesive communities reported receiving a significantly lower level of support from parole officers. Moreover, parole officers' support exhibited a significant protective effect against recidivism, and this protective effect was not universal but contextual: Parole officers' support demonstrated a diminished protective effect for released prisoners who returned to disordered communities. Implications for correction practice and policymaking are presented.
Abstract 16: LTA4 hydrolase inhibitor bestatin prevents intestinal tumors in APC mutant rodent models of FAP

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the United States with 145,600 new cases and 51,020 deaths estimated to occur in 2019. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4), the product of the enzyme leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H), reportedly plays a role in carcinogenesis. LTA4H over expression and increased LTB4 levels are found in CRC tissues and correlate with both disease stage and reduced survival. Thus, we used a preclinical rodent model to assess repurposing bestatin (Ubenimex), a potent orally-active reversible small molecule inhibitor of LTA4H, for prevention of CRC in high-risk FAP patients. Six week old Apcmin/+ male and female mice (n≥15) were assigned to control and treatment groups; groups received the same diet either with 1000 ppm bestatin (treatment) or no bestatin (control) for 14 weeks at which point mice were euthanized and intestines were evaluated for tumors. Control mice developed colonic tumors with multiplicity of 1.35±0.16 (Mean±SEM) in males and 0.86±0.13 in females. Colonic tumor incidence was 91% and 73% in the male and female mice respectively. Additionally, control mice developed 30.52±1.66 (male) and 29.57±2.74 (female) small intestinal polyps (SIP). Dietary bestatin significantly reduced colon tumor multiplicity. Bestatin treated male mice had 55% fewer colonic tumors (0.60±0.21; p 50% in both genders. Bestatin administration was reduced colonic tumor incidence by 56% (p The polyposis in rat coli (PIRC) model replicates CRC in FAP patients. PIRC rats (n=6) at 8 weeks of age were assessed for polyp number by colonoscopy, and assigned to control and bestatin (1000 ppm) groups for 8 weeks. Colonic polyp inhibition in each rat was evaluated by colonoscopy after treatment. Bestatin treatment led to strong suppression of colonic polyps; significantly fewer (~72% less; p Citation Format: Venkateshwar Madka, Gopal Pathuri, Hariprasad Gali, Nandini Kumar, Nagendra Sastri Yarla, Anh Bao, Adam S. Asch, Chinthalapally V. Rao. LTA4 hydrolase inhibitor bestatin prevents intestinal tumors in APC mutant rodent models of FAP [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 16.
Safe at Home? Altering Rules May Protect Players, But Increase Liabiity

An examination of how changing the rules-of-play in sports to protect players could cause conduct that was formerly considered to be an acceptable action within the context of competition to be transform into an action that could potentially generate liability.
Adaptive posterior convergence in sparse high dimensional clipped generalized linear models

We develop a framework to study posterior contraction rates in sparse high dimensional generalized linear models (GLM). We introduce a new family of GLMs, denoted by clipped GLM, which subsumes many standard GLMs and makes minor modification of the rest. With a sparsity inducing prior on the regression coefficients, we delineate sufficient conditions on true data generating density that leads to minimax optimal rates of posterior contraction of the coefficients in $\ell_1$ norm. Our key contribution is to develop sufficient conditions commensurate with the geometry of the clipped GLM family, propose prior distributions which do not require any knowledge of the true parameters and avoid any assumption on the growth rate of the true coefficient vector.
Dripping Technology Use Among Young Adult E-Cigarette Users.

Background Young adults are increasingly using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The standard ENDS device involves an electric coil that heats a wick to vaporize an e-liquid solution. "Dripping" is another method that involves applying e-liquid directly to the coil. Dripping increases risk of harmful toxic compounds in vapor aerosols. Despite evidence of high levels of dripping among adolescents, young adult prevalence is unknown. Methods Young adults aged 18 to 24 completed an online survey assessing vaping and dripping status, type of devices used, tobacco use, and vaping expectancies. Among ever-vapers, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models assessed whether demographics predicted dripping and use of dripping devices. Multivariate Analysis of Variance compared never- and ever-drippers on expectancies for vaping outcomes. Results Over 2 in 5 young adult ever-vapers (43.7%) reported dripping. A multivariate regression model found that male gender (AOR = 1.83), identifying as White (AOR = 2.37), and use of other tobacco products (hookah; AOR = 1.91; cigars; AOR = 2.26; cigarettes; AOR = 2.51) were associated with dripping. E-cigarette users who reported lifetime dripping were more likely to consider vaping stimulating, socially facilitating, and flavorful. They ascribed lower health risks to vaping and felt it could reduce negative affect, weight gain, nicotine cravings, and boredom (all P Conclusion Dripping was a highly prevalent behavior among this sample of young adults, particularly among White males. These findings point to the importance of gaining a greater understanding of the drivers and consequences of vaping and dripping behavior.
Negotiating identity and agency amidst pedagogical change: The case of student push back

When mathematics teachers embrace the call for pedagogical change, instructional shifts are likely to unfold in complex ways. While we typically view teachers as leading this process, within a figu...
Multistate reflectometer

A detail discussion on the multistate technique and comparison of the multistate technique with the multiport technique are given. The relation between the output power and reflection of the device under test is shown. An experiment millimeter wave multistate reflectometer is given and its measuring results are satisfactory.
Characteristics and Quality of Mobile Apps Containing Prenatal Genetic Testing Information: Systematic App Store Search and Assessment.

Background: Prenatal genetic testing is an essential part of routine prenatal care. Yet, obstetricians often lack the time to provide comprehensive prenatal genetic testing education to their patients. Pregnant women lack prenatal genetic testing knowledge, which may hinder informed decision-making during their pregnancies. Due to the rapid growth of technology, mobile apps are a potentially valuable educational tool through which pregnant women can learn about prenatal genetic testing and improve the quality of their communication with obstetricians. The characteristics, quality, and number of available apps containing prenatal genetic testing information are, however, unknown. Objective: This study aims to conduct a firstreview to identify, evaluate, and summarize currently available mobile apps that contain prenatal genetic testing information using a systematic approach. Methods: We searched both the Apple App Store and Google Play for mobile apps containing prenatal genetic testing information. The quality of apps was assessed based on the criteria adopted from two commonly used and validated mobile app scoring systems, including the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and the APPLICATIONS evaluation criteria. Results: A total of 64 mobile apps were identified. Of these, only 2 apps were developed for a specific prenatal genetic test. All others were either pregnancy-related (61/64, 95%) or genetics-related (1/64, 2%) apps that provided prenatal genetic testing information. The majority of the apps (49/64, 77%) were developed by commercial companies. The mean quality assessment score of the included apps was 13.5 (SD 2.9), which was equal to the average of possible theoretical score. Overall, the main weaknesses of mobile apps in this review included the limited number of prenatal genetic tests mentioned; incomprehensiveness of testing information; unreliable and missing information sources; absence of developmental testing with users (not evidence based); high level of readability; and the lack of visual information, customization, and a text search field. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the quality of mobile apps with prenatal genetic testing information must be improved and that pregnant women should be cautious when using these apps for prenatal genetic testing information. Obstetricians should carefully examine mobile apps before referring any of them to their patients for use as an educational tool. Both improving the quality of existing mobile apps, and developing new, evidence-based, high-quality mobile apps targeting all prenatal genetic tests should be the focus of mobile app developers going forward.
Accommodating students with exceptional needs by aligning classroom assessment with IEP goals

The majority of students with exceptional needs receive most of their formal education in general education or inclusive classrooms. These students often need a variety of accommodations to ensure ...
Arabic Literary Salons in the Islamic Middle Ages: Poetry, Public Performance, and the Presentation of the Past

Arabic literary salons emerged in ninth-century Iraq and, by the tenth, were flourishing in Baghdad and other urban centers. In an age before broadcast media and classroom education, salons were the primary source of entertainment and escape for middle and upper ranking members of society, serving also as a space and means for educating the young. Although salons relied on a culture of oral performance from memory, scholars of Arabic literature have focused almost exclusively on written sources of the tradition. That emphasis, argues Samer Ali, has neglected the interplay of oral and written, as well as of religious and secular knowledge in salon society, and the surprising ways in which these seemingly discrete categories blurred in the lived experience of participants. Looking at the period from 500 to 1250 A.D., and using methods from European medieval studies, folklore, and cultural anthropology, Ali interprets Arabic manuscripts in order to answer fundamental questions about literary salons as a social institution. He identifies salons not only as sites for socializing and educating, but also as loci for performing literature and oral history; for creating and transmitting cultural identity; and for continually reinterpreting the past. A fascinating recovery of a key element of humanistic culture, Ali's work will encourage a recasting of our understanding of verbal art, cultural memory, and daily life in medieval Arab culture.
Collaboration between Elementary Schools and Community Agencies to Reduce Violence: Can It Work?

School personnel at seven urban elementary schools in a high poverty area were surveyed to determine if a multi-faceted approach to school violence prevention (including a major emphasis on collaboration between community human service agencies and schools) was successful in reducing indicators of violence (bullying, fighting, gang involvement, and so forth). Using the Assessment of Risk Factors survey, during the year prior to implementation 2001 to gather pre-test data, and again during the summative year 2004, comparisons were made to determine if these programs had been successful in reducing violence in the schools from the perspective of school personnel. Implications for school-community collaborations will be discussed.
A new basal Carnivoramorphan (Mammalia) from the ‘Bridger B’ (Black’s Fork member, Bridger Formation, Bridgerian Nalma, middle Eocene) of Wyoming, USA

Abstract: A new genus and species of basal non-Viverravidae Carnivoramorpha, Dawsonicyon isami, is named and described. This new taxon is based upon DMNH 19585, an almost complete skeleton, which was collected from the Black’s Fork Member (informal ‘Bridger B’ subunit) of the Bridger Formation in southwestern Wyoming, USA. The specimen is incorporated into an existing craniodental data matrix, and the associated phylogenetic analyses support the identification of this species as a new basal carnivoramorphan. This new taxon is dentally compared to all known genera of non-viverravid basal carnivoramorphans, as well as with all known species of the problematic genus Miacis. Postcrania are compared in detail with other described specimens of non-viverravid basal carnivoramorphans and more generally with known postcrania of viverravids. Preliminary functional interpretations of a scansorial locomotor mode are offered for this new taxon. Its implications for the diversity of middle Eocene basal carnivoramorphans is briefly discussed, including expansion of the already high diversity in the Black’s Fork Member of the Bridger Formation (at least 11 species in 8 genera).
Who you know: Small-town entrepreneurs' perceptions of the value of their social networks

Entrepreneur networks have been recognized as an important factor in business success. Networks are embedded with valuable business resources, such as financial support, advice, and encouragement. This study examines the nature of business-related networking among small-town entrepreneur business owners. The purpose is to: 1.) compare the perceived benefits of strong and weak tie networks, 2.) compare the perceived benefits of different types of weak tie networks, and 3.) locate factors that may affect the benefits that entrepreneurs’ receive from their weak tie networks. The data comes from a survey mailed to all 228 businesses in one Iowa town. Entrepreneur business owners were asked about the resources and support they receive from three types of social networks: “strong tie networks” including entrepreneurs’ close friends and family; “informal weak tie networks” (business contacts, employees, and coworkers); and “formal weak tie networks” (the local chamber of commerce). Using Granovetter’s “strength of weak ties” as a theoretical framework, the study found that informal weak ties are most important, followed by strong ties, and least important is formal weak ties. The study also found that psychological and community perception factors help to explain variations in the benefits that entrepreneurs receive from weak tie networks, but business variables do not. This study has important implications for entrepreneurs, scholars, and theorists. It expands on the understanding of why it is important for entrepreneurs to develop networks and which types of networks are most beneficial. It suggests that scholars should pay attention to contextual factors, such as the community environment and entrepreneurs’ perceptions, when studying networks. Finally, it proposes a theoretical clarification of the term “weak ties” based on formality of the relationships.
Architectural History’s Futures

> You throw a stone into a deep pond. Splash. The sound is big, and it reverberates throughout the surrounding area. What comes out of the pond after that? All we can do is stare at the pond, holding our breath. > > — Haruki Murakami , 1Q84 What is the future of architectural history? The very question embodies an inherent contradiction, since historians are particularly skilled at studying the past; our aptitudes for predicting the future are far less honed. Nevertheless, important anniversaries invite introspection, reflection on our past, and speculation about our future. What pressures are coming to bear on our field that are most likely to cause significant change? Who will be our audiences in the decades to come? How will they find our work, and what will be the forms of our scholarship? In what follows, I examine three aspects of the architectural historian’s practice, casting stones into the pond of our field to see, as Murakami writes, what might come out of it after that. Until very recently, architectural historians generally conducted research in mostly the same manner as their colleagues across the humanities, which is to say, they did so largely working alone in libraries, museums, archives, and special collections. The single factor differentiating our work from that of scholars studying largely text-based or pictorially based subjects was our need for on-site investigation. Examining architectural, urban, and landscape spaces themselves has always been—and will no doubt continue to be—a crucial distinguishing aspect of our research culture, and there is little doubt that we will continue to perform solitary investigations with a range of primary and secondary sources. However much our methods of inquiry may remain constant, the archive, the library, and even the museum have changed. What does “the archive” now mean? In our current era of increasingly massive amounts of digitized …
Aerosol Phase Transformation and Growth in the Atmosphere

Abstract The dynamic behavior of hygroscopic multicomponent aerosols under the influence of changing relative humidity in the atmosphere is investigated. Laboratory measurements of the deliquescence humidity as a function of temperature between 5° and 35°C are carried out with single aerosol particles individually suspended in an electrodynamic cell. The single-particle levitation cell is placed in a vacuum chamber that can be evacuated and backfilled with water vapor. The phase transformation of the aerosol particle is monitored by laser light scattering, and the relative humidity at the transition point is determined by directly measuring the water vapor pressure in the cell. Results are obtained for aerosol particles composed of binary mixtures of NACl, KCl, NaNO3, Na2SO4, and (NH4)S2SO4, which are common constituents of ambient aerosols. The measured temperature and composition dependence of the deliquescence properties agrees well with a theoretical model based on thermodynamic considerations. A stud...
Output Feedback Control for Continuous-Time Switched Linear Systems Subject to Actuator Saturation

This paper is devoted to output feedback ℋ∞ control problem for continuous-time switched linear systems subject to actuator saturation. Using minimal switching rule, nonlinear output feedbacks, expressed in the form of quasi-linear parameter varying system are designed to satisfy a pre-specified disturbance attenuation level defined by the regional ℒ2 gains over a class of energy-bounded disturbances. The synthesis condition is further simplified and can be solved through efficient LMI optimizations. The proposed switched control approach is also illustrated by a simple example.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Determination of Pentachlorophenol Residues in Tallow by Quantitative TLC

Abstract A TLC method is described for screening and quantification of PCP in tallow. PCP is extracted and cleaned up by alumina column chromatography, and is determined by preadsorbent silica gel TLC with silver nitrate detection and densitometric scanning. The detection limit of the analysis was 0.50 ppm in tallow. Recoveries varied from 97.9 to 103% over the fortification range of 1 to 20 ppm. The CV of the analysis was 6.2% .
Serum alkaline phosphatase in infants with obstructive jaundice: Relation to vitamin D supplementation

Serum alkaline phosphatase total activity was determined in infants with biliary atresia,in infants with hepatitis, and in normal control infants. Values ranged from normal to significantly elevated in infants with biliary atresia and in those with hepatitis. In normal infants, serum alkaline phosphatase activity ranged from 8.7 to 28.3 King-Armstrong units (mean 15.3±5.9). In infants with biliary atresia and in those with hepatitis, normal serum alkaline phosphatase values and normal x-rays of wrist epiphyses were observed when these infants were receiving vitamin D in daily doses exceeding 2,400 I.U. from the third to fourth weeks of age. In contrast, high serum alkaline phosphatase values were found in infants with obstructive jaundice and radiologic or other biochemical evidence of rickets, who were receiving vitamin D indaily doses of 100 to 400 I.U. It seems probable that the high values of serum alkaline phosphatase in association with hepatic disease in infants reflects, at least in part, a secondary vitamin D deficiency.
Does concomitant prolapse repair at the time of midurethral sling affect recurrent rates of incontinence

We compared outcomes after midurethral sling (MUS) with and without concomitant repair for prolapse. Women who underwent MUS with or without concomitant repair for prolapse completed a follow-up survey. Outcomes were assessed with validated questionnaires and medical record review. Kaplan–Meier, Cox proportional hazards regression, and logistic regression models were used for analysis. Of 317 women, 281 (89%) responded to the survey. During a median follow-up of 2.7 years, survival free of “any” incontinence (Incontinence Severity Index score, >0) was similar in both groups (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.07; P = 0.77). Women with concomitant repair for advanced prolapse tended to be more bothered by frequent urination (adjusted odds ratio, 1.78; P = 0.08) and more likely to require urethrolysis (odds ratio, 6.11; P = 0.04) than those without concomitant pelvic floor repair. Prolapse repairs concomitant with MUS did not affect incontinence recurrence. However, repairs may cause increased lower urinary tract symptoms.
Effects of Vacuum Hydration on the Incidence of Splits in Canned Kidney Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Dry red kidney beans were canned using two different pretreatments: soaking for 12 hr at 20°C, and vacuum hydration for 5 min followed by soaking for 2 hr at temperatures from 45-59.1°C. Samples were then packed, processed to commercial sterility, and tested for percentage of split beans after processing. Vacuum hydration pretreatments greatly decreased the incidence and severity of splitting in the canned product and accelerated water uptake while retaining the same moisture content after soaking as the conventional soak treatment. Vacuum-hydrated beans gained less moisture during retorting than conventionally treated samples.
The mucosal immune system : from fundamental concepts to vaccine development

Recent studies in experimental animals and humans have shown that the mucosal immune system, which is characterized by secretory IgA (S-IgA) antibodies as the major humoral defence factor, contains specialized lymphoid tissues where antigens are encountered from the environment, are taken up and induce B- and T-cell responses. This event is followed by an exodus of specific lymphocytes, which home to various effector sites such as the lamina propria regions and glands. These responses are regulated by T cells and cytokines and lead to plasma cell differentiation and subsequent production of S-IgA antibodies in external secretions. This knowledge has led to practical approaches for vaccine construction and delivery into mucosal inductive sites in an effort to elicit host protection at mucosal surfaces where the infection actually occurs.
Emission energy barriers of scandate surfaces with adsorbed Ba and Ba-O using density functional theory

Density functional theory was used to calculate the surface electron emission barriers for the stable (011) and (111) surfaces of bixbyite Sc2O3 in the presence of adsorbed Ba and Ba-O. A low surface barrier of 1.21 eV for a defected BaO monolayer on Sc2O3 (011) was found to be thermodynamically stable. This result provides a straightforward explanation of low effective work function measurements obtained for scandate cathodes.
Thrombolytic agents in acute myocardial infarction.

IN this issue of the Journal, White and his colleagues1 report on a clinical trial in which 270 patients presenting with a first myocardial infarction were randomly assigned to receive intravenousl...
Absolute calibration of interferometric systems for detection and measurement of surface acoustic waves.

A calibration method for interferometric systems is shown to produce a minimum wave amplitude to which these systems may be calibrated in the measurement of harmonic surface acoustic waves. The calibration limit is ~3 orders of magnitude larger than the theoretical detection limit. The method proposed allows experimental determination of the detection limit of these systems. The calibration of a fiber-optic heterodyne interferometer is demonstrated, and the experimentally derived detection limit for the interferometer is shown to be 5.5 × 10−5 m for unity detection bandwidth. This limit is obtained for a mirrored specimen with 0.14 mW of laser power incident on the optical detector.
Lithium‐thyroid interactive hypothesis of neuropsychological deficits: A review and proposal

Although lithium carbonate is a mainstay in the treatment of mood disorders, especially bipolar illness, its use is attended by a high incidence of side effects. Physical side effects are usually addressed effectively by the psychiatrist, but neuropsychological side effects often go untreated and thus may contribute to a high rate of drug non-compliance. Evidence from a variety of sources indicates that the major neuropsychological effect of lithium is a generalized psychomo-tor slowing that manifests itself in subjective complaints of impaired thinking ability, a sense of lethargy, and memory dysfunction. The objective techniques of neuropsychological testing have begun to dissect the discrete aspects of cognition and memory that may be impaired by lithium. Although the neuropsychological deficits of hypothyroidism have not yet been subjected to detailed study, the deficits caused by lithium appear to be consistent with those encountered in patients with hypothyroidism, whether overt or subclinical. Relevant to this comparison is the fact that lithium is a potent antithyroid drug. For these reasons, it is justified to state as a hypothesis that at least some of the neuropsychological deficits caused by lithium are attributable to their antithyroid effects. This hypothesis provides directions for future research in this area and has potentially important implications for treating the neuropsychological side effects of lithium. Depression 2:241–251 (1994/1995). © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intra- and Inter-Site Variability within the Levantine Upper Palaeolithic: Evidence from Jebel Humeima (J412), South-west Jordan

Expanded excavations at the rockshelter of Jebel Humeima (J412) in south-west Jordan provide the basis for re-evaluation of its Upper Palaeolithic lithic assemblage. Initially identified as Levantine Aurignacian, the sample is more closely aligned with the Early Ahmarian. The framework currently used for the Levantine Upper Palaeolithic, combined with spatial clustering of specific blank and tool types, is directly responsible for initial misidentification. This spatial clustering is thought to represent two distinct activity loci: early-stage core reduction and later-stage blade and tool production. This kind of technological and typological variability may also help account for some of the ambiguity within the current Upper Palaeolithic framework of the southern Levant.
Transport properties of proton- and hydroxide-exchange membranes for fuel cells

Abstract The electro-osmotic drag coefficients (ξ) of water-vapor equilibrated Nafion® 117, a proton conductor, and Tokuyama® A201, a hydroxide conductor were determined from the steady-state voltage of a water concentration cell. The ξ values are reported, along with water uptake, ion-exchange capacity, ionic conductivity, and methanol permeability of these membranes. The room-temperature ξ of Nafion® 117 and Tokuyama® A201 is 0.99 (±0.07) and 0.61 (±0.12), respectively, and is relatively independent of water content over the relative humidity range of 14–96%. The time to steady potential in the water concentration cell was longer for the Tokuyama® A201 membrane than the Nafion® 117 membrane, which is tentatively attributed to the lower mobility of hydrated hydroxide (or carbonate from absorption of adventitious carbon dioxide) in comparison to hydronium ion.
Relationship between orientation factor of lead zirconate titanate nanowires and dielectric permittivity of nanocomposites

The relationship between the orientation of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanowires dispersed in nanocomposites and the resulting dielectric constants are quantified. The orientation of the PZT nanowires embedded in a polymer matrix is controlled by varying the draw ratio and subsequently quantified using Herman's Orientation Factor. Consequently, it is demonstrated that the dielectric constants of nanocomposites are improved by increasing the orientation factor of the PZT nanowires. This technique is proposed to improve the dielectric constant of the nanocomposites without the need for additional filler volume fraction since the nanocomposites are utilized in a wide range of high dielectric permittivity electronic components.
Performance characteristics for hearing aid microphone versus telephone and telephone/telecoil reception modes.

Two hearing aids and three telephone receivers were used to compare electroacoustic and word intelligibility data for hearing aid microphone reception versus telephone/telephone and telephone/telec...
The post-Leninist state: A conceptual and empirical examination

Abstract While it is becoming increasingly evident that the post-Leninist state is experiencing a considerable decline in capacity and strength, Western analysts have been slow to address the situation analytically. This essay examines the reasons for the lack of attention paid to the state by former Sovietologists, and offers a new theoretical perspective on the Leninist and post-Leninist states. The utility of this perspective is subsequently demonstrated by applying it to the case of local government reform in Poland. The inability of the Polish reform to overcome the administrative weakness of the state demonstrates both the seriousness of the problem, and the need for greater “state” consciousness on the part of post-Sovietologists.
C8-guanine adduct-induced stabilization of a -1 frame shift intermediate in a nonrepetitive DNA sequence.

The mechanism of frame shift mutagenesis induced by N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene, the major DNA adduct formed by the carcinogen 1-nitropyrene, was investigated by thermal melting studies of a 13-mer in which the adduct was flanked by a 5‘ and a 3‘ C. Compared to the unmodified 13-mer, the adduct destabilized the duplex by 4−5 kcal/mol, and the ΔΔG value remained approximately the same regardless of which base was placed opposite the adduct. In contrast, deletion of the base opposite the adduct stabilized the duplex by nearly 4 kcal/mol. The adduct in the same sequence context was inserted into a bacteriophage M13 DNA containing the simian virus 40 origin of replication. The constructed DNA template was replicated in vitro with extracts from normal human fibroblasts. The adduct was not removed from the progeny DNA following bidirectional semiconservative replication, which suggests that it had been bypassed, rather than repaired, by the cell extract. When newly replicated bacteriophage was evaluate...
Tables or bar graphs? Presenting test results in electronic medical records.

BackgroundElectronic personal health records offer a promising way to communicate medical test results to patients. We compared the usability of tables and horizontal bar graphs for presenting medical test results electronically.MethodsWe conducted experiments with a convenience sample of 106 community-dwelling adults. In the first experiment, participants viewed either table or bar graph formats (between subjects) that presented medical test results with normal and abnormal findings. In a second experiment, participants viewed table and bar graph formats (within subjects) that presented test results with normal, borderline, and abnormal findings.ResultsParticipants required less viewing time when using bar graphs rather than tables. This overall difference was due to superior performance of bar graphs in vignettes with many test results. Bar graphs and tables performed equally well with regard to recall accuracy and understanding. In terms of ease of use, participants did not prefer bar graphs to tables ...
Diet and prostate cancer prevention

Purpose To evaluate the present human-based evidence that diet is related to the risk and outcome of prostate cancer.
Variations of the firing squad problem and applications

Abstract We give minimal time solutions for a few modifications of the firing squad problem. As an application we disprove a conjecture by Ibarra and Jiang that proposes a candidate for showing that the class of languages accepted in real-time by one-way cellular arrays (OCA) is not closed under concatenation. We show that their candidate and also similar languages are accepted by OCA in real-time.
Pediatric intraosseous infusions: Impact on vascular access time

Abstract A 1-year retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate the effect of intraosseous infusions (IO) on the time required to establish vascular access in pediatric patients requiring immediate vascular access for resuscitation. Eighty-one patients were identified, including 29 pulseless and non-breathing and 52 noncardiopulmonary arrest children, who required intravenous fluids or medication for resuscitation. Comparing the results with a previous review, the IO method effectively reduced the time needed to establish vascular access in the arrested group when standard techniques failed, particularly in the child
An invitation to discuss computer depiction

This paper draws from art history and perception to place computer depiction in the broader context of picture production. It highlights the often underestimated complexity of the interactions between features in the picture and features of the represented scene. Depiction is not always a unidirectional projection from a 3D scene to a 2D picture, but involves much feedback and influence from the picture space to the object space. Depiction can be seen as a pre-existing 3D reality projected onto 2D, but also as a 2D pictorial representation that is superficially compatible with an hypothetic 3D scene. We show that depiction is essentially an optimization problem, producing the best picture given goals and constraints.We introduce a classification of basic depiction techniques based on four kinds of issue. The spatial system deals with the mapping of spatial properties between 3D and 2D (including, but not restricted to, perspective projection). The primitive system deals with the dimensionality and mappings between picture primitives and scene primitives. Attributes deal with the assignment of visual properties such as colors, texture, or thickness. Finally, marks are the physical implementations of the picture (e.g. brush strokes, mosaic cells). A distinction is introduced between interaction and picture-generation methods, and techniques are then organized depending on the dimensionality of the inputs and outputs.
A Structured Group for Gay Men Newly Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

The author presents a structured group model designed to help gay men newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. A facilitator's manual is included to outline the group's progression through eight sessions and to address the psychosocial concerns often ignited by an HIV or AIDS diagnosis. Suggestions for future group work are also provided.
A simple nonlocal damage model for predicting failure of notched laminates

The ability to predict failure loads in notched composite laminates is a requirement in a variety of structural design circumstances. A complicating factor is the development of a zone of damaged material around the notch tip. The objective of this study was to develop a computational technique that simulates progressive damage growth around a notch in a manner that allows the prediction of failure over a wide range of notch sizes. This was accomplished through the use of a relatively simple, nonlocal damage model that incorporates strain-softening. This model was implemented in a two-dimensional finite element program. Calculations were performed for two different laminates with various notch sizes under tensile loading, and the calculations were found to correlate well with experimental results.
Formation of septa in the bulbus cordis of a turtle and a lizard.

A total of 54 embryos of Chrysemys (Chelonia) and 29 embryos of Aristelliger (Lacertilia) were used in examining septation of the embryonic bulbus cordis. Division of this region of the heart includes a period of cushion or septal primordia formation and a period of physical partitioning. In both reptilian genera, the physical configuration of the early bulbus, the temporal sequence of appearance of the endocardial cushions, the number of major endocardial cushions, the primordia composing the two primary bulbar septa, and the mode of descent of the bulbar septa are strikingly similar. The two genera differ primarily in the pattern of the endocardial cushions and consequently the rotation of the two bulbar septa. In both the turtle and the lizard the aortico-pulmonary septum passes through an angle of about 120° in its descent toward the ventricle. In Aristelliger the aortic septum rotates through an angle of approximately 120°. By contrast, the same partition in Chrysemys spirals through an angle of about 90°. The lesser spiral of this septum in the turtle is interpreted as the result of a decrease in the rotation of distal endocardial ridge 4. The pattern of the two bulbar septa in the turtle appears to represent an advanced phylogenetic feature in terms of the evolution of the reptilian bulbus cordis.