cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Labor Law to Employment Law: The Changing Politics of Workers' Rights

Over the past several decades, a new kind of labor politics has emerged in new venues (state and local levels), focusing on new governing institutions (employment laws), involving new strategies by labor unions, and featuring new organizational forms (“alt-labor”). The timing, form, and content of these developments have been powerfully shaped by the persistence of the increasingly outmoded but still authoritative national labor law, which has constrained and channeled the efforts of workers and their advocates to respond to growing problems. While the new institutions and organizations provide new substantive rights for workers and alternative vehicles for voice and collective action, the layering of these new forms alongside the old—without displacing the latter—has generated new problems without solving the problems produced by the ossification of labor law in the first place. Using novel empirical data and analysis, this article documents these changes, explores their causes, and considers their consequences for the changing politics of workers’ rights.
Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody (MOG-IgG)-Positive Optic Perineuritis

Optic perineuritis can be a manifestation of infectious and systemic inflammatory disorders, but the majority of cases are idiopathic. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG-positive optic neuritis has been reported to be associated with optic nerve sheath enhancement. This report describes two MOG-IgG patients with clinical, radiological and therapeutic response consistent with optic perineuritis. MOG-IgG may account for many cases of previously described idiopathic optic perineuritis. Vision loss with optic nerve sheath enhancement on MRI should prompt testing for MOG-IgG.
Exploring The Effects of Low Amplitude Fatigue in Crack Growth Rates in High Temperature Aqueous Solution/Metal Systems

In this work, the authors explore the use of artificial neural networks (ANN, net) in sorting and interpreting the impact of mechanical variables [such as applied stress intensity factor (K{sub max}), amplitude and frequency of loading ({Delta}K, {omega})] and environmental parameters [e.g., the corrosion potential (ECP)] on fatigue crack growth in steels in high temperature aqueous systems. In doing so, they reviewed and collected fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) data from the open literature, constructed a suitable database (mainly from data obtained from the Argonne National Laboratory) for use (as inputs) with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN), designed an ANN and trained it on the data base, and used the ANN to extrapolate the range of input variables. They discuss the predictions of the ANN, and compare and contrast the findings with known and expected trends.
ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the experiments related to alpha-1-antitrypsin. Alpha-1-antitrypsin shares some characteristics with enzymes of clinical interest: (1) it is a serum protein that can be quantified in functional terms as an activity in an enzymatic assay; and (2) a great deal of interest, research, and understanding has followed the discovery of an association of this protein with specific disease entities. Cellulose acetate is useful for screening for the homozygous deficient who is at risk for the liver disease if a child or the emphysema if an adult. This should be followed by quantitation either by trypsin inhibitory capacity or with a specific antiserum to alpha-1 antitrypsin either by means of radial immunodiffusion or the rocket electrophoretic technique. One should not assign phenotypes without the typing procedures of the acid starch gel and greater assurance is obtained by rerunning the separated starch gel pattern in an antigen-antibody crossed electrophoretic system with specific antiserum. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is an acute phase reactant protein, so elevated values requiring additional dilution are to be found in inflammatory diseases, cancer, pregnancy, with contraceptive medication, and with stresses such as surgery.
Time Will Tell: Sequencing Institutional Logics to Aid Business Recovery after Natural Disasters

Existing research suggests a paradox regarding the effects of government sponsorship of local business recovery during natural disasters, where the largest provider of public resources has been ass...
Evaluating Pharmacy Student Consultations with Standardized Patients on Opioid Medication Use and Opioid-Specific Risks

Objective. To assess third-year pharmacy students’ entry-level verbal and nonverbal communication skills when addressing sensitive topics during opioid consultations with standardized patients. Methods. Seventy-one students were video-taped while consulting with standardized patients who were receiving a one-month supply of oxycodone for lower back pain. Consults were coded quantitatively for the topics students discussed with the patient, terms used, eye contact, and filler words. Results. The majority of pharmacy students discussed common and severe opioid side effects, such as respiratory depression. However, only 30% explained that the medication being dispensed was an opioid or narcotic, and only 23% of students initiated a conversation regarding dependence, addiction, or overdose risk. Students used more filler words when discussing dependence, addiction, or overdose risk as compared to the rest of the consult. Afterwards, students expressed discomfort and the need for additional training and resources for communicating with patients about opioids. Conclusion. Many students lacked confidence with regards to educating patients about opioid-specific risks. This necessitates expanding education regarding discussing sensitive information about opioids at this school of pharmacy. Other schools of pharmacy would benefit from an evaluation of their curriculum to assess the necessity for additional education and training.
Feature-Based Understanding of Human Emotions

Since human emotion recognition is considered as one of the priority research topics in academia and industries to help people manage their stress and emotions, many significant research studies have been performed by proposing innovative techniques to recognize emotions. However, it is still difficult to understand the emotions. In this paper, we focused on analyzing the emotions computationally. In detail, a wavelet transform technique is utilized to extract significant features to find patterns in an emotion dataset. With the features, both classification and visual analysis are performed. For the classification, Logistic Regression, C4.5, and Support Vector Machine are used. Visualization techniques are utilized to show the similarity and difference among the emotion patterns. From the analysis, we found that there is an improvement in identifying the difference among the emotions.
A ‘Track-Wise’ Wind Retrieval Algorithm for the CYGNSS Mission

The cyclone global navigation satellite system (CYGNSS), launched on December 15 2016, represents the first dedicated GNSS-R satellite mission specifically designed to retrieve ocean surface wind speeds in the Tropical Cyclone (TC) environment. The baseline wind retrieval algorithm for the CYGNSS mission makes use of two observables (the normalized bi-static radar cross section and the leading edge slope) to retrieve the average wind speed within a 25 km resolution cell. The premise of the algorithm is that these two observables are only a function of wind speed and incidence angle. Analysis of actual CYGNSS measurements during the course of the calibration and validation process, indicates that collected GNSS-R signals show a dependence on both winds and waves. This paper will present an alternative method in retrieving the wind speed from CYGNSS data, which will include the use of a geophysical model function dependent on both wind and wave data.
ANTICOAGULANT-RELATED NEPHROPATHY COMPLICATED BY HEPATORENAL SYNDROME FROM LUPOID HEPATITIS

Anticoagulant related nephropathy (ARN) is a newly recognized phenomenon. ARN is defined as over anticoagulation mostly associated with supratherapeutic INRs from warfarin leading to bleeding into the glomeruli. The diagnosis is confirmed with a kidney biopsy, which will show renal tubules filled
Calibration of photogrammetry-based canopy profile mapping using dense, sUAS-based LiDAR data in almond orchards (Conference Presentation)

Almond canopy geometry has been shown to correlate with harvest yield, but the existing specialized and expensive equipment used to measure geometric features provides data limited in resolution and must be operated in a narrow time window, challenging its role in precise orchard management. To increase adoption, this study examines novel aerial data collection methods by small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) and intuitive data processing methods with the goal of improving accuracy and reducing cost, time, and training required for canopy measurements and potential yield estimation.
Temporal correspondence of selenium and mercury, among brine shrimp and water in Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

The specific source of high burdens of selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) in several bird species at Great Salt Lake (GSL) remain unknown. Frequent co-located water and brine shrimp samples were collected during 2016 through 2017 to identify potential correlations of element concentrations among brines and brine shrimp, a keystone species in the GSL. Like many aquatic systems, GSL is characterized by elevated methylmercury (MeHg) in deep waters. However, in contrast to thermally-stratified aquatic systems, biota in the salinity-stratified GSL do not reside in its deep waters, obscuring the presumed relationship between elevated MeHg in biota and in the deep brine. Brine shrimp and water column (shallow and deep, filtered and unfiltered) samples were collected from six sites spanning the South Arm of GSL approximately every other month. Mercury concentrations in brine shrimp (on average 89% of which is MeHg) were correlated only with total mercury in surface filtered water, and displayed little spatial variability, but consistent seasonal trends across the two sampled years. In contrast to Hg, temporal correspondence was observed between Se concentrations in brine shrimp and those in all water samples regardless of filtering and depth, with maxima and minima at higher-than-seasonal frequency. The data suggest a spatially diffuse source of bioavailable mercury to the shallow brine that responds to seasonal influences, for which the underlying deep brine, surficial sediments, and overlying atmosphere were evaluated in terms of potential temporal correspondence to shallow brine and brine shrimp Hg concentrations, as well as potential to mix across the extent of the shallow brine. Bioaccumulation factors were at the low end of those reported for marine systems, and decreased at higher trace element concentrations in water.
The probability of war in then-crises problem: Modeling new alternatives to Wright's solution

In hisStudy of War, Q. Wright considered a model for the probability of warP “during a period ofn crises”, and proposed the equationP=1−(1−p) n , wherep is the probability of war escalating at each individual crisis. This probability measure was formally derived recently by Cioffi-Revilla (1987), using the general theory of political reliability and an interpretation of the “n-crises problem” as a branching process. Two new, alternate solutions are presented here, one using D. Bernoulli's St. Petersburg Paradox as an analogue, the other based on the logic of conditional probabilities. Analysis shows that, while Wright's solution is robust with regard to the general overall behavior ofp andn, some significant qualitative and quantitative differences emerge from the alternative solutions. In particular,P converges to 1 only in a special case (Wright's) and not generally.
Seminars in cell and developmental biology: Anaphase A

Anaphase A is the motion of recently separated chromosomes to the spindle pole they face. It is accompanied by the shortening of kinetochore-attached microtubules. The requisite tubulin depolymerization may occur at kinetochores, at poles, or both, depending on the species and/or the time in mitosis. These depolymerization events are local and suggest that cells regulate microtubule dynamics in specific places, presumably by the localization of relevant enzymes and microtubule-associated proteins to specific loci, such as pericentriolar material and outer kinetochores. Motor enzymes can contribute to anaphase A, both by altering microtubule stability and by pushing or pulling microtubules through the cell. The generation of force on chromosomes requires couplings that can both withstand the considerable force that spindles can generate and simultaneously permit tubulin addition and loss. This chapter reviews literature on the molecules that regulate anaphase microtubule dynamics, couple dynamic microtubules to kinetochores and poles, and generate forces for microtubule and chromosome motion.
Toys or Math Tools: Do Children’s Views of Manipulatives Affect Their Learning?

This research examined whether children’s construals of mathematical manipulatives – as toys or as tools for doing mathematics – influenced their learning from a lesson with the manipulatives. Chil...
Does Intraparty Conflict Impact Partisan Attitudes? The Case of Voter Fraud in the 2020 Election

While most accounts of American politics highlight intense ideological and affective polarization between the two parties, conflict within each party is on the rise. How does intraparty conflict impact partisan political attitudes? I examine this question using a survey experiment on alleged voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election—a particularly divisive issue among Republican elites and voters. My results suggest that on the whole, exposure to Republican intraparty conflict over the legitimacy of the election has little impact on Republicans' or Democrats' attitudes toward either party, their opinions on the political system, or their beliefs about the legitimacy of Joe Biden's win. However, Republicans with weaker party commitments demonstrate decreased affect toward their party and reduced perceptions that the Democratic Party poses a threat after exposure to Republican intraparty conflict. These findings suggest that conflict within a party could push some less committed partisans to defect.
113 Southern awareness and implementation of pasture best management practices

Proper pasture management is an important consideration for equine owners to prevent negative environmental effects and promote equine health. When best management practices (BMPs) are not implemented, issues such as soil erosion, decreased pasture persistence, and nutrient runoff can occur. Understanding a person's current level of awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs is essential to further increase educational resources and identify target areas of educational outreach. We hypothesized that owners who keep their horses and other equids at home [HOH] and equine facility owners/managers [EFOM] will have similar awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs compared with owners that board [HOB]. An online survey (Qualtrics) was distributed via social media and email to Southern United States residents over the age of 18 (n = 328). The survey was open for 6-weeks and was distributed through social media and email. Demographics, information sources, current pasture management practices, along with awareness and implementation of BMPs were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed in SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC); frequency procedures and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the effect of management connection to awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs (a = 0.05). Management connection played a significant role in respondents’ awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs for rotational grazing (aware, P = 0.009; implementation, P = 0.003); however, there was no significant difference for stocking rates (awareness, P = 0.07; implementation, P = 0.25). Participants, independent of management connection, who were aware of rotational grazing, when compared with not being aware, were only 4 times more likely to implement rotational grazing (OR = 4.115; 95% CI: 2.18, 27.78). However, respondents who were aware of appropriate stocking rates, when compared with not being aware, were 48 times more likely to implement an appropriate density of animals on pasture (OR = 47.62; 95% CI: 21.74–100.00). Understanding a person's connection and level of awareness is essential to help create educational materials and outreach programs to increase implementation of pasture BMPs and improve environmental stewardship at equine facilities.
How the Workplace Plays a Role in a Good Life: Using the Job Demands-Resources Model in Predicting Correctional Staff Life Satisfaction

Life satisfaction is a positive overall feeling towards one’s life and is an important factor for employees and their employers. There has been little research on life satisfaction of staff working at correctional institutions who play an important security role in the care, custody, and control of offenders. The current study explored how work environment variables are related to correctional staff life satisfaction using the Job Demands-Job Resources Model, which holds that job demands and job resources are two major categories of work environment variables. Job demands cause strain for employees, creating negative outcomes and reducing positive outcomes while job resources result in staff being productive and feeling good, increasing positive outcomes and lowering negative outcomes. The current study focused on the specific job demands of perceiving the job as dangerous, role conflict, role ambiguity, and role overload, and the job resources of instrumental communication, job autonomy, job variety, and quality of training. The data was collected from 160 completed questionnaires from all available full-time staff (N = 200) at a prison in the midwestern part of the United States. Using multivariate regression analysis, it was found that role ambiguity and role overload had negative effects on life satisfaction, and job variety and quality training had positive effects. While the effects of job demand and job resource variables differed depending on the aspect of the work environment being examined, the results overall supported the Job Demands-Job Resources Model in explaining life satisfaction.
The Impacts of ICD-10-CM on U.S. Army Injury Surveillance.

Introduction Injuries are the leading cause of medical encounters and lost work days in the U.S. Army, affecting more than half of active-duty soldiers annually. Historically, Army injury surveillance has captured both acute traumatic and cumulative microtraumatic overuse injuries. This article describes how the transition from the ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM impacted U.S. military injury surveillance by comparing injury rates and distributions under both systems. Methods Mapping ICD-9-CM codes to the expanded ICD-10-CM codes is not a straightforward endeavor; therefore, the Army Public Health Center incorporated ICD-10-CM codes into a comprehensive, systematic approach to taxonomically categorize injuries. This taxonomic methodology was applied to Army injuries under ICD-10-CM (2016–2019) and compared with the ICD-9-CM Army injury surveillance definitions (2012–2015). Results Soldier injury rates appeared to increase when surveillance with ICD-10-CM began. Soldiers experienced 1,276 incident injury medical encounters per 1,000 person-years in 2015 (ICD-9-CM), compared with 1,804 injuries per 1,000 in 2016 (ICD-10-CM), a 41% increase. Importantly, the distribution of injuries also shifted, such that the average cumulative microtraumatic injury rate increased by 42% during 2016–2019 (ICD-10-CM) compared with the 2012–2015 average (ICD-9-CM), whereas acute traumatic injuries only increased by 17%. Conclusions The enhanced descriptions provided by ICD-10-CM codes and the applied taxonomic categorizations have improved precision in Army injury surveillance. Data unequivocally show that most injuries in this physically active population are cumulative microtraumatic injuries. The taxonomic methodology can be extended to injury surveillance in other populations and may allow a more efficient transition to ICD-11-CM.
Quantitative Pulmonary Neutrophil Dynamics using Computer-Vision Stabilized Intravital Imaging.

In vivo intravital imaging in animals models in the lung remains challenging due to respiratory motion artifacts. Here we describe a novel intravital imaging approach based on the computer vision s...
PONAPE ISLANDS CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL: A CASE STUDY OF BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL CONFLICT IN A MICRONESIAN HIGH SCHOOL *

enclaves. For centuries, knowledge, skills, values, and beliefs were transmitted through the extended family network in preparation for participation in the traditional agricultural mode of subsistence. With the advent of Westernization has come a countering organizational network of transmission in the form of schooling geared to an industrial based mode of subsistence. Whereas the family serves an enculturating function, the school acts to acculturate the individual. Although the results of such inter-systemic socialization are readily visible in the streets of the district center, e.g. in dress, speech, and behavior, the dynamics of normative conflict as exhibited within cross-cultural institutions has been rarely analyzed. It is the purpose of this article to examine bureaucratic organization, cross-cultural conflict and its ensuing effect on Ponapean personality formation in one such institution - an American transplanted high school. *This article is derived from the data gathered in a larger study conducted by the author on the role of formal and informal education in cultural character change among the Ponapeans. The study was funded by the Ford Foundation and would have been impossible without their generous assistance.
Propionate-Degrading Bacterium, Syntrophobacter wolinii sp. nov. gen. nov., from Methanogenic Ecosystems

A new genus and species of a nonmotile gram-negative rod, Syntrophobacter wolinii, is the first bacterium described which degrades propionate only in coculture with an H(2)-using organism and in the absence of light or exogenous electron acceptors such as O(2), sulfate, or nitrate. It was isolated from methanogenic enrichments from an anaerobic municipal sewage digestor, using anaerobic roll tubes containing a medium with propionate as the energy source in association with an H(2)-using, sulfate-reducing Desulfovibrio sp. which cannot utilize fatty acids other than formate. S. wolinii produced acetate and, presumably, CO(2) and H(2) (or formate) from propionate. In media without sulfate and with Methanospirillum hungatei, a methanogen that uses only H(2)-CO(2) or formate as an energy source, acetate, methane, and, presumably, CO(2) were produced from propionate and only small amounts of Desulfovibrio sp. were present. Isolation in coculture with the methanogen was not successful. S. wolinii does not use other saturated fatty acids as energy sources.
Measurement Precision in Quality Management

A major problem encountered by high‐tech management is that of managing the precision of product components and their assembly. For dimensional metrology, management’s ultimate tool for technologically assuring measurement precision to the microinch, and the product reliability depending on this precision, is the use of gauge blocks for calibration. Using three comprehensive sets of data from high precision primary laboratories in the US and from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), not only explores, but also provides insights on, how reliable a calibration standard are gauge blocks. The results show that individual blocks do expand or contract over time. The true value of blocks was found to differ significantly from their specified nominal values. There was strong evidence that some blocks are in fact manufactured much above or below their nominal specification. Also a significantly higher range was displayed in measurements on larger blocks.
Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress attenuates aorta coarctation induced hypertension and kidney injury in diabetic Goto Kakizaki rats (LB724)

Hypertension (HT) is common in diabetes and substantially increases the risk for diabetic nephropathy. To investigate the mechanisms by which HT and diabetes interact to promote nephropathy, 6 month-old male Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes, were used in this study. HT was induced by aorta coarctation (AC) between the renal arteries to produce HT plus diabetes in the right kidney (above AC) and normal blood pressure (BP) plus diabetes in the left kidney (below AC). BP above AC increased to 151±8 mmHg 8 wks after AC (n=5, p<0.05 compared to baseline of 108±5 mmHg). To examine the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the development of hypertensive-diabetic nephropathy, GK-AC rats were treated with the ER stress inhibitor tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, 200 mg/kg/day, IP) from 2 to 8 wks after AC. After 6 wks of treatment, ER stress marker, GRP-78, was significantly reduced in the right HT kidney compared to the right HT kidney from untreated rats. TUDCA treatment al...
Rail and Transport Policy: National Paradigms and Supranational Structures

The story of EU rail and transportation policy is about the inter-relation between economic and political integration. The European Union is often seen as a structure for enforcing discipline on governments in a free market. The idealized market is driven by transcendental economic laws of exchange that determine what is efficient and what is not, and that help to shape social institutions. The modern social institution that has done the most to promote modernization and progress - the state - plays no role in the constitution of market efficiency. On the contrary it can only act to disrupt primordial or natural markets. The great expectation that analysts hold for the EU is that it can negotiate modern states out of the economic picture. The argument in this book, in contrast, is that economic integration under a single European market will not be as simple as eliminating industrial interventions that interfere with natural markets, but will involve national paradigms concerning: (1) how and where markets produce efficiencies, and (2) the role of the state in the constitution of various markets. This will demand not a withering away of European states, but the imposition of a new supranational structure that will affect some particular, as yet unfinished vision of the market.
The FRET Signatures of Non-Interacting Proteins in Cellular Membranes

Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments are often used to study interactions between integral membrane proteins in cellular membranes. However, in addition to the FRET of sequence specific interactions, these experiments invariably record a contribution due to proximity FRET, which occurs when a donor and an acceptor approach each other by chance within distances of 100 A. This effect does not reflect specific interactions in the membrane and is rarely appreciated in the field, despite the fact that its magnitude can be significant. Here we develop a comprehensive computational description of proximity FRET, simulating the cases of proximity FRET when the fluorescent proteins are used to tag monomeric, dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric membrane proteins, as well as membrane proteins existing in monomer-dimer equilibrium. We also perform rigorous experimental measurements of this effect by identifying membrane receptors that do not associate in mammalian membranes. We measure the FRET efficiencies between YFP and m-Cherry-tagged versions of these receptors in plasma membrane derived vesicles, as a function of receptor concentration. Finally, we demonstrate that the experimental measurements are well described by our predictions. The work presented here should bring much-needed rigor in FRET-based studies of membrane protein interactions, and should have broad utility in membrane biophysics research.
Evaluation of some proposed forms of Lagrangian velocity correlation coefficient

Abstract This work evaluates four different forms of Lagrangian velocity correlation coefficient for stationary homogeneous turbulence at very large Reynolds numbers through consideration of simple mathematical and physical requirements. It is shown that some of them do not comply well with the requirements and may not be appropriate for use.
Covalently bound ionene polyelectrolyte-silica gel stationary phases for HPLC.

Micelle-mimetic ionene-based stationary phases for highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are prepared by attaching [3,16]- and [3,22]-ionenes to aminopropyl silica through a carbon-nitrogen bond. These [x,y]ionenes are polyelectrolytic molecules consisting of dimethylammonium charge centers interconnected by alternating alkyl chain segments containing x and y methylene groups, some of which can form aggregate species whose properties mimic those of conventional surfactant micelles. These ionene-bonded stationary phases were characterized using different recommended HPLC test mixtures. Test solute chromatographic behavior on the ionene phases was found to be similar to that of intermediate oligomeric or polymeric C-18 and/or phenyl phases, depending upon the specific test mixture employed. In addition, the phases exhibit significant solute shape recognition ability. The ionene stationary phases were successfully employed for the separation of the components of the recommended ASTM reversed-phase test mixture, as well as for ortho-, meta- and para-disubstituted benzenes and other positional or geometric isomeric compounds. The ionene materials allow for chromatographic separations under either reversed-phase or ionexchange conditions. The retention mechanism on these multimodal phases can occur by hydrophobic partitioning or electrostatic interactions, depending upon the characteristics of the components of the analyte mixture (neutral or anionic). The effects of alteration of the percent organic modifier, flow rate and temperature of the mobile phase on chromatographic retention and efficiency on these phases were briefly examined.
Cholecystokinin-4 and Panic

To the Editor.— The report by de Montigny 1 that cholecystokinin-4 (CCK-4) can provoke paniclike attacks in normal subjects prompts us to report preliminary observations of responses to pentagastrin infusions in patients with panic disorder. Our interest in neuropeptides and anxiety was initially aroused by a group of endocrine clinic patients with "idiopathic flushing syndrome" who had symptoms similar to those of patients with panic disorder. Review of a previously described cohort 2 of patients with flushing syndrome revealed three who met DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder and had abnormalities in one or more neuropeptides (substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin, or gastrin). We decided to look for abnormalities in endocrine responses to pentagastrin in patients with panic disorder to search for possible neuropeptide mediators of panic symptoms. Pentagastrin stimulates the release of a number of peptides from endocrine-containing tumors and can produce paniclike symptoms in some of these patients.
Racial disparity in oral and pharyngeal cancer in Florida in 1991-2008: mixed trends in stage of diagnosis.

Objectives To explore changes in distribution of stage at diagnosis among individuals with oral and pharyngeal cancers over the past two decades and whether the changes differ by race. Methods We obtained 1991–2008 cancer incidence data for nine anatomic sites of the oral and pharyngeal structure from the Florida Cancer Data System. These cancers were grouped into oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pharyngeal SCC, and other head and neck cancers. Annual percent change was calculated for each group to characterize trends in age-adjusted cancer incidence over time by race and stage at diagnosis. Results During 1991–2008, the overall age-adjusted oral SCC incidence was decreasing for both races, with a greater decline observed among Blacks. There was a large drop in incidence of regional-stage diagnoses among Blacks. For pharyngeal SCC, the age-adjusted incidence of localized- and regional-stage diagnoses was increasing for Whites during 1991–2008, with the largest increase in the incidence of regional-stage diagnoses. The percentage of localized-stage diagnoses was increasing for both races for oral SCC. A slight increase in percentage of localized-stage diagnoses was observed for Blacks for pharyngeal SCC, whereas no obvious change was observed among Whites. Conclusions Blacks continued to have lower percentages of localized-stage diagnoses than Whites for nearly all sites, but an increasing percentage of localized-stage diagnoses was observed for oral SCC among Blacks. For pharyngeal SCC, the increase in incidence among Whites was accompanied by an increasing percentage of late-stage diagnoses. Coordinated public health approaches with a special emphasis on screening underserved populations are needed.
Wavelength-specific fluorescence coefficients for simulating hyperspectral reflectance signatures of water

A model which describes the transfer of irradiant light in water is used to predict the fluorescence response of the water surface reflectance under solar induced or an artificial light source such as a laser. Formulations for the estimation of wavelength dependent fluorescent coefficients. The techniques allows the description of a fluorescence reflectance response in deep and shallow waters with various bottom reflectance signatures such as submerged vegetation, corals and sand. Recent advances in the model are presented for obtaining wavelength dependent fluorescence spectrum responses from the solutions of the two flow equations following the procedures developed by Bostater. Synthetic or modeled signatures are presented using in-situ data from the Space Coast of central Florida, USA and the southeastern Atlantic waters near Beaufort, South Carolina. The synthetic or modeled signatures are also dependent upon the attenuation length of the water based upon knowledge of the diffuse attenuation coefficient (k), the beam attenuation (c) or the absorption coefficient (a). The model has potential applications for helping to select remote sensing optimal channels or bands useful in near nadir viewing geometry of estuarine or coastal water columns overlying shallow sand, submerged vegetation, or coral reefs. The analytical solution to the two-flow equations developed by Bostater have transferability to complex but important water quality detection problems that can be assisted using fluorescence processes.
SU‐FF‐J‐100: Normal Tissue Dose in Abdomen Under Dynamic Beam Tracking

Purpose: Dynamic beam tracking has been proposed for moving targets. Since planning systems consider all structures stationary, the tracking delivery is purposely different from the plan. This study evaluated the dosimetric differences in normal tissue between the stationary beam plan and the dynamic beam delivery. Method and Materials:IMRT plans for abdominal cancers were generated without considering organ motion. A margin of 1 cm, rather than the conventional 1.5 to 2cm, was used. The resulting MLC sequences were converted to dynamic sequences to track a hypothetical sinusoidal target motion of ±2cm in superior/inferior direction and ±1.5 cm in anterior/posterior direction. A 4‐second respiration cycle and 400 MU/minute dose rate were also assumed. To assess the worst‐case scenario of normal tissue dose difference, all normal structures including liver,kidneys, small bowel and spinal cord were assumed stationary. Doses recalculated using the dynamic sequences were compared with that of the original IMRT plan. Results: As expected, dynamic beam tracking maintained target dose coverage while substantially reduced doses to surrounding normal structures. The differences in normal tissue dose between the stationary beam plan and the moving beam plan were small. The low‐dose volume was increased while the high‐dose volume was decreased slightly in normal tissue with dynamic beam tracking. No degradation of normal structure sparing was observed although the structures were not moving with the target. Conclusion: Contrary to our intuitions, dynamic beam tracking does not significantly alter the normal tissue dose in the abdomen as compared with optimized plans using stationary beams. Unsynchronized motion between the target and normal structures did not cause higher doses to the normal structures when tracking is focused on the target. MLC sequences of the optimized stationary plans can be used for dynamic beam tracking using a simple conversion into dynamic sequences that follows tumor motion.
Improved efficiency in organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells by interfacial modification of ZnO nanowires with small molecules

We demonstrate improved photovoltaic performance of ZnO nanowire/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofiber hybrid devices using an interfacial modification of ZnO nanowires. Formation of cascade energy levels between the ZnO nanowire and P3HT nanofiber was achieved by interfacial modification of ZnO nanowires using small molecules tetraphenyldibenzoperiflanthene (DBP) and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic bisbenzimidazole (PTCBI). The successful demonstration of improved device performance owing to the cascade energy levels by small molecule modification is a promising approach toward highly efficient organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells.
Adult Stem Cell Plasticity Defined

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Define stem cell characteristics and the three separate classes of stem cells. 2. Define stem cell plasticity. 3. Describe four possible mechanisms of stem cell plasticity. 4. Describe clinical situations that may benefit from stem cell therapy. 5. Delineate areas of research that are needed to make feasible the use of adult stem cells for clinical therapy Investigators have postulated since the turn of the century that some cells in the body appear to participate in the formation of new cells to replace injured, aged, or infected cells in tissues and organs. The concept that certain specialized cells within an organ (stem cells) could give rise to mature functioning cells in that same organ has been demonstrated most clearly in the hematopoietic system. Evidence for stem cell function in the hematopoietic system has come from controlled laboratory experiments and as a consequence of human exposure to massive irradiation during armed conflict. World War II was brought to an end dramatically in August 1945 with the dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. In the wake of the devastation and human suffering of these events, several hundred thousand Japanese civilians and soldiers were exposed to lethal and sublethal doses of irradiation. Examination of the affected people included, but was not limited to, the ablative effects of irradiation on the body’s hematopoietic system. Observation and treatment of these patients led to several scientific reports confirming the postulated existence of stem cells that are responsible for the continuous production of all circulating blood cells. Subsequent studies performed on laboratory rodents detailed the detrimental effects of irradiation on the hematopoietic system as well as the ability of bone marrow transplantation to correct such anomalies. Hematopoietic repopulation was established by transplanting clonogenic marrow cells, which …
232. Short_Term, In Vivo Correction of VLCAD Deficiency in Mice: Steps toward a Gene Therapy for Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Deficiency of very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), one of several nuclear encoded mitochondrial enzymes that catalyze the initial step in the beta-oxidation of straight chain fatty acids, often presents with cardiomyopathy and/or sudden death. How VLCAD deficiency causes cardiomyopathy is unclear, but appears to be related to the accumulation of toxic long-chain acyl-carnitine species rather than a block in energy metabolism. A recent report of a 5-year-old with VLCAD deficiency note resolution of her hypertrophic cardiomyopathy while on a strict low fat diet supplemented with medium chain triglycerides and carnitine. While dietary therapy for VLCAD deficiency has been beneficial to some, many people to not respond. Intercurrent illness with diminished oral intake, exercise, or fasting all increase demand for fatty acid metabolism and can potentially trigger catastrophic events even while on dietary therapy.
A Comparison of THC, Nantradol, Nabilone, and Morphine in the Chronic Spinal Dog

Morphine and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been shown to have certain pharmacologic characteristics in common. Among these are antinociception, hypothermia, and the suppression of precipitated abstinence in morphine-dependent rats. In the present study the effects of morphine were compared with the effects of THC and two synthetic cannabinoids, nantradol and nabilone, in both nondependent and morphine-dependent chronic spinal dogs. Single doses of THC, nantradol, and nabilone depressed the flexor and skin twitch reflexes and had a calming effect after intravenous infusion. These effects are similar to those of morphine. Morphine, nantradol, and nabilone, but not THC, depressed rectal temperature. Unlike morphine, however, the cannabinoids produced mydriasis and an increased startle response, and these effects were not antagonized by naltrexone. THC, nantradol, and nabilone suppressed withdrawal abstinence in 40-hour and maximally abstinent morphine-dependent chronic spinal dogs. The results suggest that THC, nantradol, and nabilone share some properties with morphine since they increased the latency of the skin twitch reflex and suppressed withdrawal abstinence. It is doubtful, however, that these actions of the cannabinoids are mediated through opioid receptors since they were not antagonized by naltrexone.
The value of multiple reviews

Expert opinion aids consumers purchasing a good they have no personal experience with. Previous research has found little to no impact of expert opinion on price. Evidence from panels of cigar reviewers shows that the explanatory power of the experts’ rating improves as more reviews are used.
Polythiophene and polythiophene-based conducting composites

Abstract Conducting polythiophene and conducting polymer composites containing polythiophene are prepared. A one-step oxidative reaction of 2,2′-bithiophene with one of the following oxidants, copper perchlorate hydrate, iron perchlorate hydrate, ferric chloride or ferric chloride hydrate, in a suitable solvent produces a doped polythiophene, the conductivity of which reaches values as high as 4.5 S/cm. The conducting polymer composite is based on a highly porous crosslinked polystyrene as host polymer. It was prepared by imbibing the host polymer with a monomer solution, partially drying the saturated host polymer and imbibing again with an oxidant solution for polymerization to occur. The composites, particularly those prepared using ferric chloride as initiator and dopant, are environmentally stable reach conductivities as high as 4.8 S/cm. The conductivity of the composite is influenced by the type of oxidant and the initial concentrations of oxidant and monomer. The IR spectra of the doped polythiophene provide evidence that both the oxidative reaction and doping occur in the one-step reaction. SEM micrographs of the composites show that polythiophene coats uniformly the inside of the porous host polymer.
Presbyopia: a pilot investigation of the barriers and benefits of near visual acuity correction among a rural Filipino population.

Presbyopia is the age-related decline in accommodation that diminishes the ability of the eye to focus on near objects. Presbyopia is common and easy to correct; however, many communities lack access to basic eye care. The purpose of this project was to assess the burden of uncorrected presbyopia in a rural Filipino population and to pilot an intervention aimed at increasing access to reading glasses in the community. Individuals above the age of 40 who presented to a health outreach in the Philippines were invited to undergo a near vision exam to detect the presence of functional presbyopia and be fitted with ready-made, single-vision glasses. The change in stereoacuity was used as a surrogate measure of functional improvement after near vision correction. A questionnaire was administered to assess this population’s perceived barriers and benefits to correcting near vision. The average age of the participants was 57 ± 11 years, with 87.6% of participants having an uncorrected near visual acuity of <20/50. Reading glasses improved near vision to 20/40 or better in 77.7% of participants having near-vision impairment (uncorrected near visual acuity of <20/40). Over 75% of participants also showed improvement in stereoacuity. Cost, rather than availability, was perceived to be the greater barrier to the procurement of glasses, and 84% of participants reported that the glasses dispensed would greatly improve their ability to earn a living. Dispensing ready-made, single-vision glasses is a simple and cost-effective intervention to improve near vision and enhance depth perception. A greater understanding of the barriers and benefits to correcting near vision will inform the design and execution of a sustainable program to correct presbyopia in developing countries.
Shock wave focusing in water inside convergent structures

Experiments on shock focusing in water-filled convergent structures have been performed. A shock wave in water is generated by means of a projectile, launched from a gas gun, which impacts a water-filled convergent structure. Two types of structures have been tested; a bulk material and a thin shell structure. The geometric shape of the convergent structures is given by a logarithmic spiral, and this particular shape is chosen because it maximizes the amount of energy reaching the focal region. High-speed schlieren photography is used to visualize the shock dynamics during the focusing event. Results show that the fluid-structure interaction between the thin shell structure and the shock wave in the water is different from that of a bulk structure; multiple reflections of the shock wave inside the thin shell are reflected back into the water, thus creating a wave train, which is not observed for shock focusing in a bulk material.
On the generalizability of shock-elicited aggressive behavior in rats

The aggressive behavior of rats was observed both in a colony situation and in a shock-elicited aggression situation. Several aggressive behaviors seen in the colony were not observed during footshock. Shoving and upright boxing were observed in both situations, although several components of these behaviors were missing during footshock. These data suggest that behavior elicited by footshock may be “displacement” activity rather than aggressive or defensive behavior.