cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early Discontinuation of Breast Free Flap Monitoring: A Strategy Driven by National Data.

BACKGROUND Multiple single-institution studies have revealed that breast free flap compromise usually occurs within the first 48 postoperative hours. However, national studies analyzing the rates and timing of breast free flap compromise are lacking. This study aimed to fill this gap in knowledge to better guide postoperative monitoring. METHODS All women undergoing breast free flap reconstruction from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2012 to 2016 database were analyzed to determine the rates and timing of free flap take-back. Take-backs were stratified by postoperative day through the first month. Multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of free flap take-back. RESULTS A total of 6792 breast free flap patients were analyzed. Multivariable analysis revealed that body mass index of 40 kg/m or higher, hypertension, American Society of Anesthesiologists class of 3 or higher, steroid use, and smoking were independent predictors of take-back (p < 0.05). Take-back occurred at the highest rate during postoperative day 1, dropped significantly by postoperative day 2 (p < 0.001), and remained consistently low after postoperative day 2 (<0.6 percent daily). The identified risk factors significantly increased the likelihood of take-back on postoperative day 1 (p < 0.05), with a trend noted on postoperative day 2 (p = 0.06). Fewer than 0.4 percent of patients (n = 27) underwent take-back on postoperative day 2 without having risk factors. CONCLUSIONS This is the first national study specifically analyzing rates, timing, and independent predictors of breast free flap take-back. The data support discontinuing breast free flap monitoring by the end of postoperative day 1 for patients without risk factors, given the very low rate of take-back for such patients during postoperative day 2 (≤0.4 percent). CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Risk, III.
The Influence of Maternal Dietary Intake During Mid-Gestation on Growth, Feedlot Performance, miRNA and mRNA Expression, and Carcass and Meat Quality of Resultant Offspring

This research analyzed how maternal plane of nutrition during mid-gestation impacts growth, blood metabolites, expression of microRNA and messenger RNA in skeletal muscle, feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics of progeny. Thirty-two cows were bred to the same Angus sire and fed to either maintain a body condition score (BCS) of 5.0 to 5.5 (maintenance [MAIN]; n = 15) or to lose 1 BCS (restriction [REST]; n = 17) over an 84-d period of mid-gestation. Following the second trimester, all cows were co-mingled and fed at maintenance for the remainder of gestation. Following the 84-d treatment period, REST cows had a lower (P 0.10) between offspring in birthweight, weaning weight, average daily gain, feed efficiency, dry matter intake, carcass yield, steak quality, or in circulating levels of glucose, cortisol, insulin, or insulin-like growth factor-1. REST offspring expressed more (P < 0.05) miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-181d, miR-214, miR-424 and miR-486 at weaning than MAIN offspring. At harvest, REST offspring expressed more (P < 0.05) miR-133a and less (P < 0.01) miR-486 than MAIN offspring. REST steaks were perceived as more tender (P = 0.05) by a trained sensory panel. These results indicate that maternal nutrient restriction during mid-gestation resulting in a loss of 1 BCS has an effect on microRNA expression in the skeletal muscle but does not alter postnatal growth potential, carcass quality, or end product quality of the offspring. This suggests that moderate restriction in maternal nutrition during the second trimester, which results in a drop in BCS that can be recovered during the third trimester, should not cause alarm for producers when considering future offspring performance.
Dynamic wetting and heat transfer during droplet impact on bi-phobic wettability-patterned surfaces

This paper reports the dynamic wetting behavior and heat transfer characteristics for impinging droplets on heated bi-phobic surfaces (superhydrophobic matrix with hydrophobic spots). A non-patterned superhydrophobic and a sticky hydrophobic surface acted as control wettability surfaces. As expected, differences in wetting and heat transfer dynamics were noticeable for all surfaces with the most pronounced variation during the receding phase. During spreading, inertia from the impact dominated the droplet dynamics, and heat transfer was dominated by convection at the contact line and internal flow. As contact line velocities decreased over time, evaporative cooling at the contact line gained importance, especially for the bi-phobic surfaces, where liquid remained trapped on the hydrophobic spots during receding. These satellite droplets increased the contact area and contact line length and assisted heat transfer and substrate cooling after lift-off of the main droplet. Compared with the hydrophobic surface, the contribution of the contact line heat transfer increased by 17%–27% on the bi-phobic surfaces depending on the location of impact relative to the hydrophobic spots. Nonetheless, the bi-phobic surfaces had a lower total thermal energy transfer. However, compared with the plain superhydrophobic surface, heat transfer was enhanced by 33%–46% by patterning the surface. Depending on the application, a trade-off exists between the different surfaces: the sticky hydrophobic surface provides the best cooling efficiency yet is prone to flooding, whereas the superhydrophobic surface repels the liquid but has poor cooling efficiency. The bi-phobic surfaces provide a middle path with reasonable cooling effectiveness and low flooding probability.
Increased competency of registered dietitian nutritionists in physical examination skills after simulation-based education in the United States.

PURPOSE This study aimed to translate simulation-based dietitian nutritionist education to clinical competency attainment in a group of practicing registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). Using a standardized instrument to measure performance on a newly-required clinical skill, the nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE), competence was measured both before and after a simulation-based education (SBE) session. METHODS Eighteen practicing RDNs were recruited by their employer, Spectrum Health. Following a pre-briefing session, participants completed an initial 10-minute encounter, performing NFPE on a standardized patient (SP). Next, participants completed a 90-minute SBE training session on skills within the NFPE, including hands-on practice and role play, followed by a post-training SP encounter. Video recordings of the SP encounters were scored to assess competence in 7 skill areas within the NFPE. Scores were analyzed for participants’ initial competence and change in competence. RESULTS The proportions of participants with initial competence ranged from 0% to 44% across the 7 skill areas assessed. The only competency where participants initially scored in the “meets expectations” range was “approach to the patient.” When raw competence scores were assessed for changes from pre- to post-SBE training, the paired t-test indicated significant increases in all 7 competency areas following the simulation-based training (P<0.001). CONCLUSION This study showed the effectiveness of a SBE training program for increasing competence scores of practicing RDNs on a defined clinical skill.
Introduction: “Official Perspective” and the Two Senses of Justice

This Introduction chronicles the development of the author’s research examining intersections between literacy and race in U.S.-Dakota War commemorative events that unfolded in southern Minnesota around the war’s 2012 sesquicentennial. Discussion includes the author’s involvement as participant-observer in a local college course that designed a traveling museum exhibit on the 1862 war. Based on his applied work, the author identifies competing senses of justice driving regional commemoration: (a) critical social justice which seeks educative redress and material reparations for ongoing injustices shaped by regional settler colonialism and (b) white justice as fairness which compels citizen-scholars to suspend moral judgment when making collective sense of the racially violent past. Theorizing the two senses of justice helps contextualize teaching-and-learning moments analyzed in the book’s chapters where instructors and students negotiated choices between critical social justice and white justice as fairness, invoking racialized dilemmas rooted in regional and personal white identity.
Significantly higher APOE abundance in the hippocampus of male alcoholics than male non-alcoholics

1623 Objectives To explore the potential contribution of alcoholism to Alzheimer’s development at gene expression level, focusing on the mRNA levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1), apolipoprotein E (APOE), and tau protein Methods A dataset from GEO (gene expression omnibus) of NCBI was selected, including 6 female age-matched alcoholism and controls, 14 male alcoholism and 13 male age-matched controls. All mRNA samples were from frozen human post-mortem hippocampus. The total 39 chips of affymetrix human gene 1.0 ST array were normalized by Robust Multichip Average (RMA), software. The abundance of mRNA was expressed at log2 scale. The comparison between groups was performed by Student’s t-test. Results The APOE abundances in male alcoholic and non-alcoholic groups were 9.40//0.06 (mean//variance) and 9.12//0.11, p Conclusions Our explorative analysis in a small alcoholic population showed that there was a sex difference in APOE expression in alcoholism, suggesting that male alcoholics could have high risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease, particularly lower PSEN1 abundance in alcoholics than non-alcoholics. Validation in a larger volume is guaranteed. Research Support T32EB006351
Automated High-Throughput System Combining Small-Scale Synthesis with Bioassays and Reaction Screening.

The Purdue Make It system is a unique automated platform capable of small-scale in situ synthesis, screening small-molecule reactions, and performing direct label-free bioassays. The platform is ba...
Post-cesarean gabapentin is not associated with lower opioid consumption or pain scores in women on chronic buprenorphine therapy: A 10-year retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Study objective To determine if postoperative gabapentin administration is associated with decreased opioid consumption or pain scores following cesarean delivery in women on chronic buprenorphine. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Postoperative recovery area and postpartum inpatient unit. Patients 214 women undergoing cesarean delivery while on chronic buprenorphine at a single institution between 2007 and 2017. Interventions Gabapentin treatment for post-cesarean analgesia. Measurements The primary outcome was opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents, comparing patients who received ≥1 dose of gabapentin within 24 h of cesarean delivery to those who did not. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption 24–48 and 48–72 h post-cesarean and postoperative numerical rating scale pain scores. Main results Of 214 included patients, 64 (30%) received gabapentin while 150 (70%) did not. Gabapentin patients were more likely than controls to have received neuraxial fentanyl (30% vs. 14%, p = 0.01) and transversus abdominis plane block (6% vs. 1%, p = 0.05) and overall received higher doses of ketorolac and acetaminophen. Control patients were more likely to have received neuraxial morphine (78% vs. 90%, p = 0.04) and received higher doses of ibuprofen. In unadjusted analysis, there was no significant difference in morphine milligram equivalent consumption 0–24 h postoperatively between gabapentin (55 mg [IQR 26,84]) and control (53 mg [IQR 28,75]) groups (p = 0.38). After controlling for potential confounders, there remained no significant effect of gabapentin administration (overall effect p = 0.99). Opioid consumption and pain scores were also not significantly different at any other time points. Conclusions In parturients receiving chronic buprenorphine, inclusion of gabapentin in a multimodal analgesic regimen was not associated with lower opioid consumption or pain scores during the first 72 h after cesarean delivery. Prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.
A simplified three-dimensional displacement discontinuity method for multiple fracture simulations

The displacement discontinuity method (DDM) developed by Crouch (Int J Numer Methods Eng 10:301–343, 1976) is a popular form of the boundary element method and is widely used to model hydraulic fracture propagation. The two-dimensional displacement discontinuity method (2D DDM) has limitations with regard to the simulation of some practical fracture problems, which often require accounting for the three-dimensional (3D) nature of the fracture. A 2D method with a 3D correction factor proposed by Olson (The initiation, propagation, and arrest of joints and other fractures, vol 231. Geological Society of London Special Publication, London, pp 73–87, 2004) is able to account for 3D effects of a single fixed-height, embedded fracture. However, this correction factor proves inadequate for describing multiple fracture interaction. Greater accuracy is clearly possible with a truly three-dimensional displacement discontinuity method (3D DDM), but such an approach requires significantly higher computational time and memory, especially for simulating multiple fracture propagation. To enhance calculation efficiency and reduce memory usage, a novel, simplified 3D DDM approach is proposed. This method is simplified from 3D DDM through excluding non-vertical fractures and vertical components of shear stress, as well as eliminating the need for discretization in the vertical (height) direction by applying correction factors to improve fracture-induced stresses. The correction factors are derived from the analytical plane strain solution for a uniformly loaded, isolated, vertical fracture of finite height and infinite length. The simplified method not only can calculate displacement discontinuities and induced stresses for single 3D fracture, but also can accurately and efficiently solve the problem of multiple 3D interacting fracture, improving computational efficiency by more than one thousand times compared with the standard 3D method. This model has been used to simulate the propagation of multiple fractures for horizontal wells. The approach should be generally applicable to other 3D boundary element methods to enhance computation efficiency.
Chapter 1 – Introduction and Overview

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the basic principles involved in the field of nitric oxide (NO) research. It is one of the smallest and simplest of biologically active molecules in nature. As one of the most widespread signaling molecules in the mammal, it is a major player in controlling nearly every cellular and organ function in the body. NO is the only endogenous molecule that functions as a neurotransmitter, autacoid, constitutive mediator, inducible mediator, cytoprotective molecule, and cytotoxic molecule. Certain physiological functions, such as vasodilation and smooth muscle relaxation, are mediated by multiple mechanisms of NO release and action. Furthermore, NO can promote biological actions by cyclic GMP-dependent and independent molecular mechanisms. Because it plays multiple physiological roles in regulating numerous and diverse organ functions, defects in the pathway lead to the development of many different pathophysiological states. These disorders include hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, pulmonary hypertension, stroke, impotence, vascular complications in diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal ulcers, asthma, and other central nervous system and systemic disorders. Nearly all small and large pharmaceutical companies have established research and development programs for discovery of novel therapeutic strategies for NO-based disorders.
INTEGRATING LOCAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ASSESSMENT IN CHINA'S AIR POLLUTION CONTROL POLICY

This paper develops a consistent analytical framework to assess the environmental damage of air pollution in China. Spatial models are used to estimate the impact of air pollution on human health, ecosystems, and global climate change. While the health effect is largely borne by local residents, the environmental impact of China's air pollution goes beyond its borders. Sulfur emissions from the combustion of coal cause acid rain, which falls in neighboring countries and harms the ecosystems in the East Asian region. At the global level, emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels enhance the greenhouse effect and contribute to global warming. A combination of willingness to pay and marginal social cost approaches are used to evaluate these environmental damages. Alternative abatement scenarios are explored to identify optimal control strategies that are based on overall cost-benefit analysis of emission abatement at multiple levels. The results suggest that the largest source of damage by air pollution in China is human mortality and morbidity associated with ambient concentrations of fine particulates and sulfur dioxide. Improving urban air quality will deliver substantial benefits. There is also considerable synergy between local, regional and global abatement by adopting measures that target the sources of air pollutants.
Self-interested database managers playing the view maintenance game

A database view is a dynamic virtual table composed of the result set of a query, often executed over different underlying databases. The view maintenance problem concerns how a view is refreshed when the data sources are updated. We study the view maintenance problem when self-interested database managers from different institutions are involved, each concerned about the privacy of its database. We regard view maintenance as an incremental, sequential process where an action taken at a stage affects what happens at later stages. The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, we formulate the view maintenance problem as a sequential game of incomplete information where at every stage, each database manager decides what information to disclose, if any, without knowledge of the number or nature of updates at other managers. This allows us to adopt a satisficing approach where the final view need not reflect 100% of the databases updates. Second, we present an anytime algorithm for calculating e-Bayes-Nash equilibria that allows us to solve the large games which our problem translates to. Our algorithm is not restricted to games originating from the view maintenance problem; it can be used to solve general games of incomplete information. In addition, experimental results demonstrate our algorithm's attractive anytime behavior, which allows it to find good-enough solutions to large games within reasonable amounts of time.
Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Enhances Myogenic Tone in the Rabbit Posterior Cerebral Artery Through the Release of Endothelin-1

Background and Purpose —Cerebral arteries develop stretch-induced myogenic tone, which plays an important role in the regulation of blood flow to the brain. Although the effect of oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) on many aspects of the vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell function have been extensively investigated, its influence on myogenic activity has not been studied. Methods —The effect of Ox-LDL on the myogenic tone that develops in the perfused rabbit posterior cerebral artery at intramural pressures between 40 and 90 mm Hg was examined. Results —Ox-LDL (10 μg/mL) significantly enhanced myogenic tone by 21.4±6.1% to 28.5±1.8% at 60 to 90 mm Hg pressure ( P <0.05) but had no influence on norepinephrine- (0.5 to 1 μmol/L) and KCl (20 mmol/L)–induced constriction. Ox-LDL was effective whether the artery was exposed to it from the intraluminal or the extraluminal surface. Lysophosphatidylcholine (10 μmol/L), a lipid component of Ox-LDL, had an equivalent potentiating effect. Native LDL (100 μg/mL) was inactive. The myogenic tone–potentiating effect of Ox-LDL was abolished by endothelium removal but was not influenced by the NO synthase inhibitor N G-nitro-l-nitro-arginine methyl ester (50 μmol/L). This effect was reversed by the endothelin-1 (ET-1) antagonist BQ-123 (1 μmol/L). This concentration blocked 1 to 3 nmol/L ET-1–induced constriction without altering constriction induced by 40 mmol/L KCl. The potentiating effect was suppressed by the specific protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine (1 μmol/L). Conclusions —Ox-LDL enhances myogenic tone through the release of ET-1 from the endothelium of the rabbit posterior cerebral artery.
Piecewise-functional broadside tests based on intersections of reachable states

A characterization of broadside tests as p-way piecewise-functional broadside tests, for p ≥ 1, partitions the scan-in state of a broadside test into substates of p reachable states. This provides an indication of the proximity to functional operation conditions during the functional clock cycles of the tests. It is important for avoiding excessive power dissipation and overtesting of delay faults. This paper makes the new observations that the intersections of subsets of p reachable states can be used for guiding the generation of p-way piecewise-functional broadside tests. In addition, subsets of p reachable states with larger intersections allow more tests to be generated. The paper describes a logic simulation based procedure for computing subsets of reachable states with large intersections, and a test generation procedure based on these observations.
Studies in aging of the brain. V. Reduced norepinephrine, dopamine, and cyclic AMP in rat brain with advancing age

Serial measurements were made of catecholamine and cyclic AMP levels in the brain over an 18-month aging period in Sprague-Dawley rats. The major catecholamine change with age was a marked fall (50%) in norepinephrine in hypothalamus. Dopamine also fell in the anterior cerebrum and hypothalamus to a striking degree. In cerebellum, cyclic AMP fell to levels at 18 months that were only 14% of the initial level. Some behavioral and endocrine changes associated with aging may be secondary to a fall in cyclic AMP and catecholamines in the central nervous system.
Acetylcholinesterase inactivation in young and old human red blood cells.

A comparison is made of the effects of certain enzyme-inactivating agents on the acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) of young and old human erythrocytes. Normal red cells and ACHE-deficient red cells are separated in accordance with their density and then exposed to trypsin, cephalothin and tannic acid. The ACHE activity of young and old cells is affected to the same extent, indicating that inactivation is independent of cellular age and the initial enzyme activity.
Crystalline, liquid crystalline, and isotropic phases of sodium deoxycholate in water

Sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) is an important example of bile salts, representing systems with complex phase behavior involving both crystalline and mesophase structures. In this study, properties of NaDC-water mixtures were evaluated as a function of composition and temperature via X-ray diffraction with synchrotron (sXRD) and laboratory radiation sources, water sorption, polarized light, hot-stage microscopy, and freezing-point osmometry. Several phases were detected depending on the composition and temperature, including isotropic solution phase, liquid crystalline (LC) phase, crystalline hydrate, and ice. The LC phase was identified as hexagonal structure by sXRD, with up to 14 high-order reflections detected. The crystalline phase was found to be nonstoichiometric hydrate, based on XRD and water sorption data. The phase diagram of NaDC-water system has been refined based on both results of this study and other reports in literature.
Purification of cyanogen bromide fragments from β-2-glycoprotein I by high-performance liquid chromatography

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a linear elution gradient of 1-propanol in 0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid was used to purify cyanogen bromide fragments from the human plasma protein beta-2-glycoprotein I. The fragments, ranging from 33 to 119 amino acids in length, were obtained in sufficient purity and yield for automated sequence analysis and enzymatic digestion. One fragment, which contained most of the carbohydrate, could be isolated as an aggregate or as two heterogeneous monomers. The elution of this fragment was much earlier than expected on the basis of its retention coefficient calculated from amino acid composition. Our results demonstrate the applicability of recently developed HPLC techniques to the separation of cyanogen bromide fragments from a carbohydrate-rich glycoprotein whose structure is not completely known.
Keith Lehrer on the basing relation

In this paper, we review Keith Lehrer’s account of the basing relation, with particular attention to the two cases he offered in support of his theory, Raco (Lehrer, Theory of knowledge, 1990; Theory of knowledge, (2nd ed.), 2000) and the earlier case of the superstitious lawyer (Lehrer, The Journal of Philosophy, 68, 311–313, 1971). We show that Lehrer’s examples succeed in making his case that beliefs need not be based on the evidence, in order to be justified. These cases show that it is the justification (rather than the belief) that must be based in the evidence. We compare Lehrer’s account of basing with some alternative accounts that have been offered, and show why Lehrer’s own account is more plausible.
Best Practices of Bridge System Management—A Synthesis

The paper’s primary purpose is to evaluate current practices in bridge management and inspection procedures in the United States and how State Highway Agencies (SHAs) follow U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines. The efficiency of SHA in utilizing the bridge management systems (BMSs) available to them is analyzed, and the agencies’ readiness to respond to events such as hurricanes, flooding, or earthquakes is evaluated. The paper addresses issues regarding bridges with unknown foundations, interviewing four structural engineers from three SHA regarding these topics. Bridge management officials across the country will benefit from this research by evaluating their agencies’ current practices in comparison with other state agencies. Findings show that state officials attempt to follow very closely the guidelines set by the federal government for bridge inspection and maintenance. However, it was also discovered that, during catastrophic events, agencies rely heavily on managing engineers’ experience ...
IBD: the drugs work...but do the patients?

Imagine, if you will, a set of mysterious diseases that strike at a young age, follow a chronic and often relentless course, target patients who are predominantly white, living in industrialized countries, with a trend toward the higher socioeconomic classes. Then try to calculate the impact of disease upon the patients' professional lives, starting not at the first job, but often back in school, and then extending throughout their years of employment, to either retirement or disability. Multiply that disability by the lifetime earning potential of that patient, and voila, you have finally solved the equation of lifetime impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) upon work losses. Let me know when you are done.
Thermal expansion of graphite fiber-reinforced metals

The presence of graphite fibers in metal matrices greatly influences the properties of the composites. Graphite fibers have been used in conjunction with aluminum, magnesium, and copper matrices. The type of graphite fiber, layup of the fiber, and volume percentage of the fibers are all important parameters in controlling the properties of the composites. The present status, particularly in the case of graphite/copper, can be considered to be the original developmental stage and is definitely far-removed from a matured technology. The present paper focuses on thermal expansion behavior of several graphite-metal matrix composites from −60 to +200°C.
Stress Pulse Attenuation in Cloth-Laminate Quartz Phenolic

Using flat plate impact techniques and quartz stress gages, a study of the propagation of short-duration stress pulses in a cloth-laminate quartz phenolic composite was made. Propagation characteristics, wave shape and peak stress attenuation, were measured for 14.5 and 7 kbar initial impact stresses and 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 μsec initial pulse durations for propagation distances up to 52 times the impactor thickness. The experimental results showed marked dispersive spreading of the wave profiles and very strong attenuation of stress, but no evidence of elastic-plastic effects. The amount of attenuation was much greater than could be attributed to "normal" atten uation in homogeneous materials with a modulus equivalent to the com posite modulus.Experimental results were compared to calculations based on a rate dependent analogy using a generalized Maxwell model. The instantaneous and equilibrium response of the model was defined solely in terms of bulk properties of the components of the composite; while a s...
Learning the art of healing

Healing Through Humanism: A 5-DVD Teaching Series Ruth Yorkin Drazen, Director Ruth Yorkin Drazen Productions, Inc.; 2011 A paradox lies at the heart of contemporary medicine. We are blessed by the remarkable growth of medical science, technology and health care accessibility. Today we can treat
Micronucleated erythrocyte frequency in peripheral blood of B6C3F1 mice from short‐term, prechronic, and chronic studies of the NTP carcinogenesis bioassay program

The mouse peripheral blood micronucleus (MN) test was performed on samples collected from 20 short-term, 67 subchronic, and 5 chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). Data are presented for studies not previously published. Aspects of protocol that distinguish this test from conventional short-term bone marrow MN tests are duration of exposure, and absence of repeat tests and concurrent positive controls. Furthermore, in contrast to short-term bone marrow MN tests where scoring is limited to polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE), longer term studies using peripheral blood may evaluate MN in both, or either, the normochromatic (NCE) or PCE populations. The incidence of MN-PCE provides an index of damage induced within 72 hr of sampling, whereas the incidence of MN in the NCE population at steady state provides an index of average damage during the 30-day period preceding sampling. The mouse peripheral blood MN test has been proposed as a useful adjunct to rodent toxicity tests and has been effectively incorporated as a routine part of overall toxicity testing by the NTP. Data derived from peripheral blood MN analyses of dosed animals provide a useful indication of the in vivo potential for induced genetic damage and supply an important piece of evidence to be considered in the overall assessment of toxicity and health risk of a particular chemical. Although results indicate that the test has low sensitivity for prediction of carcinogenicity, a convincingly positive result in this assay appears to be highly predictive of rodent carcinogenicity.
Synthesis and relative response factors for the 22 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDDs) by electron-impact ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract We report the response factors of all of the tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDDs) relative to 2, 3, 7, 3-TCDD by electron-impact ionization mass spectrometry. We used CP SIL 88 capillary column interfaced a ZAB-2F high-resolution mass spectrometer operating at 10,000 resolving power
A STREAM DIVISION VALVE FOR USE IN AUTOMATIC COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY.

Abstract A stream division valve which allows the division of a column effluent for analysis and collection in automatic column chromatography is described. Details of the construction of this valve as well as the results obtained in using it are presented.
Zebrafish mab21l2 is specifically expressed in the presumptive eye and tectum from early somitogenesis onwards

Random screening for tissue specific genes in zebrafish by in situ hybridization led us to isolate a gene which showed highly restricted expression in the developing eyes and midbrain at somitogenesis stages. This gene was very similar to mouse and human mab21l2. The characteristic expression pattern of mab21l2 facilitates a detailed description of the morphogenesis of the eyes and midbrain in the zebrafish. In the eye field, mab21l2 expression illustrates the transformation of the eye field to form two separate eyes in the anterior neural plate. Mab21l2 staining in the cyclopic mutants, cyc and oep, exhibited incomplete splitting of the eye primodium. In the midbrain, mab21l2 is expressed in the tectum, and its expression follows the expansion of the tectal region. In mutants affecting the mid-hindbrain boundary (MHB), mab21l2 expression is affected differentially. In the noi/pax2.1 mutant, mab21l2 is down-regulated and the size of the tectum remains small, whereas in the ace/fgf8 mutant, mab21l2 expression persists although the shape of the tectum is altered.
Emerging roles of PGE2 receptors in models of neurological disease

Abstract This review presents an overview of the emerging field of prostaglandin signaling in neurological diseases, focusing on PGE2 signaling through its four E-prostanoid (EP) receptors. A large number of studies have demonstrated a neurotoxic function of the inducible cyclooxygenase COX-2 in a broad spectrum of neurological disease models in the central nervous system (CNS), from models of cerebral ischemia to models of neurodegeneration and inflammation. Since COX-1 and COX-2 catalyze the first committed step in prostaglandin synthesis, an effort is underway to identify the downstream prostaglandin signaling pathways that mediate the toxic effect of COX-2. Recent epidemiologic studies demonstrate that chronic COX-2 inhibition can produce adverse cerebrovascular and cardiovascular effects, indicating that some prostaglandin signaling pathways are beneficial. Consistent with this concept, recent studies demonstrate that in the CNS, specific prostaglandin receptor signaling pathways mediate toxic effects in brain but a larger number appear to mediate paradoxically protective effects. Further complexity is emerging, as exemplified by the PGE2 EP2 receptor, where cerebroprotective or toxic effects of a particular prostaglandin signaling pathway can differ depending on the context of cerebral injury, for example, in excitotoxicity/hypoxia paradigms versus inflammatory-mediated secondary neurotoxicity. The divergent effects of prostaglandin receptor signaling will likely depend on distinct patterns and dynamics of receptor expression in neurons, endothelial cells, and glia and the specific ways in which these cell types participate in particular models of neurological injury.
Preparing professionals for family conferences in palliative care: evaluation results of an interdisciplinary approach.

Background: Patients, families, and health care professionals recognize the need for better communication in palliative and end-of-life care. Family conferences are a powerful clinical tool for communicating with patients and family members. Although family conferences are often used in medical care, few clinicians are prepared to conduct them effectively. An innovative palliative care educational model that included specific attention to family conferences was developed and evaluated. To intervene early in the process of professional socialization, the interactive and interdisciplinary training included medical and social work students. Method: A quasi-experimental longitudinal design was employed to evaluate the educational intervention. Survey measures were administered before, immediately after, and three months after training. Questions addressed experience, education, and attitudes about family conferences. A standardized scale was used to measure change in students' confidence in their ability to lead family conferences. Results: For both professions, the intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in confidence in the ability to lead family conferences compared with the control group. Threemonth follow-up data suggested that subjects in the intervention group maintained these gains. Conclusion: This pilot intervention showed that an interdisciplinary educational approach improves confidence in the ability to lead family conferences when students are exposed early in the process of professional socialization. Early intervention increases the propensity and skills needed to conduct family conferences and advances communication in palliative care. Future research on interdisciplinary education should evaluate effects on clinical practice behaviors, satisfaction with communication and collaboration, and patients' and families' perceptions of quality of care.
Loss Prevention: Senior Management Views on Current Trends and Issues

Large retailers employ senior executives to manage multi-billion-dollar crime and loss issues. This paper examines some of the issues and trends confronted by these important managers, in order to inform current and future loss prevention managers. Some of the topics studied include the changing mission of loss prevention executives, loss prevention performance measures, current and future crime and loss issues, how loss prevention executives evaluate loss control technologies, and their sources of loss prevention best methods. The study consists of information provided by a sample (n = 60) of senior loss prevention managers from 59 US retail organizations. Loss prevention managers reported they prefer using shrinkage measures to numbers of apprehensions to gauge performance. They also frequently go into partnership with store operations managers, but rarely with merchandise buyers, on loss control issues. Finally, the participants indicated that dishonest staff was the most pervasive issue they currently dealt with, and that they did not expect this to change in the future.
Epithelial cell wedging and neural trough formation are induced planarly in Xenopus, without persistent vertical interactions with mesoderm.

Abstract In this study we investigate the induction of the cell behaviors underlying neurulation in the frog,Xenopus laevis.Although planar signals from the organizer can induce convergent extension movements of the posterior neural tissue in explants, the remaining morphogenic processes of neurulation do not appear to occur in absence of vertical interactions with the organizer (R. Kelleret al.,1992,Dev. Dyn.193, 218–234). These processes include: (1) cell elongation perpendicular to the plane of the epithelium, forming the neural plate; (2) cell wedging, which rolls the neural plate into a trough; (3) intercalation of two layers of neural plate cells to form one layer; and (4) fusion of the neural folds. To allow planar signaling between all the inducing tissues of the involuting marginal zone and the responding prospective ectoderm, we have designed a “giant sandwich” explant. In these explants, cell elongation and wedging are induced in the superficial neural layer by planar signals without persistent vertical interactions with underlying, involuted mesoderm. A neural trough forms, and neural folds form and approach one another. However, the neural folds do not fuse with one another, and the deep cells of these explants do not undergo their normal behaviors of elongation, wedging, and intercalation between the superficial neural cells, even when planar signals are supplemented with vertical signaling until the late midgastrula (stage 11.5). Vertical interactions with mesoderm during and beyond the late gastrula stage were required for expression of these deep cell behaviors and for neural fold fusion. These explants offer a way to regulate deep and superficial cell behaviors and thus make possible the analysis of the relative roles of these behaviors in closing the neural tube.
“The allied controversy” and the ethics of journalism education in the Pacific Northwest

The perennial debate over how much influence industry should have on media education took a new twist in the Pacific Northwest recently when Allied Dailies, a regional newspaper association, launched a controversial program to evaluate area journalism schools. Cooperative schools were promised financial aid and in‐kind services; uncooperative schools were threatened with “benign neglect.”; Educators have given the program mixed reviews: they welcome improved relations between professionals and educators ‐ but not at the price of coercion, proscription, or loss of academic freedom. This article chronicles “the Allied controvery”; and examines the ethical issues it raises for the ongoing relationship between the industry and the academy.
Phosphonoglycoprotein from Metridium senile--heterogeneity of glycoproteins containing aminoethylphosphonic acid.

Abstract 1. 1. After separation by SDS gel-chromatography, analysis of AEP-containing glycoproteins from M. senile , indicated 66% amino acids with 220 AEP res./1000 res. and 30% carbohydrate for high mol. wt (10 7 ) forms and 80% amino acids with 25-50 AEP res./1000 res. and 10% carbohydrate for low mol. wt (2–4 × 10 4 ) forms. 2. 2. Uronic acids, sulfate, lipid, and sialic acids were absent. 3. 3. Mild base digestion released AEP-hexosamine containing oligosaccharides and destroyed ser-thr residues in the high mol. wt components. 4. 4. Phosphonoglycoproteins appear to be acidic connective tissue components with AEP linked to hexosamine containing oligosaccharide side chains.
Hash visualization in user authentication

Although research in security has made tremendous progress over the past few years, most security systems still suffer by failing to account for human factors. People are slow and unreliable at processing long and meaningless strings, yet many security applications depend on this skill. For example, a major problem in user authentication is that people have difficulties in choosing and memorizing secure passwords. In this paper, we have investigated how the usability and security of user authentication systems can be improved by replacing text strings with structured images.
Test characteristics of acute kidney injury biomarkers in animal models of sepsis

Approximately 50% of acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with sepsis. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C are the two most widely used biomarkers for AKI. However, these two markers are also affected by the systemic inflammatory response, and their diagnostic value in sepsis-induced AKI is disputed [1],[2]. Unlike clinical AKI, animal models can be used to explore single etiology. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between inflammatory mediators and biomarkers for AKI in a sepsis model in rats.
Building digital metropolis: Chicago's future networks

After Y2K, what's the best way to position your organization for e-commerce, information sharing, and resource use? Here's one city's plan. In 1997, the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago concluded that the digital network infrastructure was becoming vital to the health of the entire region. Yet the council also saw that infrastructure development was disjointed and likely to be incomplete. A thorough IT strategic plan, the council concluded, was overdue. The council turned to Northwestern University's Information Technology Division to analyze the situation and make recommendations. The report was to address not only the key issues but also how the digital network will become the newest universally available infrastructure in metropolitan Chicago. The report (http://www.nwu.edu/it/metrochicago) evolved from a series of papers by Northwestern faculty discussions and seminars with faculty and regional professionals, and research gleaned from across the country (USA). The report takes a look at the opportunities and challenges facing a global city when it decides to leverage its resources to position itself for the 21st century. What was found applies equally well to other regions and even to large companies, which also have information ecosystems, quality-of-life issues, and complex infrastructure requirements.
Reaction Function Based Dynamic Location Modeling in Stackelberg–Nash–Cournot Competition

We formulate a dynamic facility location model for a firm locating on a discrete network. It is assumed that this locating firm will act as the leader firm in an industry characterized by Stackelberg leader–follower competition. The firm’s I competitors are assumed to act as Cournot firms and are each assumed to operate under the assumption of zero conjectural variation with respect to their I–1 Cournot competitors. Using sensitivity analysis of variational inequalities within a hierachical mathematical programming approach, we develop reaction function based dynamic models to optimize the Stackelberg firm’s location decision. In the second half of this paper, we use these models to illustrate through a numerical example the insights yielded by our approach.
Occupational Sitting and Weight Status in a Diverse Sample of Employees in Midwest Metropolitan Cities, 2012–2013

INTRODUCTION Few studies have examined the association between occupational sitting and body mass index (BMI). There is a particular lack of evidence among diverse populations. The objective of this study was to quantify the association between self-reported occupational sitting time and BMI by sex and race, independent of levels of occupational and leisure-time physical activity. METHODS In 2012 and 2013, participants residing in 4 Missouri metropolitan areas were interviewed via telephone. The interview included questions on sociodemographic characteristics and time spent sitting at work. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine the association between occupational sitting and BMI between men and women and between black and white women. RESULTS Overall 1,891 participants (66.9% women, 29.5% black) provided complete data. Median daily time spent by both men and women in occupational sitting was 180 minutes (interquartile range, 30 to 360 minutes); most participants were overweight (32.3%) or obese (33.6%). After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that black women in 3 categories of sitting time (31-180 minutes, 181-360 minutes, and >360 minutes) were approximately 2.5 times as likely (P for trend, .02) to be obese as black women who reported sitting for 30 minutes or less, independent of occupational and leisure-time physical activity. This association was not seen among white women. No significant associations were found among men. CONCLUSION Occupational sitting is associated with an increased likelihood of obesity among black women, independent of occupational and leisure-time physical activity. Areas of future research include evaluating associations among various occupations and industries, assessing the association in prospective cohorts, and exploring the feasibility of worksite interventions that target sitting.
Spacecraft Interaction with Atmospheric Species in Low Earth Orbit

Spacecraft interaction with ambient atmospheric species (O, NI, O, and electrons) in low Earth orbit involves collisions at high energies, giving rise to such complex phenomena as the shuttle glow, plume-atmosphere interactions, and plasma modifications. A survey of these and other effects is presented, and conclusions are drawn about possible ambiguities in interpretation of present data. For example, a suggestion is made that ions may play a role in the Shuttle glow phenomenon. Lack of data on the accommodation (in terms of energy and in terms of adsorption and subsequent reactions) of atmospheric species, such as O and NI, on amorphous surfaces at hyperthermal energies is a distinct handicap in the development of appropriate numerical codes for predicting the effects of spacecraft interactions.