cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Malignant Focal Liver Lesions

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the preferred imaging methods for focal liver disease, but debate continues as to which should be the modality of choice. Currently, MRI can be considered a complementary method to CT and often is used as a problem-solving modality. CT’s high resolution and rapid imaging time coupled with complete and accurate evaluation of the entire abdomen have given CT an increasing role in the diagnosis and management of vascular disorders, particularly vascular invasion by tumor and portal vein thrombosis; however, in equivocal cases, MRI can be diagnostic with one sequence alone. Often, MRI readily distinguishes between bland thrombus and tumor thrombus. Even though the final role of MRI in the armamentarium of imaging techniques for the liver is not completely defined, distinctive MRI features for characterization of malignant liver lesions have been recognized. Gadolinium enhancement often adds to the characterization of focal liver lesions which are based on Tl- and T2-weighted sequences. More recently, liver-specific contrast agents have been introduced which promise to further improve results with MRI.
Popular, Informal, and Vernacular Music Classrooms: A Review of the Literature:

The purpose of this literature review is to examine research in popular, informal, nontraditional, out-of-school, and vernacular music education from 2012 to the present in order to concentrate on ...
Corrigendum to “Indian gaming and tribal revenue allocation plans: Socio-economic determinants of policy adoption” [Soc. Sci. J. 50 (2) (2013) 162–167]

The authors discovered a data entry error affecting 6 cases (out of 210) for the “percent of college graduates” variable used in Conner and Taggart (2013). Updates to the tables, including the desc...
A risk score to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with pancreatic cancer.

e15256 Background: The risk factors closely associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with pancreatic cancer (HPC) are not well defined. The aim of this study is to identify these risk fac...
Retail Food Distribution in a Socialist State: The Polish Experience

Retail food distribution in Poland is essentially the responsibility of a cooperative organization, SPOŁEM, rather than a state enterprise. However, SPOŁEM’s operating practices reflect traditional socialist thinking with regard to product availability, pricing, and promotion. This paper examines the status of SPOŁEM’s physical facilities, product assortment, and pricing and promotional practices, and identifies some current social and economic trends in Poland which will require SPOŁEM’s management to reevaluate its marketing practices.
The Significance of Literature According to Contemporary Writers

No-one seems to be better qualified to make a statement as to the significance of literature for life than those who create literary texts. The answer to the question: what is the function of literature in our contemporary life-world must therefore be sought in the letters, diaries, essays, forewords, and interviews of contemporary writers the bulk of whose works falls into the decades after 1945.
Modeling of texture development in additive manufacturing of Ni-based superalloys

Solidification and inelastic thermal strains are the sources of development of crystallographic texture in metallic parts additively manufactured. This works provides a simulation framework to account for evolution of texture in additive manufacturing of Ni-based superalloys by considering both solidification and thermal strain contributions to formation of texture. A novel and validated physics-based approach yields the thermal strains as a result of different cooling rates in the part, and a modified crystal plasticity formalism alters a theoretical solidification texture to obtain the final orientation attributes. Results show close consistency with independent experimental reports with a better agreement, compared to current modeling approaches which only consider the contribution of solidification to texture development.
“Our quality is a little bit different”: How family childcare providers who participate in a Quality Rating and Improvement System and receive childcare subsidy define quality:

This research uses focus group methodology to examine how a specific subset of family childcare providers—those participating in a voluntary quality rating and improvement system and serving a high...
The Influence of Redox-Innocent Donor Groups in Tetradentate Ligands Derived from o-Phenylenediamine: Electronic Structure Investigations with Nickel.

The continued development of redox-active ligands requires an understanding as to how ligand modifications and related factors affect the locus of redox activity and spin density in metal complexes...
Variable star classification using multiview metric learning

Our multi-view metric learning framework enables robust characterization of star categories by directly learning to discriminate in a multi-faceted feature space, thus, eliminating the need to combine feature representations prior to fitting the machine learning model. We also demonstrate how to extend standard multi-view learning, which employs multiple vectorized views, to the matrix-variate case which allows very novel variable star signature representations. The performance of our proposed methods is evaluated on the UCR Starlight and LINEAR datasets. Both the vector and matrix-variate versions of our multi-view learning framework perform favorably --- demonstrating the ability to discriminate variable star categories.
Acute Insulin Resistance and Rapid Alterations in Neuronal Derived Blood Exosome Concentration After Branched Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Objective Hyperglycaemia following branched endovascular repair (BEVAR) of extensive aortic aneurysms is associated with post-operative lower extremity weakness (LEW). Insulin administration to maintain euglycaemia appears to decrease LEW rates. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in insulin receptor content of neuron derived blood exosomes (NDEs) after BEVAR. Methods Ten patients with a range of post-operative lower extremity neurological deficits after elective BEVAR were included in the study. Blood samples were collected pre-operatively, immediately after aneurysm repair, and on post-operative day 1. NDE insulin receptor substrate proteins were quantified by enzymevlinked immunosorbent assays. Results NDE levels of phosopho-serine312-type 1 insulin receptor substrate ([P-Ser312-IRS1], an inhibitor of insulin signalling) increased sevenfold in the immediate post-operative period (from 7.90 ± 0.89 to 58.54 ± 6.77 pg/mL; p Conclusion BEVAR is associated with an acute state of insulin resistance within neuronal tissue. Further studies in a larger cohort of patients are needed to understand the potential interconnected processes of insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, and spinal cord ischaemia after extensive endovascular aortic procedures.
New hybrid control of autonomous underwater vehicles

This paper proposes a new hybrid robust control method for control of an autonomous underwater vehicle. Fractional sliding mode control (FSMC) is robust against external disturbances. The main draw...
Use of Allopurinol to Mitigate 6-Mercaptopurine Associated Gastrointestinal Toxicity in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

An essential component of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy is the prolonged maintenance phase with daily 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) as the cornerstone. While 6-MP is generally well-tolerated, some patients suffer from significant side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, including hepatitis, hypoglycemia, nausea, and pancreatitis, which can substantially limit the tolerated dose of 6-MP. These toxicities are thought to result from skewed metabolism of 6-MP leading to an accumulation of the 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP) metabolite. Here, we describe current knowledge behind the use of allopurinol to modify 6-MP metabolism and improve tolerance to therapy. This method has been successfully used in adults with inflammatory bowel disease refractory to purine therapy and has been modified for use in children with GI toxicities related to 6-MP in maintenance therapy for ALL. Use of allopurinol for 6-MP related toxicities should be reserved for patients in which an alternative cause of signs or symptoms has been excluded and for whom non-pharmacologic measures have failed. When allopurinol is used, simultaneous dose reduction of 6-MP is required to avoid severe myelosuppression and related side effects, though overall combination therapy appears to be well-tolerated and effective when instituted appropriately.
Student talk as a resource: Integrating conflicting agendas in math tutoring sessions

Abstract Encouraging student interests while simultaneously accomplishing specific pedagogical goals can require subtle and complex work on the part of teachers. Balancing these competing demands is especially difficult when students initiate a next-action that differs from their teacher's lesson plan. This article, based on a corpus of videotaped math tutoring sessions with young children, describes how an experienced teacher handles this dilemma. Using a consistent set of practices, the teacher manages to integrate potentially conflicting student initiations into her pedagogical goals. Together, these practices make up what I call the Integration Sequence. Findings show that, rather than being a problem to be solved, unexpected student turns can become a resource for integration, both of student and teacher initiatives, and also of potentially conflicting institutional goals for the teacher.
Simple cicérone au Levant ou véritable truchement ? L’interprète dans les récits journalistiques anglo-saxons

Cet article etudie la perception du role du fixeur, soit l’interprete professionnel ou ponctuel qui travaille aupres des journalistes etrangers dans une zone de conflit. Robert Fisk, Fred A. Reed, Hugh Pope et Graeme Smith ont couvert le Proche-Orient, l’Asie centrale ou la Turquie pendant des periodes de tensions ou de conflits en faisant appel a des fixeurs qui leur permettent de decrire la situation dans les recits qu’ils publient par la suite. La maniere dont ces journalistes decrivent le role, la fonction et meme l’apparence de leurs fixeurs differe cependant grandement : certains les mettent au premier plan, evoquant un collaborateur et meme une figure parentale, tandis que d’autres mentionnent a peine le besoin d’un mediateur linguistique, et ce, meme s’il est evident qu’ils ne maitrisent pas la langue du pays. La comparaison de ces descriptions du role des mediateurs linguistiques eclaire d’un jour nouveau la perception que l’on a de l’interpretation dans les zones de conflit, la fiction d’une communication instantanee entre les langues et, de maniere generale, la reconnaissance due aux fixeurs dans le monde du journalisme.
Champions in context: which attributes matter for change efforts in healthcare?

Research to date has focused on strategies and resources used by effective champions of healthcare change efforts, rather than personal characteristics that contribute to their success. We sought to identify and describe champion attributes influencing outcomes of healthcare change efforts. To examine attributes of champions, we used postpartum contraceptive care as a case study, because recommended services are largely unavailable, and implementation requires significant effort. We conducted a comparative case study of the implementation of inpatient postpartum contraceptive care at 11 U.S. maternity hospitals in 2017–18. We conducted site visits that included semi-structured key informant interviews informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Phase one analysis (qualitative content analysis using a priori CFIR codes and cross-case synthesis) showed that implementation leaders (“champions”) strongly influenced outcomes across sites. To understand champion effects, phase two inductive analysis included (1) identifying and elaborating key attributes of champions; (2) rating the presence or absence of each attribute in champions; and 3) cross-case synthesis to identify patterns among attributes, context, and implementation outcomes. We completed semi-structured interviews with 78 clinicians, nurses, residents, pharmacy and revenue cycle staff, and hospital administrators. All identified champions were obstetrician-gynecologists. Six key attributes of champions emerged: influence, ownership, physical presence at the point of change, persuasiveness, grit, and participative leadership style. These attributes promoted success by enabling champions to overcome institutional siloing, build and leverage professional networks, create tension for change, cultivate a positive learning climate, optimize compatibility with existing workflow, and engage key stakeholders. Not all champion attributes were required for success, and having all attributes did not guarantee success. Effective champions appear to leverage six key attributes to facilitate healthcare change efforts. Prospective evaluations of the interactions among champion attributes, context, and outcomes may further elucidate how champions exert their effects.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Diabetes: A Single-Institution Experience.

OBJECTIVE To characterize immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated diabetes mellitus (ICI-DM) in a single-institution case series. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Retrospective chart review of 18 patients with new-onset ICI-DM following anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/anti–programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy for advanced carcinomas. RESULTS Of 18 patients, 9 had diabetic ketoacidosis (median glucose 27.92 mmol/L; median glucose before presentation 6.35 mmol/L). Median C-peptide at ICI-DM diagnosis was low, and it declined during follow-up. Median anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 duration before ICI-DM was 3.65 months (range 0.56–12.23 months). Time to ICI-DM onset was a median 1.4 months/3 ICI cycles and 6 months/10 cycles in those patients who were positive and negative for GAD65 autoantibodies, respectively. Time to ICI-DM onset was a median 2.5 months/3 ICI cycles and 4.8 months/8 cycles after anti-PD-L1 or anti-PD-1 therapy, respectively. Significant pancreatic atrophy was seen radiographically. CONCLUSIONS ICI-DM presents abruptly, appears irreversible, is characterized by pancreatic atrophy, and may occur both earlier following PD-L1 blockade compared with PD-1 inhibition and in those who have positive GAD65 autoantibodies.
The shape of water in zeolites and its impact on epoxidation catalysis

Solvent structures that surround active sites reorganize during catalysis and influence the stability of surface intermediates. Within zeolite pores, H2O molecules form hydrogen-bonded structures that differ substantially from bulk H2O. Here, we show by spectroscopic measurements and molecular dynamics simulations that H2O molecules form bulk-like three-dimensional structures within 1.3 nm cages, whereas H2O molecules coalesce into oligomeric one-dimensional chains when the pore diameter falls below 0.65 nm. The differences between these solvent structure motifs provide opportunities to manipulate enthalpy–entropy compensation relationships and greatly increase the rates of catalysis. We describe how the reorganization of these pore-size-dependent H2O structures during alkene epoxidation catalysis gives rise to entropy gains that increase the turnover rates by up to 400-fold. Collectively, this work shows that solvent molecules form distinct structures with a highly correlated motion within microporous environments, and the reorganization of these structures may be controlled to confer stability to the desired reactive intermediates. Solvent structuring affects the energy landscape of catalytic reactions, but the quantitative understanding of such effects remains difficult. Now, the structure of water within the micropores of different zeolites is disclosed together with the effects that its reorganization has over alkene epoxidation catalysis.
A Few Moments with Turtles: The Value of Freshwater Chelonians as Watchable Urban Wildlife Spectacles

The high valuation of urban green spaces is obvious, given the lost economic opportunities their preservation requires. With more and more of the world's human population moving to urban areas, experiences with urban wildlife are becoming increasingly important for maintenance of people's connection to and concern for the natural world. Turtle watching provides an opportunity to connect urban residents with charismatic species that engender positive aesthetic responses from the public. In Erie, Pennsylvania, the Presque Isle Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing visitor experiences at Presque Isle State Park. The park is a sandspit peninsula on Lake Erie that has abundant turtle populations in its sheltered bays and interior wetlands, particularly its populations of the common map turtle, Graptemys geographica. The common map turtles of Graveyard Pond have long been one of the park's signature wildlife spectacles. A basking aggregation that can exceed 100 turtles in late spring and early fall is enjoyed by visitors to a shoreline picnic area, canoeists, kayakers, and guests on the park's pontoon boat tours. In 2012, the Partnership funded construction of a handicapped-accessible turtle observation deck with fixed binocular viewfinders and informative signage. Total material cost for the project was $20,466 (∼ $22,922 in 2020 US dollars); labor for construction was donated by local industry. Since its construction, the observation deck has become a popular stop for park visitors. Similar projects would be suitable for many urban areas in the United States and many other countries with watchable turtle populations and would enhance urban residents' encounters with urban turtle populations.
Integrity as a Legal Concept

Integrity – the ability of a resource to communicate its historic significance – is a physical concern for heritage conservation practitioners. But it is also a legal concept, integral to binding judgments that determine whether and how certain resources are protected. Focusing on U.S. law, this essay articulates the contours of integrity in several contexts: designation, public obligations, private obligations, and private benefits. Most existing scholarship on integrity focuses on the designation process, which is the formal process by which a resource is evaluated for listing on a register of historic places. The integrity determination is a threshold issue – fundamental to historic preservation laws, which apply almost exclusively to resources actually listed on historic registers. Scholars have criticized the integrity requirement because they believe it bars certain types of resources from receiving legal protection. But focusing on the designation process alone may obscure the fact that the concept of integrity is embedded in other areas of law. After a resource is designated historic, the law protects its integrity in several ways. This essay focuses on three: laws imposing obligations on public actors, laws imposing obligations on private actors, and laws conferring benefits on private actors. In these laws, integrity is essential to the legal obligation itself, and it is treated as formally as it is during the designation process. In light of that observation, preservationists must consider whether the problems they see in the designation process are also evident in the protection that designation triggers. The essay concludes that integrity, as a legal concept, may be more complicated, and more difficult to dislodge, than current scholarship suggests.
Social Networks in the Dialysis Unit: Can They Influence Patient Behavior?

Social network is a common term that we hear every day. It is defined in sociology as a social structure that exists and defines the way individuals or organizations are connected. Social networks have been shown to influence people’s behavior pertaining to health, such as smoking (1). In-center hemodialysis units act as a social network for patients on dialysis. In this issue of Kidney 360 , Gillespie et al. (2) publish their study where they prospectively examine 49 patients as they form relationships in the social network of a new hemodialysis clinic over 3 years. They examine the factors that determine how the patients form relationships among themselves, and if these relationships change the patients’ behaviors, as evidenced by examining the request for a living donor by the patients in the study. Any patient interactions in the form of verbal communication among themselves outside the clinic, in the waiting room, or during dialysis was observed by trained research staff, and defined as a relationship in the social network. Data were also collected by ten standardized Dialysis Patient Transplant Questionnaires during the 3-year study period. The authors …
Development of a U-19Pu-10Zr fuel performance benchmark case based on the IFR-1 experiment

Abstract Metallic nuclear fuels are subject to research and development for use in advanced reactors. Robust, accurate metallic fuel performance models are important for the design, safety analysis, and licensing of these reactors. However, metallic fuel performance models require additional development; they are not as mature as UO2 fuel performance models. A benchmark case based on the IFR-1 experiment was developed to better gauge the accuracy of existing models, identify models for high-priority development, and potentially quantify any future improvements made by further model development. This work collected publicly available information on the IFR-1 experiment and used it to develop the benchmark case. Fuel behavior during the IFR-1 irradiation was simulated by using the fuel performance code BISON, and the predicted results were compared with postirradiation examination data from the IFR-1 experiment. A sensitivity study and tuning studies were performed as a preliminary investigation into the causes of inaccurate temperature and dimensional change predictions. The benchmark predicted reasonably accurate values for the burnup and fission gas release. There was error in the predicted temperatures, which could be explained by uncertainty in the input parameters and legacy temperatures. BISON over-predicted dimensional changes in the fuel and cladding. The sensitivity study showed that the dimensional changes were most sensitive to the fuel swelling anisotropy and the cladding void swelling model. Future benchmark and model development should focus on cladding swelling behaviors to improve dimensional change predictions.
Cardiovascular Events After Partner Bereavement, What is the Role of Low Dose Aspirin and Beta-Blockers?

Abstract Bereavement due to loss of a partner is one of the most stressful life events, often leading to adverse physiological responses. Spousal loss has been associated with an increased morbidity and mortality, particularly from cardiovascular disease. Use of aspirin and/or beta adrenergic blockers have previously been suggested to play a role in cardiovascular risk associated with early bereavement. However, the available literature regarding this topic is limited. In this review article, we explore the potential beneficial role of aspirin and beta blockers in early bereavement. Our systematic review suggests that most studies have found aspirin and beta blockers to be beneficial in preventing adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with early bereavement. Further randomized controlled long-term studies are warranted with adequate sample size to clearly establish the role of these medications on cardiovascular disease in late bereavement.
Police brutality and unmet need for mental health care

Objective National movements have raised awareness of the adverse mental health effects of police brutality. This study examines the relationship between perceived police brutality and unmet need for mental health care. Data sources We used the 2018 Survey of the Health of Urban Residents (N = 4338), a quota sample survey of adults in urban areas in the contiguous United States. Study design Multivariate regressions were used to understand the association between police brutality and unmet need for mental health care. Unmet need was regressed on police brutality (the independent variable), controlling for sociodemographic and health status characteristics of respondents and access to care. We then stratified the sample by experiences of police brutality (no negative encounters with the police, encounters that were perceived as necessary, and encounters that were considered unnecessary) and described how medical mistrust and perceived respect within health care settings were associated with odds of unmet need for each subsample. Data collection Data were collected online. Principal findings Negative police encounters perceived as necessary were associated with greater odds of unmet need compared to no negative police encounters (odds ratio [OR] = 1.98, confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-2.65). Odds of unmet need were also higher among persons with negative and unnecessary police encounters (OR = 1.28, CI = 1.05-1.56). Greater respect was associated with lower odds of unmet need among persons who reported negative unnecessary encounters with the police (OR = 0.88, CI = 0.72-0.97). Medical mistrust was associated with greater odds of unmet need among those with negative unnecessary police encounters (OR = 1.52, CI = 1.12-1.93). Conclusions Persons who are exposed to police brutality are also likely to be those who experience unmet need for mental health care. Ensuring that they feel respected within medical settings and establishing conditions that build trust in medical institutions are important for eliminating unmet need for mental health care.
[30] Adair equation: Rederiving oxygenation parameters

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the Adair equation that is the rederiving oxygenation parameters. With the benefit of an explicit complex model, multivariate relationships can arise to be examined that are ordinarily fairly difficult to perceive. One of these is the known variability of the Adair constants under a variety of different experimental conditions. This chapter discusses the mathematical analysis and also reviews the problem with the goal of clarifying certain basic concepts relating to the oxygenation parameters. At a given moment most of the tetrameric hemoglobin (Hb) molecules in solution with high probability will be either completely oxygenated (oxy) or completely deoxygenated (deoxy). Even the simple Roughton model used as a demonstration is able to show the algebraic linkage between the effectors and ligand binding. It appears that this biochemical linkage alone may account for enough cooperativity to simulate protein function; and the theoretical kinetic constant (kj) values derived from the model are in the range of kj values expected from the literature.
A Probabilistic Morphological Analyzer for Syriac

We define a probabilistic morphological analyzer using a data-driven approach for Syriac in order to facilitate the creation of an annotated corpus. Syriac is an under-resourced Semitic language for which there are no available language tools such as morphological analyzers. We introduce novel probabilistic models for segmentation, dictionary linkage, and morphological tagging and connect them in a pipeline to create a probabilistic morphological analyzer requiring only labeled data. We explore the performance of models with varying amounts of training data and find that with about 34,500 labeled tokens, we can outperform a reasonable baseline trained on over 99,000 tokens and achieve an accuracy of just over 80%. When trained on all available training data, our joint model achieves 86.47% accuracy, a 29.7% reduction in error rate over the baseline.
Chemical genetics: new tools for understanding signalling networks.

Protein kinases play an integral role in the regulation of virtually every major cellular and developmental process, and an understanding of how protein kinases function in vivo is therefore of central importance to cell biology. Newly developed protein-kinase inhibitors provide powerful tools for understanding the functions of kinases in vivo.
Role of endogenous prostaglandins in regulation of uterine blood flow and adrenergic neurotransmission.

Abstract Earlier studies from these laboratories have demonstrated that prostaglandins (PG's) of the A and E series are potent uterine vasodilators whereas PGF's do not significantly alter uterine vascular resistance. In addition, PGE's and PGF's are also able to modify adrenergic vasoconstrictor responses in the canine uterus. In the present study the role of endogenous prostaglandins in regulating uterine vascular resistance and adrenergic neurotransmission was evaluated. Intra-arterial infusion of the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor meclofenamate resulted in a significant reduction in PGE levels in uterine venous plasma and increased vascular resistance. Uterine vasoconstrictor responses produced by sympathetic nerve stimulation and norepinephrine were enhanced when endogenous PG synthesis was inhibited. During sympathetic nerve stimulation, uterine venous plasma levels of radioimmunoassayable prostaglandins of the E or F series did not change, suggesting that the adrenergic activation of PG synthesis is not detectable in uterine venous efferent. These data suggest that endogenous prostaglandins of the E series appear to play an important role in regulating uterine blood flow (1) by relaxing uterine vascular smooth muscle and (2) by depressing adrenergic vasoconstrictor responses.
Identification of the promoter for a peptide antibiotic biosynthesis gene from Bacillus brevis and its regulation in Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract Tyrocidine is a cyclic decapeptide antibiotic which is produced and secreted by stationary-phase cells of the sporeforming bacterium Bacillus brevis. We identified the promoter for the B. brevis structural gene (tycA) for tyrocidine synthetase I, the enzyme catalyzing the first step in tyrocidine biosynthesis, and studied its regulation in cells of B. brevis and Bacillus subtilis. Transcription from the tycA promoter was induced at the end of the exponential phase of the growth cycle in B. brevis cells growing in sporulation medium. To study the regulation of tycA in B. subtilis, we constructed a derivative of the B. subtilis bacteriophage SP beta containing a transcriptional fusion of the tycA promoter to the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli and introduced the tycA-lacZ operon fusion by means of specialized transduction into sporulation mutants known to be blocked in sporulation-associated antibiotic production. Our principal finding was that tycA-directed lacZ expression was impaired in the stage-0 mutants with mutations spo0A, spo0B, and spo0E but not in spo0C, spo0F, spo0H, or spo+ bacteria. The dependence on the spo0A gene product could be entirely bypassed by an abrB suppressor mutation, which caused tycA-lacZ to be transcribed constitutively at all stages of growth. A simple model is proposed for the mechanism of tycA induction based on the Spo0A-dependent inactivation of Ab-B protein, which is proposed to be a negative regulator of tycA transcription.
An augmented reality tourist guide on your mobile devices

We present an augmented reality tourist guide on mobile devices. Many of latest mobile devices contain cameras, location, orientation and motion sensors. We demonstrate how these devices can be used to bring tourism information to users in a much more immersive manner than traditional text or maps. Our system uses a combination of camera, location and orientation sensors to augment live camera view on a device with the available information about the objects in the view. The augmenting information is obtained by matching a camera image to images in a database on a server that have geotags in the vicinity of the user location. We use a subset of geotagged English Wikipedia pages as the main source of images and augmenting text information. At the time of publication our database contained 50 K pages with more than 150 K images linked to them. A combination of motion estimation algorithms and orientation sensors is used to track objects of interest in the live camera view and place augmented information on top of them.
Major vascular surgery in the oldest old: Clinical trials versus the real world

Introduction The under-representation of the oldest old in vascular surgery trials, their projected growth, and limited life expectancy challenge clinical and policy-level decisions. This study examines the impact of age ≥ 80 years on short-term outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), open (OAAA) and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and lower extremity bypass (LEB). Methods Using 2005-2009 ACS-NSQIP, patients ≥ 50 years receiving CEA, OAAA, EVAR and LEB were identified. Chi Square and logistic regression were used to study bivariate and risk-adjusted effects of age on 30-day mortality, major adverse events and prolonged post-operative stay. Results Of 56,506 patients, 21% were ≥ 80 years. Of those, 42%, underwent CEA, 21% EVAR, 4.3% OAAA and 33% LEB. Overall, 30-day mortality was 1.9%, major adverse events 16% and 33% had prolonged stay. Stratified multivariate analysis showed older age predicted higher rates of 30-day mortality, likelihood of adverse events, and prolonged stay (Table).TableOlder Age and Outcomes After Major Vascular Surgery ‡ Age Groups30-day MortalityMajor ComplicationsProlonged Stay † OR (95%CI)OR (95% CI)OR (95% CI)65-79 yrsRefRefRefCarotid Endarterectomy80-84 yrs2.0*(1.3-3.0)1.1(0.9-1.2)1.3*(1.2-1.5)> 85 yrs2.4*(1.4-3.9)1.2(0.9-1.4)1.6*(1.5-1.8)Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair80-84 yrs1.7*(1.1-2.7)1.3*(1.0-1.6)1.3*(1.1-1.4)> 85 yrs1.9*(1.1-3.4)1.3*(1.0-1.7)1.8*(1.6-2.2)Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair80-84 yrs1.3(0.7-2.3)0.9(0.8-1.3)1.3*(1.0-1.8)> 85 yrs2.1*(1.0-4.1)1.2(0.8-1.8)1.2(0.8-1.8)Lower Extremity Bypass80-84 yrs1.4*(1.1-1.8)1.1(0.9-1.2)1.2*(1.1-1.4)> 85 yrs1.6*(1.2-2.1)0.9(0.8-1.0)1.1*(1.0-1.3)Table abbreviations: OR=Odds Ratio; CI=Confidence Interval; Ref=Referent.‡adjusted for demographics, pre, and intra-operative factors; age-group 50-64 not shown.†prolonged stay defined as > 75 th percentile of post-operative stay for each surgery. Conclusions In contrast to current literature, these results suggest that older age predicts worse short-term outcomes after major vascular surgery. In the absence of clinical trials data for this growing population, these results present a platform to health professionals, regulators, and payers to the design of future clinical trials and health policies.
Mechanism of interferences for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of urine for drugs of abuse

Although gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GS/MS) is recognized as the definitive procedure for confirming positive immunoassay screening results of urine for drugs of abuse, targeted GC/MS analysis does have limitations. False negative results can occur when interfering drugs are present at high relative concentrations. If an interfering drug competes with the targeted drug for the derivatization reagent, low results are produced. If the interfering drug chromatographically co-elutes with the target drug, the ionization efficiency of the target compound by electron impact (EI) ionization may be affected. False positive results can also occur through a number of mechanisms. Two substances with the same mass spectrum require gas chromatographic conditions that enable adequate separation of the compounds prior to MS analysis. In the case of optical isomers, special columns or derivatives must be used for identification and quantification. The widespread use of selected ion monitoring may further limit GC/MS assays. Drugs that produce similar high molecular-weight mass fragment ions could potentially interfere if they have similar GC retention times and if inappropriate ions are selected for monitoring. The conversion of one drug to another by the GC/MS instrument itself is a particularly insidious problem. False positive and negative results have serious forensic consequences and must be recognized and avoided. In contrast, the consumption of poppy seeds or meats from livestock given drugs such as methenolone can produce unexpected true positive results for opiates and anabolic steroids, respectively.
Direct Instruction in Math Word Problems: Students with Learning Disabilities

This investigation was conducted to test the effectiveness of strategy teaching and sequencing practice problems in teaching students with learning disabilities to identify the correct algorithm for solving addition and subtraction word problems. Sixty-two students were assigned to one of three experimental groups: strategy plus sequence, strategy only, and sequence only. The results indicated that students in the strategy-plus-sequence group, as well as those in the strategy-only group, scored significantly higher than did students in the sequence-only group. Findings indicated that strategy teaching was the more effective of the two instructional components. Implications are discussed in terms of instructional design for students with learning disabilities.
Global Distribution and Prevalence of Arcobacter in Food and Water

Summary The emerging foodborne and waterborne pathogen, Arcobacter, has been linked to various gastrointestinal diseases. Currently, 19 species are established or proposed; consequently, there has been an increase in the number of publications regarding Arcobacter since it was first introduced in 1991. To better understand the potential public health risks posed by Arcobacter, this review summarizes the current knowledge concerning the global distribution and the prevalence of Arcobacter in food and water. Arcobacter spp. were identified in food animals, food-processing environments and a variety of foods, including vegetables, poultry, beef, dairy products, seafood, pork, lamb and rabbit. A wide range of waterbodies has been reported to be contaminated with Arcobacter spp., such as wastewater, seawater, lake and river water, drinking water, groundwater and recreational water. In addition, Arcobacter has also been isolated from pets, domestic birds, wildlife, zoo and farm animals. It is expected that advancements in molecular techniques will facilitate better detection worldwide and aid in understanding the pathogenicity of Arcobacter. However, more extensive and rigorous surveillance systems are needed to better understand the occurrence of Arcobacter in food and water in various regions of the world, as well as uncover other potential public health risks, that is antibiotic resistance and disinfection efficiency, to reduce the possibility of foodborne and waterborne infections.
Developing Mathematics Teachers: The Transition From Preservice to Experienced Teacher

ABSTRACT This longitudinal study documents the development of mathematics teachers as they make the transition from preservice to experienced teachers. Collaborative learning environments were created for these teachers in their field-based classrooms during their last year in the teacher-education program. The authors anticipated that these learning environments would prepare more effective novice teachers. A comparison of baseline data with end-of-project data indicated that the participants' beliefs about the teaching and learning of mathematics, as well as their epistemological views, had changed; however, many participants did not base their instructional decisions on a careful analysis of their students' thinking processes. A follow-up study revealed a more accurate picture of the change in participants' beliefs and practices, as some of them, now experienced teachers, exceeded project expectations and had become effective teachers. Factors that either hindered or contributed to the development of t...
Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulation Characteristics as Evident from Ghost Balloon Data

Abstract From GHOST balloon data obtained over the Southern Hemisphere at the 200-mb level, phase velocities of cyclone waves were found to vary between 6.3 and 9.2 degrees of longitude per day. Spectrum analysis of the relative velocities of balloon pairs, measured with respect to their common center of gravity, yielded a spectrum peak in the v component near frequencies of 1/52 hr, and a “−3” spectrum slope at higher frequencies. (The latter may be contaminated by a spline function smoothing technique.) Spectral densities in v were found to be slightly larger in summer than in winter, while densities in u were half as large in summer than in winter. Significantly stronger anisotropy of flow prevails at cyclone wavelengths in the Southern than the the Northern Hemisphere, with the v perturbations exceeding the zonal flow perturbations. GHOST balloon cospectra yielded similar results of momentum transport as did data from the Northern Hemisphere. Eulerian spectra of the v component over New Zealand agreed...
The effects of frontal and temporal-parietal lesions on the auditory evoked potential in man

We compared the properties of long-latency auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in patients with unilateral lesions of the dorsolateral frontal cortex (N = 10) or temporal-parietal cortex (N = 10) to those of a group of age-matched normal subjects. Extensive lesions of the frontal cortex had no effect on AEP amplitudes, scalp distributions or refractory properties. However, following frontal lesions AEPs were larger to tones presented in the ear contralateral to the lesion than they were for tones presented ipsilaterally. Following unilateral temporal-parietal lesions, the N1 component (98 msec latency) was markedly reduced in amplitude at all scalp sites, and no increase in N1 amplitude occurred with lengthening ISIs. The P2 component (200 msec), however, showed the same amplitude and refractory properties as in the normal subjects. The results underline the critical role played by the cortex of the posterior-superior temporal plane and the adjacent cortex of the parietal lobe in the production of the N1 component.
Adverse Event Rates in Congenital Cardiac Catheterization: A New Understanding of Risks

We sought to characterize the frequency, severity, and attributability of adverse events (AE) in congenital cardiac catheterization and identify patient and procedural characteristics associated with AE. Risk for any AE was associated with age < 1 year (odds ratio [OR] 2.3), interventional cases (OR 2.2), increasing procedure type risk group (OR 1, 2.0, 2.5), and indicator of hemodynamic vulnerability (OR 1.6), all p < 0.001. Each of these and weight were also associated with increased risk for high severity events, except for young age. Our understanding of populations at risk for adverse outcomes in congenital cardiac catheterization cases can be enhanced through the development and refinement of variables that categorize procedure types and patient characteristics by similar risk for adverse outcomes.
The Medical World is Flat Too

Background Tom Friedman, in his book,“The World is Flat,” makes a very persuasive argument that our current economic policy transcends national boundaries. Friedman describes various processes that prove his point. These include workflow software, open sourcing, outsourcing, off-shoring, supply chaining, in-sourcing, and informing. The United States already outsources surgery. In this article, I give the retail surgical rates and discount rates of the US, and compare them to that of the same surgery in India, Thailand, and Singapore. Supply chaining is another example that applies to the field of medicine, particularly pharmaceuticals. Most pharmaceutical firms are located in developed countries, but 80% of the pharmaceuticals are manufactured in developing countries. A phenomenon that may be unique to the United States is that we off-shore some of our diagnostic capabilities, primarily during out nighttime hours. Under the rubric of “Nighthawk,” X-rays, including CT scans, are digitized and sent to Australia, Spain, and other countries during our nighttime hours. A diagnosis is made and sent back to the referring hospital in the US, usually within 30 minutes. I think an argument can be made that almost all of the issues that Friedman talks about in his book, apply to the field of medicine. Trauma care is a microcosm of medicine and uses most of the resources shared by other specialties. The trauma patient has to be identified and ambulances called, usually by 911 or similar numeric systems in other countries. The patient is transported to an emergency room, and if the injury is severe, admitted for acute care, which often requires surgery, intensive care, and ward care. When possible, the patient is discharged home, but is often sent to a rehabilitation facility or a nursing home. To improve trauma care and outcome, surgeons have turned to the organization and system approach that has been so successful in military situations.
Psychological Profiles of Individuals Seeking Ordination in the Episcopal or Presbyterian (PCUSA) Churches: Comparisons and Contrasts

The present study examined the psychological profiles of 138 candidates for ordained ministry from the Episcopal (n = 90) and Presbyterian Church (USA) (n = 48). Employing scales scores from the MMPI-2, MCMI-III, and 16PF-5, we used a series of one-way ANOVAs to test for differences between genders, denominations, and (for Episcopalians) ordination type and completion versus non-completion of the ordination process. Our results suggest that, consistent with the literature, these future clergy were generally well-adjusted and socially skilled. Denominational differences in our sample were virtually non-existent. While similar on most dimensions, female candidates may appraise their circumstances and relationships with a greater emphasis on emotional considerations than their male counterparts. Differences between Episcopal candidates for the Priesthood and the Deaconate were consistent with differences in their respective leadership and support roles. Finally, discriminant function analysis indicated that candidates who completed their ordination appeared to have a more realistic and positive attitude toward the process as well as a more deferential and less independent orientation than those who did not.