cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Penicillin skin testing in methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: A cost-effectiveness analysis

Background Beta-lactams are the mainstay for treating methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections complicated by bacteremia due to superior outcomes compared with vancomycin. With approximately 11% of inpatients reporting a penicillin (PCN) allergy, many patients receive suboptimal treatment for MSSA bacteremia. Objective Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of penicillin skin testing (PST) in adult patients with self-reported PCN allergy in an inpatient setting undergoing treatment for MSSA bacteremia. Methods A decision analytic model was developed comparing an acute care PST intervention to a scenario with no confirmatory allergy testing. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) from the health-sector perspective over a 1-year time horizon using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as the measure for effectiveness. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the uncertainty of the ICER estimation. Results Over a 1-year time horizon, PST services applied to all MSSA bacteremia patients reporting a PCN-allergy would result in a cost per patient of $12,559 and 0.73 QALYs while no PST services would have a higher cost per patient of $13,219 and 0.66 QALYs per patient. This resulted in a cost-effectiveness estimate of -$9,429 per QALY gained. Varying the cost of implementing PST services determined a break-even point of $959.98 where any PST cost less than this amount would actually be cost saving. Conclusions Patients reporting a PCN allergy on admission may receive sub-optimal alternative therapies to beta-lactams, such as vancomycin, for MSSA bacteremia. This economic analysis demonstrates that inpatient PST services confirming PCN allergy are cost-effective for patients with MSSA bacteremia.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE AS EVENTS: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC IDEA OF CLIMATE CHANGE

One aspect of the psychology of weather and climate concerns the multiple meanings that may be associated with weather and climate as event. Atmospheric scientists and journalists have increasingly...
The effect of abomasal methionine supplementation on nitrogen retention of growing steers postruminally infused with casein or nonsulfur-containing amino acids.

An experiment was conducted to develop a system useful for measuring methionine requirements of growing steers. Seven ruminally cannulated steers (312 kg, gaining .91 kg/d) were fed a diet based on ammoniated corn cobs, corn starch, molasses and urea. Quantities of N and sulfur-containing amino acids disappearing from the small intestine were 96.0 and 14.8 g/d, respectively. Postruminal infusions of Na-caseinate (CAS) resulted in linear (P less than .01) increases in N retention with values increasing from 30.1 g/d with no postruminal CAS infusion to 39.3, 50.8 and 59.2 g/d (averaged across methionine supplementation) when 100, 200 and 300 g/d CAS were infused. Postruminal infusions of a mixture of crystalline L-amino acids (simulating the nonsulfur-containing essential amino acid pattern of casein; SIM) at levels of 100, 200 and 300 g/d also led to linear increases (P less than .01) in N retention with steers retaining 30.9, 38.9 and 50.5 g N/d (averaged across methionine supplementation), respectively. Postruminal infusion of 12 g/d L-methionine across CAS and SIM infusions improved (P less than .01) N retention by 7.6 g/d but infusion of SIM, which is devoid of sulfur amino acids, also increased N retention. Responses to methionine supplementation was greatest when 200 or 300 g/d SIM were abomasally infused. The data are interpreted to demonstrate that, for steers fed a diet containing little true protein, postruminal supplementation with nonsulfur-containing amino acids tended to increase the ability of growing steers to respond to methionine supplementation.
The Housing Crisis in America and the Policies That Created and Promoted It

While government housing policy after the Second World War supported building more affordable housing for returning veterans, by the 1960s and 1970s it was clear that the goals of housing had spiralled into unaffordable projects for median incomes. Large government sponsored projects also were underfunded for maintenance and continued services for changing tenant needs. By the 1980s what had become a paralyzed area of national policy was transformed into a commodification process. Where the entities that had been established to build affordable housing were transformed, like the redevelopment agencies, into destruction of the most affordable housing, the finance vehicles like the FHA (established in 1934) were transformed in the 1960s into “enterprise” units like the Fannie Mae and began to support speculation in mortgages and housing on a grand scale until the credit crisis of 2007. The Goodman Building rent strike took place in this context of a city and national crisis over housing.
Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Complex Delivery: Methods and Applications for Neuroinflammation.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a revolutionary gene editing technology that combines simplicity of use and efficiency of mutagenesis. As this technology progresses toward human therapies, valid concerns including off-target mutations and immunogenicity must be addressed. One approach to address these issues is to minimize the presence of the CRISPR/Cas9 components by maintaining a tighter temporal control of Cas9 endonuclease and reducing the time period of activity. This has been achieved to some degree by delivering the CRISPR/Cas9 system via pre-formed Cas9 + gRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. In this review, we first discuss the molecular modifications that can be made using CRISPR/Cas9 and provide an overview of current methods for delivering Cas9 RNP complexes both in vitro and in vivo. We conclude with examples of how Cas9 RNP delivery may be used to target neuroinflammatory processes, namely in regard to viral infections of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases. We propose that Cas9 RNP delivery is a viable approach when considering the CRISPR/Cas9 system for both experimentation and the treatment of disease.
Predatory Journals, Open-Access, and the Effect on Publishing in Finance

The purpose of this paper is to describe the history and current state of predatory journals that affect scholarly research and, in particular, the Finance discipline. With the advent of open-access publishing, the proliferation of low-quality, predatory journals has increased. The importance of this is that (1) uninformed scholars may submit their research to these journals, with possible negative career implications, and (2) there may be a spillover reputational effect to quality open access journals. Guidance is provided on distinguishing legitimate, quality journals from predatory journals.
Introduction. Jews in Tunisia and Morocco and Arabs in Israel: Defining Attributes and Foundations for Comparative Analysis

The chapters brought together in this volume present findings from research that was carried out in the early and mid-1970s among the Jewish minorities in Tunisia and Morocco and the Arab minority in Israel. Detailed accounts of the characteristics and circumstances of the three minorities at that time, and of the response of each community to these circumstances, are presented in half—the second half—of the chapters in this volume. These chapters, of which there are seven, are in Part III and Part IV, with Part III focusing on the Jewish minorities in Tunisia and Morocco and Part IV focusing on Israel’s Arab minority. More specifically, in the case of all three minorities, these chapters focus on the attributes and actions of the groups themselves, on the nature and impact of relevant “host” country actions and policies—the host country being that of which the minority’s members were citizens at the time of the research—and on what all this meant for the political, economic, and social life of each minority group. Readers with a particular interest in one or more of the three minorities, and especially in their individual or respective lived experience during a period marked by important transitions, will find instructive descriptive information in these chapters.
Blue Gene Line of LWKs

The following chapter covers the design and implementation of the lightweight kernels in the Blue Gene family of supercomputers. This lightweight kernel, known as Compute Node Kernel (CNK ), provides a high-degree Linux compatibility and supports many Linux-like system calls and a familiar application environment. File and socket I/O is provided by function shipping those system calls to a process running on a Linux-based I/O node.
Endoscopic Repair of Full-Thickness Gluteus Medius and Minimus Tears-Prospective Study With a Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up.

Purpose To evaluate the short-term outcomes of endoscopic repair of full-thickness gluteus medius and minimus tendon tears with a minimum of 2-year follow-up and add to the paucity of literature on abductor tendon tears. Methods All patients who underwent endoscopic abductor tendon repair between December 2013 and August 2017 were prospectively evaluated. The inclusion criteria for this study were primary full-thickness gluteal tendon tears and at least 2-years of follow-up. Clinical outcome data consisted of visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, hip abduction strength, Trendelenburg sign, complications, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score, Non-arthritic Hip Scale, International Hip Outcome Tool-33, and Lower Extremity Functional Scale. Results A total of 15 hips, all full-thickness tears, met inclusion criteria with an average follow-up of 31.2 months, with no patients being excluded. On physical examination, there was a significant improvement in VAS pain score from 5.36 to 2.43 (P = .0243), hip abduction strength with 8 (53.3%) hips improving by at least 1 point (P = .02056), and resolution of Trendelenburg sign in all 15 hips at 2-years (P = .0019). The mean difference for all 6 PROMs was statistically significant, even after Bonferroni adjustment, with the majority of patient improvement exceeding the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds: modified Harris Hip Score: 86.67%, Hip Outcome Score—ADL: 86.67%, Hip Outcome Score—SSS: 66.67%, Non-arthritic Hip Scale: 93.33%, and International Hip Outcome Tool-33: 80%. Greater Goutallier grade was associated with a greater VAS pain score. There were no complications, including no retears. Conclusions In this study of 15 hips with full-thickness gluteal tendon tears managed endoscopically, we found excellent outcomes that exceeded the MCID thresholds in the majority of patients at an average of 31.2 months follow-up, while offering the potential advantages of less tissue violation, ambulatory day surgery, and fewer complications compared with open repair. Level of Evidence Level 4, Case Series.
Force Based Canonical Approximation of Molecular Potentials: Average Force versus Pointwise Force

This work presents a new force-based canonical approach that utilizes the average force rather than the pointwise force, on which previously developed canonical approaches were based. Advantageously, the average force based method only requires the evaluation of the potential function and not its derivative. The average force and the pointwise force based methods are applied to a variety of diatomic molecules, and their accuracy is compared. It is demonstrated that the average force based method gives an improved accuracy compared to the pointwise force based method. This improved accuracy is attributed to the fact that the average force based method eliminates the need to use the numerical approximation of the derivative of the potential function that, in practice, is only known at discrete points. In addition, an algorithm is developed to apply the average force based method as a practical tool for generating potential curves for pairwise interatomic interactions utilizing the classical Lennard-Jones potential as reference. Moreover, application of the average force based method leads to a new canonical approximation paradigm. In this new paradigm, only the coordinates of the equilibrium configuration (the bottom of the potential well) of a molecule are required for accurate generation of the potential function. Moreover, theoretical results are presented, demonstrating the effectiveness of the canonical transformation procedure in producing highly accurate potential approximations. In particular, it is proved that a certain general set of qualitative conditions on potential-like functions are sufficient for a given potential function to be in the same canonical transformation class as a (dimensionless) Lennard-Jones potential. For functions satisfying these assumptions, it is shown that they have canonical approximations with arbitrarily small approximation errors.
Does trace density reflect tracemaker density? A test using intertidal gastropods on San Salvador Island, the Bahamas

Trace densities may be a potential proxy for tracemaker densities, especially in settings where traces but not body fossils preserve well. The relationship between the density of the gastropod Bati...
I Believe That We Will Win! Learning from Youth Activist Pedagogies.

This article draws from a two-year youth-informed, multi-site ethnographic study, in which interracial anti-racist youth activist groups (IAYAG) amplified their own pedagogical leadership in their ...
Die (un)mögliche Messung des allgemeinen Rechtsgefühls

Dem Rechtsgefuhl der Bevolkerung wird fur rechtliche Entscheidungen kaum Bedeutung beigemessen. Dennoch wird in kriminalpolitischen Debatten und auch im Gesetz selbst nicht selten auf die Anschauungen der Allgemeinheit (jedenfalls implizit) abgestellt. Die empirische Erforschung des Rechtsempfindens ist problematisch. Es bestehen noch immer unterschiedliche Vorstellungen daruber, was unter dem Begriff zu verstehen ist und welche Forschungsfragen er umfasst. Auch zeichnet sich der Untersuchungsgegenstand bei naherer Betrachtung durch eine hohe Individualitat, Komplexitat und Wandelbarkeit aus. Der vorliegende Beitrag mochte Denkanstose zu Inhalt und Funktionsweise des Rechtsgefuhls liefern und so einen Impuls fur die weitere Erforschung dieser Thematik setzen. Zudem soll mithilfe von Daten aus einer Studierendenbefragung zur sog. Kronzeugenregelung des § 46 b StGB gezeigt werden, dass man sich allgemeinen Bevolkerungseinstellungen – trotz zahlreicher methodischer Schwierigkeiten – zumindest annahern konnen durfte. Hier eroffnen sich neue und attraktive Forschungsfelder fur die empirische Kriminologie.
Optimal Scheduling of Electrolyzer in Power Market with Dynamic Prices

Optimal scheduling of hydrogen production in dynamic pricing power market can maximize the profit of hydrogen producer; however, it highly depends on the accurate forecast of hydrogen consumption. In this paper, we propose a deep leaning based forecasting approach for predicting hydrogen consumption of fuel cell vehicles in future taxi industry. The cost of hydrogen production is minimized by utilizing the proposed forecasting tool to reduce the hydrogen produced during high cost on-peak hours and guide hydrogen producer to store sufficient hydrogen during low cost off-peak hours.
Consensus-Based Set-Theoretic Control in Power Systems.

Set-theoretic control is a useful technique for dealing with the uncertainty introduced into power systems by renewable energy resources. Although set operations are computationally expensive in large systems, distributed approaches serve as a remedy. In this paper, we propose a novel consensus-based approach for set-theoretic frequency control in power systems. A robust controlled-invariant set (RCI) for the system is generated by composing RCIs for each bus in the network. The process of generating these sets uses a consensus-based approach in order to facilitate discovery of mutually compatible subsystem RCIs. Each bus seeks to maximize the size of its own RCI while treating the effects of coupling as an unknown-but-bounded disturbance. The consensus routine, which demonstrates linear convergence, is embedded into a backwards reachability analysis of initial safe sets. Results for a 9-bus test case show that simple model predictive controllers associated with the resulting RCIs maintain safe operation when the system is subjected to worst case (adversarial) fluctuations in net demand, where conventional controllers are shown to fail.
Spontaneously formed quasicrystal grains in a pure metal

Pure metals so far have been obtained in quasicrystal (QC) forms only by templation – epitaxial growth on a QC substrate. Here, we report spontaneous formation of dodecagonal QC (DDQC) grains in pure tantalum (Ta), an early transition metal normally in a body-centered-cubic crystal structure. The DDQC grains comprise icosahedral clusters assembled in accordance with the Stampfli triangle–square tiling scheme and are formed directly from the supercooled liquid and the β-Ta phases during thermal devitrification of a Ta metallic glass in molecular dynamics simulations using a realistic quantum mechanically based interatomic potential. They co-exist with β-Ta and are retainable to and stable at room temperature, with a slightly lower configurational energy than β-Ta.
Bored with School! Bored with Life? Well-Being Characteristics Associated with a School Boredom Mindset.

Students’ experiences of boredom at school are receiving increased research attention. Most inquiries to date have focused on how often students experience boredom in classroom situations and in specific subject areas. Despite its frequency, limited research efforts have explored how students’ boredom experiences might inform positive education initiatives. This paper examines students’ school boredom experiences from a positive education lens through which school mental health professionals can evaluate students’ school boredom experiences systematically. We introduce the School Boredom Mindset (SBM) concept that identifies a subset of high-risk students expressing unfavorable school attitudes. A preliminary analysis of 2,331 California secondary (Grades 7-12) students’ responses on well-being indicators explored the SBM’s viability. The findings show that students with the strongest SBM reported substantially lower well-being than their peers. The discussion offers suggestions for future research needed to evaluate the SBM concept’s meaning and the value of its contribution to positive education. While this research moves forward, we provide practitioners with resources to better evaluate students’ boring feelings at school and consider its meaning within the broader effort of fostering thriving well-being
Fused in sarcoma regulates DNA replication timing and kinetics.

Fused in sarcoma (FUS) encodes an RNA-binding protein with diverse roles in transcriptional activation and RNA splicing. While oncogenic fusions of FUS and transcription factor DNA-binding domains are associated with soft tissue sarcomas, dominant mutations in FUS can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. FUS has also been implicated in genome maintenance. However, the underlying mechanisms of its actions in genome stability are unknown. Here, we applied gene editing, functional reconstitution, and integrated proteomics and transcriptomics to illuminate roles for FUS in DNA replication and repair. Consistent with a supportive role in DNA double-strand break repair, FUS-deficient cells exhibited subtle alterations in the recruitment and retention of double-strand break–associated factors, including 53BP1 and BRCA1. FUS−/− cells also exhibited reduced proliferative potential that correlated with reduced speed of replication fork progression, diminished loading of prereplication complexes, enhanced micronucleus formation, and attenuated expression and splicing of S-phase–associated genes. Finally, FUS-deficient cells exhibited genome-wide alterations in DNA replication timing that were reversed upon re-expression of FUS complementary DNA. We also showed that FUS-dependent replication domains were enriched in transcriptionally active chromatin and that FUS was required for the timely replication of transcriptionally active DNA. These findings suggest that alterations in DNA replication kinetics and programming contribute to genome instability and functional defects in FUS-deficient cells.
Global Precipitation Measurement: GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) Algorithm Development Approach

This slide presentation reviews the approach to the development of the Global Precipitation Measurement algorithm. This presentation includes information about the responsibilities for the development of the algorithm, and the calibration. Also included is information about the orbit, and the sun angle. The test of the algorithm code will be done with synthetic data generated from the Precipitation Processing System (PPS).
Du Pont Chambers Works — Integrated Site Waste Disposal System

At the Du Pont Chambers Works, continuing efforts are being made to reduce the generation of waste materials. At the same time, recognizing the inevitable continuation of need for adequate treatment and disposal, we are working to make our waste management system as efficient and reliable as possible by applying new technology as it becomes available.
Glaucoma Drainage Implant Surgery

Glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) surgery represents a significant advance in the treatment of refractory glaucomas. Recent randomized clinical trials have compared the efficacy and safety of this technique to standard trabeculectomy. Several types of implants are currently available and differ in surface area, shape, composition, and presence or absence of a flow-restricting valve. A prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing two types of GDIs is ongoing. GDIs may be placed in the anterior chamber, ciliary sulcus, or pars plana. Several types of patch graft material may be utilized to prevent tube erosion. Potential complications of GDI surgery may relate to immediate or late-onset hypotony, motility disturbances, corneal decompensation, or tube erosion.
Factors determining the specificity of signal transduction by guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors. I. Coupling of alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes to distinct G-proteins.

Abstract alpha 2-Adrenergic receptor (alpha 2-AR) subtypes couple to pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive G-proteins to elicit both stimulatory and inhibitory cell responses. Signal specificity may be generated by the ability of the receptor subtypes to "recognize" distinct G-proteins with different affinity. To address this issue we stably expressed three alpha 2-AR subtypes, RNG alpha 2 (alpha 2B-AR), RG10 (alpha 2C-AR), and RG20 (alpha 2D-AR), in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, which express two PT-sensitive G-proteins (Gi alpha 2, Gi alpha 3), and analyzed receptor/G-protein interactions by determining: 1) functional coupling to adenylylcyclase and 2) the ability of the receptors to exist in a high affinity state for agonist. In alpha 2D-AR transfectants expressing 200 or 2,200 fmol of receptor/mg of protein, epinephrine (10 microM) inhibited forskolin-induced elevation of cellular cAMP by 26 +/- 4.8% and 72 +/- 6.2%, respectively. Similar results were obtained in alpha 2B-AR transfectants. However, in alpha 2C-AR transfectants (200 fmol/mg) the forskolin-induced elevation of cellular cAMP was not altered by agonist treatment. In alpha 2C-AR transfectants expressing higher receptor densities (650-1,200 fmol/mg), epinephrine inhibited the effect of forskolin by 30 +/- 3.2%. This difference in functional coupling among the alpha 2-AR subtypes is reflected at the receptor/G-protein interface. In membrane preparations of alpha 2B and alpha 2D-AR but not alpha 2C-AR transfectants, agonist competition curves were biphasic, indicating high and low affinity states of the receptor for agonist. The high affinity state was guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate- and PT-sensitive, indicative of receptor/G-protein coupling. These data suggest that the alpha 2C-AR differs from the alpha 2B and alpha 2D-AR subtypes in its ability to recognize PT-sensitive G-proteins expressed in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. The alpha 2C-AR may couple preferentially to PT-sensitive G-proteins (Gi1, Go1,2) not expressed in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and thereby elicit different cellular responses.
The Large Numbers Hypothesis and Its Consequences

From the constants of nature one can construct some dimensionless numbers, independent of what units one uses. Some of these are not so far from unity, for example, hc/e2 equal to approximately 137, and the ratio of the mass of the proton to that of the electron, mp/me, equal to approximately 1840. Others are extremely large, for example the ratio of the electric to the gravitational force between the electron and the proton in the hydrogen atom, e2/Gmpme. This is about 2 x 1039.
Probabilistic Roadmaps of Trees for Parallel Computation of Multiple Query Roadmaps

We propose the combination of techniques that solve multiple queries for motion planning problems with single query planners in a motion planning framework that can be efficiently parallelized. In multiple query motion planning, a data structure is built during a preprocessing phase in order to quickly respond to on-line queries. Alternatively, in single query planning, there is no preprocessing phase and all computations occur during query resolution. This paper shows how to effectively combine a powerful sample-based method primarily designed for multiple query planning (the Probabilistic Roadmap Method - PRM) with sample-based tree methods that were primarily designed for single query planning (such as Expansive Space Trees, Rapidly Exploring Random Trees, and others). Our planner, which we call the Probabilistic Roadmap of Trees (PRT), uses a tree algorithm as a subroutine for PRM. The nodes of the PRM roadmap are now trees. We take advantage of the very powerful sampling schemes of recent tree planners to populate our roadmaps. The combined sampling scheme is in the spirit of the non-uniform sampling and refinement techniques employed in earlier work on PRM. PRT not only achieves a smooth spectrum between multiple query and single query planning but it combines advantages of both. We present experiments which show that PRT is capable of solving problems that cannot be addressed efficiently with PRM or single-query planners. A key advantage of PRT is that it is significantly more decoupled than PRM and sample-based tree planners. Using this property, we designed and implemented a parallel version of PRT. Our experiments show that PRT distributes well and can easily solve high dimensional problems that exhaust resources available to single machines.
The Schwartz-Sobolev Theory of Distributions

Let R n be a real n-dimensional space in which we have a Cartesian system of coordinates such that a point P is denoted by x = (x 1, x 2,…, x n ) and the distance r, of P from the origin, is r = |x | = (x 1 2 + x 2 2 + … + x n 2 )1/2. Let k be an n-tuple of nonnegative integers, k = (k 1, k 2,…, k n ), the so-called multiindex of order n; then we define $$ \begin{gathered} \left| k \right| = k_1 + k_2 + \cdot \cdot \cdot k_n , x^k = x_1 ^{k_1 } x_2^{k_2 } \cdot \cdot \cdot x_n^{k_n } , \hfill \\ k! = k_1 !k_2 \cdot \cdot \cdot k_n !, \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} k \\ p \\ \end{array} } \right) = \frac{{k!}} {{k!\left( {k - p} \right)}} \hfill \\ and \hfill \\ D_k = \frac{{\partial ^{\left| k \right|} }} {{\partial x_1^{k_1 } \partial x_2^{k_2 } \cdot \cdot \cdot \partial x_n^{k_n } }} = \frac{{\partial ^{k_1 + k_2 + \cdot \cdot \cdot + k_n } }} {{\partial x_1^{k_1 } \partial x_2^{k_2 } \cdot \cdot \cdot \partial x_n^{k_n } }} = D_2^{k_2 } \cdot \cdot \cdot D_n^{k_n } , \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ (1) where D j = ∂/∂x j , j = 1,2,…, n. For the one-dimensional case D k reduces to d/DK. Furthermore, if any component of k is zero, the differentiation with respect to the corresponding variable is omitted. For instance, in R 3, with k = (3, 0, 4), we have $$ D^k = \partial ^7 /\partial x_1^3 \partial x_3^4 = D_1^3 D_3^4 . $$ (2)
Black-White Differences in Fracture Rates

To compare the incidence of all nonvertebral fractures between elderly blacks and whites, the authors conducted a retrospective cohort study among Tennessee Medicaid enrollees aged 65 years or more from 1987 through 1989. A previously validated computer algorithm identified 6,802 persons of black or white race with 7,645 new nonvertebral fractures. The incidence of all nonvertebral fractures in blacks was only half of that in whites. This finding persisted after the authors controlled for sex, age, and nursing home residence (relative risk = 0.4, 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.5). Rates were consistently lower among blacks within subgroups defined by these factors and for each of the 13 different fracture sites examined. The magnitude of the difference between blacks and whites in rates of all fractures combined and most site-specific fractures is similar to that previously reported for hip fractures. These consistent racial differences suggest a common underlying factor(s).
Modeling PVDF actuators with conducting polymer electrodes

Piezoelectric polymer sheets are presently supplied with metallic electrodes that have thickness comparable to the polymer sheet, so the electrode stiffness considerably degrades the performance of actuators make of such sheets. Conducting polymers, such as PEDOT/PSS, may be a good substitute for metal as an electroding material given the high flexibility of polymers. The lower conductivity of polymers, though, forces consideration of the voltage distribution in the electrodes, which will not be uniform due to amplitude decay and phase lag. We have developed a simple analytical solution for the voltage distribution, and have found an excellent agreement with experimental measurements from piezoelectric bimorphs that have been constructed in our laboratory.
Dendritic cells with TGF-β1 and IL-2 differentiate naive CD4+ T cells into alloantigen-specific and allograft protective Foxp3+ regulatory T cells.

Background Naturally occurring, thymic-derived Foxp3+CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells (natural Tregs) are pivotal for the maintenance of self-tolerance. Natural Tregs, however, are sparse and lack alloantigen specificity and these properties pose challenges for their use in clinical transplantation.
Effective Temperature for Analysis of Permanent Deformation and Fatigue Distress on Asphalt Mixtures

The determination of a single test temperature for asphalt mixtures to simulate major distresses on flexible pavement is quite significant in characterizing asphalt mixtures. It is apparent that the practical use of a single temperature would reduce testing needs as well as relevant analysis efforts. Effective temperature (Teff) can be defined as a single test temperature at which an amount of distress would be equivalent to that which occurs from the seasonal temperature fluctuation throughout the annual temperature cycle. The primary goal of this study was to develop the Teff for permanent deformation and fatigue cracking of asphalt mixtures. The predicted distress for both permanent deformation and fatigue cracking that is used to optimize the Teff models and to find optimal coefficients was obtained by running the latest version of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). A feature of the developed Teff models is that they incorporate comprehensive climatic characteristics as well as l...
Growth and properties of superconducting anisotropic lead nanoprisms

Anisotropic Pb nanoprisms were synthesized using high-temperature polyol reduction of lead acetylacetonate through a kinetically controlled synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the majority of the prisms grows along {111} planes. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) on single prism revealed that the anisotropic growth is due to twinning in the growing nuclei. Magnetic measurements on a colloidal deposited film exhibited a large magnetic hysteresis that is due to the penetration and pinning of magnetic flux. This flux trapping behavior could be due to a possible transition from type I to type II superconductor given the finite thickness of the prisms (<100 nm) or from the currents flowing in a network of coupled prisms.
Differential regulation of aortic growth in male and female rodents is associated with AAA development.

Background The objective was to examine effects of gonadal hormone manipulation on aortic diameter and macrophage infiltration in rodents during abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. Methods Experiment 1: 17-β estradiol and testosterone pellets were implanted in male (ME) and female (FT) rats. No pellet was implanted in shams (MES, FTS). Experiment 2: Testes and ovaries were removed from males (MO) and females (FO), respectively. No organs were removed from shams (MOS, FOS). Experiment 3: Male and female rats were orchiectomized and oophorectomized, respectively. Four weeks post-castration, testosterone (MOT) and 17-β estradiol (FOE) pellets were implanted. Shams underwent castration, but no pellet was implanted (MOTS, FOES). All rats underwent infrarenal aortic infusion with elastase postimplantation/postcastration. Diameters were measured on postoperative d 14. Tissue was stained for macrophages by immunohistochemistry. Results Diameter ( P = 0.046) and macrophage counts ( P = 0.014) decreased in ME compared with shams, but not in females treated with testosterone (FT). Diameter ( P = 0.019) and macrophage infiltration ( P = 0.024) decreased in MO compared with shams, but not in FO. Diameter increased in MOT compared with MOTS ( P = 0.033), but decreased in FOE compared with FOES ( P = 0.002). Macrophages decreased in FOE compared with FOES ( P = 0.002). Conclusion This study documents a decrease in AAA diameter in males treated with estrogen or undergoing orchiectomy, but no changes in females treated with testosterone or undergoing oophorectomy; and an increase in diameter in MOT and a decrease in FOE. These data suggest that gonadal hormones differentially regulate AAA growth in association with changes in macrophages.
Thermal history of the Earth: Seismic studies of geologic structure of the ocean floor

From April 1946 to April 1943, significant advances were made in the study of the structure of the ocean basins using the seismic method. Swedish scientists, have reported results obtained with a reflection method employing a piezoelectric hydrophone as the receiver and small explosive charges as the source of seismic energy. They report having recorded reflections from surfaces below the ocean floor. They demonstrate penetration of oceanic sediments by interpretation of several records of shots detonated at the same place but at radically different depths in the water. Their recording system has essentially a flat frequency response.
Physician practice patterns of obesity diagnosis and weight-related counseling

Abstract Methods We analyzed cross-sectional clinical encounter data. Obese adults were obtained from the 2005 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey ( N = 2458). Results A third of obese adults received an obesity diagnosis (28.9%) and approximately a fifth received counseling for weight reduction (17.6%), diet (25.2%), or exercise (20.5%). Women (OR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.09), young adults ages 18–29 (OR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.37, 4.97), and severely/morbidly obese individuals (class II: OR 2.08; 95% CI: 1.53, 2.83; class III: OR 4.36; 95% CI: 3.09, 6.16) were significantly more likely to receive an obesity diagnosis. One of the biggest predictors of weight-related counseling was an obesity diagnosis (weight reduction: OR = 5.72; 95% CI: 4.01, 8.17; diet: OR = 2.89; 95% CI: 2.05, 4.06; exercise: OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.67, 3.85). Other predictors of weight-related counseling included seeing a cardiologist/other internal medicine specialist, a preventive visit, or spending more time with the doctor ( p Conclusions Most obese patients do not receive an obesity diagnosis or weight-related counseling. Practice implications Preventive visits may provide a key opportunity for obese patients to receive weight-related counseling from their physician.
A survey of binge eating and obesity treatment practices among primary care providers

Objectives Obesity is an increasingly prevalent condition and many obese individuals binge eat. It is unclear how much knowledge physicians possess regarding binge eating, but the limited existing data suggest that primary care physicians frequently do not identify obesity as a clinical problem. The objective of this study was to examine physician knowledge and treatment recommendations regarding binge eating and obesity. Method A survey on binge eating and obesity assessment and treatment was mailed to 700 licensed physicians. The survey was returned by 272 (38.9%) respondents. Results Greater than 40% of physicians never assessed binge eating. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated “often or always” by 36.2% of physicians and “rarely or never” by 39.7%. The pattern of obesity treatment methods offered by providers was quite different from the pattern of treatment requested by their patients. Physicians who made higher estimates of binge eating prevalence were more likely to make treatment referrals. Discussion In this study, physicians frequently did not assess binge eating. Only a minority of physicians utilize BMI in the assessment and management of obesity. Also, physicians report that the obesity treatments they recommend differ from the treatments patients request of them. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 35: 348–353, 2004.
Error Analysis of a Low-Low Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Mission

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment is a dedicated spaceborne mission whose objective is to map the gravity e eld with unprecedented accuracy. It consists of two satellites coorbiting in a nearly polar orbit at low altitude. Primary measurements are a series of measured range changes between the two satellites using a dual one-way microwave ranging system. These measurements are combined with accelerometer and global positioning system measurements. In this study, comprehensive simulation models for these major instruments have been developed to recover the gravity information. Effects of the primary error sources on the orbit and gravity estimation are analyzed through a series of numerical simulations.
Unity power factor for neon tube signs

Application of parallel capacitance will not correct the power factor of the usual commercial neon tube installation to a value greater than 90 per cent. A constant-current circuit for use with these signs is described in this article, which not only operates at unity power factor but possesses other advantages.
Anomalous absorption and scattering of short-pulse high-intensity lasers in underdense plasmas.

The propagation of short-pulse lasers through several Rayleigh lengths of underdense plasma $[(1\char21{}4)%{n}_{\mathrm{cr}}]$ is studied using multidimensional fully explicit particle-in-cell simulations. The simulations model 80 to 600 fs, 1 \ensuremath{\mu}m wavelength pulses in the intensity range of $1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{17}$ to $3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{19}$ W/c${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$. A detailed account is given for the energy lost out of the focal cone due to a combination of collective absorption and scattering losses. The figure of merit for the nonlinear transmission losses of a given pulse length is the amount of Raman forward scattering exponentiation within a Rayleigh length.
Comparison of Postsecondary Transitional Outcomes Between Students With and Without Disabilities by Secondary Vocational Education Participation: Findings from the National Education Longitudinal Study

This study used data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988-1994 (NELS:88-94) to compare postsecondary outcomes between students with and without disabilities and participation in secondary vocational education. Differences in postsecondary outcomes are reported for four groups of students: (a) students with a disability who participated in vocational education in high school, (b) students with a disability who did not participate in vocational education in high school, (c) students without a disability who participated in vocational education in high school, and (d) students without a disability who did not participate in vocational education in high school. Students without a disability who did not participate in vocational education in high school are treated as the comparison group (reference category). Findings concerning predictor variables are reported and recommendations for practice and research in the area of transition are discussed in light of public policy and the new economy.
Abstract LB-150: Local maturation and inhibition of antitumor CD8 T-cell responses in a model of immunoevasive breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The purpose of this study is to investigate the cell interactions and mechanisms that limit anti-tumor CD8 T cell responses in tumor microenvironments. We used cutting-edge multiphoton imaging of immunoevasive tumors to determine the behavior and anti-tumor responses of CD8 T cells. This was achieved by adoptively transferring T cells into a modified MMTV-PyMT breast tumor model (mouse mammary tumor virus promoter-driven, polyoma middle T antigen-induced luminal breast cancer). In this model, tumor cells expresses ovalbumin as tumor-antigen and mCherry as a fluorescent markers, thus allowing immunologic assessment and intravital imaging of T cell activity against tumor cells in and ex vivo . Furthermore, we were able to investigate the effect of antigen-presenting immune cells and immunomodulatory treatment regimens on anti-tumor T cell activity in and ex vivo. In this work we found that newly arriving tumor-specific T cells undergo defined phases of maturation within the tumor microenvironment. First, after arriving to the tumor site, T cells engage in close interactions with antigen-presenting cells and exhibit reduced motility and rounded morphology. After this initial phase, T cells dramatically increase motility and survey the tumor microenvironment, however they do not form stable interactions with other cell types and further do not engage tumor cells. In contrary to other publications, swarming T cells do not express surface markers associated with exhaustion or anergy, and exhibit extensive in situ proliferation and ex vivo CTL activity. The capability of tumor CD8 T cells to kill targets ex vivo conflicts with the absence of tumor cell death in vivo . Additionally, individual immune cell populations isolated from tumors or tumor culture supernatants do not exhibit T cell suppressive capability when added as supplements to killing assays. Our results define sequential fates for T cells entering tumor microenvironments, suggesting that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes exist in distinct ‘states’ depending on the extent to which tumor antigen-presenting cells have matured them. Further, T cell suppression appears to be a local phenomenon and cannot be achieved by soluble factors or a specific cell type alone. This may suggest that combinations of therapies that individually target the different maturation states are required to achieve therapeutic effects. Citation Format: Bijan A. Boldajipour, Matthew F. Krummel. Local maturation and inhibition of antitumor CD8 T-cell responses in a model of immunoevasive breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-150. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-150
Single-grain versus distribution anisotropy: a simple three-dimensional model

Abstract The effects of individual-grain anisotropies are combined in a three-dimensional model used to study the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of magnetically interacting particles. The examples examined show that whenever magnetic interaction takes place, the measured AMS is dominated by the distribution of grains rather than by their individual orientations. The combined effects of individual-grain anisotropy and magnetic interaction, however, may result in a magnetic fabric that does not bear a simple relationship with neither the orientation of individual grains nor their distribution, clearly indicating that it is not possible to establish a unique relationship between the fabric observed in thin sections and that measured by magnetic methods. A mechanism explaining how a strong remanent magnetization may influence the measured AMS of a rock specimen owing to magnetic interaction between particles is also delineated. Stability of the magnetic fabric during magnetic cleaning can be used as an argument to eliminate the influence of the remanence as a factor defining the measured AMS, but can not rule out the possibility of magnetic interaction related to induced magnetization.
Early goal-directed therapy reduced mortality and multiorgan dysfunction in severe sepsis or septic shock.

Source Citation Rivers E, Nguyen B, Havstad S, et al., for the Early Goal-Directed Therapy Collaborative Group. Early goal-directed therapy in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock. N Eng...
Calculated particle collection efficiencies by single droplets considering inertial impaction, Brownian diffusion and electrostatics

Abstract Particle collection efficiencies in the size range of 0.1–20/μm dia. by a single droplet, were calculated using Runge-Kutta numerical solution techniques for the particle equation of motion. Calculations were done for two droplet diameters, 50 and 200μm with sedimentation velocities of 7.55 and 100 cm s−1 respectively. The droplets and the particle gas stream were assumed to be at 38°C. In all the calculations, the particle was assumed to be charged negative and the droplet charged positive. The collection mechanisms considered were the inertial impaction, Brownian diffusion and electrostatic forces. The electrostatic forces considered were the Coulombic force of attraction between the droplet and particle, the charged-particle image force and the charged-collector image force. From the calculations it was observed that among the electrostatic forces, the Coulombic force of attraction was the predominant force. The calculations predicted that in the 0.1–20 μm dia. particle range, the collection efficiencies were significantly increased when electrostatic forces were added. The calculations also predicted that when electrostatic forces were present, the 50 μm dia. droplet gave much higher collection efficiencies than the 200 μm dia. droplet for the particle size range considered.
The Ins and Outs of Protein Synthesis

Translation initiation and protein trafficking begin and end the process of protein synthesis. In this issue of Structure , Boehringer et al. (2005) provide the first global model of HCV IRES-80S ribosome interactions. In a second paper, Schlunzen et al. (2005) describe the structure of the bacterial 50S subunit with the ribosome binding domain of trigger factor (TF) with surprising conclusions about TF function.