cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical education and student satisfaction: An integrative literature review

The clinical component of undergraduate clinical education is a critical area in nursing programs. Faculty shortages have made recruitment of clinical faculty and clinical teaching more challenging. As such, alternate models of clinical faculty assignments are being explored to address faculty shortages. This article contains an extensive literature review conducted to survey models of clinical education and student satisfaction with the clinical environment. The purpose of this paper is to examine student satisfaction in the clinical learning environment using articles employing the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI) along with examining the use of alternate clinical staffing models in differing levels of undergraduate nursing students. A literature search focusing on studies published between 2002 and 2015 was conducted from 5 electronic databases. Thirty-five articles were reviewed and 22 were selected for this literature review. The studies reviewed concluded that students favored a more positive and favorable clinical environment than they perceived as being actually present. A supportive clinical learning environment is of paramount importance in securing positive teaching learning outcomes. Nurse educators can apply the results of this review in order to develop and maintain quality clinical teaching and to promote a positive, student-centric, clinical learning environment.
Hiding in Plain View—An Ancient Dog in the Modern World

A long-ago ancestor of the modern domestic dog is alive today in the form of the canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT). This tumor was first identified in the late 1800s when it was found to be transferred to new hosts through tumor cells ( 1 ). We now know that the tumor is naturally transmitted between dogs by direct contact, primarily through coitus or activities that permit sloughing of cells ( 2 ). The tumors are rarely metastatic and most tumors regress within a few months, leaving previously infected dogs with immunity. DNA analysis provides strong evidence that all CTVTs studied thus far are from a single source, one that existed before the dispersal of dog breeds around the world ( 3 , 4 ). On page [437][1] of this issue, Murchison et al. ( 5 ) describe the first whole-genome sequence of CTVT, sampled from two tumors: one from a random-bred Australian Aboriginal camp dog and the other from a purebred American cocker spaniel from Brazil. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1247167
The endoplasmic reticulum is partitioned asymmetrically during mitosis before cell fate selection in proneuronal cells in the early Drosophila embryo

In the early Drosophila embryo, epithelial cells begin to adopt a cell fate. At gastrulation, there is an asymmetric partitioning of the endoplasmic reticulum in a symmetrically dividing cell popul...
'Actors in the same tragedy': Bertrand Russell, Humanism, and The Conquest of Happiness

In Writings on Cities Henri Lefebvre calls for a ‘renewed right to urban life’. He maintains that ‘we must thus make the effort to reach out towards a new humanism, a new praxis, another man, that of urban society’. City spaces are used in a number of contemporary Irish site-specific theatre productions to explore histories of oppression and social injustice, and to imagine a new humanist praxis for society. The international multi-artform production The Conquest of Happiness (2013) was inspired by Bertrand Russell’s commitment to human happiness in defiance of war and suffering in his book The Conquest of Happiness (1930) and in his many political and philosophical writings. In this article Eva Urban critically examines the ways in which the performance in Northern Ireland attempted to embody Russell’s humanism and related critical concepts to encourage active citizenship. She considers to what extent the dramaturgical options employed inthe production applied Russell’s ideas and those of other thinkers by developing critical representations of inhumanity, challenging authoritarianism, and exploring humanist ideals. Eva Urban is a British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of English, University of Cambridge, and an Associate of Clare Hall, Cambridge. She is theauthor of Community Politics and the Peace Process in Contemporary Northern Irish Drama (Peter Lang, 2011) and her articles on political drama and Irish studies have been published in New Theatre Quarterly, Etudes Irlandaises, and Caleidoscopio.
Reviewing treatments and outcomes in the evolving landscape of ulcerative colitis.

ABSTRACTUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease extending proximally from the rectum to varying lengths of the colon that is characterized by alternating cycles of relapse and remission. Therapeutic goals for patients with active UC include induction and maintenance of remission and improvement in quality of life, as well as mucosal healing, a clinical outcome recently recognized in treatment guidance as being equally important. Mucosal healing is associated with favorable long-term patient outcomes related to remission, surgery, hospitalization, and quality of life. Given the increasing number of newer therapies available, it is important to properly position the use of each agent within the landscape of established UC therapies, evolving therapeutic goals, and established guidelines. Extent of disease is important to consider when selecting a treatment, as is an understanding of the short- and long-term outcomes (e.g. corticosteroid-free remission, mucosal healing) associated with each...
Retroperitoneal Emphysema after Colonoscopy

A case of retroperitoneal emphysema after routine colonoscopy is reported. The rapid improvement and benign course after this complication is stressed.
The Philadelphia Experience

Starting with a brief review of the twentieth century policing in Philadelphia and formidable police chief Frank Rizzo’s perspective of foot beats in the late 1960s, this chapter explains the organizational and political background to the Philadelphia Foot Patrol Experiment. It emphasizes the role of Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey in creating an environment open to exploring new ways of policing and running a randomized and controlled field experiment. The chapter describes the experimental design, implementation, and results in detail. It also documents some of the qualitative findings. The chapter then describes the foot patrol component of the subsequent Philadelphia Policing Tactics Experiment. It concludes with a review of the differences between the experiments and why the results differed.
Case study of an adaptation and implementation of a Diabetes Prevention Program for individuals with serious mental illness

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an evidence-based lifestyle intervention developed to decrease the risk for type 2 diabetes and promote weight loss in individuals at risk for diabetes. Individuals with serious mental illness have a greater risk for developing diabetes compared with the general population. In this article, the authors provide a detailed description of the adaptation process of the DPP for individuals with serious mental illness (DPP-SMI). The adaptation process was based on a cultural adaptation framework for modifying evidence-based interventions. To assess the effectiveness of the DPP-SMI, 11 individuals from a community mental health residential agency completed a 22-session pilot study of the adapted program and provided physiological measures before and after the intervention. As primary outcomes, participants were expected to report decreased body weight and increased physical activity per week. Completers had an average weight loss of 19 lbs (8%) and their physical activity increased from 161 to 405 min per week. These preliminary results together with participants' feedback informed further refinement of the DPP-SMI. This case study supports that individuals with serious mental illness can benefit from the DPP-SMI, which is tailored to meet the unique needs of this population group.
Activation of free sperm and dissociation of sperm bundles (spermatozeugmata) of an endangered viviparous fish, Xenotoca eiseni

Knowledge of sperm motility activation for viviparous fishes has been limited to study of several species in Poeciliidae, and the dissociation of sperm bundles is even less understood. The goal of this study was to use the endangered Redtail Splitfin (Xenotoca eiseni) as a model to investigate the activation of sperm from viviparous fishes by study of free sperm and spermatozeugmata (unencapsulated sperm bundles). The specific objectives were to evaluate the effects of: (1) osmotic pressure and refrigerated storage (4 °C) on activation of free sperm, (2) osmotic pressure, ions, and pH on dissociation of spermatozeugmata, and (3) CaCl2 concentration and pH on sperm membrane integrity. Free sperm were activated in Ca2+-free Hanks' balanced salt solution at 81-516 mOsmol/kg. The highest motility (19 ± 6%) was at 305 mOsmol/kg and swim remained for 84 h. Glucose (300-700 mOsmol/kg), NaCl (50-600 mOsmol/kg), and KCl, MgCl2, and MnCl2 at 5-160 mM activated sperm within spermatozeugmata, but did not dissociate spermatozeugmata. CaCl2 at 5-160 mM dissociated spermatozeugmata within 10 min. Solutions of NaCl-NaOH at pH 11.6 to 12.4 dissociated spermatozeugmata within 1 min. The percentage of viable cells had no significant differences (P = 0.2033) among different concentrations of CaCl2, but it was lower (P < 0.0001) at pH 12.5 than at pH between 7.0 and 12.0. Overall, this study provided a foundation for quality evaluation of sperm and spermatozeugmata from livebearing fishes, and for development of germplasm repositories for imperiled goodeids.
Abstract 17550: Predictors of High DFT in Single and Dual Coil Leads: Is There Still a Role for DFT Testing in Current Practice?

Background: Two recent changes in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) practice are the increased use of single coil leads and less frequent defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing at implantation. Single coil leads have higher mean DFTs which is of unclear clinical significance. Such leads were used in only a minority of subjects in SIMPLE, which showed no benefit of DFT testing. Hypothesis: Clinical characteristics can be used to predict patients at increased risk of an inadequate defibrillation safety margin with single coil leads. Methods: This analysis included 174 consecutive patients undergoing de novo left pectoral, single coil ICD implantation. A standardized modified step down testing algorithm at implantation was used to determine the delivered energy DFT. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of DFT and of a high DFT (> 25 J). Results: The patient population was 71.3 percent male and 35 percent African American (AA). The mean age was 60.8 ± 14.3 years and ejection fraction was 34.3 ± 15.6 percent. Of twelve clinical factors assessed, the univariate predictors of DFT were age (p Conclusions: Age, race and sex predict DFTs with single coil leads. AA are at increased risk for a high DFT and thus an inadequate defibrillation safety margin (
Amino Acid Transport in Lymphocytes

Amino acid transport in lymphoid cells involves processes that are conserved in mammalian tissues. The A, L, ASC and y+ systems for amino acid transport characterized in Ehrlich Ascites cells (Christensen et al, 1973) and Chinese hamster ovary cells (Shotwell et al, 1981) are present in lymphocytes. However, the predominant transport system for any particular amino acid may vary considerably and may be related to the functional requirements of the lymphocyte type. The term “lymphocyte” is generic since the lymphocyte phenotype is heterogenous. T-lymphocytes include T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells and cytotoxic T-cells, and B-lymphocytes mature into immunoglobulin secreting plasma cells of five different isotypes. Differences in amino acid transport have been established between T and B-lymphocyte types and their leukemic counterparts. Less is known of amino acid transport in the T and B-lymphocyte subtypes.
Carbachol promotes Na+ entry and augments Na/Ca exchange current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

The effect of carbachol (CCh) on the Na/Ca exchange current (I Na/Ca) was studied in voltage-clamped ventricular myocytes isolated from guinea pig hearts and superfused with Tyrode solution at 35°C. CCh (100 μM) increased outward current during depolarizations (10–200 ms) from −45 mV and tail current amplitude on repolarization; CCh had no effect on the L-type Ca2+current. Amplitudes of the outward and tail currents declined with increasing duration of the depolarizing clamp pulse. Ouabain produced similar current changes that are suppressed by intrapipette ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid and are characteristic ofI Na/Ca. Depolarization from −80 to −30 mV elicited the rapid Na+ current followed by a slowly decaying inwardI Na/Ca (J. C. Gilbert, T. Shirayama, and A. J. Pappano. Circ. Res. 69: 1632–1639, 1991.) that was reversibly increased by CCh. Atropine (1–3 μM) prevented the CCh effect. All procedures that suppressed I Na/Caalso suppressed the CCh effect. Sarcoplasmic...
Chapter 5 Grasping Cerebellar Function

Summary In this chapter we examine the role of intermediate cerebellum in the control of a reach to grasp. Our arguments rest on data from two nuclei: nucleus interpositus, the output nucleus of intermediate cerebellum, and the magnocellular red nucleus (RNm), which receives signals from interpositus and projects to the spinal cord. Interpositus and RNm contain neurons that increase discharge rate during movement of large body parts, such as the forelimb or hind limb. However, when forelimb neurons are tested with movement about specific joints, most cells show little or no change in discharge rate. During a reach to grasp the same cells show large increases in discharge rate. In monkey interpositus, the grasp component is necessary to elicit discharge modulation. Variation in the reach component of a reach to grasp changes neither the pattern nor amplitude of discharge modulation. Temporary inactivation of the cat RNm results in a severe deficit in the ability to grasp a lever, but only a mild deficit in the ability to reach. We conclude that intermediate cerebellum is specialized for the control of specific hand movements. The grasp in the reach to grasp relies on this control circuitry. Jeannerod's [I] hypothesis that the reach to grasp is composed of transport and grasp components controlled by separate channels is strengthened by our findings: intermediate cerebellum may provide a neural substrate for the grasp channel. Presumably additional neural circuitry, possibly involving other divisions of the cerebellum, is specialized for the control of the transport phase of the reach to grasp.
Metaphors for the Mind, Thinking and Thought: A Literature Review

This paper constitutes a literature review that doubles as an original empirical study of published communication among cognitive scientists. In this study I identify and categorize a large sample of structural metaphors for the mind and for thinking that have been used by influential experts of cognitive science during the past 40 years. A taxonomy of twelve metaphors for the mind and their associated metaphors for thinking was created, noting interactions with metaphors that have been identified in the cognitive linguistics literature. The ways in which this study connects theory in cognitive linguistics to existing research and possible application in the field of education are also discussed.
Code-Division Multiplex Encoding Analog Front End for Current-Mode Sensor Arrays

This letter presents a new approach for applying orthogonal code-division multiplex encoding to current-mode sensor arrays with analog-domain encoding directly in the column readout circuitry, which enables simultaneous readout for multiple sensors. The approach is applied to a $8\,\,\boldsymbol \times16$ array of CMOS-integrated photodetectors and implemented in a general purpose 180-nm CMOS process. The sensor array demonstrates 63-dB signal-to-noise ratio with an array-wide sampling rate of 100 Hz with 16-channel encoding, an improvement of more than 12 dB compared with time-division multiplexing at the same sampling rate. The complete photodetector array consumes 5 mW total power. This letter represents the first reported code-division multiplexed sensing architecture with analog-encoding front end, and the orthogonal coding scheme is broadly applicable to electronic current-mode sensor arrays for physical, chemical, and biological sensing applications without requiring sensor input encoding.
Lifespan Perspectives on Successful Aging at Work

Abstract In this chapter, we review relevant research focused on how individuals successfully develop and adapt to the range of work experiences they hold as their careers and life unfold. We begin by providing an overview of the research focused on successful aging and then move on to discuss successful aging at work, specifically within the framework of lifespan development. Next, we review the research focused on how proactive and adaptive behaviors positively contribute to successful aging at work. We use Kooij’s model of successful aging at work as our meta-theoretical framework. Kooij’s model emphasizes the employee’s active role in promoting successful aging at work. In addition, we also discuss the impact of motivational maintenance theory and how interests and talents develop and expand over the life course and how they contribute to successful aging at work. Then we highlight the importance of using a workability framework and the need to take a multiactor perspective (e.g., employees, organizations, governments) when examining successful aging at work. We conclude the chapter with a brief summary and discussion of future research needs.
Levo-transposition of the Great Arteries in an Adult Patient: Management Considerations and Treatment Strategy

Levo-transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) is a rare congenital heart anomaly associated with the increased risk of developing heart failure (HF) as well as complete heart block at a young age. Due to limited data regarding the treatment strategy in the adult L-TGA sub-population, shared medical decision-making should occur between the patient and a team of physicians. Clinical status, age, and associated cardiac lesions or rhythm disturbances can affect patient outcomes. These factors should be considered prior to pursuing a surgical versus a medicinal approach.
One of these (Few) Things is Not Like the Others.

To perform well, most deep learning based image classification systems require large amounts of data and computing resources. These constraints make it difficult to quickly personalize to individual users or train models outside of fairly powerful machines. To deal with these problems, there has been a large body of research into teaching machines to learn to classify images based on only a handful of training examples, a field known as few-shot learning. Few-shot learning research traditionally makes the simplifying assumption that all images belong to one of a fixed number of previously seen groups. However, many image datasets, such as a camera roll on a phone, will be noisy and contain images that may not be relevant or fit into any clear group. We propose a model which can both classify new images based on a small number of examples and recognize images which do not belong to any previously seen group. We adapt previous few-shot learning work to include a simple mechanism for learning a cutoff that determines whether an image should be excluded or classified. We examine how well our method performs in a realistic setting, benchmarking the approach on a noisy and ambiguous dataset of images. We evaluate performance over a spectrum of model architectures, including setups small enough to be run on low powered devices, such as mobile phones or web browsers. We find that this task of excluding irrelevant images poses significant extra difficulty beyond that of the traditional few-shot task. We decompose the sources of this error, and suggest future improvements that might alleviate this difficulty.
Proximal Hamstring Avulsion During Childbirth

Hormonal changes during pregnancy that increase soft tissue laxity and extreme body position during labor may predispose women to musculoskeletal injuries. This case describes a rare example of an acute proximal hamstring avulsion during childbirth. A 39-year-old female presented to the clinic with 2 weeks of right posterior thigh pain and bruising after the vaginal delivery of her infant. McRoberts’ maneuver was utilized during childbirth, which may have contributed to a proximal hamstring avulsion ultimately requiring surgical repair. Pregnant women may be at risk of tendinous injuries due to particular body positioning and concurrent hormonal changes. Special attention may be warranted in prenatal and perinatal women to avoid excessive stress on tendons, thus potentially preventing acute strain or rupture. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2020;9(1-2):17-20 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo637
A contemporary review of Clostridioides difficile infections in patients with haematologic diseases.

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile (C. difficile) infection is one of the most common causes of increased morbidity and mortality. Approximately 500 000 C. difficile infections (CDIs) occur each year in the United States, and they result in more than 29 000 deaths. Patients with haematologic diseases are at a higher risk for this infection due to frequent hospitalization and exposure to treatment-associated risk factors. Whilst several currently available antimicrobial agents offer resolution, recurrence of infection remains a major concern. Recent advancement in deciphering C. difficile virulence mechanisms and identification of its allies in contributing to the infection has led to the development of alternative treatment strategies. Here, we will provide a contemporary discussion of how major risk factors in haematologic diseases, such as immunosuppression, chemoradiation, use of antibiotic, proton pump inhibitor and opioid, and deficiency in butyrate and antimicrobial peptides contribute to C. difficile infection. Next, we will highlight different approaches to control and mitigate this infection such as antibiotic stewardship and faecal microbiota transplantation. Finally, we will explore several emerging treatments such as use of pre- and probiotics, immunotherapy and microbiome-sparing agents.
Zero-Based Regulation

A common way of imposing fiscal discipline in private companies, as well as in some governments, is a practice called zero-based budgeting (ZBB). The idea behind ZBB is simple: require that all expenditures be justified anew each period. There is no assumption that spending set at a particular level in a previous year means the same level of spending or more spending will be authorized the next period. Instead, a zero-base is the relevant baseline from which spending levels are set during the budgeting process. This chapter discusses a counterpart to ZBB in the regulatory sphere, namely zero-based regulation (ZBR). The idea behind ZBR is that regulations must periodically be justified anew, just as spending authorizations are periodically reevaluated under ZBB. A ZBR system will have two central pillars: sunset provisions and regulatory impact analysis requirements. Sunset provisions are automatic expiration dates built into regulations. These trigger reevaluation of rules and ensure the default is that rules go away, i.e., return to zero. Regulatory impact analysis requirements, meanwhile, are a form of economic analysis, which can be used as a means to rank and prioritize regulations according to their effectiveness. Taken together, these reforms have the potential to reduce costs substantially while also improving regulatory efficiency.
Hydration and Steric Interactions Between Lipid Membranes

The interactions between molecules in solution are of fundamental importance in surface chemistry, physics of the liquid state, and biology. Knowledge of the range and magnitude of these interactions is important in such diverse fields as the stabilization of colloids, enzyme kinetics, lubrication, and the interaction between macromolecules such as polymers and carbohydrates (Israelachvili, 1985). Life processes depend on the ability of biological molecules to specifically associate with the same or different compounds so that cellular processes can be carefully regulated. To exhibit the specificity or selectivity that occurs in chemical and biological interactions, molecules must approach to within a few Angstroms of each other. At these distances, there are several attractive and repulsive interactions present. The two principle repulsive short- range pressures between polar surfaces in solution are the hydration and steric pressures. Here we present our work on the these two short-range repulsive pressures acting between lipid membrane surfaces. The hydration and steric pressures are critical to many properties of both cell and model membranes. For example, these pressures are important in the numerous biological processes where membranes associate, such as cell-cell recognition, synaptic transmission, and protein secretion, and they also determine to a large extent the hydration, aggregation, and fusogenic properties of lipid bilayers.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for Uteri >250g: Analysis of Outcomes in a Single Surgery Center

Study Objective There is conflicting data regarding the safety of hysterectomy performed on large uteri. This study aims to examine the outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomies for large uteri in a referral tertiary academic center. Design This is a retrospective chart review study examining surgical characteristics and complications of laparoscopic/robotic hysterectomies performed for large uteri over a year-long period. Setting The setting for the study is tertiary academic institution. Patients or Participants A total of 67 laparoscopic/robotic hysterectomy cases with final pathological evaluation yielding a specimen weight of >250g were examined. Interventions The interventions for the study included laparoscopic/robotic hysterectomy. Measurements and Main Results All procedures were completed in a minimally invasive fashion. Patient characteristics included a median BMI of 31.8 (range 21-64). Average pre-operative uterine size was 16.5 weeks. The final specimen weight ranged from 255g to 2825g. The mean procedure time was 195 minutes (SD 69 minutes). Intraoperative complications included three serosal injuries and six vaginal/peroneal lacerations. In 76% of the cases, the uterine artery was ligated at the origin to minimize the blood loss. The estimated blood loss for surgery ranged from 25 to 600cc, with a median blood loss of 150cc. All the specimens were removed vaginally. Morcellation was completed in a contained fashion within a bag. The median post-operative stay in the hospital was 0 days (range 0-2 days). Post operatively, three patients had vaginal cuff dehiscence's with only one patient requiring readmission and reoperation. There were two admissions for post-operative small bowel obstruction vs ileus which were managed conservatively, and one readmission for post-operative pain. Final pathological evaluation of specimens showed leiomyomata in 91% of cases, adenomyosis in 51%, endometriosis in 18%, and malignancy in 1%. Conclusion The findings from this study add to existing data confirming that laparoscopic/robotic hysterectomy for large uteri is a feasible surgical approach without compromising patient safety or increasing surgical risks.
Cobalt-Catalyzed Kumada Coupling Forming Sterically Encumbered C–C Bonds

A Co(acac)3/PN precatalyst was developed and optimized for catalytic Kumada coupling of aryl Grignard reagents to sterically encumbered alkyl halides. The substrate scope demonstrates excellent yie...
Socially Awkward: Social Media Usage in County-Level Government

This study proposes to investigate the presence and use of social media, and impact of citizens’ demographic factors on social media use and demand in county governments. Despite its transformative potential, e-government growth has been sluggish. Social media is transforming the nature of interaction between individuals and organizations, but its presence and use has been lackluster in local governments as revealed by this pilot study. Understanding if, how, and to what end are governments harnessing social media will help make e-government a citizen-driven, democratic, transparent, and trustworthy platform. County governments in particular are challenged by their size and resource availability in addition to a heterogeneous service area (both urban and rural) and varying population density. These limitations prevent attaining a critical mass of users necessary for online success. By exploring social media’s role in e-government and citizen participation, this study will provide a comparison between county and municipal governments and address the gap in county e-government research to further address the efficacy of meeting citizen’s needs by social media in local government.
Tools of the Trade: Introduction to Advanced Mathematics

Sets, functions, and other basic ideas Linear algebra The construction of the real and complex numbers Metric and Euclidean spaces Complete metric spaces and the $p$-adic completion of $\mathbb{Q}$ Index.
The prevalence of long QT interval in post-operative intensive care unit patients

The severity of patient illnesses and medication complexity in post-operative critically ill patients increase the risk for a prolonged QT interval. We determined the prevalence of prolonged QTc in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients. We performed a prospective cross-sectional study over a 15-month period at a major academic center. SICU pre-admission and admission EKGs, patient demographics, and laboratory values were analyzed. QTc was evaluated as both a continuous and dichotomous outcome (prolonged QTc > 440 ms). 281 patients were included in the study: 92 % (n = 257) post-operative and 8 % (n = 24) non-operative. On pre-admission EKGs, 32 % of the post-operative group and 42 % of the non-operative group had prolonged QTc (p = 0.25); on post-admission EKGs, 67 % of the post-operative group but only 33 % of the non-operative group had prolonged QTc (p < 0.01). The average change in QTc in the post-operative group was +30.7 ms, as compared to +2 ms in the non-operative group (p < 0.01). On multivariable adjustment for long QTc as a dichotomous outcome, pre-admission prolonged QTc (OR 3.93, CI 1.93–8.00) and having had an operative procedure (OR 4.04, CI 1.67–9.83) were associated with developing prolonged QTc. For QTc as a continuous outcome, intra-operative beta-blocker use was associated with a statistically-significant decrease in QTc duration. None of the patients developed a lethal arrhythmia in the ICU. Prolonged QTc is common among post-operative SICU patients (67 %), however lethal arrhythmias are uncommon. The operative experience increases the risk for long QTc.
Decreased expression of Fli-1 in bone marrow-derived haematopoietic cells significantly affects disease development in Murphy Roths Large/lymphoproliferation (MRL/lpr) mice

The transcription factor Fli-1 is implicated in the pathogenesis of both murine and human lupus. Decreased expression of Fli-1 in heterozygous (Fli-1(+/-)) Murphy Roths Large (MRL)/lpr mice resulted in significantly lower kidney pathological scores and markedly increased survival. In this study, bone marrow (BM) transplantation was used to investigate the role of decreased expression of Fli-1 in haematopoietic versus non-haematopoietic cell lineages in autoimmune disease development. Wild-type (WT) MRL/lpr that received BM from Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice had statistically significantly lower autoantibodies, less proteinuria, reduced renal disease and prolonged survival compared to WT MRL/lpr mice that received BM from WT MRL/lpr mice. Although not statistically significant, Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice that received BM from WT MRL/lpr mice also had lower autoantibodies and improved survival compared to WT MRL/lpr mice that received BM from WT MRL/lpr mice. Our data indicate that expression of Fli-1 in haematopoietic cell lineages has a significant effect on disease development in MRL/lpr mice.
Romanian Print Advertising

Abstract The researchers analyzed the information content of 214 print advertisements published in Romanian magazines between October and December of 2002. The ads covered a wide range of products and services including personal care products, telecommunications, medicine, hardware and entertainment advertising. Overall, the study showed that Romanian print advertising is in its infancy compared to western advertising and, in particular, to the United States. Findings from the content analyses further indicated that comparative advertising is a rarity in Romanian print media and so was puffery. Other cues employed in western advertising such as guarantees, findings from independent or company research, safety and energy consumption were used to a very limited extent in Romanian ads. Women's roles portrayed included career-oriented, housewives and as equal to men. Implications of the findings are then discussed.
Are Virtual Environments the New Frontier in Obesity Management

Advances in virtual environment technology, particularly digital immersive virtual environment technology, enable people to engage in increasingly compelling experiences. Such technology not only has entertainment value but also provides a powerful research platform for behavioral scientists and clinicians. Although many immersive virtual environment-based studies have been conducted in the last 20 years, investigations of psychological and physical health remain relatively rare. In short, virtual environment technology provides investigators and health care providers with a powerful tool to study motivate their research participants and patients to improve or regain health. Here, the nature of the technology, ideas for future research using it, and how it has and can be used to assess and combat the obesity epidemic sweeping the United States.
Axons regenerated through silicone tube splices: I. Conduction properties

Changes in conduction properties of axons regenerating across a 10-mm gap bridged by a silicone cuff were investigated from compound action potential responses. Compound action potentials were detected as early as 6 weeks after surgery, and were small and slowly conducted at maximum velocities of about 3 m/s. With longer regeneration time, the potentials increased in size, velocity, and complexity. Conduction velocities increased rapidly at first than slowly and asymptotically approached rates that were approximately 40% below normal after 10 months. One component of the compound action potential, the refractory period, decreased from 5 ms to near normal value after only 3 months. The time constant of excitation changed more rapidly, and after 2 months approximated values near those for controls. The properties of axons regenerated across an epineural suture with no gaps. The database for the time course of events established here will be useful in guiding studies using the silicone cuff technique as an in situ experimental chamber for studies of regeneration and remyelination.
Interactions of methylglyoxal with methylamine.

Ab initio quantum mechanical calculations are used to study the interactions of the aldehydic group of methylglyoxal with the NH2 groups of protein side-chains, using methylamine as a representative molecule. The hydrogen-bonding interaction, C = O...H - N, results in an electronic charge transfer from methylglyoxal to methylamine in both the ground and first excited triplet states. In this latter state a slight possibility is found for the H atom in the hydrogen bond to tunnel from methylglyoxal to methylamine, leading to the possible formation of two free radical fragments. The approach of methylamine to methylglyoxal in the stacked conformation C...N to form a hemiacetal, associated with electron charge transfer from methylamine to methylglyoxal, is energetically unfavourable in vacuum. The concomitant tunnelling of a proton from a proton-donating solvent molecule to the aldehydic oxygen of methylglyoxal is shown to make this approach favourable. The relative stability of the keto and enol forms of methylglyoxal is also investigated, the keto form being found the more stable in vacuum.
Timon of Athens, Forms of Payback, and the Genre of Debt

A joint endeavor of William Shakespeare and Thomas Middleton, Timon of Athens has been summarily dismissed as an ambitious failure. The advent of the New Economic Criticism has cast this play in new light. Economically inflected readings have dominated recent assessments of Timon's sudden shift from altruism in the first two acts to misanthropy in the last three. While analyses that foreground the exigencies of early modern England's culture of credit go far in elucidating the historical backdrop of this obscure play, they presuppose that the key to the mystery of Timon lies in its protagonist. This essay moves away from treating Timon as an exploration of character and investigates instead the relation between its socio-economic context and generic contrariness. By approaching this play as a formal engagement with the problem of the penal debt bond, I show how it functions as a conceptual exercise in competing notions of justice in exchange. In an economy marked by uncertainty in the meaning of money, the debt bond anchored value—but it did so at a price. The bond that bestowed bounty set in motion the wheels of retribution. This play's particular investment in the uneasy divide between distributive and rectificatory modes of justice cannot be fully understood until it is situated in a theatrical enterprise that revolved around debt. (A. B.)
Enhancement of the upper critical field of MgB2 by carbon-doping

Abstract We have measured the temperature dependence of the upper critical field, Hc2(T), of carbon-doped MgB2. Hc2(T) does not follow the well-known Werthamer–Helfand–Hohenberg (WHH) result for a one-gap dirty superconductor but can be described well by the result of a recent theoretical calculation for a two-gap dirty superconductor. Hc2(0) of the carbon-doped material is determined to be between 29 and 38 T, substantially higher than that of pure MgB2 (15–23 T).
Fabrication and performance of intrinsic germanium photodiodes.

The paper presents fabrication details for an intrinsic germanium photodiode developed for study of atmospheric constituents, the airglow and auroras in the 1-2 micron spectral range. Attention is given to cutting of the single crystal, spreading of the lithium dispersion, sputtering of a gold coating, and surface passivation. A wavelength response curve is presented.
Successful management of Barth syndrome: a systematic review highlighting the importance of a flexible and multidisciplinary approach

This review describes and summarizes the available evidence related to the treatment and management of Barth syndrome. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards were used to identify articles published between December 2004 and January 2015. The Cochrane Population, Intervention, Control, Outcome, Study Design (PICOS) approach was used to guide the article selection and evaluation process. Of the 128 articles screened, 28 articles matched the systematic review inclusion criteria. The results of this review indicate the need for a flexible and multidisciplinary approach to manage the symptoms most commonly associated with Barth syndrome. It is recommended that a comprehensive care team should include individuals with Barth syndrome, their family members and caregivers, as well as medical, rehabilitative, nutritional, psychological, and educational professionals. The evidence for specific treatments, therapies, and techniques for individuals with Barth syndrome is currently lacking in both quality and quantity.
Development of site-directed radiopharmaceuticals for treatment of prostate cancer

2456 Objectives The goal of this research project was to create a site-directed radiopharmaceutical reagent of bismuth-213 (5.87, 5.55 MeV α, t1/2 =45.6 min) with high specificity and affinity for targeting and treatment of human prostate tumors. Methods We have designed a radiopharmaceutical conjugate of the formula [213Bi-CHXA-βala-BBN(7-14)] where CHXA = {[(R)-2-amino-3-(p-aminophenyl)propyl]-trans-(S,S)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-N,N,N9,N99,N99-pentaacetic acid}, βala = β alanine, , and BBN(7-14) = bombesin peptide, synthesized using standard solid phase peptide synthesis techniques. Results Synthetic preparation of the non-metallated CHXA-βala-BBN(7-14) conjugates occurs with CHXA-NHS active ester and commercially available βala-BBN reagent using EDC (1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide) and NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide). Purification occurs using RP-HPLC. Mass spectrometry results verified synthesis of our new peptide conjugate. Conclusions We are currently optimizing the synthesis of CHXA-βala-BBN and anticipate metallation with bismuth
The Conservation Equations of the Charge and Current Densities of a Free Relativistic Electron

The four-current densityj μ was first decomposed into convection current part and spin current part, respectively. We then demonstrate that the convection current density and spin current density are independently conserved.
Assessing Global Perspectives at a Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution: A University-Wide Effort

Across the United States, colleges and universities are increasingly giving voice to campus internationalization. However, the benefits of this endeavor cannot be fully realized if institutions do not balance their efforts with deliberate and consistent assessment practices. This study examined the global worldviews of students, faculty, and administration/staff at a Hispanic and minority serving institution in Texas. Results indicating areas of global perspective strength and challenge for each group are highlighted. Strategies for campus internationalization that incorporate the perspectives of these groups are also discussed.
Re“Characterizing” the Anecdote: Synecdoche and Ethotic Argument in Presidential Debate Rhetoric

For over four decades, presidential campaign rhetoric has focused intensely on the person of the candidate. One rhetorical strategy candidates employ to construct positive presidential image is the anecdote. This essay recharacterizes the status and rhetorical functions of anecdotes told in presidential debates. I argue how this complexly condensed, narrative-based strategy combines synecdoche with ethotic argument to engender representations of presidential identity. A more nuanced understanding of the role anecdote plays in the existing scholarship on narrative and presidential rhetoric is extended. My position is supported anecdotally by a close textual analysis of anecdotes employed by Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Electrical conductivity of manganese doped yttria (8 mol%) stabilized zirconia

Abstract Electrical conductivity of 10 at.% manganese doped yttria (8 mol%) stabilized zirconia (Mn-YSZ) has been investigated using electrochemical cell technique in 800–1000 °C and 1–10− 20 atm oxygen partial pressure P O 2 range. The electrical conductivity increases according to P O 2 1 6 power law with increasing P O 2 in 1–10− 5 atm range, remains P O 2 independent in 10− 5–10− 15 atm range, and slightly decreases with decreasing P O 2 in 10− 15–10− 20 atm range. The deviation from P O 2 1 4 power law is attributed to the presence of multivalent state of manganese ions in 1–10− 5 atm P O 2 range. The electrical conductivity of Mn-YSZ is lower than that of yttria stabilized zirconia in reducing atmosphere. At lower oxygen partial pressures, lattice strain, defect association, and electron trapping results in decreased electrical conductivity.
Use of extraglottic airways in patients undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic surgery without the need for tracheal intubation

Background: Second generation extraglottic airway devices with gastric access and separate breathing channels have ushered in a new era where their use is increasingly prevalent in surgical patients who would have been traditionally intubated for general anesthesia. New innovations like the i-gel, which is constructed of a thermoplastic elastomer, provide an airtight seal around patient's perilaryngeal anatomy without the inflatable cuff mechanism found in the laryngeal mask airway supreme (LMAS). Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the LMAS with the i-gel in 70 anesthetized paralyzed patients undergoing laparoscopic female sterilization. Our primary outcome measure was the oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP). We studied secondary outcomes of successful first attempt insertion rates, time and ease of the airway and gastric tube insertion, leak fractions and pharyngeal morbidity. Results: We found no difference in the OLP between LMAS and i-gel, 25.9 (4.2) versus 24.4 (4.3) s, P=0.153. Both devices had similar first attempt insertion rates (LMAS 94% vs. i-gel 91%) with similar ease and comparable times to achieve an effective airway, LMAS 14.7 (2.7) versus i-gel 16.5 (9.6) s, P=0.306, although gastric tube insertion was easier and faster for the LMAS, 7.9 (1.9) versus i-gel 14.8 (7.7) s, P<0.005. Intraoperatively, there was a significantly greater leak fraction with the i-gel of 0.06 (0.03) versus 0.04 (0.02) with the LMAS, P=0.013. Three patients (8.6%) with LMAS had mild sore throat; one patient (2.9%) had mucosal injury. No complications were documented in the i-gel group. Conclusions: Both these extraglottic airway devices offer similar OLPs, high insertion success rates at the first attempt with similar ease and insertion times (albeit longer gastric tube insertion with i-gel). Both provided effective ventilation despite a higher leak fraction with i-gel that was clinically inconsequential.
Fiber optical web for object localization by geometric space coding

A fiber web was used for object(s) localization. The fiber web used binary codes to segment and encode the object space. We employed 2D gray code to localize an extended object and superimposed code to localize multiple objects simultaneously. Experimental human localization systems with both coding scheme were demonstrated.
Acute and chronic effects of the M1/M4-preferring muscarinic agonist xanomeline on cocaine vs. food choice in rats

We previously showed that the M1/M4-preferring muscarinic agonist xanomeline can acutely attenuate or eliminate cocaine self-administration in mice. Medications used to treat addictions will arguably be administered in (sub)chronic or repeated regimens. Tests of acute effects often fail to predict chronic effects, highlighting the need for chronic testing of candidate medications. Rats were trained to lever press under a concurrent FR5 FR5 schedule of intravenous cocaine and food reinforcement. Once baseline behavior stabilized, the effects of 7 days once-daily injections of xanomeline were evaluated. Xanomeline pretreatment dose-dependently (1.8–10 mg/kg/day) shifted the dose-effect curve for cocaine rightward (up to 5.6-fold increase in A 50), with reallocation of behavior to the food-reinforced lever. There was no indication of tolerance, rather effects grew over days. The suppression of cocaine choice appeared surmountable at high cocaine doses, and xanomeline treatment did not significantly decrease total-session cocaine or food intake. In terms of xanomeline's potential for promoting abstinence from cocaine in humans, the findings were mixed. Xanomeline did produce reallocation of behavior from cocaine to food with a robust increase in food reinforcers earned at some cocaine/xanomeline dose combinations. However, effects appeared surmountable, and food-maintained behavior was also decreased at some xanomeline/cocaine dose combinations, suggesting clinical usefulness may be limited. These data nevertheless support the notion that chronic muscarinic receptor stimulation can reduce cocaine self-administration. Future studies should show whether ligands with higher selectivity for M1 or M1/M4 subtypes would be less limited by undesired effects and can achieve higher efficacy.