cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
International borrowing: roads less traveled

Purpose – This paper aims to highlight the characteristics of the bibliographic discovery and delivery processes that can either facilitate or impede attempts to borrow materials from overseas libraries. The experiences described represent the perspective of a typical Interlibrary Loan (ILL) practitioner in the USA. Design/methodology/approach – The author draws on his own personal experience with interlibrary borrowing at a major private university research library in the USA. Findings – From a US perspective, the ideal means of obtaining materials from overseas libraries is to locate a potential supplier in Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) WorldCat and use the same system to manage the entire ILL request process. Large union catalogs such as the Karlsruhe Virtual Catalogue are suitable alternatives, as are services specializing in publications from certain countries or regions such as the East Asian Gateway Service or the Global ILL Framework (GIF). The least desirable option is to search and reque...
Optical processing based on conditional higher-order trinary modified signed-digit symbolic substitution

Techniques for higher-order modified signed-digit trinary arithmetic by using optical symbolic substitution are presented. This method provides fast multibit computation by adopting a two-step symbolic-substitution scheme. Since more information is represented in fewer digits, this technique leads to a compact design. A content-addressable memory-based and a joint transform correlator-based optical implemention for the proposed technique are also presented.
Vision-based lane detection for an autonomous ground vehicle: A comparative field test

We examine the problem of designing computer vision algorithms to autonomously drive an off road vehicle between two lane markings painted on the ground. In this paper we describe field tests used to compare the efficacy of two popular line extractions techniques from the literature: the Hough Transform and the RANSAC Algorithm. Although it is very implementation dependent, we found the Hough Transform to be superior to the RANSAC algorithm in both speed and accuracy for identifying lane markings in the off road environment.
Building Evaluation Capacity as a Network of Museum Professionals

In 2010, a network of 15 Denver-area museum and other cultural institutions came together with the purpose of increasing capacity to conduct evaluations. Like so many other communities, museum professionals in the Denver area believed in the value of evaluation; however, they lacked the resources, knowledge, and skills to develop and implement quality evaluations in their institutions. This article explores how the Denver-area Evaluation Network (DEN) has built evaluation capacity in museum professionals through a variety of multidisciplinary activities, including workshops, trainings, meetings, mentoring, and conducting both institutional and pan-institutional audience studies. The author shares lessons learned for others interested in starting and sustaining a similar network.
Feedforward and feedback control of a solution copolymerization reactor

A control system is designed for a copolymerization reactor using a combination of feedforward, ratio, and feedback control to regulate polymer production rate, copolymer composition, molecular weight, and reactor temperature. The solution copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate in a continuous stirred tank reactor is used as an illustrative example with the kinetic parameters and reactor operating conditions obtained from the literature. The process includes equipment to recycle unreacted monomers and solvent. The recycle stream introduces disturbances to the reactor feed, which perturb the polymer properties. A feedforward control strategy is proposed to counter these disturbances, and its effectiveness is demonstrated using the model. The mathematical model is used to investigate input/output control pairings in order to identify the fundamental nature of the solution copolymerization control problem and to determine the best control system structure. The combined feedforward/feedback strategy is tested on a nonlinear model of the process for set point changes and compensation of unmeasured reactor disturbances. The performance of the control system design was quite good, and such designs have been found successful in plant operations.
The comparative immunotoxicity of five selected compounds following developmental or adult exposure.

It is well established that human diseases associated with abnormal immune function, including some common infectious diseases and asthma, are considerably more prevalent at younger ages. Although not established absolutely, it is generally believed that development constitutes a period of increased immune system susceptibility to xenobiotics, since adverse effects may occur at lower doses and/or immunomodulation may be more persistent, thus increasing the relative risk of xenobiotic exposure to the immunologically immature organism. To address this issue, a brief overview of immune matura- tion in humans is provided to demonstrate that functional immaturity alone predisposes the young to infection. Age-dependent differences in the immunotoxic effects of five diverse compounds, diethylstilbestrol (DES), diazepam (DZP), lead (Pb), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), and tributyltin oxide (TBTO), which have undergone adult and developmental immunotoxicity testing in rodents, are then reviewed, as are human data when available. For all five chemicals, the develop- ing immune system was found to be at greater risk than that of the adult, either because lower doses produced immunotox- icity, adverse effects were more persistent, or both. It is well established that diseases associated with abnormal immune function, including com- mon infectious diseases and asthma, are considerably more prevalent at younger ages. Several fac- tors are thought to account for this increased susceptibility, including functional immaturity of the immune system and age-related differences in the integrity of the host's anatomical and functional barriers. Although not established absolutely, it is generally believed that the immature immune sys- tem is also more susceptible to xenobiotics than the fully mature system, and that sequela of devel- opmental immunotoxicant exposure may be particularly persistent, in contrast to effects observed following adult exposure, which generally occur at higher doses and are expected to resolve soon after exposure ends. Based on experimental animal studies, perturbations of the developing immune system may be manifested as a qualitative (i.e., affecting the developing immune system without affecting the adult immune system) or a quantitative (i.e., affecting the developing immune system at lower doses than in adults) difference. Immune maturation may simply be delayed by
Requirements and hard computational bounds for real-time optimization in safety-critical control systems

Real-time optimization in control is quickly becoming a reality. However, the practical implementation of control architectures based on real-time optimization faces significant certification problems, such as guarantees of convergence and time to converge. This paper derives computable upper bounds on the number of iterations and arithmetic operations required to solve a semi-definite program, whose constraints do not change but whose objective may be arbitrary. The relevance of this problem to current safety-critical control problems is illustrated by the application of the proposed ideas to a receding horizon control problem and a fighter aircraft control surface allocation problem.
Adapted cold shower as a potential treatment for depression

Depression is a debilitating mood disorder that is among the top causes of disability worldwide. It can be characterized by a set of somatic, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, one of which is a high risk of suicide. This work presents a hypothesis that depression may be caused by the convergence of two factors: (A) A lifestyle that lacks certain physiological stressors that have been experienced by primates through millions of years of evolution, such as brief changes in body temperature (e.g. cold swim), and this lack of "thermal exercise" may cause inadequate functioning of the brain. (B) Genetic makeup that predisposes an individual to be affected by the above condition more seriously than other people. To test the hypothesis, an approach to treating depression is proposed that consists of adapted cold showers (20 degrees C, 2-3 min, preceded by a 5-min gradual adaptation to make the procedure less shocking) performed once or twice daily. The proposed duration of treatment is several weeks to several months. The following evidence appears to support the hypothesis: Exposure to cold is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system and increase the blood level of beta-endorphin and noradrenaline and to increase synaptic release of noradrenaline in the brain as well. Additionally, due to the high density of cold receptors in the skin, a cold shower is expected to send an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which could result in an anti-depressive effect. Practical testing by a statistically insignificant number of people, who did not have sufficient symptoms to be diagnosed with depression, showed that the cold hydrotherapy can relieve depressive symptoms rather effectively. The therapy was also found to have a significant analgesic effect and it does not appear to have noticeable side effects or cause dependence. In conclusion, wider and more rigorous studies would be needed to test the validity of the hypothesis.
Pharmacokinetic-toxicodynamic relationships of adriamycin in rat : Prediction of butylated hydroxyanisole-mediated reduction in anthracycline cardiotoxicity

Adriamycin, an anthracycline antibiotic, has broad antitumour activity with cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity as its major side effect. This study was designed to quantify and correlate the cardiotoxicity and pharmacokinetics of adriamycin in-vivo in rat. The influence of antioxidant (butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA) co-therapy on the cardiotoxicity and disposition of adriamycin was also studied. Cardiotoxicity was estimated by serially measuring serum creatine kinase (CK) levels after intravenous administration of adriamycin (4, 10, 20, and 30 mg kg -1 ) and adriamycin-BHA (10 and 30 mg kg -1 each). Peak serum CK concentrations (CK max ) and area under serum CK-time curves (AUC CK ) were used as cardiotoxicity indices. Pharmacokinetic studies were undertaken by sampling plasma and urine from distinct groups of rats treated with [ 14 C]adriamycin (at the above doses) and [ 14 C]adriamycin-BHA (10 mg kg -1 each). Co-administration of BHA resulted in a significant reduction in CK max and also resulted in a significant reduction in the renal clearance of adriamycin which was fully compensated by an increase in its metabolic clearance. A linear increase in the area under the plasma adriamycin concentration-time curves (AUC) with increasing adriamycin doses suggested dose-independent disposition of the drug. The most significant pharmacokinetic-toxicodynamic relationships included: CK max = 2.25 x 10 2 exp(4 x 10 -4 AUC), r 2 = 0.941, P < 0.05 and AUC CK = 1.3 x 10 4 exp(2 x 10 -4 AUC 0-max ), r 2 = 0.918, P < 0.05 where, AUC 0-max is the area under the adriamycin concentration-time curve from time 0 to the time of the peak CK level. The results strongly indicate that the drug-induced cardiotoxicity is initiated shortly after dosing when drug concentrations are high and accumulates with continued exposure. The predicted cardiotoxic indices, obtained from altered adriamycin pharmacokinetic parameters as a result of BHA co-therapy, compared favourably with the observed values.
Reduced mRNA Secondary-Structure Stability Near the Start Codon Indicates Functional Genes in Prokaryotes

Several recent studies have found that selection acts on synonymous mutations at the beginning of genes to reduce mRNA secondary-structure stability, presumably to aid in translation initiation. This observation suggests that a metric of relative mRNA secondary-structure stability, Z(ΔG), could be used to test whether putative genes are likely to be functionally important. Using the Escherichia coli genome, we compared the mean Z(ΔG) of genes with known functions, genes with known orthologs, genes where function and orthology are unknown, and pseudogenes. Genes in the first two categories demonstrated similar levels of selection for reduced stability (increased Z(ΔG)), whereas for pseudogenes stability did not differ from our null expectation. Surprisingly, genes where function and orthology were unknown were also not different from the null expectation, suggesting that many of these open reading frames are not functionally important. We extended our analysis by constructing a Bayesian phylogenetic mixed model based on data from 145 prokaryotic genomes. As in E. coli, genes with no known function had consistently lower Z(ΔG), even though we expect that many of the currently unannotated genes will ultimately have their functional utility discovered. Our findings suggest that functional genes tend to evolve increased Z(ΔG), whereas nonfunctional ones do not. Therefore, Z(ΔG) may be a useful metric for identifying genes of potentially important function and could be used to target genes for further functional study.
Teacher participation and feedback styles during classroom synchronous computer-mediated communication in intermediate german: a multiple case study

This mixed design multiple case study of learners' interactions explores the effects of teacher participation during third semester German in-class chatting activities. Three third-semester German courses taught by two different teachers were investigated over the course of one semester, during which the class members were asked to chat for 20 minutes per week using activities design by the researcher and adapted from the textbook. Multiple data sets were collected: teachers' participation styles and feedback moves; students' language learning achievement levels; students' attitudes towards corrective feedback and technology; their experience with feedback and technology; and evidence in chat transcripts of errors, uptake, and error uptake. Students were administered a pre- and post-instruction achievement test on the structures taught during third semester German. In addition, they were surveyed at the beginning and the end of the semester on their attitudes and experiences with feedback and technology in the foreign language classroom. Furthermore, chat transcripts were analyzed to identify errors, corrective feedback, teacher moves, uptake, error uptake, student and teacher word count and words per minute, error rate, and target language use. In order to better understand the context of the transcripts, classroom observations were conducted once a month, and students completed a self-report form after each chat session. Informal conversations with the teachers provided additional insights. It was found that the students overwhelmingly appreciated teacher involvement and feedback, and that they saw chatting as both fun and beneficial for language learning. The corrective feedback rate was generally low, as were rates of uptake and error uptake. The two teachers were found to have different interaction and feedback styles. Furthermore, the three classes operated with differing levels of technical support during the lab sessions, which did not appear to influence the students' experiences except for the amount of teacher output. Six case study subjects, namely the two students from each class who contributed the most to chat sessions, were selected for an in-depth analysis of their chat transcripts.
Mature B cells preferentially lose tolerance in the chronic graft-versus-host disease model of systemic lupus erythematosus

Chronic graft-vs-host (cGVH) disease is a well-characterized systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) model. Induction of cGVH in anti-DNA H chain knockin (3H9KI) transgenic mice results in specific activation of anti-dsDNA B cells. In this study, we show that B cells from 3H9KI mice were activated by cGVH even when adoptively transferred into irradiated JHT-/- recipients that lack endogenous B cells. This process of activation was reflected by high autoantibody titers and changes in phenotypic markers. We have used this system to characterize the particular B cell subsets that were responsible for secreting autoantibodies during cGVH response. We isolated splenic B cell subsets based on their expression of specific cell surface markers and used them in our adoptive transfer studies. We found that mature B cells were the most vulnerable to the allostimulus and were the major source of autoantibodies compared with immature B cells. The greater susceptibility of mature B cells to become activated and thereby lose tolerance was unanticipated and has implications for maintenance of peripheral tolerance and for the development of autoimmunity. Furthermore, of the mature B cells, marginal zone B cells were particularly responsible for mounting the initial response to the cGVH stimulus. This observation underscores the critical role of marginal zone B cells in activation and production of autoantibodies.
Experimental Studies of Resolution in Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy

Spatial resolution of images recorded with scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) was examined with well-deﬁned samplesprepared by focused-ion beam (FIB) milling. Fiduciary standards of controlled size, shape, and spacing were investigated as afunction of imaging parameters and pipette tip size. Topographic images of the standards were acquired in ac feedback mode. Wereport that two features can be resolved when spaced apart at distances as small as 0.5x the probe inner radius, in agreement withrecently reported models, and examine effects of probe-surface distance and feature geometry on SICM resolution.© The Author(s) 2014. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in anymedium, provided the original work is properly cited. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0701414jes] All rights reserved.Manuscript submitted September 16, 2014; revised manuscript received October 6, 2014. Published October 16, 2014.
Eco-labeling for energy efficiency and sustainability: a meta-evaluation of US programs

Eco-labeling is a promising market-based approach for improving the environmental performance of products through consumer choice. While eco-labeling itself is not new, eco-labeling to promote energy efficiency or sustainability is a more recent phenomenon. Five such energy-labeling programs in the US are evaluated: Green Seal, Scientific Certification Systems, Energy Guide, Energy Star, and Green-e. Of these, the first four certify energy-efficient appliances while the last one certifies renewable electricity. While Energy Guide and Energy Star are government-run programs, the rest are privately administered. Two evaluation criteria were used—consumer response and manufacturer/marketer response. Very few studies have been done on the private programs making comparative analysis more difficult. It was found that government programs, in general, and Energy Star, in particular, were much more successful than the private programs. For appliance energy labeling, the private programs were found to have an almost insignificant effect on the market. Government support proved to be crucial in determining a program’s credibility, financial stability, and long-term viability. Further, targeting of specific product categories, legislative mandates, incentives, and partnerships were found to be other important factors for program success. Simple seal-of-approval logos and labels have generally affected consumer behavior more than the complex information-disclosure labels. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sports Medicine Clinical Trial Research Publications in Academic Medical Journals Between 1996 and 2005—An Audit of the PubMed MEDLINE Database

Objective: To identify sports medicine-related clinical trial research articles in the PubMed MEDLINE database published between 1996 and 2005 and conduct a review and analysis of topics of research, experimental designs, journals of publication and the internationality of authorships. Hypothesis: Sports medicine research is international in scope with improving study methodology and an evolution of topics. Design: Structured review of articles identified in a search of a large electronic medical database. Setting: PubMed MEDLINE database. Participants: Sports medicine-related clinical research trials published between 1996 and 2005. Interventions: Review and analysis of articles that meet inclusion criteria. Main outcome measurements: Articles were examined for study topics, research methods, experimental subject characteristics, journal of publication, lead authors and journal countries of origin and language of publication. Results: The search retrieved 414 articles, of which 379 (345 English language and 34 non-English language) met the inclusion criteria. The number of publications increased steadily during the study period. Randomised clinical trials were the most common study type and the “diagnosis, management and treatment of sports-related injuries and conditions” was the most popular study topic. The knee, ankle/foot and shoulder were the most frequent anatomical sites of study. Soccer players and runners were the favourite study subjects. The American Journal of Sports Medicine had the highest number of publications and shared the greatest international diversity of authorships with the British Journal of Sports Medicine . The USA, Australia, Germany and the UK produced a good number of the lead authorships. In all, 91% of articles and 88% of journals were published in English. Conclusions: Sports medicine-related research is internationally diverse, clinical trial publications are increasing and the sophistication of research design may be improving.
Stone-Tool Demography: Reduction Distributions in North American Paleoindian Tools

Stone tools “age” by reduction during use. Like individuals, each tool “ages” (is reduced) to some particular degree; like populations, sets of tools “age” (are reduced) to varying degrees expressed as reduction distributions. I fit distributions of North American Paleoindian tools to mathematical models, both for ­efficient description and to identify processes that govern discard. Reduction ­analysis is the thoughtful use of surprisingly simple measurements and practices to reveal both dimensions of past behavior and how the archaeological record formed.
Directive Support, Nondirective Support, and Morale

Abstract The concept of social support as being directive or nondirective may help explain why helping can either boost or impede morale. The Inventory of Nondirective and Directive Instrumental Support (INDIS) was developed to investigate this question. The directive factor concerns others' attempts to dominate coping and the nondirective factor concerns others' attempts to facilitate but not dominate coping. Studies 1 and 2 identified and confirmed these factors. Study 3 showed predicted associations between INDIS subscales and measures of morale. Nondirective support (from a family member) was positively related to hope and optimism, and directive support (from either a family member or a friend) was positively related to depression and loneliness, even after controlling for other social support measures.
Fever in the Postoperative Patient

Postprocedure fevers vary in the timing of their occurrence, duration, and severity. Such fevers do not all have an infectious cause, but they all require thorough investigation to rule out life-threatening conditions. This article summarizes the principles of diagnosis and management of postprocedure fevers for the emergency care provider.
Rational responsibility and the assertoric character of bald-faced lies

According to a traditional view, one lies if and only if one asserts what one believes is false and with the intent to deceive one’s audience. Recently, many theorists have challenged the requirement of intent to deceive. The principal reason offered appeals to so-called bald-faced lies wherein one asserts what one believes is false without intent to deceive. I argue that, assuming a reasonable model of assertion, two of the most prominent examples of bald-faced lies fail to be genuinely assertoric. As such, they fail as counter-examples to the view that intent to deceive is a necessary condition on lying
Applying Spam-Control Techniques To Negate High Frequency Trading Advantages

High Frequency Traders undoubtedly have an advantage over the average trader or trading desk because they incorporate nefarious devices into their trading schemes such as Flash Trading, Dark Pools and Quote Stuffing. In addition, they usually locate their servers as close to the exchange servers as possible so their data travels the shortest possible distance. However, adding spam-control techniques to control all trades would negate these advantages and return trading to once again being an equitable, free and open market-based system.
Assessment and Taxonomy of Children’s Behavior Disorders

The two main topics of this chapter are but two facets of what should be a single process: assessment aims to identify the distinguishing features of individual cases; taxonom is the grouping of cases according to their distinguishing features.
Effects of ethanol exposure on nervous system development in zebrafish

Alcohol (ethanol) is a teratogen that adversely affects nervous system development in a wide range of animal species. In humans numerous congenital abnormalities arise as a result of fetal alcohol exposure, leading to a spectrum of disorders referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). These abnormalities include craniofacial defects as well as neurological defects that affect a variety of behaviors. These human FASD phenotypes are reproduced in the rodent central nervous system (CNS) following prenatal ethanol exposure. While the study of ethanol effects on zebrafish development has been more limited, several studies have shown that different strains of zebrafish exhibit differential susceptibility to ethanol-induced cyclopia, as well as behavioral deficits. Molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ethanol on CNS development also appear to be shared between rodent and zebrafish. Thus, zebrafish appear to recapitulate the observed effects of ethanol on human and mouse CNS development, indicating that zebrafish can serve as a complimentary developmental model system to study the molecular basis of FASD. Recent studies examining the effect of ethanol exposure on zebrafish nervous system development are reviewed, with an emphasis on attempts to elucidate possible molecular pathways that may be impacted by developmental ethanol exposure. Recent work from our laboratories supports a role for perturbed extracellular matrix function in the pathology of ethanol exposure during zebrafish CNS development. The use of the zebrafish model to assess the effects of ethanol exposure on adult nervous system function as manifested by changes in zebrafish behavior is also discussed.
Computer evaluation of chemistry values: a reporting and diagnostic aid.

A simple computer program to display results and suggest diagnostic possibilities for 12 blood chemistry tests was developed. An SMA 12/60 Auto-Analyzer performs these tests. The program is simple because it does not seek a definitive diagnosis. A commercial computer, not otherwise connected with a hospital, can run the program. The technic compares the patient’s pattern of high and low test values with a pattern associated with each diagnostic possibility. The computer prints results in order of decreasing overlap of the patient’s pattern with the patterns stored in the table. The program helps physicians remember age- and sex-dependent normal ranges as well as test patterns for different diseases.
Alnus maritima ssp. oklahomensis Performance in Non-Irrigated Landscapes in the Intermountain West

Alnus maritima (Marsh.) Muhl. ex Nutt. ssp. oklahomensis Schrader & Graves has potential for ornamental use in the Intermountain West. Because this taxon is native to low-elevation wetlands, we sought to determine its response to the dry soils and climate of northern Utah. Although seeds sown directly at three non-irrigated sites in northern Utah either did not germinate or germinated and died, seeds planted in a greenhouse in soils from the three sites did germinate and survive. Hardened plants grown from these seeds and installed at the same three sites overwintered, broke bud and leafed out, but none survived longer than four weeks after bud break without irrigation. Ratings of progression of bud break were greatest (3.5 to 3.8 out of 5), and leaf scorch least (16.0 to 16.7%), in areas with either low light or wet soils. Plants from the same crop left in their containers on an irrigated gravel pad under partial shade showed no signs of stress. Our results suggest that A. maritima ssp. oklahomensis cannot survive under non-irrigated outdoor conditions in Intermountain West landscapes and may require irrigation and protection from sun and wind for optimal performance.
Hidden Obligatory Fluid Intake in Critical Care Patients.

Introduction:In addition to the fluid intake in the form of intravenous maintenance or boluses in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, there are sources of fluids that may remain unrecognized but co...
Student perceptions of a flipped classroom management course

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to assess student perceptions of a flipped classroom model used in an introduction to management course; and second, to determine the relationship between student perceptions and student grades. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative approach was used, and a survey was created to assess student perceptions of their flipped classroom experience. Correlation analysis was used to explore the possible association between student performance (measured by test scores) and perceptions of the flipped classroom experience. Findings – Results indicate several significant differences in student perceptions of a flipped classroom model between successful (grades A-C) and unsuccessful (grades D-F) students. Originality/value – During the past several years, an active learning approach called the “flipped classroom model” has begun to be applied to higher education. Research on the effectiveness of the flipped classroom model in higher education has focussed ...
Zika virus: An emergent neuropathological agent.

The emergence of Zika virus in the Americas has followed a pattern that is familiar from earlier epidemics of other viruses, where a new disease is introduced into a human population and then spreads rapidly with important public health consequences. In the case of Zika virus, an accumulating body of recent evidence implicates the virus in the etiology of serious pathologies of the human nervous system, that is, the occurrence of microcephaly in neonates and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. Zika virus is an arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus) and a member of the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. Zika virions are enveloped and icosahedral, and contain a nonsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome, which encodes 3 structural and 7 nonstructural proteins that are expressed as a single polyprotein that undergoes cleavage. Zika genomic RNA replicates in the cytoplasm of infected host cells. Zika virus was first detected in 1947 in the blood of a febrile monkey in Uganda's Zika Forest and in crushed suspensions of the Aedes mosquito, which is one of the vectors for Zika virus. The virus remained obscure, with a few human cases confined to Africa and Asia. There are two lineages of the Zika virus, African and Asian, with the Asian strain causing outbreaks in Micronesia in 2007 and French Polynesia in 2013-2014. From here, the virus spread to Brazil with the first report of autochthonous Zika transmission in the Americas in March 2015. The rapid advance of the virus in the Americas and its likely association with microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome make Zika an urgent public health concern. Ann Neurol 2016;80:479-489.
The Legacy of Mary Scranton

Mary Scranton was an American missionary to Korea, the first missionary sent there by the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS) of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During her more than two decades of service, Scranton laid the foundations for the WFMS mission in Seoul and helped to establish the wider Protestant missionary endeavor on the Korean peninsula. Her pioneering evangelistic and educational work, including the opening of Korea’s first modern school for girls, reflected Scranton’s commitment to ministering to and with Korean women.
Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation and 30-Day Readmissions in Oncology

Abstract Background: Prior research indicates that hospice and palliative care delivered in outpatient settings are associated with reduced hospital readmissions for cancer patients. However, little is known about how inpatient palliative care affects readmissions in oncology. Objective: To examine associations among inpatient palliative care consultation, hospice use (discharge), and 30-day readmissions among patients with solid tumor cancers. Methods: We identified all live discharges from a large tertiary cancer hospital between 2010 and 2016. Palliative care consult data were abstracted from medical charts and linked to hospital encounter data. Propensity scores were used to match palliative care consult to usual care encounters. Modified Poisson regression models estimated adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 30-day readmissions and hospice discharge. We compared predicted probabilities of readmission for palliative care consultation with hospice discharge, without hospic...
Cytotoxicity of Endocytosis and Efflux Inhibitors in the BeWo Cell Line.

Aims The purpose of this study was to determine the cell viability and cytotoxicity of various endocytosis and efflux inhibitors which can be used to determine transport and uptake mechanisms in the BeWo (b30 clone) human placental trophoblast cell line. Ethanol and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were also studied since they are often used as cosolvents for administration of these inhibitors. Methodology The water-soluble tetrazolium-1 (WST-1) assay was used to quantify cell viability and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was used to determine cytotoxicity. Results By the WST-1 assay, reduced cell viability was observed following 4 hours of exposure to chlorpromazine (10 μg/mL), colchicine (1 mM), filipin (3 μg/mL), gentamicin (2 mM), GF120918 (1 μM), methyl-β-cyclodextrin (5 mM), and verapamil (100 μM). By the LDH assay, however, no cytotoxicity was observed after 4 hours of exposure to the aforementioned compounds. Amiloride (500 μM), ethanol (up to 0.1% v/v), and DMSO (up to 0.1% v/v) did not reduce cell viability nor induce cytotoxicity. Conclusion This information is valuable when selecting potential inhibitors of endocytosis and efflux and the selection of time points for mechanistic studies.
Acute multi-visceral thrombosis and ischemia in a 3-year-old child

Abstract Acute multi-visceral ischemia secondary to multi-vessel thrombosis is rare in the pediatric population and to our knowledge it has not been previously reported. We present a 3-year old boy with acute thrombosis of the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and left renal artery in addition to stenoses of his intracranial carotid arteries. The patient presented with extensive small and large bowel ischemia and perforations, gastric perforation, gallbladder necrosis, acute kidney injury and stroke. Here we describe our medical, surgical and percutaneous interventions for the successful treatment of this child.
Update on breast cancer susceptibility genes.

Approximately 7% of breast cancer and 10% of ovarian cancer in the United States is thought to be due to the presence of an autosomal dominant susceptibility allele. Two breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) now have been identified (Miki et al. 1994; Wooster et al. 1995; Tavtigian et al. 1996) and a third (BRCA3) is being actively sought. Breast cancer susceptibility in families with mutations in these genes appears as an autosomal dominant trait, with breast cancer affecting as many as half of the women in each generation. Thus, both of these genes are considered high penetrance genes, as the majority of individuals with these alterations will ultimately develop breast cancer. Mutations in several other high penetrance genes, such as p53 (associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome) and MSH2 (associated with hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer) also have been identified as causes of hereditary breast cancer, but are extremely rare in the general population. It is very likely that many other genes contribute to inherited breast cancer susceptibility in families where the incidence of breast cancer is elevated, but where the appearance of breast cancer is more scattered, because fewer numbers of carriers will develop breast cancer as a result of these lower penetrance genes. These genetic alterations are complex and what little is known about candidates for low penetrance cancer susceptibility genes is not yet of clinical use.
Macrophages and innate immune memory against Staphylococcus skin infections.

There is a growing appreciation that macrophages contribute to innate immune memory against microbial pathogens in ways that are distinct from and complementary to adaptive immune memory. In PNAS, Chan et al. (1) report that macrophages develop memory against Staphylococcus aureus skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs) and that this memory is tissue specific and can be transferred between individual animals. Immune memory against S. aureus is important because of the immense impact of this microbe on human health and because effective immunity against recurrent S. aureus infections can be difficult to achieve. S. aureus is the most common cause of skin infections (2). These are often associated with massive morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditures (3). Patients often experience high rates of recurrence (4), suggesting that some individuals have difficulty with establishing protective immunity against this organism. Humoral immunity in particular can often be ineffective because antibodies directed against S. aureus virulence factors may not be sufficient for protection (5). Consistent with this, individuals with impaired humoral immunity are not necessarily at increased risk for S. aureus infections (6), and an effective vaccine against S. aureus has thus far proved elusive (7). Memory T cell responses, while robust, can likewise be ineffectual (8). These data suggest that adaptive immunity alone is unlikely to provide effective protection against S. aureus infection. Studies of individuals with recurrent S. aureus infections in the context of a primary immunodeficiency have revealed critical roles for select cell types and immune mechanisms in protection against this potential pathogen. These include defects in IL-17 production associated with hyper-IgE syndrome (Job’s disease) (9). IL-17 was likewise shown in mouse models of S. aureus infection to be critical for neutrophil recruitment, abscess formation, and bacterial clearance (10 … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: pbollyky{at}stanford.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Clinical and functional outcomes after total laryngectomy and laryngopharyngectomy: Analysis by tumor subsite, salvage status, and extent of resection.

BACKGROUND Outcomes following surgical intervention for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors are dependent on several factors. In the present study, we sought to determine whether tumor subsite, salvage status, and extent of resection influenced postoperative outcomes. METHODS Retrospective review of 107 patients at a single institution who underwent total laryngectomy or partial/total laryngopharyngectomy. RESULTS Hypopharyngeal subsite and total laryngopharyngectomy subgroups had inferior speech and swallow outcomes compared to their respective cohorts (P < .05). Salvage patients had inferior 3-year overall survival (P < .05) and swallow outcomes (P < .001). Previously radiated patients had increased fistula rates (29.9% vs 10%, P = .02), and the use of tissue coverage in salvage total laryngectomy had a protective effect on fistula formation (10% vs 37%, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS By stratifying patients across multiple subgroups, we provide a detailed narrative in surgical outcomes that can be incorporated into treatment planning. Further prospective studies are needed to compare surgical outcomes to those of organ preservation therapy.
Control of computing funds and resources in a networking environment

Users or potential users of computing services at research and educational institutions are currently trying to meet their computing needs in cost-effective ways that will also provide them with high-quality services. As these individuals attempt to match their needs against the expanding menu of available alternatives (mini- and microcomputers; central campus facilities; and local, regional and national networks), they may face restrictions on their choices. Some institutions treat all users alike and, subject to budget constraints, they are allowed the same access to all services or face the same restrictions. At other institutions, some users and not others face restrictions on the amount of available computer funds and on the types of resources that can be purchased.
The Teddy Bear Hospital as an Outreach Tool for Reducing Medical Anxiety: A Randomized Trial

Purpose: Children experience significant anxiety related to the healthcare encounter. Facilitated by Child Life specialists, medical play reduces emotional distress in hospitalized children, but less is known about the effect of play on medical anxieties of children in a community setting. The Teddy Bear Hospital (TBH) applies Child Life principles to kindergarten classrooms in which medical students engage children in medical play in a non-threatening environment. In the present study, we evaluated the utility of the TBH by assessing its effect on (1) childhood medical …
A Quality Improvement Initiative: Improving Mammogram Screening Rates Among Low-income Hispanic Women in Primary Care.

Background Low-income women of predominantly Hispanic ethnicity between the ages of 50-74 who receive primary care services in a South Texas region experienced a 12% disparity gap for women completing a screening mammogram in the last 2 years when compared to Hispanic women nationally. Objective The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) initiative is to design and implement interdisciplinary evidence-based interventions to improve the screening mammogram completion rates in a primary care clinical setting. Methods Following a systematic review and selection of two evidence-based breast cancer risk screening tools, a pre-post intervention was conducted. The Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) framework was used to train staff and providers to implement the screening tools. The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provided triggers for initiating a screening mammogram. Results Evidence-based screenings triggered mammogram initiation resulting in a 7.21% improvement in screening mammogram completion rates over a 3-month time period. Conclusion/implications for nursing The outcomes discussed in this report provide guidance for new policy considerations and clinical protocol initiatives along with processes to improve mammogram completion rates.
Brain–Computer Interfaces for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

Brain–computer interface (BCI) is an emerging tool that has a variety of practical applications, including rehabilitation. BCIs are systems that extract and classify features in neural data, and then produce an output when a specific feature is detected. Motor imagery-based BCIs (MI BCIs), a more specific form of BCI, detect features that indicate the user is imagining a specific motor action, such as moving their arm or leg. There have been several studies released discussing the potential for BCIs to be used in a clinical setting for applications like rehabilitation. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a form of injury that damages the spinal cord and causes either partial or total paralyzation. Those with SCI typically undergo rehabilitation for many years after the injury, and BCIs have begun to be tested for their benefits when included in SCI rehabilitation sessions. There are several ways for BCI systems to be used in SCI rehabilitation, which include virtual reality, exoskeletons, and neuroprosthesis. When using these methods as an output for a BCI system, SCI patients experience numerous benefits, most notably being an increase in mobility in the paralyzed region of their body. While there are several advantages to using BCIs for SCI rehabilitation, there are also several challenges that need to be addressed. In this chapter, we will discuss the current potential of BCIs for SCI rehabilitation, as well as what areas of this field need to be improved in the future.
Monochromator Wavelength Calibration Standards Extending into the Near-Infrared Using Second- and Third-Order Emission Lines from Mercury Vapor Lamps

The emission spectra of four mercury vapor lamps are used to obtain wavelength calibration curves for the double-grating emission monochromator of a spectrofluorimeter. The use of second- and third-order diffraction lines and emission lines from the argon carrier gas provides a rich spectrum, which extends well into the near-infrared spectral region and produces an improved calibration curve. More than 60 emission lines are listed between 250 and 900 nm, which is sufficient to produce an extremely accurate monochromator calibration. Additional second- and third-order lines can be used to even longer wavelengths (>1200 nm). The effectiveness of three scattering surfaces is compared.
Prescription Stimulant Use and Associated Risk Factors for Non-oral Use among 10 to 18 Year Olds.

Non-medical use, especially non-oral use, of prescription stimulants is a public health concern. This study analyzed data from the National Monitoring of Adolescent Prescription Stimulants Study (N...
Nicotine evoked efferent transmitter release onto immature cochlear inner hair cells

Olivocochlear neurons make temporary cholinergic synapses on inner hair cells of the rodent cochlea in the first 2 to 3 wk after birth. Repetitive stimulation of these efferent neurons causes facilitation of evoked release and increased spontaneous release that continues for seconds to minutes. Presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are known to modulate neurotransmitter release from brain neurons. The present study explores the hypothesis that presynaptic nAChRs help to increase spontaneous release from efferent terminals on cochlear hair cells. Direct application of nicotine (which does not activate the hair cells' α9α10-containing nAChRs) produces sustained efferent transmitter release, implicating presynaptic nAChRs in this response. The effect of nicotine was reduced by application of ryanodine that reduces release of calcium from intraterminal stores.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sensory organs exhibit spontaneous activity before the onset of response to external stimuli. Such activity in the cochlea is subject to modulation by cholinergic efferent neurons that directly inhibit sensory hair cells (inner hair cells). Those efferent neurons are themselves subject to various modulatory mechanisms. One such mechanism is positive feedback by released acetylcholine onto presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors causing further release of acetylcholine.