cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urban v. suburban perceptions of the neighbourhood food environment as correlates of adolescent food purchasing.

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between adolescent perception of time to walk to neighbourhood food retail outlets and purchasing of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), fast and convenience food items, and to test for differences by urban v. suburban environment.DesignCross-sectional observational study.SettingTwin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, USA.SubjectsAdolescents from two studies completed survey-based measures on perceptions of time to walk to food retail outlets from home, purchasing patterns of SSB and fast and convenience store items, perceptions of personal safety and pedestrian infrastructure, and demographic characteristics. Descriptive analysis, Spearman correlations and multivariate linear regression, accounting for clustering, were conducted.ResultsThere were 634 adolescents, approximately half male, predominantly white, with a middle-class background. Greater perceived time to food outlets was associated with less frequent purchasing of SSB, convenience store foods and fast-food items. Multivariate models showed that a perceived shorter walking time (i.e. 1−5 v. 31+ min) was significantly associated with more SSB purchasing. SSB purchases were also significantly associated with the number of food outlets within a 10 min walk (B = 0·05, P = 0·02).ConclusionsA reduction in consumption of SSB and other energy-dense snacks is an important obesity prevention approach. An approach offering alternatives or reducing exposure in addition to education to alter purchasing habits may contribute to improving dietary habits and reducing the obesity epidemic.
In Vitro Activity of CEM-101, a New Fluoroketolide Antibiotic, against Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae

The in vitro activities of CEM-101, telithromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and doxycycline against 10 isolates each of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae were tested. The MIC at which 90% of the isolates of both C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae were inhibited and the minimal bactericidal concentration at which 90% of the isolates were killed by CEM-101 were 0.25 μg/ml (ranges, 0.125 to 0.5 μg/ml for C. trachomatis and 0.25 to 1.0 μg/ml for C. pneumoniae).
Nicotine impairs histamine-induced increases in macromolecular efflux: role of oxygen radicals

Nicotine, a major component of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, has toxic effects on endothelium and impairs reactivity of resistance arterioles in response to agonists that stimulate the synthesi...
Nonnormal Amplification of the Thermohaline Circulation

A simple zonally averaged coupled ocean–atmosphere model, with a relatively high resolution in the meridional direction, is used to examine physical mechanisms leading to transient amplification of thermohaline circulation (THC) anomalies. It is found that in a stable regime, in which small perturbations eventually decay, there are optimal initial conditions leading to a dramatic amplification of initial temperature and salinity anomalies in addition to the THC amplification. The maximum amplification occurs after about 40 years, and the eventual decay is on a centennial time scale. The initial temperature and salinity anomalies are considerably amplified by factors of a few hundreds and 20, respectively. The initial conditions leading to this amplification are characterized by mutually canceling initial temperature and salinity anomalies contributions to the THC anomaly, such that the initial THC anomaly vanishes. The mechanism of amplification is analyzed and found to be the result of an interaction between a few damped (oscillatory and nonoscillatory) modes with decay time scales lying in a range of 20–800 years. The amplification mechanism is also found to be distinct from the advective feedback leading to THC instabilities for large freshwater forcing.
Plasticity of Na+ channels in afferent neurones innervating rat urinary bladder following spinal cord injury.

1 Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in combination with axonal tracing techniques were used to investigate the effects of chronic spinal cord injury on the electrical properties of dorsal root ganglion neurones innervating the urinary bladder or colon of the adult rat. 2 In spinal intact animals, the majority (73–74%) of bladder and colon neurones which were small in size exhibited high-threshold humped spikes mediated by tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant Na+ channels, whereas large neurones had low-threshold narrow spikes mediated by TTX-sensitive Na+ channels. 3 In chronic spinal transected animals, 60% of bladder afferent neurones exhibited TTX-sensitive low-threshold spikes. The average diameter and input capacitance of the cells were significantly larger than those of cells obtained from spinal intact animals. 4 In bladder afferent neurones from chronic spinal transected rats, the density of TTX-resistant Na+ currents significantly decreased from 60.5 to 17.9 pA pF−1, whereas that of TTX-sensitive currents increased from 32.1 to 80.6 pA pF−1. 5 These changes in action potential and Na+ current characteristics were not detected in colon afferent neurones following spinal cord injury. 6 The results indicate that spinal cord injury increases bladder afferent neurone excitability by shifting the expression of Na+ channels from a high-threshold TTX-resistant type to a low-threshold TTX-sensitive type. This change in properties may occur in response to alterations in neurotrophic signals originating in the hypertrophied bladder.
A Comparison of Death Anxiety and Denial in Death-Risk and Death-Exposure Occupations

This study investigates the relationship between death anxiety and denial scale scores of persons employed in death-risk (DRG), death-exposure (DEG), or low-risk (CG) occupations. Participants were active duty military (DRG), health care providers (DEG), and college students (CG). Death anxiety instruments selected were Hoelter's Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale (MFODS) and Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS). Spielberger's Rationality/Emotional Defensiveness (R/ED) Scale was the denial measure. The two death anxiety scales were positively correlated (p = .001). There was no significant difference between groups on the MFODS nor the DAS. There was an inverse correlation between death anxiety and denial measures; the correlation was significant for the health care providers (DEG). Gender effect does not explain these differences. While age and occupational measures are confounded in this research design, additional analyses yielded similar findings (r = –.337, p = .01). The results are interpreted acco...
Abstract 3150: Exploring the role of Rap1Gap in the progression from DCIS to invasive breast carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive malignant progression of breast cancer is important. The purpose of this study is to define the role of Rap1Gap in the progression of ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) to invasive cancer. We employed an in-vitro three-dimensional (3D) overlay model that provides a physiologically relevant microenvironment to study mechanisms of mammary gland development and malignant progression. We previously employed next generation sequencing (NGS) and identified 63 consistently upregulated genes in three DCIS lines (SUM102, SUM225, MCF10.DCIS) compared to non-transformed mammary epithelial cells. To gain insight into common transcriptional elements of co-regulated genes that may be critical to the DCIS phenotype, we have mined our NGS data using Frameworker (Genomatix). The 63 upregulated genes are associated with 244 candidate promoters out of a total of 82,703 promoters in the entire human genome. Our analysis shows that the common framework RXRF-ZF02-ZF02-PLAG-HDBP is only present in the promoters of three genes: RAP1GAP, SPRY4 and PDGFB. All of these genes are upregulated in our DCIS signature, which means that this framework is hugely enriched (336-fold) over what would be expected by chance. Rap1Gap has tumor suppressor properties; its functions, via regulation of Rap1 activity, include regulation of cell adhesion, suppression of cell proliferation and metastasis. In other epithelial cancers, loss of Rap1Gap has been linked to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. To begin study of Rap1Gap in breast cancer progression, we performed immunohistochemistry. We show strong Rap1Gap staining in DCIS with little to no expression in myoepithelial and stromal components. Immunoblotting results show that Rap1Gap levels in MCF10.CA1d cells (a model of invasive carcinoma) are reduced compared to those in MCF10.DCIS cells. Rap1Gap expression is low in additional basal breast cancer cell lines, but high in luminal ER+ /PR+ cell lines. We propose that over-expression of Rap1Gap may serve as a tumor suppressive mechanism in DCIS; subsequent reduction of Rap1Gap may be a switch for EMT and progression to an invasive phenotype. Citation Format: Seema Shah, Kingsley Osuala, Shihong Mao, Quanwen Li, Bonnie Sloane, Stephen Krawetz, Raymond R. Mattingly. Exploring the role of Rap1Gap in the progression from DCIS to invasive breast carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3150. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3150
Pulmonary infection in mild variant cystic fibrosis: Implications for care

Abstract Background Disease phenotype in cystic fibrosis (CF) shows considerable heterogeneity. Atypical or mild mutations in the CFTR gene have been linked to late-onset pulmonary disease; however, few reports document the condition of the airway in infants and young children with apparent "mild" disease. Prognosis is uncertain in this group of patients and this, in turn, has led to inconsistency in management. Our initial experience of pulmonary infection in children with mild variant CF prompted a more detailed review of clinical outcome. Methods A retrospective cohort study was carried out comparing frequency of bacterial isolates and clinical outcomes in eleven compound heterozygotes for ΔF508 and a second mild mutation, mainly R117H, with a matched group of ΔF508 homozygotes. Results Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 8 of the 11 patients with mild variant disease and Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in 7 (64%), although the frequency of positive cultures was significantly less (2.8/year) than the ΔF508 homozygotes (6.1/year, p p p 0.04). There was little difference in lung function in terms of FEV 1 (median+range) between the two groups (% predicted, mild 86.5, 68–87 vs. severe 76.0, 65–88; p 0.5). Conclusions Most patients with mild variant CF will have bacterial isolates from airway cultures requiring antibiotic therapy three to four times a year. Infection with both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa is common. Anti-staphylococcal prophylaxis for the first two years should be considered.
Patron-Initiated Collection Development: Progress of a Paradigm Shift

This article discusses a paradigm shift from librarian-mediated collection development to patron-initiated selection of library materials. The authors report on two programs at The Ohio State University Libraries (OSUL): an interlibrary loan purchase-on-demand program and two tests of ebrary's patron-driven acquisitions program, in which patron usage triggered behind-the-scenes purchase of e-books. Results of the tests were analyzed by user activity, subject area, publisher type and level, and imprint date. OSUL and OhioLINK consortium holdings were reviewed to evaluate availability, duplication, and circulation of titles purchased by patrons. OSUL subject librarians were polled for comments on patron-selected titles and the funding implications of patron-driven selection. The authors discuss changes in the philosophy of collection development, and the role of patrons and collection development librarians in the evolving e-book environment in academic libraries.
Measurement of Cortical Thickness in 3D Brain MRI Data: Validation of the Laplacian Method

Objectives. We aimed to determine the precision of the Laplacian approach for cortical thickness measurement due to changes in computational and acquisition parameters. We compared these results to two other methods widely used in clinical research using brain MRI data. Materials and Methods. Brain MRI scans were obtained in 10 healthy adults using three different sets of acquisition parameters. The first and the second acquisitions used different slice thickness but the same head position. The third scan was performed after head repositioning. We measured cerebral cortical thickness in all brain segmentations using three thickness methods: Laplacian, nearest distance, and the orthogonal projection. Results. The Laplacian method demonstrated the least variability with regard to the effect of interchange of boundaries, slice thickness, and repositioning of the head, compared with the other two methods. Conclusion. The Laplacian method is the most precise and reliable tool for in vivo cortical thickness measurement using brain MRI data.
The Bowers Program: Effects of Cross-Disciplinary Design Activities on Architectural Engineering Student Performance

This paper describes the implementation of problem-based instruction program in the integration of architectural design and planning into the architectural engineering curriculum. The program consisted of two components: the use of a problem-based structural design exercise administered to an entire class of upper level architectural and civil engineering students, followed by two design exercises undertaken jointly with architecture and landscape architecture students by a selected group of students from the same class. The effect of participation in the joint design exercises was assessed by means of a final examination question and a questionnaire administered before and after participation in one of the exercises. The results of the assessment indicate that the participants achieved a greater ability to integrate architectural and structural design than the nonparticipants, and that the architectural engineering students have greater ability than civil engineering students to integrate architectural and structural design.
Clinical aspects of natural infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis in cats: 8 cases (1991-2005).

Objective—To evaluate clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and clinical outcome in cats with blastomycosis. Design—Retrospective case series. Animals—8 cats with naturally occurring blastomycosis. Procedures—Medical records of the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital were searched for cases of blastomycosis in cats diagnosed via cytologic or histopathologic findings. Clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and clinical outcome were determined. Radiographs were reviewed for the 8 cases. Results—All cats were systemically ill. Respiratory tract signs and dermal lesions were most commonly observed. All cats had radiographic evidence of respiratory tract disease. Seven of the 8 cats had ill-defined soft-tissue opacities (nodules or masses) or alveolar consolidation of the lungs. Antemortem diagnosis was achieved cytologically in 6 of the 8 cats, and 3 were successfully treated and survived. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In contrast to previous reports, diagnosis was achieved a...
Analysis of oral cancer epidemiology in the US reveals state-specific trends: implications for oral cancer prevention

Downward trends have been observed in oral cancer incidence and mortality in the US over the past 30 years; however, these declines are not uniform within this population. Several studies have now demonstrated an increase in the incidence and mortality from oral cancers among certain demographic groups, which may have resulted from increased risks or risk behaviors. This study examines the underlying data that comprise these trends, to identify specific populations that may be at greater risk for morbidity and mortality from oral cancers. Oral cancer incidence and mortality data analyzed for this study were generated using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. While oral cancer incidence and mortality rates have been declining over the past thirty years, these declines have reversed in the past five years among some demographic groups, including black females and white males. Sorting of these data by state revealed that eight states exhibited increasing rates of oral cancer deaths, Nevada, North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Maine, Idaho, North Dakota, and Wyoming, in stark contrast to the national downward trend. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of data from these states revealed increasing rates of oral cancer among older white males, also contrary to the overall trends observed at the national level. These results signify that, despite the declining long-term trends in oral cancer incidence and mortality nationally, localized geographic areas exist where the incidence and mortality from oral cancers have been increasing. These areas represent sites where public health education and prevention efforts may be focused to target these specific populations in an effort to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities within these populations.
High-efficiency blue-light generation by frequency doubling of picosecond pulses in a thick KNbO 3 crystal

We report an experimental demonstration of highly efficient single-pass second-harmonic generation from 859 nm to 429.5 nm with picosecond pulses in a thick KNbO3 crystal. Both the conversion-efficiency and quantum-noise properties of the generated blue pulses are measured at various pump intensities under a strong focusing condition. We find that the variation of the conversion efficiency of the picosecond secondharmonic generation is an oscillatory function of the input pump intensity (with a maximum efficiency of 56.5%) and is sensitive to the position of the input beam focus in the crystal. The quantum noise on the blue beam can be reduced below the shot-noise limit by 20% at low input power. © 2003 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 190.2620, 270.6570.
Supracutaneous vibrotactile perception threshold at various non-glabrous body loci

Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are currently designing a wearable/portable neutron detector. As an alerting mechanism, the device will transmit vibration to the wearer's skin in the presence of hazardous levels of neutron radiation. The present study was designed to help in the ergonomically correct body placement of the neutron detection device while providing numerical values for vibratory thresholds at the surface of various non-glabrous body loci. The aim of the study was to investigate the underlying effects of locus stimulated, amount of subcutaneous fat around a specific body site and gender on low frequency vibration thresholds. Thirty-six participants, who were categorised by both dichotomous body fat group (high or low) and gender, were tested at 24 loci orthogonally located around six body sites: head; neck; upper arm; wrist; waist; ankle. The results indicated that frequency threshold depends significantly on the locus stimulated (p=0.001). The nape of the neck had the great...
Increasing the number of effective registers in a low-power processor using a windowed register file

Low-power embedded processors utilize compact instruction encodings to achieve small code size. Instruction sizes of 8 to 16 bits are common. Such encodings place tight restrictions on the number of bits available to encode operand specifiers, and thus on the number of architected registers. The central problem with this approach is that performance and power are often sacrificed as the burden of operand supply is shifted from the register file to the memory due to the limited number of registers. In this paper, we investigate the use of a windowed register file to address this problem by providing more registers than allowed in the encoding. The registers are organized as a set of identical register windows where at each point in the execution there is a single active window. Special window management instructions are used to change the active window and to transfer values between windows. The goal of this design is to give the appearance of a large register file without compromising the instruction encoding. To support the windowed register file, we designed and implemented a novel graph partitioning based compiler algorithm that partitions virtual registers within a given procedure across multiple windows. On a 16-bit embedded processor with a parameterized register window, an average of 10% improvement in application performance and 7% reduction in system power was achieved as an eight-register design was scaled from one to four windows.
Local Survival of Marbled Murrelets in Central California: Roles of Oceanographic Processes, Sex, and Radiotagging

Abstract We estimated annual local survival rates for after-hatch-year (≥1-yr old) marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in central California using Cormack-Jolly-Seber mark–recapture models and radiotelemetry, and we modeled the effect of oceanographic conditions, sex, and radiotagging. We captured 331 after-hatch-year murrelets from 1997 to 2003, of which 117 were radiotagged. Recapture rates were best modeled using a term that reflected differences in capture effort among sampling occasions (peffort) and ranged from 0.068 to 0.166. The most highly ranked model (ΦPDO+radio, peffort) indicated that survival rates were positively related to the strength of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and were negatively affected by radiotransmitters in the year following tagging. Mortality was relatively low in warm-water years, perhaps because murrelets flew inland to breed less frequently and were less exposed to avian predators. Two competing models indicated that survival in the year following tagging...
Evaluation of the genetically attenuated E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTR192G) as adjuvant for mucosal and intradermal immunization (P4421)

Among the challenges to developing a subunit vaccine against the diarrhea-causing pathogen enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) is the selection of a proper administration route and adjuvant. We assessed the adjuvant LTR192G, an attenuated form of the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), co-administered with dscCfaE protein, the prototype ETEC CFA/I fimbrial tip adhesin, by two different routes. BALB/c mice received dscCfaE+LTR192G by intranasal (IN) or intradermal (ID) immunization on days 0 and 21. Serum, spleen and bone marrow (BM) were collected on day 28. Both regimens elicited comparable serum IgG anti-dscCfaE and functional Ab levels, the latter measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI). IN immunization, however, resulted in higher serum and fecal IgA anti-dscCfaE Ab levels, and fecal HAI titers. IgG1 was the only adhesin-specific subclass detected in the ID group, while IN immunization also elicited low titers of IgG2a anti-dscCfaE Ab, suggesting a more balanced Th1/Th2 response. The number of IgG and IgA anti-dscCfaE antibody-secreting cells in spleens and BM were two-fold higher in the IN vs ID group. After in vitro stimulation with dscCfaE protein, similar numbers of IFN-γ spot-forming cells (SFC) were observed in both groups. The IN group showed lower numbers of IL-5 SFC compared to the ID group. The composite results suggest that ID immunization with dscCfaE+LTR192G elicits a mucosal immune response, but the magnitude and immune profile differ from the IN-immunized group.
A Comparison of a Local Correlation-Based Transition Model Coupled with SA and SST Turbulence Models

The local correlation-based transition model is modified and implemented in the unstructured CFD solver U 2 NCLE, and coupled with both one-equation Spalart-Allmaras (SA) model and two-equation Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model. Several benchmark validations on the flat plate and 2D airfoils are performed and compared with the experimental data. The skin friction profiles predicted by the transition model coupled with both SA and SST turbulence models indicate that the transition phenomenon is captured reasonably well, including the onset location and the length of transition. In addition, two realistic engineering applications Sikorsky S-76 and Bell-Boeing JVX rotors in hover are investigated and validated with the experimental test data using the turbulent flow simulation methods in current work.
Extraordinary modes of bonding enabled by the triquinane framework.

Incorporation of triquinane ring systems into a macrobicyclic framework enables the stabilization of unusual bonding arrangements, including 3-center-2-electron cation, 3-center-3-electron radical, and 3-center-4-electron anion systems, linear divalent fluorine, triplet carbenes, record short C–C bonds, a powerful proton sponge effect, and oxadionium (R4O2+) ions. The means to stabilize and conceivably isolate such species derives from the rigid, convex nature of the triquinane ring system, as well as the substitution of positions adjacent to the bridgeheads atoms which would otherwise be vulnerable to elimination. The potential realization of hitherto undescribed bonding outcomes makes these macrocycles provocative synthetic targets.
The Future Ecology of Care

In 1961, an article with a similar title changed our understanding about who receives medical care. This article updates our understanding since then, describes the trends changing the ecology of c...
Formal Methods Applications in Air Transportation

The U.S. air transportation system is the most productive in the world, moving far more people and goods than any other. It is also the safest system in the world, thanks in part to its venerable air traffic control system. But as demand for air travel continues to grow, the air traffic control system s aging infrastructure and labor-intensive procedures are impinging on its ability to keep pace with demand. And that impinges on the growth of our economy. Air traffic control modernization has long held the promise of a more efficient air transportation system. Part of NASA s current mission is to develop advanced automation and operational concepts that will expand the capacity of our national airspace system while still maintaining its excellent record for safety. It is a challenging mission, as efforts to modernize have, for decades, been hamstrung by the inability to assure safety to the satisfaction of system operators, system regulators, and/or the traveling public. In this talk, we ll provide a brief history of air traffic control, focusing on the tension between efficiency and safety assurance, and the promise of formal methods going forward.
Analysis of High-, Intermediate-, and Low-Volume Surgeons When Performing Hysterectomy for Uterovaginal Prolapse.

OBJECTIVES To determine if surgeon volume is associated with differences in the use of apical colpopexy and cystoscopy and in the rate of intraoperative complications during hysterectomy for prolapse. METHODS We performed a multicenter retrospective review of hysterectomies done for uterovaginal prolapse at 4 hospital systems between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2011. Low (≤10 cases)-, intermediate (11-49 cases)-, and high (≥50 cases)-volume surgeon groups for the 4-year period were established a priori. Rates of concomitant colpopexy, cystoscopy, and intraoperative complications were determined by chart review for 15% of the cases. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for site and other clinical and patient variables were used to estimate associations between surgeon case volume and the use of apical colpopexy and cystoscopy and the rate of intraoperative complications. RESULTS Three hundred one surgeons performed 4238 hysterectomies for prolapse during the study period. Six hundred thirty-eight patients were selected for chart review. The rates among high-, intermediate-, and low-volume surgeons for performing colpopexy were 85.2% versus 77.8% versus 61.1% (P < 0.001) and for cystoscopy were 96.8% versus 78.3% versus 74.7% (P < 0.001), respectively. Rates of intraoperative complications among the 3 groups were 4.4%, 11.6%, and 6.3% (P = 0.011), respectively. With adjustment, high-volume surgeons were more likely to do a colpopexy than low-volume surgeons (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-3.1); however, the likelihood of colpopexy did not differ between high- and intermediate-volume surgeons (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.84-4.3) or between intermediate- and low-volume surgeons (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.50-2.0). High-volume surgeons were more likely than intermediate-volume (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7-11.0) and low-volume (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.6-8.0) surgeons to do a cystoscopy. High-volume (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.61) and low-volume (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15-0.66) surgeons were less likely than intermediate-volume surgeons to have intraoperative complications. The difference between high- and low-volume surgeons was not statistically significant (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.5-1.2). CONCLUSIONS Practice patterns with respect to hysterectomy for prolapse are complex when the use of colpopexy and cystoscopy and rates of intraoperative complications are analyzed by surgeon volume. The finding that intermediate-volume surgeons have the highest rates of intraoperative complications suggests a nonlinear relationship between surgeon volume and avoidance of injury.
Impact of Unfunded Research in Medicine, Pathology, and Surgery

The impact of unfunded medical research (ie, research conducted with no visible means of support) has received scant attention. In this study, we counted research contributions from the 10 most-cited journals in the fields of internal medicine, pathology, and surgery. Ten consecutive articles, excluding case reports and review articles, for the years 1987, 1989, and 1991 were sampled from each of 10 journals for the three areas of medicine. Unfunded articles accounted for the majority of contributions (60% of pathology articles, 62% of internal medicine articles, and 74% of surgery articles). In 1987, funded research articles published received somewhat more citations (2,961) than unfunded research articles (2,368). Among articles supported by an NIH grant, the first author of the article was seldom the grant's principal investigator (38.6%, 26.9%, and 16.7% of funded articles by pathologists, internists, and surgeons, respectively). These results indicate that unfunded research plays a major role in medical research.
Population Genetics of Rhizobium - A Preliminary Study

Although we know a good deal about the laboratory genetics of Rhizobium, we know rather little about the structure of natural populations. As a first step, we have looked at natural genetic variation in four species of fast-growing Rhizobium taken from a single site: Rhizobium leguminosarum, R. trifolii, R. phaseoli and R. meliloti.
HHV-6, Infantile Spasms, and Cerebellar Astocytoma

A case of human herpesvirus-6 encephalitis, carditis, infantile spasms, and a subsequent cerebellar astrocytoma containing the HHV-6 genome, is reported from the University of Oulu, Finland.
Issues and Trends in Instructional Technology: Increased Use of Mobile Technologies and Digital Content to Provide Untethered Access to Training and Learning Opportunities

Comprised of four sections: Overall Developments; Corporate Training and Development; Higher Education; and K-12 Education, this chapter synthesizes the findings of major annual reports, including the Sloane Consortium’s, Grade Level: Tracking Online Education in the United States (Allen and Seaman, Grade level: Tracking online education in the United States. Babson Park, MA: Babson Survey Research Group and Quahog Research Group, LLC, 2015); the, ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology (Dahlstrom and Bichsel, ECAR study of undergraduate students and information technology. Louisville, CO: ECAR, 2014); the New Media Consortium’s, Horizon Report (Johnson et al., NMC Horizon Report: 2015 higher education edition. Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium, 2015); the Education Week’s Technology Counts 2015 Report (Education Week, Technology counts 2015: Learning the digital way, 2015), and Project Tomorrow’s Speak Up Reports, Understanding Technology—Enhanced Learning in the Lives of Today’s Students and Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning (Project Tomorrow, Digital learning 24/7: Understanding technology—Enhanced learning in the lives of today’s students. Speak Up 2014 Survey, 2015). The authors note continued growth in various instructional approaches (e.g., blended learning, Flipped Classrooms) to online learning, increased use and creation of digital content and curriculum by educators and students, and persistent interest in the effective use of the mobile technologies—especially student owned devices they bring to learning environments.
Oncogenic growth factor signaling mediating tumor escape from cellular immunity

Unrestrained growth factor signals can promote carcinogenesis, as well as other hallmarks of cancer such as immune evasion. Our understanding of the function and complex regulation of HER family of receptors has led to the development of targeted therapeutic agents that suppress tumor growth. However, these receptors also mediate escape from recognition by the host immune system. We discuss how HER family of oncogenic receptors downregulate tumor antigen presentation and upregulate suppressive membrane-bound or soluble secreted inhibitory molecules that ultimately lead to impaired cellular immunity mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition. Implementing this knowledge into new therapeutic strategies to enhance tumor immunogenicity may restore effector cell mediated immune clearance of tumors and clinical efficacy of tumor-targeted immunotherapy against HER receptor overexpression.
The Importance of International Medical Graduates in the United States.

This commentary discusses the current vetting process for international medical graduates and outlines their importance to quality health care delivery in the United States.
Experiments with Simplex ACE: dealing with highly variable targets

We investigate a constrained subspace detector that models the target spectrum as a positive linear combination of multiple reference spectra. This construction permits the input of a large number of target reference spectra, which enables us to go after even highly variable targets without being overwhelmed by false alarms. This constrained basis approach led to the derivation of both the simplex adaptive matched filter (Simplex AMF) and simplex adaptive cosine estimator (Simplex ACE) detectors. Our primary interest is in Simplex ACE, and as such, the experiments in this paper focus on evaluating the robustness of Simplex ACE (with Simplex AMF included for comparison). We present results using large spectral libraries implanted into real hyperspectral data, and compare the performance of our simplex detectors against their traditional subspace detector counterparts. In addition to a large (i.e., several hundred spectra) target library, we induce further target variability by implanting subpixel targets with both added noise and scaled illumination. As a corollary, we also show that in the limit as the target subspace approaches the image space, Subspace AMF becomes the RX anomaly detector.
Health Promotion in Jails and Prisons: An Alternative Paradigm for Correctional Health Services

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, each year about 12 million people, representing 9 million unique individuals, pass through a jail. About 1.5 million individuals are in prison on any given day (Beck, 2006). These individuals include some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, those suffering from or at higher risk of infectious and chronic diseases, addiction and mental illness, and victims and perpetrators of violence (BJS, 2006; Harlow, 1998; National Commission on Correctional Health Care [NCCHC], 2002). Not only are incarcerated populations themselves often unhealthy, but untreated they can also worsen the well-being and impose additional costs on their families and communities (Rogers & Seigenthaler, 2001). Unfortunately, the majority of people leave prison or jail without having their most serious health problems addressed and many correctional health systems see their main responsibility as providing only the most essential medical care to those in their custody. In this chapter, we consider whether the paradigm of health promotion can provide an alternative framework for correctional health and examine the scientific evidence, economic benefits, and legal and moral rationale for this perspective. According to the World Health Organization, health promotion describes the “process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health.” Health promotion seeks to bring about changes in individuals, groups, institutions, and policies in order to improve population health. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, adopted by the WHO in 1986, identifies five critical activities for health promotion: developing personal skills for health, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action for health, reorienting health services, and building healthy public policy (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, World Health Organization, 1986). At first sight, this expansive conception of health promotion seems too idealistic to serve as a useful guide for the consideration of its role in prisons and jails. However, in this chapter, we make the case that a comprehensive definition of health promotion can serve as a useful paradigm that links correctional health care to the larger public health system, expands the focus of correctional health services from medical care during custody to preparation
Harragas and La pirogue: the crucible of clandestine crossings

ABSTRACTAlthough not a new phenomenon, ‘illegal migration’ has exploded in recent years, with daily news of hundreds of Africans, especially youths, risking their lives to cross the Atlantic in order to reach Europe in makeshift boats (pirogues). The dramatic rise in lives lost and families broken have prompted writers and filmmakers alike to grapple with this humanitarian crisis. Merzak Allouache’s film Harragas (2009, Algeria-France) exposes viewers with immediacy to the chilling reality of clandestine sea crossings, while also suggesting the problems that prompt them. Harragas refers to those who burn, e.g. their immigration papers, their identities and, at times, their lives by taking these boats, which often become a crucible of suffering. In this article, we will place Harragas in the context of related contemporary African literary and cinematic expression which explains the lure of a better life in Europe. Most notably, Moussa Toure’s film La pirogue (2012, Senegal) followed in the direction of Ha...
Abstract P325: 6β-hydroxytestosterone, a Cytochrome P450 1B1 Metabolite of Testosterone, Contributes to Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Hyperlipidemic Male Mice

It is well established that men have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) than do premenopausal women of the same age. Angiotensin II (Ang II) induces abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) to a greater degree in male than in female mice, and castration protects male mice against Ang II-induced AAAs. Previously we reported that cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 contributes to Ang II-induced hypertension as well as AAAs in male mice. Recently we have shown that CYP1B1-testosterone derived metabolite 6β-hydroxytestosterone (6β-OHT), mediates Ang II-induced hypertension and cardiac and renal fibrosis in male mice. The current study was conducted to determine the contribution of CYP 1B1-generated 6β-OHT to Ang II-induced AAAs in male mice. Sixteen-week old intact or castrated male, ApoE -/- / Cyp1b1 +/+ (ApoE KO) and ApoE -/- / Cyp1b1 -/- (DKO) mice were infused with 700 ng/kg/min Ang II or its vehicle (s.c.) with osmotic minipumps for 28 days. These mice were also injected with 6β-OHT (15 μg/g body weight, i.p. every 3rd day) or its vehicle for the duration of the experiment. The abdominal aortas were analyzed for development of AAAs (a 50% increase in external abdominal aortic diameter). Ang II significantly increased ( P
Effect of floor space allowances on growth performance of finishing pigs marketed at 138 kilograms

Current floor space allowances were determined in research studies conducted 10 to 20 yr ago using pigs that were marketed at a BW of about 113 kg or less. Currently, pork producers are regularly marketing pigs that weigh over 128 kg. Given this precipitous increase in market weight, we conducted 2 experiments to determine if floor space allowances previously determined apply to pigs marketed at greater than 128 kg. Experiment 1 was conducted at 5 university research stations throughout the Upper Midwest region. In this experiment, we evaluated the growth performance, salivary cortisol concentrations, and lesion scores of pigs weighing between 27 and 138 kg provided 0.71, 0.80, 0.89, 0.98, or 1.07 m/pig of floor space. Within each station, group size (range = 6 to 19 pigs) remained constant across floor space treatments but pen size was altered to achieve the desired space allocations. There were 14 replicate pens for each treatment. Overall, increasing floor space allowance increased final BW (linear, = 0.04) and tended (linear, < 0.06) to increase ADG and ADFI. There were no improvements in final BW or ADG beyond 0.89 m/pig. The G:F was not influenced by increasing floor space allocation. Salivary cortisol concentrations and lesion scores were not affected by floor space allowances. Experiment 2 focused on floor space needs of pigs nearing market weight and was conducted at 4 research stations. Pigs weighing about 130 kg were assigned to pens that provided 0.71, 0.80, 0.89, 0.98, or 1.07 m/pig of floor space. Group size ranged from 4 to 11 pigs per pen but was constant across floor space treatments within station. The study lasted 2 wk and there were 8 replicate pens per treatment. As floor space allowance increased, ADG (0.86, 0.95, 0.95, 1.10, and 1.06 kg; linear, < 0.01), ADFI (3.03, 3.26, 3.22, 3.49, and 3.25 kg; quadratic, < 0.05), and final BW (145.6, 145.7, 146.4, 148.3, and 147.9 kg; linear, < 0.01) increased. Based on the results of these 2 experiments, pigs marketed at about 138 kg require at least 0.89 m/pig to support optimal growth performance. However, heavier pigs (about 148 kg) at the end of the finishing period require 0.98 m/pig.
A Naturalistic, Randomized Pilot Trial of E-Cigarettes: Uptake, Exposure, and Behavioral Effects

Background: Most studies of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) compare self-selected users versus nonusers. The few randomized studies to date generally support a positive impact on reducing smoking behavior, but these studies are focused on guided ENDS use. This study presents a randomized, naturalistic trial of ENDS with prospective outcomes of uptake and behavioral changes in smoking.Methods: Adult smokers with minimal ENDS history were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive product for 3 weeks (n = 46), or not (n = 22). Changes in nicotine delivery (16 vs. 24 mg), midway through the study allowed a compelling opportunity to examine two ENDS products compared with the control group. Primary outcomes, assessed via daily diaries during sampling period and in-person laboratory visits over 4 months, included uptake and usage of ENDS, cessation-related outcomes, and exposure to smoke constituents.Results: All ENDS participants tried product at least once, with 48% of 24 mg and 30% of 16 mg using their assigned product for the entire sampling period. Within the 24 mg ENDs group, 57% made an independent purchase of ENDS, versus 28% of 16 mg, and 14% of control participants (P = 0.01). Smokers in both ENDS groups significantly reduced their smoking, whereas control participants did not (P = 0.03). Cessation behaviors (quit attempts, biologically verified abstinence) numerically but not statistically favored ENDS participants.Conclusions: Results suggest that cigarette smokers are willing to use ENDS with trends toward reduced cigarette smoking and positive changes in cessation-related behaviors.Impact: Randomized, naturalistic trials such as presented herein are needed to understand the population impact of e-cigarettes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(12); 1795-803. ©2017 AACR.
A Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine and Propofol in Children with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Children with autism and autism spectrum disorders have a high incidence of neurologic comorbidities. Consequently, evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is deemed necessary. Sedating these patients poses several challenges. This retrospective study compared the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine to propofol in sedating autistic patients undergoing MRI. There were 56 patients in the dexmedetomidine group and 49 in the propofol group. All of the patients successfully completed the procedure. Recovery and discharge times were significantly lower in the propofol group, while the dexmedetomidine group maintained more stable hemodynamics. Both propofol and dexmedetomidine proved to be adequate and safe medications in the sedation of autistic children undergoing MRI.
Multiple Correspondence Analysis of Pedestrian Crashes in Rural Illinois

During the five-year period between 2010 and 2014, there were 24,178 pedestrian crashes in Illinois. Approximately 4.39% of these pedestrian crashes occurred in rural areas; and approximately 40% o...
A Graph-Theoretic Approach to 3-D Object Recognition and Estimation of Position and Orientation

This paper describes a new technique for modeling and recognition of 3-D objects. 3-D objects are modeled as graphs where the nodes correspond to object vertices and the branches correspond to object edges. Allowable junction types at each object vertex are assigned as the property at the corresponding node of the model graph. Allowable junction type combinations of the neighboring vertices at a given vertex are established as contraints required at the corresponding node of the model graph. The 2-D projections of an object are modeled as subgraph isomorphisms of the model graph. Recognition is by searching if a 2-D projection graph is a subgraph isomorphism of the model graph, and each node in the projection graph also satisfies the constraints at the node of the model graph matched. Techniques are described for the estimation of position and orientation of a 3-D object based on the proposed scheme. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance.
The Role of the Neurosciences in Primate Evolutionary Biology: Historical Commentary and Prospectus

If behavior is the leading edge of evolution, and if the brain is the principal organ of behavior, one might expect the neurosciences to occupy a central place in evolutionary biology. Obviously, this is not the case—at present. Yet the founders of modern physical anthropology and primatology included several individuals who also made significant contributions to neuroanatomy, particularly Grafton Elliot Smith, Wilfred E. Le Gros Clark, and Raymond Dart. (Examples of these contributions include Elliot Smith, 1897, 1910, 1919; Le Gros Clark, 1932, 1941, 1956; Dart, 1934). Such a confluence of professional interests was no accident: these individuals regarded the understanding of brain evolution as crucial for understanding primate phylogeny. As Elliot Smith (1924, p. 21) put it, the facts of brain evolution are “the cement to unite into one comprehensive story the accumulations of knowledge concerning the essential facts of Man’s pedigree.” In the works of Elliot Smith and Le Gros Clark, it was the increasing complexity of the brain, a result of life in the trees, that enabled primates to become behaviorally flexible or adaptable, and so escape the narrowing adaptations that beset terrestrial mammals (see especially Elliot Smith, 1924; Le Gros Clark, 1959).