cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of interfractional shoulder motion on low neck nodal targets for patients treated using volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT).

VMAT is an important tool in the treatment of head and neck cancers, many of which also require treatment to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. However, full VMAT arcs treating this nodal region necessarily cause entrance beam to pass through patients’ shoulders. Thus, interfractional variations in shoulder position may cause unwanted dose perturbations. To assess this possibility, six patients undergoing treatment at our institution for head and neck cancers with associated supraclavicular lymph node treatment were imaged with in-room CT-on-rails during the course of their treatments. This allowed for the establishment of a true record of the actual shoulder position during selected treatment fractions. Then, a full VMAT plan and a plan with VMAT arcs superior to the shoulder and a static anteroposterior field inferiorly were copied onto the patients’ weekly image sets. The average one-dimensional shoulder motion was generally within 10 mm of the simulated position, with some notable exceptions. The standard deviation in week-to-week shoulder position relative to simulation was 4.3 mm and 4.2 mm in the SI and AP dimensions, respectively. The average nodal target mean dose across all fractions sampled was within 5% of planned for all patients and both plans. Similarly, the average D95 for the nodal target was within 5% of planned across all fractions sampled, with the single exception of the full VMAT plan for one patient. In most cases, the standard deviation in both target mean dose and D95 was smaller with the VMAT+static AP field plan than it was with the full VMAT plan.
A mentoring program for women scientists meets a pressing need.

An innovative program supports the career development of women scientists in academia and industry.
Minority Stress and Stress Proliferation among Same-Sex and Other Marginalized Couples

Drawing from 2 largely isolated approaches to the study of social stress-stress proliferation and minority stress-the authors theorize about stress and mental health among same-sex couples. With this integrated stress framework, they hypothesized that couple-level minority stressors may be experienced by individual partners and jointly by couples as a result of the stigmatized status of their same-sex relationship-a novel concept. They also consider dyadic minority stress processes, which result from the relational experience of individual-level minority stressors between partners. Because this framework includes stressors emanating from both status- (e.g., sexual minority) and role-based (e.g., partner) stress domains, it facilitates the study of stress proliferation linking minority stress (e.g., discrimination), more commonly experienced relational stress (e.g., conflict), and mental health. This framework can be applied to the study of stress and health among other marginalized couples, such as interracial/ethnic, interfaith, and age-discrepant couples.
Adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf explants of southern highbush blueberry cultivars

Protocols were developed to optimize adventitious shoot regeneration from four southern highbush blueberry cultivars. Leaf explants from 6 week-old shoots of the four cultivars were excised and cultured on woody plant medium each containing thidiazuron (4.54 or 9.08 μM), zeatin (18.2 μM), or zeatin riboside (5.7 or 11.4 μM) either separately or in combination with α-naphthaleneacetic acid at 2.69 μM. Optimum medium for shoot regeneration was genotype-dependent. Efficient regeneration was obtained at frequencies of 88.9% for ‘Jewel’, 87.8% for ‘Emerald’, 53.3% for ‘Jubilee’ and 87.8% for ‘Biloxi’. Leaf explants of newly developed shoots from the cultures having undergone five subcultures had higher regeneration frequencies than those having undergone two subcultures. Regenerated shoots, 80–100% for each cultivar, rooted in 8 weeks after transplantation to soil. The regeneration systems described have potential use in genetic transformation of southern highbush blueberry cultivars.
Effect of Water Density on Hydrogen Peroxide Dissociation in Supercritical Water. 1. Reaction Equilibrium

Recent experiments showed that the rate of dissociation of H2O2 in supercritical water (SCW) is density dependent and faster than its high-pressure limit rate in the gas phase. These observations suggest that water molecules play a role in this reaction in SCW. We performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the role of water in H2O2 dissociation. We generated the potential energy surface for H2O2−water and OH−water complexes by DFT calculations to determine the parameters in an analytical intermolecular potential model, which was subsequently employed in the molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations were performed at different water densities. They provided the structural properties (pair correlation functions) of dilute mixtures of H2O2 and OH in SCW, from which we were able to calculate the number of excess solvent molecules and partial molar volumes for each solute. We used the partial molar volumes for H2O2 and OH to calculate the re...
Differences in time to detection and recovery of Mycobacterium spp. between the MGIT 960 and the BacT/ALERT MB Automated Culture Systems

Mycobacterium sp. recovery and time to detection were compared in the MGIT 960 and BacT/ALERT MB automated broth culture systems. The MGIT 960 demonstrated shorter time to detection (13.5 versus 25.2 days) and greater sensitivity (100% versus 66.6%) for recovery of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex than the BacT/ALERT MB system.
The formation and decay mechanisms of HCO in the photodissociation of gas phase acetaldehyde

Abstract The kinetic mechanism for the formation and decay of HCO(0,0,0) following flashlamp excitation (10 μs pulse width) into the 1A″ → 1A′ absorption transition of gas phase acetaldehyde (0.2 Torr) was examined by time-resolved intracavity laser detection (TRMD) and by phosphorescence lifetime measurements. The HCO radical was found to appear primarily in the vibrationless level reaching a maximum concentration about 250 μs after the excitation of acetaldehyde. The formation rate of HCO(0,0,0) was observed to be insensitive to an order of magnitude change in the number of collisions of excited-state acetaldehyde with either argon, cyclohexane, or the cell wall. Contrastingly, the decay rate of HCO exhibited a strong dependence on the collisional environment. The rate constants for HCO(0,0,0) decay by collisions with acetaldehyde, argon, and cyclohexane and by reaction with O2 were measured by TRILD. The rate constant for O2, quenching of 3A″ phosphorescence was also obtained. The potential for HCO(0,0,0) being either a primary or secondary dissociation product is considered in the formulation of a kinetic mechanism describing both the formation and decay behavior observed. Evidence is presented in support of a mechanism in which (1) HCO(0,0,0) is formed by the thermal reaction between acetyl radicals. CH3CO, and ground-state acetaldehyde after excited-state acetaldehyde undergoes primary dissociation to CH3CO, and (2) HCO(0,0,0) decays principally by collisionally-induced dissociation at the cell wall.
Five Heads are Better than One: The Committee Approach to Identifying, Assessing, and Initializing Emerging Technologies

This article is a case study on the committee approach to identifying, assessing, and initializing emerging technologies in the library environment. The committee path is offered as an effective means of addressing emerging technologies and social software for libraries where budgetary reductions have made the hiring of a single emerging technologies librarian prohibitive. Specifically the authors focus on the following: the procedure implemented by the committee for emerging technologies; methods by which library requests for specific emerging technologies or technology needs are evaluated and processed; the obstacles the committee encountered; recommendations for future emerging technologies; and resulting conclusions. A literature review contextualizes and highlights the importance of developing strategic approaches to emerging technologies, as well as the potential benefits of using a cross-departmental committee or team.
Adaptive Bitonic Sorting: An Optimal Parallel Algorithm for Shared Memory Machines

We propose a parallel algorithm, called adaptive bitonic sorting, which runs on a PRAC, a shared-memory multiprocessor where fetch and store conflicts are disallowed. On a $P$ processors PRAC, our algorithm achieves optimal performance $TP = O(N \log N)$, for any computation time $T$ in the range $\Omega (\log^{2} N) \leq T \leq O(N \log N)$. Adaptive bitonic sorting has also a small constant factor, since it performs less than $2N \log N$ comparisons, and only a handful of operations per comparison.
Analysis of serum protein concentrations after severe thermal injury in a dog.

Summary Serial serum electrophoreses and routine serum protein assays were used to assess changes in serum protein concentrations after severe thermal injury in a dog. Electrophoretic patterns during the month of evaluation were consistent with protein-losing dermatopathy (thermal burn) and inflammatory dysproteinemias.
Welfare Reform and Immigrants: Noncitizen Eligibility Restrictions, Vulnerable Immigrants, and the Social Service Providers

The welfare reform act of 1996 imposed restrictive welfare eligibility rules for noncitizens. As a result, noncitizens have more limited access to major public assistance programs than ever before. Existing studies document the dramatic impacts of these policy changes on immigrants, their communities, and service providers. Specifically, the percentages of noncitizens receiving public benefits declined sharply, reports of their hardships increased, and service providers were forced to provide additional services with fewer resources. From a long-term perspective, it is unlikely that eligibility restrictions have saved government spending and overall costs to society. These results call for policy changes on noncitizen eligibility restrictions.
Assembly and Architecture of the EBV B Cell Entry Triggering Complex

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the gammaherpesvirinae sub-family that predominantly infects humans through epithelial cells and B cells. Three EBV glycoproteins, gH, gL and gp42, form a complex that targets EBV infection of B cells. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules expressed on B cells serve as the receptor for gp42, triggering membrane fusion and virus entry. The mechanistic role of gHgL in herpesvirus entry has been largely unresolved, but it is thought to regulate the activation of the virally-encoded gB protein, which acts as the primary fusogen. Here we study the assembly and function of the reconstituted B cell entry complex comprised of gHgL, gp42 and HLA class II. The structure from negative-stain electron microscopy provides a detailed snapshot of an intermediate state in EBV entry and highlights the potential for the triggering complex to bring the two membrane bilayers into proximity. Furthermore, gHgL interacts with a previously identified, functionally important hydrophobic pocket on gp42, defining the overall architecture of the complex and playing a critical role in membrane fusion activation. We propose a macroscopic model of the initiating events in EBV B cell fusion centered on the formation of the triggering complex in the context of both viral and host membranes. This model suggests how the triggering complex may bridge the two membrane bilayers, orienting critical regions of the N- and C- terminal ends of gHgL to promote the activation of gB and efficient membrane fusion.
Research in Anatomy, Histology and Related Sciences

This report is a review of the past several years of research in anatom y and his­ tology of the orofacial region. Research in anatomy now uses a num ber of investi­ gative technics in addition to light and dissection microscopy. Microscopes using phase, ultraviolet, interference and polar­ izing equipment, as well as electron m i­ croscopy, are in use. Histochemical technics tha t involve biochemical procedures to stain for the presence of enzymes or other substances in fresh tissue sections are also used. A nother technic involves emulsions ap ­ plied to tissue sections to reveal the loca­ tion and concentration of radioactive sub­ stances. Cells growing in glass vials are being studied and their activities re­ corded by time-lapse cinephotomicrographic equipment. All of these technics and many others appear in this review. Multidisciplinary approaches, such as, the combination of biochemistry, physiology and anatomy, are now common, and some are included for the sake of clarity. The discussion of research in orofacial anatomy has been subdivided into the following subjects: general head and neck; the oral mucosa other than gingiva; the tem porom andib­ u lar jo in t; the salivary glands; the teeth, including enamel, dentin and pulp, and the periodontium, including the gingiva, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and cementum.
Maternal periodontal disease in early pregnancy and risk for a small-for-gestational-age infant

Objective The objective of the study was to determine whether periodontal disease is associated with delivery of a small-for-gestational-age infant. Study design In a prospective study of oral health, periodontal disease was categorized as health, mild, or moderate/severe on the basis of clinical criteria. Small for gestational age was defined as birth weight less than the 10th percentile for gestational age. A risk ratio (95th percentile confidence interval) for a small-for-gestational-age infant among women with moderate or severe periodontal disease was calculated. Results Sixty-seven of 1017 women (6.6%) delivered a small-for-gestational-age infant, and 143 (14.3%) had moderate or severe periodontal disease. The small-for-gestational-age rate was higher among women with moderate or severe periodontal disease, compared with those with health or mild disease (13.8% versus 3.2% versus 6.5%, P Conclusion Moderate or severe periodontal disease early in pregnancy is associated with delivery of a small-for-gestational-age infant. Understanding the mechanism of periodontal disease–associated adverse pregnancy outcomes could lead to interventions to improve fetal growth.
Enzyme-linked immunospot assay for the diagnosis of active treponema pallidum infection during the various stages of syphilis

Background: Specific serologic assays for syphilis cannot differentiate current infections from past infections and are inefficient to monitor efficacy of antibiotic therapy. Goal: To develop a new immunologic assay for the identification of active Treponema pallidum infection during the various stages of syphilis. Study Design: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with syphilis in an STD clinic were tested for T. pallidum-specific circulating antibody-secreting cells (ASC) by an enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT). Results: Specific ASC were demonstrated in all six patients with primary syphilis and in 14 of 16 patients diagnosed with secondary syphilis. ASCs were undetectable in five patients 8 to 16 days after appropriate therapy, but persisted in one case that was considered treatment failure. Among the 13 patients diagnosed with latent syphilis, six (46%) demonstrated ASC, reflecting antigenic stimulation. Conclusion: The ELISPOT assay is effective for the diagnosis of primary and secondary syphilis. The presence of circulating ASC suggests persistent active infection in some patients during the latent disease stage.
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AT KENAI, ALASKA

As a result of the exploration, development, and subsequent production of oil and natural gas, the frontier area on the northwest coast of the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, has undergone rapid and substantial change in land use. In the fifteen years from 1957, when oil was first discovered, to 1972, the area of urban land increased tenfold. Most urban land is used for industrial-supportive commercial activities, residences, and a localized complex of petrochemical and related industrial facilities. The urban development is spread in a narrow band along the main road through the region in the classic strip characteristic of energy-boom areas. The greatest effect of oil and gas development on Kenai's landscape was the expansion of residential and correlative commercial and service land uses, not the construction of drilling structures and petrochemical facilities. Results of this study offer insights on the possible patterns and mixes of land use and land cover development accompanying oil and gas development in other coastal areas.
A Technique to Narrow the Lumen of a Waterston Anastomosis

A technique is described for narrowing the Waterston anastomosis by placing a horizontal mattress suture buttressed with felt pledgets through the aortic wall at the cephalad side of the anastomosis. This maneuver produces a slight but safe narrowing of the anastomotic lumen.
Prediction of depression with the apperceptive personality test

This study examined the relationship between depression and the Apperceptive Personality Test (APT), a picture-story assessment device with an objective scoring system. Subjects were 206 undergraduate volunteer females who completed the APT and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Multiple regression analysis showed significant APT predictors for the BDI. Results are discussed and directions for future research are proposed.
NOTICE: An Architecture for the Notification of Traffic Incidents

The past decade has witnessed the confluence of Intelligent Transportation Systems and Vehicular Networks that is expected to change drastically incident detection and to provide timely dissemination of traffic-related information to the traveling public. As a first step in this direction we introduce NOTICE, a secure and privacy-aware architecture for the notification of traffic incidents. Using sensor belts embedded in the roadway, traffic-related messages and advisories are carried between belts by passing cars. NOTICE moves the responsibility for making decisions about traffic-related information dissemination to the infrastructure rather than leaving those decisions with the drivers, which may have incomplete or incorrect knowledge. Extensive simulation have confirmed that NOTICE can provide “up-to-the-minute” notification of traffic-related incidents to the various participants in the traffic.
Dynamics of Phonological Cognition

A fundamental problem in spoken language is the duality between the continuous aspects of phonetic performance and the discrete aspects of phonological competence. We study 2 instances of this problem from the phenomenon of voicing neutralization and vowel harmony. In each case, we present a model where the experimentally observed continuous distinctions are linked to the discreteness of phonological form using the mathematics of nonlinear dynamics.
Dynamic response and poisoning studies of a liquid-solid catalytic reaction: effects of metal content on adsorption and surface reaction rates

Abstract Individual adsorption equilibrium, adsorption rate, and surface reaction rate coefficients were determined for three supported-metal ( Pd Al 2 O 3 ) catalysts of 0.050, 0.150, and 0.450 wt% palladium content. The data were obtained by a hydrogen-gas, pulse response technique in a well-mixed, three-phase slurry reactor at 25, 38, and 50 °C and atmospheric pressure. The reaction, hydrogenation of α-methyl styrene to cumene in pure methyl styrene, is first-order in H2 and zero-order in methyl styrene. Adsorption equilibrium coefficients for hydrogen on Pd increased with Pd content. The heat of adsorption, 13.7 kJ/mole, was the same for the three catalysts. Adsorption and surface reaction rate coefficients based on mass of catalyst also increase, while those based on mass of Pd decrease with Pd content. The energy of activation increases for adsorption and decreases for the surface reaction rate as Pd content increases, but remains constant for the overall rate constant. The number of active sites on the catalyst surface for these metal loadings was estimated from experimental data of CS2 poisoning. The number of active sites per gram of catalyst increases, and the number per gram of Pd decreases with Pd content. Adsorption equilibrium, adsorption rate, and surface reaction coefficients increase with number of active sites for unpoisoned catalyst. The results suggest that the dynamic response technique combined with poisoning studies is a useful tool in the study of heterogeneous catalysis.
Laboratory evaluation of concrete decks and pavements using ground-penetrating radar

This study presents the findings on the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) to nondestructively assess the condition of bridge decks and pavements with and without asphalt overlay including the thickness effects. Several concrete bridge deck and pavement specimens with varying internal conditions such as with/without reinforcement and with/without delaminations were tested under laboratory conditions. In order to assess the effect of asphalt overlay on the detectability of subsurface delaminations, asphalt layers with thickness ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches were poured on the specimens and tested using GPR. The study also included specimens with debonding at the asphalt/concrete interface. Individual radar waveforms and color intensity plots from these specimens were compared to study the effect of anomalies on the radar waveforms.
On the hybrid stress finite element model for incremental analysis of large deflection problems

Abstract An extension of the hybrid stress finite element model, originally suggested for linear small displacement problems by Pian, to the large deflection problem is presented. An incremental approach and the concepts of initial stress are employed. A procedure to check the equilibrium in the reference state, prior to the addition of a further load increment, is included. An example and a discussion of the results are presented.
Increased serum immunoglobulin levels are common in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

Abstract Background: Patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL; mycosis fungoides [MF] and Sezary syndrome [SS]) acquire immunodeficiency and opportunistic infections. Objective: We attempted to determine whether abnormalities of humoral immunoglobulin levels are present. Methods: A retrospective analysis of serum immunoglobulin levels in patients with CTCL at baseline evaluation at a cancer center was compared to levels in patients with leukemias and levels in healthy control subjects. Results: A total of 254 of 650 patients with CTCL evaluated between 1987 and 2001 had baseline quantitative immunoglobulin levels. Mean IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were similar among all MF/SS patients versus controls. The percentages of MF/SS patients with elevated levels of each immunoglobulin class were higher than percentages in healthy controls, and elevated IgA levels occurred among late versus early patients ( P = .043). Conclusion: High immunoglobulin levels are more frequent in patients with MF and SS than in healthy controls, patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and patients with hairy cell leukemia. High IgA levels are more frequent in late stage MF/SS. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;47:685-91.)
Implication for Services With Gay Men and Lesbians Who Have Served

Gay men and lesbians are marginalized in most areas of society. Throughout history, they have served in all branches of the military. All social workers are likely to encounter veterans that identify as gay or lesbian. This article provides social workers an overview of the description of gay and lesbian military members and introduces readers to areas of consideration when working with this population.
LOGISTIC REGRESSION: THE GENERALIZED LINEAR MODEL IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES '

Before 1990 the use of the generalized linear model (loghear modeling and its subset logistic regression) were virtually absent from the social sciences' research methods (4). However, since 1990, a survey of Adminittro:iue Science Qzrarterly, the Academy of Managernen: Journal, and Personnel Prychology indicate that loglinear modeling and logistic regression are now being used more frequently (3). The generalized linear model broadly speaking does nor assume a norinal dstribution and is therefore the appropriate statistical technique when a researcher is analyzing categorical or binary data. As we have worked on this topic, a number of issues have been unearthed to which researchers using this technique need to be sensitive. (a) Although analogous to ordinary least squares, the generalized linear model is not isomorphic to ordinary least squares: however, there is a temptation to force an interpretation of generalized lulear model coefficients that are only appropriate for ordinary least squares (3). (b) As the generdzed linear model is relatively newer than ordinary least squares, important issues are published throughout the biostatistical and econometric journals, so there is often an over-reliance on a statistical package, e.g., SPSS and SAS, for explanations of the techniques (4). (c) Interpretation and the development of logistic regression models should be theory-driven and not methods driven (4).
Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy in Acute Cholecystitis

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is a mature imaging technique for evaluation of patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). It is effective in calculous and acalculous forms of AC. The test is used in contemporary medical practice as the arbiter when the findings from screening abdominal ultrasound do not fit a clinical picture. It is also performed in severely ill patients who have AC suspected on other testing, but whose frail condition and high operative risk demand the highest level of certainty. This review, therefore, examines all technique variations of hepatobiliary scintigraphy, offering an approach that may best fit a variety of clinical situations and philosophies on AC.
Lower extremity reconstruction using a long-cryopreserved venous allograft for free flap venous outflow.

Vein grafts are used frequently in microvascular surgery, but an adequate supply of autogenous veins is not always available. The search for an ideal substitute for autogenous vein continues. We present a case of lower extremity reconstruction made difficult by lack of suitable autogenous vein for venous outflow from a rectus abdominus free flap. A 36 cm cryopreserved allograft saphenous vein was used on an emergency basis for this problem. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Sociology Major at Institutions of Higher Education in the United States

In this article I examine how the sociology major is structured at institutions of higher education in the United States. I use content analysis of college catalogs from 100 institutions to examine the sociology major at top institutions among regional and national universities and liberal arts colleges. I first examine the basic structure of sociology programs and then evaluate implementation of the recommendations from Liberal Learning and the Sociology Major (Eberts et al. 1990). In 1990 the Council of the American Sociological Association voted to “encourage departments to consider and implement the recommendations” for the undergraduate curriculum found in Liberal Learning. These recommendations suggest a cumulative curriculum, including a four-level sequence and a capstone course. I assess the extent to which these recommendations had been adopted a decade after the report (by the year 2000), and conclude with suggestions for expanding the implementation of recommendations for study in depth in soci...
Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: Results of surgical treatment and long-term prognosis

Objective We sought to define the long-term outcome of surgically treated solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura. Methods We performed a retrospective review from December 1972 through December 2002. Results There were 84 patients (39 men and 45 women) with a median age of 57 years (range, 34–83 years). Forty-six patients were symptomatic. Surgical resection included pulmonary wedge excision in 62 patients, lobectomy in 4 patients, segmentectomy in 2 patients, chest wall resection in 3 patients, isolated pleural resection in 7 patients, and chest wall resection with pulmonary wedge excision, lobectomy, or pneumonectomy in 3, 2, and 1 patients, respectively. Tumors were polypoid in 57 patients, sessile in 20 patients, and intrapulmonary in 7 patients. Histopathology was benign in 73 and malignant in 11 patients. Nine (82%) patient with malignant tumors and 37 (54%) patients with benign tumors were symptomatic ( P = .11). The median tumor diameters for malignant and benign tumors were 12.0 and 4.5 cm, respectively ( P = .001). Operative mortality and morbidity occurred in 3 (3.6%) and 7 (8.1%) patients, respectively. Median follow-up in survivors was 146 months (range, 23–387 months). Median survival for patients with benign and malignant tumors was 284 and 55 months, respectively, and 5-year survival was 88.9% and 45.5%, respectively ( P = .0005). Eight (9.5%) patients had recurrent solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura. Recurrences were malignant in 6 and benign in 2 patients. Localized chest recurrences occurred in 3 patients, all of whom had reresection, with 2 patients again having recurrence. Conclusion Resection of benign solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura carries an excellent prognosis. Larger tumors are more likely to be malignant. Both benign and malignant tumors can recur. Although prolonged survival after resection of malignant tumors is possible, recurrence is common.
A Patient Safety Initiative To Reduce Central-Line Associated Bacteremias

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Central-line associated bacteremias (CLABs) are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and costs to hospitals. Our goal was to decrease our CLAB rate by half, from an average of 5.4 per 1000 devices over the past five years and to possibly eliminate CLABs in the MICU. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team, including nurses, physicians and infection control practitioners was assembled. The team designed a central-line kit to include all items necessary for the procedure, including the catheter, drapes, barriers and chlorhexadine 2% antiseptic skin prep. A central-line insertion checklist was developed to monitor all elements of central-line insertion. Additional efforts included educating staff; empowering the nurses to stop any procedure when the checklist criteria was not met; daily assessment of the central-line and encouragement of staff to remove all femoral lines as soon as possible. The team evaluated every positive blood culture and a root cause analysis was performed. Collection and analysis of data was done according to CDC guidelines from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) program. Improvements of tools and forms used and communication with other departments to address issues continued to evolve as the initiative progressed. RESULTS: From July through December 2005, the average number of CLABs in the MICU over the previous 5 surveillance periods decreased from 6 to 3, a 50% reduction. The CLAB rate decreased from 5.4 per 1000 device days (6 infections/1232 device days) averaged over five years to 2.2 per 1000 device days (3 infections/1343 device days) in 2005. The CLAB rate for the prior year decreased from 6.5 (9 infections/1373 device days), to 2.2, resulting in a 66% reduction. These results were in spite of a high utilization ratio of 0.82 (1343 device days/1629 patient days). CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a program to standardize best practice methods to decrease CLABs with sustained vigilance has resulted in a significant reduction of these infections in the Medical ICU over six months. Using recent estimates, this CLAB initiative may have saved between $40,000 and $172,000 and reduced the length of stay by 42 days. Future goals include improved staff education, greater involvement on the leadership level and a full ICU rollout progressing to hospital-wide implementation.
Sarcoidosis mimicking metastatic thyroid cancer following radioactive iodine therapy

Introduction : Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas that can be present in diverse organ systems. Sarcoidosis can be associated with malignancy, presenting either preceding, during, or after chemotherapy. We herewith report a case of sarcoidosis mimicking cancer recurrence that developed after radioactive iodine therapy for papillary thyroid cancer. Background : A 68-year-old Caucasian woman was found to have an incidental mediastinal lymph node. She underwent biopsy, which revealed sarcoidosis. There was no further treatment or evidence of recurrence over the ensuing 9 years. She was then diagnosed with low-grade papillary thyroid cancer in the right posterior lobe and treated with total thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine therapy. Six months later, she was found to have elevated serum thyroglobulin. Post–remnant ablation scan showed increased tracer uptake in the bed of the thyroid. Though two thyroid ultrasound scans were negative, she was treated with I-131 for possible recurrence. She then developed right hip pain, prompting further investigation. Though a skeletal survey was negative, an 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) scan study revealed multiple hypermetabolic skeletal lesions in both humeri and the proximal left femur. In addition, hypermetabolic hilar and mediastinal nodes were noted. As widespread cancer metastasis was suspected, bone biopsy was performed, which showed non-caseating granulomas, consistent with recurrence of sarcoidosis. Conclusion : Sarcoid lesions may mimic metastatic disease or recurrence in oncologic patients. Biopsy and histopathology examination should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Recurrence or reactivation of sarcoidosis has been proposed to result from altered immunologic milieu because of the presence of either active cancer or its therapy. Teodorovic and colleagues postulated that the radioactive I-131 therapy leads to reduced secretion of Th2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Few case reports of sarcoidosis associated with papillary carcinoma have been published; this is the first report of systemic recurrence of sarcoidosis associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma after treatment with radioactive iodine therapy. Keywords: radioactive iodine therapy; papillary thyroid cancer; sarcoidosis; cancer metastasis; PET scan (Published: 3 February 2015) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2015, 5 : 26360 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v5.26360
An Unusual Complication of the Thumb Following Abductor Digiti Minimi Opponensplasty

An unusual complication of thumb abduction at the metacarpophalangeal joint following an abductor digiti minimi opponensplasty in a hypoplastic thumb is presented in two cases. It is difficult to create a strong ulnar collateral ligament in these children with unstable thumb joints. In some children, the abductor digiti minimi transfer may be too strong for the function it is intended to provide. Reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament may not be strong enough to prevent overpull and secondary deformity. Fusion of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint or chondrodesis may ultimately be required.
Marked Attenuation of Ultradian and Circadian Rhythms of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Postmenopausal Women: Evidence for a Reduced 17,20-Desmolase Enzymatic Activity*

Circulating levels of adrenal delta 5-androgens [dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its sulfate (DS)] selectively decrease with age in both sexes, while cortisol secretion remains unchanged. The mechanism(s) to account for this dissociation is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that a reduced enzymatic activity for delta 5-androgen biosynthesis may be responsible for this phenomenon by examining the ultradian and circadian rhythmicity (15-min sampling frequency for 24 h) of DHEA and cortisol and the responsiveness of DHEA, DS, and cortisol to human CRF stimulation and by the analysis of relative enzymatic activities in the biosynthesis of adrenal steroids in older postmenopausal women (PMW) and younger cycling women (NCW). Our data show that the timing of the circadian rhythm of DHEA secretion was not altered, but the acrophase amplitude was decreased (P less than 0.01) in aged PMW compared to NCW. While the pulse frequency of DHEA remained unchanged, the pulse amplitude was markedly attenuated in PMW compared with NCW (3.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 8.1 +/- 1.1 nmol/L; P less than 0.01). Correspondingly, the 24-h mean of DHEA was markedly reduced (P less than 0.001) in PMW (5.5 +/- 0.8 nmol/L) from that in NCW (12.1 +/- 1.4 nmol/L). For cortisol, all parameters were similar between the two groups. Thus, compared to NCW, the decline of circulating DHEA level in PMW was expressed by attenuations of pulse amplitude and circadian amplitude, without changes in the timing of the circadian rhythm or pulse frequency. Further, DHEA and DS, but not cortisol, responses to 8-h hCRF infusion were significantly (P less than 0.01) diminished in PMW. These findings together with decreased product/precursor ratios for DHEA/17-hydroxypregnenolone (P less than 0.01) and androstenedione/17-hydroxyprogesterone (P less than 0.05) suggest a reduction of 17,20-desmolase enzymatic activity in PMW compared to that in NCW. Steroid ratios for 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17 alpha-hydroxylase were unaltered. We conclude from these preliminary data that the disparity of DHEA and cortisol secretion in aged PMW is probably related to an intraadrenal event, resulting from a decrease in 17,20-desmolase expression, which governs the biosynthesis of delta 5-adrenal androgen.
Executive functions for reading and writing in typical literacy development and dyslexia

Experiment 1: Hierarchical linear modeling of growth trajectories of three executive functions (inhibition; rapid automatic switching, RAS; and combined inhibition/switching) in typical readers and writers showed steady improvement of inhibition but leveling of RAS and inhibition/switching about fourth grade. In multiple regressions, RAS, entered after inhibition, contributed uniquely to literacy outcomes at every grade. Improvement of executive functions over the first four grades predicted literacy outcomes at fourth grade. Experiment 2: For children with dyslexia, executive functions explained less variance in literacy outcomes, and boys were worse in inhibition and inhibition/switching. Developmental, educational, and clinical significance of findings are discussed.
Mitigation of clipping in sensors

One major source of nonlinear distortion in analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is clipping. The problem introduces spurious noise across the bandwidth of the sampled data. Prior works recover the signal from the acquired samples by relying on oversampling or on the assumption of vacant frequency bands and on the use of sparse signal representations. In this work, we propose a different approach, which uses two streams of data to mitigate the clipping distortion. Simulation results show an SNR improvement of 9dB, while the conventional approaches may even degrade the SNR in some situations.
Constructing the “pure” inventor: individual, collective, and corporate authorship within patent law

This paper details how patent law purifies “the” inventing subject of big science while simultaneously disqualifying others from patent eligibility for practicing a similar form of collective authorship. The author begins by detailing what is known as the romantic author trope – the assumption within (Western) patent law that invention is the product of one (versus many). The romantic author trope, however, runs counter to the (collective) inventive process in developing countries. Yet this raises the question: are not the inventions of global capital collective in nature? To understand how the collective nature of invention becomes masked by patent law I introduce the idea of corporate authorship. The paper concludes by making visible the inventive assemblages that make the patentable artifacts of big science possible.
E-government application in promoting local tourism: an empirical study

This paper describes an empirical study about the current issues and development of the application of electronic government (e-government) in promoting local tourism industry for small and local cities and counties throughout the USA. The primary data for this study are collected through a comprehensive website evaluation. The objectives of this research are: 1) to examine the use of online tourism promotion implemented in local city and county websites across the USA; 2) to identify major issues and challenges for local governments in promoting local tourism online; 3) to discuss the managerial implications for future research. The data collected from this study show that there is an emerging need for improvement in promoting local tourism through e-government application.
Thermal ratcheting under biaxial stress states

Abstract Thermal ratcheting, the phenomenon of net strain accumulation due to plastic straining of pressure vessels under cyclic thermal loading, is an important factor in the design of nuclear reactor pressure vessels. In this paper a cyclic thermal gradient loading idealized by means of a step distribution through the pressure vessel wall and biaxial thermoelastic-plastic stress-strain relations are used to calculate the strain accumulation under biaxial mechanical loads. It it shown that the uniaxial stress-strain models presently used in design calculations are adequate for spherical and cylindrical shells under internal pressure; however, for uniaxial loading and for torsional loading, the use of these models may underestimate the accumulated ratchet strain.
Sleights of privacy: framing, disclosures, and the limits of transparency

In an effort to address persistent consumer privacy concerns, policy makers and the data industry seem to have found common grounds in proposals that aim at making online privacy more "transparent." Such self-regulatory approaches rely on, among other things, providing more and better information to users of Internet services about how their data is used. However, we illustrate in a series of experiments that even simple privacy notices do not consistently impact disclosure behavior, and may in fact be used to nudge individuals to disclose variable amounts of personal information. In a first experiment, we demonstrate that the impact of privacy notices on disclosure is sensitive to relative judgments, even when the objective risks of disclosure actually stay constant. In a second experiment, we show that the impact of privacy notices on disclosure can be muted by introducing simple misdirections that do not alter the objective risk of disclosure. These findings cast doubts on the likelihood of initiatives predicated around notices and transparency to address, by themselves, online privacy concerns.
Determination of electron relaxation-time in metals by weakly-damped helicon waves

Abstract A method for making direct determinations of ω c τ of electrons in metals is proposed. In conjunction with the cyclotron resonance results, accurate measurements of the anisotropy of electron relaxation-time in metals are feasible.
Abstract IA04: ATRX mutations in human carcinogenesis

The recent years, genome-wide analyses identified the genetic landscapes of many different tumor types. One of the most frequent class of genes found to be mutated were genes whose products regulate epigenetic mechanisms, like chromatin modification and remodeling, providing a link between genetic alterations and epigenetic changes in cancer. One of these genes is ATRX. This gene has been studied in the context of alpha thalassemia-mental retardation X-linked syndrome. In human sporadic solid tumors, it was first shown to be mutated in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs). Approximately, 50% of PanNETs had mutations in either ATRX or DAXX. The proteins of these two genes form a complex that deposits H3.3 at heterochromatin and telomeres. ATRX, but not DAXX, has also been found to be mutated in certain types of central nervous system tumors. The prevalence of mutations in ATRX is different for the different types of gliomas. It is mutated more frequently in astrocytomas and oligoastrocytomas, but rarely in primary glioblastomas. Recently, we identified mutations in the promoter of TERT in the same set of glioma samples. TERT mutations were more prevalent in primary glioblastomas and oligodendrogliomas. Overall, mutations in ATRX and TERT were mutually exclusive, suggesting that these two genetic mechanisms result in equivalent growth advantages. Mutations in ATRX have almost perfect correlation with Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) phenotype in PanNETs, CNS tumors and other cases with ATRX mutations, thus, TERT activation and ALT phenotype are mutually exclusive. This has implications for understanding the relationship between telomeres and tumorigenesis. These studies, in addition to providing clues about the underlying genetic changes that drive tumorigenesis, they also have clinical implications. Mutations in ATRX or DAXX in PanNETs associate with better prognosis. Mutations of ATRX and TERT aid in the classification and prognostication of brain tumors. Further understanding of the role of ATRX in tumorigenesis should help in uncovering new ways for therapeutic targeting of tumors with mutations in this gene. Citation Format: Nickolas E. Papadopoulos. ATRX mutations in human carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr IA04.
Effect of upscaling heterogeneous domain on CO2 trapping mechanisms

Abstract We study the effect of upscaling (based on single-phase properties) on buoyancy-driven vertical flow of CO 2 . The mechanism of CO 2 immobilization of interest in this situation is local capillary trapping, resulting from competition between buoyancy and capillarity in fine-scale heterogeneity. Different degrees of coarsening are considered and based on average gas saturation and mass of CO 2 in storage aquifer, these upscaling methods are found to underestimate the extent of local capillary trapping. Then, we upscale the simulation of a leak at the top seal of the aquifer after buoyancy-driven flow has stabilized, again with the single phase upscaling method. The predicted amount of escaped gas is larger for the upscaled simulations, and as such, single-phase upscaling appears to underestimate the security of CO 2 sequestration in heterogeneous formations. Using a corrected value of residual gas saturation in coarse-grid simulations is shown to give an acceptable result for the mass percent of escaped CO 2 .