cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complementary medicine treatment of uterine fibroids: a pilot study.

CONTEXT Women are seeking alternatives to medications and surgeryfor the treatment of uterine fibroids; therefore, it is important to know whether these therapies work and are cost-effective. OBJECTIVE To report on the treatment of women with uterine fibroids using a suite of nonpharmacological and nonsurgical therapies and to compare this alternative treatment to a matched sample of similar women using standard medical approaches. DESIGN Matched comparison to standard-of-care control group. SETTING Academic family practice department and clinic, including a center for complementary and alternative medicine. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-seven menstruating women, aged 24 to 45 years, with palpable uterine fibroids, and their matched controls, who were enrolled in conventional treatment. INTERVENTION The treatment program consisted of weekly traditional Chinese medicine, body therapy (somatic therapy, bodywork), and guided imagery. Treatment lasted as long as 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in fibroid size, changes in bothersome symptoms, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS Fibroids shrank or stopped growing in 22 patients among the treatment group and 3 among the comparison group (P <.01). Cost of care averaged $3800 per patient in the treatment group and was significantly greater than costs for the comparison group for the study period. Bothersome symptoms of fibroids responded equally well to pharmacological or nonpharmacological therapies. All measures of patient satisfaction were significantly higher among the treatment group compared to those receiving conventional care. CONCLUSIONS As reported previously in the Chinese medical literature, alternatives exist to pharmacological and surgical methods for treating uterine fibroids, though they are not inexpensive.
Submillimeter and far-infrared dielectric properties of thin films

The complex dielectric function enables the study of a material's refractive and absorptive properties and provides information on a material's potential for practical application. Commonly employed line shape profile functions from the literature are briefly surveyed and their suitability for representation of dielectric material properties are discussed. An analysis approach to derive a material's complex dielectric function from observed transmittance spectra in the far-infrared and submillimeter regimes is presented. The underlying model employed satisfies the requirements set by the Kramers-Kronig relations. The dielectric function parameters derived from this approachtypically reproduce the observed transmittance spectra with an accuracy of < 4%.
The “Superior Ledge”: a Modification of the Standard Superomedial Pedicle Reduction Mammoplasty to Accentuate Nipple-Areola Complex Projection

The superomedial pedicle parenchymal excision pattern for reduction mammaplasty has the benefits of a reproducible breast shape and improved superomedial fullness, but is limited by a susceptibility to nipple retraction. The senior author of this paper has formalized the “superior ledge” modification of the superomedial pedicle technique (SL-SMP) to address these limitations. To describe the technical details of the SL-SMP breast reduction technique and to analyze patient outcomes. The technique involves only partial-thickness parenchymal excision superolateral to the pedicle, thereby leaving a “superior ledge” of parenchyma on top of which the nipple-areola complex (NAC) rests in a tension-free manner. Postoperative photographs were recorded; and patient demographics, intraoperative details, complications, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. One hundred seven patients underwent SL-SMP reduction mammaplasty between 2007 and 2013. Complications included wound-healing complications (9.3 %), infection (2.8 %), seroma (1.9 %), and hematoma (1.9 %). Mean follow-up was 44.6 months (Range: 17–72), and during that period no incidence of clinically relevant NAC retraction was noted by either the patient or surgical team. Maintenance of a distinct superior ledge underlying the final position of the NAC is an important modification to stress, to prevent nipple retraction. Importantly, the height of the ledge can be personalized for each patient. We feel it is a valuable addition to the plastic surgeon’s armamentarium to optimize outcomes for patients seeking relief from excessive breast tissue. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Testing Generative Models of Online Collaboration with BigBang

We introduce BigBang, a new Python toolkit for analyzing online collaborative communities such as those that build open source software. Mail- ing lists serve as critical communications infrastructure for many communities, including several of the open source software development communities that build scientific Python packages. BigBang provides tools for analyzing mailing lists. As a demonstration, in this paper we test a generative model of network growth on collaborative communities. We derive social networks from archival mailing list history and test the Barabasi-Alpert model against this data. We find the model does not fit the data, but that mailing list social networks share statistical regularities. This suggests room for a new generative model of network formation in the open collaborative setting. plausibility that these graphs were generated by Barabasi- Alpert network model. We find that of the mailing lists we've analyzed, none exhibit two features of Barabasi-Alpert networks: power law degree distribution and zero degree assortativity. Instead the data indicates that these networks have a log-normal degree distribution and have negative degree disassortivity. This result suggests the possibility of future work of scientifically developing a generative model of col- laboration. BigBang Overview
Configurable and adaptive middleware for energy-efficient distributed mobile computing

The energy demands of modern mobile devices are outstripping their battery lives. As a result, energy efficiency—fitting an energy budget and maximizing the utility of applications under given battery constraints—has become an important system design consideration. Because network communication incurs high energy costs in mobile applications, middleware presents a promising target for energy optimizations. Unfortunately, mainstream middleware mechanisms are oblivious to the highly volatile nature of mobile networks, operating over which energy efficiently requires aligning the middleware communication patterns with the network conditions in place. In this paper, we present a novel middleware architecture that optimizes energy consumption by adapting various facets of middleware functionality (e.g., data communication, encoding, and compression) dynamically in response to fluctuations in network conditions. By means of a simple configuration file, the programmer can specify the policies to follow for various parts of the communication functionality and how policies should be triggered by changes in network conditions. As compared to mainstream middleware mechanisms, our reference implementation improves the energy efficiency of mobile applications. Specifically, our benchmarks and case studies demonstrate that the new middleware architecture can reduce the energy budget of a typical third-party mobile application by as much as 30%.
MDS disease characteristics, not donor source, predict hematopoietic stem cell transplant outcomes

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous group of hematological malignancies with considerably variable prognoses and curable only with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Few studies comparing MDS HCT outcomes between sibling and umbilical cord blood (UCB) donors exist. Using the University of Minnesota Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) database, we retrospectively analyzed HCT outcomes among 89 MDS patients undergoing either sibling or double UCB HCT in 2000-2013. We observed similar survival, relapse and non-relapse mortality between sibling and UCB donor sources. Relapse was increased in those with monosomal karyotype (P=0.04) and with reduced intensity conditioning (P<0.01). In summary, our data highlight similar MDS HCT outcomes regardless of donor source and support the use of UCB as an alternative donor when a sibling is unavailable.
Optomechanical crystals at millikelvin temperatures

We will present pulsed optical measurements of silicon optomechanical crystals at millikelvin temperatures. These measurements highlight the exciting new opportunities for application of microwave phononic devices in the quantum realm, but also some of the challenges.
Use of the Isolated Canine Brain in Studies of Cerebral Metabolism, Metabolite Transport, and Cerebrovascular Physiology

Traditionally, investigators have used in vitro and in vivo techniques to study metabolism in the brain. Although a great deal of useful information has been derived from studies with in vivo and in vitro systems, a number of difficulties are inherent in such preparations. For example, the preparation of in vitro systems results in disruption of the usual membrane barriers, thus enzymes are placed in an abnormal environment that may contain unusual concentrations of activators, inhibitors, or substrates. Another drawback is that short periods of anoxia are encountered during preparation of brain slices, homogenates, and various cell organelles. Such anoxic conditions are known to produce adverse effects and irreversible changes in the higher centers of the brain. Consequently, one is faced with the monumental task of relating data obtained from the in vitro system, after having made appropriate corrections for artifacts resulting from preparation, to metabolism in the intact organ. This difficulty could be avoided by using in vivo preparations were it not for physiologic and metabolic interference from other tissues. A way to circumvent most of the disadvantages of both the in vitro and in vivo systems in the study of cerebral metabolism is to use an isolated organ preparation.
An Examination of the Relationship Between Insomnia and Tinnitus: A Review and Recommendations:

Tinnitus is a prevalent medical disorder which frequently becomes chronic and severe. Furthermore, quality of life can become compromised with many experiencing comorbid insomnia. We hypothesize th...
The man in Transition: Kurt Lewin and his Times

Kurt Lewin was born September 9, 1890 in Mogilno, Poland. Mogilno is a small town situated about mid-point between Poznan and the Visla, the river which flows from the Carpath Mountains into the Baltic Sea. Since the last partition of Poland in 1795 the little town had become part of Prussia. The official language, the law, the governing institutions were German. And so were many of the leading towns people. But the villages surrounding this small town, the nobility and the simple people in the town were Polish.
Milk Proteins and Metabolic Requirements of Trace Elements, Minerals, and Vitamins

For most age groups, milk is considered an excellent source of many nutrients. Even those nutrients which do not occur in high concentrations in milk appear to be well taken up from milk and dairy products. When examining the reasons for the high bioavailability of nutrients from milk, a distinction must be made between the newborn infant with a not yet fully developed gastrointestinal tract and the adult with a much higher capacity for digestion. It is likely that the mechanisms explaining the high bioavailability will be quite different for these two age groups. In this paper, I will therefore attempt to give this developmental perspective to nutrient absorption from milk. Since many nutrients are bound to proteins, this discussion will primarily focus on milk proteins and how they differ from other sources of protein.
High dose self-ion irradiation of silicon carbide with nanostructured ferritic alloy aid

Silicon carbide (SiC) and its composites are gaining interests because of their high physical and chemical stability, good oxidation and irradiation resistance, and excellent mechanical and thermal behaviors for nuclear cladding applications. In this work, ion irradiation on spark plasma-sintered SiC with and without nanostructured ferritic alloy aid (0 vol% NFA–100 vol% SiC and 2.5 vol% NFA–97.5 vol% SiC) was carried out using 5 MeV Si++ ions at 2.2 × 1018 ions cm−2 fluence and characterized based on scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy in order to understand their irradiation resistance behaviors. The surfaces of both the 0 vol% NFA–100 vol% SiC and 2.5 vol% NFA–97.5 vol% SiC samples experience a dramatic change with the creation of a well-defined dune pattern, which can be explained based on the Bradley–Harper model. The irradiation-induced damage layer has a consistent thickness and agrees with the result from SRIM simulation. Complete amorphization occurs for the SiC phase, while a crystalline structure is maintained for the Fe3Si phase. Results of the current study have great potential for developing NFA–SiC cladding materials of nuclear reactors.
Mild or Borderline Hip Dysplasia: Are We Characterizing Hips With a Lateral Center-Edge Angle Between 18° and 25° Appropriately?

Background:Controversy surrounds the classification and treatment of hips with a lateral center-edge angle (LCEA) between 18° and 25°. It remains undetermined as to whether periacetabular osteotomy...
Maximum integer flows in directed planar graphs with vertex capacities and multiple sources and sinks

We consider the maximum flow problem in directed planar graphs with capacities on both vertices and arcs and with multiple sources and sinks. We present three algorithms when the capacities are integers. The first algorithm runs in O(min{k2n log n, n log3n+kn}) time when all capacities are bounded by a constant, where n is the number of vertices in the graph and k is the number of terminals. This algorithm is the first to solve the vertex-disjoint paths problem in near-linear time when k is fixed but larger than 2. The second algorithm runs in O(k5n polylog(nU)) time, where U is the largest finite capacity of a single vertex. Finally, when k = 3, we present an algorithm that runs in O(n log n) time; this algorithm works even when the capacities are arbitrary reals. Our algorithms improve on the fastest previously known algorithms when k is fixed and U is bounded by a polynomial in n. Prior to this result, the fastest algorithms ran in O(n2/ log n) time for real capacities, O(n3/2 log n log U) for integer capacities, and O(n10/7) for unit capacities, even when k = 3.
Mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises: reduced anxiety for clients and self-care for social work interns

The purpose of this article is to identify and describe a teaching tool that supports social work student success in the classroom and in field placement. The project introduced mindfulness, medita...
Indications for lung transplant referral and listing.

Lung transplantation is a valuable therapeutic option for many patients with severe lung disease who have exhausted other medical or surgical therapies. However, since lungs are not a manufacturable organ like artificial heart valves or left ventricular assist devices, and since they are a limited resource compared to number of patients requiring the organs, the Department of Health and Human Services set the Final Rule of organ allocation in 1998. This led to development and implementation of Lung Allocation Score (LAS) in 2005. The score broadly divides lung diseases into 4 diagnostic criteria with a coefficient factor given to each category. The score is based on the prognostic factors of each patient to determine the risk of mortality without a transplant combined with the probability of patient survival post-transplant. Most of the guidelines for “Indications for referral and listing in lung transplant” is based on consensus opinion as there is limited amount of robust data and trials about this topic. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant (ISHLT) has published three editions for candidate selection and listing. In this article, we have attempted to highlight the guidelines and incorporated other disease specific prognostic factors that are not captured in the LAS. Ultimately, there are other factors like geographic location, height, blood group, preformed antibodies, transplant center experience, past wait times and transplant rate, availability of organs, etc., which also play a role especially when considering listing a patient for lung transplant. We also highlighted a representative disease in each category and most criteria for that disease will apply to other diseases in that category. Finally, this article does not delve into the history and reasoning behind each guideline but is meant to provide a general overview of indications and contraindications applicable in the field of adult lung transplantation.
Hypertension Treatment in US Long-Term Nursing Home Residents With and Without Dementia.

OBJECTIVES To describe patterns of antihypertensive medication treatment in hypertensive nursing home (NH) residents with and without dementia and determine the association between antihypertensive treatment and outcomes important to individuals with dementia. DESIGN Observational cohort study. SETTING All US NHs. PARTICIPANTS Long-term NH residents treated for hypertension in the second quarter of 2013, with and without moderate or severe cognitive impairment, as defined by the NH Minimum Data Set (MDS) Cognitive Function Scale. MEASUREMENTS The primary exposure was intensity of antihypertensive treatment, as defined as number of first-line antihypertensive medications in Medicare Part D dispensing data. The outcome measures were hospitalization, hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases using Medicare Hierarchical Condition Categories, decline in physical function using the MDS Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) scale, and death during a 180-day follow-up period. RESULTS Of 255 670 NH residents treated for hypertension, 117 732 (46.0%) had moderate or severe cognitive impairment. At baseline, 54.4%, 34.3%, and 11.4% received one, two, and three or more antihypertensive medications, respectively. Moderate or severe cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 0.80 vs no or mild impairment; P < .0001), worse physical function (OR = 0.64 worst vs best tertile; P < .0001), and hospice or less than a 6-month life expectancy (OR = 0.80; P < .0001) were associated with receipt of fewer antihypertensive medications. Increased intensity of antihypertensive treatment was associated with small increases in hospitalization (difference per additional medication = 0.24%; 95% confidence interval = 0.03%-0.45%) and cardiovascular hospitalization (difference per additional medication = 0.30%; 95% confidence interval = 0.21%-0.39%) and a small decrease in ADL decline (difference per additional medication = -0.46%; 95% confidence interval = -0.67% to -0.25%). There was no significant difference in mortality (difference per additional medication = -0.05%; 95% confidence interval = -0.23% to 0.13%). CONCLUSION Long-term NH residents with hypertension do not experience significant benefits from more intensive antihypertensive treatment. Antihypertensive medications are reasonable targets for deintensification in residents in whom this is consistent with goals of care. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2058-2064, 2019.
A Bayesian hierarchical model for prediction of latent health states from multiple data sources with application to active surveillance of prostate cancer

In this article, we present a Bayesian hierarchical model for predicting a latent health state from longitudinal clinical measurements. Model development is motivated by the need to integrate multiple sources of data to improve clinical decisions about whether to remove or irradiate a patient's prostate cancer. Existing modeling approaches are extended to accommodate measurement error in cancer state determinations based on biopsied tissue, clinical measurements possibly not missing at random, and informative partial observation of the true state. The proposed model enables estimation of whether an individual's underlying prostate cancer is aggressive, requiring surgery and/or radiation, or indolent, permitting continued surveillance. These individualized predictions can then be communicated to clinicians and patients to inform decision-making. We demonstrate the model with data from a cohort of low-risk prostate cancer patients at Johns Hopkins University and assess predictive accuracy among a subset for whom true cancer state is observed. Simulation studies confirm model performance and explore the impact of adjusting for informative missingness on true state predictions. R code is provided in an online supplement and at http://github.com/rycoley/prediction-prostate-surveillance.
Assessment of Microplastics in the Great Plains: Comparing Densities in Water and Benthic Sediment Across Kansas

Microplastics have come to the forefront of aquatic science over the past decade. Research on microplastics has focused primarily on presence and distribution, and the overwhelming majority of studies have been conducted in marine environments. These plastic particles have the potential to leach chemicals into the surrounding aquatic environment, or into organisms that actively or passively ingest them, affecting growth, behavior, and survival. Plastics also change the physical properties of the stream, altering temperature, permeability of water through sediments, and habitat suitability. This research quantifies microplastics in the Great Plains. Surface water and sediment samples were collected at twenty-three locations from small streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs in Fall 2018. We reviewed a variety of sample processing techniques and chose a method that destroyed the least amount of microplastics per sample and exhibited a high rate of recovery. Samples were filtered through a 125 µm mesh sieve and thoroughly rinsed, placed into 30 mL polypropylene vials and processed in 15mL of 1N KOH for 14 days. Microplastics were detected in all samples. Data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance and paired t-test. Sediment samples had orders of magnitude greater microplastic densities than water column samples. The issue of microplastics is ubiquitous across aquatic environments, and we intend to build on this research with more thorough documentation of distribution and density across the Great Plains and mechanistic experimental manipulations to assess ecological impacts on stream environments and organisms.
Interteaching: Discussion group size and course performance

Researchers have yet to examine whether discussion group size affects student performance in an interteaching-based course. In the current study, we addressed this question by manipulating discussion group size (smaller groups of 2 students vs. larger groups of 4 students) across 2 sections of an undergraduate psychology course. We found no significant differences between the sections on 6 unit exams, on a cumulative final exam, and in the total number of points earned across the semester.
Recovery from Addiction: Maintenance and Preventing Relapse

Recovery is a multidimensional concept including biological, genetic, psychological, social, and cognitive components. While there are many definitions of recovery, there is no validated tool for measuring it. However, over the past decades, we have gained a deeper understanding of how substance use disorder (SUD) can benefit from psychosocial interventions, assisting an individual to achieve gradual, positive changes by understanding the stages of recovery. Relapse prevention (RP) collects cognitive-behavioral intervention strategies intended to prevent lapse (impulsive and brief use) and relapse (returning to uncontrolled use) among individuals with SUDs. RP is based on the biopsychosocial model of addiction where addictive behaviors are conceptualized as acquired habits with biological, psychosocial, and social determinants and consequences. Progress in recovery is most realistically measured according to the individual’s goals. Any positive changes are valued and reinforced by identifying clinical, nonclinical and self-management pathways for the individual.
Possible Role of the Microbiome in the Development of Acute Malnutrition and Implications for Food-Based Strategies to Prevent and Treat Acute Malnutrition

A pattern of changes in the microbiome composition have been observed in the normal maturation of the human gut. Perturbations from this pattern have been described in malnourished humans and reproduced in animal models of severe malnutrition. Treatment and prevention of malnutrition in the future may be more effective if the interventions not only restore body composition, but the composition of the microbiome as well.
The Variable Effects of NSAIDs on Osteotomy Healing and Opioid Consumption.

In an effort to fight the opioid epidemic, an NSAID pain protocol was created for osteotomy patients. The study asked if NSAIDs negatively affect bone healing or reduce the need for opioids. Methods This was a retrospective review of 155 limbs that underwent osteotomy of a long bone with fixation. Patients received an NSAID-free protocol or an NSAID protocol. Time to union and bone healing index were recorded. Results There was not a significant difference in the time to union (P = 0.89) or bone healing index (P = 0.07). In the deformity correction group, the total milligrams of morphine equivalents prescribed after discharge was significantly less in patients receiving NSAIDs (P < 0.001). Conclusions The use of NSAIDs after osteotomy surgery did not negatively affect bone healing and resulted in a dramatic decrease in narcotic consumption for deformity correction patients. Level of Evidence Level III retrospective cohort study.
Laboratory and field correlation methodology (Conference Presentation)

Multispectral (MSI) and hyperspectral (HSI) imaging spectrometers have become essential tools for various applications from agricultural to defense. It is imperative to assess the performance of multi-spectral performance in relevant environmental locations. However, these techniques can be time consuming, expensive, and often a difficult process to assess the spectral properties in the relevant environments and terrains. Therefore, an alternate test methodology will be explored, such as, the utilization of laboratory analysis for predictive means. The method will not replace the need for actual testing, but can reduce the need for such testing. The methodology will utilize a fully spectrally characterized environment and terrain, which will be compared to laboratory measurements across the full spectrum. The correlated results will be described and the effectiveness of the methodology will be assessed.
Polymer Nanocomposite Data: Curation, Frameworks, Access, and Potential for Discovery and Design

With the advent of the materials genome initiative (MGI) in the United States and a similar focus on materials data around the world, a number of materials data resources and associated vocabularie...
Expanding the Chemistry of Salt-Inclusion Materials: Utilizing the Titanyl Ion as a Structure Directing Agent for the Targeted Synthesis of Salt-Inclusion Titanium Silicates

Salt-Inclusion Materials (SIMs) are a diverse and interesting class of materials. However, their synthesis has been largely serendipitous. The targeted synthesis of SIMs requires both synthetic and...
Experimentally validated thermodynamic theory of metal fatigue

Abstract Fracture due to cyclic actuation occurs when the accumulated entropy generation reaches a critical threshold known as the fracture fatigue entropy (FFE). The accumulated entropy generation is directly related to the intrinsic dissipations such as the supplied work, damage energy, cold work, and internal friction. In this paper, we examine the contribution of these mechanisms to fatigue damage via an irreversible thermodynamic framework and provide experimental evidence for the validity of the formulations. The formulations properly capture the evolution of temperature and reveal that experimentally observed abrupt temperature rise just before fracture is due to the rapid increase in damage and can be predicted.
Stable matching of customers and manufacturers for sharing economy of additive manufacturing

Abstract With rapid advances in internet and computing technologies, sharing economy paves a new way for people to “share” assets and services with others that disrupts traditional business models across the world. Specifically, rapid growth of additive manufacturing (AM) enables individuals and small manufacturers to own machines and share under-utilized resources with others. Such a decentralized market calls upon the development of new analytical methods and tools to help customers and manufacturers find each other and further shorten the AM supply chain. This paper presents a bipartite matching framework to model the resource allocation among customers and manufacturers and leverage the stable matching algorithm to optimize matches between customers and AM providers. We perform a comparison study with Mix Integer Linear Programming (MILP) optimization as well as the first-come-first-serve (FCFS) allocation strategy for different scenarios of demand-supply configurations (i.e., from 50% to 500%) and system complexities (i.e., uniform parts and manufacturers, heterogeneous parts and uniform manufacturers, heterogeneous parts and manufacturers). Experimental results show that the proposed framework has strong potentials to optimize resource allocation in the AM sharing economy.
Interrelation of Hemoperfusion, Plasma Clearance and Half Life

One goal of therapy of acute poisoning is to achieve a maximal rate of elimination. In the past two decades, forced diuresis and hemodialysis have been used for this purpose most successfully in the management of water soluble intoxicants (1). Lipid soluble poisons are removed only minimally, in part because of low clearances and large distribution spaces (2). Hemoperfusion, however, achieves higher clearances, even of lipid soluble toxins (3,4,5).
Quantifying and explaining accessibility with application to the 2009 H1N1 vaccination campaign

Accessibility and equity across populations are important measures in public health. This paper is specifically concerned with potential spatial accessibility, or the opportunity to receive care as moderated by geographic factors, and with horizontal equity, or fairness across populations regardless of need. Both accessibility and equity were goals of the 2009 vaccination campaign for the novel H1N1a influenza virus, including during the period when demand for vaccine exceeded supply. Distribution system design can influence equity and accessibility at the local level. We develop a general methodology that integrates optimization, game theory, and spatial statistics to measure potential spatial accessibility across a network, where we quantify spatial accessibility by travel distance and scarcity. We estimate and make inference on local (census-tract level) associations between accessibility and geographic, socioeconomic, and health care infrastructure factors to identify potential inequities in vaccine accessibility during the 2009 H1N1 vaccination campaign in the U.S. We find that there were inequities in access to vaccine at the local level and that these were associated with factors including population density and health care infrastructure. Our methodology for measuring and explaining accessibility leads to policy recommendations for federal, state, and local public health officials. The spatial-specific results inform the development of equitable distribution plans for future public health efforts.
Teaching Economics with Short Stories

Using short stories as supplements to traditional economics courses or as the part of nontraditional economics or interdisciplinary courses helps students to grasp economic concepts while diversifying instructional methods in the classroom. Short stories centered on economic concepts fit well in the long tradition of teaching by parable. Students derive great pleasure from reading short stories and they possess great skill analyzing short stories, seeming quick to grasp even very subtle meaning in the narrative. The paper describes the pedagogical value of this literary form and presents numerous short stories apt for use in the economics classroom.
Fronto-temporal white matter connectivity predicts reversal learning errors

Each day, we make hundreds of decisions. In some instances, these decisions are guided by our innate needs; in other instances they are guided by memory. Probabilistic reversal learning tasks exemplify the close relationship between decision making and memory, as subjects are exposed to repeated pairings of a stimulus choice with a reward or punishment outcome. After stimulus-outcome associations have been learned, the associated reward contingencies are reversed, and participants are not immediately aware of this reversal. Individual differences in the tendency to choose the previously rewarded stimulus reveal differences in the tendency to make poorly-considered, inflexible choices. Lesion studies have strongly linked reversal learning performance to the functioning of the orbitofrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and in some instances, the amygdala. Here, we asked whether individual differences in the microstructure of the uncinate fasciculus (UF), a white matter tract that connects anterior and medial temporal lobe regions to the orbitofrontal cortex, predicts reversal learning performance. Diffusion tensor imaging and behavioral paradigms were used to examine this relationship in 33 healthy young adults. The results of tractography revealed a significant negative relationship between reversal learning performance and uncinate axial diffusivity, but no such relationship was demonstrated in a control tract, the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Our findings suggest that the uncinate might serve to integrate associations stored in the anterior/medial temporal lobes with expectations about expected value based on feedback history, computed in the orbitofrontal cortex.
Economic Empowerment and Political Participation: The Political Impact of Microfinance in Senegal

This dissertation clarifies some of the questions surrounding the impact of microfinance on political participation. Most scholars suggest that participating in a microfinance program increases political participation through deepening and increasing social networks, based on the Grameen Model of gender and group-based borrowing. Very little has been done to study the impact of microfinance on political participation across different lending schemes. Original survey data reveal that there is a strong and statistically significant, positive relationship between microfinance and various forms of political participation. The relationship between microfinance and political participation is not only attributable to microfinance's impact on social capital but also through microfinance's impact on an individual's socioeconomic status.
Analysis of left ventricle global deformation based on dynamic CT data

Addresses the problem of estimating left ventricle rigid and nonrigid motions from 3D dynamic CT data via a model-based approach. The authors have developed a two-stage scheme to estimate the motion and deformation of the left ventricle. In the first stage, the rigid motion of the left ventricle is computed from the position and orientation change of an object-centered coordinate system. In the second stage, the global deformations of the left ventricle are estimated by fitting the digital surface to superquadric modeling primitives which are used to model the time-varying and deformable left ventricle shape. Deformation operations, such as tapering and bending, are applied to the basic superquadric modeling primitives in order to capture the complex nature of the left ventricle shape and nonrigid motions. >
Exploring the Role of Alternative Break Programs in Students’ Career Development

Higher education institutions play a key role in helping to shape students’ interests and career plans; as such, student affairs practitioners should understand how the co-curricular environments in their domain contribute to students’ career development. The purpose of this study is to explore how one specific co-curricular experience, participation in an Alternative Break (AB) program, may influence students’ career plans.
Abstract 4176: Identifying analytes associated with poor prognosis in CRC

Cancer patients with undetectable micrometastases at the time of diagnosis are in danger of subsequent metastatic growth that worsens their outcome. Therefore, identification of these patients with latent metastases could reduce morbidity and mortality by helping physicians to choose whether to treat with an adjuvant therapy. In colorectal carcinoma (CRC), 20-30% of stage II patients will have a recurrence at a distant site after removal of the primary tumor. In order for cancer cells to metastasize, they must switch to an “invasive phenotype”. To identify molecular changes in cancer that drive invasion, our laboratory previously built a molecular network model of invasive subcellular structures termed invadopodia. Centrality and random walk analyses identified candidate signaling hubs that may control invadopodia formation or activity. To identify which of these hubs control invasion in specific cancers, we are mining reverse phase protein array (RPPA) data from publicly available human tumor datasets. In this study, we focused on analysis of RPPA data from TCGA in CRC patients, segregated by poor prognosis and good prognosis. We tested three different definitions of poor prognosis: recurrence, survival, and TNM status at diagnosis. We found several promising analytes that were significantly associated with each poor prognosis definition, and recurrence provided the best separation of good vs. poor prognosis. Interestingly, many of the analytes significantly associated with survival are involved in apoptosis. Additionally, we refined the analysis by using a subset of patients (stage I-II), which resulted in even better separation of good vs. poor prognosis. We identified several analytes that are already significantly associated with the invadopodia network (src kinase and PI 3-kinase). We also identified some potential new invadopodia regulators, such as Cox2. This method has potential both to improve CRC survival by identifying patients that need adjuvant therapy as well as identify novel drivers of invadopodia. Citation Format: Christi Lynn French, Alissa Weaver. Identifying analytes associated with poor prognosis in CRC. [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 4176. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4176
The effects of daily chlorhexidine bathing on cutaneous bacterial isolates: a pilot study

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is a topical antiseptic used in a myriad of clinical settings. Recently, CHG baths have been shown to decrease multidrug-resistant organism acquisition and infections and catheter-associated bloodstream infections. The present study examined the effects of daily bathing with CHG on the recovery and antimicrobial susceptibility of cultivable cutaneous bacteria. The objectives of this study were to (1) explore the effects of clinical CHG bathing on cultivable cutaneous bacteria, (2) study the relationship between CHG minimum inhibitory concentration and antimicrobial susceptibility of coagulase-negative staphylococci, and (3) demonstrate the feasibility of the approach so a more definitive study may be performed. Significant decreases in bacterial colony counts and phenotypic diversity occurred with greater CHG exposure. The findings also suggest an inverse relationship between CHG minimum inhibitory concentration and antimicrobial susceptibility. Larger prospective studies are necessary to fully investigate the clinical impact of CHG usage.
Calcium-dependent anion secretion in endometrial epithelial cells

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the calcium-dependent anion secretion in endometrial epithelial cells. The endometrial epithelium is similar to secretory epithelia in the lung and gastrointestinal tractm, where signaling molecules that increase intracellular cAMP or calcium will elicit anion secretion. Little is known about calcium-activated chloride channels in endometrial epithelial cells. However, the emerging data from the mouse and porcine endometrium demonstrates the existence and physiological role of calcium-activated chloride channels in calcium-dependent anion secretion. In porcine endometrial cells, attempts at a molecular characterization of the channel indicate that it is distinct from previously characterized (CLCA) channels and may represent either a new member of the existing CLCA family or perhaps a new family of Ca 2+ -activated chloride channels. In any case, the importance of its role in anion secretion in the endometrium is evident. Data from porcine endometrial epithelial cells suggest that mobilization of intracellular calcium is responsible for activating an apical Ca 2+ -activated chloride channel and basolateral K + channels, which are essential for anion secretion. Anion secretion, along with the coupled paracellular movement of Na + ions, sets up an osmotic driving force for the movement of fluid into the glandular lumen.
Regression Discontinuity Design

Social scientists search for interventions in the real world that approximate the conditions of an experiment. One form of such natural experiments that is increasingly used in social science research is regression discontinuity (RD). RD designs are possible when there are thresholds that cause large changes in the assignment of treatments on the basis of small differences in a variable. For example, a high school junior in the state of Pennsylvania who scored 214 out of 240 on the 2012 PSAT test received the treatment of being a National Merit Semi-Finalist, whereas a comparable student who scored 213 did not. The intuition behind a RD design is that we often can learn something about the effects of a treatment by comparing observations that barely receive a treatment (e.g., individuals with scores of 214 and just above on the PSAT) to observations that barely miss receiving a treatment (e.g., individuals who score 213 and just below on the PSAT). We discuss the assumptions under which the effects of treatment that are assigned based on a discontinuous threshold can be estimated using a RD design. We then illustrate how graphical analysis can be used to illustrate whether these assumptions are likely to hold. We conclude by discussing two examples of cutting-edge research that employs RD designs and discussing areas of future research. Keywords: regression discontinuity; natural experiments; treatment effects; selection bias
Bulbar poliomyelitis: MR findings with pathologic correlation.

We report a case of bulbar poliomyelitis in which postmortem pathologic tissue sections reflect the changes seen on MR scans of the midbrain and medulla oblongata
Overexpression and nuclear accumulation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease

Abstract Huntington’s disease is due to an expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene. Huntingtin interacts with several proteins including glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). We performed immunohistochemical analysis of GAPDH expression in the brains of transgenic mice carrying the huntingtin gene with 89 CAG repeats. In all wild-type animals examined, GAPDH was evenly distributed among the different cell types throughout the brain. In contrast, the majority of transgenic mice showed GAPDH overexpression, with the most prominent GAPDH changes observed in the caudate putamen, globus pallidus, neocortex, and hippocampal formation. Double staining for NeuN and GFAP revealed that GAPDH overexpression occurred exclusively in neurons. Nissl staining analysis of the neocortex and caudate putamen indicated 24 and 27% of cell loss in transgenic mice, respectively. Subcellular fluorescence analysis revealed a predominant increase in GAPDH immunostaining in the nucleus. Thus, we conclude that mutation of huntingtin is associated with GAPDH overexpression and nuclear translocation in discrete populations of brain neurons.
BASP: a biomedical analog signal processor

With the advent of low-cost digital logic modules, discussions on hardware-software trade-off have become popular. Suggestions have been made to construct an analog computer of digital modules and the availability of digital differential analyzer modules is a step in this direction. Further it has been suggested that a re-evaluation of hardware and software organization be made, considering that there has not been any great systems variation in the implementation of computers.
THE TRANSPORT OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT BUFFER SOLUTIONS

The diffusion of carbon dioxide in biological media such as tissues and blood is an important physiological phenomenum. Transport of carbon dioxide in aqueous biological media causes, through chemical reactions, the simultaneous flux of several ionic species. The reversible reactions of CO2 are coupled to amino acid dissociations of the protein species which have a large buffer capability. Due to the great difference in mobility of bicarbonate and protein, a diffusion potential evolves, which has a considerable influence upon the total CO2 transport in the medium. The electrical potentials impede the carrier-facilitated CO2transfer associated with the bicarbonate flux. New data on carbon dioxide transport in hemoglobin solutions are presented which clearly show the large reduction of CO2 transport due to the electrical potentials. The experimental results correlate with diffusion potential data obtained previously. A theoretical model correctly predicts both the CO2 transport and diffusion potential data ...
Mass and Volume Conservation in Phase Field Models for Binary Fluids

The commonly used incompressible phase field models for non-reactive, binary fluids, in which the Cahn-Hilliard equation is used for the transport of phase variables (volume fractions), conserve the total volume of each phase as well as the material volume, but do not conserve the mass of the fluid mixture when densities of two components are different. In this paper, we formulate the phase field theory for mixtures of two incompressible fluids, consistent with the quasi-compressible theory [28], to ensure conservation of mass and momentum for the fluid mixture in addition to conservation of volume for each fluid phase. In this formulation, the mass-average velocity is no longer divergence-free (solenoidal) when densities of two components in the mixture are not equal, making it a compressible model subject to an internal con-straint. In one formulation of the compressible models with internal constraints (model 2), energy dissipation can be clearly established. An efficient numerical method is then devised to enforce this compressible internal constraint. Numerical simulations in confined geometries for both compressible and the incompressible models are carried out using spatially high order spectral methods to contrast the model predictions. Numerical comparisons show that (a) predictions by the two models agree qualitatively in the situation where the interfacial mixing layer is thin; and (b) predictions differ significantly in binary fluid mixtures undergoing mixing with a large mixing zone. The numerical study delineates the limitation of the commonly used incompressible phase field model using volume fractions and thereby cautions its predictive value in simulating well-mixed binary fluids.