cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analgesie effects of oral nalbuphine and codeine in patients with postoperative pain

Efficacy and safety of oral nalbuphine in doses of 15 and 45 mg were compared with those of the standard oral analgesic codeine in single doses of 30 and 90 mg in 153 patients with acute postoperative pain; data on 20 more patients were excluded because they received potentially interfering medications. All patients had pain ranging from moderate to severe in intensity and most had severe pain related to orthopedic procedures or trauma. Estimates of relative potency showed that nalbuphine was three times as potent as codeine. The most common side effect was sedation, which was greatest in patients who received the higher doses of codeine and nalbuphine. The effects of oral nalbuphine are much like those of oral codeine in patients with acute postoperative pain. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1982) 32, 517–524; doi:10.1038/clpt.1982.196
Water and technoscientific state formation in California

This paper argues that water gradually became, over a period of more than half a century, a critical boundary object between science and governance in California. The paper historicizes ‘water’, an...
Agent-based simulation of the N-person chicken game

We report computer simulation experiments using our agent-based simulation tool to model the multi-person Chicken game. We simplify the agents according to the Pavlovian principle: their probability of taking a certain action changes by an amount proportional to the reward or penalty received from the environment for that action.
Regulation of microbial populations by coral surface mucus and mucus-associated bacteria

Caribbean populations of the elkhorn coral Acropora palmata have declined due to envi- ronmental stress, bleaching, and disease. Potential sources of coral mortality include invasive microbes that become trapped in the surface mucus and thrive under conditions of increased coral stress. In this study, mucus from healthy A. palmata inhibited growth of potentially invasive microbes by up to 10-fold. Among cultured bacteria from the mucus of A. palmata, 20% displayed antibiotic activity against one or more tester strains, including the pathogen implicated in white pox disease. A novel mucus- mediated selection for coral symbionts revealed a discrete subset of bacteria and selected for isolates that produce antibiotics. This result suggests that coral mucus plays a role in the structuring of beneficial coral-associated microbial communities and implies a microbial contribution to the antibacterial activity described for coral mucus. Interestingly, antibiotic activity was lost when mucus was collected during a summer bleaching event. Isolates from apparently healthy A. palmata tissue during this event lacked antibiotic-producing bacteria and were dominated by members of the genus Vibrio, including species implicated in temperature-dependent bleaching of corals worldwide. This indicates an environmental shift from beneficial bacteria, and variability in the protective qualities of coral mucus, which may lead to an overgrowth of opportunistic microbes when temperatures increase. Finally, coral mucus inhibited antibiotic activity and pigment production in a poten- tially invasive bacterium, illustrating that coral mucus may inactivate mechanisms used for bacterial niche establishment.
An investigation of a slider air bearing with a asperity contact by a three-dimensional direct simulation Monte Carlo method

A direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is used to solve a slider air bearing problem when isolated contacts occur. A flat slider with a spherical asperity underneath is simulated when the tip of the asperity contacts a plate moving at constant speed. Two-dimensional pressure profiles are obtained by using the ideal gas law. The air bearing force on the slider is obtained by calculating the time-averaged change in the vertical momentum of the simulated particles striking the slider. The results show that the pressure is bounded at the contact point. There exists a vacuum region around the contact point where no molecule is small enough to enter. The results also show that the peak pressure and the resultant force converges as the calculation grid gets denser.
Pivotal clinical trials of adapalene in the treatment of acne.

Adapalene, a naphthoic-acid derivative, possesses some of the biological activities of tretinoin but has distinct physicochemical properties and binding properties for selective affinity for retinoic acid receptors. As such, adapalene is less likely to be associated with certain local tolerability problems (e.g. burning, erythema, pruritus). Over the past 5 years, numerous clinical trials have been conducted to compare the efficacy and tolerability of adapalene and tretinoin in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Three pivotal, large, well-controlled studies involving almost 900 patients showed that adapalene gel 0.1% and adapalene solution 0.1% are at least as effective as tretinoin gel 0.025%, with superior local tolerability. Adapalene cream 0.1% has proven to be significantly more effective than vehicle, with response rates comparable to those observed with the gel and solution. A meta-analysis of trials with the gel formulation confirmed these findings, showing equivalent efficacy and improved tolerability vs. tretinoin gel 0.025%. Moreover, the onset of clinical effect was shown to be significantly more rapid than that of tretinoin gel. Taken together, these studies demonstrated that adapalene has overall efficacy similar to that of topical tretinoin, but with a superior therapeutic ratio that may result in superior outcomes in clinical practice through improved compliance. This may be expected because of its lesser potential for skin irritation, especially early in treatment, and because of greater convenience in that no waiting period is required between face washing and application of the product. Therefore, 5 years of clinical experience have established that adapalene in its various formulations is a valuable addition to current treatments for acne vulgaris.
Gluino condensation in strongly coupled heterotic string theory.

Strongly coupled heterotic E{sub 8}{times}E{sub 8} string theory, compactified to four dimensions on a large Calabi-Yau manifold {bold X}, may represent a viable candidate for the description of low-energy particle phenomenology. In this regime, heterotic string theory is adequately described by low-energy {ital M} theory on {bold R}{sup 4}{times}{bold S}{sup 1}/{bold Z}{sub 2}{times}{bold X}, with the two E{sub 8}{close_quote}s supported at the two boundaries of the world. In this paper we study the effects of gluino condensation as a mechanism for supersymmetry breaking in this {ital M}-theory regime. We show that when a gluino condensate forms in {ital M} theory, the conditions for unbroken supersymmetry can still be satisfied locally in the orbifold dimension {bold S}{sup 1}/{bold Z}{sub 2}. Supersymmetry is then only broken by the global topology of the orbifold dimension, in a mechanism similar to the Casimir effect. This mechanism leads to a natural hierarchy of scales, and elucidates some aspects of heterotic string theory that might be relevant to the stabilization of moduli and the smallness of the cosmological constant. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Safeguarding Older Adults From Inappropriate Over-the-Counter Medications: The Role of Community Pharmacists

Purpose of the Study: To elicit the thought process or mental model that community pharmacists use when making recommendations on over-the-counter (OTC) medications to older adults and to elicit the current practices of community pharmacists in providing information, advice, and counseling to older adults about potentially inappropriate OTC medications. Design and Methods: Three separate focus groups with pharmacists were conducted with 5 to 8 pharmacists per group. A vignette about an elderly woman seeking an OTC sleep aid was used to elicit information that pharmacists seek to establish when making a recommendation. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for themes using the initial and focused coding methods of grounded theory. Results: Community pharmacists’ mental models were characterized by 2 similarities: a similarity in what community pharmacists seek to establish about patients and a similarity in when community pharmacists seek to establish it—the sequence in which they try to learn key details about patients. It was identified that pharmacists gather specific information about the patient’s medication profile, health conditions, characteristics of the problem, and past treatments in order to make a recommendation. Community pharmacists recommended behavioral modifications and seeing their physician prior to recommending an OTC sleep aid, primarily due to medication safety concerns. Implications: Pharmacists can play a key role in assisting older adults to select and use OTC medications.
Lipin Expression Preceding Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-γ Is Critical for Adipogenesis in Vivo and in Vitro

We recently identified mutations in the lipin gene, Lpin1, as the cause of lipodystrophy in the fatty liver dystrophy (fld) mouse. Here we identify impaired adipocyte differentiation as the basis for lipodystrophy in lipin-deficient mice and demonstrate that lipin is required for normal induction of the adipogenic gene transcription program. We found that the reduced adiposity in chow fed fld mice and resistance to obesity in fld mice fed a high-fat diet is associated with reduced adipogenic gene expression. Using primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts isolated from fld mice, we confirmed that lipin deficiency prevents normal lipid accumulation and induction of key adipogenic genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α. However, our previous studies of daily gene expression in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes indicated that lipin expression is undetectable until about day 3 of differentiation, at a point after PPARγ and C/EBPα gene expression is established. This paradox was resolved by examining gene expression at 10-h intervals during 3T3-L1 cell differentiation, leading to detection of transient lipin expression at 10 h into the differentiation program, prior to the induction of PPARγ and C/EBPα. Consistent with a requirement for lipin expression upstream of PPARγ, differentiation of lipin-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts could be rescued by ectopic expression of PPARγ. Thus, we conclude that lipin expression is required prior to PPARγ during adipocyte differentiation.
Assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the C21 steroids 12‐β‐O‐acetyltenacigenin A and tenacigenin A by two‐dimensional NMR techniques and computer modeling

Stereochemical assignments of the C 21 , steroids 12-β-O-acetyltenacigenin A and tenacigenin A were performed by use of two-dimensional phase-sensitive COSY, ROESY, 1 H and 13 C shift correlation spectroscopy (HETCOR and FLOCK), and ambiguous assignments were resolved through molecular modeling comparisons. This combination of techniques is applicable for the assignment of the highly overlapped 1 H signals of these steroids
Energy for the global village

Continued economic global advancement with the least adverse effects on the Earth's ecology will require continuous energy generation methods that do not rely on finite energy resources, are not under the political control of any one nation, ensure environmentally sound development, and meet economic and societal criteria. The author discusses the use of wireless power transmission based on solar power satellites and power relay satellites. The concepts and development of this technology is discussed.
Active learning in a mediated classroom for a freshman level course in digital systems design

Over the last three years, the authors have moved an introductory course in digital design from a lecture format in a traditional classroom to one using cooperative learning in a mediate classroom. Dynamic PowerPoint presentations are used to script the course so that uniform treatment of the material is delivered to the 750 students enrolled per year. All course materials are made available to our students on a CD at the beginning of the course. The CD includes all PowerPoint presentations, LogicWorks circuit simulations used for in-class demos/team exercise and laboratory experiments. Their students like having the PowerPoint presentations available to them. It allows them to concentrate on what is said (rather than taking notes), and it provides them with templates for performing the team exercise. The dynamic features of PowerPoint allow us to provide the students with a take-home dynamic recording of the time-domain evolution of digital sequential circuits. Use of the in-class computers to allow students to experiment with digital-circuit realizations is extremely valuable. The authors' students report that using LogicWorks in class to experiment with pre-built digital logic circuits helps them better conceptualize the cooperative exercises and lecture material Shared in this paper are some of the lessons they have learned about adapting cooperative learning and using a mediated classroom in a freshman level course in digital design.
Use of a Noninvasive Electromagnetic Device to Place Transpyloric Feeding Tubes in Critically Ill Children

BACKGROUND The start of transpyloric feedings is often delayed because of challenges in reliably placing tubes blindly at the bedside. OBJECTIVE To determine whether tube placement with the guidance of a noninvasive computerized electromagnetic device shortens the time needed to achieve accurate placement of transpyloric feeding tubes in critically ill children. METHODS In a prospective, randomized trial in a tertiary-care, university-affiliated pediatric intensive care unit, 49 children requiring transpyloric feeding tube placement were randomized to have their tube placed by using conventional blind technique or with the assistance of a noninvasive electromagnetic device. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients were randomized to blind placement, and 22 were randomized to the electromagnetic device group. The time required to place the tubes successfully was significantly longer (P < .03) in the electromagnetic device group (median, 9.5 minutes; 95% confidence interval, 7-13 minutes) compared with the conventional placement group (median, 5 minutes; 95% confidence interval, 4.0-7.0 minutes). CONCLUSIONS Placement of transpyloric feeding tubes with the guidance of a noninvasive electromagnetic device significantly increases the time required for accurate placement. Because placement of transpyloric feeding tubes in critically ill children is common practice in many pediatric intensive care units, technology that delays satisfactory placement may be counterproductive in experienced hands.
Administration at the Cusp of Science: The Case of Recombinant DNA

This article considers the problems faced by judges in law and policy disputes involving complex scientific and technological issues. It examines the historical development of government involvement in regulating recombinant DNA research, focusing on Foundation on Economic Trends v. Heckler, a challenge to the deliberate release of a genetically engineered microorganism into the environment. Although efforts were made to handle this case in terms of narrowly defined legal issues, this analysis demonstrates that cases like this produce an inevitable mixture of legal, scientific, and policy issues. The article considers the implications of this blending of issues for the study of controversies involving law, science, and administration.
Aspects of Auroral Morphology

The temporal relationship of the auroral substorm to increases in the total particle kinetic energy within the trapping region and also the characteristics of auroras near the equatorward boundary of the typical display indicate a close physical connection between acceleration processes causing auroras and growth of the ring current. Conjugate studies of auroras during disturbed epochs indicate sizable distortions in the geomagnetic field at the higher latitudes; these distortions may be caused by meridianal asymmetry in the ring current as well as by magnetopause and neutral sheet currents.
Internet-mediated research: Affordances, technology, lessons learned

Survey and qualitative research conducted online is an exciting new focus in technical communication. This paper reports technical aspects of and lessons learned from online mixed survey and qualitative studies of a large U.S. medical field. Potentially faster to design and deploy than traditional approaches, online research is constrained by the same underlying research principles and conventions. There are abundant commercial vendors of online research technology, and these offer a variety of important advantages compared to traditional, print-based approaches. The technical and logistical limitations of online research may offset the anticipated advantages. Online researchers should see to aesthetics and usability in survey instruments, and take steps to improve participant response rates. Online research facilitates collection of rich qualitative data, but the frequent need for anonymity makes probing of respondents problematic.
Genetic Approach to Evaluation of Hearing Loss

Information on the genetic basis of and testing for disorders with hearing loss is increasing rapidly. In this review, the authors explain genetic terminology, the principles of inheritance, and the types of genetic variation and the genetic basis of selected disorders of hearing loss. The authors also review how information on genetics and genetic testing can be obtained, outline a genetic approach to the diagnosis of hearing loss, and discuss how otologists and geneticists can work together to strengthen the clinical applications of genetics to individuals and families who have hearing loss.
The Local Group Through the Eyes of the Spitzer Space Telescope

The Spitzer Space Telescope, one of NASA’s Great Observatories, has made numerous and important contributions to our understanding of the properties of the Local Group of Galaxies. Spitzer offers many unique capabilities for the study of the composition and structure of these nearby galaxies. In this paper some of the highlights are presented of Spitzer’s Legacy and Exploration Science Programs associated with observations of the Milky Way galaxy, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, the Andromeda galaxy (M31), and the Triangulum galaxy (M33). Also presented are many of the spectacular images of these galaxies that Spitzer has produced.
Histopathology of Methylbenzylnitrosamine-Induced Esophageal Carcinoma in the Rat: Comparison With Cytomorphology

The incidence of human carcinoma of the esophagus is increased in association with environmental nitrosamines and dietary zinc deficiency. For examination of the role of zinc deficiency in esophageal carcinogenesis, methylbenzylnitrosamine [(MBN) CAS: 937-40-6] was used to induce esophageal carcinoma in rats fed either a zinc-deficient or control diet. Histologic examination of the MBN-treated Sprague-Dawley rat esophagi revealed a significantly higher incidence of esophageal carcinoma in the zinc-deficient rats vs. controls (62 vs. 33%). In addition, three distinct cytologic and histologic patterns were observed in the animals with esophageal carcinoma: pattern I--basal cell hyperplasia, atypical basal cells, few dyskeratotic cells; pattern II--basal cell hyperplasia, atypical basal cells, many dyskeratotic cells; and pattern III--many dyskeratotic cells without basal cell hyperplasia. These three patterns did not occur simultaneously in the same esophagi, and zinc deficiency did not alter the appearance of these patterns. A strong correlation between the appearance of moderate or severe dysplasia cytologically and microinvasive carcinoma histologically was demonstrated. In those animals with histologically evident microinvasive carcinoma, there was no cytologic evidence of carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma. Cytology of these esophageal carcinomas revealed only moderate or severe dysplasia. To the extent that the rat model represents the evolution of esophageal carcinoma in humans, the results presented here suggest that the cytologic appearance of moderate or severe dysplasia indicates the need for further evaluation of patients at risk for esophageal carcinoma.
BLESSING IN DISGUISE? COPING STRATEGIES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS FOLLOWING INVOLUNTARY JOB LOSS

A growing body of research in entrepreneurship has explored the personality and social determinants of entrepreneurial intentions (EI). Most empirical work in this area has emphasized the “pull” approach to EI, which focuses on the pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities. In contrast, the “push” approach to EI, which explains EI as a function of displacing events in one’s life, has received little scholarly attention. This study contributes to the “push” approach to EI by examining involuntary job loss as a specific situational factor that influences EI. This study investigates whether problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies predict EI among individuals who have experienced involuntary job loss. Furthermore, we test whether entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) mediates the relationship between coping and EI. Using a sample of 266 individuals who had experienced recent involuntary job loss, we found that the use of problem-focused coping strategies was positively associated with EI and that this relationship was mediated by ESE. On the other hand, the use of emotion-focused coping strategies to manage job loss was unrelated to EI. Overall, our findings highlight the role of problem-focused coping in effectively managing the impacts of involuntary job loss.
Morphological, cultural and mating studies on Atkinsonella, including A. texensis

Comparative morphological and cultural studies in strains of Atkinsonella (Clavicipitaceae, tribe Balansieae) from all known host grasses {Danthonia compressa, D. spicata, D. sericea and Stipa leucotricha) revealed a number of characteristics distinguishing between strains from the allopatric host genera Danthonia and Stipa. Differences were found in stroma size, in morphology of the Ephelis anamorph, and in growth rates and colony characteristics in culture. The Stipa form of Atkinsonella is recognized as a separate species, A. texensis. Conidial transfers between stromata from different clones of D. spicata indicated a heterothallic mating system in A. hypoxylon. Distinctive characteristics of Atkinsonella, including ascospore germination pattern, warrant recognition of Atkinsonella as a distinct genus from Balansia.
Practical Advice: Counseling Foreign Students

(1952). Practical Advice: Counseling Foreign Students. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 57-57.
Evaluating weather observations and the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis as inputs for hydrologic modelling in the tropics

Correctly representing weather is critical to hydrological modelling, but scarce or poor quality observations can often compromise model accuracy. Reanalysis datasets may help to address this basic challenge. The Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) dataset provides continuous, globally available records, and CFSR data have produced satisfactory hydrological model performance in some temperate and monsoonal locations. However, the use of CFSR for hydrological modelling in tropical and semi-tropical basins has not been adequately evaluated. Taking advantage of exceptionally high rainfall station density in the catchments of the Rio Grande de Loiza above San Juan, Puerto Rico, we compared model performance based on CFSR records with that based on publicly available weather stations in the Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN, n = 21) and on a dataset of rainfall records maintained by the United States Geological Survey Caribbean Water Science Center (USGS, n = 24). For an implementation of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) with subbasins defined at 11 streamflow gages, uncalibrated measures of Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) were >0 at 8 of 11 gages using USGS precipitation data for daily simulations over the period 1998–2012, but were 0 using all precipitation inputs, including CFSR. However, the ground weather station closest to the geographic basin centre produced the highest NSE values in only 5 of 11 cases. The spatially interpolated CFSR data performed as well or better than single ground observations made further than 20–30 km, and sometimes better than individual weather stations <10 km from the basin centroid. In addition to demonstrating the need to evaluate available weather inputs, this research reinforces the value of CFSR data as a means to supplement ground records and consistently determine a baseline for hydrologic model performance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Management of Anal Cancer

Anal cancer is a rare malignancy, accounting for 2 % of colorectal cancer diagnoses. Over the last few decades, the number of new cases diagnosed has been increasing, driven by multifactorial etiology and associated with HPV infection, smoking, high-risk sexual activity, and immunocompromise. The primary histologic type of anal cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. While historically these tumors were treated with abdominoperineal resection, today the primary treatment is combined modality chemoradiotherapy. Success rates can be as high as 80 %, with APR primarily used as salvage therapy for persistent or recurrent disease. Despite the success of combined modality therapy, investigations are ongoing to discover methods that will improve survival and avoid the need for colostomy.
Cultivation of students' practice ability based on CDIO model

China's engineering graduates are clearly insufficient for the practice and innovative ability and they are at a disadvantage in the international competation in the context of that the internationalization of higher engineering education has become increasingly clear. In response to the situation,this paper proposes that learning and adopting the mode of education and philosophy of the developed countries,reforming teaching ways and methods in practice,and carrying out the model of the CDIO engineering education is an effective way to improve the quality of personnel training.
Study on the Analysis System of Enterprise Financial Forecast

The analysis system of enterprise financial forecast is the system that tells the financial risks of an enterprise to managers firstly so that they can prepare to prevent such a risk, through analysising enterprise's accounting information and other's data; the paper analyses functions, components and methods about the analysis system of enterprise financial forecast, and then puts forward the pattern of the forcast.
Diffusion of immunoglobulin g in shed vaginal epithelial cells and in cell-free regions of human cervicovaginal mucus

Human cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) is a viscoelastic gel containing a complex mixture of mucins, shed epithelial cells, microbes and macromolecules, such as antibodies, that together serve as the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Here, to investigate the affinity between IgG and different mucus constituents, we used Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) to measure the diffusion of IgG in fresh, minimally modified CVM. We found that CVM exhibits substantial spatial variations that necessitate careful selection of the regions in which to perform FRAP. In portions of CVM devoid of cells, FRAP measurements using different IgG antibodies and labeling methods consistently demonstrate that both exogenous and endogenous IgG undergo rapid diffusion, almost as fast as in saline, in good agreement with the rapid diffusion of IgG in mid-cycle endocervical mucus that is largely devoid of cells. This rapid diffusion indicates the interactions between secreted mucins and IgG must be very weak and transient. IgG also accumulated in cellular debris and shed epithelial cells that had become permeable to IgG, which may allow shed epithelial cells to serve as reservoirs of secreted IgG. Interestingly, in contrast to cell-free regions of CVM, the diffusion of cell-associated IgG was markedly slowed, suggesting greater affinity between IgG and cellular constituents. Our findings contribute to an improved understanding of the role of IgG in mucosal protection against infectious diseases, and may also provide a framework for using FRAP to study molecular interactions in mucus and other complex biological environments.
Chemical processing facilities for partitioning actinides from nuclear fuel cycle waste mixtures

This paper discusses the U.S. Department of Energy Actinide Partitioning Program, which led to the conceptual design of highly integrated chemical processing facilities to achieve the required levels of actinide element partitioning from all fuel cycle wastes. These facilities utilize both conventional tributyl phosphate extraction cycles and several new extractants such as a carbamylmethylene phosphonate (bidentate) and 2-ethylhexyl alcohol. The consequences for a light water reactor fuel cycle that result from operating these partitioning facilities include increased volumes of low- and medium-level wastes and significantly increased capital investment requirements and operating costs. 18 refs.
Portrait of the Researcher as Recovering Neurotic: Contribution to a Panel on Doing Psychoanalytic Research in Organizations

I am not a researcher, but an artist. Researchers find things out; I make things up. My work in creating theory has been about making sense of the world in a way in which my life would make sense. Its truth lies in its place in my psychic economy. Following Ernest Becker, I conceived of organizations as defenses against mortality. This was a truth that I could face, but not my students. They hated it when I talked like that, which was appropriate in that it was really an expression of contempt for them. In the end, my theory was a device for defeating my father, and at the same time drawing close to him. It was a theory about organizations, but also a neurotic symptom. Idiosyncratic as it was, why would it be of interest to anyone else? First, because the structure of the theory is the result of the hard slogging work of the intellectual, and is invariant across psychic economies. Second, understanding it as a psychic expression is accomplished through rational means, which we all have, and is not really idiosyncratic at all.
Relative Constructibility and Ramified Languages

Using a ramified language we shall give another definition of L[K; F] a definition that has many applications since it only uses the concepts of ordinal number and transfinite induction. On the other hand, to carry out the actual induction steps may become rather complicated in particular cases where definitions by simultaneous recursion are involved.
Enhancement by Ampicillin or Cyclacillin Pretreatment of E.coli of Phagocytosis, Blastogenesis, and Production of Lymphokines, Interferons, and Tumor Necrosis Factor

In recent years, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has prompted a re-evaluation of the nature of the host immune defense system as a primary reistance mechanism to infectious diseases, even in the presence of antibiotics [3, 26, 28]. Studies from a number of laboratories, including this one, have focused attention on the influence of antibiotics on host immune mechanisms and alteration of susceptibility of a microorganism to the immune response system [4, 5, 15, 18, 22, 33]. For example, previous studies in this laboratory have shown that the semisynthetic penicillins, cyclacillin and ampicillin, may cause a susceptible bacterium such as Escherichia coli to develop increased vulnerability to antibody-mediated complement-dependent bacteriolysis as well as increased susceptibility to phagocytosis by macrophages [6, 7, 9, 10, 12].
Bone health in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Herein we provide a comprehensive overview of bone health in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Methods: Ninety-four adult individuals with FSHD type 1 from 2 sites were included in this cross-sectional study. Clinical characteristics and determinants of bone health were examined. Relationships between bone mineral density (BMD), strength, and function were explored. Results: Nearly a third of subjects were deficient in vitamin D3. Mean whole-body BMD z-score was −0.7; 11% of subjects had greater than age-related reductions in whole-body BMD (z-score < −2.0). Whole-body and regional BMDs were associated with strength and function. Thirty-six percent had a history of fractures. Likelihood of fractures was reduced for those with normal whole-body BMD (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.04–0.78). Discussion: A diagnosis of FSHD is not necessarily predictive of reduced BMD or increased fracture rate. Given the considerable variability of bone health in the FSHD population, strength and function can serve as predictors of BMD. Muscle Nerve 56: 1108–1113, 2017
The 9p21.3 risk locus for coronary artery disease: A 10-year search for its mechanism.

The 9p21.3 risk locus is the first locus to be associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD)-related events and many other phenotypes. This locus contains 59 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a region with multiple long range enhancers and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that affect the expression of neighbouring genes, cyclin-dependent kinase 2A and 2B (CDKN2A and CDKN2B), which are required for controlling vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and ageing. Several studies have attempted to identify the precise mechanism by which this locus exerts its pathogenic effect to increase the risk of CAD-related events. In this review, we will highlight the major advances in our understanding of the genotype–phenotype correlation at the mechanistic and phenotypic levels. The high population attributable risk of the 9p21.3 risk locus, mechanistic knowledge acquired thus far, and ongoing research efforts could facilitate the design of novel therapeutic molecules to reduce the risk of CAD and its related events.
Cognitive processes underlying the self–other perspective in women’s judgments of sexual victimization risk:

This study examined the cognitive processes underlying self–other differences in women’s judgments of sexual victimization risk, as well as individual difference factors associated with those proce...
Torah v. Jewish Law: A Genre-Critical Approach to the Political Theology of Reappropriation

Using M. Bakhtin’s genre-critical approach, I argue that the Torah, as a work of literature, shows similarities with the genre of the novel. This approach allows me to distinguish between Torah and rabbinic law, a difference that is relevant to understanding the categorical differences between two major moments of reappropriation and self-fashioning in light of these two distinct, though related, traditions, namely, the early modern Protestant use of the “ancient Hebrew republic” and the modern “Jewish law” (mishpat ivri) discourse in Russian Zionism and Israeli constitutional theory.
44. Deformable image registration for dose accumulation: Principle and evaluation

Most Treatment Planning Systems for adaptive radiotherapy today propose Deformable Image Registration (DIR) tools which enable contour propagation or dose accumulation between images acquired over the course of treatment. While the results of DIR for contour propagation can be easily assessed and eventually manually corrected, the evaluation of DIR for dose accumulation relies on a knowledge of anatomical point correspondences and is therefore much more challenging. This talk will review the methodological principle of DIR for dose accumulation and current evaluation methods. Accumulating dose in a tissue element contained in a voxel of the reference image requires to determine the location of that element in the considered longitudinal images. The role of DIR is to automatically establish those spatial correspondences usually in the form of displacement vector fields (DVF). The first natural way to evaluate DIR results is to deform the longitudinal image onto the reference image based on the DVF and to measure the resulting similarity between the images. However, as demonstrated in previous studies, popular DIR algorithms for contour propagation can lead to high similarity between the deformed and reference images and critically wrong anatomical point correspondences. For this reason, image similarity measures or visual assessment with image fusion tools should be considered in clinical practice only after the local accuracy (in millimeters) has been quantified for a significant number of cases. Among DIR validation methods for dose accumulation, the most reliable one consists of manually identifying pairs of landmarks in the images and to relate the misalignment of those landmark pairs after DIR to the spatial resolution of the dose distributions. This approach can be easily implemented for some anatomical localizations but identifying correspondences on the surface of smooth organs or in large homogeneous tissues is not always feasible. In that case, DIR validation will have to verify that the estimated DVF respect physical considerations such as a reasonable range of local volume variations measured with the Jacobian determinant of the DVF. DIR algorithms can also be tested with images derived from numerical or physical phantoms which provide a ground truth deformation. Phantoms have demonstrated that traditional DIR algorithms could fail to estimate complex deformations such as a sliding motion between organs and justified the need to develop anatomical site-specific models. Finally, a limited number of studies have addressed DIR of longitudinal images presenting inconsistent content (i.e. in case of tumor growth or erosion) and a special attention should be paid in those situations. In parallel of efforts to develop more accurate DIR methods, it is important today to define a commissioning strategy for available DIR solutions to be used in clinical trials involving dose accumulation. In that sense, a Task Group of the American Association of Medical Physicists recently reported its recommendations.
Natural history and management outcomes of segmental arterial mediolysis.

Abstract Background Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a poorly understood, nonatherosclerotic, noninflammatory disease resulting from arterial medial degeneration. Patients may present with aneurysm, dissection, stenosis, or bleeding from visceral or renal arteries. Treatment algorithms are poorly characterized. Methods A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with SAM was performed at our institution. Patients were identified by established criteria that include clinical presentation in combination with radiographic and serologic findings. Demographics, presenting symptoms, diagnostic evaluation, management, and outcomes were reviewed. Results There were 117 patients diagnosed with SAM between 2000 and 2016; 67.5% (n = 79) were male. Mean age was 52.7 years (range, 23.4-90 years); 69.2% (n = 81) presented with acute abdominal pain, 22.2% (n = 26) with flank pain, and 19.7% (n = 23) with back pain; 15.4% (n = 18) had abdominal pain longer than 30 days; 13.7% (n = 16) had acute hypertension, and 5.1% (n = 6) were hypotensive; 10.3% (n = 12) were asymptomatic. There were 93 (79.5%) dissections and 61 (52.1%) aneurysms. Hemorrhage was seen in 10 (8.5%). The celiac axis was affected in 54.7% (n = 64), renal arteries in 49.6% (n = 5 8), superior mesenteric artery in 43.6% (n = 51), and inferior mesenteric artery in 2.6% (n = 3). After diagnosis of SAM, aspirin was prescribed in 60.7% (n = 71). Statins were prescribed in 29.9% (n = 35). Antihypertensive medications were prescribed in 65% (n = 76), including beta blockers in 42.7% (n = 50); 40.2% (n = 47) of patients were prescribed anticoagulation. Interventions were performed in 26 (22%) patients; 13 had endovascular intervention only, 9 open surgery only, and 4 open and endovascular interventions. Of the 17 patients undergoing endovascular intervention, 19 procedures were performed, most commonly embolization (78.9% [n = 15]), followed by stenting (10.5% [n = 2]). Of the 13 patients undergoing open surgery, 14 procedures were performed, including arterial bypass (50% [n = 7]) and splenectomy with aneurysm ligation (15.4% [n = 2]). Other surgery involved thrombectomy (21.4% [n = 3]) and angioplasty (14.3% [n = 2]). Only 11.5% (n = 3) experienced a perioperative complication, including one hematoma, one abscess, and one death secondary to ongoing hemorrhage. Follow-up imaging was performed in 96.6% (n = 112). Mean follow-up was 1258 days (range, 2-5017 days). Of these, 27.7% (n = 31) had regression, 43.8% (n = 49) stability, and 28.6% (n = 32) progression. Average time between initial diagnosis and progression was 666 days. Conclusions SAM is an uncommon disease that may require intervention; it is therefore important that the vascular surgery community be aware of this disease. Follow-up imaging is required to monitor for disease progression.
Control of interfacial acid–metal catalysis with organic monolayers

Numerous important reactions consisting of combinations of steps (for example, hydrogenation and dehydration) have been found to require bifunctional catalysts with both a late-transition metal component and an acidic component. Here, we develop a method for preparing and controlling bifunctional sites by employing organic acid-functionalized monolayer films tethered to the support as an alternative to traditional ligand-on-metal strategies. This approach was used to create a reactive interface between the phosphonic acid monolayers and metal particles, where active-site properties such as acid strength were manipulated via tuning of the molecular structure of the organic ligands within the monolayer. After surface modification, the resultant catalysts exhibited markedly improved selectivity and activity towards hydrodeoxygenation of aromatic alcohols and phenolics. Moreover, by tuning the ligand of the acidic modifier, the rate of deactivation was significantly reduced. Bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts are usually prepared by dispersion of a metal on an acidic or basic support. Now a method has been developed to post-functionalize a catalyst and introduce tunable acidity by coating an organic acid layer on the support, resulting in improved performance as showcased for selected hydrodeoxygenation reactions.
Eversion Femoral Endarterectomy for Iliofemoral Occlusive Disease: A Description of Technique and Series of Cases.

Background Eversion endarterectomy (EE) is a well-described technique for the treatment of extracranial cerebrovascular disease. Longitudinal arteriotomy and closure with patch angioplasty is the standard for infrainguinal arterial occlusive disease in the iliofemoral segment. A potential drawback of this technique is the introduction of exogenous material into the field. We herein describe a technique of transverse femoral arteriotomy with primary closure for treatment of chronic limb ischemia involving the iliofemoral system. Methods We retrospectively evaluated all patients who underwent EE at our institution for chronic limb ischemia. Eleven patients were identified who underwent EE by a single surgeon (M.N.) at our institution from 2013 to 2014. Indications for operation included life-limiting claudication, rest pain, and tissue loss. In each case, the external iliac artery (EIA), common femoral artery (CFA), or superficial femoral artery (SFA) was divided with eversion of the proximal and distal segments and endarterectomy. Reconstruction was achieved with primary end-to-end closure. Preoperative demographics were evaluated, as well as preoperative and postoperative ankle-brachial indices and Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II lesion classification when available. In addition, all adjunctive procedures performed both at the time of index operation and subsequently were recorded. Clinical improvement was gauged using the recommended scale for gauging change in clinical status according to Rutherford. Results Follow-up ranged from 6 weeks to 16 months. There were no amputations, deaths, or surgical site infections. Two patients required concomitant patch angioplasty in the treated segment at the index operation. There was symptom improvement in 9 of 11 patients, with 2 requiring reintervention due to poor outflow. Conclusions In patients with arterial occlusive disease of the iliofemoral segment, EE either alone or in association with endovascular stenting or open bypass appears to be a safe and effective technique. It may obviate the need for patch closure. In our initial case series, there were no amputations, deaths, or surgical site infections. Symptoms improved in 9 of 11 patients with only 2 requiring reintervention due to recurrent symptoms during the follow-up period.
Developing and Sustaining a Regional School Counselor Leadership Team

This qualitative research study explored the development and sustainability of a regional school counseling leadership team (RSCLT) organized by district school counselor supervisors. Four supervis...
Profitability, Product Market Competition, and Stock Returns

This paper finds that product market competition level (measured by Herfindahl Hirschman Index using Fama French 48 industries) affects the performance of zero-cost investment strategies based on gross probability. From 1973 to 2017, the positive returns from such strategy mainly comes from the most competitive industry quintile while a strong reversal exists the second most competitive quintile. The same strategy does not generate any statistically significant returns in concentrated industry quintiles. Out of 25 dependently sorted portfolios on product market competition level and gross profitability, the top performing portfolio comes from the least profitable firms in the second most competitive industry quintile, where 65% of firms are from pharmaceutical and oil industries.
Heat of atomization of carbon.

IN connexion with the series of communications under the above title1, I wish to direct attention to an old paper which contains an accurate computation of the metastable 5S state of the carbon atom2. The value given in that paper is 4.3 eV. above the groundstate of carbon, and the uncertainty is less than 0.1 eV. This is equivalent to 100 ± 2 kcal./mole.
Human iPSCs Stretch to Improve Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provide a potentially unlimited cell source for producing autologous tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs), which currently suffer from low mechanical strength. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Luo et al. (2020) describe optimized culture media and a mechanical stretching regimen to produce hiPSC-derived TEVGs with mechanical behavior similar to that of natural vessels.
Estimating Health Expenditure Elasticities Using Nonlinear Reimbursement

Recent health care initiatives attempt to stem rising costs by increasing patients’ cost sharing. These initiatives include high deductible plans, the Medicare Drug Plan “doughnut hole”, and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The success of such initiatives depends on how health expenditures change as patients’ reimbursement decreases. Estimating this elasticity is complicated by selection bias, as high expenditure patients can self-select into high reimbursement plans. Additionally, nonlinear reimbursement is prevalent in U.S. insurance contracts and the aforementioned initiatives. Nonlinearities introduce bias when using previous estimation methods by simultaneously determining expenditure and reimbursement rate. This paper develops an elasticity estimation method that controls for selection bias by taking advantage of nonlinear reimbursement rates. Discontinuous reimbursement rates induced by nonlinearity are used to isolate patients’ expenditure choices. Using detailed claims-level data of employer-sponsored health insurance, I find a tight range of elasticities between -0.25 and -0.33 in the range of average U.S. spending. I then use these estimates in a policy experiment measuring moral hazard and calculate the resulting welfare effects. This paper’s estimation method may be used on many policies with nonlinear reimbursement which previous tools could not address.