cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Referral Patterns for Primary Prophylaxis Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy for an Urban US Population

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have been demonstrated to improve survival for both primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. However, studies suggest that ICD therapy is underused in appropriate candidates. Sex and racial disparities in ICD use have been suggested. We sought to characterize the referral patterns of high-risk patients for the primary prophylaxis of sudden cardiac arrest at a tertiary academic medical center serving a diverse population in an urban US setting. Electronic hospital databases were retrospective reviewed for patients meeting criteria for prophylactic ICD implantation. We evaluated the association of gender, age, race, and primary language with the referral and subsequent implantation of an ICD. We identified 1,055 patients satisfying prophylactic ICD criteria: 600 men, mean age 62.6 years, 27.6% black, 19.3% white, 23.3% Hispanic, and 49.8% primary language of English. Of the 673 patients (63.7%) referred for ICD evaluation, 345 underwent implantation, 125 declined, and 203 had significant co-morbidities that precluded implantation. Gender, race, and primary language were not associated with referral for ICD or with decision to proceed with implantation. Patients of increased age were less likely to be referred for ICD and were more likely to refuse implantation. ICD therapy was not considered in 146 patients eligible for prophylactic implantation. In conclusion, referral rates for ICD consideration were higher at our institution than in previous reports. Nonetheless, 14% of appropriate patients were not considered. This argues for the importance of increased education for patients and referring physicians.
The impact of emerging institutional norms on adoption timing decisions: evidence from C-TPAT—A government antiterrorism initiative

Drawing upon an institutional theoretic perspective, this study explores the performance outcomes associated with adoption timing and level of investment in a government antiterrorism initiative—the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Using a large-scale sample of C-TPAT certified importers, this study found that performance outcomes for high levels of investment in adoption processes differ depending upon the strength of institutional forces. Specifically, early adopters of C-TPAT processes in a weak institutional context that reported high levels of investment performed no better than firms who invested nominally in the processes, while late adopters in a strong institutional context that reported high investment levels outperformed those that invested nominally. This finding can be explained by viewing C-TPAT as an ‘emerging’ institution, where forces are coalescing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Autonomic and neuroendocrine responses to mild psychological stressors: Effects of chronic stress on older women

We investigated autonomic and endocrine responses to acute stressors in 27 women who were or are presently caring for a spouse with a progressive dementia (high chronic stress) and 37 noncaregivers who were category matched for age and family income (low chronic stress). Measures were taken before (low acute stress) and in response to brief laboratory stressors (high acute stress). We replicated prior research showing that caregivers report greater stress, depression, and loneliness than the comparison groups, and acute stressors elevate autonomic and neuroendocrine activity. We also found that caregivers, relative to noncaregivers, exhibited shorter preejection periods and elevated blood pressure and heart rate, but the magnitude of autonomic and neuroendocrine reactivity to the experimental stressors was comparable across these groups. This pattern of autonomic differentiation replicates prior research showing that caregivers are characterized by higher sympathetic activation than noncaregivers and suggests that the effects of chronic stress on physiological reactivity may be a less robust effect in older adults.
Profits From Currency Futures Based On The Random Walk Hypothesis

Since the advent of floating exchange rates in 1973 there has been a debate about what is the best predictor of currency spot rates. The two most prominent candidates have been the current futures price and the current spot price. Lee Thomas’ (1985, 1986) basic proposition rests on the argument that if the current spot rate follows a driftless random-walk process, then the spot rate of a currency will not tend toward the rate of the futures contract price. In other words, the best predictor of the spot rate in the future is today’s spot price and not today’s futures contract price. The investing strategy indicated by this belief is to simply buy (go long) any futures contract that is below today’s spot price and sell (go short) any contract that is above today’s spot price. Results from January of 1990 through March of 2003 show that by following this strategy, 63.2% of the trades result in a profit. Various simulations result in annualized returns from 5.18% to 14.76% and none results in a margin call.
Free riding and participation in large scale, multi‐hospital kidney exchange

As multi-hospital kidney exchange has grown, the set of players has grown from patients and surgeons to include hospitals. Hospitals can enroll only their hard-tomatch patient-donor pairs, while conducting easily-arranged exchanges internally. This behavior has already been observed. We show that the cost of making it individually rational for hospitals to participate fully is low in almost every large exchange pool (although the worst-case cost is very high), while the cost of failing to guarantee individual rationality could be high, in lost transplants. We identify a mechanism that achieves high eciency while giving hospitals incentives to reveal all patient-donor pairs.
Age and emotion affect how we look at a face: visual scan patterns differ for own-age versus other-age emotional faces.

We investigated how age of faces and emotion expressed in faces affect young (n=30) and older (n=20) adults’ visual inspection while viewing faces and judging their expressions. Overall, expression identification was better for young than older faces, suggesting that interpreting expressions in young faces is easier than in older faces, even for older participants. Moreover, there were age-group differences in misattributions of expressions, in that young participants were more likely to label disgusted faces as angry, whereas older adults were more likely to label angry faces as disgusted. In addition to effects of emotion expressed in faces, age of faces affected visual inspection of faces: Both young and older participants spent more time looking at own-age than other-age faces, with longer looking at own-age faces predicting better own-age expression identification. Thus, cues used in expression identification may shift as a function of emotion and age of faces, in interaction with age of participants.
On the convergence of the generalized maximum likelihood algorithm for nonuniform image motion estimation

The generalized maximum likelihood algorithm is a powerful iterative scheme for waveform estimation. This algorithm seeks for the maximum likelihood estimates of the Karhunen-Loeve expansion coefficients of the waveform. The search for the maximum is performed by the steepest ascent routine. The objective of the paper is to obtain conditions that assure the stability in the mean for frame-to-frame image motion estimation. Sufficient conditions are established for the convergence of the algorithm in the absence of noise. Experimental results are presented that illustrate the behavior of the algorithm in the presence of various noise levels. >
Candida zeylanoides: another opportunistic yeast.

Abstract A patient with a long history of scleroderma and gastrointestinal malabsorption requiring total parenteral nutrition was admitted with Candida zeylanoides fungemia. The yeast responded to therapy, but on two subsequent admissions for episodes of fever the blood cultures yielded the same yeast. The identity of the Candida species was established biochemically by both the API (Analytab) and Vitek system approaches. C. zeylanoides ATCC 20356 and ATCC 7351 served as controls for these analyses and for antifungal susceptibility studies and restriction endonuclease analyses of chromosomal DNA. These investigations indicated that representative isolates of the yeasts from the three episodes were identical and differed in several respects from the ATCC strains, which did not share many of the characteristics bands with the DNA restriction fragment analysis. C. zeylanoides variants capable of tolerating 35 degrees C can complicate the recovery of patients, especially individuals compromised by their underlying disease.
CALCIUM45 TURNOVER IN A MINERALIZING COCCOLITHOPHORID PROTOZOAN.

SYNOPSIS. Ca45 addition to cultures of Hymenomonas, a coccolithophorid chrysomonad, cultivated axenically, led to the autoradiographic confirmation of the intracellular nature of coccolithogenesis. Quantitative studies with isotopically enriched Ca+2 indicate the greatest activity resides in the intracellular fraction. Age of the cultures at the time of isotope addition did not appear to affect the specific activity of the coccoliths. Exchange between cell-free isotopically enriched coccoliths and the environment was also demonstrated. The findings are discussed especially from the viewpoint that the initial intracellular deposition of CaCO3 onto a preformed organic matrix is considered to be an animal rather than a plant characteristic.
Some Conditions of Democracy

It has been argued that political democracy in nation-states is dependent upon certain levels of social and economic development. Some authors (Lipset and Cutright) argue that a particular complex of social and economic requisites appears necessary for the institutionalization and maintenance of democracy. Others (Lerner and Pye) suggest that national political development of any form is predicated upon the development of a system of communications sufficiently sophisticated to overcome the parochialism of traditional society. Still others (Almond and Verba) find social factors such as education crucial for the development of those attitudes deemed adequate for active citizens of democratic polities.By definition, political democracy in nationstates requires some minimal level of citizen participation in decision making. Historically the most effective method of institutionalizing such participation is through some form of representative government. This mechanism permits groups of citizens with common preferences to support representatives who will, in turn, attempt to schedule those preferences for decision by the government. Groups of representatives will form coalitions in an attempt to insure that their common preferences will be enacted into public policy. Because preferences in society are likely to vary in direction and intensity, the successful implementation of political democracy imposes two requirements. One, communication of preferences among competing groups, must be widespread. If they are not, it will be difficult for groups with shared preferences to combine their resources such that “majority” preferences can be successfully implemented. Indeed at a more basic level, communication is necessary for the identification and articulation of common preferences. Second, groups within the citizenry holding competing preferences must be socialized into the procedural norms of the system. Most important is the acceptance of the norms of compliance so that groups which “lose” on any given issue (enactment of a preference set) do not withdraw from the decision system or opt to overthrow it. In short, two primary conditions for the maintenance of any system of political democracy are, (1) communication among members of the political system and, (2) socialization into the “rules of the game.”
Combination niacin and statin therapy in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Statin monotherapy may not be sufficient to reach serum lipid goals in many patients, especially in those with combined lipid abnormalities. Statins cause only a modest increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)--an established independent protective factor for coronary heart disease (CHD)--and a modest decrease in triglycerides (TG). Niacin is an effective pharmacologic agent for increasing HDL, as well as lowering TG. Used in combination with a statin, niacin provides an option to help patients attain their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals, non-HDL goals, and HDL goals. Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2000, only 12% of the surveyed adult population were under treatment for diagnosed hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, only 5.4% of the surveyed population had attained goal total cholesterol levels of < 5.2 mmol/I (< 200 mg/dl). Combination therapy offers a means to get more people to goal. This paper reviews the impact of lipid-modifying combination therapy with niacin plus a statin on lipid profile outcomes.
Exercise and Sleep in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Insomnia and other sleep complaints are highly prevalent in community-dwelling older adults yet often go under detected. Age-related physiological changes may affect sleep, but sleep disturbances and complaints should not be considered normal in this population. Various physiological, psychological, and social consequences have been associated with insomnia and sleep complaints. Treatment options are available so it is imperative to diagnose and treat these individuals to promote healthy aging. Exercise is known to have a wide variety of health benefits, but unfortunately most older adults engage in less exercise with advancing age. This paper describes age-related changes in sleep, clinical correlates of insomnia, consequences of untreated insomnia, and nonpharmacological treatments for insomnia in older adults, with a focus on the relationship between exercise and sleep in community-dwelling older adults with insomnia or sleep complaints. Possible mechanisms explaining the relationship between exercise and sleep are discussed. While the research to date shows promising evidence for exercise as a safe and effective treatment for insomnia and sleep complaints in community-dwelling older adults, future research is needed before exercise can be a first-line treatment for insomnia and sleep complaints in this population.
Cooperative water management and ecosystem protection under scarcity and drought in arid and semiarid regions.

Climate change impacts and the growing concern on environmental water demand are further increasing competition for scarce water resources in many arid and semiarid regions worldwide. Under these circumstances, new water allocation mechanisms based on the involvement of stakeholders are needed, for an efficient and fair allocation of water and income among users. This paper develops a cooperative game theory framework in order to analyze water management policies that could address scarcity and drought in a typical arid and semiarid basin in Southeastern Spain. The results provide clear evidence that achieving cooperation reduces drought damage costs. However, cooperation may have to be regulated by public agencies, such as a basin authority, when scarcity is very high, in order to protect ecosystems and maintain economic benefits. The cooperative game theory solutions and stability indexes examined in this paper demonstrate the importance of incorporating the strategic behavior of water stakeholders in the design of acceptable and stable basin-wide drought mitigation policies.
Plantar Pressure and Gait Symmetry in Individuals with Fractures versus Tendon Injuries to the Hindfoot.

Background: The intent of this study was to determine whether differences in function, walking characteristics, and plantar pressures exist in individuals after operative fixation of an intra-articular calcaneal fracture (HFX) compared with individuals with operative repair of an Achilles tendon rupture (ATR). Methods: Twenty patients (ten with HFXs and ten with ATRs) were recruited approximately 3.5 months after operative intervention. All of the participants completed the Lower Extremity Functional Scale and had their foot posture assessed using the Foot Posture Index. Walking velocity was assessed using a pressure mat system, and plantar pressures were measured using an in-shoe sensor. In addition to between-group comparisons, the involved foot was compared with the uninvolved foot for each participant. Results: There were no differences in age, height, weight, or number of days since surgery between the two groups. The HFX group had lower Lower Extremity Functional Scale scores, slower walking velocit...
The Changing Skid Row Scene

Skid Row is a vanishing social system with a declining population of deviants, now predominantly of older Whites and young Negroes and a rising rate of both violent internal crime and alcoholism. I...
‘We'll be fine until our kid goes to school’: biraciality and discourse in Tia & Tamera

ABSTRACTThis article offers a Critical Discourse Analysis of an episode of the reality TV show Tia & Tamera. A symbolic interactionist frame provides a lens for focusing on how social interactions impact the ways in which meanings of race are constructed around the topic of biraciality, while critical race theory facilitates an understanding of this construction on a macro-level. Conversations between the biracial title characters and their family and friends comprise the data corpus considered for analysis. Three notable themes emerge from the discourses observed: (1) race talk is avoided; (2) racial understanding varies in public and private contexts; and (3) realities of racial self-concepts based upon past experiences shape expectations of future racial self-concepts. Each theme provides insight into how and why the title character engages in discourse work that serves to establish the racial identity of her yet unborn son within the context of a societal structure that leaves her without a range of c...
Abstract 4460: Aromatase inhibition by active tamoxifen metabolites

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Introduction: The mechanism of tamoxifen action in the treatment of breast cancer is believed to be via active metabolites that act as potent antagonists at the estrogen receptors. Despite this, few data have been published that relate the concentrations of these metabolites to their expected clinical effects. Since anti-estrogenic clinical effects may be brought about not only by estrogen antagonism but also by reduced estrogen concentrations, we tested the direct effects of tamoxifen and its active metabolites on aromatase activity. Methods: The activity of recombinant human aromatase was measured by following the generation of fluorescent metabolite from 7-methoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (MFC) in microsomal incubations in the presence and absence of multiple concentrations of tamoxifen, endoxifen, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. Inhibition of aromatase was determined at enzyme concentrations set at 7.5 nM by measuring the percentage of enzyme activity remaining. Results: With MFC concentrations at the Km (25 µM), the IC50s for endoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen were 6.1 µM and 20.7 µM respectively. At concentrations up to 50 µM, no appreciable inhibition by tamoxifen or 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen was observed. Detailed characterization of inhibition by endoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen across a range of substrate concentrations demonstrated non-competitive kinetics for both inhibitors. The Ki values for endoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen were 4.0 µM and 15.9 µM respectively. Preincubation of these tamoxifen metabolites with aromatase did not demonstrate any irreversible effect on enzyme activity. Discussion: Among tamoxifen and its three major metabolites, only endoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen were found to be potent inhibitors of aromatase. This enzyme is the major source of estrogen in humans, and changes in its activity may thus alter estrogen-regulated physiology. Inhibition by these tamoxifen metabolites may contribute to changes in serum and tissue estrogen concentrations, and may explain in part the variability in bone density, serum lipid concentration, severity of musculoskeletal pain and breast cancer recurrence observed in patients taking tamoxifen. Relationships between tamoxifen metabolite concentrations and clinical outcomes may be complex, and mechanisms that underlie the multiple clinical effects of tamoxifen include the possibility of aromatase inhibition by endoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4460. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4460
Ethics and Law: A Happy Marriage or a Dysfunctional Relationship?

Although adult prostitution in Spain is not illegal, child prostitution is. However, as adult prostitution is unregulated, it facilitates child prostitution itself. Pornography shares a status similar to prostitution in Spain: it is not illegal but child pornography is. In theory, all ethical theories and legal systems condemn child prostitution, pornography, and rape worldwide. In practice though, these crimes keep happening nowadays. The author analyzes this topic in relation to Spanish society today through films such as No tengas miedo (2011) by Montxo Armendariz, Cachito (1996) by Enrique Urbizu, Hable con ella (2002) and Atame (1990) by Almodovar, Las edades de Lulu (1990) by Bigas Luna, Alas de mariposa (1991) by Juanma Bajo Ulloa, and Las trece rosas (2007) by Emilio Martinez Lazaro.
Study on Treatment of Shenfu Irrigation Canal Sewage by the Artificial Wetland

A kind of micro artificial wetland system was designed to treat sewage of the Shenfu irrigation canal.Removal effects of COD and NH3-N were tested.The results show that COD and NH3-N could be effectively removed from the sewage by the undercurrent artificial wetland,and concentration of COD and NH3-H of the outlet water could meet the requirement of the discharge standard.
Separation of Cr~(3+) and Fe~(3+) from Sulphuric Acid Leaching Solution of Chromite by Goethite Method

Separation of Cr3+ and Fe3+ from in sulfuric acid leaching solution of chromite with goethite was studied with experiments. The result show that Fe(OH)3 produced by adding appropriate amount of mineralizing agent(KOH) into Fe2(SO4)3 solution can be transformed into goethite inoculating crystals in good crystalline form under the conditions of 8 h heating at 120 ℃. After diluting the sulfuric acid leaching solution of chromite to the concentration of Fe3+ at 1 g/L and then adding goethite inoculating crystals to the solution, the separation between Fe3+ and Cr3+ can be accomplished under the conditions of p H 2.5 and 90 ℃ heating for 4 h. 97% of iron is precipitated and 33% of chromium lost.
Monitoring on infectious diarrheal disease in Daxing district of Beijing, 2010-2011

Objective To explore the status and epidemiological characters of enteropathogenic bacteria in patients with infectious diarrhea in Daxing district, and to provide scientific evidence for disease prevention and control. Methods Stool specimens of cases were collected from monitoring hospitals and tested for nine kinds of intestinal bacteria. The bacteria of Shigella detected from the samples were also conducted drug susceptibility test. Results A total of 760 samples were collected during the study period. 167 strains of enteropathogenic bacteria were detected from those samples, which mainly included Shigella,and followed by Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and the positive rate was 21.97%. The resistance of Shigella bacteria to some drugs was higher. Although the resistance to the third-generation Quinolones drug was still sensitive,its sensitivity showed a downtrend. Conclusion The positive rate of intestinal pathogens increased in the past two years. Meanwhile, the strains of Shigella also changed and the subgroup D detected as the main serotype. There was increasing tendency to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in summer. There was a certain degree of change in antibiotics resistance of Shigella, and its sensitivity showed a downtrend overall.
The azygos lobe. Clinical implications and an unusual variant.

Summary Two case reports of resectional treatment for tuberculosis of the azygos lobe are presented. The finding of a separate epiarterial bronchus, not previously described, is noted. The clinical, radiologic, and anatomic findings, including bronchopulmonary segmental relationships, are described. The embryologic abnormality accounting for the anomaly is discussed. Segmental or subsegmental resection in order to conserve functioning pulmonary tissue is advocated.
Methods to Study How Replication Fork Helicases Unwind DNA

Replication fork helicases unwind DNA at a replication fork, providing polymerases with single-stranded DNA templates for replication. In bacteria, DnaB unwinds DNA at a replication fork, while in archaeal and eukaryotic organisms the Mcm proteins catalyze replication fork unwinding. Unwinding in archaea is catalyzed by a single Mcm protein that forms multimeric rings, whereas eukaryotic helicase activity is catalyzed by the heterohexameric Mcm2-7 complex acting in concert with Cdc45 and the GINS complex. A subcomplex of eukaryotic Mcm proteins, the Mcm4,6,7 complex, unwinds DNA in vitro, and studies of this assembly reveal insight into the mechanism of the eukaryotic Mcm helicase. Detailed methods for the investigation of replication fork helicase mechanism are described in this chapter. Described herein are methods for the design of DNA substrates for unwinding and branch migration studies, annealing DNA, purifying replication fork helicase proteins, and analyzing DNA unwinding activity.
A Welfare Analysis of 'New Mercantilist' Foreign Reserve Accumulation

Contrary to traditional neoclassical growth models, recent decades have seen a number of developing economies running sizable current account surpluses. In response to "new mercantilist" explanations of this phenomenon that relate holdings of foreign assets to higher levels of economic growth, this paper presents a theoretical model of a small open developing economy that permits a welfare analysis of mercantilist policies and importantly answers the question of whether mercantilist motives alone can explain the recent high levels of observed foreign asset holdings. Using a calibration to match the characteristics of China, the model predicts that while such policies may lead to significant welfare gains, consumers' desires to smooth consumption generally preclude a positive current account balance under most parameterizations. Deliberate foreign asset accumulation may be welfare reducing or mercantilist motives may provide only one component of a fuller explanation.
Twelve weeks of dance exergaming in overweight and obese adolescent girls: Transfer effects on physical activity, screen time, and self-efficacy.

Abstract Background Given the low levels of physical activity (PA) among adolescent girls in the US, there is a need to identify tools to motivate increased PA. Although there is limited evidence that adolescents transfer PA from one context to another, exergames (i.e., video games that require gross motor activity) may act as a gateway to promote overall PA outside game play. The purpose of this study was to examine potential transfer effects (i.e., influences on external behaviors and psychological constructs) of a 12-week exergaming intervention on adolescent girls' PA, screen time, and self-efficacy toward PA, as well as the intrinsic motivation of exergaming. Methods Participants were 37 girls aged 14–18 years (65% African American, 35% white) who were overweight or obese (body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) and were recruited from the community via school, physicians, news media, and social media websites. Adolescents were randomly assigned to a 12-week group exergaming intervention (thirty-six 60 min sessions of group-based dance exergaming in a research laboratory using Kinect for Xbox 360 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA)) or to a no-treatment control group. Outcome variables included objectively measured PA (total) and self-reported leisure-time PA (discretionary time only) 1 week before vs. 1 week after the intervention; selected type and intensity of PA when placed in a gym setting for 30 min (“cardio free choice”); screen time; self-efficacy toward PA; and intrinsic motivation toward exergaming. Results Attendance at the exergaming sessions was high (80%). Compared with the control group, the intervention group self-reported an increase in PA (p = 0.035) and fewer hours watching television or videos (p = 0.01) after the intervention, but there were no significant differences in sedentary, light, moderate, or vigorous PA measured by accelerometry. The intervention group significantly improved self-efficacy toward PA (p = 0.028). The intervention group highly rated intrinsic motivation toward exergaming. Conclusion Exergaming for 12 weeks was associated with positive impacts on adolescent girls' self-reported PA, television viewing, self-efficacy, and intrinsic motivation. Future research is warranted to leverage exergames as an enjoyable, motivating, and effective PA tool.
EFFECT OF PASTEURIZATION CONDITIONS, TYPE OF BACTERIA, AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON THE KEEPING QUALITY OF UHT-PROCESSED SOFT-SERVE FROZEN DESSERT MIXES1

The first phase of this study was concerned with the shelf-life of commercial frozen dessert mixes prepared with nonfat dry milk of high-thermoduric count and pasteurized at 140.6 C for 3 sec. The shelf-life was 4, 3, and 2 weeks at 4.4, 10, and 15 C, respectively. Spore-forming bacteria comprised a major portion of the microbial flora of the spoiled products. However, a similar product prepared with nonfat dry milk of low-thermoduric count and inoculated before pasteurization with large numbers of unidentified Bacillus spores which had been isolated from the spoiled mixes had a shelf-life of more than 8 weeks at 4.4 C. The second phase of the study concerned the shelf-life of soft-serve mixes containing spores of Bacillus cereus. Spores were inoculated in large numbers into raw frozen dessert mixes which were then pasteurized at ultra-high temperatures. When approximately one million spores/ml were present, only 12.5% were destroyed by heating for 3 sec at 104.5 C, and 99.5% at 137.7 C. However, during s...
Adolescent/Early Adult Former Pediatric Neurogenic Patients: Special Considerations

Patients with congenital neurogenic dysfunction of the lower urinary tract are at risk of long-term renal dysfunction and failure; therefore, early diagnosis and close monitoring of these patients from infancy to adulthood is crucial to providing effective urological care. The diagnosis of “neurogenic bladder” is often used to describe this patient population, which includes patients with diverse disease processes and varied prognoses who may benefit from distinct interventions. Detailed history, physical examination, laboratory, and radiological workup are necessary to correctly manage these patients and prevent long-term sequelae of voiding dysfunction. This chapter presents index cases from three categories of patients with neurogenic dysfunction of the lower urinary tract, including their clinical presentation, workup, and treatment course. Lastly, we discuss the implications of neurogenic bladder on the indications and evaluation for renal transplantation.
Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between General Anesthesiologists and Cardiac Anesthesiologists in the Management of Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients in Noncardiac Surgeries and Procedures.

Objective To describe the authors’ experience and comparative results after introducing noncardiac fellowship-trained anesthesiologists to a service previously managed by fellowship-trained cardiac anesthesiologists caring for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients undergoing low-risk noncardiac procedures with anesthesia. Design A retrospective chart review. Setting Single-site academic medical center in the United States. Interventions Anesthesia and intraoperative therapy. Measurements and Main Results After initiating a brief training period for the noncardiac fellowship-trained anesthesiologists and blending the noncardiac anesthesiologists into the care of LVAD patients, the electronic medical records of 158 patients with an LVAD who underwent noncardiac procedures were reviewed. The cases were managed by either cardiac-trained anesthesiologists or noncardiac-trained anesthesiologists. Their performance was evaluated on the basis of technique and outcome. The parameters for technique were the use of intubation and mechanical ventilation, use of vasoactive medications, type of vasoactive medications administered, use of invasive monitoring, and type and amount of intravenous fluid administration. The outcomes examined included occurrence of intraoperative mean blood pressure Conclusions Patients with LVADs can be managed by either a noncardiac or a cardiac fellowship-trained anesthesiologist with similar technique and outcome during low-risk noncardiac procedures and surgeries.
Effects of Cooling Rate on Precipitate Evolution and Residual Stresses in Al–Si–Mn–Mg Casting Alloy

The residual stresses with different heat treatment conditions have been measured and correlated with the microstructural behavior of AA365. 30 and 100 K/min cooling of AA365 inhibited the transformation of precipitates under 773 K, respectively. The alloy cooled at 30 and 100 K/min exhibited tensile residual stresses of 6.2 and 5.4 MPa, respectively, while the alloy cooled at 1 and 10 K/min showed compressive stresses of − 12.8 and − 10.3 MPa, respectively. The formation β′, β″, and other intermetallic compounds affected the compressive residual stresses, and that the fracture of the brittle intermetallic phases could reduce the extent of residual stresses in the lattice through plastic deformation.
Hegemonic Imagination, Historical Ethos, and Colonized Minds in the Pedagogical Space: Pastoral Ethics and Teaching as if our Lives Depended on it1

Pedagogical space is a theo-ethical-pastoral process where one notices and probes the reality of what is being wrought in the world. Theo-ethical-pastoral space requires the learning community to d...
Assessing historical and projected carbon balance of Alaska: A synthesis of results and policy/management implications

We summarize the results of a recent interagency assessment of land carbon dynamics in Alaska, in which carbon dynamics were estimated for all major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems for the historical period (1950-2009) and a projection period (2010-2099). Between 1950 and 2009, upland and wetland (i.e., terrestrial) ecosystems of the state gained 0.4 Tg C/yr (0.1% of net primary production, NPP), resulting in a cumulative greenhouse gas radiative forcing of 1.68 × 10-3 W/m2 . The change in carbon storage is spatially variable with the region of the Northwest Boreal Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) losing carbon because of fire disturbance. The combined carbon transport via various pathways through inland aquatic ecosystems of Alaska was estimated to be 41.3 Tg C/yr (17% of terrestrial NPP). During the projection period (2010-2099), carbon storage of terrestrial ecosystems of Alaska was projected to increase (22.5-70.0 Tg C/yr), primarily because of NPP increases of 10-30% associated with responses to rising atmospheric CO2 , increased nitrogen cycling, and longer growing seasons. Although carbon emissions to the atmosphere from wildfire and wetland CH4 were projected to increase for all of the climate projections, the increases in NPP more than compensated for those losses at the statewide level. Carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems continue to warm the climate for four of the six future projections and cool the climate for only one of the projections. The attribution analyses we conducted indicated that the response of NPP in terrestrial ecosystems to rising atmospheric CO2 (~5% per 100 ppmv CO2 ) saturates as CO2 increases (between approximately +150 and +450 ppmv among projections). This response, along with the expectation that permafrost thaw would be much greater and release large quantities of permafrost carbon after 2100, suggests that projected carbon gains in terrestrial ecosystems of Alaska may not be sustained. From a national perspective, inclusion of all of Alaska in greenhouse gas inventory reports would ensure better accounting of the overall greenhouse gas balance of the nation and provide a foundation for considering mitigation activities in areas that are accessible enough to support substantive deployment.
Globalization, Population Aging, and Ethics, Part II: Toward a Just Global Society

In “Globalization, Population Aging, and Ethics, Part I” (2001), we described how globalization, through the neoliberal policies imposed by international financial institutions (the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank) has substantially reduced the capacities of developing countries to meet the educational, economic, and healthcare needs of their growing populations. We also described how these needs will increase over the next several decades with the huge growth of the elderly population across Asia and Latin America. We concluded our analysis with a discussion of the ethical implications of this increasing discrepancy between resource capacity and human needs in the developing world and two perspectives (Rawls's theory of justice and liberation philosophy, 2000) that could help sharpen the debate over the ethics of globalization. In this article, we summarize our analysis and discussion of Part I and include new information from additional sources. We then extend our discussion of the ethical implications of this analysis by describing a range of political and policy options that we think are consistent with the ethical perspective suggested in Part I and that have the potential to help reduce the widening gap between resource capacity and human need in many developing countries.
The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin (FASRB)

The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin—FASRB (2002) is the first regional (river basin) agreement, except the Dayton Peace Agreement (1995), concluded by the countries originated by the decomposed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). The conclusion of the FASRB was strongly supported by the international comunity, acting intensively in the Balkan region after the wars in the nineties. This Agreement is an example of positive development in managing of natural (i.e. water) resources in a post-war period.
Chapter 6 – Post-translational control of the amyloid β-protein precursor processing

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses posttranslational control of the amyloid β-protein precursor (APP) processing. APP processing appears to be under complex regulation. This regulation is apparently important under both normal and pathological conditions. The observation that Aβ formation can be regulated by various means is of direct clinical interest. This raises the possibility that altered APP processing may cause an increase in Aβ formation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and suggests that it may be possible to regulate the production of Aβ as a therapeutic approach in AD. By studying APP processing in areas of nerve terminal degeneration, far from the lesion site, it could be shown that the changes in APP processing are caused by neuronal degeneration affecting APP processing, rather than altered APP processing affecting neuronal degeneration. It is found even in individuals where increased Aβ formation is not the cause of AD but some other cause, such as the presence of ApoE4, which causes AI3 accumulation and hence synaptic loss, decreasing Aβ formation may be beneficial. The observation that lithium treatment alters APPs levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients supports regulating APP processing as a therapeutic approach in AD.
A Distortion-Free Cross-Cylinder System for Automated Subjective Refraction

For the past fourteen years I have been developing instruments for automated clinical refraction. In this paper I should like to describe a major breakthrough in this work—the development of a distortion-free cross-cylinder system—a system which actually appears to be more accurate than the conventional cross cylinder.
Conclusions and Broader Possibilities

As I argued in Chap. 1, the Che are unique in many respects. They are not the only indigenous group to resist or fight against European colonization, but they are the only to do so from the outset of contact. They are not the only ones to strategically restructure their society in the face of incursion (Parmenter 2010; Witgen 2012), but they are the only ones to do without experiencing the level of hybridization and syncretism that affected many other indigenous groups in the Americas. They are, however, the only indigenous group in North or South America to receive official recognition as an independent, autonomous culture by a European nation-state (Abreu y Bertodano 1740; see also Dillehay and Rothammer 2013; Dillehay 2014). They are the only ones who managed to do all of this on their own terms for 400 years.
Trapping and Information in Fruit Fly Management

The role of traps as sources of information and for reduction of uncertainty is discussed. This discussion includes time scales and trap problems, interpretations of zeros, population estimation, growth rate estimation, sterile to wild ratio estimation and effects of aggregation on trap catches.
Use of 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet-A pretreated platelet concentrates to prevent alloimmunization against class I major histocompatibility antigens

The use of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and UV-A irradiation to inactivate contaminating donor leukocytes in platelet concentrates and to prevent primary alloimmunization against donor class I major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens in mice was investigated. CBA/CaH-T6J mice with the H2k haplotype and BALB/cByJ mice with the H2d haplotype were used as donors and recipients, respectively. The mixed leukocyte reaction between these two strains of mice showed that treatment of spleen cells with 500 ng/mL 8-MOP and 5J/cm2 UV-A inhibited 99% of responder and 92% of stimulator function. There was no measurable loss of platelet aggregating activity after the treatment. After two weekly transfusions of platelets without any treatment, 93% of control mice (n = 15) developed anti-H2k antibody. In contrast, only 33% of mice (n = 15) receiving platelets treated with 8-MOP and UV-A became alloimmunized. After six weekly platelet transfusions, all mice became alloimmunized. Nevertheless, the mean titers of anti-H2k antibody in sera of the treated groups were significantly lower than the control groups. One hour posttransfusion recoveries of 51Cr-labeled donor platelets were also higher in mice transfused with the treated platelets. Thus, the pretreatment of platelet concentrates with 8-MOP and UV-A irradiation effectively reduced the alloantigenicity of class I MHC molecules. The implication of this finding in relation to the mechanism by which donor leukocytes allosensitize recipients is discussed.
Quantification of whole-brain oxygenation extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption in adults with sickle cell anemia using individual T2 -based oxygenation calibrations.

PURPOSE To evaluate different T2 -oxygenation calibrations for estimating venous oxygenation in people with sickle cell anemia (SCA). METHODS Blood T2 values were measured at 3 T in the internal jugular veins of 12 healthy volunteers and 11 SCA participants with no history of stroke, recent transfusion, or renal impairment. T2 -oxygenation relationships of both sickled and normal blood samples were calibrated individually and compared with values generated from published models. After converting venous T2 values to venous oxygenation, whole-brain oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen were calculated. RESULTS Sickle blood samples' oxygenation values calculated from our individual calibrations agreed well with measurements using a blood analyzer, whereas previous T2 calibrations based on normal blood samples showed 13%-19% underestimation. Meanwhile, oxygenation values calculated from previous grouped T2 calibration for sickle blood agreed well with experimental measurement on averaged values, but showed up to 20% variation for several individual samples. Using individual T2 calibrations, the whole-brain oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen of SCA participants were 0.38 ± 0.08 and 172 ± 42 µmol/min/100 g, respectively, which were comparable to those values measured on healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION Our results confirm that sickle blood T2 values not only depend on the hematocrit and oxygenation values, but also on other hematological factors. The individual T2 calibrations minimized the effect of heterogeneity of sickle blood between different SCA populations and improved the accuracy of T2 -based oximetry. The measured oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen of this group of SCA participants were found to not differ significantly from those of healthy individuals.
Imaging Features of Pulmonary Leukemic Infiltration With Comparison of Lymphoid and Myeloid Leukemias.

Abstract Purpose To describe the imaging findings of lung infiltration by leukemia and differential findings of lymphoid and myeloid leukemias. Materials and Methods Through a search of electronic medical records from 2005 to 2017, we identified 21 patients with pathologically proven lung involvement by leukemia. Concurrent CT findings were analyzed by 2 chest radiologists in consensus for ground glass or consolidative opacities, septal thickening, bronchovascular bundle thickening, pulmonary nodules, pulmonary masses, and hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Results There were 13 cases of lymphoid leukemias and 8 of myeloid leukemias. Nodules and masses were the most common imaging feature (n = 13, 62%). Bronchovascular bundle thickening and hilar lymphadenopathy were exclusively seen in lymphoid leukemias (P = 0.01 and P = 0.006). Centrilobular nodules were also exclusively seen in 3 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Conclusion Lung infiltration by leukemia presents most commonly with nodules or masses, but interstitial abnormalities such as bronchovascular bundle thickening were seen as well. Radiologists should consider leukemic infiltration in the differential diagnosis for nodules, including centrilobular nodules, in these patients.
A tissue-mimicking prostate phantom for 980 nm laser interstitial thermal therapy

Purpose: To develop a phantom with optical and thermal properties matched to human prostate. This phantom will provide a platform for the development and characterization of 980 nm laser interstiti...