cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward a Science of Failure Analysis: A Narrative Review:

When a researcher tests an educational program, product, or policy in a randomized controlled trial and detects a significant effect on an outcome, the intervention is usually classified as somethi...
A Balancing Act: p53 Activity from Tumor Suppression to Pathology and Therapeutic Implications.

TP53, encoding the p53 transcription factor, is the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor gene across all human cancer types. While p53 has long been appreciated to induce antiproliferative cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and senescence programs in response to diverse stress signals, various studies in recent years have revealed additional important functions for p53 that likely also contribute to tumor suppression, including roles in regulating tumor metabolism, ferroptosis, signaling in the tumor microenvironment, and stem cell self-renewal/differentiation. Not only does p53 loss or mutation cause cancer, but hyperactive p53 also drives various pathologies, including developmental phenotypes, premature aging, neurodegeneration, and side effects of cancer therapies. These findings underscore the importance of balanced p53 activity and influence our thinking of how to best develop cancer therapies based on modulating the p53 pathway. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease, Volume 17 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Graph Relation Transformer: Incorporating pairwise object features into the Transformer architecture

Previous studies such as VizWiz find that Visual Question Answering (VQA) systems that can read and reason about text in images are useful in application areas such as assisting visually-impaired people. TextVQA is a VQA dataset geared towards this problem, where the questions require answering systems to read and reason about visual objects and text objects in images. One key challenge in TextVQA is the design of a system that effectively reasons not only about visual and text objects individually, but also about the spatial relationships between these objects. This motivates the use of 'edge features', that is, information about the relationship between each pair of objects. Some current TextVQA models address this problem but either only use categories of relations (rather than edge feature vectors) or do not use edge features within the Transformer architectures. In order to overcome these shortcomings, we propose a Graph Relation Transformer (GRT), which uses edge information in addition to node information for graph attention computation in the Transformer. We find that, without using any other optimizations, the proposed GRT method outperforms the accuracy of the M4C baseline model by 0.65% on the val set and 0.57% on the test set. Qualitatively, we observe that the GRT has superior spatial reasoning ability to M4C.
In Vitro Ischemia in the Hippocampal Slice

Our current concepts relating ischemia to irreversible neuronal damage are based on data from multiple in vivo and in vitro model systems. Results from these models are helping to define the temporal sequence of events that lead to neuronal damage, and a complete understanding of these events will help optimize strategies for neuroprotective therapies. One particularly interesting type of neuronal damage after an ischemic episode appears to be initiated by sustained increases in intracellular Ca2+, and defining the mechanisms that lead to these increases is being intensively investigated. In some ischemia models, excessive glutamate receptor stimulation appears to be an early and causal event in producing the increased intracellular Ca2+ levels (Abele et al. 1990; Choi 1990; Manev et al. 1989; Siesjo and Bengtsson 1989) and is referred to as glutamate excitotoxicity. Glutamate receptors can be classified into two major types: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA (Mayer and Miller 1990). Non-NMDA receptors can be further subdivided into ionotropic and metabotropic depending on whether they open ion channels directly or activate intracellular processes through Gprotein interactions, respectively. NMDA receptors permit Na+ and K+ flux and are also an important portal for Ca2+ entry in neurons (Mayer and Miller 1990; Yoneda and Ogita 1991). The ionotropic non-NMDA receptor mediates the majority of the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and is permeable mainly to Na+ and K+; however, recently they were also shown to permit Ca2+ influx in some circumstances (for discussion see Choi 1990).
The Suspension of Preliminary Injunctions in Brazil: An Example of Institutional Corruption

The concept of institutional corruption can be used to identify any possible procedural practice, within or outside the government, capable of distorting the missions of that institution. The distortion may be broad or narrow, compromise the whole or a part, and affect some members or every member of the institution. The goal of this paper is to scrutinize a specific feature of Brazilian Civil Procedure, the so-called “Suspensao de Liminar,” in which the presidents of the court of appeals and of the other major courts of the country have the power to, in an individual decision, inhibit the effects of injunctions granted by the trial judges against the government. It is argued the presidents of the state court of appeals are too close to governors and mayors; that the courts are reluctant to rule against the government for fear of their own interests being compromised; and that this results in distorted judicial outcomes which favor the government, to the detriment of private parties.
Thiophene-expanded guanosine analogues of Gemcitabine

The chemotherapeutic drug Gemcitabine, 2′,2′-difluoro-2′-deoxycytidine, has long been the standard of care for a number of cancers. Gemcitabine’s chemotherapeutic properties stem from its 2′,2′-difluoro-2′-deoxyribose sugar, which mimics the natural nucleoside, but also disrupts nucleic acid synthesis, leading to cell death. As a result, numerous analogues have been prepared to further explore the biological implications for this structural modification. In that regard, a thieno-expanded guanosine analogue was of interest due to biological activity previously observed for the tricyclic heterobase scaffold. Several analogues were prepared, including the McGuigan ProTide, however the parent nucleoside exhibited the best chemotherapeutic activity, specifically against breast cancer cell lines (89.53% growth inhibition).
SIPP and the Measurement of Income Transitions among the Elderly: Limits and Suggestions for Modifications

The objective of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) has been described as providing "policymakers with more accurate and comprehensive information ... about the income and program participation of persons and households ... " (J abine, 1990, p. 5), improving' 'reporting of income and other program-related data and doing it in a way that would allow the analysis of changes over time at a microlevel" (Nelson et aI., 1984, p. 3), and permitting "a more accurate portrayal of the impact of government tax and transfer policies on the economic status of the population" (Vaughan, 1989, p. 1) [emphasis added.] These descriptions demonstrate the empj:lasis in the design of SIPP on obtaining good measures of program eligibility, participation, and targeting. The purpose of this paper is not to review SIPP history. But mention of the original rationale for developing SIPP is useful in assessing the adequacy of SIPP data for studies of economic status and change among the elderly and suggesting appropriate changes in data collection. It is unrealistic to aim for a single data set that could address all major research issues. Thus, in developing recommendations, I begin with the question of what SIPP is designed to do best, whether it does that for the elderly population, and what additional or improved data could be collected that other surveys of the elderly could not do better. This paper takes as its point of departure the meaning of "program participation" in understanding the usefulness of SIPP in investigating gerontologi-
The Value Added By Auditing and the Hidden Costs of Regulation: Public School Operation

We utilize a unique opportunity presented by an education reform instituted in the state of Georgia and examine how more stringent and complicated compliance rules affect auditing and monitoring effectiveness. We examine whether auditing produces economic benefits for stakeholders. The stakeholders in this study are taxpayers and interest groups. We assume that the ultimate goal of auditing is to provide monitoring. We then utilize a relative performance evaluation technique to estimate the average contribution of auditing. We directly estimate the impact of auditing on the reduction of nonproductive use of taxes, which may be a perquisite to local public officials. This approach to estimating the economic value of auditing is consistent with the notion that effective monitoring should enhance optimal resource allocation in society (Lev, 1988; and Penno, 1980). We show that auditing truly provides economic benefits to taxpayers by reducing nonproductive use of taxes. We also analyze external and internal monitoring systems in a politically competitive environment, and to assess the impact of new and complicated compliance standards for auditors on their resource allocation and monitoring effectiveness. We find that stringent compliance rules reduce auditing effectiveness by creating time allocation problems. We show complex compliance rules increase nonproductive use of taxes. Utilizing a unique data set on auditing time, our analysis shows auditing to be an integral part of monitoring strategy, the potential social costs of new policies imposed on auditors should be carefully considered to evaluate the effectiveness of monitoring strategy. We demonstrate that changes in policy really can decrease the efficiency of auditing, which has real economic consequences.
Role expansion in school psychology: The need for primary and secondary prevention services

A sample of 80 special education directors completed a survey regarding the functions of school psychologists, the degree of effectiveness of psychologists in delivering certain services, and activities in which they should become more (or less) involved. The results reveal that there is no single activity that accounts for the majority of the school psychologist's time. School psychologists were rated as more effective in assessment, consulting, and crisis intervention. Activities rated as needing more involvement were counseling and consultation. Although these results are supportive of role expansion and consistent with the literature, of particular concern was the failure to identify involvement with at-risk and regular education students as a major need. These concerns suggest that there is a need for increases in primary and secondary prevention services.
Vector Quantization using Artificial Neural Network Models

This paper describes our ongoing research into the construction of an Adaptive Vector Quantization (AVQ) image encode. We provide the motivations behind an AVQ encoder and report on our progress-to-date in realizing a Vector Quantization (VQ) encoder. We describe the hardware that has been built to compress video in real time using full-search vector quantization. This hardware implements a differential-vector-quantization (DVQ) algorithm which employs entropy-biased codebooks designed using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The theoretical properties of this codebook design method are discussed. We conclude with a description of the framework we are using to study various AVQ techniques with the goal of modifying our existing VQ hardware in order to realize an AVQ encoder.
Boundary Layer Transition Due to the Entry of a Small Particle

This article will examine how a laminar, unstable boundary layer can be disturbed by a small particle entering it. A water channel experiment was conducted which showed that the wake left by the falling sphere was capable of triggering a turbulent spot. Direct Numerical Simulations were carried out which modelled the falling sphere wake as a Hill’s spherical vortex. The vortex caused transition in the boundary layer under certain conditions.
Applying system dynamics for outsourcing services in design-build projects

This study analysed a system dynamics model for outsourcing engineering services in a large and complex project organisational structure that is typically associated with design-build (DB) project delivery. A literature review indicated that most of the reviewed papers implied the project engineering resources were totally insourced or the authors were silent regarding any resources that were outsourced. Comprehensive sensitivity analysis of various model variables was performed, which indicates that the quality and productivity of the outsourced resources as well as the initial number of assigned experienced engineers significantly impacted the amount and timing of engineering work completion. Project outcomes were also impacted by varying the number of initial and changed engineering tasks. The decision to insource/outsource engineering work on DB projects may have significant cost and time impacts, which should be considered by decision makers.
Dynamic rigid motion estimation from weak perspective

"Weak perspective" represents a simplified projection model that approximates the imaging process when the scene is viewed under a small viewing angle and its depth relief is small relative to its distance from the viewer. We study how to generate dynamic models for estimating rigid 3D motion from weak perspective. A crucial feature in dynamic visual motion estimation is to decouple structure from motion in the estimation model. The reasons are both geometric-to achieve global observability of the model-and practical, for a structure independent motion estimator allows us to deal with occlusions and appearance of new features in a principled way. It is also possible to push the decoupling even further, and isolate the motion parameters that are affected by the so called "bas relief ambiguity" from the ones that are not. We present a novel method for reducing the order of the estimator by decoupling portions of the state space from the time evolution of the measurement constraint. We use this method to construct an estimator of full rigid motion (modulo a scaling factor) on a six dimensional state space, an approximate estimator for a four dimensional subset of the motion space, and a reduced filter with only two states. The latter two are immune to the bas relief ambiguity. We compare strengths and weaknesses of each of the schemes on real and synthetic image sequences. >
The minority report: some common assumptions to reconsider in the modelling of the brain and behaviour

Reverse-engineering the brain involves adopting and testing a hierarchy of working hypotheses regarding the computational problems that it solves, the representations and algorithms that it employs and the manner in which these are implemented. Because problem-level assumptions set the course for the entire research programme, it is particularly important to be open to the possibility that we have them wrong, but tacit algorithm- and implementation-level hypotheses can also benefit from occasional scrutiny. This paper focuses on the extent to which our computational understanding of how the brain works is shaped by three such rarely discussed assumptions, which span the levels of Marr's hierarchy: (i) that animal behaviour amounts to a series of stimulus/response bouts, (ii) that learning can be adequately modelled as being driven by the optimisation of a fixed objective function and (iii) that massively parallel, uniformly connected layered or recurrent network architectures suffice to support learning a...
Radiative heat exchange in Czochralski crystal growth

Abstract The effects of diffuse-gray radiation on the parametric sensitivity and stability of the Czochralski process for growing silicon is analyzed in a thermal-capillary model which governs heat transfer in the system, the shape of the melt/crystal and melt/gas interfaces and the shape of the growing crystal. Calculations with a quasi-steady-state model (QSSM) demonstrate differences in sensitivity of the crystal radius and the shape of the crystal/melt interfaces to melt volume and pull rate for systems with high and low axial temperature gradients, as set by the difference between the heater and ambient temperatures. The stability of these states is demonstrated by transient simulations of the response of the system to step changes in the pull rate. The crystal radius exhibits decaying oscillations which damp more slowly when the temperature gradient is low, indicating the incipient instability expected for an isothermal system. The oscillations are induced by the interactions of radiation with the shape of the crystal and are nor predicted when an idealized model is used which ignores this effect. Batchwise simulations which include the decreasing melt volume show the importance of including detailed radiation in modelling the entire growth process. Proportional and integral feedback control strategies are demonstrated for control of the crystal radius by incorporating a servo-control equation for the heater temperature into the dynamic simulation based on the thermal-capillary model.
Nesting Biology and Immature Stages of the Panurgine Bee Genera Rhophitulus and Cephalurgus (Apoidea: Andrenidae: Protandrenini)

ABSTRACT Herein is presented nesting information on the communal ground-nesting Argentinian bees Rhophitulus xenopalpus Ramos and R. mimus Ramos, which is compared with what is known concerning the closely related Brazilian bee Cephalurgus anomalus Moure and Lucas de Oliveira. The mature larvae of all three taxa are described, illustrated, and compared with one another and with those of other Protandrenini. While larvae of the three species share many similarities, those of R. xenopalpus and R. mimus, though each distinctive, are quite similar, and those of C. anomalus differ from the others in mandibular features and in dorsal body ornamentation. Male and female pupae of R. xenopalpus are also described.
Opportunities for Ice Storage to Provide Ancillary Services to Power Grids Incorporating Wind Turbine Generation

A problem with managing the electric grid is the variability of wind-generated electricity, particularly when it represents a significant fraction of the total electric power. One solution for smoothing the variability in wind production is energy storage. Unlike conventional thinking of using electric energy storage, this paper discusses the opportunity to use ice-storage for air conditioning in large commercial buildings to provide the smoothing (i.e., balancing) services. When the wind generation is high so that excess electricity is available, ice is made. When wind generation ceases and the grid demand exceeds generation capacity, the air conditioning supplied by chillers is shut down and cooling is provided by the stored ice.Exploring thermal energy storage for the wind balancing was motivated by the observation that thermal energy storage using ice is an order of magnitude less expensive than electric energy storage. This paper addresses the technical challenges and economic opportunities of operating a chiller/storage system to balance the wind production for the grid and well as meeting the building cooling needs. If ice storage is to be an effective approach for wind balancing then the system must be optimized in a way that ensures that both the commercial building owner and the electric distribution system profit.The paper describes the features of a combined ice storage/chiller system operation and details the numerical approach to achieve an optimal strategy that minimizes operating costs. Because of the high variability of wind electricity generation, the time discretization of the optimization had to be of the order of 5 minutes which increaes the size of the optimization problem significantly. The optimization problem is non-linear when a real time pricing rate structure to the commercial building owner is considered. This paper discusses the results of exploring the optimal control strategies under various conditions.© 2012 ASME
Submicron parameter determination using simulated annealing

Features smaller than the coherent point spread function of an optical microscope can be detected by looking at the phase of an image rather than simply looking at the reflected intensity. To get an accurate determination of feature size, object reconstruction techniques need to be applied to remove the effects of the optical system. This paper discusses the use of simulated annealing to determine the width and average height of an object feature as well as the defocus and spherical aberration present in the imaging system. Results show that errors of less than 5% are obtained for features as small as 1/6th of the optical resolution of the system and less than 2% for features as small as 1/2 of the resolution. When noise is included in the modeling, errors of 5% are obtained for S/N of 10 and less than 2% for S/N of 100.
Effect of Exercise Garment Fabric and Environment on Cutaneous Conditions of Human Subjects

The role of three experimental knitfabrics and two environmental conditions on human subjects' stratum corneum water content, rate of water evaporation from their skin surface, rate of capillary blood flow, and skin temperature are reported Exercise garments constructed from 1. 5 denier polyester, 3.5 denierpolyester, or 100 % combed cottonfabrics were worn by each subject while exercising and resting in a hot, humid and a hot, dry environment. The noninvasive cutaneous measurements were taken on the subjects' upper back using an Evaporimeter, a laser Doppler velocimetry instrument, a microwave probe, and a thermistor. Kawabata instrumentation was used to determine shear, bending, tensile, and compression, as well as surface features, of the three knit fabrics. Heat and moisture transfer properties of the fabrics were analyzed over a wide range of environmental conditions using the Kawabata Thermolabo.Rate of skin evaporative water loss was slower in the higher humidity environment. More water accumulated...
Traumatic intracavernous aneurysm in children: massive epistaxis without ophthalmic signs

Traumatic intracavernous aneurysms are a distinctly uncommon lesion in children. They usually present with compressive symptoms of the III, IV, V, or VI cranial nerves rather than epistaxis. Epistaxis is rare and usually minor and brief in duration. A child with severe head injury and basal skull fracture, who did not have any preceding symptoms or signs of ophthalmoplegia or exophthalmus, developed massive epistaxis as a leading symptom of the ruptured intracavernous aneurysm. Since there are no reported pediatric cases with fatal epistaxis as a presenting sign, we would like to share our experience.
Solving puzzles of aging: From disposable soma to signal-transduction pathways

Aging is believed to be caused by accumulation of unrepaired damage. The repair is believed to be limited by energetic resources. A testable prediction is: the less resources (calorie restriction), the shorter lifespan. In contrast, calorie restriction extends life span. To explain the conflicting result, paradoxical “allocation of resources” was proposed, thus creating the “odd science of aging.” However, evidence emerges that aging is not driven by damage but instead is driven by nutrient-activated signaling pathways such as TOR (target of rapamycin). This immediately explains how calorie restriction extends life span and solves all “odd” puzzles of aging. Here I suggest that aging is neither random damage nor a program but instead is a quasiprogram (a harmful continuation of valuable developmental programs). It is a genetic process that can be slowed down pharmacologically. And several drugs that directly or indirectly inhibit TOR are available for clinical use.
Ecological and genetic factors that define the natural distribution of Carolina hemlock in the southeastern United States and their role in ex situ conservation

Abstract Carolina hemlock ( Tsuga caroliniana Engelm.) is a rare endemic found in the Appalachian Mountains and Upper Piedmont of the southeastern United States. It is being decimated by the hemlock woolly adelgid ( Adelges tsugae Annand), an exotic pest introduced into the region from Japan several decades ago. We examine ecological, genetic and climatic factors in natural stands that characterize the species’ occurrence to better determine where ex situ conservation plantings should be established. To facilitate species/site matching, we use FloraMap™ software that quantifies climatic variables at provenance collection sites to predict other areas where Carolina hemlock could be planted in the U.S. and Latin America. Results indicate that based on analysis of 15 populations, Carolina hemlock is found on predominantly sandy-clay loam soils but occurs on a wider range of soil textural groups than previously thought. Its natural occurrence represents two different climatic groups, with the Cradle of Forestry, NC site most different than the rest. FloraMap™ predicts with high probability that Carolina hemlock populations can be successfully moved to central Chile, and with lower probability to the Ozark region of Arkansas and southern Brazil. Camcore, North Carolina State University, has now collected seeds from 12 provenances and 77 mother trees in natural populations of Carolina hemlock and distributed these to the three regions listed above. Our goal is to sample 150 trees from the 15 provenances which will sample most of the species’ genetic diversity for ex situ conservation. The ex situ approach offers an alternate means of protecting the species if efforts to control the adelgid fail in the southeastern US.
Prostate cancer metastasis: Talking the walk

Thymosin β15 is a positive regulator of cell motility that may prove useful as a marker of metastatic potential in prostate cancer (pages 1322–1328).
Identification of interferon-τ isoforms expressed by the peri-implantation goat (Capra hircus) conceptus

Interferon-tau (IFN-tau) is the maternal recognition of pregnancy factor in pecoran ruminants. The aims of this study were to identify the various IFN-tau transcripts in the peri-implantation caprine (ca) conceptus and to compare these nucleotide sequences phylogenetically with established mRNA sequences from the goat. Conceptuses (n = 5) were collected from Boer crossbred and Angora female goats by laparotomy at days 17 and 18 of pregnancy. Total cellular RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was performed by standard procedures using a DNA polymerase with proofreading activity and gene-specific primers complimentary to non-coding regions of the published caIFN-tau sequence. Nine distinct nucleotide sequences were isolated that encode five distinct caIFN-tau proteins. These caIFN-tau have greater sequence homology with ovine IFN-tau (94-96% nucleotide identity; 90-93% amino acid identity) than with bovine IFN-tau (<92% nucleotide identity; <85% amino acid identity). The novel caIFN-tau isoforms contained pronounced nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity with one another (97-99% nucleotide identity; 94-99% amino acid identity) but only moderate sequence identity with the previously identified caIFN-tau (94-96% nucleotide identity; 87-90% amino acid identity). In conclusion, multiple caIFN-tau mRNA species are expressed during peri-implantation conceptus development and distinct clusters of caIFN-tau genes appear to have evolved in this species.
Attenuation of Canonical Transient Receptor Potential-Like Channel 6 Expression Specifically Reduces the Diacylglycerol-Mediated Increase in Intracellular Calcium in Human Myometrial Cells

An increase in intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) as a result of release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores or influx of extracellular Ca(2+) contributes to the regulation of smooth muscle contractile activity. Human uterine smooth muscle cells exhibit receptor-, store-, and diacylglycerol (OAG)-mediated extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent increases in [Ca(2+)](i) (SRCE) and express canonical transient receptor potential-like channels (TRPC) mRNAs (predominantly TRPC1, -4, and -6) that have been implicated in SRCE. To determine the role of TRPC6 in human myometrial SRCE, short hairpin RNA constructs were designed that effectively targeted a TRPC6 mRNA reporter for degradation. One sequence was used to produce an adenovirus construct (TC6sh1). TC6sh1 reduced TRPC6 mRNA but not TRPC1, -3, -4, -5, or -7 mRNAs in PHM1-41 myometrial cells. Compared with uninfected cells or cells infected with empty vector, the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in response to OAG was specifically inhibited by TC6sh1, whereas SRCE responses elicited by either oxytocin or thapsigargin were not changed. Similar findings were observed in primary pregnant human myometrial cells. When PHM1-41 cells were activated by OAG in the absence of extracellular Na(+), the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was partially reduced. Furthermore, pretreatment with nifedipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, also partially reduced the OAG-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase. Similar effects were observed in primary human myometrial cells. These findings suggest that OAG activates channels containing TRPC6 in myometrial cells and that these channels act via both enhanced Na(+) entry coupled to activation of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) entry channels and a nifedipine-independent Ca(2+) entry mechanism to promote elevation of intracellular Ca(2+).
Summer camp and self-esteem of school-age inner-city children.

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that a session of summer camp would increase the self-esteem of economically disadvantaged, school-age children from New York's inner-city neighborhoods. This study was conducted at a small, coeducational residential summer camp in the Pocono Mountains designed for children ages 6–12 years from low-income areas of New York City. During each of four 12-day sessions, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale was administered as a pretest and posttest to a sample of 68 children (36 boys and 32 girls; 33 African American, 34 Hispanic, and 1 Asian) of 742 attending camp for the summer. Children scored significantly higher on the measure of self-esteem at the end of camp than at the beginning. Positive descriptions and ratings of self on popularity increased significantly. Observations and interviews with children suggested physical and social environmental features, such as contact with nature and having the same counselor as a previous year, may suppo...
Architectonic map of neocortex of the normal mouse

The neocortex of the normal mouse has been subdivided into architectonic fields on the basis of its cellular and fiber patterns. The map of medial, retrohippocampal, frontal and insular regions is little different from that of Brodmann as modified in minor ways by Krieg. The map of parietal, occipital and temporal regions follows closely the major rearrangements introduced to Brodmann's map by Krieg. Krieg's map has been modified to give individual status to the barrel fields and to designate occipital fields around the full circumference of field 17, and temporal fields circumferentially around field 41.
Classification of patients based on their evaluation of hospital outcomes: cluster analysis following a national survey in Norway

A general trend towards positive patient-reported evaluations of hospitals could be taken as a sign that most patients form a homogeneous, reasonably pleased group, and consequently that there is little need for quality improvement. The objective of this study was to explore this assumption by identifying and statistically validating clusters of patients based on their evaluation of outcomes related to overall satisfaction, malpractice and benefit of treatment. Data were collected using a national patient-experience survey of 61 hospitals in the 4 health regions in Norway during spring 2011. Postal questionnaires were mailed to 23,420 patients after their discharge from hospital. Cluster analysis was performed to identify response clusters of patients, based on their responses to single items about overall patient satisfaction, benefit of treatment and perception of malpractice. Cluster analysis identified six response groups, including one cluster with systematically poorer evaluation across outcomes (18.5% of patients) and one small outlier group (5.3%) with very poor scores across all outcomes. One-Way ANOVA with post-hoc tests showed that most differences between the six response groups on the three outcome items were significant. The response groups were significantly associated with nine patient-experience indicators (p < 0.001), and all groups were significantly different from each of the other groups on a majority of the patient-experience indicators. Clusters were significantly associated with age, education, self-perceived health, gender, and the degree to write open comments in the questionnaire. The study identified five response clusters with distinct patient-reported outcome scores, in addition to a heterogeneous outlier group with very poor scores across all outcomes. The outlier group and the cluster with systematically poorer evaluation across outcomes comprised almost one-quarter of all patients, clearly demonstrating the need to tailor quality initiatives and improve patient-perceived quality in hospitals. More research on patient clustering in patient evaluation is needed, as well as standardization of methodology to increase comparability across studies.
Heparin increases mRNA levels of thrombospondin but not fibronectin in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract The effects of heparin (180 μg/ml) on steady state mRNA levels for fibronectin, thrombospondin, actin and collagen types I and III were investigated in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells. Heparin caused a 120% increase in thrombospondin mRNA levels and a 60% and 180% increase in the mRNA levels of procollagen chains α2(I) and α1(III), respectively. No change in fibronectin or actin mRNA levels resulted from heparin treatment. We reported earlier (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 148 :1264, 1987) that heparin increases smooth muscle cell synthesis of both fibronectin and thrombospondin. These data show that heparin coordinately regulates thrombospondin mRNA and protein levels. The heparin induced increase in fibronectin biosynthesis apparently reflects control at the translational or post-translational level.
Hierarchical elaboration in the conceptual structures of vietnam combat veterans

Abstract Sixty male Vietnam combat veterans, 30 hospitalized for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 30 with no PTSD or other psychiatric disorder, sorted and labeled their life events into numeric matrices (repertory grids). Through hierarchical-classes analysis of a subject's matrix, we could compare the hierarchical level (elaboration) of the subject's constructs of a negative combat event with the hierarchical levels of other subjects' constructs of negative combat events and with the subject's precombat life event construction. As predicted, the level of construct elaboration was virtually identical for the two groups for precombat non-trauma-related events but was reduced in the PTSD group for the negative combat event. In addition, the Pythagorean distance scores of the PTSD group indicated less conceptual distance between the negative combat event and negative life events after Vietnam compared with the non-PTSD group's scores. Patients with PTSD rated negative life events more extremely (fe...
Creating an Interactive Classroom: Enhancing Student Engagement and Learning in Political Science Courses

ABSTRACT Students of the pedagogy of teaching have found that cooperative/problem-based learning activities engage the learner, promote ownership of the material, advance the development of higher-level cognitive skills and increase retention better than more passive learning activities. Despite broad recognition within the political science discipline that classroom activities can and should facilitate better student learning outcomes, political science classes (both large and small) frequently have characteristics that make cooperative/problem-based learning activities more difficult to employ and less likely to succeed. Anonymity in large sections, a steep learning curve of complex concepts, and students who see passivity as the least costly approach to success combine to produce these subpar learning outcomes. Recent developments in classroom technology, however, facilitate the use of cooperative learning techniques in a wide variety of political science classroom settings. In this article, we first e...
How far and how fast can mushroom spores fly? Physical limits on ballistospore size and discharge distance in the Basidiomycota

Active discharge of basidiospores in most species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid movement of a droplet of fluid, called Buller's drop, over the spore surface. This paper is concerned with the operation of the launch mechanism in species with the largest and smallest ballistospores. Aleurodiscus gigasporus (Russulales) produces the largest basidiospores on record. The maximum dimensions of the spores, 34 × 28 µm, correspond to a volume of 14 pL and to an estimated mass of 17 ng. The smallest recorded basidiospores are produced by Hyphodontia latitans (Hymenochaetales). Minimum spore dimensions in this species, 3.5 × 0.5 µm, correspond to a volume of 0.5 fL and mass of 0.6 pg. Neither species has been studied using high-speed video microscopy, but this technique was used to examine ballistospore discharge in species with spores of similar sizes (slightly smaller than A. gigasporus and slightly larger than those of H. latitans). Extrapolation of velocity measurements from these fungi provided estimates of discharge distances ranging from a maximum of almost 2 mm in A. gigasporus to a minimum of 4 µm in H. latitans. These are, respectively, the longest and shortest predicted discharge distances for ballistospores. Limitations to the distances traveled by basidiospores are discussed in relation to the mechanics of the discharge process and the types of fruit-bodies from which the spores are released.
The health encounter as a treatable moment for homeless substance-using adults: the role of homelessness, health seeking behavior, readiness for behavior change and motivation for treatment.

Abstract Substance-using homeless persons frequent emergency departments and hospitals often. However, little is known about how homelessness affects when they seek care and their motivation for substance abuse treatment (SAT). We surveyed homeless ( N = 266) and non-homeless ( N = 104) substance-using adults sequentially admitted to an urban hospital medicine service, comparing demographics, readiness for change (URICA), and motivating reasons for SAT. Homeless respondents were more likely to be younger, uninsured, have hepatitis B/C, and
Autographa californica M Nucleopolyhedrovirus ProV-CATH is Activated during Infected Cell Death

V-CATH, a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease encoded by the baculovirus Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus, has been shown to play an essential role in host liquefaction. Similar to cellular cathepsin L, V-CATH is synthesized as an inactive proenzyme and is activated by cleavage of the propeptide. Previous studies indicated that removal of the propeptide was rapid, occurring as soon as the protein could be detected by Western blot, 22 h postinfection. We found, however, that these results reflected artifactual processing of the proenzyme. When the protease inhibitor E-64 was used to prevent this aberration, we found that proV-CATH accumulated in infected cells and activation did not begin until the onset of cell death, at approximately 80 h postinfection. Western blot analysis of fractions of live and dead cells isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting revealed that mature V-CATH was found only in dead cells. The regulation of activation of proV-CATH, therefore, was quite different from that of cellular cathepsins. Acridine orange staining revealed that lysosome integrity was lost in dead cells, an occurrence that could lead to the activation of proV-CATH by lysosomal proteases.
Metabolic fates of gramine in barley I: Mechanism of incorporation of gramine into tryptophan in barley shoots

Gramine tagged on the methylene group of its side chain with 14C and tritium was administered to 60-day-old barley shoots and the alkaloid allowed to be metabolized for 7 days. It was found that 0.84% of the radioactivity was incorporated into plant tryptophan, and the ratio of 14C to tritium remained the same as that of the administered gramine. A mechanistic rationalization is proposed for the biotransformation.
PO-0564 Turn-around-times For Pathogen Identification And Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing In Infants With Early-onset Bacterial Sepsis

We characterised the turn-around-times for pathogen identification with antibiotic susceptibility, and outcomes in newborn infants with early-onset bacterial sepsis (EOS). Methods Eighty infants with EOS were retrospectively reviewed. EOS was defined by isolation of a pathogen from blood culture drawn within 72 h of birth and antibiotic treatment for ≥5 days. Results Thirty-seven of the 80 infants were deemed to have true EOS, and 43 were deemed contaminants. The organisms grown in true EOS cases were: E. Coli in 16, Group B Streptococcus in 10, Alpha hemolytic Streptococci in 6, and others in 5. The median (25%-75% IQR) time noted from blood culture positivity to identification of the organisms with susceptibility testing was almost 4 times longer compared to the time from collection of blood culture specimens to blood culture positivity (79 h, IQR 52 h–101 h, versus 19 h, IQR 16 h–21 h, p Four infants died of gram negative sepsis. Two of these infants with ampicillin resistant E. Coli died from delayed implementation of appropriate organism-specific antibiotic treatment as the susceptibility results took too long to become available. Conclusions Definitive identification of the pathogen with the currently used laboratory methods take too long affecting outcome of infants with EOS. Empiric antibiotics were continued too long unnecessarily because of delayed identification of the contaminants. Rapid identification of an organism to a species level utilising newer technologies needs to be developed.
Elevated maternal serum AFP and normal ultrasound: What next?

Given the discovery of intracranial changes observed in fetuses with open spina bifida, the wisdom of routinely performing amniocentesis on persons with unexplained maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein elevations is now being questioned. The detection rate for spina bifida with a targeted ultrasound examination is greater than 95%. Yet one must also consider the sensitivity of ultrasound in detecting other anomalies, such as ventral wall defects and fetal karyotype anomalies. Although the sensitivity of ultrasound for neural tube defects has improved dramatically in recent years, it cannot detect all chromosome or structural anomalies that may be detected by amniocentesis. Therefore, patients should be made aware of their specific risks following a targeted ultrasound and offered the option of amniocentesis.
A tribute to John G. Watkins, Ph.D. (1913-2012).

It is no accident that those who contributed to this tribute told me that they had written with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. In all of us, our feelings about John Goodrich Watkins...
Increased screening, effective treatments, and overall decline in the community incidence of regional-distant prostate cancer

Purpose Despite the increased incidence in organ-confined disease and the decline in regional-distant prostate cancer at initial diagnosis, local or metastatic prostate cancer may still occur at a later time. The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in the community incidence of regional-distant stage prostate cancer over the entire course of illness. Methods All Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents who had prostate cancer initially diagnosed from 1964 through 2000 were identified using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Their community medical records were examined for evidence of locally advanced (T3/4 or N+ disease) or metastatic prostate cancer first detected at any time between 1980 and 2000, based on pathology report at radical prostatectomy or pelvic lymphadenectomy at diagnosis (pathologic staging) and on all clinical and radiological findings at diagnosis and during follow-up. Results With priority given to pathologic staging, 407 men were identified with regional-distant disease; the age-adjusted incidence per 100,000 men increased from 47.4 (in 1980–1986) to 65.8 (in 1987–1993), and then declined to 33.3 (in 1994–2000) ( P P = 0.003) and mean number of prostate specific antigen determinations increased (0, 1.4, and 2.4, respectively; P n = 268 men) were lower: 42.3, 41.2, and 18.1 ( P Conclusion The incidence of regional-distant prostate cancer over the entire course of disease has declined in recent years, due in part to increased use of curative treatments and early detection by screening. Estimates based only on stage at initial diagnosis, however, underestimate the true burden of regional-distant disease in the community.
Preparation and evaluation of acylated tRNAs

In the cell, the activity of tRNA is governed by its acylation state. Interactions with the ribosome, translation factors, and regulatory elements are strongly influenced by the acyl group, and presumably other cellular components that interact with tRNA also use the acyl group as a specificity determinant. Thus, those using biochemical approaches to study any aspect of tRNA biology should be familiar with effective methods to prepare and evaluate acylated tRNA reagents. Here, methods to prepare aminoacyl-tRNA, N-acetyl-aminoacyl-tRNA, and fMet-tRNAfMet and to assess their homogeneity are described. Using these methods, acylated tRNAs of high homogeneity can be reliably obtained.
Evaluation of an Approximate Method for Synthesizing Covariance Matrices for Use in Meta-Analytic SEM

Meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MA-SEM) is increasingly being used to assess model-fit for variables' interrelations synthesized across studies. MA-SEM researchers have analyzed synthesized correlation matrices using structural equation modeling (SEM) estimation that is designed for covariance matrices. This can produce incorrect model-fit chi-square statistics, standard error estimates (Cudeck, 1989), or both for parameters that are not scale free or that describe a scale-noninvariant model unless corrected SEM estimation is used to analyze the correlations. This study introduced univariate and multivariate approximate methods for synthesizing covariance matrices for use in MA-SEM. A simulation study assessed the approximate methods by estimating parameters in a scale-noninvariant model using synthesized covariances versus synthesized correlations with and without the appropriate corrections. Standard error bias was noted only for uncorrected analyses of pooled correlations. Chi-square model-...
Shrouded in a fetishistic mist: commoditisation of sustainability in tourism

In this paper we first provide a theoretical argument of commodity fetishism of sustainability in tourism, with a focus on the emergence of certification for sustainability as a means of elucidating the means of production of tourism in destinations and distinguishing responsible forms of tourism from more exploitive counterparts. We then look specifically at Costa Rica and its widely-respected Certificate for Sustainable Tourism Programme (CST) for empirical evidence which speaks to the effectiveness of certification to demystify the production of sustainable tourism. Although limited, our data indicate a disconnect between tourists, who have a strong interest in travelling responsibly, and the programme’s capacity to affect their consumption patterns. We conclude that certification programmes are yet to attain their objectives of directing tourist-consumers’ attention to the on-the-ground social and environmental inputs and impacts of the tourism experience they enjoy.