cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emerging microRNAs in cancer diagnosis, progression, and immune surveillance

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that function in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been reported in different stages of cancer development and progression. This dysregulation results in different miRNA profiles between cancer and normal tissues. Many studies have shown a significant correlation between miRNA profile and cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Additionally, since a single miRNA regulates multiple mRNA targets, miRNAs dysregulation can affect several pathways involved in cancer development. Finally, due to their regulatory role in immune cell development, many recent studies have reported that certain miRNAs play key roles in cancer immunology. In this brief review, we discuss the role of miR-21 and miR-375 in the RAS pathway as well as their role in cancer diagnosis and progression, along with the role of other select miRNAs in cancer immune surveillance.
Calcium carbonate nanoparticles stimulate tumor metabolic reprogramming and modulate tumor metastasis.

Aim CaCO3 nanoparticles (nano-CaCO3) can neutralize the acidic pHe of solid tumors, but the lack of intrinsic imaging signal precludes noninvasive monitoring of pH-perturbation in tumor microenvironment. We aim to develop a theranostic version of nano-CaCO3 to noninvasively monitor pH modulation and subsequent tumor response. Materials & methods We synthesized ferromagnetic core coated with CaCO3 (magnetite CaCO3). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to determine the biodistribution and pH modulation using murine fibrosarcoma and breast cancer models. Results Magnetite CaCO3-MRI imaging showed that nano-CaCO3 rapidly raised tumor pHe, followed by excessive tumor-associated acid production after its clearance. Continuous nano-CaCO3 infusion could inhibit metastasis. Conclusion Nano-CaCO3 exposure induces tumor metabolic reprogramming that could account for the failure of previous intermittent pH-modulation strategies to achieve sustainable therapeutic effect.
Promoting College and Career Readiness With Middle School Youth With Disabilities: Lessons Learned From a Curriculum Development Project:

Engagement and academic success in middle school is critically important to ensure students with disabilities complete high school and have a viable path to and through postsecondary education. Alt...
Comparison of Short-Course and Prolonged Antimicrobial Therapy in the Management of Intra-Abdominal Infections.

Abstract Background: Guidelines recommend an antimicrobial therapy duration of four to seven days for intra-abdominal infections (IAIs). Despite evidence that shorter treatments are appropriate for...
Nutrient Uptake by Tapeworms

It is clear that tapeworms and other gastrointestinal parasites absorb nutrients from their hosts and that such movement of materials from the hosts into parasites is an essential element of host-parasite relationships. In fact, “parasitism” is generally defined, in part, in terms of such movement of materials, for definitions of parasitism often include some statement relating to the metabolic dependence of a parasite on its host.
A Distributed Optimization Algorithm for Attack-Resilient Wide-Area Monitoring of Power Systems: Theoretical and Experimental Methods

In this paper we present a real-time distributed optimization algorithm based on Alternating Directions Method of Multipliers (ADMM) for resilient monitoring of power flow oscillation patterns in large power system networks. We pose the problem as a least squares (LS) estimation problem for the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of the transfer function, and combine a centralized Prony algorithm with ADMM to execute this estimation via distributed consensus. We consider the network topology to be divided into multiple clusters, with each cluster equipped with a local estimator at the local control center. At any iteration, the local estimators receive Synchrophasor measurements from within their own respective areas, run a local consensus algorithm, and communicate their estimates to a central estimator. The central estimator averages all estimates, and broadcasts the average back to each local estimator as the consensus variable for their next iteration. By imposing a redundancy strategy between the local and the global estimators via mutual coordination, we show that the distributed algorithm is more resilient to communication failures as compared to alternative centralized methods. We illustrate our results using a hardware-in-loop power system testbed at NC State federated with a networking and cyber-security testbed at USC/ISI.
Minimally Invasive Hepatectomy

Minimally invasive hepatectomy remains a burgeoning field. The increase in utilization of minimal access approaches for these complex cases has resulted in an increase in the number of technologies available to improve the safety and efficacy of these procedures. Near infrared fluorescence imaging is one such technology that has been shown to be successful in improving intraoperative identification of anatomic structures as well as lines of transection during resection. Applications of this technology include intraoperative administration via direct access puncture to hepatic arterial inflow versus peripheral intravenous administration just after inflow ligation to provide fluorescent guided margins for transection. A widely used approach applies preoperative administration of indocyanine green (ICG) to allow for intraoperative identification of major biliary system structures during dissection. With the use of ICG and near-infrared fluorescence-enabled optical devices, this technology has been applied to both robotic and laparoscopic approaches for the full gamut of hepatic resections. This technology has proven to be effective and will continue to provide novel techniques to improve the accuracy and safety of minimally invasive hepatectomies.
Developing an integrated interprofessional identity for collaborative practice: Qualitative evaluation of an undergraduate IPE course

Abstract Interprofessional education (IPE) is an essential component in preparing students for collaborative practice in healthcare. This paper provides information about an IPE course for undergraduate dietetics, social work, nursing, and other pre-professional health students on ethical decision-making in healthcare. The authors collected and analyzed qualitative assessment data which demonstrated competency-building in the domain of interprofessional collaboration. Issues in pre-service professional socialization toward an integrated interprofessional identity are also discussed.
An activated-zinc oral rinse reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and promotes proliferation in Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-challenged gingival tissues - A pilot study.

Objectives The use of adjunct post-treatment mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine (CHX) for periodontitis patients is associated with side effects that reduce patient compliance. Our aim was to evaluate the proinflammatory and cell proliferation effects of an activated-zinc mouth rinse (SM) that has been suggested as an alternative post-treatment therapeutic. Materials and methods Tissue models of gingival epithelium were used to simulate periodontal disease and compare inflammatory reactions after treatment with CHX or SM. Tissues were exposed to Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS and wounded to simulate periodontal disease. Tissues were treated and incubated for 6, 12, or 24 h. Inflammatory cytokines were measured in culture medium by ELISA and local expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and proliferation marker Ki-67 was visualized by immunohistochemistry. Results SM and CHX treatments decreased secretion of IL-1β and IL-8 into culture media at all time points. IL-1β secretion levels were further decreased by SM compared to CHX treatment at all time points. TLR-4 expression appeared significantly increased 12 h post-treatment in the CHX tissues but remained relatively low in SM tissues at all time points. Ki-67 results suggest that cell proliferation was increased in the SM tissues earlier than CHX tissues. Conclusions Our data suggest that SM may reduce inflammation in gingival tissues.
Colorectal cancer screening offering colonoscopy and FIT vs. colonoscopy alone improved participation.

SOURCE CITATION Pilonis ND, Bugajski M, Wieszczy P, et al. Participation in competing strategies for colorectal cancer screening: a randomized health services study (PICCOLINO study). Gastroenterology. 2021;160:1097-105. 33307024.
DETECTING APICAL RADIOLUCENCIES USING DEEP LEARNING TECHNOLOGY: A PILOT STUDY

BACKGROUND Dentists rely on radiographs in making treatment decisions every day. However, if inattentively read, radiographs can lead to over- or undertreatment. OBJECTIVE(S) The objectives were to assess the diagnostic performance of a deep learning algorithm at detecting apical radiolucencies (ARs) on intraoral (IO) radiographs and compare the performance of the algorithm vs interpretation by experts. STUDY DESIGN A search was conducted using the University of North Carolina cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) referral database for volumes acquired for endodontic evaluation. The inclusion criteria consisted of permanent teeth that exhibited apical radiolucencies measuring ≥2 mm on CBCT with a diagnostic IO radiograph for the same site. The exclusion criteria included patients under 18 years old and CBCT and IO images acquired more than 6 months apart. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 192 cases were found. The CBCT volumes served as ground truth for the IO radiograph annotation. The IO radiographs were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: 6 images, observer calibration; 54 images, training the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm; 132 images, testing set. Additionally, 132 IO radiographs with no evidence of apical radiolucencies were included to serve as controls. For this pilot, 70 images were randomly selected to create a testing subset derived from the main control and positive testing sets. Three experts were presented with this testing subset and asked to independently determine locations of AR and confidence of presence using a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS The standalone software performance results by tooth were as follows: Sensitivity was 93%, specificity was 88%, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) was 94% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89%, 98%). The combined results of the experts were as follows: sensitivity was 87%, specificity was 97%, and ROC-AUC was 93% (95% CI, 88%, 98%). Notably, the software performance metrics were lowest in the maxillary posterior region. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS Using a limited testing data set, AI provided comparable performance to expert observers for this task. Further AI training is necessary to increase the sensitivity and specificity of AR detection in the posterior maxillary region.
Choice reaction time to visual motion during prolonged rotary motion in airline pilots.

Thirteen airline pilots were studied to determine the effect of preceding rotary accelerations on the choice reaction time to the horizontal acceleration of a vertical line on a cathode-ray tube. On each trial, one of three levels of rotary and visual acceleration was presented with the rotary stimulus preceding the visual by one of seven periods. The two accelerations were always equal and were presented in the same or opposite directions. The reaction time was found to increase with increases in the time the rotary acceleration preceded the visual acceleration, and to decrease with increased levels of visual and rotary acceleration. The reaction time was found to be shorter when the accelerations were in the same direction than when they were in opposite directions. These results suggest that these findings are a special case of a general effect that the authors have termed 'gyrovisual modulation'.
Identification of a 3'-->5'-exonuclease that removes cytosine arabinoside monophosphate from 3' termini of DNA.

Abstract Cytosine arabinoside monophosphate (araCMP) at the 3' terminus of DNA constitutes a lesion that impedes further synthesis by DNA polymerase alpha (DNA pol alpha). A biochemical assay has been designed to detect 3'-->5'-exonucleases in cell extracts that remove the 3'-araCMP lesion in an oligonucleotide template-primer and permit subsequent extension by DNA pol alpha. The major 3'-->5'-exonuclease activity in human myeloblast extracts has been purified, and gel filtration chromatography of the purified enzyme indicates that the exonuclease has an apparent native molecular mass of 52 kDa. Incubation of the enzyme with a 5'-32P-labeled araCMP template-primer results in exonucleolytic degradation of the primer exclusively in the 3'-->5' direction, demonstrating that the enzyme is a 3'-->5'-exonuclease. The products of the 3'-->5'-exonuclease reaction are 5'-mononucleotides. The apparent rate of araCMP removal by the exonuclease is approximately the same as the rate of deoxynucleoside monophosphate (dNMP) removal. Furthermore, the apparent rates of 3'-terminal excision are approximately the same whether the oligomer is hybridized to a complementary oligonucleotide, or not, indicating that the enzyme has both single- and double-stranded 3'-->5'-exonuclease activity. The enzyme does not possess 5'-->3'-exonuclease activity, nor is it associated with DNA polymerase activity. In addition, the enzyme does not cleave 3'-phosphoryl-terminated DNA, and it does not cleave RNA. The enzymatic characteristics of the isolated 3'-->5'-exonuclease indicate that it is distinct from previously identified mammalian deoxyribonucleases.
Chip discrimination for large near far power ratios in UWB networks

A simple chip discrimination technique is presented for use with ultra wide band (UWB), impulse radio (IR) that improves performance for large near/far interference ratios. A typical spread-spectrum IR that employs a matched filter sum for bit decisions is susceptible to small numbers of large power pulses that can dominate the bit decision threshold statistics. This paper describes a technique for chip discrimination prior to the spreading summation that can greatly reduce the effects of large near/far interferers. The technique exploits the unique time domain characteristics that only UWB systems can provide. A statistical model is developed that predicts bit error performance for binary offset pulse position modulation (PPM) as a function of near/far density and power for varying discrimination thresholds. We find that even a small number of very near interferers can greatly reduce the performance of a system without blanking or discrimination. Results show substantial improvement using this method for near interferers with near/far power ratios greater than 20 dB.
Fetal blood volume responses to intravenous saline solution and dextran

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent the volume of blood circulating in the fetus can be increased by intravascular infusions of either isotonic saline solution or high-molecular weight dextran in saline solution. Unanesthetized, chronically catheterized fetal sheep that averaged 130 days' gestation were studied. In seven fetuses, 50 to 100 ml of warm saline solution (i.e., an average of 19.5% of the initial fetal blood volume) was infused into a vein over 5 minutes, and changes in blood volume were determined 10, 20, and 30 minutes after the infusion was begun. At these times, an average of only 15%, 9%, and 7%, respectively, of the infused volume remained in the fetal circulation. A second infusion of saline solution into these fetuses gave intravascular retentions that averaged 17%, 6%, and 6% at 10, 20, and 30 minutes, respectively. In five fetuses, a 6% solution of dextran 70 that averaged 14.9% of the initial fetal blood volume was infused over 5 minutes. The intravascular retentions averaged 80%, 63%, and 55%, respectively, at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after the infusions were started. Under comparable conditions in the adult, blood volume expansion 30 minutes after rapid infusions averages 20% to 40% of the infused volume for saline solution and 150% to 200% for 6% dextran 70. Thus, the present study suggests that intravascular infusions of crystalloid solutions have very little effect on fetal blood volume, whereas oncotic solutions cause only moderate blood volume expansion.
Traumatic ventricular septal defect and flail tricuspid valve: Successful management by an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator–supported hybrid approach

We report the successful management of a critically ill patient with a traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD) and flail tricuspid valve sustained in a motorcycle accident. Multiple orthopedic injuries prevented emergency cardiac surgery. The patient was stabilized by venous arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support which allowed initial orthopedic repair. Repair of his cardiac injuries was then accomplished using a hybrid approach of percutaneous VSD closure using an Amplatzer post myocardial infarction VSD occluder which was also coil embolized followed by surgical tricuspid valve replacement. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New mechanisms of normoxic and hypoxic cGMP signalling mediated by the nitrite anion

Chronic treatment with sodium nitrite has been shown to be efficacious in preclinical models of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The present study was designed to test the acute hemodynamic effects and safety of inhaled nitrite in patients with PAH (treatment naive or on background therapy). Details: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01431313 METHODS: Inhaled nitrite was delivered at incremental doses (45 and 90 mg) to WHO group I and WHO Group III PAH patients undergoing clinical right heart catheterization for the diagnosis or management of PAH. In addition to clinical measures of safety and treatment response, novel hemodynamic parameters of RV function were acquired by both micromanometry and echocardiography.
Analysis of windowing and peering schemes for cache coherency in mobile devices

A major factor in determining the effectiveness of caching in wireless networks is the cache coherency scheme which maintains consistency between mobile stations (MSs) and the server. Since the wireless channel is inherently a broadcast medium, an appropriate cache coherency scheme is one in which the server broadcasts cache invalidation reports (IRs) that contain data update information. However, in a wireless environment, since MSs may connect to the network only intermittently (e.g., to save power), IRs may be missed. This would cause the MS's cache to become invalid and in turn the cache would have to be purged resulting in higher query-delay and lower throughput. One approach to improving the cache coherency for mobile devices is the Time Stamp (TS) method [2] which uses a windowing scheme. In this scheme, the IR in a particular interval contains the IRs for a number of previous intervals determined by the window size. Another orthogonal approach to improving cache coherency is the peering scheme [10] where an MS can query neighboring peers to retrieve IRs that it may have missed while it was disconnected. In this paper, we present a unified mathematical model based on Discrete Markov Models (DMMs) to study the effectiveness of these orthogonal schemes both individually as well as their relative importance when they are implemented together. The results show that both schemes are comparable for the most part. Since they are orthogonal, they can be combined in ways that is tailored for the particular environment to achieve significant improvement in performance.
Laser-Plasma Interactions Relevant to Inertial Confinement Fusion

Research into laser-driven inertial confinement fusion is now entering a critical juncture with the construction of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Many of the remaining unanswered questions concerning NIF involve interactions between lasers and plasmas. With the eventual goal of fusion power in mind, laser-plasma interactions relevant to laser fusion schemes is an important topic in need of further research. This work experimentally addresses some potential shortcuts and pitfalls on the road to laser-driven fusion power. Current plans on NIF have 192 laser beams directed into a small cylindrical cavity which will contain the fusion fuel; to accomplish this the beams must cross in the entrance holes, and this intersection will be in the presence of outward-flowing plasma. To investigate the physics involved, interactions of crossing laser beams in flowing plasmas are investigated with experiments on the Nova laser facility at LLNL. It was found that in a flowing plasma, energy is transferred between two crossing laser beams, and this may have deleterious consequences for energy balance and ignition in NIF. Possible solutions to this problem are presented. A recently-proposed alternative to standard laser-driven fusion, the ''fast ignitor'' concept, is also experimentally addressed in this dissertation. Many of the laser-plasma interactions necessary for the success of the fast ignitor have not previously been explored at the relevant laser intensities. Specifically, the transfer of high-intensity laser energy to electrons at solid-target interfaces is addressed. 20-30% conversion efficiencies into forward-propagated electrons were measured, along with an average electron energy that varied with the type of target material. The directionality of the electrons was also measured, revealing an apparent beaming of the highest energy electrons. This work was extended to various intensities and pulse lengths and a relationship between conversion efficiency and laser intensity was deduced. This work serves to advance knowledge of laser-plasma interactions relevant to a variety of laser-driven fusion schemes, and indicates directions for future research. These results should facilitate the success of NIF and other laser-fusion facilities.
Unsaturated fatty acids selectively induce an inflammatory environment in human endothelial cells

Background Activation of the vascular endothelium by dietary fatty acids may be among the most critical early events in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the specific effects of fatty acids on inflammatory responses in endothelial cells are not fully understood. Objective The present study focused on the induction of inflammatory genes in human endothelial cells exposed to individual dietary fatty acids. Because of the significance of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) in the regulation of inflammatory gene expression, we also determined the effects of fatty acids on NF-kappaB and AP-1 transcriptional activation. Design Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to dietary mono- and polyunsaturated 18-carbon fatty acids. Transcriptional activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1 was determined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells transfected with reporter constructs regulated by these transcription factors. Induction of the inflammatory genes was studied by use of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results Of the fatty acids studied, linoleic acid stimulated NF-kappaB and AP-1 transcriptional activation the most. In addition, treatment with this fatty acid markedly enhanced messenger RNA levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. Treatment with linolenic acid stimulated only a moderate induction of the genes encoding for these inflammatory mediators, and exposure to oleic acid either had no effect or resulted in decreased inflammatory gene messenger RNA. In addition, exposure to both linoleic and linolenic acids strongly stimulated induction of the phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase gene. Conclusion Specific unsaturated dietary fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, can selectively stimulate the development of a proinflammatory environment within the vascular endothelium.
Paleohistology and Histovariability of the Permian Stereospondyl Rhinesuchus

Rhinesuchids are a basal group of stereospondyls, one of the most successful groups of early amphibians. They are also the only group of stereospondyl amphibians present prior to the Permian–Triass...
Bowel Preparation Before Elective Colorectal Surgery: What is the Evidence

Mechanical and antibiotic bowel preparation is a time tested procedure that when done appropriately, significantly reduces the risk of infectious complications of colorectal surgical procedures, surgical site infections, and anastomotic dehiscence. Currently, a 3-tier regimen, which includes preoperative mechanical cleansing to reduce the fecal load, preoperative nonabsorbed oral antimicrobials effective against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and perioperative parenteral antibiotics is most commonly used in the US. The vast majority of surgeons in the US today consider this approach as the cornerstone of elective colorectal surgery. However, randomized clinical trials from several countries have concluded that the role of mechanical and antibiotic bowel preparation should be re-evaluated. To date, there have been numerous randomized clinical trials comparing preoperative mechanical preparation to no preparation in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. When combined in meta-analyses, however, there is no statistically significant evidence that patients benefit from either mechanical or antibiotic bowel preparation. The data are overwhelming that the dogma regarding bowel preparation before elective colorectal surgery should be abandoned.
Healing of Ulcers due to Cryofibrinogenemia with Colchicine and High-Dose Pentoxifylline

Cryofibrinogenemia is due to the presence of reversibly cold-precipitating plasma proteins and material, consisting mostly of fibrinogen, fibronectin, and fibrin. This condition can be idiopathic or secondary to infection, thromboembolic states, neoplasm, or connective tissue disease. The characteristic lesions of cryofibrinogenemia include purpura and ulcerations. Histologically, the lesions of cryofibrinogenemia demonstrate fibrin thrombi within vessels, with no evidence of vasculitis. Treatment of cryofibrinogenemia should be directed at the underlying disease process, if one can be found. Other treatments have included the anabolic steroid stanozolol, which is presently unavailable, anticoagulants, immunosuppressive agents, plasmapheresis, and the combination of streptokinase and streptodornase. We report a case of a 61-year-old male smoker with a 10-year history of intermittent ulcerations of both legs and feet. Two separate biopsies showed epidermal ulceration and thrombi within superficial dermal vessels without evidence of vasculitis. These findings, together with the presence of elevated plasma cryofibrinogen, led to the diagnosis of cryofibrinogenemia. The patient continued to have ulcerations despite efforts to control his high blood pressure, cold avoidance, local wound care, and treatment with pentoxifylline 800 mg three times daily. However, when colchicine 0.6 mg twice daily was added to the patient’s care, this led to rapid healing of his ulcerations. He has remained ulcer free for 2 years taking the combination of colchicine and high-dose pentoxifylline. Efforts to reduce the dose of these agents have repeatedly led to recurrences, and remission has promptly followed re-establishment of the combination. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting use of the combination of colchicine and high-dose pentoxifylline to successfully treat ulcers due to cryofibrinogenemia.
The Use of Anatomically Detailed Dolls in Forensic Investigations: Developmental Considerations

The use of anatomically detailed dolls in forensic investigations of sexual abuse is a controversial practice. The objections to the use of the dolls are reviewed and discussed in light of empirical evidence. Although the use of anatomically detailed dolls does not appear to elicit sexualized behavior in non-referred children, it is not clear that the dolls facilitate accurate recall of past events in children younger than age 5. Young children's understanding of symbolic relations is considered in interpreting age differences in existing research on the usefulness of anatomically detailed dolls. Although it appears that the dolls facilitate accurate recall in children ages 5 and older, the differences between experimental and forensic settings make it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the usefulness of the dolls in forensic investigations.
Economics of AC Adjustable Speed Drives on Pumps

Flow control of pumps with adjustable speed ac drives can be very economical. Pump and system head/flow characteristics are reviewed, with suggestions for estimating the pump characteristic and efficiency at reduced speed. Generalized pump and savings curves are then developed to permit quick checking of the economics of adjustable speed flow control for various system characteristics.
Cu-catalyzed Goldberg and Ullmann reactions of aryl halides using chelating N- and O-based ligands

The following protocol can be applied in the selective cross-coupling reaction of an amine with an aryl iodide or bromide using a copper (Cu)-based catalyst to provide the corresponding N-aryl amine. The general procedure described in this text includes a detailed description of an appropriate reaction setup, two methods for assaying the crude reaction mixture (gas chromatography and thin layer chromatography) and a procedure for the isolation, purification and characterization of the anticipated product. Manipulation of the reagents can be done in the air, without the use of a glovebox; however, the cross-coupling reactions must be performed in a sealed reactor under an inert atmosphere. Three C-N bond-forming reactions are included in the protocol as representative examples of this procedure. Although the reactions can proceed in <1 h, the protocols, including workup, generally take 6-30 h to complete.
RACIALIZING POVERTY AND POOR RELIEF

Here is a dazzling book, one that offers a rich genealogy for reflection about our current preoccupations. Open up any newspaper. Switch on any television news program. What you will read and hear is a cacophony of voices, many of them discordant, on how to fix, fund, and perhaps shrink the federal government's spending on those insurance programs first created in the 1930s by the New Deal welfare state. Equally factious are the debates on immigration policy that some hope will resolve how the republic will meet its future labor needs and how it will placate its rising Latino voting public. Will we deport eleven million workers? Will we construct electrified fences to protect our southern border from “illegal” invasion? Will we offer unauthorized immigrants a path to citizenship? Stay tuned. And while racial politics are clearly at the covert center of these polemics, the discussion of race is rarely overt probably because some now pronounce us a post-racial society.
Observations and Numerical Model Simulations of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer in the Santa Barbara Coastal Region

Abstract Observations of boundary-layer flow within the Santa Barbara region taken on 20 September 1985 revel the presence of a wide variety of flow features, including mesoscale wind vortices sea/land breezes, and thermally driven upslope/downslope winds. Details of these features, in particular the mesoscale vortices, are documented with dual-Doppler radar, Doppler sodar, aircraft, surface mesonet, and rawinsonde data. Numerical simulations of flow in the region using a mixed-layer model show good agreement with the observations. Model simulations indicate that sea-/land-roughness differences and planetary vorticity are of minor importance in forming the midchannel eddy (MCE), an eddy that is observed in the channel during the early morning hours. MCE formation is, however, shown to be strongly dependent on the initial stratification of the atmosphere, with more intense eddies forming as the stability increases. A second independent mechanism for MCE formation appears to be the interaction of drainage f...
Toward a new consensus on the economics of socialism: Rejoinder to my critics

Abstract This has been an unusually productive exchange. My critics largely accept my main theoretical claims about economic calculation and socialism. They have also started to do what advocates of the Misesian view should have been doing for decades: offer empirical evidence that that the calculation problem is serious. While I continue to believe that incentive problems explain most of the failures of socialism, I am slightly less confident than I was before. Fortunately, there are many unexploited sources of information to help resolve the issue.
Mnemonic functions of the hippocampus: A comparison between animals and humans.

This review summarizes a series of experiments aimed at answering the question whether the hippocampus in rats and humans performs parallel functions focusing on studies that assess spatial and temporal pattern separation, sequential learning, spatial and temporal pattern association, spatial and temporal pattern completion, and short-term and intermediate-term memory. It is recognized that a comparison of the functions of the rat hippocampus with human hippocampus is difficult, because of differences in methodology, differences in complexity of life experiences, and differences in the degree of hippocampal damage as well as damage to interconnected brain regions. Yet, in general the data support the idea that with respect to spatial and temporal pattern separation, sequential learning, spatial and temporal pattern associations, spatial and temporal pattern completion, and short-term and intermediate-term memory, similar functions are observed in rats and humans with hippocampal damage using analogous tasks. These data provide support for evolutionary continuity in cognitive function assigned to the hippocampus of rats and humans.
Blood flow,\(P_{O_2 } \) and pH during progressive working contractions in a whole muscle group

Alterations in blood flow during progressive working contractions were examined to elucidate their relation to work rate in a predominantly glycolytic muscle group, i.e., m. gastrocnemius and m. plantaris, in rabbits anesthetized with urethane and chloralose. In one series of animals, the sciatic nerve was stimulated to induce plantar flexions of constant length at 2, 5 and 8% of an afterload at which only isometric tension could be developed. Another series was exercised at 30 and 50% of this value, and a third group served as non-exercised controls. Each experimental session consisted of a series of 5 min nonexercise periods followed by 6 min exercise periods, and a 10 min post-exercise period. Femoral venous blood was obtained just before the first exercise period, during the final minute of each exercise period, and 10 min after the final exercise period. The composition of venous blood samples from control animals did not change during the experimental session. Blood flow in the exercising limb increased at the lowest workload, and attained a maximum flow rate at the 5% workload. Blood gases were altered to a similar extent at all afterloads, averaging:\(P_{O_2 } = 4.0 \pm 0.2\) kPa and\(P_{CO_2 = 7.5 \pm 0.3}\) kPa. pH, in contrast, was lower at the heaviest afterloads (X=7.144±0.03) compared to the lighter afterloads (X=7.245±0.03). The blood flow and pH patterns are consistent with the glycolytic fiber type composition of this muscle group. Venous\(P_{O_2 } \) indicates that O2 delivery was adequate, even at the highest afterload. Thus, the pattern of blood flow obtained in larger vessels may reflect primarily the fiber type composition of the various active muscles, and the net composite O2 requirements.
Primary refractory and relapsed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: characteristics, treatment results, and prognosis with salvage therapy.

BACKGROUND Relapses continue to be problematic for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). New therapies generally are first tested in the salvage setting prior to incorporation into frontline regimens. Defining the prognosis at relapse (or at failure of induction) and subsequently predicting outcome would be useful to select the population in whom to test new strategies, rather than attempting traditional reinduction therapy. METHODS Between March 1980 and March 1997, 314 eligible adults with primary refractory (24%) or primary relapsed (76%) ALL were treated with various chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation (SCT) regimens. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess biologic factors and disease history in relation to survival. RESULTS A complete remission (CR) was achieved in 97 patients (31%), 21% died prior to a response, and 49% were refractory to salvage therapy. Of the 76 patients refractory to induction therapy for their de novo ALL, 26 patients (34%) achieved a CR with salvage therapy. The median overall CR duration was 6 months. The median overall survival was 5 months; 24% of the patients were alive at 1 year, and the projected survival at 5 years was 3%. Nineteen patients were alive at the time of last follow-up, 10 with 6 weeks to 10 years of continuous CR from the time of their first salvage therapy. SCT consolidation in second CR was performed in 25% of patients; 28% of those who received allogeneic SCT remain in continuous CR at 4 months, 2½ years, 3½ years, and 10 years, whereas all 8 who received autologous SCT have relapsed. Favorable factors for longer survival by multivariate analysis were age <40 years, absence of circulating blasts, and first CR duration longer than 1 year. Patients were stratified into 4 risk groups: Group 1, with no unfavorable features or only short initial CR duration; Group 2, with only increased age or peripheral blasts; Group 3, with any 2 unfavorable features; and Group 4, with all 3 unfavorable features. The median survival times for each group were 11, 6, 4, and 2 months, respectively; 1-year survival rates were 44%, 25%, 12%, and 9%, respectively (P < 0.01). The resulting model was also predictive for CR rates; the corresponding CR rates were 47%, 35%, 14%, and 9%, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Salvage therapy for adult ALL patients continues to yield poor results, but it is an area of research where it may be possible to discover new agents or strategies to be incorporated into frontline therapy. The prognostic model derived will be utilized prospectively to select patients for new therapeutic strategies involving such novel agents as liposomal compounds, purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies. Cancer 1999;86:1216–30. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Pediatric priapism associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Abstract Objectives. Priapism in the pediatric population is rare and most commonly occurs secondary to sickle cell disease or hematologic malignancy. We present a case of a 12-year-old boy with priapism who required aggressive surgical therapy for adequate detumescence. This patient had a recent viral upper respiratory infection and titers for Mycoplasma pneumoniae were indicative of infection. We propose that a hypercoagulable state was induced by the M. pneumoniae infection, which resulted in the priapism. Methods. A 12-year-old boy with a recent upper respiratory illness presented to his pediatrician with priapism. After failing conservative management, the patient ultimately required a surgical shunt for detumescence. Serum was sent to detect antibodies against M. pneumoniae . Results. The child failed to respond to corporeal irrigations and bilateral Winter shunts. He underwent an El-Ghorab procedure the following morning, which resulted in a flaccid penis. Serum M. pneumoniae antibodies were detected and indicated moderate infection. Conclusions. We propose that this 12-year-old boy had priapism secondary to infection with M. pneumoniae. M. pneumoniae infection can produce a hypercoagulable state, especially in selected areas of the circulation. This is the first reported case of priapism associated with M. pneumoniae .
The Role of Mate‐Choice Copying and Disruption Effects in Mate Preference Determination of Limia perugiae (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae)

Recent experimental and theoretical evidence suggests that social factors may play an important role in female choice and sexual selection. This is in contrast to the assumption made by most classical sexual selection models that female preferences are entirely determined by genetic factors. This study examined whether female preferences in the poeciliid fish Perugia's Limia (Limia perugiae) are reversible through (i) mate-choice copying (imitative) behavior, or (ii) a disruption effect (reduced consistency of female preference in response to disruption). Females in binary choice trials were given a mate-choice copying opportunity by exposing them to a second, model female displaying a preference for a male that was not initially preferred. Females were found to reverse their initial preference significantly more often when presented with an opportunity to observe the model female then in the absence of such an opportunity. In separate trials, females were presented with the opportunity to observe a model female displaying a preference for a male that was initially preferred. No significant difference was observed in the number of reversals between treatments in which females were presented with a copying opportunity that contradicted their initial preference and one that reinforced it. Our results suggest that mate-choice copying does not contribute significantly to female preferences in L. perugiae and that disruption may reduce the ability of females to choose consistently.
Direct Observation of Nitrosylated Heme in Myoglobin and Hemoglobin by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), we demonstrate the direct observation of NO attached to the heme moiety in horse heart myoglobin (Mb) and in the α- and β-chains of human hemoglobin (Hb). It was found that a narrow range of ESI-MS conditions conspire to make observation of Fe−NO interactions challenging, and this is presumably the reason why earlier attempts by other research groups to detect intact Fe−NO products by mass spectrometry were unsuccessful. For Mb and Hb, mass shifts are observed that are consistent with NO modification of the hemoproteins. ESI mass spectra of the apoprotein portions of Mb and Hb in the presence of NO demonstrated the absence of NO modification of the polypeptide backbones. UV/vis spectra of both Mb/NO and Hb/NO solutions, recorded at the time of ESI-MS analysis, demonstrated hemoproteinII−NO formation. To test the hypothesis that intact nitrosylated heme groups are observable by ESI-MS, a nitrosylated model metalloporphyrin was studied. The ESI mass ...
Thinking inside the (black) box: Agenda setting, information seeking, and the marketplace of ideas in the 2012 presidential election

Scholarship on agenda setting and electoral politics often suffers from lack of access to data on deliberative processes, a shortcoming that often leads to inflexible theoretical outcomes. In this article, I assess the viability of a new data source—Google web search data—for use in social science research. Such data, when collected and applied appropriately, offer a unique lens through which information on patterns of information seeking can be drawn. I examine data on the final phase of the 2012 US presidential election and present findings along two lines. First, sensitivity tests demonstrate that web search information can proxy for public opinion. Second, testing of hypotheses finds that candidate presence on the campaign trail, although generally correlated with increased interest in political issue, is subject to media- and event-specific modifying effects. These findings underline this article’s principal contention that web search data are a viable resource for scholars of political communication.
Using transpersonal tests in humanistic psychological assessment

Abstract Emphasis on holism is a distinguishing quality of humanistic psychology and important for any psychological assessment purporting to be humanistic. To be holistic, assessment should encompass the entire range of human functioning, including the trans‐personal dimension, and requires methodological pluralism, including use of psychological tests. Resistances to addressing transpersonal issues in humanistic psychological assessment, and to using tests to gather information about transpersonal concerns, are challenged. Two transpersonal tests that show promise for humanistic assessment are presented.
Continuing professional development in Texas: survey of pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes: 2008.

Abstract Objective To assess the knowledge and attitudes of Texas pharmacists regarding continuing professional development (CPD). Design Descriptive, nonexperimental cross-sectional study. Setting Texas during 2008. Participants 4,954 pharmacists were contacted via e-mail. Intervention Survey incorporating demographic and informational questions about CPD was sent to the pharmacist membership of two large pharmacy organizations in Texas. All responses were included in the data collection. The results of the survey were compiled into a spreadsheet for analysis. Main outcome measures Determining pharmacists' attitudes and needs for CPD versus a traditional continuing education (CE) system, as well as identifying educational opportunities for lifelong learning for pharmacists. Results 471 pharmacists completed an online survey (9.5% response rate). The respondent population contained similar numbers of men and women; however, men respondents tended to be older and had been in practice longer. Most respondents worked in either hospital or community pharmacy settings. The most common stimulants for learning were self-reflection, patients, literature, and regulatory requirements. The most highly rated sources of education were live followed by printed CE programs. Nearly one-third of respondents felt that a change to a CPD model would be beneficial to their professional development. More than one-half of respondents (53%) indicated that they were unsure of the benefits of CPD. Conclusion Overall, the pharmacists surveyed understood their need to maintain professional competence. A minority of the pharmacists (12%) maintained a written record or planned to document their progress. Many pharmacists felt that CPD as it is understood by the respondents may not assist them in improving their professional development.
Transfer characteristics of two-row plate fin and tube heat exchanger configurations

Abstract The heat-mass transfer analogy, in conjunction with the naphthalene sublimation technique, was used to investigate the transfer capabilities and transfer mechanisms in two-row plate fin and tube heat exchanger configurations. Local and average transfer coefficients were determined from measurements of the mass transferred in an analogical system consisting of a pair of naphthalene plates and an array of spacer disks. The analogical system modeled a typical heat exchanger flow passage. The results were presented in dimensionless form to facilitate their conversion to Nusselt numbers. Different transfer mechanisms were found to be operative on the portions of the fin which are respectively associated with the first and the second rows of tubes. For the portion associated with the first row, the two factors which provided high mass-transfer rates were the boundary layer on the forward part of the fin and a vortex system which develops in front of the tubes. On the other hand, for the portion of the fin associated with the second row, there is no boundary-layer regime, and it is the vortex system alone which is responsible for high transfer rates. At higher Reynolds numbers, the influence of the second-row vortex system is sufficient to cause a near equality in the transfer capabilities of the first-row and second-row fin surfaces.