cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends and guideline-related changes in provision of palliative care in older women with gynecologic malignancies

Objectives: To determine if the rate of palliative care consultation (PCC) in older women with gynecologic malignancies increased after the publication of the American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines in 2012. Additionally, to identify factors associated with utilization of palliative care. Methods: We included women ≥ 66 years with stage III-IV, ovarian, uterine, cervix or vulvar cancer diagnosed in 2011 and 2013 in the linked Surveillance Epidemiology, End Results (SEER)- Medicare database. Patient demographic, cancer, and treatment characteristics were extracted. We evaluated PCC within 365 days of diagnosis (PCC365) and within 56 days of diagnosis (PCC56). We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model to compare PCC in 2011 versus 2013. We identified factors associated with PCC in women diagnosed with cancer in 2013 using a univariate and multivariable logistic regression. Results: We identified 2,643 women diagnosed with advanced gynecologic malignancies. 56% of patients had ovarian cancer, 34% uterine cancer, 8% cervical cancer and 3% vulvar cancer. In 2011, 12% of women had a PCC365 versus 14% in 2013. Taking into account multiple factors, women diagnosed in 2013 were more likely to have a PCC365 than women diagnosed in 2011 (adjusted HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09, 1.71). Women diagnosed with an advanced gynecologic malignancy in 2013 who were Black versus White (adjusted HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.06, 2.78), had a Charlson comorbidity index of 3 versus 0 (adjusted HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.17, 2.80) or stage IV verus stage III cancer (adjusted HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.26, 2.54) were more likely to receive PCC365. Women who received initial cancer treatment with surgery were less likely to receive PCC365 (adjusted HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35, 0.78). Conclusions: The rate of palliative care in women with advanced gynecologic malignancies increased slightly, although significantly, between 2011 and 2013 but the absolute rate remains low despite changes in recommendations. New innovations are needed to increase concurrent palliative care with standard oncology treatment for woman with advanced gynecologic malignancies.
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation results in significant QTc prolongation in the postoperative period

Background The corrected QT interval (QTc) is a measure of ventricular repolarization time, and a prolonged QTc increases risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) may increase QTc but its effects have not been well studied. Objective Determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of patients presenting for PVI in sinus and atrial fibrillation with postoperative QTc prolongation in a large cohort. Methods We performed a single-center retrospective study of consecutive atrial fibrillation ablations. QTc durations using Bazett correction were obtained from electrocardiograms at different postoperative intervals and compared to preoperative QTc. We studied clinical outcomes including clinically significant ventricular arrhythmia and death. A multivariable model was used to identify factors associated with clinically significant QTc prolongation, defined as ΔQTc ≥60 ms or new QTc duration ≥500 ms. Results A total of 352 PVIs were included in this study. We observed a statistically significant increase in mean QTc compared to baseline (446.3 ± 37.8 ms) on postoperative day (POD)0 (471.7 ± 38.2 ms, P Conclusion QTc duration increased significantly immediately post-PVI and returned to baseline by 1 month. PVI did not provoke significant ventricular arrhythmias in our cohort.
Entropy in the molecular recognition of membrane protein-lipid interactions

Understanding the molecular driving forces that underlie membrane protein-lipid interactions requires the characterization of their binding thermodynamics. Here, we employ native mass spectrometry in conjunction with a variable temperature apparatus to determine the thermodynamics of individual lipid binding events to the human G-protein-gated inward rectifier potassium channel, Kir3.2. We find that Kir3.2 displays distinct thermodynamic strategies to engage phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphorylated forms thereof. The addition of a 4’- phosphate to PI with 18:1-18:1 (DO) tails results in an increase in favorable entropy along with an enthalpic penalty. The binding of PI with two or more phosphates is more complex where lipids bind to Kir3.2 with the cytoplasmic domain in either a docked or extended configuration. Remarkably, the interaction of 4,5-bisphosphate DOPI (DOPI(4,5)P2) with Kir3.2 is solely driven by a large, favorable change in entropy. Installment of a third 3’-phosphate to DOPI(4,5)P2 results in an alternative thermodynamic strategy for the first binding event whereas each successive binding event shows strong enthalpy-entropy compensation. PI(4,5)P2 with 18:0-20:4 tails results in an inversion of thermodynamic parameters where the change in enthalpy now dominates. Collectively, the data show that entropy can indeed play important roles in regulating membrane protein-lipid interactions.
Chapter 1. Biochemical Models for Serotonin Receptors

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the specificity of ligands used for the characterization of these sites, the distribution of the sites in the brain tissue, the activities of a variety of pharmaca at the sites and correlations with in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, some structure–activity relationships, the in vivo regulation of the sites, and their hypothesized involvement in human diseases. The specificity of the ligands and occurrence of the serotonin receptor sites—the enzyme activity of serotonin-stimulated adenylate cyclase—is best detectable in Colliculli of young animals, because the activity is found to decrease rapidly with age. The enzyme was reported to be present in glial cell preparations from horse brain striatumand in a particulate fraction of the central nervous system (CNS) of the snail Helix Pomatia . The S 1 binding sites are labeled with affinity by 3H-serotonin. For specific binding of the 3 H-serotonin, defined by inhibition with 10 μIM unlabelled serotonin assayed at 37 o C, K D -values of 1.4nM14 to 8nM are reported. The labeling of S 2 -receptor binding sites are discussed in this chapter. The binding affinity of drugs for the putative serotonin receptor sites and relationship with pharmacological activity has been explained in the chapter. The S 1 -binding sites and the serotonin-stimulated adenylate dyclase being unrelated a supposed coupling between the two systems was refuted. S 1 -binding data indicates that the sites are to be considered as mere binding sites until further proof for a receptor function is furnished. Correlation between the activities of compounds in biochemical models and in pharmacological models for serotonin receptors S 2 -receptor-binding sites mediate various actions of serotonin and that the binding affinities of serotonin, serotonin-like compounds, and serotonin antagonists are completely compatible with the anticipated features of a serotonin neurotransmitter receptor. A description of the structure–activity relationships at the S 2 -receptor-binding sites and a role for S 2 -receptor alterations in several disease states has been discussed in the chapter.
Complications of Therapeutic Hypothermia Following Cardiac Arrest

Randomized clinical trials and observational studies have shown that therapeutic hypothermia improves neurologic outcomes and survival in patients following cardiac arrest [1–3]. As the benefit is impressive, with the number needed to treat as low as six patients, therapeutic hypothermia should be applied to more and more patients [4]. At the same time, therapeutic hypothermia is a complex and expensive therapy requiring appropriate equipment, trained personnel, and close patient monitoring. A systematic approach to coordinate care at multiple levels is required for proper patient selection, effective implementation of therapy, and monitoring for possible complications. In our institution, we use a unified pathway-based approach to therapeutic hypothermia [5]. The pathway outlines patient management in a stepwise manner: from the field through the emergency department into the cardiac catheterization laboratory and to the critical care unit (step 1); induced invasive hypothermia protocol in the critical care unit (step 2); and management following the re-warming phase including decisions for future care based on neurologic outcome (step 3). Figure 8.1 shows the pathway for the management of the survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as implemented at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York. The current chapter focuses on recognition and management of potential complications of hypothermia.
Effects of Shot‐Peening on Fretting Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior in Ti‐6Al‐4V

: The effects of shot-peening on fretting fatigue crack growth behaviour in titanium alloy, Ti-6A1-4V were investigated. Three shot-peening intensities: 4A, 7A and 10A were considered. The analysis involved the fracture mechanics and finite element sub-modelling technique to estimate crack propagation lives. These computations were supplemented with the experimentally measured total fretting fatigue lives of laboratory specimens to assess the crack initiation lives. Shot-peening has significant effect on the initiation/propagation phases of fretting fatigue cracks; however this effect depends upon the shot-peening intensity. The ratio of crack initiation and total life increased while the ratio of the crack propagation and total life decreased with an increase of shot-peening intensity. Effects of residual compressive stress from shot-peening on the crack growth behaviour were also investigated. The fretting fatigue crack propagation component of the total life with relaxation increased in comparison to its counterpart without relaxation in each shot-peened intensity case while the initiation component decreased. Improvement in the fretting fatigue life from the shot-peening and also with an increase in the shot-peening intensity appears to be not always due to increase in the crack initiation resistance from shot-peened induced residual compressive stress.
PALLIATIVE URINARY DIVERSION IN INCURABLE CANCER OF THE CERVIX.

Abstract 1. 1. Palliative urinary diversion procedures have limited but definite value in the armamentarium ag against incurable, advanced cervical carcinoma. 2. 2. Urinary diversion procedures may be employed to facilitate the application of more extensive radiation or chemotherapy to the pelvis. 3. 3. Palliation is best achieved when ureteral compression is unilateral, and before the blood urea nitrogen rises to 50 mg. per cent or above. 4. 4. Urinary diversion after ureteral obstruction is evidenced by intravenous pyelography, and a blood urea nitrogen of 50 mg. per cent or over is of no value.
The design of low-speed variable-reluctance generators

This paper presents a design methodology appropriate for low-speed variable-reluctance generators (VRGs). This work is motivated by the application of VRGs to direct-drive wind turbines and other renewable energy systems. In direct-drive systems significant simplifications result from the elimination of the gear box which has traditionally been used to interface a slowly rotating shaft with the generator shaft. The running example considered is the design of a generator which is to support 20 kW at a rotor speed of 120 rpm.
On nonlinear estimation in presence of non-Gaussian Noise

An algorithm for optimal estimation in presence of non-Gaussian observation noise is presented. The algorithm, based on Bayes' recursion formula is implemented numerically. The filter is shown to be superior to the Kalman Filter when applied to the same system. It has been shown that the steady state estimation error is zeros. The Algorithm is a potential technique for analyzing transients in the automobile electrical environoment.
ZEITGEIST: Database support for object-oriented programming

The Zeitgeist Object-Oriented Database System under development in the Information Technologies Laboratory of Texas Instruments is designed to support design applications and large scale programming projects by providing a nearly seamless interface to Common Lisp. Zeitgeist is currently being used within Texas Instruments by a VLSI CAD system and a hypermedia system. This paper describes the architecture of Zeitgeist, and the design and implementation of its base layer (the Persistent Object Store). Particular emphasis is given to our development experiences, including the rationale for certain data model and implementation decisions, our interactions with users of the system, and system performance.
An Insider’s Perspective on Observing Time Selection Committees

The process of selecting the best proposals for observing time on observatories in space and on the ground is vitally important for astronomy and is generally done well, but the system has problems and can be improved. I identify four types of bias that enter the process when the oversubscription of observing time is large. The negative interaction between the large oversubscription rates and these biases should be recognized and can be mitigated. I believe that selection committees provide the most competent and least biased advice when they are given a modest number of proposals (roughly 50) covering a coherent but modest range of scientific topics, and the approximate time allocations among the committees covering the different scientific topics are driven largely by proposal pressure. There are several mechanisms for revising when necessary the allocations of observing time among the various committees.
A note on latticeability and algebrability

Abstract Suppose A is a subset of a Banach lattice (Banach algebra) X . We look for “large” sublattices (resp. subalgebras) of A . If X is a Banach lattice, we prove: (1) If Y is a closed subspace of X of codimension at least n , then ( X \ Y ) ∪ { 0 } contains a sublattice of dimension n . (2) If Y is a closed infinite codimensional ideal in X , then ( X \ Y ) ∪ { 0 } contains a closed infinite dimensional sublattice. (3) If the order in X is induced by a 1-unconditional basis, and Y is a closed infinite codimensional subspace of X , then ( X \ Y ) ∪ { 0 } contains a closed infinite dimensional ideal. Further, we show that (4) ( l p \ ( ∪ q p l q ) ) ∪ { 0 } contains a sublattice which is dense in l p , and that (5) the sets L 1 ( T ) \ ( ∪ p > 1 L p ( T ) ) ∪ { 0 } and S ∞ \ ( ∪ p ∞ S p ) ∪ { 0 } contain a dense subalgebra with a continuum of free generators (here S p denotes the Schatten p -space).
Contributions of Women in Science: Ingredients for Success?

“Since the days of Snedecor and Cochran, the ‘best person’ has frequently been a woman.”~ Salsburg (2001, p. 206)“If you want the job done right, ask a woman.”~ Barry Graubard (2014)This article ar...
The Subjective Interpretation of Inequality: A Model of the Relative Deprivation Experience

Relative deprivation (RD) is the product of an upward comparison that indicates that one's disadvantaged situation is undeserved coupled with anger and resentment. RD is associated with reduced psychological and physical health, individual deviance, and collective action, but empirical tests of RD are inconsistent. Closer attention to three central features of the RD experience – comparisons, discrete emotions, and the type of outcome – will improve the predictive value of RD. If social scientists measure RD correctly, they can answer the questions about people's surprising tolerance of large inequities in some contexts and unexpected sensitivity to small inequities in other contexts that first motivated RD research.
Virtual School Counseling.

The advent of virtual schools opens doors to opportunity for delivery of student services via the Internet. Through the use of structured interviews with four practicing Florida virtual school counselors, and a follow-up survey, the authors examined the experiences and reflections of school counselors who are employed full time in a statewide virtual school. Findings highlight how virtual school counselors differ in their activities from traditional school counselors. This article presents implications for practice, training, and future research.
From Anemia Trials to Clinical Practice: Understanding the Risks and Benefits When Setting Goals for Therapy

Management of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis patients with erythropoiesis stimulating agents continues to be an area of debate. Recent US Food and Drug Administration documents indicate that Normal Hematocrit Study (NHS) completed in 1996 had more patients (1,265 vs. 1,233) and showed significantly increased deaths or myocardial infarctions (p = 0.01; risk ratio: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.06-1.56) rather than the indeterminate evidence of harm (risk ratio: 1.30; 95% CI: 0.9-1.9) reported in the 1998 publication. This review places the NHS study results in context with the other three major anemia trials, which, together, contain approximately 70% of all patients reported in trials using active therapy in both arms and examining a hemoglobin target >12 g/dl in CKD and dialysis. The potential impact of the ongoing TREAT trial, with its unique design characteristics, is also reviewed. This review outlines the known risks and benefits of various anemia targets based on these completed trials to better inform physicians about the realistic goals from anemia treatment.
Organization of Stem Cells and Their Progeny in Human Epidermis

Renewal of epidermis is achieved by an ordered replication of stem cells and transit amplifying cells followed by terminal differentiation. In mouse epidermis, renewal is organized around highly ordered structures termed epidermal proliferative units (EPU), each generated by a single stem cell. It has been difficult to apply these concepts to the human epidermis where the basal layer is undulating and the strata have variable thickness. For example, it is unclear whether stem cells in human epidermis are located at the base of rete ridges or overlying the tip of dermal papilla. Data are available to support both views. To gain a better understanding of EPU organization in human skin, we have genetically marked xenografts of human foreskin with a lentivirus encoding a fluorescent marker protein and have mapped labeled columns of cells over a 28-wk period. By following these columns to their origin in the epidermis we have been able to determine that stem cells are dispersed along the basal compartment. The widths of these columns do vary considerably, with the narrowest originating from cells located in the base of the rete ridge. These findings provide new insights into the dynamics of epidermal renewal in human glabrous skin.
On the continuity of the magnetization and energy in Ising ferromagnets

The authors investigate the phase diagram of ferromagnetic Ising spin systems satisfying the G.H.S. inequality. They show that such systems cannot have a ''normal'' first-order phase transition as the temperature T is varied, i.e., one where the magnetization is discontinuous and there are three coexisting phases. Furthermore, for N.N. interactions, discontinuity in the magnetization at 0 < T/sub 0/ less than or equal to T/sub c/ implies an uncountable infinity of pure phases at T/sub 0/.
Some Recent Advances in the Study of the Reactivity of Systems Containing Polymers

Recent studies of reaction rates in polymer systems are reviewed. These involve ionic reactions in polyelectrolyte solutions, kinetic effects due to the nature of the “effective solvent medium” in the polymer domain, neighboring group effects in polysaccharide oxidation, intramolecular polymer reactions involving non-neighboring groups, the quenching of the fluorescence of groups attached to a polymer by species carried by another polymer chain and the photoisomerization of azobenzene residues in the backbone of polymer chains.
Factors Influencing Chinese Language Learners' Strategy Use.

This survey study, which involved 134 language learners enrolled in first-year Chinese as a foreign language classrooms in the US universities, intended to address the research question, ‘Do learne...
THE ROLE OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODES IN MALIGNANT MELANOMA

The status of metastasis in regional lymph nodes in patients with early solid cancer has a predictive value for survival. If metastasis is found in regional lymph nodes, it decreases the 5-year survival of patients by approximately 30% to 40% in melanoma, 5 breast cancer, 43 and colon cancer. 10,11,44 Traditionally, regional lymph node dissection has been recommended in patients with primary solid cancers such as melanoma, breast cancer, or colon cancer for staging, regional control, and prevention of regional or systemic recurrence. Despite undergoing regional lymph node dissection, patients with positive nodal status within the regional lymph node basin usually had a poorer prognosis. 5,10,11,43,44 % Furthermore, most patients (over 80%) with primary solid cancer, such as melanoma and breast cancer, would have a negative nodal status. Resection of a negative nodal basin would only result in morbidity without any apparent therapeutic benefits. The physicians faced a dilemma of whether to proceed with a lymph node dissection that would benefit only approximately 15% to 20% of the patients who harbor micrometastasis in their lymph nodes. In 1977, Cabanas 8 developed a more selective approach of dissecting the bilateral inguinal lymph node basin for primary penile carcinoma. Using preoperative lymphangiography with contrast material, he was able to map out the sentinel lymph node (SLN) distribution of penile cancer. The term sentinel lymph node was coined because it was believed to be the first node that received metastatic cells. This approach established the concept that the area of the body where the cancer originates would drain to a specific lymph node, the sentinel or guardian lymph node, within the regional lymph node basin before its subsequent spread to other lymph nodes. This concept was tested successfully in the feline model by Wong et al 65 and subsequently applied by Morton et al 42 for the staging of primary malignant melanoma. With the successful application of SLN in the management of primary melanoma, this technique has been applied to breast cancer and other solid cancers, as described in this issue of the Surgical Clinics of North America . SLN detection solves the clinical dilemma of selecting the relevant node in the nodal basin. It is an ideal procedure because it is minimally invasive, yet powerful enough to select the relevant lymph node of the nodal basin, without a complete radical lymph node dissection. Another advantage of the SLN technique is that because significantly fewer lymph nodes are harvested, the harvested nodes can be processed meticulously to look for occult micrometastasis.
Uncommon Schooling: A Historical Look at Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy, and Waldorf Education

ABSTRACTRudolf Steiner founded the first Waldorf school in Germany in 1919. Unique elements of Waldorf education include an arts-based curriculum in which students learn subject matter through a variety of forms of representation, a pedagogy designed to meet students' developmental growth, an administrative system in which teachers govern the school, an organization devoted to sustaining a sense of community, and an integrated conceptual approach to education generally—a place where the cosmic and the mundane are intertwined.Rudolf Steiner's life and writings are the foundations on which Waldorf schools are built. Therefore, this article is devoted to an overview of his work, which should assist us in understanding what goes on in contemporary Waldorf schools. Also, because Waldorf schools in North America are based on the first Waldorf school, I have included an examination of elements of that school's educational program. However, I do not present a simple chronological account of Steiner's life or of t...
Inflammatory Cytokines Induce Phosphorylation and Ubiquitination of Prostate Suppressor Protein NKX3.1

Inflammation of the prostate is a risk factor for the development of prostate cancer. In the aging prostate, regions of inflammatory atrophy are foci for prostate epithelial cell transformation. Expression of the suppressor protein NKX3.1 is reduced in regions of inflammatory atrophy and in preinvasive prostate cancer. Inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1beta accelerate NKX3.1 protein loss by inducing rapid ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. The effect of TNF-alpha is mediated via the COOH-terminal domain of NKX3.1 where phosphorylation of serine 196 is critical for cytokine-induced degradation. Mutation of serine 196 to alanine abrogates phosphorylation at that site and the effect of TNF-alpha on NKX3.1 ubiquitination and protein loss. This is in contrast to control of steady-state NKX3.1 turnover, which is mediated by serine 185. Mutation of serine 185 to alanine increases NKX3.1 protein stability by inhibiting ubiquitination and doubling the protein half-life. A third COOH-terminal serine at position 195 has a modulating effect on both steady-state protein turnover and on ubiquitination induced by TNF-alpha. Thus, cellular levels of the NKX3.1 tumor suppressor are affected by inflammatory cytokines that target COOH-terminal serine residues to activate ubiquitination and protein degradation. Our data suggest that strategies to inhibit inflammation or to inhibit effector kinases may be useful approaches to prostate cancer prevention.
The effect of acoustic forcing on trailing edge separation and near wake development of an airfoil

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of acoustic forcing on flow fields near the trailing edge of a symmetric airfoil at zero angle of attack. At low chord Reynolds numbers, the boundary layers separate from the surfaces in the rear part of the airfoil and create recirculation regions near the trailing edge. It is shown that with the introduction of acoustic forcing through a slot in the vicinity of the separation point, periodic large-scale structures are generated in the trailing edge region. Significant reduction of trailing edge separation is achieved. It is also found that the most effective forcing frequency to control trailing edge separation is the wake vortex shedding frequency. As a result of forcing, applied only on the upper surface, the upper boundary layer is accelerated and the flow over the lower surface decelerated. Consequently, an asymmetric wake is formed. The results presented indicate that the development of the near wake varies with forcing conditions.
On mobilization of lead and arsenic in groundwater in response to CO2 leakage from deep geological storage

If carbon dioxide stored in deep saline aquifers were to leak into an overlying aquifer containing potable groundwater, the intruding CO{sub 2} would change the geochemical conditions and cause secondary effects mainly induced by changes in pH In particular, hazardous trace elements such as lead and arsenic, which are present in the aquifer host rock, could be mobilized. In an effort to evaluate the potential risks to potable water quality, reactive transport simulations were conducted to evaluate to what extent and mechanisms through which lead and arsenic might be mobilized by intrusion of CO{sub 2}. An earlier geochemical evaluation of more than 38,000 groundwater quality analyses from aquifers throughout the United States and an associated literature review provided the basis for setting up a reactive transport model and examining its sensitivity to model variation. The evaluation included identification of potential mineral hosts containing hazardous trace elements, characterization of the modal bulk mineralogy for an arenaceous aquifer, and augmentation of the required thermodynamic data. The reactive transport simulations suggest that CO{sub 2} ingress into a shallow aquifer can mobilize significant lead and arsenic, contaminating the groundwater near the location of intrusion and further downstream. Although substantial increases in aqueous concentrations aremore » predicted compared to the background values, the maximum permitted concentration for arsenic in drinking water was exceeded in only a few cases, whereas that for lead was never exceeded.« less
Baldwin Hills reservoir failure in review

A very large amount of information on the Baldwin Hills Reservoir failure of December 1963, is available in the reports and papers which have been published. Except for survey data obtained in recent years, which might shed further light on the problem of ground deformation, little more is likely to turn up on the condition of the reservoir and dam. Here it will be assumed that the facts are known and available; the discussion will concentrate on their interpretation. This discussion is divided into two parts: (a) a review of some of the events prior to construction and statements made by various engineers regarding the design of the system; and (b) an evaluation of the interpretations offered. Although some of the background is given in the State of California report of 1964, it is believed that a more detailed description of some of the material is of interest in its reflection of the views of the site and design by the people most concerned. With the publication over the years of a number of papers with different explanations of the mechanics of ground deformation leading to the failure, it is an appropriate time to review the opinions offered.
Synthesis of a potent and selective inhibitor of p90 Rsk.

The synthesis of the naturally occurring kaempferol glycoside SL0101 has been accomplished, as has its biochemical evaluation. SL0101 exhibits selective and potent p90 Rsk inhibitory activity at nanomolar concentrations without inhibiting the function of upstream kinases such as MEK, Raf, or PKC. The synthesis verified the structural assignment of the natural product and has provided access to material sufficient for detailed biological evaluation.
The influence of water interfacial potentials on ion hydration in bulk water and near interfaces

The surface potential at the water liquid–vapor interface is discussed in relation to experimental determinations of bulk absolute ion hydration free energies. It is shown that, rather than the surface potential itself, the net electrostatic potential at the center of an uncharged solute can aid both in relating differences between tabulations of hydration free energies and in explaining differing classical and quantum surface potential estimates. Quantum mechanical results for the net potential are consistent with conclusions from previous classical simulations, suggesting a contribution from the net potential that can influence ion density profiles for single ions in water droplets.
Benthic community structure in stands of Typha angustifolia and herbicide-treated and untreated Phragmites australis

ABSTRACT We compared benthic community structure among stands of Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaf cattail) and herbicide-treated (Glypro) and untreated Phragmites australis (common reed) over two summers in a Lake Erie coastal wetland (i.e., drowned river mouth). Both macrophytes are invasives, but only Phragmites is currently controlled by herbicides because of its reputed “undesirable” effects on wetland community structure and function. Macroinvertebrate diversity was similar among stand types and relatively high (Shannon-Weaver indices ∼2.6–4.2), probably because of high system primary productivity and a mix of lentic and riverine species. Proportions of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups were also similar, but Jaccard's similarity indices were relatively low (29%–57%), suggesting macroinvertebrate compositional differences among stand types. Coleopterans particularly affected species presence/absence patterns, but their presence was associated with low water level rather than hydrophyte type ...
Behavior of fish predators and their prey: habitat choice between open water and dense vegetation

Behavior of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and northern pike, Esox lucius, foraging on fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, or bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, was quantified in pools with 50% cover (half the pool had artificial stems at a density of 1000 stems m−2). Both predators spent most of their time in the vegetation. Largemouth bass searched for bluegills and ambushed minnows, whereas the relatively immobile northern pike ambushed all prey. Minnows were closer to predators and were captured more frequently than bluegills. Even when minnows dispersed, they moved continually and eventually wandered within striking distance of a predator. Bluegills dispersed in the cover with predators. Bass captured the few bluegills that strayed into the open and pike captured those that approached too closely in the cover. The ability of predators to capture prey while residing in habitats containing patches of dense cover may explain their residence in areas often considered to be poor ones for foraging.
Microcomputer simulation of expected gains from eight methods of intrapopulation recurrent selection

(…) Users provide estimates of genetic and environmental components of variance, selection intensities, and an array of possible experimental designs including number of environments, number of replicates within environments, and plot size. Expected gains can be expressed as either gain cycle −1 , gain year −1 , or gain season −1 (…)
Lifetime measurements of several S, P, and D states of thallium in a glow discharge by single-step and two-step laser-excited fluorescence.

The lifetimes of several states in a thallium see-through hollow cathode discharge, or galvatron, are obtained to characterize its potential as an atomic line filter. The lifetimes of the thallium 62D3/2, 62D5/2, and 72S1/2 states are measured by time-resolved single-step laser-excited fluorescence by use of a 276.787 nm laser pulse or a 535.046 nm laser pulse and measuring the resulting fluorescence waveform at the appropriate wavelength. Values of 6.4 ± 0.1, 7.5 ± 1.1, and 7.7 ± 0.2 ns were obtained for the 62D3/2, 62D5/2, and 72S1/2 states, respectively, which agree with values obtained by previous authors, as well as calculated values. No current dependence was observed for each of these states. The lifetime of the long-lived thallium 62P3/2° metastable state was measured by two-step laser-excited fluorescence at various applied currents. The metastable level was pumped by a 276.787 nm laser pulse, and a temporally delayed 535.046 nm laser pulse interrogated the population of the metastable state. Relating the fluorescence intensity to the population of the metastable state as a function of delay time yielded a decay curve for the 62P3/2° metastable state. Values of 2.1 ± 0.2, 2.8 ± 0.1, 3.1 ± 0.3, 3.8 ± 0.4, and 4.8 ± 0.6 μs were found for applied currents of 14.0, 12.0, 10.0, 8.0, and 6.0 mA, respectively. The resulting lifetimes for the 62P3/2° metastable state clearly show a dependence on the applied current and are expected to be due to collisions with the wall of the cathode, as well as a contribution due to collisions with electrons.
A study of the thermal and dynamical structure of the martian lower atmosphere

Abstract The scaling of the equations of motion in the lowest one or two scale heights of the martian atmosphere is discussed; it is shown that zonal motions should be of the order of 40 m/sec, diurnal motions of the order of 2 m/sec, and that non-linear interactions for both zonal and diurnal fields of motion are governed by a Rossby number calculated from the largest velocity, and equal to 0.17. The first consequence of this result is that seasonal and diurnal temperature changes can probably be computed with satisfactory precision without taking account of the advection and convection of heat by planetary-scale winds. Small-scale thermal convection is, however, important because temperature gradients computed for radiative transfer alone can be superadiabatic. Priestley's theory for the free atmosphere and Kraichnan's theory for the boundary layer are adopted with due regard to their possible errors. The upper boundary condition on the convective layer is shown to be approximate continuity of temperature. A complete calculation of the temperature profile in the lowest 30 km is made, including condensation in a simple cloud model, for three latitudes. It is concluded that the tropopause will be about 15 km in the tropics; that there is a radiative-convective boundary layer in the lowest kilometer above a thin convective boundary layer; that the diurnal changes are important to the mean profile as well as the time-dependent profile; that turbulent diffusivities may be 10 8 cm 2 /sec or higher and therefore important to the planetary dynamics; that very large dust particles could be held in suspension during the daytime; that carbon dioxide condensation can occur as frost but not as cloud except in the polar night; and that visible clouds could be H 2 O ice. These calculations are preliminary to a computation of planetary-scale motions in the lowest one or two scale heights. A different dynamics, more analogous to tidal theory, may be required at higher levels.
The Treatment of Obesity

Ideas about the treatment of obesity arise naturally from the concepts that are held at any given time about its causes. In the days when obesity was thought to be primarily an endocrine disorder, treatment was oriented in that direction. More recently the psychological aspects of obesity have been emphasized so that now many people think of treatment of obesity almost exclusively in psychological terms. We have a feeling that the pendulum has swung too far in this direction and we would like to pull it back a bit towards the center of the arc. We would like to do this for two reasons: First, despite all the interest in the psychological factors in obesity there is no convincing evidence that obesity is due entirely to psychological problems. And second and perhaps even more important, because of a study of 25 unselected obese males that we made in the past year. This work was done at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania under the direction of Dr. Albert J. Stunkard as part of an intensive study of male obese patients. We have been studying obese men because we were struck by the relatively small amount of information on this group in the literature: Most patients who have been studied have been women and it was in an attempt to correct this imbalance that we undertook this study. The subjects of the study consisted of the first 25 consecutive referrals of obese men from the Medical and the Psychiatric Out-Patient Department of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The major prerequisite for inclusion in the study was that the patient be at least 30 per cent overweight as determined by standard height and weight tables. The study of each patient included a detailed psychiatric history, intensive psychological tests as well as social work interviews with members of the family and physiological studies. When you go to some efforts to get really unselected people, surprising things emerge.
Daily fluid intake and outcomes in kidney recipients: post hoc analysis from the randomized ABCAN trial

Generous and even excessive fluid intake is routinely recommended to kidney transplant recipients despite minimal evidence to support this practice. We hypothesized that increased fluid intake, ascertained by 24-h urine volume output, may adversely affect graft outcomes as it would impose an extra workload on a limited number of nephrons. Kidney transplant recipients who were randomized to losartan vs. placebo in the Angiotensin II Blockade for Chronic Allograft Nephropathy (ABCAN) trial (n = 153) underwent baseline, five-yr biopsies, and annual iothalamate glomerular filtration rate assessment. Recipients with higher urine volume at randomization had higher urinary sodium and also higher urinary protein. The proportion using diuretics or CNI based regimens were similar across urinary volume tertiles. The highest urinary volume tertile (>2.56 L/d) did not predict the development of interstitial volume doubling or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (OR = 3.52, 95% CI 0.4, 31.24, p = 0.26), interstitial volume doubling or all-cause ESRD (OR = 7.04, 95% CI 0.66, 74.87, p = 0.11), and was not associated with the conventional endpoint of doubling serum creatinine, all-cause ESRD, or death (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.21, 3.71, p = 0.87). These results suggest that the current practice of liberal fluid intake may not be beneficial in low risk and mostly Caucasian transplant recipients.
Is it mandatory to examine synovial fluids promptly after arthrocentesis

Fifty synovial fluid (SF) samples from patients with various types of arthritis were examined promptly after joint aspiration and after storage at room temperature (22 degrees C) or at refrigerator temperature (4 degrees C) for 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 6 hours, 1 day, and 3 days, then weekly for 3 weeks and monthly for 2 months. We found that the leukocyte count (white blood cell [WBC] count) decreased within a few hours. In 4 SF samples from patients with mild inflammation (initial range 3,150-6,200 WBC/mm3), the WBC count decreased into a "noninflammatory" range (less than 2,000/mm3) within 5-6 hours. In 3 of 5 SF samples that on the first day were found to be laden with crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD), the crystals were much less abundant and were difficult to recognize by the next day. CPPD crystals dissolved completely in all SF samples by 3-8 weeks of the study. Monosodium urate crystals remained detectable throughout the 8 weeks of study, but they became smaller, less birefringent, and less numerous with time. Clumps of apatite-like crystals persisted for several months. Most SF samples initially negative for apatite-like crystals remained negative over time. New, artifactual crystals, including alizarin red S-positive clumps or star-shaped arrays, plate-like structures, positively birefringent Maltese crosses, and hematoidin crystals, developed with time. Because of these observations, we urge prompt examination of SF specimens to avoid the problems of misdiagnosing borderline inflammatory fluids, missing CPPD crystals that dissolve with time, or over-interpreting the findings because of the new, artifactual crystals.
Epinephrine-Induced Alterations in Urinary Cyclic AMP in Hyper- and Hypothyroidism

Although ratios of urinary cyclic AMP (cAMP) to creatinine were found in this study to be elevated in hyperthyroidism, as previously reported, this elevation appears to result primarily from a decrease in the rate of urinary creatinine excretion associated with the hyperthyroid state and not to be due to an increase in the urinary cAMP production rate. Indeed, there was no significant alteration observed in the urinary cAMP excretion found in 15 hyper-, 12 eu-, and 5 hypothyroid subjects. However, a slight, but significant increase in the 24-hour urinary cAMP excretion was noted in ambulating hyperthyroid subjects (8.5 +/- 2.4 muMol/day; normal 5.2 +/- 1.6 muMol/day; P less than .05). In contrast, the effect of the infusion of 0.05 mug/kg/min of epinephrine over a 2-hour period, resulted in a significantly greater rise in urinary cAMP excretion in hyperthyroid patients (0.83 +/- 0.07 muMol/h) compared to euthyroid subjects (0.53 +/- 0.4 muMol/h; P less than .005). Furthermore, hypothyroid subjects had no significant rise in urinary cAMP excretion after epinephrine infusion (P less than .001). Cardiovascular end-organ response to the epinephrine infusion was also greater in the hyperthyroid subjects and virtually absent in the hypothyroid group. These results suggest that there may be a significant alteration in the cAMP generating systems in states of thyroid hormone excess or insufficiency, and that provocative stimuli, such as epinephrine, may have its end-organ response modified by thyroid hormone effects on adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP generating systems.
The effects of frequency and angle on ultrasonic backscattering from the upper airway

Abstract In vitro experiments on dog tracheas were performed at 5, 8, 11.7, 18, and 26 MHz to evaluate the backscattering as functions of frequency and transducer orientation angles with respect to the tissue to air surface. Additionally, more idealized flat and convex curved specular reflecting surfaces were also studied. The importance of transducer aperture size, frequency, and target distance in determining the maximum angle over which backscattering can be received from a flat specular surface is highlighted. Convex curvature causes a further increase in this maximum angle. The findings from the tissue studies were: 1) backscattering from the trachea became more diffuse in nature as frequency increased, 2) backscattering from the anterior section of the trachea was detectable over larger angles than that from the posterior, and 3) at frequencies of 11.7 MHz and above, diffuse scattering was a major consideration in scattering from the anterior surface of the tracheas tested.
What Happened to Test Scores, and Why?

What has happened in recent decades to the test scores of American students? What can be said about the causes of trends in scores? Do these trends provide an indictment of the effectiveness of American schools? How should test scores be used to inform the debate about education policy?
Young infants' visual processing of internal and adjacent shapes

Three experiments explored possible mechanisms mediating 1-month-old infants' differential discrimination of internal and external elements of compound visual patterns. Discrimination was inferred from recovery of operant sucking to the presentation of a novel pattern following decrement to a familar pattern. In Experiment 1, infants were familarized with a small geometric figure either centered within, or placed adjacent to, a larger figure. There was no evidence for discrimination of shape changes in small figures presented in either pattern. However, Experiment II showed discrimination of shape changes in small figures presented singly. Experiment III investigated discrimination of shape changes in small figures placed adjacent to either another small figure or a larger figure. Averaged data indicated no reliable discrimination in either group. But there was evidence for a group difference in the distribution of subjects' recovery scores, suggesting better discrimination of small figures when placed adjacent to another small figure. The pattern of results is interpreted in terms of an early attentional bias toward the larger components of compound patterns.
DUAL-SHIFT DECOMPOSITION AND WAVELETS

We introduce the notion of dual-shift decomposition of an arbitrary Hilbert space, which is given in terms of two unilateral shifts. After ensuring conditions for the existence of it, such a decomposition is then constructed for the concrete space ℒ2[0, 1], on which the two unilateral shifts are parts of the dilation-by-2 and the translation-by-1 on ℒ2(ℝ). Using multiresolution analysis (MRA) of wavelet theory it is shown the existence of a Haar-system-type orthonormal basis for ℒ2[0, 1], which is combined with the dual-shift decomposition to yield a refined decomposition for ℒ2[0, 1].
Gaze-augmented think-aloud as an aid to learning

The use of recorded eye movements, or scanpaths, has been demonstrated as an effective visualization for feed-forward visual search training, instruction, and stimulated retrospective think-aloud usability testing. In this paper we show that creation of a scripted or recorded video of an expert's think-aloud session augmented by an animation of their scanpaths can result in an effective aid for learners of visual search. Because the creation of such a video is relatively easy, the benefits-to-cost ratio may potentially be substantial, especially in settings where learned visual scanning strategies are indicators of expertise. We suggest that two such examples are examinations of Chest X-Rays and histological slides. Results are presented where straightforward construction of an instruction video provides measurable benefit to novice as well as experienced learners in the latter context.