cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aryl-substituted fluorophosphazenes VIII. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance parameters for phenyl-substituted fluorocyclotriphosphazenes

Abstract The 13 C NMR spectra of the series of compounds P 3 N 3 F 6− n ( n = 1, 2, 4) are recorded and discussed. The para carbon chemical shift indicates that the phosphazene ring exerts a moderate to strong electron withdrawing effect on the phenyl ring. Known correlations of 13 C chemicals shifts with electron withdrawing parameters allow assignment of σ + values for P 3 N 3 F − n (C 6 H 5 ) n −1 from 0.42 ( n = 4) to 0.74 ( n = 1). Possible mechanisms for the perturbation of the phenyl ring are discussed. The phosphoruscarbon coupling constants to the C-2 ( ortho ) carbon are related to the nature of the substituents on the phosphorus atom in question.
Outgassing of Oxygen from Polycarbonate

A manometric permeation apparatus was used to study the “outgassing” or desorption of oxygen from polycarbonate (PC). A PC film was placed in the apparatus. Both sides were exposed to oxygen until the film was saturated. To simulate inert gas purging of a closed container or “microenvironment”, oxygen was pumped from one side of the apparatus to reduce the concentration on that side to nearly zero. Oxygen concentrations on the freshly purged side rose quickly at first but then slowed. Eventually, a steady state was established and oxygen concentrations increased linearly with time. Mass-transport coefficients (permeation, diffusion, and solubility coefficients) were also estimated and then used to successfully predict the postpurge rise of the oxygen concentration.
Curative surgery for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas/ampulla of vater: The role of adjuvant pre or postoperative radiation therapy

From 1972 to 1981, 7 patients received adjuvant external beam radiation therapy before (5 patients) or after (2 patients) a curative Whipple operation for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (5 patients) or ampulla of Vater (2 patients). Via supervoltage, 4000-4520 rad/20-25 fractions/4-5 1/2 weeks were delivered to the tumor bed and draining lymphatics. Two patients (of 4 at risk) are 5-year survivors; 3 are alive-without-disease at 1-2 years follow-up. Distant metastases have developed to date in 3 patients. A marginal miss occurred at the edge of radiation portal in 1 patient, and no true in-field failures have occurred. Complications occurred in 2 patients. Because of the high incidence of local-regional failures after curative surgery alone for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or ampulla of Vater, the above results suggest that adjuvant radiation therapy should be considered as a modality to potentially improve treatment results.
Does comet P/Arend-Rigaux have a large dark nucleus?

The first infrared observations of the comet P/Arend-Rigaux are presented. These indicate that both the reflected solar radiation and the thermal emission from the nucleus have been detected. From the observations, a geometric albedo as low as 5 percent and an average radius of 4.8 km for the nucleus are derived.
Potentiation of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine-induced hyperthermia by harmaline and the involvement of activation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors.

5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and harmaline are serotonin (5-HT) analogs often abused together, which alters thermoregulation that may indicate the severity of serotonin toxicity. Our recent studies have revealed that co-administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitor harmaline leads to greater and prolonged exposure to 5-HT agonist 5-MeO-DMT that might be influenced by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) status. This study was to define the effects of harmaline and 5-MeO-DMT on thermoregulation in wild-type and CYP2D6-humanized (Tg-CYP2D6) mice, as well as the involvement of 5-HT receptors. Animal core body temperatures were monitored noninvasively in the home cages after implantation of telemetry transmitters and administration of drugs. Harmaline (5 and 15 mg/kg, i.p.) alone was shown to induce hypothermia that was significantly affected by CYP2D6 status. In contrast, higher doses of 5-MeO-DMT (10 and 20 mg/kg) alone caused hyperthermia. Co-administration of harmaline (2, 5 or 15 mg/kg) remarkably potentiated the hyperthermia elicited by 5-MeO-DMT (2 or 10 mg/kg), which might be influenced by CYP2D6 status at certain dose combination. Interestingly, harmaline-induced hypothermia was only attenuated by 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635, whereas 5-MeO-DMT- and harmaline-5-MeO-DMT-induced hyperthermia could be suppressed by either WAY-100635 or 5-HT2A receptor antagonists (MDL-100907 and ketanserin). Moreover, stress-induced hyperthermia under home cage conditions was not affected by WAY-100635 but surprisingly attenuated by MDL-100907 and ketanserin. Our results indicate that co-administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitor largely potentiates 5-MeO-DMT-induced hyperthermia that involves the activation of both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. These findings shall provide insights into development of anxiolytic drugs and new strategies to relieve the lethal hyperthermia in serotonin toxicity.
Supply and utilization of pediatric subspecialists in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The wide geographic variation in pediatric subspecialty supply in the United States has been a source of concern. Whether children in areas with decreased supply receive less subspecialty care or have worse outcomes has not been adequately evaluated. Among children with special health care needs, we examined the association between pediatric subspecialty supply and subspecialty utilization, need, child disease burden, and family disease burden. METHODS: We measured pediatric subspecialist supply as pediatric subspecialists per capita in each residential county. By using the 2009–2010 National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs and controlling for many potential confounders, we examined the association between quintile of pediatric subspecialty supply and parent-reported subspecialty utilization, perceived subspecialty need, and child and family disease burden. RESULTS: County-level pediatric subspecialty supply ranged from a median of 0 (lowest quintile) to 59 (highest quintile) per 100 000 children. In adjusted results, compared with children in the highest quintile, children in the lowest quintile of supply were 4.8% less likely to report ambulatory subspecialty visits ( P < .001), 5.3% less likely to perceive subspecialty care needs ( P < .001), and 2.3% more likely to report emergency department visits ( P = .018). There were no meaningful differences between pediatric subspecialty supply quintiles for other measures of child or family disease burden. CONCLUSIONS: Children living in counties with the lowest supply of pediatric subspecialists had both decreased perceived need for subspecialty care and decreased utilization of subspecialists. However, the differences in supply were not associated with meaningful differences in child or family disease burden.
Tumor-associated glycoprotein distribution detected by monoclonal antibody B72.3 in salivary neoplasia.

The expression of tumor-associated glycoprotein (TAG-72), an oncofetal mucin-like tumor-associated glycoprotein derived from membrane-enriched fractions of metastatyic breast carcinoma, has been detected by monoclonal antibody (MoAb) B72.3 in adenocarcinomas of breast, colon, lung, endometrium, pancreas, and ovary. The authors reported the scope of TAG-72 expression detected by MoAb B72.3 in salivary neoplasia
Plan for future study of the deep Earth

We would like members of AGU's Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Section to start thinking how the discipline can contribute to interdisciplinary and inter-institution projects under a Cooperative Study of the Earth's Deep Interior (CSEDI) umbrella. About 100 geophysicists and geochemists took part in a workshop from September 11–12, 1992, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, to discuss and approve a plan for a nationwide CSEDI. Starting with the 1991 Vienna IUGG meeting, a ten-member ad hoc group led by Tom Jordan of MIT, Dave Loper of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, Tallahassee, Fla., and Rick O'Connell of Harvard University met four times to devise a mechanism to encourage scientists from different disciplines within the Earth sciences to focus their efforts on solving the major unresolved problems related to the deep structure, energetics, and dynamics of the deep Earth, problems that express themselves through plate tectonics and other surface observations.
Expression profile of CREB knockdown in myeloid leukemia cells

The cAMP Response Element Binding Protein, CREB, is a transcription factor that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival in several model systems, including neuronal and hematopoietic cells. We demonstrated that CREB is overexpressed in acute myeloid and leukemia cells compared to normal hematopoietic stem cells. CREB knockdown inhibits leukemic cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, but does not affect long-term hematopoietic reconstitution. To understand downstream pathways regulating CREB, we performed expression profiling with RNA from the K562 myeloid leukemia cell line transduced with CREB shRNA. By combining our expression data from CREB knockdown cells with prior ChIP data on CREB binding we were able to identify a list of putative CREB regulated genes. We performed extensive analyses on the top genes in this list as high confidence CREB targets. We found that this list is enriched for genes involved in cancer, and unexpectedly, highly enriched for histone genes. Furthermore, histone genes regulated by CREB were more likely to be specifically expressed in hematopoietic lineages. Decreased expression of specific histone genes was validated in K562, TF-1, and primary AML cells transduced with CREB shRNA. We have identified a high confidence list of CREB targets in K562 cells. These genes allow us to begin to understand the mechanisms by which CREB contributes to acute leukemia. We speculate that regulation of histone genes may play an important role by possibly altering the regulation of DNA replication during the cell cycle.
The role of expectations in the determination of consumer satisfaction

The purpose of this paper is to explore the three determinants of consumer satisfaction, i.e. Predictive Expectations, Normative Expectations and Comparative Expectations. This study applied the confirmation of expectations paradigm to each of the types of expectations. The efficacy of the paradigm in the prediction of consumer satisfaction is examined. Comparative analyses of the three types of expectations show that normative expectations and their confirmation are the best predictors of satisfaction. Suggestions for further research on measurement and conceptual development of consumer satisfaction are also offered.
Tu Casa, Mi Casa: Naturalization and Belonging among Latino Immigrants.

Previous studies reach contradictory conclusions regarding the relationship between residential concentration and naturalization. This paper tackles the impasse by exploring the pathways through which immigrant communities influence individual naturalization. Specifically, this study examines naturalization among Latino immigrants using the 2006 Latino National Survey linked to county data. Multilevel model results indicate that the county concentration of naturalized co-ethnics positively predicts individual naturalization, and this relationship operates through two channels: information dissemination and perceived belonging. Regarding the latter, Latino immigrants who live among naturalized co-ethnics identify more strongly as 'American,' and strength of American identification mediates nearly one-half of the relationship between concentration and naturalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Wetting stimulates atmospheric CH4 oxidation by alpine soil

Studies were done to assess the effects of soil moisture manipulations on CH4 oxidation in soils from a dry alpine tundra site. When water was added to these soils there was a stimulation of CH4 oxidation. This stimulation of CH4 oxidation took time to develop. One to three days after water additions no stimulation was observed. Nine days after rewetting, CH4 oxidation was greatly stimulated. This time delay suggests that methanotrophs grew in response to water additions, or that they take a long time to recover from metabolically inactive resting stages.
Ultrastructural Findings in Adrenal Cortical Adenomas Clinically Mimicking Pheochromocytoma: A Comparison with Other Adrenal Tumors and Tissue Preparation Techniques

Adrenal cortical tumors clinically mimicking pheochromocytomas are extremely rare, with 14 cases in the literature. The authors describe 2 patients with adrenal cortical adenoma (ACA) and catecholamine elevations. The impact of tissue preparation methods on electron microscopy (EM) images was assessed in ACA mimicking pheochromocytoma, pheochromocytoma, and ACA lacking pheochromocytoma-like symptoms. Ten adrenal cortical tumors were examined using EM after a variety of tissue preparation techniques, including fixation with glutaraldehyde, formalin for varying lengths of time followed by glutaraldehyde, and/or formalin followed by paraffin embedding. Electron micrographs were assessed for image quality and the presence of dense secretory granules and eccentric, norepinephrine (NE)-type granules. Images created from tissue fixed in glutaraldehyde and/or formalin and embedded in resin were of good quality, while those derived from paraffin-embedded specimens were poor with disrupted cellular architecture. Wh...
Mother-Scholars (Re)Imagine Schools

I imagine what the field of education might look like if the central realities of mother-scholars were included in its subject matter. Illuminating mother-scholar insights allows us to analyze how male epistemology has contributed to the conventional construction of the field of education, prompting us to re-examine the field’s traditional boundaries. While androcentric underpinnings are still in place, it is unclear whether we can successfully create a just educational system – a goal of many scholars within the field.
Impact of Reference Gene Selection for Target Gene Normalization on Experimental Outcome Using Real-Time qRT-PCR in Adipocytes

BACKGROUND: With the current rise in obesity-related morbidities, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) has become a widely used method for assessment of genes expressed and regulated by adipocytes. In order to measure accurate changes in relative gene expression and monitor intersample variability, normalization to endogenous control genes that do not change in relative expression is commonly used with qRT-PCR determinations. However, historical evidence has clearly demonstrated that the expression profiles of traditional control genes (e.g., s-actin, GAPDH, a-tubulin) are differentially regulated across multiple tissue types and experimental conditions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Therefore, we validated six commonly used endogenous control genes under diverse experimental conditions of inflammatory stress, oxidative stress, synchronous cell cycle progression and cellular differentiation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes using TaqMan qRT-PCR. Under each study condition, we further evaluated the impact of reference gene selection on experimental outcome using examples of target genes relevant to adipocyte function and differentiation. We demonstrate that multiple reference genes are regulated in a condition-specific manner that is not suitable for use in target gene normalization. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Data are presented demonstrating that inappropriate reference gene selection can have profound influence on study conclusions ranging from divergent statistical outcome to inaccurate data interpretation of significant magnitude. This study validated the use of endogenous controls in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and highlights the impact of inappropriate reference gene selection on data interpretation and study conclusions.
Comparison of four energy-based vascular sealing and cutting instruments: A porcine model.

To compare the safety and efficacy of four energy-based vascular sealing and cutting instruments. Blood vessels of various types and diameters were harvested from four pigs using four instruments: Harmonic ACE™ (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH), LigaSure™ V and LigaSure Atlas™ (Valleylab, Inc., Boulder, CO; a division of Tyco Healthcare), and EnSeal™ vessel fusion system (SurgRx, Inc. Redwood City, CA). The diameters of the vessels, speed and adequacy of the cutting and sealing process, and bursting pressures were compared. An additional set of specimens was sealed and left in situ for up to 4 h after which the vessels were harvested and histopathologically analyzed for the degree of thermal injury. The bursting pressures were significantly higher with EnSeal™ compared to all other instruments (p < 0.0001). The sealing process was significantly shorter with Harmonic ACE™ and significantly longer with LigaSure Atlas™ (p <0.0001). The mean seal width was larger with the LigaSure Atlas™ compared to the other instruments, and it was smaller with EnSeal™ and Harmonic ACE™. Less radial adventitial collagen denaturation was present with EnSeal™ and LigaSure™ V than with the other two instruments; there were no significant differences in collagen denaturation although proximal thermal injury to the smooth muscle in the media of the vessel wall was less common with LigaSure Atlas™ than with the other instruments; however, the numbers were too small for statistical analysis. The bursting pressures with EnSeal™ were significantly higher than with all the other instruments. Harmonic ACE™ was the fastest sealing instrument and LigaSure Atlas™ was slowest. EnSeal™ created less radial thermal damage to the adventitial collagen of the vessels and LigaSure Atlas™ created less thermal damage to the media of the vessels. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown.
Steady-state solutions of a propagating borehole: Helical trajectory

Deep boreholes with complex geometries are now drilled with the help of rotary steerable systems (RSS), which are downhole robots capable of steering the bit by either applying a force on the borehole walls (push-the-bit systems) or by tilting the bit (point-the-bit systems). This paper explores the existence of stationary borehole geometries in the form of vertical helical trajectories. These non-trivial solutions, which represent the equilibrium points of the dynamical equations governing the evolution of the borehole, correspond to situations where the deformed configuration of the bottomhole assembly (BHA) remains invariant during the propagation of the borehole, i.e., the BHA moves inside the created borehole as a rigid body. Formulation of the model yields a system of linear equations in terms of the radius and pitch of the helical boreholes. A parametric analysis of the solution for the idealized case of rigid BHA with one stabilizer shows the region of existence of helical trajectories and the dependence of the pitch and radius of the helix on the control parameters.
Optimal controllers for finite wordlength implementation

When a controller is implemented by a digital computer with A/D and D/A conversion, numerical errors can severely affect the performance of the control system. There exist realizations of a given controller transfer function exhibiting arbitrarily large effects from computational errors. Assuming sufficient excitation of the system, the problem of designing an optimal controller in the presence of both external disturbances and internal roundoff errors is solved. The results reduce to the standard LQG controller when infinite-precision computation is used. For finite precision, however, the separation principle does not hold. A penalty is also added to the cost function to penalize the sum of the wordlengths used to compute the fractional part of each state variable of the controller. This sum can be used to represent the lower bound on computer memory needed for controller synthesis. It measures controller complexity and is minimized (penalized) here. >
Deletion of the S component inverted repeat sequence c' and the nonessential genes U(S)1 through U(S)5 from the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome substantially impairs productive viral infection in cell culture and pathogenesis in the rat central nervous system.

A distinctive feature of the genetic make-up of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a human neurotropic virus, is that approximately half of the 81 known viral genes are not absolutely required for productive infection in Vero cells, and most can be individually deleted without substantially impairing viral replication in cell culture. If large blocks of contiguous viral genes could be replaced with foreign DNA sequences, it would be possible to engineer highly attenuated recombinant HSV-1 gene transfer vectors capable of carrying large cellular genes or multiple genes having related functions. We report the isolation and characterization of an HSV-1 mutant, designated d311, containing a 12 kb deletion of viral DNA located between the L-S Junction a sequence and the Us6 gene, spanning the S component inverted repeat sequence c′ and the nonessential genes Us1 through Us5. Replication of d311 was totally inhibited in rat B103 and mouse Neuro-2A neuroblastoma cell lines, and was reduced by over three orders...
Multivariate Discriminant Analysis of Sub-Antarctic Deep-Sea Sediments

Multivariate discriminant analysis of sediment grain-size data from a series of sub-Antarctic deep-sea sedimentary cores has yielded equations which differentiate between terrigenous, siliceous, and calcareous components. As a test of the methods, grain-size distribution data for 106 specimens from two sedimentary cores were examined using discriminant-predictive equations. A modified discriminant technique is used. The predicted sediment groups for these samples are in good agreement with independent microscopic observations. It is proposed that multivariate discriminant analysis of grain-size data provides automated data collection and rapid diagnosis of sedimentary type for restricted regions. This, in turn, facilitates genetic interpretations of sedimentary texture and depositional processes.
TREATMENT OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS WITH PERITONEAL DIALYSIS

A patient with acute pancreatitis was treated with peritoneal dialysis and had rapid improvement. At frequent intervals during the dialysis, samples of the patient's blood, urine, and peritoneal fl...
Arthrodesis of the Hip

An analysis has been presented of 371 patients who had arthrodesis of the hip at the Mayo Clinic during the years 1914 through 1959. Whereas thirty years ago most hip fusions were done because of tuberculosis of the hip, the majority now are done for post-traumatic conditions. Arthrodesis of the hip can be expected to be successful in approximately 90 per cent of the patients if modern surgical techniques and principles are followed, including: (1) stimulation of osteogenesis by the use of massive bone grafts, (2) internal as well as external fixation of the head or upper end of the femur to the pelvis, (3) osteotomy of the femur just below the site of its fixation to the pelvis, thereby removing temporarily the stress caused by the great leverage exerted by the lower extremity, and (4) adequate and sufficiently prolonged external fixation. Although the numbers of arthrodeses in the different disease categories in this series are too small to be significant, there are trends which are of interest. Ischiofemoral arthrodesis and conventional fusions (intra-articular or extra-articular arthrodeses or a combination of the two) seemed to result in a lower rate of fusion. Subtrochanteric or intertrochanteric osteotomy, internal fixation of the femoral head to the pelvis, or both of these procedures, when combined with a conventional arthrodesis, seemed to increase the rate of fusion. From the data available, there is little, if any, indication that the disease or condition requiring fusion influenced the fusion rate. The technique of fusion appeared to be the most important factor. Arthrodesis, in our opinion, is the procedure of choice for most active young and middle-aged adults requiring an extensive reconstructive surgical procedure for one hip.
Photoneutron Cross Sections for V 51 and Co 59

The ($\ensuremath{\gamma}, n$) and ($\ensuremath{\gamma}, 2n$) cross sections for ${\mathrm{Co}}^{59}$ and ${\mathrm{V}}^{51}$ have been measured, using nearly monochromatic photons obtained from the annihilation in flight of fast positrons. The integrated cross sections up to 28 MeV for $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, n)$ and $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, 2n)$, respectively, are 0.447\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.044 and 0.139\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.014 MeV-b for Co, and 0.451\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.045 and 0.106\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.011 MeV-b for V. The minus-second cross sections (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}2}$) are 1.82 and 1.56 mb/MeV, respectively, for these elements. The level density parameters $a$ were determined to be 5.49 and 6.18 Me${\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, respectively. The quadrupole moments determined from the compound-nucleus formation cross sections, $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, n)+\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, 2n)+\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, np)$, were found to be 0.94\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.13 and 0.66\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.09 b, respectively, for Co and V.
The Effect of Heating Temperature, Heating Time and Coal Rank on the Apparent Viscosity of Coal-Hydrogenated Anthracene Oil Slurry

The apparent viscosity of coal slurry prepared with hydrogenated anthracene oil was measured at temperatures between 323 and 473K, and the mechanism of viscosity change with heating was investigated. Depending on the coal rank, the slurry viscosity increased with increasing temperature, time and coal concentration at temperatures above 423K. The slurry viscosity of Miike coal, a bituminous coal, increased much more than that of Wandoan coal, a sub-bituminous coal, with heating time at 453K, although Taiheiyo coal, a lower rank coal, and Beatrice coal, a semi-anthracite, showed no remarkable changes in slurry viscosity. The effect of coal dissolution on the increase in slurry viscosity was relatively small, and the viscosity increase of coal slurry was found to be caused mainly by solvent absorption into the coal particles.
Changes in transfusion practice over time in the PICU.

Objective Recent randomized clinical trials have shown the efficacy of a restrictive transfusion strategy in critically ill children. The impact of these trials on pediatric transfusion practice is unknown. Additionally, long-term trends in pediatric transfusion practice in the intensive care unit have not been described. We assessed transfusion practice over time, including the effect of clinical trial publication.
Morphotypes of Mycorrhizal Fungi of Vanda Species

Mycorrhizal association is known to be important to orchid species and a complete understanding of the fungi that form mycorrhizas is required for orchid ecology and conservation. Vanda is a widespread orchid in Eastern and Western Ghats of India. Previously, we found the genetic diversity of this species has been reduced recent years due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, but little was known about the relationship between this orchid species and the mycorrhizal fungi. The Rhizoctonia-like fungi are the commonly accepted mycorrhizal fungi associated with orchids. In this study, morphotypes of the Rhizoctonia-like fungi associated with Vanda species were investigated. Among the endophytic fungal isolates obtained, Rhizoctonia-like fungi were identified based on morphological characters and further conformations can be done through molecular methods.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Orbital Fractures.

PURPOSE To determine whether prophylactic antibiotic use in patients with orbital fracture prevent orbital infection. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS All patients diagnosed with orbital fracture between January 1, 2008 and March 1, 2014 at The George Washington University Hospital and Clinics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Development of orbital infection. RESULTS One hundred seventy-two patients with orbital fracture met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. No orbital infections were documented. Twenty subjects (12%) received no prophylactic antibiotic, and two (1%) received only one dose of antibiotics pre-operatively for surgery. For primary antibiotic, 136 subjects (79%) received oral antibiotics, and 14 (8%) received intravenous (IV) antibiotics (excluding cefazolin). Cephalexin and amoxicillin-clavulanate were the most prescribed oral antibiotics that are equally effective. Five-to-seven day courses of antibiotics had no increased infections compared to ten-to-fourteen day courses. Calculated boundaries for effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics ranged from a Number Needed to Treat (NNT) of 75 to a Number Needed to Harm (NNH) of 198. CONCLUSION Antibiotics for prevention of orbital infection in patients with orbital fractures have become widely used. Coordination between trauma teams and specialists is needed to prevent patient overmedication and antibiotic resistance. Should antibiotics be used, shorter courses and avoidance of broad spectrum agents are recommended. Additional studies are needed.
Complications of Ureteral Endoscopy

AbstractUse of the rigid ureterorenoscope has become widely accepted for the diagnosis of ureteral lesions, and for the removal and disintegration of ureteral calculi. Few complications have been reported. During the last 3 years 128 ureteroscopic procedures were performed for a variety of indications (98 for stone disease). There were 26 complications: 22 minor with no morbidity and 4 major that required surgical correction. Minor complications consisted of asymptomatic ureteral perforations in 6 patients, perforations with urinary extravasation, pain, ileus or fever in 4, migration of the stone into the kidney in 10 and migration of the stone outside the ureter with the calculus left in situ in 2. Major complications included ureteral perforation during basket extraction of an upper ureteral stone, urinoma following perforation and requiring drainage, stenosis of the intramural ureter that was corrected by marsupialization and aseptic necrosis of the ureter that was treated by ileal replacement.
18-Beta-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Causes Increased Pigment Production and Decreased Adherence in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilms

The acute toxicity of ammonia was studied for six aquatic macroinvertebrate species (mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly families). Two partial-chronic (24- and 30-day) tests were conducted on Pteronarcella badia. The acute toxicity of nitrite was studied for seven species, including one Diptera species; the mitigating effect of chloride ion on nitrite toxicity to two species was also investigated. For 6 tests on ammonia the median lethal concentration (96-hour LC50) values ranged from 1.8 to 5.0 mg/L un-ionized ammonia (NH3); in 19 tests less than 50% of the larvae died at the highest test concentration, so an LC50 could not be calculated. In the partial-chronic tests on P. badia, food consumption was not affected at concentrations up to 6.9 mg/L NH3, but concentrations in excess of 3.4 mg/L NH3 adversely affected nymphal survival rates and emergence of adults. For nitrite toxicity, test results showed a wide range of tolerance. The 96-hour LC50 for the single species of Diptera exceeded 123 mg/liter NO2-N; the 96-hour LC50 range for the other tests was between 0.25 and 2.4 mg/liter NO2-N. The addition of 10 mg/liter chloride ion in nitrite tests on P. badia and Ephemerella grandis resulted in a 3- to 10-fold decrease in 96-hour LC50 values. The tolerance to ammonia of the most sensitive of the insect species tested was greater than that reported in the literature for most species of fishes. Except for A. variegata, the range of acute toxicity of nitrite to the insects tested was similar to that reported for fishes.
Integrating Variable Renewables into the Electric Grid: An Evaluation of Challenges and Potential Solutions

Renewable energy poses a challenge to electricity grid operators due to its variability and intermittency. In this thesis I quantify the cost of variability of different renewable energy technologies and then explore the use of reconfigurable distribution grids and pumped hydro electricity storage to integrate renewable energy into the electricity grid. Cost of Variability I calculate the cost of variability of solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, and wind by summing the costs of ancillary services and the energy required to compensate for variability and intermittency. I also calculate the cost of variability per unit of displaced CO2 emissions. The costs of variability are dependent on technology type. Variability cost for solar PV is $8-11/MWh, for solar thermal it is $5/MWh, and for wind it is around $4/MWh. Variability adds ~$15/tonne CO2 to the cost of abatement for solar thermal power, $25 for wind, and $33-$40 for PV. Distribution Grid Reconfiguration A reconfigurable network can change its topology by opening and closing switches on power lines. I show that reconfiguration allows a grid operator to reduce operational losses as well as accept more intermittent renewable generation than a static configuration can. Net present value analysis of automated switch technology shows that the return on investment is negative for this test network when considering loss reduction, but that the return is positive under certain conditions when reconfiguration is used to minimize curtailment of a renewable energy resource. Pumped Hydro Storage in Portugal Portugal is planning to build five new pumped hydro storage facilities to balance its growing wind capacity. I calculate the arbitrage potential of the storage capacity from the perspective of an independent storage owner, a thermal fleet owner, and a consumer-oriented storage owner. This research quantifies the effect storage ownership has on CO2 emissions, consumer electricity expenditure, and thermal generator profits. I find that in the Portuguese electricity market, an independent storage owner could not recoup its investment in storage using arbitrage only, but a thermal fleet owner or consumer-oriented owner may get a positive return on investment
Mining the Stiffness-Sensitive Transcriptome in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Identifies Long Noncoding RNA Stiffness Regulators.

Objective—Vascular extracellular matrix stiffening is a risk factor for aortic and coronary artery disease. How matrix stiffening regulates the transcriptome profile of human aortic and coronary va...
Modernizing Analytics for Melanoma with a Large-Scale Research Dataset

We present the Modernizing Analytics for MELanoma (MAMEL) dataset: a real-world, dermatologyspecific research dataset specifically crafted to advance data mining and machine learning research in the field of melanoma diagnosis, analysis, and treatment. This dataset was collected and curated from Modernizing Medicine’s EMA DermatologyTM application, a cloud-based Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform. A big data processing architecture, built on Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark, was used to collect all patient data, identify patients for the MAMEL dataset, and create and document all data elements. This paper outlines the application and data processing architectures, provides an exploratory analysis of data elements available in MAMEL, and discusses avenues for using this dataset in clinical decision support applications for melanoma.
The essence of grounding

I develop a reduction of grounding to essence. My approach is to think about the relation between grounding and essence on the model of a certain concept of existential dependence. I extend this concept of existential dependence in a couple of ways and argue that these extensions provide a reduction of grounding to essence if we use sorted variables that range over facts and take it that for a fact to obtain is for it to exist. I then use the account to resolve various issues surrounding the concept of grounding and its connection with essence; apply the account to paradigm cases and to the impure logic of grounding; and respond to objections.
Psychology and the Pastoral Ministry: Help Or Hindrance?:

Since the time of Augustine, the relationship between psychology and the church has been tenuous at best. Among those most affected in this struggle are pastors who provide psychological services. ...
Second best epistemology: fallibility and normativity

The Fallibility Norm—the claim that we ought to take our fallibility into account when managing our beliefs—appears to conflict with several other compelling epistemic norms. To shed light on these apparent conflicts, I distinguish two kinds of norms: norms of perfection and norms of compensation. Roughly, norms of perfection tell us how agents ought to behave if they’re to be perfect; norms of compensation tell us how imperfect agents ought to behave in order to compensate for their imperfections. I argue that the Fallibility Norm is a norm of compensation, and that thinking of it like this helps us make progress in debates surrounding disagreement, higher-order evidence, and coherence.
Maternal Weight, Snoring, and Hypertension: Potential Pathways of Associations.

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are linked to excessive maternal weight and frequent snoring. However, pathways between maternal excessive weight, pregnancy-onset snoring, and HDP are only partially estimated. We examined and quantified the total and direct associations between excessive maternal weight and incident HDP and their indirect pathway through pregnancy-onset snoring. Methods Third trimester pregnant women enrolled from prenatal clinics of a large tertiary medical center. Sleep data were collected through a questionnaire. Demographic and pregnancy information and first trimester maternal weight were abstracted from medical charts. After exclusion of women with prepregnancy hypertension and/or chronic snoring, causal mediation analysis was used to estimate the total and direct association between maternal weight and incident HDP and their indirect association through pregnancy-onset snoring. The proportion of the mediated association through pregnancy-onset snoring from the total association of maternal weight and HDP was also quantified. Results After excluding those with chronic hypertension and/or snoring, the final sample included 1,333 pregnant women. In adjusted analysis, excessive maternal weight was directly associated with incident HDP; odds ratio (OR) = 1.87 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30, 2.70). Pregnancy-onset snoring significantly mediated the association between maternal weight and incident HDP; OR = 1.08 (95% CI 1.01, 1.17). The mediated pathway accounted for 15% of the total association between maternal weight and incident HDP. Conclusions Pregnancy-onset snoring mediates the association between maternal weight and incident HDP in women without prepregnancy snoring or hypertension. These findings demonstrate the relative contributions of excessive maternal weight and pregnancy-onset snoring to incident HDP.
Survival and Cause-specific Mortality of Adult Female Eastern Wild Turkeys in a Bottomland Hardwood Forest

Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey) population dynamics are greatly influenced by female survival, and high female-survival rates may offset low reproductive rates and maintain stability in populations characterized by low productivity. Additionally, reproduction may incur a cost to annual survival, given the physiological stress associated with breeding, and predation risks associated with incubation and brood-rearing. We used radio-telemetry and known-fate modeling to quantify annual survival and identify mortality causes of 54 adult female Meleagris gallopavo ssp. silvestris (Eastern Wild Turkey) tracked during 2002–2004 and 2007–2010 in a population characterized by low productivity in a bottomland hardwood forest in Louisiana. We detected 31 mortalities in which predation was the leading cause (87%), primarily attributed to Canis latrans (Coyote) and Lynx rufus (Bobcat). We estimated an annual survival rate of 0.58 (95% CI = 0.47–0.68) with no evidence of seasonal variation. This level of survival appeared to be sufficient to offset low productivity; the population was considered healthy and stable during the study period. Annual survival rates of females that incubated a nest were lower than reproductively inactive females, although confidence intervals overlapped considerably. The mechanisms underlying survival differences between reproductive classes were not entirely clear because survival of nesting females did not greatly decrease during incubation and brood-rearing seasons relative to non-nesters as would be expected under the hypothesis of increased predation risk during reproduction periods. Future studies should aim to better elucidate the links between reproduction and survival in Eastern Wild Turkey populations because this information will have important management ramifications in the southeast, where region-wide declines in productivity have been observed.
Development and evaluation of the mathematics interest inventory

This study describes the development of the Mathematics Interest Inventory. Internal reliability and concurrent and construct validity were evaluated using 3 samples of children totaling 724. Explo...
Clinical trials in myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease.

The relationship between thrombosis, coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction has evolved over many years.1 There has been considerable controversy about the specific role of thrombosis in both myocardial infarction and sudden death,2 as well as the importance of vessel wall, platelet interactions in the evolution of atherosclerosis. The interaction of vessel wall injury, platelets and hyperlipidemia in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque and complications seems to be a most plausible hypothesis.
Response to: ‘Dementia and advance directives: some empirical and normative concerns’ by Jongsma et al

We are grateful to Jongsma et al 1 for their interest in our article analysing the case of ‘Mrs A’, a Dutch woman with Alzheimer’s disease who received euthanasia based on her advance euthanasia directive (AED).2 Their commentary criticises two elements of our analysis. First, the authors believe our reasons for doubting that Mrs A had the capacity to write and revise an AED rely on ‘partial’ empirical data and rest on normative errors. Second, they use two of our statements to suggest we must endorse some implausible claims, for example, that ‘… in all situations and for all people, current well-being should always take precedence over all other values’. Jongsma et al assert: ‘Miller et al argue that people with dementia are impaired to make decisions.’ This casts our probabilistic claim about Mrs A’s capacity as an absolute claim about persons with dementia in general. It also implies we are using an outdated diagnosis-based view of capacity. The accusation then becomes explicit (italics below): > … several empirical studies have shown that patients with dementia are able to actively participate in qualitative studies and can respond to open questions in a meaningful way,[2-8] as well that they are able to complete an advance directive in the early phases of dementia.[9, 10] One can therefore not simply conclude on the basis of the diagnosis of dementia …
Factors Affecting Enjoyment of Virtual Reality Games: A Comparison Involving Consumer-Grade Virtual Reality Technology.

Abstract Objective: This study investigated psychological responses to playing videogames using a virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD). We also investigated how cybersickness impacts the...
2346. Severe Head and Neck Infections Following Influenza Virus Infection in Children

Background Seasonal influenza infection is associated with secondary bacterial complications involving the upper and lower respiratory tract. However, the association of influenza infection with secondary severe or complicated head and neck infections is not appreciated.
Cold Atmospheric Plasma Annealing of Plasmonic Silver Nanoparticles

This work describes a new approach to anneal metallic nanoparticles at room temperature using atmospheric pressure plasma. Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) films were deposited on quartz substrates using aerosol injection technique. The AgNP films were annealed at 100°C - 400°C using rapid thermal processing, and at room temperature by cold atmospheric pressure plasma for 2 - 15 minutes. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of un-annealed AgNP films was observed at 426 nm, which was blue shifted by 5 to 70 nm after cold plasma annealing. The blue shift in SPR was also observed for thermally annealed AgNP films and the shift was similar to that of cold plasma annealing. SEM images showed the similar distribution of AgNPs on quartz substrates for both cold plasma annealed and thermally annealed AgNP films.
A geometric interpretation of the normal closure of the braid group Bn in the braid group of the torus Bn(T)

It had been proved by Birman and Goldberg that the normal closure of the pure braid group Pn(D) in the pure braid group of the torus Pn(T) is the commutator subgroup [Pn(T),Pn(T)]. In this paper, w...
What Do NICU Fellows Identify as Important for Achieving Competency in Neonatal Intubation

Background Tracheal intubation (TI) is one of the most important interventions for the stabilization of critically ill neonates. Competency in airway management is essential for neonatal fellows. No studies have assessed which educational models, techniques, or instructions are perceived by neonatal fellows as the most beneficial for achieving competency in TI. Objectives This study identifies which factors are considered most helpful in achieving intubation competency. Method This was a mixed-method study. Semi-structured phone interviews addressed training experience for neonatal intubation. Through qualitative analysis, common themes were identified. RedCap electronic surveys and procedure logs were used to assess procedural experience. Results Forty-two fellows from 5 programs completed phone interviews. Fellows recalled 6-10 intubation attempts before fellowship. Independent statements related to achieving intubation competency were analyzed and coded into 5 main themes (Procedure, Practice, Perceptual Environment, Personnel, and Preparation). A large proportion of the statements focused on the use of video laryngoscopy. Conclusions The themes identified by neonatal-perinatal medicine (NPM) fellows as being the most beneficial in achieving proficiency in neonatal TI are categorized as "The 5 Ps." Careful review of these themes may be utilized to develop validated curriculums that enhance the teaching of TI and optimize the achievement of TI competency among NPM fellows.
2.2–2.5 μm InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb QW Diode Laser with Extraordinarily Wide (Δλ ≈ 300 nm) Optical Gain Spectrum

Spectroscopy and environmental monitoring are among the prospective applications of mid-infrared diode lasers. Achievement of the widest tuning range for these lasers is highly desirable.
Ductile Nb alloys with reduced density and cost

Abstract Several Nb-based alloys containing Ti, Mo and W were produced and their microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties in the temperature range of 23–1200 °C were reported and compared with a high-strength commercial Nb alloy C-3009, which contains Hf and W alloying elements. Replacement of Hf with Ti and W with Mo led to alloys with considerably reduced density and cost, as well as with reduced micro-segregation of the alloying elements. The strengthening effect from W was higher than from Mo at temperatures above ∼600 °C and more amount of Mo was required to compensate the strength decrease. The strengthening effects from Hf and Ti were comparable at temperatures up to 1000 °C; however, at 1200 °C the effect from Hf was superior. It was concluded that the Nb–Mo–Ti system can be used as a baseline for the development of high strength, high-temperature alloys using alloying with other elements.