cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outpatient Dismissal With a Responsible Adult Compared With Structured Solo Dismissal: A Retrospective Case-Control Comparison of Safety Outcomes.

Abstract Objective To test the hypothesis that patients dismissed alone in a sedation dismissal process (SDP) have no greater risk of adverse outcome compared with those who were dismissed with a responsible adult. Patients and Methods We compared 2441 SDP patients undergoing 2703 procedures with 4923 unique control patients who underwent 5133 procedures between June 1, 2012, and March 31, 2017. Results The rate of unplanned readmission related to the procedure was 0.11% (n=9), and there was no difference between SDP (0.07%) and controls (0.14%). Similarly, there was no difference in complication rates between SDP patients and controls when restricting to “all causes” unplanned readmissions within 24 hours and unplanned readmissions related to procedure. Conclusion With proper preparation, short-acting anesthetic/sedation medications, and sound clinical judgment, the presence of a responsible adult escort is not associated with reduced risk following discharge after ambulatory anesthesia. This practice may lessen the hardships reported by patients in needing to obtain an escort and the inconveniences and delays experienced by ambulatory procedural facilities when patients arrive without a designated escort.
Adsorptive Removal of Formaldehyde from Air Using Mixed-Metal Oxides

Volatile organic air pollutants such as aldehyde compounds have been identified as progressively damaging chemicals impacting human health at small albeit dangerous quantities. This study focuses o...
Modeling Exposures of a Nylon-Cotton Fabric to High Radiant Heat Flux:

American soldiers and marines involved in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered increased incidence of burn injury, often as a direct result of exposure to improvised explosive...
IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR IN PATIENTS WITH NON-ISCHEMIC CARDIOMYOPATHY IN THE UNITED STATES: INSIGHTS FROM THE NCDR ICD REGISTRY, AN NCDR® RESEARCH TO PRACTICE (R2P) PROJECT

The recent DANISH-ICD trial challenged the benefit of ICD in patients with NICM. We describe characteristics, and outcomes of elderly NICM patients with ICD/CRT in the NCDR ICD Registry. Using the NCDR ICD Registry linked with CMS claims, we identified 14,701 patients with NICM receiving de novo,
On a Theorem of Lovász that hom(⋅, H) Determines the Isomorphism Type of H.

Graph homomorphism has been an important research topic since its introduction [Laszlo Lovasz, 1967]. Stated in the language of binary relational structures in that paper [Laszlo Lovasz, 1967], Lovasz proved a fundamental theorem that the graph homomorphism function G ↦ hom(G, H) for 0-1 valued H (as the adjacency matrix of a graph) determines the isomorphism type of H. In the past 50 years various extensions have been proved by Lovasz and others [Laszlo Lovasz, 2006; Michael Freedman et al., 2007; Christian Borgs et al., 2008; Alexander Schrijver, 2009; Laszlo Lovasz and Balazs Szegedy, 2009]. These extend the basic 0-1 case to admit vertex and edge weights; but always with some restrictions such as all vertex weights must be positive. In this paper we prove a general form of this theorem where H can have arbitrary vertex and edge weights. An innovative aspect is that we prove this by a surprisingly simple and unified argument. This bypasses various technical obstacles and unifies and extends all previous known versions of this theorem on graphs. The constructive proof of our theorem can be used to make various complexity dichotomy theorems for graph homomorphism effective, i.e., it provides an algorithm that for any H either outputs a P-time algorithm solving hom(⋅, H) or a P-time reduction from a canonical #P-hard problem to hom(⋅, H).
Multiplication of influenza virus in the entodermal cells of the allantois of the chick embryo.

Publisher Summary This chapter deals primarily with the current knowledge and views of the multiplication of influenza virus, particularly in the entodermal cells of the allantoic membrane of the chick embryo, but reference is also made to the information obtained in studies of infection of other tissues and hosts, where indicated. An effort is made to summarize the pertinent data concerning the host cell, the various viral activities and their evaluation, and the experimental approaches bearing upon the mechanism of viral multiplication—that is, the growth curves, the multiplicity reactivation, the genetic recombination, and the interference. This chapter contains the discussion of the information derived from these approaches with respect to the individual stages of the infectious cycle that can be discerned and the interpretations and hypotheses that have been offered by various authors. Thus, an attempt is made to avoid the inferential discussions in the earlier sections, but it has not always been possible to comply with this general plan.
Advances in PET-Based Cardiac Amyloid Radiotracers

The gold standard for diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is endomyocardial biopsy showing Congo red staining followed by mass spectroscopy, but the diagnosis can also be made with high certainty by demonstration of typical cardiac imaging features along with amyloid on biopsy of another involved organ. The use of cardiac imaging techniques to detect amyloid deposits may frequently obviate the need for invasive methods in order to ascertain the presence, and potentially the type, of amyloid deposition. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We aim to review the evidence behind the development of novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for demonstrating cardiac amyloid deposition and potentially distinguishing between light-chain (AL) or transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple recent studies have shown that thioflavin-analogue tracers such as18F-florbetapir, 18F-florbetaben, 18F-flutemetamol, and 11C-labeled Pittsburg Compound-B (PiB) may be able to fulfill the unmet need of elucidating the presence of amyloid deposition in the heart. Because they bind to the beta-pleated motif of the amyloid fibril due to their similarity to the thioflavin structure, they could potentially be used to image CA (Table 1). The use of PET amyloid radiotracers shows promise; however, further data is needed to define their overall accuracy and additive value to the care of patients with suspected systemic and/or cardiac amyloidosis.
Improved Work Span Tradeoff for Single Source Reachability and Approximate Shortest Paths

This brief announcement presents parallel algorithms with a tradeoff between work and span for single source reachability and approximate shortest paths on directed graphs. Both algorithms have ~O(mρ2 + nρ4) work and achieve n1/2+ o(1)/ρ span for all ρ ∈ [1,√n].
The Genome Sequence of an H6N5 Influenza A Virus Strain Isolated from a Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Sampled in Alaska, USA, Shares High Identity with That of a South Korean Wild Bird Strain.

ABSTRACT We report the genome sequence of an H6N5 influenza A virus isolated from a northern pintail sampled in Alaska in 2017. All segment sequences shared >99% nucleotide identity with those of a wild bird strain from South Korea. This finding supports viral dispersal between East Asia and North America by wild birds.
Mixed-Valent Diiron μ-Carbyne, μ-Hydride Complexes: Implications for Nitrogenase.

Binding of N2 by the FeMo-cofactor of nitrogenase is believed to occur after transfer of 4 e- and 4 H+ equivalents to the active site. Although pulse EPR studies indicate the presence of two Fe-(μ-H)-Fe moieties, the structural and electronic features of this mixed valent intermediate remain poorly understood. Toward an improved understanding of this bioorganometallic cluster, we report herein that diiron μ-carbyne complex (P6ArC)Fe2(μ-H) can be oxidized and reduced, allowing for the first time spectral characterization of two EPR-active Fe(μ-C)(μ-H)Fe model complexes linked by a 2 e- transfer which bear some resemblance to a pair of En and En+2 states of nitrogenase. Both species populate S = 1/2 states at low temperatures, and the influence of valence (de)localization on the spectroscopic signature of the μ-hydride ligand was evaluated by pulse EPR studies. Compared to analogous data for the {Fe2(μ-H)}2 state of FeMoco (E4(4H)), the data and analysis presented herein suggest that the hydride ligands in E4(4H) bridge isovalent (most probably FeIII) metal centers. Although electron transfer involves metal-localized orbitals, investigations of [(P6ArC)Fe2(μ-H)]+1 and [(P6ArC)Fe2(μ-H)]-1 by pulse EPR revealed that redox chemistry induces significant changes in Fe-C covalency (-50% upon 2 e- reduction), a conclusion further supported by X-ray absorption spectroscopy, 57Fe Mossbauer studies, and DFT calculations. Combined, our studies demonstrate that changes in covalency buffer against the accumulation of excess charge density on the metals by partially redistributing it to the bridging carbon, thereby facilitating multielectron transformations.
Thought and Language

One of the most powerful weapons which recent writers have managed to direct against the view that “thought” is a process that can be validly distinguished from its expression or articulation in language is the well-known infinite regress argument. The argument itself has had a very long and fruitful career and has proven to be highly adaptable. I believe, however, that its application in this context is illegitimate and contains a serious error.
Substance use treatment partially mitigates association between methamphetamine use and STI risk: findings from the NSDUH cohort.

Background In recent years, both methamphetamine use and STIs have been on the rise in the USA. In this analysis, we sought to ascertain whether the risk of STIs and HIV among methamphetamine users was moderated on the basis of participation in substance use treatment programmes. Methods Data came from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015–2019. Among adult participants, survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between past year methamphetamine use and risk of HIV and STIs, stratified by methamphetamine treatment utilisation and adjusted for demographic and other risk factors. Results Among participants in the analytic sample (n=210 392), 1862 (0.9%) reported past year methamphetamine use, 566 (0.3%) reported receiving treatment for its use, 5471 (2.6%) tested positive for any STI in the past year and 395 (0.2%) for HIV ever in their lifetime. Past year methamphetamine use was associated with increased risk of STIs among those who did not receive treatment (adjusted OR=3.628; 95% CI 2.75 to 4.92). Significant moderation was also present between past-year methamphetamine use, risk of STI, and substance use treatment. Conclusion In this analysis, we demonstrated a strong relationship between methamphetamine use and risk of STIs that differed based on receipt of substance use treatment. These findings suggested that integrated STI and substance use treatment programmes may yield substantial public health benefits.
Spirit

Many religions and religious philosophies say that ultimate reality is a kind of primal energy (such as qi, mana, manitou, teotl, pneuma, and so on). This energy is often described as a vital power animating living things, as a spiritual force directing the organization of matter, or as a divine creative power which generates all things. By refuting older conceptions of primal energy, modern science opens the door to new and more precise conceptions. Primal energy is referred to here as ‘spirit’. But spirit is a natural power. A naturalistic theory of spirit is developed using ideas from information theory and thermodynamics, such as the maximum entropy production principle. Spirit drives the evolution of complexity at all levels of existence.
Introduction: A L’Enfant Plan for Archaeology

What does the contemporary relevance of archaeology mean? From a public policy point of view, it means having a seat at the table and being recognized as having something readily useful and important to contribute to topics at hand. This chapter introduces the topic of relevance for the volume, reviews other recent archaeological writings on the relevance theme, and sets out a vision for the role of archaeology in public policy at the US federal level using the case example of social science research in risk communication at the US Environmental Protection Agency National Homeland Security Research Center. Evidence suggests that interest in human behavior is growing in the world of policy-making and there is potential for increased contributions to modern issues by archaeology as one of the broad range of social sciences, if key aspects of question and research translation and distribution can be addressed.
Hydrodynamics of Packed Bed Reactor in Low Gravity

Packed bed reactors are well known for their vast and diverse applications in the chemical industry; from gas absorption, to stripping, to catalytic conversion. Use of this type of reactor in terrestrial applications has been rather extensive because of its simplicity and relative ease of operation. Developing similar reactors for use in microgravity is critical to many space-based advanced life support systems. However, the hydrodynamics of two-phase flow packed bed reactors in this new environment and the effects of one physiochemical process on another has not been adequately assessed. Surface tension or capillary forces play a much greater role which results in a shifting in flow regime transitions and pressure drop. Results from low gravity experiments related to flow regimes and two-phase pressure drop models are presented in this paper along with a description of plans for a flight experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). Understanding the packed bed hydrodynamics and its effects on mass transfer processes in microgravity is crucial for the design of packed bed chemical or biological reactors to be used for water reclamation and other life support processes involving water purification.
General Equilibrium Theory: An Introduction

Part I. General Equilibrium Theory: Getting Acquainted: 1. Concept and history of general equilibrium theory 2. An elementary general equilibrium model - the Robinson Crusoe economy 3. The Edgeworth box 4. Integrating production and multiple consumption decisions: a 2 x 2 x 2 model 5. Existence of general equilibrium in an economy with an excess demand function Part II. Mathematics: 6. Logic and set theory 7. RN: real N-dimensional Euclidean space 8. Convex sets, separation theorems, and non-convex sets in RN 9. The Brouwer fixed point theorem Part III. An Economy with Bounded Production Technology, Supply and Demand Functions: 10. Markets, prices, commodities, and mathematical economic theory 11. Production with bounded firm technology 12. Households 13. A market economy 14. General equilibrium of the market economy with an excess demand function Part IV. An Economy with Unbounded Production Technology, Supply and Demand Functions: 15. Theory of production: the unbounded technology case 16. Households: the unbounded technology case 17. A market economy: the unbounded technology case 18. General equilibrium of the market economy: the unbounded technology case Part V. Welfare Economics and the Scope of Markets: 19. Pareto efficiency and competitive equilibrium 20. Time and uncertainty: futures markets Part VI. Bargaining and Equilibrium: The Core: 21. The core of a market economy 22. Convergence of the core of a large economy Part VII. An Economy with Supply and Demand Correspondences: 23. Mathematics: analysis of point to set mappings 24. General equilibrium of the market economy with an excess demand correspondence 25. U-shaped cost curves and concentrated preferences Part VIII. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: 26. Next steps 27. Summary and conclusion.
Expositionsfokussierte Therapie der posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung

Seit der letzten Auflage dieses Buches ist die Anzahl der Wirksamkeitsstudien kognitiver Verhaltenstherapien (KVT) der posttraumatischen Belastungsstorungen (PTBS) erneut stark gestiegen. Die Befundlage aus diesen Studien ist eindeutig: Fur KVT wie die Expositionstherapie, die kognitive Therapie, das Stressimpfungstraining sowie Kombinationen dieser Verfahren und die sog. Augenbewegungstherapie (EMDR) konnte wiederholt eine signifikante Reduktion der PTBS-, Depressivitats- und Angstsymptomatik sowie weiterer problematischer Traumafolgen gezeigt werden.
Input Modifications by Instructors in Traditional and Business German Courses

Inspired by the debate on the effi cacy of modifi ed input (i.e., teacher talk), this study explored the use of input modifi cations in a traditional German course compared to a business German course. Overall, the business language instructor resorted to less simplifi cation than the instructor of the traditional German course. In terms of general modifi cations, the business language instructor used frequent repetitions of context-specifi c vocabulary and expressions, while focusing on students’ comprehension of subject matter within the context of the acquisition of language specifi c to business and economics thematic areas. The instructor of the traditional German course used frequent simplifi cation of the target language and a heavier focus on students’ comprehension of “cultural studies” subject matter (often literature or history). The simplifi cations were not made in an attempt to teach vocabulary and expressions peculiar to the thematic focus.
Appendix A: Human Visual Perception

This appendix contains sections titled: Introduction The Human Eye Characteristics of Human Vision Implications and Applications of Knowledge about the Human Visual System ]]>
Reaching for 100% participation in a utility conservation programme: The Hood River project

Abstract The Hood River Conservation Project (HRCP) was a major residential retrofit demonstration project. The project was intended to install as many cost-effective retrofit measures in all electrically heated homes in Hood River, OR, USA. To achieve 100% participation, HRCP offered a package of ‘super’ retrofit measures and paid for installation of these measures. Almost all (91%) of the eligible households participated, in stark contrast to the much lower participation levels achieved in other residential conservation programmes. Also, unlike other programmes, HRCP attracted larger fractions of traditionally hard-to-reach groups: low-income households; occupants of multifamily units; and renters. The key factors leading to this phenomenal success include: the offer of free retrofits; determination on the part of staff to enlist every eligible household; the use of community-based marketing approaches; and reliance on extensive word-of-mouth among Hood River residents.
Low density lipoprotein receptors bind and mediate cellular catabolism of normal very low density lipoproteins in vitro.

Abstract Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) are heterogeneous, triglyceride-rich particles that are precursors of low density lipoproteins (LDL). Before conversion to LDL, the majority of VLDL are irreversibly cleared from plasma by uncertain mechanisms. To investigate one potential mechanism for VLDL clearance, we studied the ability of LDL receptors to mediate VLDL uptake in vitro. Small, intermediate, and large VLDL from normolipidemic humans were found to bind and undergo catabolism via LDL receptors on normal human fibroblasts. Binding to cell surfaces was up-regulated by lovastatin, an inducer of LDL receptors. Both LDL and a monoclonal antibody against the LDL receptor (IgG-C7) prevented binding of 125I-VLDL. Also, VLDL binding to mutant fibroblasts lacking LDL receptors was low. Thus, LDL receptors mediated VLDL interactions with cells. Binding affinity decreased near saturation, and the apparent number of high affinity sites decreased with increasing VLDL particle size. Because LDL receptors are small (M(r) 115,000) relative to VLDL (M(r) 9-24 x 10(6)) and are clustered in clathrin-coated pits, these findings suggest that steric hindrance becomes an important binding determinant near saturation and are consistent with a lattice model for LDL receptor-ligand interactions. The capacity for cellular catabolism of VLDL decreased with increasing particle size, consistent with a lattice model. The lattice model was also supported by differences between 125I-VLDL binding to cell surfaces and binding to partially purified LDL receptors in solid-phase assays in which steric constraints resulting from clustering in clathrin-coated pits are not present. In both cell-surface and solid-phase assays, VLDL bound via apoE, not apoB-100. Our studies establish that normal VLDL interact with LDL receptors and that steric hindrance due to crowding of particles on clustered LDL receptors is an important determinant of their binding and catabolism. These findings suggest that LDL receptors may participate in normal VLDL clearance in vivo.
Topological precision in the thalamic projection to neonatal mouse barrel cortex

Somatosensory thalamus and cortex in rodents contain topological representations of the facial whisker pad. The thalamic representation of a single whisker ("barreloid") is presumed to project exclusively to the cortical representation ("barrel") of the same whisker; however, it was not known when this correspondence is established during early development, nor how precise the thalamocortical projection is at birth, before formation of barrels and barreloids. To answer these questions, we retrogradely labeled thalamocortical projection neurons in fixed brain slices from 0-8 d old (P0-P8) mice, by placing paired deposits of two fluorescent dyes in adjacent barrels or (before barrel formation) in adjacent loci in upper cortical layers. At all ages studied, a negligible fraction of the retrogradely labeled cells was double labeled, implying that branches of single thalamocortical axons never extended within layer IV over an area wider than a single barrel. In P0 preparations, 70% of paired dye deposits placed 75-200 microns apart resulted in statistically significant segregation of labeled cell clusters in the thalamus. Quantitative analysis indicated that on P0 about 70% of thalamocortical axons were within 1.3 presumptive barrel diameters from their topologically precise target. In P4-P8 preparations, the great majority of thalamic cells retrogradely labeled from a single barrel were found in a single barreloid, implying a 1:1 projection of barreloids to barrels. The postnatal increase in topological precision was reproduced by a computer simulation, which assumed that many aberrant axons corrected their initial targeting error by extending terminal arborizations asymmetrically, towards the center of their appropriate barrel.
Marginal productivity index policies for scheduling restless bandits with switching penalties

We address the problem of designing a tractable, well-grounded policy for the dynamic allocation of effort to a collection of restless bandit projects, i.e. binary-action (active/passive) Markov decision processes, in which sequence-independent switching penalties (costs or delays) are incurred when switching from one project to another. We deploy the framework of partial conservation laws, introduced by NiAƒÂ±o-Mora (2001, 2002), to establish the existence of and calculate a marginal productivity index (MPI), under certain conditions. The MPI, which extends earlier indices proposed by Gittins (1979) and Whittle (1988), yields a corresponding MPI policy, which prescribes to dynamically engage the project with larger index.
Antibacterial activities of Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé-derived imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-amines.

We sought to explore the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-amines for TLR7 (or 8)-modulatory activities. This chemotype, readily accessed via the Groebke-Blackburn-Bienayme multi-component reaction, resulted in compounds that were TLR7/8-inactive, but exhibited bacteriostatic activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To investigate the mechanism of antibacterial activity of this new chemotype, a resistant strain of S. aureus was generated by serially passaging the organism in escalating doses of the most active analogue. A comparison of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of known bacteriostatic agents in wild-type and resistant strains indicates a novel mechanism of action. Structure-activity relationship studies have led to the identification of positions on the scaffold for additional structural modifications that should allow for the introduction of probes designed to examine cognate binding partners and molecular targets, while not significantly compromising antibacterial potency.
Pattern destabilization and emotional processing in cognitive therapy for personality disorders

Clinical trials of treatments for personality disorders can provide a medium for studying the process of therapeutic change with particularly entrenched and self-perpetuating systems and might reveal important principles of system transition. We examined the extent to which maladaptive personality patterns were destabilized in a trial of cognitive therapy personality disorders (CT-PD) and how destabilization was associated with emotional processing and treatment outcomes. Dynamic systems theory was used as a theoretical framework for studying change. Method: Participants were 27 patients diagnosed with Avoidant or Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, who completed an open trial of CT-PD. Raters coded treatment sessions using a coding system that operationalizes emotional processing, as well as cognitive, affective, behavioral, and somatic components of pathological (negative) and more adaptive (positive) patterns of functioning. Pattern destabilization (dispersion) scores during the early phase of treatment (phase 1: session 1-10) and the schema-focused phase (phase 2: session 11-34) were calculated using a program called GridWare. Results: More pattern destabilization and emotional processing in the schema-focused phase of CT-PD predicted more improvement in personality disorder symptoms and positive pattern strength at the end of treatment, whereas these variables in phase 1 did not predict outcome. Conclusions: In addition to illustrating a quantitative method for studying destabilization and change of patterns of psychopathology, we present findings that are consistent with recent updates of emotional processing theory and with principles from dynamic systems theory.
Value of practice teaching in the training of teachers

The question has been raised from time to time as to the value of practice teaching in the professional training of teachers. Many have said that if a student knows his subject matter that somehow he will be inspired with the knowledge of how to teach from the beginning without any professional training or practice work. Professional leaders in education, however, have looked upon the practice training of teachers as comparable to the interneship in medicine, the clinic in dentistry, or the moot court in law. In practice work professional leaders point out that the embryonic teachers secure practical application of the theory they have learned in the classroom. Lawyers and physicians believe in this practice period for the young lawyer or physician. They have faith in this phase of training as an essential part of becoming a real practitioner. When a young man, for example, has finished medical college he has not had the actual experience of meeting sick people in more than just a casual way. He has not had the opportunity to take hold of a new case and to develop a diagnosis for it. He may have seen a good many cases in the clinic and teaching rooms, but he has not had the opportunity to study them intimately for himself. This the interneship teaches him to do, giving him the advantage of studying cases under and with the advice of a teacher. In this way the interne gains experience, guided by experienced men, whereas if he does not serve as an interne he has to gain his experience upon the public who becomes the loser. The interneship in medicine is now required by most states before a graduate of medicine can begin to practice. Some schools even withhold the degree until the graduate has served this apprenticeship. A year of interneship, experienced practitioners feel, gives a young doctor the actual experience and responsibilities of a real practitioner, but his work is checked and guided so that no harm may result should mistakes occur. Thus he gains confidence in himself. How much more important, then, it is that young, inexperienced teachers do not practice on defenseless children without some guiding hand to direct them. The inexperienced teacher may learn to teach without doing practice teaching, but the public is the loser. Without practice teaching the new teacher learns by the trial and error method while helpless children pay the penalty. Non-professional colleges have, in some states, been permitted to offer courses in education for the training of teachers. Naturally these schools are
The Influence of Dietary Sodium on Blood Pressure

The goal of this essay is to examine the evidence relating salt intake to blood pressure in humans. Despite studies involving many thousands of subjects and patients performed in many hundreds of centers the issue remains controversial-indeed far more controversial than seems appropriate. There is little disagreement that in some animal models and in some patients with hypertension salt intake can exert a rather substantial influence. There is more controversy on the responsible mechanisms. The greatest controversy, by far, involves whether or not policy should involve a mandatory reduction in salt intake in all members of the community. The available evidence shows that the influence of salt intake is too inconsistent and generally too small to mandate policy decisions at the community level. At the level of the individual patient and that patient's physician, it is important to recognize that salt intake can make a substantial contribution to hypertension. That contribution is more likely if the patient is old rather than young, obese rather than lean, black rather than white, has diabetes mellitus with hypertension, or has evidence of renal injury. Unfortunately, tools for assessing the sodium and chloride intake in the individual and for assessing its contribution to BP in the individual are inadequate. On the bright side, prognosis is improved substantially by the array of antihypertensive drugs available today.
Embrittlement of RPV steels: An atom probe tomography perspective

Atom probe tomography has played a key role in the understanding of the embrittlement of neutron irradiated reactor pressure vessel steels through the atomic level characterization of the microstructure. Atom probe tomography has been used to demonstrate the importance of the post weld stress relief treatment in reducing the matrix copper content in high copper alloys, the formation of ∼2-nm-diameter copper-, nickel-, manganese- and silicon-enriched precipitates during neutron irradiation in copper containing RPV steels, and the coarsening of these precipitates during post irradiation heat treatments. Atom probe tomography has been used to detect ∼2-nm-diameter nickel-, silicon- and manganese-enriched clusters in neutron irradiated low copper and copper free alloys. Atom probe tomography has also been used to quantify solute segregation to, and precipitation on, dislocations and grain boundaries.
Multidimensional integral equations: Part 1. A new approach to solving microelectrode diffusion problems

Abstract The diffusion problems for a wide class of microelectrodes are shown to be reducible to multidimensional integral equations (equations containing multiple integrals). The formulation and solution of these problems by means of integral transformations are given for several types of microelectrode systems: a microdisk embedded in an insulating plane or in an insulator of a finite thickness, a microband, a scanning electrochemical microscope and an array of inlaid planar arbitrarily-shaped electrodes. Every solution obtained is suitable for a simple electrode reaction with any values of heterogeneous electron transfer kinetic parameters and for any shape of signal applied to the electrode. Analogous equations may be derived for some other mechanisms (e.g. electrochemical). The equations are similar to each other, and quite similar algorithms are required to solve them. No solutions of integral equations of this type have previously been published. An algorithm and fortran programs for computing the polarization curves for the inlaid microdisk were devised, and chronoamperograms and cyclic voltammograms were computed. The derived equations and results are compared with known analytical solutions and simulations.
Na+-independent dehydro-l-ascorbic acid uptake in renal brush-border membrane vesicles

Abstract A membrane preparation enriched in the brush-border component of the plasma membrane was isolated from rat renal superficial cortex by a divalent cation precipitation procedure. Uptake of dehydro- l -ascorbic acid, the oxidized form of l -ascorbic acid, by the brush-border membrane vesicles was studied. The uptake mechanism was found to be sodium-independent and insensitive to the trans-membrane electrical potential difference. Uptake was saturable and subject to cis-inhibition. Concentrative uptake was demonstrated only under conditions of trans-stimulation by structural analogs. The results suggest a mechanism of facilitated diffusion for the uptake of dehydro- l -ascorbic acid in renal brush-border membranes.
Measuring Primary Care Organizational Capacity for Diabetes Care Coordination: The Diabetes Care Coordination Readiness Assessment

BACKGROUND Not all primary care clinics are prepared to implement care coordination services for chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Understanding true capacity to coordinate care is an important first-step toward establishing effective and efficient care coordination. Yet, we could identify no diabetes-specific instruments to systematically assess readiness and/or status of primary care clinics to engage in diabetes care coordination.
Longitudinal Image Registration With Temporally-Dependent Image Similarity Measure

Longitudinal imaging studies are frequently used to investigate temporal changes in brain morphology and often require spatial correspondence between images achieved through image registration. Beside morphological changes, image intensity may also change over time, for example when studying brain maturation. However, such intensity changes are not accounted for in image similarity measures for standard image registration methods. Hence, 1) local similarity measures, 2) methods estimating intensity transformations between images, and 3) metamorphosis approaches have been developed to either achieve robustness with respect to intensity changes or to simultaneously capture spatial and intensity changes. For these methods, longitudinal intensity changes are not explicitly modeled and images are treated as independent static samples. Here, we propose a model-based image similarity measure for longitudinal image registration that estimates a temporal model of intensity change using all available images simultaneously.
The Effect of Silicone Nasolacrimal Intubation on Epiphora After Helium Ion Irradiation of Uveal Melanomas

We evaluated prophylactic silicone tube intubation of the nasolacrimal drainage system prior to helium ion irradiation of uveal melanomas located on the nasal side of the globe. Twelve patients received silicone tubes and were compared to a control group of 12 patients with irradiated nasal tumors without silicone tubes. Symptoms of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and epiphora were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. All patients had nasolacrimal duct irrigation. Patients intubated before irradiation maintained patency (11 of 12), whereas those in the control group did not (zero of 12) (P
Identification and Partial Purification of PAPS Translocase

Sulfation of all macromolecules in higher organisms requires the high-energy donor 3‘-phosphoadenosine 5‘-phosphosulfate (PAPS). PAPS is synthesized via the sequential actions of two cytoplasmic enzymes, ATP sulfurylase and APS kinase, and then must be transferred across the Golgi membrane for utilization by lumenal sulfotransferases. Following the kinetic characterization of the PAPS translocase as a specific transporter that act through an antiport mechanism with PAP as the returning ligand [Ozeran, J. D., Westley, J., Schwartz, N. B. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 3685−3694 (accompanying paper)], the present study describes the identification and physical characterization of the PAPS translocase from rat liver Golgi membranes. The following evidence suggests the PAPS translocase is a membrane spanning protein of approximately 230 kDa: isolation by affinity chromatography on β-methylene PAPS matrices of a 230 kDa Golgi membrane protein concomitant with PAPS translocase activity; demonstration that the 230 kDa...
The Locations of Circumpapillary Glaucomatous Defects Seen on Frequency-Domain OCT Scans

PURPOSE To examine the locations of local glaucomatous damage around the optic disc as seen in the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) on frequency domain optical coherence tomography (fdOCT). METHODS Optic disc fdOCT volume scans from 54 healthy control eyes and 114 patient eyes, classified as suspected or mild glaucoma, were analyzed. All patient eyes had 24-2 visual fields (VFs) with mean deviations better than -5.5 dB. By hand-correcting automated segmentation, the RNFL thickness profile was obtained for a circumpapillary circle. RNFL defects were defined as regions where the patient's RNFL thickness fell below the 99% confidence limit of control values. The location of a defect was defined as the point of greatest difference between the patient's thickness and the 99% limit. The locations of major blood vessels (BVs) were marked, and separated into superior-nasal (SN), superior-temporal (ST), inferior-temporal (IT), and inferior-nasal (IN) groups. RESULTS Of the 114 patient eyes, 45 exhibited a total of 75 RNFL defects. The locations of these defects clustered around the ST, SN, and IT, but not the IN BVs. CONCLUSIONS The absence of defects in the IN region indicates that the locations of local defects are not simply related to either BV location or RNFL thickness. The local defects in the ST and IT regions can be related to arcuate defects seen on 24-2 and 10-2 VFs. However, the defects in the SN region suggest the presence of VF defects that may be overlooked because they fall largely outside the 24-2 test grid.
Androgen receptor expression and sexual differentiation of effectors for courtship song in Xenopus laevis

Abstract Sexually differentiated behaviors in vertebrates result from sex-specific patterns of hormone secretion during development and in adulthood. To investigate the molecular basis of sexually differentiated behaviors, we are studying the courtship song of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Male mate calling behavior is produced by activity of a circuit in the central nervous system and by the vocal organ, the larynx. Both are strikingly different in males and females. These differences are due to alterations in the developmental programs of brain and larynx as a result of androgen secretion from the testes. Steroid hormones produce their effects by binding to receptor proteins, which act as ligand-activated transcription factors. In clawed frogs, androgen receptor mRNA is strongly and specifically expressed in nuclei of the vocal circuit and tissues of the larynx. The larynx expresses 9.6 and 8.0 kb androgen receptor mRNAs; high levels of androgen receptor mRNA and the presence of the 8.0 kb transcript are associated with androgen-inducible cell proliferation.
COPD in a nationally representative sample: sociodemographic factors and co-morbidity, diagnosis method, and healthcare utilization.

AbstractIntroduction: In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the first time ever collected nationally representative prevalence data on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), spirometry diagnosis, and healthcare utilization factors related to COPD. This research reports on that data and describes characteristics of adults with COPD who reported diagnosis by spirometry compared to those who did not report diagnosis by spirometry. Variables examined included basic elements of healthcare utilization such as emergency room visits, hospitalization or personal physician utilization. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using novel data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System COPD Module. Weighted multivariable logistic regression examined factors associated with (n = 13,484) and without spirometry (n = 3,131). Results: Spirometry to diagnose COPD was reported by 78% of adults and increased with age. In multivariable modeling, spirometry was more likely in: Black,...
Yellow-vein disease of citrus and studies of interactions between yellow-vein and other viruses of citrus.

Abstract A virus that produces marked vein yellowing was found in four Eustis limequat trees in California. It had a wide host range within the citrus family but did not persist in some varieties. Poncirus trifoliata was immune from the yellow-vein virus. There was no evidence of natural spread of the virus in the field. The virus was transmitted by several methods of tissue grafting. It was not transmitted by Cuscuta subinclusa or by mechanical means. Protection against infection by the yellow-vein virus was not provided by the viruses of cachexia, exocortis, psorosis, tristeza, and vein enation. When lime plants were inoculated with the viruses of yellow-vein and psorosis, yellow-vein symptoms in new growth were always suppressed and psorosis symptoms enhanced as compared to those in single virus infections. The dominance of psorosis in new growth resulted regardless of the sequence of introduction of the virus components of the mixture. When yellow-vein was established prior to infection with psorosis, yellow-vein symptoms already showing were not affected, but in subsequent growth, yellow-vein was suppressed. Several citrus varieties, including lemon, Florida Rough lemon, and sweet orange, inoculated with yellow-vein developed mild vein-yellowing symptoms but soon recovered as the plants continued to grow. When these recovered plants were inoculated with vein-enation virus, severe yellow-vein symptoms reappeared and severe dwarfing resulted. The synergistic reaction developed regardless of the order of inoculations. Vein enations were discolored and apparently enlarged in the presence of the yellow-vein virus.
Putting race into context: Race, juvenile justice processing, and urbanization

In this article, we examine differential sentencing patterns among black, Hispanic, and white juveniles and the context in which those decisions are made. Using a bivariate probit model, we show that juveniles living in urban counties are more likely to be referred to juvenile court, and that juveniles living in a single-mother household are more likely than juveniles living with both parents to be referred to court and to receive secure placement. Race-specific models indicate that black youths are likely to receive harsh treatments in urban courts; yet white youths are not treated differently on the basis of court location. In addition, living in a single-mother household is a disadvantage for white youths when they are referred and sentenced, but family status is not a determinant for black youths.
An experimental study of a BSCS-style laboratory approach for university general biology

A Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) inquiry approach for university general biology laboratory was tested experimentally against a well-established commercial program which was judged to be highly directive. The experimental approach made systematic use of science processes, development of concepts via questioning, and of requirements on the student to exercise discretion. Experimental group students scored similarly to comparison group students on a pretest of biological concepts, but scored significantly higher (p < 0.005) when the same test was given at the end of the semester.
Cerebral granular cell tumor occurring with glioblastoma multiforme: Case report

A 65-year-old man presented with 4 weeks of partial right visual field loss. A left occipital granular cell tumor was diagnosed via open biopsy. No specific tumoricidal therapy was given, and the patient returned 2 weeks later with fluent dysphasia and mild right hemiparesis, and formed visual hallucinations. A large left parietotemporal mass, separate from the granular cell tumor, was diagnosed as a glioblastoma multiforme by stereotactic biopsy. The histogenesis of cerebral granular cell tumors is controversial; this case supports recent speculation of their possible glial origin.
In vitro protein kinase activity measurement by flow cytometry

Protein kinases are important drug targets, and a wide variety of methods have been developed for assessing their activity. A key element in developing selective kinase inhibitors is the ability to rapidly compare the effects of an inhibitor on several related or unrelated kinases. We describe a simple, nonradioactive, bead-based method for detecting kinase activity in vitro. Biotinylated peptide substrates are immobilized on beads and phosphorylation is detected with anti-phosphopeptide antibodies with no separation steps required. Phosphorylation is dependent on the amount of kinase in the assay and can be inhibited by known kinase inhibitors in a concentration-dependent manner. Using Luminex technology, we measured the activity of three kinases (PKA, PKC-μ, and Akt) on multiple substrates simultaneously. We also discuss conditions necessary to optimize measurement of the activity of several kinases in a single sample.
Electrochemical properties of Cu2S with ether-based electrolyte in Li-ion batteries

Abstract Investigation of Cu 2 S as cathode in lithium cells with ether-based electrolytes shows a discharge voltage plateau at 1.7 and 2.25 V in the first cycle which slowly evolve, respectively, to 1.74 and 1.94 V in the following cycles. This transition process has been analyzed by ex situ X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The discharged products are identified as Li 2 S and elemental copper, and the charged product is Cu 1.96 S, all of which are crystalline during cycling. SEM reveals a pulverization process of particles during the phase transition and the EIS shows a significant reduction in charge transfer resistance after charges. The Cu 2 S electrodes exhibit a relatively stable discharge capacity of around 250 mAh g −1 at rates of C/10, C/5, and C/2 after a capacity decline in the first cycle. Coulombic efficiency starts to decrease in early cycles as the rate increases. The poor cyclability and low Coulombic efficiency at high rates like 1 C rate indicate the transition process is limited at high rates due to the large particle size.