cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining the Role of Weight Status and Individual Attributes on Adolescent Social Relations.

Abstract Purpose Weight stigmatization during adolescence may compromise the development of social relations important for the development. This study examined the associations between weight status and likelihood of nomination (indegree) for five different social network types—friendship, romantic, admiration, succeed, and popularity. Methods Data for the study were from 1,110 tenth grade students (aged 11–19 years) from four high schools in one Los Angeles school district in 2010. Multiple Poisson regression analyses using generalized linear model were conducted to examine the relationship between weight status (underweight/normal weight/overweight measured with body mass index calculated from self-reported height and weight) and adolescents' indegree for the five different networks. Results Obese adolescents were significantly less likely to be nominated as romantic interest (odds ratio [OR]: .29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .19–42), admired (OR: .80, 95% CI: .65–.97), or popular (OR: .71, 95% CI: .57–.88) compared with their normal weight peers. Overweight adolescents were also less likely to be nominated as a romantic interest (OR: .57, 95% CI: .42–.78) or popular (OR: .67, 95% CI: .53–.84) compared with those who were normal weight. Underweight adolescents were also less likely to be nominated as friends (OR: .76, 95% CI: .60–98), someone admired (OR: .61, 95% CI: .42–.89), likely to succeed (OR: .62, 95% CI: .44–.87), or popular (OR: .40, 95% CI: .25–.64). Conclusions Our results suggest weight status is associated with being selected by peers into different types of adolescent networks. Underweight, overweight, and obese adolescents are at an increased risk for social isolation because of their weight. This may have a negative impact on their peer relations important for social development, self-esteem, and mental health.
Potato Irrigation Management

Potato yield and quality are sensitive to both excess and deficit soil water. This sensitivity, coupled with a relatively shallow root zone and medium- to coarse -textured soils common in many production areas, makes economically efficient irrigated potato production challenging. Potato is grown under all types of irrigation systems worldwide, but irrigation systems capable of light, frequent, uniform water application are best. Optimum potato irrigation management requires a working knowledge of soil water relations and irrigation system characteristics. This chapter introduces both in the context of potato production in arid areas of the Pacific Northwest U.S. General guidelines and irrigation management aids are presented along with examples for implementing quantitative irrigation management of potato in an arid environment.
Implementing the New Child and Adult Care Food Program’s Nutrition Standards in Boston

In 2017, the US Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program's (CACFP's) nutrition standards were updated to improve nutrition and meal quality while remaining feasible for child care providers to implement. We conducted a pre-post study of 13 family child care home (FCCH) providers in Boston, Massachusetts, to compare reported opportunities for training and technical assistance and knowledge of new nutrition standards before the effective date of the updates (October 1, 2017) and 1 year later. The McNemar test was used to test for differences in provider responses. Few FCCH providers received training or technical assistance or had knowledge of most new standards at baseline or at follow-up; however, provider-reported knowledge of the whole-grain standard improved over time (from 6 providers to 12 providers) (P = .03). One year post implementation, FCCH providers still needed additional training, technical assistance, or other support to meet the new nutrition standards for meals served to children.
Development of the Gender, Sex, and Sexual Orientation ontology: Evaluation and workflow.

Objective The study sought to create an integrated vocabulary system that addresses the lack of standardized health terminology in gender and sexual orientation. Materials and methods We evaluated computational efficiency, coverage, query-based term tagging, randomly selected term tagging, and mappings to existing terminology systems (including ICD (International Classification of Diseases), DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ), SNOMED (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine), MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), and National Cancer Institute Thesaurus). Results We published version 2 of the Gender, Sex, and Sexual Orientation (GSSO) ontology with over 10 000 entries with definitions, a readable hierarchy system, and over 14 000 database mappings. Over 70% of terms had no mapping in any other available ontology. Discussion We created the GSSO and made it publicly available on the National Center for Biomedical Ontology BioPortal and on GitHub. It includes clarifications on over 200 slang terms, 190 pronouns with linked example usages, and over 200 nonbinary and culturally specific gender identities. Conclusions Gender and sexual orientation continue to represent crucial areas of medical practice and research with evolving terminology. The GSSO helps address this gap by providing a centralized data resource.
Risk for Subdeltoid Bursitis After Influenza Vaccination: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Shoulder bursitis has been reported as an adverse event after intramuscular vasculitis. This study estimated the risk for subdeltoid bursitis after influenza vaccination using data from the Vaccine...
Cells expressing PAX8 are the main source of homeostatic regeneration of adult mouse endometrial epithelium and give rise to serous endometrial carcinoma

Humans and mice have cyclical regeneration of the endometrial epithelium. It is expected that such regeneration is ensured by tissue stem cells, but their location and hierarchy remain debatable. A number of recent studies have suggested the presence of stem cells in the mouse endometrial epithelium. At the same time, it has been reported that this tissue can be regenerated by stem cells of stromal/mesenchymal or bone marrow cell origin. Here, we describe a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the main cell types of the mouse uterus and epithelial subset transcriptome and evaluate the contribution of epithelial cells expressing the transcription factor PAX8 to the homeostatic regeneration and malignant transformation of adult endometrial epithelium. According to lineage tracing, PAX8+ epithelial cells are responsible for long-term maintenance of both luminal and glandular epithelium. Furthermore, multicolor tracing shows that individual glands and contiguous areas of luminal epithelium are formed by clonal cell expansion. Inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes Trp53 and Rb1 in PAX8+ cells, but not in FOXJ1+ cells, leads to the formation of neoplasms with features of serous endometrial carcinoma, one of the most aggressive types of human endometrial malignancies. Taken together, our results show that the progeny of single PAX8+ cells represents the main source of regeneration of the adult endometrial epithelium. They also provide direct experimental genetic evidence for the key roles of the P53 and RB pathways in the pathogenesis of serous endometrial carcinoma and suggest that PAX8+ cells represent the cell of origin of this neoplasm.
Radiation Therapy in the Management of Oligometastatic Breast Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Directions

To review the role of radiation therapy and specifically metastasis-directed stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the management of patients with oligometastatic breast cancer with emphasis on potential toxicities and future directions. Recent prospective studies have demonstrated encouraging initial results indicating the potential efficacy of metastasis-directed SBRT in the management of patients with oligometastatic disease. However, given potentially significant toxicities associated with metastasis-directed SBRT, additional data in the form of phase III randomized control trials are needed to define the role of SBRT in the management of patients with oligometastatic breast cancer; such studies are currently ongoing. While current data are encouraging, additional data are required to determine the benefit of SBRT in patients with oligometastatic breast cancer. Physicians opting to treat patients with metastasis-directed SBRT should ideally do so on protocol.
Management of Pain

Management of patients with persistent angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease continues to be a challenging area. Currently, pharmacotherapy used in patients with microvascular coronary dysfunction (MCD) is targeted at their underlying mechanism for pain. Therapies used in patients with coronary artery disease such as nitrates, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and statins have also been found to be beneficial in those with MCD. Other agents found to have promising effects on anginal symptoms includes ranolazine and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Hormone therapy in women with MCD improves quality of life, although improvement in myocardial ischemia remains to be determined. In patients with cardiac syndrome X, small trials have been performed showing either beneficial or indeterminate results with the use of other pharmacologic agents such as tricyclic medications, L-arginine, xanthine derivatives, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, nicorandil, and trimetazidine. Non-pharmacologic therapies in the management of chronic angina also play an important role. Lifestyle modification, exercise, and cognitive behavioral therapy have shown to improve angina and exercise capacity in those with MCD. The use of neurostimulation, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation, can also improve symptoms in those with chronic angina. Incorporating both pharmacologic and non-pharmacological therapies can lead to the effective management of chronic angina in patients with MCD.
Population biology of accessory gland-expressed de novo genes in Drosophila melanogaster

Early work on de novo gene discovery in Drosophila was consistent with the idea that many such genes have male-biased patterns of expression, including a large number expressed in the testis. However, there has been little formal analysis of variation in the abundance and properties of de novo genes expressed in different tissues. Here we investigate the population biology of recently evolved de novo genes expressed in the D. melanogaster accessory gland, a somatic male tissue that plays an important role in male and female fertility and the post mating response of females, using the same collection of inbred lines used previously to identify testis-expressed de novo genes, thus allowing for direct cross tissue comparisons of these genes in two tissues of male reproduction. Using RNA-seq data we identify candidate de novo genes located in annotated intergenic and intronic sequence and determine the properties of these genes including chromosomal location, expression, abundance, and coding capacity. Generally, we find major differences between the tissues in terms of gene abundance and expression, though other properties such as transcript length and chromosomal distribution are more similar. We also explore differences between regulatory mechanisms of de novo genes in the two tissues and how such differences may interact with selection to produce differences in D. melanogaster de novo genes expressed in the two tissues.
The Trouble With Black Boys… and Other Reflections on Race, Equity, and the Future of Public Education

The Author. Introduction. Part One: The Student Experience. 1. Joaquin's Dilemma: Understanding the Link Between Racial Identity and School-Related Behaviors. 2. The Trouble with Black Boys: The Impact of Social and Cultural Forces on the Academic Achievement of African American Males. 3. And What Will Become of Children Like Miguel Fernandez?/ Y Que Pasara Con Jovenes Como Miguel Fernandez? Education, Immigration, and the Future of Latinos in the United States. 4. How Listening to Students Can Help Schools to Improve. Part Two: The Search for Equity. 5. Latino Youth: Immigration, Education, and the Future. 6. Preventing and Producing Violence: A Critical Analysis of Responses to School Violence. 7. Schools, Prisons, and Social Implications of Punishment: Rethinking Disciplinary Practices. 8. Racial Politics and the Elusive Quest for Excellence and Equity in Education. Part Three: The Schools We Need. 9. Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education With Alan Blankstein. 10. Standards for What? Accountability for Whom? Rethinking Standards-Based Reform in Public Education. 11. Racial Isolation, Poverty, and the Limits of Local Control as a Means for Holding Public Schools Accountable. 12. Transforming Urban Schools Through Investments in Social Capital. Notes and References. Epilogue: Joaquin's Dilemma Revisited. Index.
A shear based optimization of adhesive thickness for die bonding

In low-cost integrated circuit (IC) packaging, a thin layer of adhesive is often used to bond the die to a leadframe or substrate. Because of the poor thermal conductivity of the adhesive, a thick layer will result in elevated chip temperatures. However, due to the differential expansion between the silicon and metal, a thin layer will result in high shear stress, in the adhesive, and along the bonded surfaces. In this study, first order thermal and thermostructural analytical relations for shear stress are used to determine the appropriate thickness of the adhesive layer between a die and a leadframe paddle, as encountered in PDIP packages. Numerical simulation, with finite element (FE) models, is used to examine the assumptions underpinning the analytical relations and to verify the analytical results. Using a filled-epoxy with an adhesion strength of 25 MPa, adhesive layer thicknesses between 0.027 and 0.2 mm are found to be suitable for this application. Assuming equal loss of reliability, due to chip temperature increases and shear stress increases, an optimum die-bond thickness of 0.16 mm is found. The FE computations appear to support the assumption that elevated shear stress is the most likely cause of die-bond structural failure for this subject package. >
Boundary-Scan Basics and Vocabulary

Boundary-Scan, formally known as IEEE/ANSI Standard 1149.1-2001 [IEEE01, Maun90], is a collection of design rules applied principally at the Integrated Circuit (IC) level that allow software to alleviate the growing cost of designing, producing and testing digital systems. A fundamental benefit of the standard is its ability to transform extremely difficult printed circuit board testing problems that could only be attacked with Ad-Hoc testing methods [Will83] into well-structured problems that software can easily and swiftly deal with.
Unfolding of titin domains studied by molecular dynamics simulations.

Titin, a ∼1 µm long protein found in striated muscle myofibrils, possesses unique elastic properties. The extensible behavior of titin has been demonstrated in atomic force microscopy and optical tweezer experiments to involve the reversible unfolding of individual immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domains. We have used steered molecular dynamics (SMD), a novel computer simulation method, to investigate the mechanical response of single titin Ig domains upon stress. Simulations of stretching Ig domains I1 and I27 have been performed in a solvent of explicit water molecules. The SMD approach provides a detailed structural and dynamic description of how Ig domains react to external forces. Validation of SMD results includes both qualitative and quantitative agreement with AFM recordings. Furthermore, combining SMD with single molecule experimental data leads to a comprehensive understanding of Ig domains’ mechanical properties. A set of backbone hydrogen bonds that link the domains’ terminal β-strands play a key role in the mechanical resistance to external forces. Slight differences in architecture permit a mechanical unfolding intermediate for I27, but not for I1. Refolding simulations of I27 demonstrate a locking mechanism.
POTS to Broadband… Cable Modems

There have been 3 columns talking about broadband communications and now at the very end when it's time to compare using a telco or cableco, I'm asking does it really matter? So what if I can actually get the whole 30 Mbps with a cable network when the website I'm connecting to is running on an ISDN line at 128 Kbps? Broadband offers a lot more bandwidth than the connections many Internet servers have today. Except for the biggest websites, many servers connect to the Internet with a switched 56-Kbps, ISDN, or fractional T1 line. Even with the big websites, my home network only runs a 10 Mbps Ethernet connection to my cable modem. Maybe it doesn't matter that the cable lines are shared or that I can only get 8 Mbps from an ADSL line. Maybe the ISP that I use has a T1 line connection to the Internet so my new ADSL modem has a fatter pipe than my provider! (See table 1). It all makes me wonder what's in store for us in the future. PC technology has increased exponentially in the last 10 years with super fast processor speeds, hard disks of hundreds of gigabytes, and amazing video and audio. Internet connection speeds have failed to keep the same pace. Instead of hundreds of times better or faster--modem speeds are barely 10 times faster. Broadband connections offer some additional speed but still not comparable growth as broadband connections are still in their infancy. Rather than trying to make use of existing communication paths, maybe we need a massive infrastructure makeover of something new. How about national wireless access points so we can connect anywhere, anytime? To use the latest and fastest wireless technology you will simply need to buy another $9.95 WLAN card or download the latest super slick WLAN compression/encryption software. Perhaps it is time for a massive infra-restructuring. Consider the past massive infrastructure efforts. The telcos needed to put in their wiring infrastructure starting in the 1870s before telephones were useful to the masses. CATV was a minor player in the TV broadcast business before they installed their cabling infrastructure and went national. Even automobiles were fairly useless until roads were paved and the highway infrastructure was built!
Pasados y futuros de la sociología económica

Over the past few decades, economic sociology has moved from tight symbiosis with mainstream economics toward the construction of alternative explanations for economic activities. That move has allied economic sociologists increasingly with both innovative work inside economics and new analytic enterprises outside. Cumulatively, these developments have created a much more social interpretation of money and markets.
Studying Salmonellae and Yersiniae Host–Pathogen Interactions Using Integrated ‘Omics and Modeling

Salmonella and Yersinia are two distantly related genera containing species with wide host-range specificity and pathogenic capacity. The metabolic complexity of these organisms facilitates robust lifestyles both outside of and within animal hosts. Using a pathogen-centric systems biology approach, we are combining a multi-omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) strategy to define properties of these pathogens under a variety of conditions including those that mimic the environments encountered during pathogenesis. These high-dimensional omics datasets are being integrated in selected ways to improve genome annotations, discover novel virulence-related factors, and model growth under infectious states. We will review the evolving technological approaches toward understanding complex microbial life through multi-omic measurements and integration, while highlighting some of our most recent successes in this area.
Real-time product attribute control to manufacture antibodies with defined N-linked glycan levels.

Pressures for cost-effective new therapies and an increased emphasis on emerging markets require technological advancements and a flexible future manufacturing network for the production of biologic medicines. The safety and efficacy of a product is crucial, and consistent product quality is an essential feature of any therapeutic manufacturing process. The active control of product quality in a typical biologic process is challenging because of measurement lags and nonlinearities present in the system. The current study uses nonlinear model predictive control to maintain a critical product quality attribute at a predetermined value during pilot scale manufacturing operations. This approach to product quality control ensures a more consistent product for patients, enables greater manufacturing efficiency, and eliminates the need for extensive process characterization by providing direct measures of critical product quality attributes for real time release of drug product. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1433–1441, 2015
Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine role of CT-myelography in the MR era

One hundred patients with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine on whom both magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT)-myelography were performed were reviewed. In one-third of the cases, the CT-myelogram provided additional useful information. This included definition of the extent of large disc herniations, demonstration of focal neural compression by small herniations, and clarifying abnormalities of the facets, including synovial cysts. These results should help to refine the indications for CT-myelography, which continues to be requested extensively.
An attribute analysis of memory: The role of the hippocampus

A theoretical framework is proposed incorporating the multidimensional relationships between neurobiology and an attribute theory of memory representation. Within this context, a working hypothesis is proposed suggesting that the hippocampus primarily subserves the encoding, storing, and/or retrieving of both absolute spatial and long-term temporal attributes of specific episodes. Data based on electrical stimulation of the hippocampus within a number of different learning situations are presented in support of the proposed working hypothesis. In addition, data are presented to demonstrate that the hippocampus does not play a critical role in the encoding of specific episodes that encompass primarily relative spatial and/or short-term temporal attributes. Finally, data are presented to show that other neural regions might encode attributes of an episode that do not involve the encoding of absolute spatial and long-term temporal attributes.
The Army Research Laboratory's Program on Micro-Autonomous Systems and Technology

In February 2008 the US Army Research Laboratory established the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology Collaborative Technology Alliance, in which research is performed by an alliance of government, academic and industrial researchers. The research, grounded in microsystem mechanics, microelectronics, algorithms for autonomy, and integration, is focused on addressing four cross-cutting thrusts: mobility and navigation of palm-sized platforms, sensing and perception on palm-sized platforms, sensing, perception, and navigation of a collection of platforms, and the modeling, simulation, experimentation, and validation of such platforms individually and as a collective ensemble. This article reviews the operational and technical objectives of the program, and overviews some of the research conducted to achieve them.
Characterization of transient focal ischemia-induced increases in extracellular glutamate and aspartate in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract Using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and in vivo microdialysis, we have evaluated the changes in extracellular concentrations of the excitatory amino acids (EAA) glutamate and aspartate during varying periods of MCAO (0, 30, 60 min) in the striatum of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A positive correlation between occlusion time-dependent elevations in EAAs and the resulting ischemic injury was observed. This is the first demonstration of the temporal profile of EAA efflux during transient focal ischemia in SHRs. Possible sources and mechanisms of ischemia-induced EAA efflux were examined during 60 min of MCAO. Removal of Ca 2+ from the microdialysis infusion media significantly attenuated ischemia-induced increases in both glutamate (from ischemic peak of 4892 ± 1298 to 1144 ± 666% of preischemic values) and aspartate (from 2703 ± 682 to 2090 ± 599% of preischemic values). Similarly, infusion of the voltage dependent Na + channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX; 10 μM) significantly attenuated MCAO-induced increases in glutamate (to 1313 ± 648%) and aspartate (to 359 ± 114%). Infusion of the GLT-1 selective nontransportable inhibitor, dihydrokainate (DHK; 1mM) also significantly attenuated the ischemia-induced increases in both EAAs (1285 ± 508 and 1366 ± 741% of the preischemic levels, respectively). These results indicate that during transient focal ischemia the increase in extracellular EAAs originates from both the neuronal pool, via conventional exocytotic release, and glial sources via the reversal of the GLT-1 transporter.
The Traps that cause Breakdown in Deeply Scaled SiON Dielectrics

The paper shows that a minimum of two traps is required to cause breakdown in SiON films down to 10A. At least one trap must be an interface state and at least one must be a bulk state. At low voltages, the rate limiting step for breakdown is the generation of interface traps and is controlled by the release of H0
The History of Industrial Hygiene: A Review with Special Reference to Silicosis

Abstract The historical development of industrial hygiene is presented with silicosis as the unifying theme. The development of protective, evaluative, and control measures is followed. Silicon (L. silex, flint) … Next to oxygen, the most abundant element; characteristic of all abundant and important rocks except carbonates. It makes up about one-fourth of the crust of the earth. Silicon is not found free; it occurs chiefly as the oxide, silica (SiO2) (sand, quartz, rock crystal, amethyst, agate, flint, jasper, opal, etc.)1
Factors Relating to Success in 7th Grade Foreign Language Study

Rochester Public Junior High Schools, Rochester, Minnesota, in the fall of 1962. Under this program all 7th and 8th grade students studied either Spanish, German or French. The language was chosen by the student at the end of the 6th grade. No special guidance was given by the junior high staff in regard to the choice, except that students were asked to choose the language they would most like to learn. The language was then studied on alternating days for what amounted to one semester's work
Globalization and science education in a community-based after-school program

What are the effects of globalization and how are these manifested in local communities and in the learning of science there? These questions are unpacked within one local community in the United States, a place called “Uptown” where I examine the educational opportunities and pathways in science that are available for low-income Black American girls. The data comes from eight years of work both as an after-school science education program director and researcher in Uptown. The results suggest that globalization is taking hold, both in the social and economic circumstances of the community and in the everyday lives of the girls who live there. Further, there is possible evidence of globalization in the micro-dynamics of the after-school program. Yet opportunities for science education that could prepare the girls and their community for a globalizing world lag far behind.
Some asymptotic distribution results in time‐sequential estimation of the mean exponential survival time

The asymptotic distribution of the stopping time N in a time-sequential procedure for the estimation of the mean exponential survival time given by Gardiner, Susarla, and van Ryzin (1986) is obtained. The same techniques used to obtain this asymptotic distribution of N are used to obtain the asymptotic distribution of the statistic representing the time-on-test expended per unit item in the study. On obtient la loi asymptotique du temps d'arret, N, d'une procedure sequentielle proposee par Gardiner, Susarla et van Ryzin (1986), pour estimer le temps moyen de survie dans le contexte exponentiel. Les techniques utilisees pour obtenir cette loi asymptotique sont aussi employees pour determiner la loi asymptotique de la statistique representant le temps passe en operation par chaque unite.
MOLECULAR PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE TYPE Ia

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia, von Gierke disease) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism caused by the deficiency of D-glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). Since this enzyme is expressed primarily in hepatocytes, couples at risk for GSD type Ia relied on fetal liver biopsy for prenatal diagnosis. The recent isolation of the G6Pase gene and identification of several disease-causing mutations have permitted molecular prenatal diagnosis using amniocytes or chorionic villi. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed in an Ashkenazi Jewish family in whom a previous child was homoallelic and both parents were heterozygous for the R83C mutation. Molecular analysis revealed that the fetus was not affected. The prenatal diagnosis was confirmed postnatally by biochemical and molecular studies. Thus, the molecular prenatal diagnosis of GSD type Ia can be safely and accurately made in the first trimester.
Holistic physicians' clinical discourse on risk: an ethnographic study.

ABSTRACT As physicians integrate complementary and alternative therapies into medical practice, they are compelled to develop new educational strategies for their patients. Therapeutic modalities whose success depends heavily upon significant behavior modification in patients require that physicians orient the latter to reconsider relationships between disease, environment, risk, and individual responsibility. This research explores the language physicians select to communicate to patients their perspectives on disease etiology and treatment as well as the importance of patients taking responsibility for changing their behavior. My data are based on fourteen months of research in a holistic medicine clinic, and they include physician interviews and observations of clinical encounters with patients. Holistic physicians often focus on diet as a major component of heath and disease, and they frequently make use of culturally relevant conceptions of risk related to food quality and environment in order to per...
Global change: probing early atmospheres.

Information about atmospheric conditions far back in Earth's history is embedded in the isotopic composition of fossil microbes. Such studies are technically demanding, but hold considerable promise.
Acute cholecystitis after palliative stenting for malignant obstruction of the biliary tree.

Endoscopic and percutaneous stenting of the biliary tree is an effective therapeutic option in the palliation of the patient with obstructive jaundice. Relief of pruritis and progressive improvement in jaundice is usually evident within days. About 80 % of patients leave the hospital with functioning prostheses, and most of these patients remain free of obstructive jaundice for months.! Early mortality may be as high as 16 %, with most deaths the result of cholangitis with sepsis or progression of the terminal disease.! Complications occurring after biliary prosthesis insertion include cholangitis, bile duct perforation, bleeding, pancreatitis, and stent obstruction.2 An infrequent occurrence after stent placement is acute cholecystitis.2, 3 We report six cases of acute cholecystitis after stent placement for palliation of malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction.
A highly emissive Cu2N2 diamond core complex supported by a [PNP]- ligand.

A Cu2N2 diamond core structure, {(PNP)CuI}_(2) (2), supported by a [PNP]- ligand (1) ([PNP]^(-) = bis(2-(diisobutylphosphino)phenyl)amide) has been prepared. 2 is highly emissive at ambient temperature in both the solid and solution states and is characterized by a relatively long-lived excited state (τ > 10 μs) and an unusually high quantum yield (φ > 0.65). These observations are consistent with a low degree of structural reorganization between the ground state of 2 and its excited state *2, and also with a high degree of steric protection of the two copper centers of 2 afforded by the bulky [PNP]- ligand. An estimate for the excited-state reduction potential of *2 (ca. −3.2 V vs Fc^(+)/Fc), and the availability of two well-separated and reversible ground-state redox processes, suggests that bimetallic copper systems of these types may be interesting candidates to consider for photochemically driving multielectron redox transformations.
Cellular phone use while driving at night

Objective. Use of a cellular phone has been shown to negatively affect one's attention to the driving task, leading to an increase in crash risk. At any given daylight hour, about 6% of US drivers are actively talking on a hand-held cell phone. However, previous surveys have focused only on cell phone use during the day. Driving at night has been shown to be a riskier activity than driving during the day. The purpose of the current study was to assess the rate of hand-held cellular phone use while driving at night, using specialized night vision equipment. Methods. In 2006, two statewide direct observation survey waves of nighttime cellular phone use were conducted in Indiana utilizing specialized night vision equipment. Combined results of driver hand-held cellular phone use from both waves are presented in this manuscript. Results. The rates of nighttime cell phone use were similar to results found in previous daytime studies. The overall rate of nighttime hand-held cellular phone use was 5.8 ± 0.6%. Ce...
The Global Financial Crisis Has Led To A Slowdown In Growth Of Funding To Improve Health In Many Developing Countries

How has funding to developing countries for health improvement changed in the wake of the global financial crisis? The question is vital for policy making, planning, and advocacy purposes in donor and recipient countries alike. We measured the total amount of financial and in-kind assistance that flowed from both public and private channels to improve health in developing countries during the period 1990–2011. The data for the years 1990–2009 reflect disbursements, while the numbers for 2010 and 2011 are preliminary estimates. Development assistance for health continued to grow in 2011, but the rate of growth was low. We estimate that assistance for health grew by 4 percent each year from 2009 to 2011, reaching a total of $27.73 billion. This growth was largely driven by the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and appeared to be a deliberate strategy in response to the global economic crisis. Assistance for health from bilateral agencies grew by only 4 percent, or $444.08 mi...
Embryo transfer in cattle: Factors affecting superovulatory response, number of transferable embryos, and length of post-treatment estrous cycles

Abstract The effect of multiple ampules of frozen semen on conception rate in superovulated Holstein heifers was studied using 3 breeding regimens (n=25): 1 ampule at 12 hr (0 hr = beginning of estrus), 3 ampules at 12 hr, and 1 ampule at each of 0, 12, and 24 hrs. There was no significant effect of breeding regimen on recovered number of ova or percentage of fertilized ova. In another project, months during which heifers were superovulated with PMSG (5–8 heifers/month) did not significantly affect rate of superovulation (number of CL). Clinical records for 173 superovulatory treatments in 150 Holstein heifers were studied to obtain preliminary information on efficacy of treatment regimens, repeatability of response within heifers, and relationships between superovulation and length of estrous cycle; where indicated, contemporary, nontreated heifers were used for comparisons. Efficacy of PMSG vs FSH treatments did not differ in number of CL or number of ova recovered, but percentage of recovered ova that were transferable was greater (P 27 days; 11.5 ± 0.7). Collection of an ovum from nontreated heifers resulted in shortening (P
Women's political leadership participation around the world: An institutional analysis

Understanding institutional systems is critical for the advancement of women's participation in leadership in varying contexts. A unique and global analysis of the contextual factors that affect women in political leadership, this paper extends prior research in the field. This is a cross-country study where we ask, “How are societal-level institutional forces related to women's participation in political leadership?” We collected data from 8 secondary sources on 181 countries and conducted linear regression analyses with six institutional influences: the business environment, societal development, the economic environment, physical and technological infrastructure, political freedom, and culture. Results indicate that to increase the political leadership participation of women, we need to evaluate the following: customs and trade regulations, graft, the gender gap in political empowerment, public spending on education, the economic viability of the country, access to power and the internet, political freedom, and cultural variables like performance orientation, collectivism, and power distance.
Wound healing following myocardial infarction

A wound-healing response that eventuates in fibrous tissue formation appears at the site of myocardial infarction (MI) in the affected ventricle. Fibrosis can likewise appear remote to the MI and cause an extensive structural remodeling of the myocardium of infarcted and noninfarcted ventricles. Substances involved in promoting healing at and remote to MI are of considerable interest and an important clinical issue, given that the healing response is subject to pharmacologic intervention. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is expressed by wound-healing fibroblast-like cells; it likely serves to regulate local concentrations of angiotensin II and bradykinin involved in healing and matrix remodeling. Wound healing following MI and its regulation are addressed in this review.
Line editor to text editor conversion

I attended the Third International Conference on Systems Documentation held this past May in Mexico City. This conference was not only enjoyable and informative, but also inspirational. The following article describes an application that is an outgrowth of several ideas presented at the conference and tutorial session. I would like to thank all of the organizers of this meeting, especially Ms. Patterson and Senor Figueroa, for a job well done.
Analytic solution of eddy currents and its temporal compensation in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

An analytic solution of the eddy currents in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is derived from Maxwell's equations and a temporal compensation technique for the recovery of distorted gradient waveform is described. The analysis is mainly focused on the frequency characteristics and the intensity variations of the eddy-current induced field depending on the system geometry. The major effects of eddy currents in NMR imaging appeared as (i) resolution degradation, (ii) misregisteration, (iii) intensity attenuation, and (iv) phase variation. Since the proposed approach is based on the analytic solution rather than experimentally determined multiexponential models as previously tried, accurate compensation can be achieved effectively. The limitation of the the temporal compensation due to the spatially-varying characteristics of eddy currents is also investigated.
Effects of in utero exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and related contaminants on cognitive functioning in young children

Because prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related contaminants has been associated with reduced birth weight, neonatal behavioral anomalies, and poorer recognition memory in infants born to women who have consumed Lake Michigan sports fish, 236 children, previously evaluated for PCB-related deficits in infancy, were assessed at 4 years of age. Prenatal exposure (indicated by umbilical cord serum PCB level) predicted poorer short-term memory function on both verbal and quantitative tests in a dose-dependent fashion. These effects cannot be attributed to a broad range of potential confounding variables, the impact of which was evaluated statistically. Although much larger quantities of PCBs are transferred postnatally via lactation than prenatally across the placenta, exposure from nursing was unrelated to cognitive performance. The data demonstrate the continuation of a toxic impact received in utero and observed initially during infancy on a dimension of cognitive functioning fundamental to learning.
The Processing of Non-symbolic Numerical Magnitudes as Indexed by ERPs

Previous research has shown that, in the context of event-related potential (ERP) prime-target experiments, processing meaningful stimuli such as words, phonemes, numbers, pictures of objects, and faces elicit negativities around 400 ms. However, there is little information on whether non-symbolic numerical magnitudes elicit this negative component. The present experiments recorded ERPs while adults made same/different judgments to serially presented prime-target pairs of non-symbolic numerical stimuli containing the same, close, or distant quantities. In Experiment 1, a negativity between 350 and 450 ms was elicited for targets preceded by primes of unequal quantity, and this was greater for close than for distant quantities. Change direction (decreasing or increasing) also modulated a similar negativity: a greater negativity was elicited by targets preceded by larger than by smaller quantities. Experiment 2 replicated the numerical distance and change direction effects for numerical judgments, but found no negative distance effect in a color comparison task when the same stimuli were used. Additionally, ERP effects of numerical distance were found under implicit conditions, and task proficiency in the number condition modulated implicit and explicit numerical distance ERP effects. These results suggest that the neural systems involved with processing numerical magnitudes contribute to the construction of meaningful, contextual representations, are partly automatic, and display marked individual differences.
Gaussia luciferase reporter assay for monitoring biological processes in culture and in vivo

Secreted reporters are a useful tool in the monitoring of different biological processes in the conditioned medium of cultured cells as well in the blood and urine of experimental animals. Described here is a protocol for detecting the recently established naturally secreted Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) in cultured cells as well as in blood and urine in vivo. Furthermore, the assay for detecting the secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP), the most commonly used secreted reporter in serum, is also presented. The Gluc reporter system has several advantages over the SEAP assay, including a much reduced assay time (1-10 min versus 1.5-2 h), 20,000-fold (in vitro) or 1,000-fold (in vivo) increased sensitivity and a linear range covering over five orders of magnitude of cell number. Additionally, the Gluc signal can be detected in urine and the signal can be localized in animals using in vivo bioluminescence imaging.
Do Medicaid incentive payments boost quality? Florida's direct care staffing adjustment program.

Beginning in April 2000 and continuing for 21 months, Florida's legislature allocated $31.6 million (annualized) to nursing homes through a Medicaid direct care staffing adjustment. Florida's legislature paid the highest incentives to nursing homes with the lowest staffing levels and the greatest percentage of Medicaid residents—the bottom tier of quality. Using Donabedian's structure-process-outcomes framework, this study tracks changes in staffing, wages, process of care, and outcomes. The incentive payments increased staffing and wages in nursing home processes (decreased restraint use and feeding tubes) for the facilities receiving the largest amount of money but had no change on pressure sores or decline in activities of daily living. The group receiving the lowest incentives payment (those highest staffed at baseline) saw significant improvement in two quality measures: pressure sores and decline in activities of daily living. All providers receiving more resources improved on deficiency scores, sug...
Modification of Si(100) Substrate Bonding by Adsorbed Ge or Si Dimer Islands

High-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy studies of the Si(100)-( 2{times}1) surface show a heretofore unrecognized distortion of the substrate structure when islands form during the initial stage of growth of either Si or Ge. The distortion, reflecting the influence of strain, extends at least three dimers away from the adsorption sites. We present a realistic structural model. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Cholesterol reduction in the workplace and in community settings.

Recent emphasis has been placed on the role of serum cholesterol in the development of cardiovascular disease and on reducing high serum cholesterol levels through a screening followed by a behavioral intervention. However, evidence about the effectiveness of this technique in reducing cholesterol has yet to be evaluated. A review of the biomedical and allied health literature was conducted to determine the effectiveness of reducing serum cholesterol levels in the general population through the use of a screening to identify those at risk followed by a behavioral intervention. Only worksite and community based studies published from 1980–89 were reviewed. Seven worksite and four community studies were identified. All studies used total serum cholesterol as the dependent variable while some included other physiological measures. The majority of studies used a multicomponent intervention involving dietary education, exercise, smoking cessation, or weight reduction components. The interventions tested lasted from 14 weeks to five years and varied from low intensity to high intensity. The methods of intervention ranged from face-to-face interaction to mail and telephone counseling. Although many of the studies reviewed contain methodological flaws, certain findings are evident. The studies show that cholesterol can be reduced through a screening followed by a behavioral intervention, the multicomponent program is the most effective intervention, and low intensive interventions are as equally effective as high intensive interventions. Program implications and future research directions are discussed.