cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exposure to Secondhand Smoke and Secondhand E-Cigarette Aerosol Among Middle and High School Students.

INTRODUCTION Youth exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and secondhand aerosol from e-cigarettes (SHA) may contribute to the renormalization of tobacco product use behaviors. Our study assessed self-reported SHS or SHA exposures in indoor or outdoor public places among US students. METHODS Data came from the 2015 and 2017 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a school-based survey of US students in grades 6 through 12. Past 30-day exposure to SHS and SHA in indoor and outdoor public places was assessed. The prevalence of exposure was assessed overall and by covariates for each year. We used adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to assess determinants of exposure. RESULTS We observed no significant change from 2015 through 2017 in exposure to SHS (52.6% to 50.5%), SHA (25.2% to 25.6%), or either SHS or SHA (56.7% to 55.1%). Following multivariable adjustment, in 2017, exposure to either SHS or SHA in public was higher among female students versus male students (aPR = 1.29), high school students versus middle school students (aPR = 1.15), current e-cigarette users versus nonusers (aPR = 2.89), and current users of other tobacco product versus nonusers (aPR = 1.21). Exposure was higher for students who reported that a household member used tobacco products. CONCLUSION In 2017, more than half (55.1%, 14.3 million) of US middle and high school students reported exposure to secondhand tobacco product emissions in indoor or outdoor public places. E-cigarette use may complicate the enforcement of existing smoke-free policies and contribute to the renormalization of tobacco use behaviors. Continued efforts are warranted to reduce the social acceptability of tobacco product use and protect bystanders from all tobacco product emissions.
Rapport and Empathy in Medicine

This is the first of four chapters focused on the patient-provider relationship. This chapter examines the role of rapport and empathy in clinical medicine. It offers a vignette describing how Dr. Vannatta came to understand the importance of literature in relation to medicine after reading Toni Morrison’s Beloved, and it offers a representation of the development of rapport in Dr. Anton Chekhov’s story “A Doctor’s Visit” and in Dr. John Stone’s poem “He Makes a House Call.” These literary texts offer examples of the provocation of empathy in readers in ways that can inculcate strategies for inculcating rapport in the clinic.
Transposition of the Great Arteries

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a congenital malformation with discordant ventriculoarterial connections. The newborn circulation runs in-parallel as opposed to in-series, and cardiovascular collapse occurs without adequate mixing between these circulations. Detailed anatomic assessment of associated lesions and coronary arterial pattern are required for preoperative planning. Uniformly fatal without correction, modern surgical therapy with the arterial switch procedure has produced excellent outcomes with >90% survival. The chapter provides an overview of the epidemiology, physiology, perioperative imaging, medical and surgical management as well as outcomes of TGA.
Propofol Disposal in the Anesthesia Setting: Overcoming Barriers

Propofol accounts for 41% of reported substance abuse cases among anesthesia providers. No guidelines outline appropriate propofol disposal in the healthcare setting. The lack of controlled disposal presents concerns for environmental harm, economic waste, and diversion. An evidence-based practice project was conducted in a large, Midwestern teaching institution to address propofol disposal. Data collected regarding propofol waste and from a survey indicated that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) have limited access to sinks in the operating rooms for disposal, have environmental concerns regarding pouring propofol into the sink, and find propofol vials difficult to open. Interventions tailored to address these barriers included implementing a specially designed bottle opener and activated carbon pouch in each operating room to be used for propofol disposal. A χ² analysis showed that changing CRNA practice from sink disposal to carbon pouch disposal significantly decreased the percentage of unemptied propofol vials remaining in unsecured bins from 25.8% before the intervention to 3.4% after the intervention (P < .0001). Decreasing access for diversion is critical for anesthesia practices, and removing barriers to disposal can help reduce access. This evidence-based practice project demonstrated how tailoring interventions to address identified barriers produced an effective practice change for propofol disposal.
Low-cost desalination of seawater and hypersaline brine using nanophotonics enhanced solar energy membrane distillation

A stand-alone small-scale nanophotonics enhanced solar membrane distillation (NESMD) testbed was designed, developed, and tested for desalinating seawater and high salinity feedwaters. This NESMD system can take almost any source water and turn it into clean water with sunlight as the only energy source. The NESMD technology applies nanophotonic coating materials on a commercial hydrophobic polypropylene support of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane surface. The photothermal coating serves as a solar thermal collector, absorbs solar energy, and generates highly localized heat on the membrane, while the rest of the membrane performs membrane distillation functions. The presented NESMD system is equipped with an internal heat recovery system with no need for external electricity and no additional water for cooling. The NESMD testbed is installed and tested at Rice University campus (29.7174° N, 95.4018° W). In this study, real seawater from Galveston Bay, Texas, U.S. and high salinity simulated feedwaters (total dissolved solids (TDS) of 113 200–200 000 PPM) have been tested for long-term testing under the weather conditions of Houston, Texas. The field testing results showed stable desalination performance in consecutive 5–8 hour operation cycles, with a TDS removal of ≥99.5% in all experiments. An average daily membrane flux of ≥0.75 L m−2 h−1 was achieved at a solar intensity close to 1 kW m−2 without an external heat exchanger. Further investigations and improvements are required to enhance the performance of the reactor since it is still a new promising technology.
Cristina Lafont’s Challenge to Deliberative Minipublics

This essay is a response to Cristina Lafont’s critique of deliberative minipublics. I consider the problem in these main steps: (1) The argument that such minipublics should not have any real ‘decisional-power’ and (2) that it is not democratically acceptable to rely on them as a ‘second best’ because they only engage a small portion of the population (138–139). Nothing but a ‘first best’ strategy will do in her view. (3) The challenge of achieving a ‘first best’ solution, which I have previously outlined in terms of what I call the ‘trilemma’ of democratic reform. (4) Why I believe Lafont’s solution, a ‘participatory conception of deliberative democracy’, does not actually offer a solution to the trilemma because it is insufficiently participatory (Lafont 2019: Part III). (5) My own approach to dealing with the trilemma, as outlined in my book Democracy When the People Are Thinking (Fishkin 2018), is, I will argue, both more participatory and more deliberative. I lay out an actual solution. While it is elaborate and expensive, there is no theoretical or practical impediment to realizing it, except for collective political will, except for a shared decision to move forward. The contrast between the two solutions is the focus of the last part of the essay.
A case report of cardiac toxicity from barracuda ingestion in Mexico.

Background Ciguatera toxicity is a fish-borne illness that initially manifests with gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by bizarre neurological symptoms including heat-cold sensation alteration, peculiar feeling of loose teeth, and peripheral neuropathy. However, cardiac manifestations are rare and underreported in the literature. Case summary A 73-year-old man presented with symptomatic bradycardia and hypotension after ingestion of barracuda fish in Mexico. He received atropine and dopamine with subsequent improvement in his symptoms, but continued to experience peripheral neuropathic and other odd sensations. Four of his family members ingested the same fish and had similar symptoms. He was managed conservatively and did not require temporary or permanent pacing. Within 1 week from toxin exposure, bradycardia had improved. Heart rate was 40-50 b.p.m. at rest, and he was discharged with an ambulatory monitor. Heart rate had increased to 77 b.p.m. at 1-month follow-up on repeat electrocardiogram (ECG). Discussion Although the predominant manifestations of ciguatera toxicity are neurological, cardiac complications tend to be more acute and require attention. Unlike neurological symptoms, bradycardia and hypotension are short-lived, often resolving within a week. Treatment continues to be largely supportive, and patients may require temporary treatment with positive chronotropic agents such as atropine or dopamine.
Factor structure and psychometric properties of the clinical impairment assessment 3.0 (CIA) in a clinical eating disorder sample.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties and the factor structure of the Clinical Impairment Assessment 3.0 (CIA) utilizing a confirmatory factor analysis in a large clinical sample of ED patients. Methods A total of 260 patients between the ages of 18 and 45 who completed assessments in a partial hospitalization or residential treatment program at an ED treatment facility between December 2012 and December 2016 were included in the analyses. Assessment measures included the CIA, EDE-Q, BDI-II, WHODAS, and a demographic questionnaire. Results Results favored a bifactor model with a strong general factor and three unreliable subfactors. The CIA showed strong construct validity with other measures of ED pathology (EDE-Q) and health-related QoL (WHODAS). Furthermore, admission CIA scores were predictive of treatment outcomes. Conclusions The CIA assesses general psychosocial impairment, supporting the use of a total, but not subscale scores, among symptomatic ED samples in the United States.
The Elevated Imagination: Contemplation and Action in David Hume and Adam Smith

In this paper we seek to draw attention to some striking and heretofore unnoticed textual connections between Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments and David Hume’s A Treatise of Human Nature. We find significant textual parallels between the parable of TMS 4.1 (TMS 4.1.8-4.1.10) and the famous conclusion to Book 1 of Hume’s Treatise. These passages are often regarded as especially intense and moving parts of their respective works. We explore the nature and substance of these connections and comment on their larger significance. The nature of the connections suggests that Smith consciously engaged Hume in his work through philosophical conversation. We suggest that these related passages show both Hume and Smith exploring and developing a particular dialectic between contemplation and action in human life. Both move to invert the classical relationship between contemplation and action through what we call the elevated imagination.
Factors Associated with Mortality Following Burns Complicated by Necrotizing Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data.

We reviewed studies with individual participant data of patients who sustained burn injury and subsequently developed necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (NSTI). Characteristics and managements were compared between patients who lived and patients who died to determine factors associated with mortality. Six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL) were searched. PRISMA-IPD guidelines were followed throughout the review. Eligible patients sustained a burn injury, treated in any setting, and diagnosed with a NSTI following burn injury. Comparisons were made between burned patients who lived "non-mortality" and burned patients who died "mortality" following NSTI using non-parametric univariate analyses. Fifty-eight studies with 78 patients were published from 1970 through 2019. Non-mortality resulted in 58 patients and mortality resulted in 20 patients. Patients with mortality had significantly greater median %TBSA burned (45%[IQR:44-64%] versus 35%[IQR:11-59%],p=0.033), more intubations (79% versus 43%,p=0.013), less debridements (83% versus 98%,p=0.039), less skin excisions (83% versus 98%,p=0.039), more complications (100% versus 50%,p<0.001), management at a burn center (100% versus 71%,p=0.008), underwent less flap surgeries (5% versus 35%,p=0.014), less graft survival (25% versus 86%,p<0.001), and less healed wounds (5% versus 95%,p<0.001), compared to patients with non-mortality, respectively. Non-mortality patients had more debridements, skin excised, systemic antimicrobials, skin graft survival, flaps, improvement following surgery and healed wounds compared to mortality patients. Mortality patients had greater %TBSA burned, intubations, management at a burn center and complications compared to non-mortality patients.
Signaling Pathways and Sex Differential Processes in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with deficits in social communication and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior, that affect up to 1 in 54 children. ASDs clearly demonstrate a male bias, occurring approximately 4 times more frequently in males than females, though the basis for this male predominance is not well understood. In recent years, ASD risk gene discovery has accelerated, with many whole-exome sequencing studies identifying genes that converge on common pathways, such as neuronal communication and regulation of gene expression. ASD genetics studies have suggested that there may be a “female protective effect,” such that females may have a higher threshold for ASD risk, yet its etiology is not well understood. Here, we review common biological pathways implicated by ASD genetics studies as well as recent analyses of sex differential processes in ASD using imaging genomics, transcriptomics, and animal models. Additionally, we discuss recent investigations of ASD risk genes that have suggested a potential role for estrogens as modulators of biological pathways in ASD, and highlight relevant molecular and cellular pathways downstream of estrogen signaling as potential avenues for further investigation.
On Paul Goodman–and Goodmanism

One does not live forever?maybe that was something Goodman did not under stand. When he spoke of death, it was purely statistically, in a manner that nonplussed me, as if, when it came to nature, he considered himself merely another number: death would seize him at the average age, sixty-five or sixty seven. Yet in some distorted fashion statistics represent an acknowledgment of nature. In the late fifties, steaming at the neglect of his work, he said, holding out his hands in a gesture of futility?which wished to appear simply helpless? so that they appeared suddenly twisted about themselves: "How much longer have I got to live? Ten, fifteen years." There would not be much more time now, almost as if looking at his watch. In this he hit the mark almost to the year. For me too his disappearance amounted to a statistic, I noted almost with relief. For he added greatly to the confusion and I knew his influence in the political sphere to be largely destructive, especially since he feared the conse quences of his ideas and the responsibility they entailed?and moreover asked questions and stirred up problems he had no intention of dealing with.
Force Vibrations in Automotive Bevel Gear Differentials

As proven, both friction in the gearing and movement of the contact point of the teeth in mesh along the pressure line generate vibrations of the axial components of the resultant force acting in a couple of mating straight bevel gears. The vibrations of the real forces in gearings cause an increased dynamic pressure on and, accordingly, damage of frictional surfaces of differential parts. The law of summing up the axial components of all the gearings in two and four pinion differentials depends on combinations of numbers of the side gear's and pinion's teeth. A classification of bevel gear differentials into four groups depending on those combinations has been carried out. Differentials of the four groups have different degrees of the axial force vibration. The paper presents a detailed method to evaluate theoretically the axial forces in each of the groups. As shown, differentials from one of the four groups (Group III) have decreased axial force vibrations. This is a way to better design of bevel gear differentials with optimum combinations of the tooth numbers. Testing has corroborated the theoretical solutions. Test equipment, test methods and results are given in the paper.
A Trail of Precious Goods: Colonial Latin American Commodity History

Products such as cacao, tobacco, sugar, cochineal, emeralds, and silver were produced or extracted and, in many cases, originated in the region now called Latin America. They became global commodities under Spanish and Portuguese colonial rule during the early modern period, roughly 1500 to 1800, when they were traded to Europe and Asia. In many cases, goods that were originally limited to elites and defined as luxuries were transformed into products destined for mass consumption. African and indigenous slavery and other forms of unfree labor were crucial in the production of colonial commodities. Commodity historians approach these goods in different ways, some taking a world systems approach to discuss the development of capitalism while others focusing on physical and esthetic taste, patterns of consumption, and social relations and status. Some commodity writers focus on consumption patterns in Europe and Asia while others focus on the production and labor side of the equation. Recently, scholars have used a commodity chain approach that looks at all stages of the process of production, commodification, circulation, and consumption.
Integrating Educational Systems for Successful Reform in Diverse Contexts

Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. School level improvement efforts 3. District level reform efforts 4. Community level reform efforts 5. State level reform efforts 6. The role of reform design teams 7. The role of the Federal Government in reform efforts 8. Methodological issues in the study of systemic integration for effective reform 9. Discussion and conclusion Bibliography.
Reliable observer-based control using vector-valued decision by majority

This paper is based on a new concept for fault-tolerant control systems against sensor failures that the truly important information for control and fault-tolerance should have redundancy. This paper considers redundant observers for information redundancy on the state of a plant and introduces analog vector-valued decision by majority among their estimated states.
Beyond Trending Topics: Real-World Event Identification on Twitter

User-contributed messages on social media sites such as Twitter have emerged aspowerful, real-time means of information sharing on the Web. These short messages tend to reflect a variety of events in real time, making Twitter particularly well suited as a source of real-time event content. In this paper, we explore approaches for analyzing the stream of Twitter messages to distinguish between messages about real-world events andnon-event messages. Our approach relies on a rich family of aggregatestatistics of topically similar message clusters. Large-scale experiments over millions of Twitter messages show the effectiveness of our approach for surfacing real-world event content on Twitter.
A New Look at Timestamp Ordering Concurrency Control

Popular conception has been that timestamp ordering concurrency control (CC) yields poor transaction processing performance in relation to two-phase locking (2PL). This paper makes two contributions. First, we show the surprising result that Basic Timestamp Ordering (BTO) performs better than 2PL in all cases except when both data contention and message latency are low. When latency or data contention is high, BTO significantly outperforms 2PL. Our second contribution is a new timestamp ordering CC technique (PREDICT) that performs better than 2PL and BTO under low data contention, and continues to perform well under high data contention. We evolve a set of variants of PREDICT, and demonstrate that PREDICT achieves a good balance between lost opportunity cost and restart cost, and outperforms popular CC techniques.
Effects of maternal nutrition on the human fetus.

467 gestations were culled from 1044 autopsies on well preserved stillborn and newborn infants examined at Babies Hospital New York City between 1960-68. Organ weights and body measurements were taken from autopsy protocols. Maternal statures had little correlation with fetal growth but mothers pregravid body weight weight gain and low-calorie diets during pregnancy correlated to fetal growth. Before the third trimester Maternal undernutrition had little or no influence on fetal body cellular and organ growth while effects were pronounced in late gestation. Except in the most undernourished mothers fetal body and organ growth improved with successive pregnancies. In poorly nourished mothers successive neonates were more poorly growth retarded. Larger brain sizes were recorded in newborns of mothers who were best nourished. When not too severe the growth retardation is probably reversible with adequate postnatal nutrition. Dutch males were exposed to severe famine in utero from 1944-45 but had a normal mental performance when later examined for military service.
Stromal-cell and cancer-cell exosomes leading the metastatic exodus for the promised niche

Exosomes are thought to play an important role in metastasis. Luga and colleagues have described the production of exosomes by stromal cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts that are taken up by breast cancer cells and are then loaded with Wnt 11, which is associated with stimulation of the invasiveness and metastasis of the breast cancer cells. Previous studies have shown that exosomes produced by breast cancer cells are taken up by stromal fibroblasts and other stromal cells, suggesting that exosomes are agents of cross-talk between cancer and stromal cells to stimulate metastasis. Imaging of exosomes by labeling with fluorescent proteins will enlighten the process by which exosomes enhance metastasis, including premetastatic niche formation.
Velocity Gradients in the Continental Crust from Head‐Wave Amplitudes

Abstract : Small velocity gradients in a refracting horizon have a pronounced effect on the spectral amplitudes of head waves. Negative velocity gradients and anelasticity (Q sup -1) result in a similar amplitude decay with distance for narrow-bandwidth data. Positive velocity gradients result in a net amplitude gain with distance compared with the head wave from a homogeneous, perfectly elastic refractor. Wave-theoretical expressions for these effects applied to published amplitude data for the major crustal refraction branches.
Almandine New York City, New York County, New York State

(2009). Almandine New York City, New York County, New York State. Rocks & Minerals: Vol. 84, No. 3, pp. 244-252.
A novel method to assess platelet inhibition by eptifibatide with thrombelastograph.

We examined a novel method to detect platelet inhibition with thrombelastography (TEG ® ). We hypothesizedthatthismethodwouldbesuitableformonitoring the antiplatelet effects of eptifibatide (Integrilin ® ). Whole blood from healthy volunteers was anticoagulatedwith3.2%citrateorunfractionatedheparin(7IU/ mL). For the platelet aggregation test, both citrate and heparinized samples were spiked with increasing concentrations of eptifibatide (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 4g/mL).ConventionalkaolinTEG ® wasperformed with citrated samples, and batroxobin-modified TEG ® was performed with heparinized samples, which were spiked with eptifibatide at concentrations of 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 4, 8, and 24 g/mL. Adenosine
Antibodies to GMl ganglioside inhibit morphine analgesia

Abstract It has been shown that the injection of antiganglioside serum into the periacqueductal gray matter of rats blocks morphine induced analgesia. This result is due to the action of antibodies to GMl ganglioside since the specific removal of these antibodies from the antiserum with pure GMl ganglioside eliminates the blocking activity. Specificity for GMl ganglioside was further shown by the blocking activity of choleragenoid, which binds specifically to GMl sites. Antibodies to other brain constituents, namely S-100 protein and myelin, did not block the morphine analgesia.
Gravitational Radiation From Cosmic Strings and the Microwave Background

Abstract Gravitational radiation sets the most stringent constraints on the cosmic string theory of galaxy formation. We calculate the temperature fluctuations in the microwave background radiation induced by gravitational radiation. The predicted anisotropies are consistent with the best current observational bounds. We also show that the total energy density in gravitational waves does not conflict with the standard nucleosynthesis arguments, and that the predicted timing residual for the millisecond pulsar does not (yet) exceed the measured value.
A light microscopic study of nuclear and cytoplasmic size of the aggregate acidophil population in the hypophysis cerebri, pars distalis, of adult male mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus hemionus, relative to seasons of the photoperiod and antler cycles.

Nuclear and cytoplasmic size (μ2) of acidophils in the pars distalis of adult male deer were measured and the data analyzed statistically with reference to the four classical seasons of the photoperiodic cycle and five periods and two events of the antler cycle. The seasons, and the respective mean cross-sectional areas of cell nuclei and cytoplasm, are: Spring (21 March–20 June; increasing photoperiod greater than 12 hours), 28.45 and 48.68 μ2; Summer (21 June–20 September; decreasing photoperiod greater than 12 hours), 27.81 and 44.25 μ2; Fall (21 September–20 December; decreasing photoperiod less than 12 hours), 30.40 and 45.07 μ2; Winter (21 December–20 March; increasing photoperiod less than 12 hours) 27.28 and 40.30 μ2. Beginning in late winter and early spring the components of the antler cycle, and the respective cross-sectional areas of cell nuclei and cytoplasm, are: Initial Antler Growth, 28.08 and 38.58 μ2; Growth of Velvet Antler Form, 28.93 and 50.61 μ2, Antlers Hardening, 27.53 and 40.83 μ2; Velvet Shedding, 29.03 and 53.20 μ2; Rutting Season, 29.95 and 44.97 μ2; Preparation for Shedding, 26.50 and 40.38 μ2; Antlers Recently Shed, 27.53 and 47.85 μ2. Shedding of boney antlers, growth of velvet antlers and increases in nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of acidophil cells in the pars distalis occur when the photoperiod is increasing. Construction and retention of hard antlers occur when photoperiod is decreasing. This lessening of day length appears to influence the gonadotrophs that regulate secretion of testosterone.
Acute stroke intervention with intraarterial urokinase infusion.

Purpose A preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and safety of treating patients with acute stroke with intraarterial urokinase infusions was performed. Patients and Methods Twelve patients with acute stroke were treated within 8 hours of symptom onset (average, 5 hours). Thrombolysis was performed within the middle cerebral ( n = 10), internal carotid ( n = 1), and basilar ( n = 1) arteries. Urokinase (160,000–500,000 IU) was infused through microcatheters placed into or adjacent to the thrombi. Results Thrombolysis was angiographically successful in nine patients (75%), all of whom had long-term neurologic improvement. No or minimal neurologic deficits were present in six patients (50%). Thrombolysis failed in three patients (25%); one patient died and two developed severe permanent neurologic deficits. No hemorrhagic complications occurred. Conclusion Preliminary results suggest that intraarterial urokinase infusion may be effective and safe for treating patients with acute stroke. Potentially devastating neurologic damage was averted or lessened in nine patients (75%). No additional neurologic damage was caused by intervention in the remaining three patients (25%).
Plasmodium berghei: accelerated clearance of sporozoites from blood as part of immune-mechanism in mice.

Abstract The maximum circulation time, as well as the rate of clearance, of viable, infective, Plasmodium berghei sporozoites was determined after intravenous injection into immunized and normal mice. In animals actively immunized by the previous injection of X-irradiated sporozoites, the circulation time of infective sporozoites was considerably reduced as a consequence of an increased clearance rate of the parasites. The transfer of large volumes of immune serum into normal mice also resulted in a considerably increased disappearance rate of infective sporozoites from their peripheral blood. Exo-erythrocytic forms (EEF) of the parasite were either not detectable or greatly reduced in number in the livers of both groups of actively and passively immunized animals, as compared to controls. However, in spite of the apparent absence of EEF in some of these animals and the reduced number of EEF in all the others, protection was never complete in the passively immunized animals, all of them developing parasitemia after a prolonged prepatent period. This differed markedly from the results obtained in the actively immunized animals, the majority of which was totally protected. Together with other experimental evidence, this seems to indicate that in addition to the important role of immune serum, another, as yet undetermined mechanism might be necessary to bring about complete protection to malaria.
A simple method for determination of levels of amethopterin in blood and urine.

Summary(1) A simple disc technic has been devised for determining concentrations of amethopterin in blood and urine. (2) This test has an accuracy which compares favorably with similar assay methods for antibiotics. (3) Amethopterin appeared in the blood and urine in detectable amounts 15 to 30 minutes after the ingestion of a 5 mg dose on a fasting stomach by 2 normal individuals, and 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion at the same dose by 4 normal non-fasting individuals. In some of the 6 it was still detectable at 6 hours, but in none after 24 hours. (4) Six normal adults excreted 40 to 57% of the ingested dose in the urine within 24 hours. (5) In one patient little difference in serum levels or total excretion could be demonstrated whether the drug was given by the oral or intramuscular route. (6) In a patient with impaired renal function, higher initial serum levels were obtained and detectable amounts were present in the blood serum 48 hours after ingestion of amethopterin.
Novel three-octave, infrared hyperspectral imageing with a single multiwaveband FPA

The traditional approach for achieving hyperspectral imaging over a broad range of infrared (IR) wavelengths involves multiple focal plane arrays (FPAs), dispersive elements, and optical beamsplitters. It has been shown that the current state-of-the-art in dual-band infrared focal plane array (IRFPA) technology allows spectral imagery to be obtained in two wavebands simultaneously with a single FPA, therefore reducing cryo-cooler and power requirements. The new approach described here advances the capabilities of the current state-of-the-art one step further and achieves a spectrometer concept based on a tri-band IRFPA. The tri-band spectrometer concept would lead to spectral imagery collected simultaneously in the SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR spectral regions with high efficiency. To achieve this a unique characteristic of a dispersive grating, that of overlapping spectral orders, would be exploited to allow simultaneous focusing of three spectral bands onto the multi-waveband FPA, thereby creating co-registered spectral images. The capabilities of a multi-waveband FPA then allow integration of spectra independently in the various orders. In addition, spectral images would be perfectly registered both spatially and spectrally, a difficult prospect for the traditional approach. By providing hyperspectral imagery in the SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR spectral regions, we capture the bulk of reflected and thermally emissive target and background phenomenology, within the constraints of atmospheric transmission. The characteristics of a suitable tri-band FPA are derived on the basis of our modeling efforts.
New Zealand nemertines from kelp holdfasts: Hoplonemertinea 1. Nipponnemertes sanguinea sp. n.

Abstract A new hoplonemertean species belonging to the genus Nipponnemertes is described from kelp holdfasts washed up on two New Zealand beaches following a major tropical storm. The new species is characterised by the presence of circulating erythrocytes and the presence of distinctive “nuage‐like” material in oocytes.
Dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptor mRNA levels in rat brain and pituitary during aging

Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction technique was used to determine the levels of the mRNAs encoding different receptors belonging to the D2 family in various brain areas of 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old rats. We found a progressive, age-dependent reduction in the mRNA levels of D2 short and D2 long receptors in corpus striatum, substantia nigra, and frontal cortex. D2 short and D2 long receptor mRNA levels were unchanged in hippocampus and olfactory tubercle, while they increased in pituitary. D3 receptor mRNA levels were reduced in olfactory tubercle and unchanged in striatum. D4 receptor mRNA levels were unmodified in pituitary gland. These data suggest that the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating the pattern of expression of the various dopamine receptors are differentially regulated by aging.
Analytic proofs of the Arago–Fresnel laws for the interference of polarized light

The four laws of Arago–Fresnel governing the interference of polarized light were determined experimentally. Analytical proofs are derived directly from first principles. The technique used for the proofs is that of the spectral representation of stationary stochastic processes in conjunction with the Jones matrix description of a polarizer.
Evidence that catecholamine transport into chromaffin vesicles is coupled to vesicle membrane potential

Abstract The effects of ATP, Mg2+, and various agents on pH gradient, membrane potential, and catecholamine transport across membranes of intact bovine chromaffin vesicles were investigated. Methylamine and thiocyanate (SCN-) distributions across the vesicle membrane were used to estimate the H+ concentration gradient and membrane potential, respectively. The H+ concentration ratio (intravesiculanmedium) equals 16 when the medium pH is 6.9 and is unaltered by ATP and Mg2+. In the absence of ATP and Mg2+, the steady-state intravesicular S14CN- concentration is lower than the medium concentration. ATP and Mg2+ cause an increased influx and a decreased efflux of SCN- that results in SCN- being concentrated in the vesicles 6- to 8-fold over the medium. The findings are consistent with an ATP,Mg2+-induced potential of approximately 50 mV (intravesicular side positive). Carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP), a H+ translocater, and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a sulfhydryl reagent, decrease the SCN- ratio and, thus, the membrane potential in the presence of ATP and Mg2+. They have no effect on the H+ concentration gradient. The rate of catecholamine uptake into vesicles is increased 4- to 6-fold by ATP and Mg2+. The ATP,Mg2+-stimulated uptake is inhibited by FCCP and NEM over the same concentration ranges that reduce the SCN- distribution (membrane potential). FCCP increases and NEM decreases vesicular membrane ATPase activity. Thus, catecholamine uptake is correlated to an inside-positive membrane potential, and not to ATPase activity. If catecholamine uptake is coupled to membrane potential, then a charged species must be involved in the transport mechanism. Reserpine and rotenone inhibit catecholamine influx but have no effect on the H+ electrochemical gradient; they probably act at a step before coupling to the membrane potential (or the H+ electrochemical gradient). Atractyloside, an inhibitor of nucleotide transport, has no effects on catecholamine transport or the H+ electrochemical gradient.
Specific attachment of mesenteric IgA lymphoblasts to specialized endothelium of intestinal mucosa lamina propria capillaries

Abstract The bulk of IgA secreted in the gut is mostly contributed by locally dwelling plasma cells derived from B cells originating in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). These IgA cells originate in Peyer's patches and recirculate, returning to the gut upon maturity. The precise mechanism of homing to secretory mucosae is to date not fully understood. It has been demonstrated, however, that specialized endothelium of small vascular spaces in peripheral nodes (PN) and endothelia of mucosal vessels are the site of receptor recognition for B and T cells. In their sojourn, IgA blasts have been shown to stop momentarily in mesenteric nodes (MN) before proceeding to their final destination, the lamina propria (LP) of the gut mucosa. They then develop into IgA-secreting plasma cells. In the present work, we show that IgA MN lymphoblasts, when compared to PN lymphoblasts, attach preferentially to LP venule and capillary endothelium. The B-cell maturation in the mesenteric lymph nodes, where IgA is the sole membrane-bound immunoglobulin, allows attachment of most of these cells. Our work suggests that the site of exit of IgA cells from the circulation are these specialized lamina propria venules and capillaries.
Religion and survey non-response bias : Toward explaining the moral voter gap between surveys and voting

In several recent elections, prospective polls have overestimated support for liberal candidates and underestimated conservative voters. I examine how religious factors might play a role in producing systematic non-response bias. Using data from the 1984-2004 General Social Surveys (GSS), present patterns and trends in the influence of religious factors on respondent cooperativeness. My findings show that respondents who believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of their gods are significantly less cooperative than other respondents. Further, trends and temporal patterns in the effects of inerrancy on cooperativeness suggest increasing non-response by conservative Christians. Together, these findings suggest that conservative non-response to surveys is not simply a function of racial issues in candidate choice, as some political scientists have claimed, but instead is motivated by religious exclusivism prevalent among religious conservatives.
COMPUTATION OF VESSELNESS IN CTA IMAGES FOR FAST AND INTERACTIVE VESSEL SEGMENTATION

With the rapid development of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) that results in improving the temporal and spatial resolution of patient data, clinical use of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is increasing. Vessel segmentation can be challenging in CTA, but is needed for isolation of vascular structures. In this paper, a novel method for computation of vesselness in CTA images is presented, including a CTA transfer function prior to the vesselness computation for reducing the artifacts caused by the false-positive responses of a Hessian-based line filter, as well as a hierarchical structure, called MIP-volume pyramid, for accelerating the computation of vesselness. Using the computed vesselness, we present an interactive segmentation method for each individual vessel by applying a vesselness speed function in a fast marching level set method. Our new method was shown to provide an effective and efficient way that allows vesselness to be applied to large CTA images. This method has been implemented successfully in CTA vessel segmentation and evaluation.
Polyarteritis Nodosa Involving Only the Main Renal Arteries

A unique case of accelerated hypertension and acute anuria in a 24-year-old man is presented. Clinically, the patient was found to have obstruction of both main renal arteries caused by extensive bilateral thrombosis. Microscopically, a healing panarteritis involving only the main renal arteries was found. This was associated with acute renal infarction and tubular atrophy in the left kidney. This appears to be an unusual variant of polyarteritis nodosa limited to both main renal arteries.
Acupuncture: archaic or biologic?

The article “Exploring Acupuncture: Ancient Ideas, Modern Techniques” in the October Journal describes stimulation with “lowvoltage electricity, laser beams, and sonar rays.”1 This description suggests that replacing needles with modern techniques of stimulation is evidence that acupuncture has become scientific. However, this inference is wrong, for as the article points out acupuncturists believe their treatments bring about health by affecting a mysterious life energy, qi, flowing through hypothetical meridians. Acupuncture theory is generally described in terms of philosophical concepts like yin and yang and a magical 5 elements, which are simply part of superstitious Chinese number magic. Such prescientific metaphysical explanations of traditional Chinese acupuncture have changed but little since their formulation more than 3 000 years ago. During the 1960s, this largely placebo practice found ready acceptance in the United States by New Age practitioners, along with other shaman practices of alternative medicine.
TWIN REVERSED ARTERIAL PERFUSION CAUSES DECREASED FETAL CEREBRAL VASCULAR IMPEDANCE

HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author Manuscript Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 July 15. Published in final edited form as: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2015 April ; 45(4): 447–451. doi:10.1002/uog.14650. Twin-reversed arterial perfusion sequence associated with decreased fetal cerebral vascular impedance S. Peyvandi *,† , V. A. Feldstein †,‡,§ , S. Hirose †,¶ , L. Rand †,§ , M. M. Brook *,† , and A. J. Moon- Grady *,† * Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA Author Manuscript † The Fetal Treatment Center, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA ‡ Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA § Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA ¶ Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA Abstract Author Manuscript Objectives—Twin-reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence affects 1% of monochorionic twin pregnancies and is caused by abnormal vascular connections between a pump twin and an acardiac mass. The effects of abnormal vascular connections on cerebral vasculature in the pump twin are unknown. We hypothesize that abnormal cerebral vascular impedance, as assessed by the pulsatility index (PI), is present in pump twins and that fetal intervention alters cerebral impedance. Methods—Fetal echocardiograms performed between 2010 and 2013 in pregnancies diagnosed with TRAP (n = 19), recorded at presentation, and uncomplicated monochorionic twin pregnancies (controls, n = 18; 36 fetuses) were analyzed. In all subjects, the middle cerebral artery (MCA)-PI, combined cardiac output (CCO) and cardiothoracic ratio were calculated, and the values for cases and controls were compared. Author Manuscript Results—The mean gestational age at the time of echocardiography was 20 weeks in both groups. MCA-PI was lower in TRAP cases than in controls (1.55 (95%CI, 1.47–1.64) vs 1.74 (95% CI, 1.65–1.82), respectively; P = 0.004). CCO in TRAP cases was mildly elevated for gestational age (199.7 (95% CI, 138.4–261.1) mL/min) compared with that of controls (131.4 (95% CI, 102.2–160.7) mL/min). In six TRAP cases with a second echocardiogram available, the mean MCA-PI increased after intervention, from 1.5 (95%CI, 1.3–1.7) to 1.8 (95% CI, 1.4–2.2). Conclusions—TRAP pump twins have lower cerebral vascular impedance than do controls, suggestive of a brain-sparing effect. MCA-PI appeared to increase in a small group of pump twins Correspondence to: Dr S. Peyvandi, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, 505 Parnassus Ave Box 0214, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA (shabnam.peyvandi@ucsf.edu).
Reflections of a novice researcher.

■ Nurses can benefit from active participation in research activities.■ Involvement in research is not just an academic pursuit but is essential for effective, quality care.■ Nurses should actively seek the support of colleagues and research support structures to enable involvement in research.■ Clinical nurses are capable of making an important research contribution.
Hydrogen adsorption and diffusion on Pd(1 1 1)

Abstract The adsorption, diffusion and ordering of hydrogen on Pd(1 1 1) was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy in the temperature range of 37–90 K. At low coverage isolated hydrogen atoms were observed. They formed √3×√3-1H islands as the coverage increased. Above 1/3 monolayer (ML) coverage areas of a new phase with √3×√3-2H structure were formed, with both structures coexisting between 1/3 and 2/3 ML. Finally a 1 × 1 structure was formed after high exposures of hydrogen above 50 K, with a coverage close to 1 ML. Atomically resolved images reveal that H binds to fcc hollow sites.
Purification of host factor required for in vitro transcription of poliovirus RNA.

Abstract A host cell protein (host factor) which is required for the in vitro transcription of poliovirus RNA has been purified to near homogeneity from an uninfected HeLa cell ribosomal salt wash. A single protein with an approximate molecular weight of 67,000 is associated with this “host factor” activity. The purified host factor catalyzes the synthesis of genome-length copies of poliovirion RNA in the presence of poliovirus RNA polymerase. Oligo(U) can replace host factor in this reaction. The RNA product synthesized in the presence of host factor is shown to be complementary to virion RNA.
Automated Cruise Flap for Airfoil Drag Reduction over a Large Lift Range

A small trailing-edge e ap, often referred to as a cruise e ap or camber-changing e ap, can be used to extend the low-drag range of a natural-laminar-e ow airfoil. Automation of such a cruise e ap is likely to result in improved aircraft performance over a large speed range without an increase in the pilot work load. An important step in achieving the automation is to arrive at a simple approach for determination of the optimum e ap angle for a given airfoil lift coefe cient. This optimum e ap angle can then be used in a closed-loop control system to set the e ap automatically. Two pressure-based schemes are presented for determining the optimum e ap angle for any given airfoil lift coefe cient. The schemes use the pressure difference between two pressure sensors on the airfoil surface close to the leading edge. In each of the schemes, for a given lift coefe cient, this nondimensionalized pressure difference is brought to a predetermined target value by dee ecting the e ap. It is shown that the drag bucket is then shifted to bracket the given lift coefe cient. This nondimensional pressure difference, therefore, can be used to determine and set the optimum e ap angle for a specie ed lift coefe cient. The two schemes differ in the method used for the nondimensionalization. The effectiveness of the two schemesisverie ed using computational and windtunnel results for two NASA laminar e ow airfoils. Finally, an aircraft performance simulation approach is used to analyze the potential aircraft performance benee ts while addressing trim drag considerations.