cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical Treatment for Refractory Epilepsy: Review of Patient Evaluation and Surgical Options

Treatment of epilepsy often imposes an exposure to various antiepileptic drugs and requires long-term commitment and compliance from the patient. Although many new medications are now available for the treatment of epilepsy, approximately 30% of epilepsy patients still experience recurrent seizures and many experience undesirable side effects. Treatment of epilepsy requires a multidisciplinary approach. For those patients with medically refractory seizures, surgical treatment has increased in prevalence as techniques and devices improve. With increased utilization, proper patient selection has become crucial in evaluating appropriateness of surgical intervention. Epilepsy syndromes in which surgery has shown to be effective include mesial temporal sclerosis, cortical dysplasia, many pediatric epilepsy syndromes, and vascular malformations. Monitoring in an epilepsy monitoring unit with continuous scalp or intracranial EEG is an important step in localization of seizure focus. MRI is the standard imaging technique for evaluation of anatomy. However, other imaging studies including SPECT and PET have become more widespread, often offering increased diagnostic value in select situations. In addition, as an alternative or adjunct to surgical resection, implantable devices such as vagus nerve stimulators, deep brain stimulators, and direct brain stimulators could be useful in seizure treatment.
PENETRATION OF LIGHT INTO PLANTS

A previous lack of attention to the relationship between light gradients and physiological processes probably stems from the fact that light gradients and other characteristics of the light microenvironment within plants are difficult to calculate and measure. However, within the last 5 years, new experimental methods and novel aproaches have been introduced that now make it possible to characterize the light regime within plants
Guns, alcohol, and intimate partner violence: the epidemiology of female suicide in New Mexico.

Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, and in women the second leading cause of injury death overall. Previous studies have suggested links between intimate partner violence and suicide in women. We examined female suicide deaths to identify and describe associated risk factors. We reviewed all reports from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator for female suicide deaths occurring in New Mexico from 1990 to 1994. Information abstracted included demographics, mechanism of death, presence of alcohol/drugs, clinical depression, intimate partner violence, health problems, and other variables. Annual rates were calculated based on the 1990 census. The New Mexico female suicide death rate was 8.2/100,000 persons per year (n = 313), nearly twice the U.S. rate of 4.5/100,000. Non-Hispanic whites were overrepresented compared to Hispanics and American Indians. Decedents ranged in age from 14 to 93 years (median = 43 years). Firearms accounted for 45.7% of the suicide deaths, followed by ingested poisons (29.1%), hanging (10.5%), other (7.7%), and inhaled poisons (7.0%). Intimate partner violence was documented in 5.1% of female suicide deaths; in an additional 22.1% of cases, a male intimate partner fought with or separated from the decedent immediately preceding the suicide. Nearly two-thirds (65.5%) of the decedents had alcohol or drugs present in their blood at autopsy. Among decedents who had alcohol present (34.5%), blood alcohol levels were far higher among American Indians compared to Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites (p = .01). Interpersonal conflict was documented in over 25% of cases, indicating that studies of the mortality of intimate partner violence should include victims of both suicide and homicide deaths to fully characterize the mortality patterns of intimate partner violence.
The Use of the Clinical Resource Nurse to Solve the Eternal Dilemma of Financial Responsibility Versus Staffing Requirements

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program This pilot quality improvement project provides data to support a creative option that involves the use of a clinical resource nurse to support units with high percentages of new‐to‐practice staff, and also improves nursing satisfaction, complies with new staffing guidelines set by a professional organization, and improves patient flow. Proposed Change A 2‐week pilot project of the clinical resource nurse (CRN) was implemented on a labor and delivery floor in an academic medical center with 772 beds. This concept was tested for five main reasons: (a) increased acuity, (b) new staffing guidelines, (c) high percentages of new to practice staff, (d) high percentages of nurse turnover rates, and (e) low nurse satisfaction scores. To implement the pilot project, an extra registered nurse (RN) was assigned as the clinical resource nurse on every shift (excluding weekends) resulting in over budgeting (one extra RN was needed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) for a 2‐week period. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation A core group of nurses were selected to continue the role of CRN 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. A PowerPoint presentation was created as a resource for all staff, and education continued surrounding the daily responsibilities of this nurse by a clinical level IV nurse. During the trial period this role focused on the use of the CRN on the labor and delivery floor, but upon implementation the scope of this role was expanded to be a resource for the newly developed antepartum unit (APU). This requires the CRN to assess the APU every 4 hours and assist with admissions and overseeing the management of nursing care for patients. A preimplementation and postimplementation survey was given to 32 nurses based on the Likert scale. Results showed increased perceived quality of care provided to patients and increased feelings of having the necessary resources for help when they need them. Furthermore, the results showed an increased perception of improved quality of patient care with 50% of respondents rating their care as excellent posttrial as opposed to only 16% pretrial. A decrease in incident reports was also noted. Implications for Nursing Practice This pilot indicated that a CRN may be useful in areas with high rates of new‐to‐practice nurses. In the short period of time, nurses reported increased perceived quality of care along with resources needed for complex patients. Patient flow was improved as well as possible improved quality of care related to the decrease in incident reports filed.
Homologous regions of collagen α1(I) and α1(II) chains: Apparent clustering of variable and invariant amino acid residues

Summary The amino acid sequence of 75 residues from the central portion of the α1(II) chain of bovine cartilage collagen is reported and compared to that of a homologous region of the α1(I) chain of bovine skin collagen. The comparison suggests that collagen α chains contain regions with a high level of sequence variability alternating with other regions displaying few, or no, interchain sequence differences. The presence of two residues of galactosylhydroxylysine in the α1(II) sequence, absent in α1(I), suggest reasons for the relatively high carbohydrate content of α1(II).
Is early DNR a self-fulfilling prophecy for patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage?

Background To investigate differences in outcome of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) based on institution of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order within first 24 h of admission.
Activity-dependent neuronal plasticity following tissue injury and inflammation

Increases in neuronal activity in response to tissue injury lead to changes in gene expression and prolonged changes in the nervous system. These functional changes appear to contribute to the hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain associated with tissue injury. This activity-dependent plasticity involves neuropeptides, such as dynorphin, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide, and excitatory amino acids, such as NMDA, which are chemical mediators involved in nociceptive processing. Unilateral inflammation in the hindpaw of the rat results in an increase in the expression of preprodynorphin and preproenkephalin mRNA in the spinal cord, which parallels the behavioral hyperalgesia associated with the inflammation. Cellular intermediate-early genes, such as c-fos, are also expressed in spinal cord neurons following inflammation and activation of nociceptors. Peripheral inflammation results in an enlargement of the receptive fields of many of these neurons. Dynorphin applied to the spinal cord also induces an enlargement of receptive fields. NMDA antagonists block the hyperexcitability produced by inflammation. A model has been proposed in which dynorphin, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide enhance excitability at NMDA receptor sites, leading first to dorsal horn hyperexcitability and then to excessive depolarization and excitotoxicity.
Outside and in: development of neuronal excitability.

Abstract Investigation of the development of excitability has revealed that cells are often specialized at early stages to generate Ca2+ transients. Studies of excitability have converged on the central role of Ca2+ and K+ channels in the plasmalemma that regulate Ca2+ influx and have identified critical functions for receptor-activated channels in the endoplasmic reticulum that allow efflux of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The parallels between excitability in these two locations motivate future work, because comparison of their properties identifies shared attributes.
Heat Shock Protein 90-Mediated Peptide-Selective Presentation of Cytosolic Tumor Antigen for Direct Recognition of Tumors by CD4+ T Cells

Tumor Ag-specific CD4+ T cells play important functions in tumor immunosurveillance, and in certain cases they can directly recognize HLA class II-expressing tumor cells. However, the underlying mechanism of intracellular Ag presentation to CD4+ T cells by tumor cells has not yet been well characterized. We analyzed two naturally occurring human CD4+ T cell lines specific for different peptides from cytosolic tumor Ag NY-ESO-1. Whereas both lines had the same HLA restriction and a similar ability to recognize exogenous NY-ESO-1 protein, only one CD4+ T cell line recognized NY-ESO-1+ HLA class II-expressing melanoma cells. Modulation of Ag processing in melanoma cells using specific molecular inhibitors and small interfering RNA revealed a previously undescribed peptide-selective Ag-presentation pathway by HLA class II+ melanoma cells. The presentation required both proteasome and endosomal protease-dependent processing mechanisms, as well as cytosolic heat shock protein 90-mediated chaperoning. Such tumor-specific pathway of endogenous HLA class II Ag presentation is expected to play an important role in immunosurveillance or immunosuppression mediated by various subsets of CD4+ T cells at the tumor local site. Furthermore, targeted activation of tumor-recognizing CD4+ T cells by vaccination or adoptive transfer could be a suitable strategy for enhancing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy.
Triiodothyronine stimulation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate accumulation in fat cells.

White fat cells from normal rats treated with 200 μg of L-3,5,3’-triiodothyronine (T-3) exhibited an increased lipolytic response to norepinephrine and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3’, 5’-monophosphate. No increase in lipolytic response of T-3 treated cells was observed in the presence of growth hormone and dexamethasone. Cells from both hypophysectomized and normal rats treated with T-3 showed marked increases in accumulation of cyclic adenosine 3’,5’-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and glycerol release as compared to control cells in the presence of catecholamine and theophylline. Little effect of T-3 treatment was seen on cyclic AMP accumulation in the presence of catecholamine alone or in the absence of lipolytic agents. The administration of 25 micrograms of T-3 to normal female rats 18 hours prior to sacrifice was equally as effective as 200 micrograms in stimulating cyclic AMP accumulation of fat cells incubated with catecholamines and theophylline. There was a lag period of about 5½ hours after subcutane...
The 2002 revision of the American Psychological Association's ethics code: Implications for school psychologists

The Ethical Principles for Psychologists and Code of Conduct has been recently revised. The organization of the code changed, and the language was made more specific. A number of points relevant to school psychology are explicitly stated in the code. A clear advantage of including these items in the code is the assistance to school psychologists negotiating ethical dilemmas in their work setting. This article provides an overview of the revisions in the code most applicable to school psychologists and a detailed analysis of three areas of the code: psychological assessment, the implications and application of the modifiers in the code that guide ethical decision making and correct conduct, and diversity issues. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gender imbalances in history: causes, consequences and social adjustment

This article surveys the causes, consequences and social adjustments of gender-imbalanced populations. Though recent studies emphasize the role of medical technology in creating gender imbalances, historical and biological evidence shows that they have deeper and more tangled roots. Female-selective abortion, sperm sorting and other innovations are essentially new wrinkles in a very old social problem. How past societies struggled with and rectified gender imbalances offers insight into how contemporary and future societies might do so – and into the price they will pay if they ignore the problem.
Formation of Wrinkle Patterns on Porous Elastomeric Membrane and Their Fabrication of Hierarchical Architectures

We report the formation of wrinkle patterns on porous elastomeric membrane and their fabrication of hierarchical architectures through mechanical stretching and replica molding. The technique builds upon a buckling instability of a stiff layer supported by a porous elastomeric membrane which was induced by surface plasma oxidation of the pre-stretched porous elastomer followed by removal of the applied mechanical strain to form wrinkle patterns, and replica molding of the deformed features on the porous membrane into epoxy to form hierarchical architectures through casting the UV-curable epoxy prepolymer and UV curing. We find that due to the existence of micropores on the membrane, the formation of wrinkle patterns is different from that formed on a continuous elastomeric film, and by varying the applied mechanical stretching strain condition and plasma oxidation condition, the wrinkle patterns could be either confined by the micropores on the membrane to exhibit a wavelength equal to its pitch or form wrinkles with much large wavelength compared with that formed on a continuous elastomeric film. Therefore, the micropillar arrays fabricated by replica molding could stand on different types of wrinkle patterns to form different hierarchical architectures. The method we illustrate here offers a simple and cost-effective approach to fabricate various hierarchical structures, and provides possibilities for potential applications in various fields, such as microfluidics, micro- and nanofabrication of complex structures, crystal formation, cell attachment, superhydrophobicity and dry adhesion.
Fast approximation of matrix coherence and statistical leverage

The statistical leverage scores of a data matrix are the squared row-norms of any matrix whose columns are obtained by orthogonalizing the columns of the data matrix; and, the coherence is the largest leverage score. These quantities play an important role in several machine learning algorithms because they capture the key structural nonuniformity of the data matrix that must be dealt with in developing efficient randomized algorithms. Our main result is a randomized algorithm that takes as input an arbitrary n × d matrix A, with n ≫ d, and returns, as output, relative-error approximations to all n of the statistical leverage scores. The proposed algorithm runs in O(nd log n) time, as opposed to the O(nd2) time required by the naive algorithm that involves computing an orthogonal basis for the range of A. This resolves an open question from (Drineas et al., 2006) and (Mohri & Talwalkar, 2011); and our result leads to immediate improvements in coreset-based l2-regression, the estimation of the coherence of a matrix, and several related low-rank matrix problems. Interestingly, to achieve our result we judiciously apply random projections on both sides of A.
Epi-Paleozoic Hypersalinity and Marine Biotic Extinctions: ABSTRACT

From consideration of the volumes of halite and associated salts deposited since the Permian, one must infer that either seawater at the close of the Paleozoic was hypersaline compared with seas of today (35^pmil salinity); or, although 6 million cu km or more of salt has been precipitated from the world ocean in highly varying amounts at irregular intervals since the Permian, an equal volume of salt has gone into solution. Data from analysis of sedimentary sulfur-isotope ratios strongly support the former inference. Concordant, but more speculative, support also is available from aridity indices. A condition of hypersalinity in the oceans during the Permian Period would explain the known patterns of Permian extinctions. Evidence suggests that those marine taxa (e.g., echinoderms, fusulines, coelenterates) with the lowest tolerance for salinity variability were the group within the entire Permian biota that suffered the greatest proportion of extinctions at the close of the Paleozoic. Such an explanation is more consistent with a uniformitarian earth than causes sought in cosmic radiation variability or pulses, which should have affected terrestrial organisms more strongly than marine taxa. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1783------------
Training YMCA Wellness Instructors to Deliver an Adapted Version of the Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention

Purpose The purpose of this article is to describe efforts to develop and administer a formal curriculum to train community workers to deliver a group-based adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention in YMCA settings. The DPP demonstrated that a structured diet and physical activity intervention that achieves and maintains modest weight loss for overweight adults with impaired glucose tolerance can significantly reduce the development of diabetes. Although tens of millions of American adults could benefit from access to the DPP lifestyle intervention, there currently is no available model for nationwide dissemination of this highly beneficial and cost-effective approach to diabetes prevention. A description of 2 ongoing randomized pilot studies provides information about the feasibility and effectiveness of future efforts to apply this new training curriculum on a national scale. Conclusions Diabetes educators are challenged to partner with community organizations and other health care workers for extensive distribution of the DPP lifestyle intervention messages.
Detecting redundant accesses to array data

Alleviating memory access delays is crucial to har­ nessing the potential of hierarchical-mem ory, high­ performance systems, especially vector and parallel systems. In typical numerical appl ications, a signif­ icant portion of global memory data traffic arises from accesses to blocks of array elements or regions. Mem­ ory access delays due to such traffic can be reduced by using compile-time information to detect when lo­ cal data can be reused, thereby eliminating redundant global memory accesses. In this paper, we present a compile-time algorithm that applies combined flow and dependence analysis to programs with vector and paral­ lel constructs to detect such redundancies across loop s nests, and in the presence of conditionals. We also show how this mform ation can be used to eliminate redundancies.
CTH02-5: Non-linear Turbo Codes for Interleaver-Division Multiple Access on the OR Channel

This paper presents an interleaver-division multiple access (IDMA) based architecture with single-user decoding using parallel concatenated non-linear trellis codes (PC-NLTCs). These PC-NLTCs are designed specifically for the Z-Channel that arises in a multiple-user OR channel when each user treats the other users as noise. Over the OR multiple access channel (OR-MAC) single-user decoding permits operation at about 70% of the full multiple access channel sum capacity. In order to reach the sum capacity of the OR-MAC, these codes employ a ones density of much less than 50%. A union bound technique that predicts the performance of these codes under maximum- likelihood (ML) decoding is presented. The uniform interleaver analysis presented in this paper can be applied to any asymmetric channel, as long as an additive distance can be defined. Results for different numbers of users and a sum-rate of 60% are presented.
Contest behavior and other reproductive efforts in aging breeders: a test of residual reproductive value and state-dependent models

Two models have been proposed to explain age-related changes in reproductive performance. State-dependent models predict that reproductive effort depends on the magnitude of surplus energy reserves, which often varies with age. Contrary to this prediction, there was no significant effect of starvation on the outcome of contests for carcasses by female Nicrophorus orbicollis despite weight loss by starved females relative to controls. The residual reproductive value (RRV) model predicts that individuals adjust their current reproductive effort based on potential for future reproduction. Younger adults are predicted to restrain reproductive effort because they are less willing to risk their potentially longer reproductive careers. This model was tested empirically for several components of reproduction. Age was found to be strongly correlated with dominance when two similarly sized females discovered a carcass on the same day. Age also had a small positive effect on egg mass and was positively correlated with ovipositing at least one egg. Age did not affect nesting performance (the degree of carcass burial or the value of a prepared carcass for another female). Age also had no effect on fecundity when a female bred alone but was an important factor when two females were in direct competition. Changing RRV related to aging appears to be a robust determinant of contest outcomes in burying beetles, but effects on other components of reproductive effort in the present and previous studies are more variable, perhaps because of effects of changing state.
College in the State Capital: Does it Increase the Civic Engagement of Political Science Undergraduate Majors?

A major public university is located in or very near over half of American state capitals, and political science departments at these universities advertise the special advantages that such a location brings to their students. For example, the political science department of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln advertises its internship programs: “As Lincoln is the seat of state government, students have an opportunity to observe government in action. Political Science has a vibrant internship program where students may intern with the state legislature, the governor's office, and other agencies of state government. Internships are also available with local interest groups, non-profit agencies, corporations, and political parties” (University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2005). Such opportunities for students are meaningful, however, only if they have some significant effect on student learning or engagement. It is reasonable that colleges and universities would emphasize the advantages that their location in a state capital might offer; colleges use both their campus and their local community to appeal to students (Choy and Ottinger 1998). Yet there is scant research to confirm any of the effects that colleges advertise.An earlier version of this article was presented at the 2005 meeting of the American Political Science Association. The authors thank Lindsey Lupo, Charles Turner, and the anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions.
MI-ANFIS: A multiple instance Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System

We introduce a novel adaptive neuro-fuzzy architecture based on the framework of Multiple Instance Fuzzy Inference. The new architecture called Multiple Instance-ANFIS (MI-ANFIS), is an extension of the standard Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) [1] that is designed to handle reasoning with multiple instances (bags of instances) as input and capable of learning from ambiguously labeled data. In multiple instance problems the training data is ambiguously labeled. Instances are grouped into bags, labels of bags are known but not those of individual instances. Multiple Instance Learning (MIL) deals with learning a classifier at the bag level. Over the years many solutions to this problem have been proposed. However, no MIL formulation employing fuzzy inference exists in the literature. In this paper, we develop MI-ANIFS that generalizes ANFIS inference systems to account for ambiguity and reason with multiple instances. We also develop a learning algorithm to learn the parameters of MI-ANFIS. The proposed MI-ANFIS is tested and validated using a synthetic and benchmark data sets suitable for MIL problems.
Decade in review-translational rheumatology: Ten years after: rheumatology research from bench to bedside.

Defining key advances in any medical discipline can be challenging, but is especially so in rheumatology—a rapidly advancing field so broad that it defies traditional classifications. Here, we approach the Sisyphean task of summarizing the translational advances in rheumatology in the past decade within several broad categories of basic research.
Super nested arrays: Sparse arrays with less mutual coupling than nested arrays

In array processing, mutual coupling between sensors has an adverse effect on the estimation of parameters (e.g., DOA). Sparse arrays, such as nested arrays, coprime arrays, and minimum redundancy arrays (MRAs), have reduced mutual coupling compared to uniform linear arrays (ULAs). With N denoting the number of sensors, these sparse arrays offer O(N2) freedoms for source estimation because their difference coarrays have O(N2)-long ULA segments. These arrays have different shortcomings: coprime arrays have holes in the coarray, MRAs have no closed-form expressions, and nested arrays have relatively large mutual coupling. This paper introduces a new array called the super nested array, which has all the good properties of the nested array, and at the same time reduces mutual coupling significantly. For fixed N, the super nested array has the same physical aperture, and the same hole-free coarray as does the nested array. But the number of sensor pairs with separation λ/2 is significantly reduced. Many theoretical properties are proved and simulations are included to demonstrate the superior performance of these arrays.
Early olfactory determinants of adult responsiveness to social status odors in Mus musculus.

Male weanling mice ( Mus musculus ) were exposed from 25 to 34 days of age to pooled urine collected from either dominant or subordinate adults. When sexually mature, the 67-day-old adults underwent training designed to give the subject either a domininant or subordinate social status. Each adult was then tested for response to the odor of freshly collected urine of dominant and subordinate donors. Responsiveness of adult males to social status odors depended upon the status of the adult male urine he smelled during his early post-weaning development. This long term influence interacted with adult social status effects and the quality of the odor source.
Linear aerospike engine

A description is presented of a dual-fuel modular split-combustor linear aerospike engine concept. The considered engine represents an approach to an integrated engine for a reusable single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle. The engine burns two fuels (hydrogen and a hydrocarbon) with oxygen in separate combustors. Combustion gases expand on a linear aerospike nozzle. An engine preliminary design is discussed. Attention is given to the evaluation process for selecting the optimum number of modules or divisions of the engine, aspects of cooling and power cycle balance, and details of engine operation.
Influence of Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency on Transport of Fatty Acids into the Liver.

SummaryRats suffering from a severe deficiency of the essential fatty acids show the same rate of incorporation of labeled fatty acids into the liver phospholipids as do rats which have been cured of this deficiency by the administration of 3 to 4 drops of corn oil for 1 month.The rate of incorporation of labeled acid into the liver phospholipids is the same for rats raised on the fat deficient diet as has been previously observed for rats receiving a regular mixed stock diet.
Habitat Patch Utilization Frequencies of Wildness Training Giant Panda and Its Relationship with Patch Resources

The habitat utilization frequencies of the wildness training giant panda Xiangxiang and the relationship with patch resources were studied from July 2003 to September 2004 in Wolong Nature Reserve.We determined the behavior exhibitions and the habitat patch sites from the direct observations,and the habitat patch resources were investigated by the pilot sampling methods.The utilization patch quantities of giant panda were summed to 230(80.99%) of the total patches.There were 190 patches of bamboo,and 87.16% of the all bamboo distribution patches,82.61% of the using patches of the wildness training panda,respectively.The used total area of wildness training panda was analyzed and the results were changed.There were three ecological adaptive processes passed by wildness training panda,the dread phases,the tentative and search phases and the stabilization phases.The territories and the randomicities were small at the beginning released to training enclosure.The second,the territories of wildness panda were augmented and the randomicity was increased,and last,the territories of wildness panda were stabilized gradually along with its adaptability to the environment.Because of small training enclosure and simplex habitat structure,the relationship of the frequency of habitat patch utilization and the patch behavioral exhibition to the one or two compositive factors of the habitat patches was more significant,but no significant to the other factors.
Dasein’s Shadow and the Moment of its Disappearance

In his 1937 lectures, Heidegger searches for Nietzsche’s initial thought of “the Moment”. This paper mimics Heidegger’s pursuit of Nietzsche’s Moment by tracing Heidegger’s own early arrival at the Moment in Being and Time, published 10 years prior to his lectures on Nietzsche. Both Zarathustra and Dasein are chased in and out of an authentic relationship with the Moment by their own shadows, which disappear at midday. Dasein’s shadow is the being that is always closest-at-hand, the being in whom I lose myself in everyday care. Dasein forgets itself in inauthentically securing its identity in that which it cares for and that which it is not, darkness. Yet Dasein also confronts its own finitude in its negative double as it witnesses the daily dwindling of its shadow—the everyday passing away of time.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Serum or Mucosal Isotype-Specific IgG and IgA Whole-Virus Antibody to Influenza A Virus in Swine

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays can be used to detect isotype-specific anti-influenza antibodies in biological samples to characterize the porcine immune response to influenza A virus. The isotype antibody assay is based on an indirect ELISA using whole influenza virus as antigen and detection antibodies directed against porcine IgG and IgA. Samples such as serum, nasal wash, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid allow for evaluation of systemic, upper, and lower respiratory tract mucosal antibody responses, respectively. The isotype ELISA assay is performed in a 96-well format using anti-swine detection antibodies conjugated to an enzyme that catalyze a color change reaction. The optical density of the sample is measured using an automated plate reader. The assay is useful to characterize the IgG or the IgA response to challenge or vaccination against specific influenza virus isolates in different compartments of the immune system.
Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among california community college student-athletes.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of anabolic- androgenic steroid use among a sample of community college student-athletes; also, to compare various aspects of users and nonusers, as well as to describe usage patterns. DESIGN AND SETTING A survey following random stratified cluster sampling techniques was administered to 10 California community colleges. SUBJECTS A group of 1,185 male and female student- athletes. MEASUREMENTS An anonymous 27-item, valid, and reliable questionnaire was administered surveying anabolic-androgenic steroid use and usage patterns. RESULTS Of all student-athletes sampled, 3.3% were anabolic -androgenic steroid users. Gender-specific incidence rates were 4.2% for males and 1.2% for females. Anabolic- androgenic steroid users tended to be older males, usually in their second year of college. The users were more often minorities. Users believed that they were knowledgeable about anabolic-androgenic steroids, and that the rates of usage were higher than reported. Their sources of steroid information were often lifting partners and fellow athletes. Use of these drugs was most often in cycles (mean of 6.7 weeks) and was frequently done using multiple anabolic-androgenic steroids at a time. The average number of cycles completed was 2.9. A wide variety of steroids were used by the student-athletes, of which most were obtained from illegal sources. CONCLUSIONS Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among Califonia community college student-athletes were similar to other previous research studies involving high school and university student-athletes.
Drug Toxicity in Kidney Disease: A Standardized Patient Case for Clerkship Students.

Abstract Introduction A disconnect appears to exist for medical students between learning drug facts in a basic science context and applying those facts in a clinical context when they begin workin...
Climate Models for the Study of Paleoclimates

Climate models of various complexity have been formulated to study different aspects of climate and climate change. Climate models that have been found to be particularly suitable for paleoclimate studies are described here and examples of applications of each model type are given. Excluded from this survey are atmosphere and ocean general circulation models.
Long-term effects of mental disorders on marital outcomes in the National Comorbidity Survey ten-year follow-up

Purpose Epidemiological research has consistently shown an association between mental disorders and marital dissolution. However, this research mostly examined the association of divorce as a risk factor for mental illness. This study prospectively examined the associations of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders with future marital dissolution and new marriages in a representative population sample.
Probabilistic μ upper bound using linear cuts

Abstract As a direct extension of the structured singular value μ framework from the worst-case to the probabilistic robustness analysis, probabilistic μ defines a probability measure of performance assuming some distribution on the uncertainty. Exact computation of probabilistic μ is intractable. Standard branch and bound methods with axially aligned cuts had been applied to compute a hard upper bound for probabilistic μ which failed to give satisfactory solutions. This paper explores the use of linear cuts in the upper bound computation, which involves the construction of an implicit system. The bounds achieved are exact for rank-one problems. The algorithm has also been tested on random matrices and the results will be compared to those obtained by the standard B&B algorithm.
Invasive Species Management Impacts on Native and Nonnative Ferns in an Urban Forest Spore Bank

ABSTRACT Soil diaspore banks are important temporal refuges for forest plants and, although fern spore banks are prevalent, they are understudied in relation to forest management practices. As urbanization increases, understanding the dynamics of spore bank resources in urban forests becomes increasingly important. Urban forests tend to have a greater propensity for species invasions and present challenges to plant species management not encountered in other managed forests. We studied the impacts of Lonicera maackii removal on fern assemblages aboveground and in diaspore banks in an urban forest. The diaspore bank assemblage had greater richness and abundance of ferns compared to the aboveground assemblage. Six years after management implementation, plots from which L. maackii was removed had fewer fern species and fewer ferns in the spore bank than paired control plots in which the shrub was not removed. Two nonnative ferns typical of residential ornamental plantings and with characteristics of potenti...
The Degenerates of Lake Tahoe: A Study of Persistence in the Social World of Horse Race Gambling. John D. Rosecrance

(1986). The Degenerates of Lake Tahoe: A Study of Persistence in the Social World of Horse Race Gambling. John D. Rosecrance. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 55-57.
Assimilating compact phase space retrievals (CPSRs): comparison with independent observations (MOZAIC in situ and IASI retrievals) and extension to assimilation of truncated retrieval profiles

Abstract. Assimilation of atmospheric composition retrievals presents computational challenges due to their high data volume and often sparse information density. Assimilation of compact phase space retrievals (CPSRs) meets those challenges and offers a promising alternative to assimilation of raw retrievals at reduced computational cost (Mizzi et al., 2016). This paper compares analysis and forecast results from assimilation of Terra/Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) carbon monoxide (CO) CPSRs with independent observations. We use MetOp-A/Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) CO retrievals and Measurement of OZone, water vapor, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides by in-service AIrbus airCraft (MOZAIC) in situ CO profiles for our independent observation comparisons. Generally, the results confirm that assimilation of MOPITT CPSRs improves the Weather Research and Forecasting model with chemistry coupled to the ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation from the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (WRF-Chem/DART) analysis fit and forecast skill at a reduced computational cost compared to assimilation of raw retrievals. Comparison with the independent observations shows that assimilation of MOPITT CO generally improved the analysis fit and forecast skill in the lower troposphere but degraded it in the upper troposphere. We attribute that degradation to assimilation of MOPITT CO retrievals with a possible bias of ∼ 14 % above 300 hPa. To discard the biased retrievals, in this paper, we also extend CPSRs to assimilation of truncated retrieval profiles (as opposed to assimilation of full retrieval profiles). Those results show that not assimilating the biased retrievals (i) resolves the upper tropospheric analysis fit degradation issue and (ii) reduces the impact of assimilating the remaining unbiased retrievals because the total information content and vertical sensitivities are changed.
Integrating Organic Soybean Production on Land Formerly in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Objectives of this research and education program included an examination of tillage and weed management operations for organic farming on CRP land. In 1999, an experiment was initiated at the ISU McNay Research and Demonstration Farm at Chariton, Iowa, to evaluate the effect of four tillage methods for organic soybean production on land formerly in CRP. After demonstrating the success of organic soybeans on CRP land in 1999 (average yield–49.3 bushels/acre), an expansion of this experiment was initiated in 2000 as a longer term study to examine crop rotations and weed management in organic systems on CRP land.
NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE OF CHI RECOMBINATIONAL HOTSPOTS

ABSTRACT Chi is one of a class of sites which affect general recombination. In phage λ, Chi stimulates in its vicinity recombination promoted by the RecBC pathway of Escherchia coli . Our current analysis of Chi sites suggests that Chi is a unique nucleotide sequence 5′ G-C-T-G-G-T-G-G 3′ (or its complement, or both). This result supports the hypothesis that Chi is a recognition sequence for a protein involved in general recombination.
Heterogeneity of Polyclonal Antisera to ADP-Ribose and Their Use as Probes for ADP-Ribosylation in Human Tumor Cells

DNA strand breaks, induced by exposure to chemicals or ionizing radiation stimulate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity (1, 2). The resultant protein modifications have been postulated to comprise an important step in the DNA repair process (3). Inhibitors of the polymerase have been shown to sensitize human fibroblasts (4) and certain tumor cells (5) to ionizing radiation and to inhibit the repair of potentially lethal radiation injury (6, 7). That the response of the tumor cell lines vary, with some showing sensitivity to inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and irradiation while others do not, suggested a need for detailed investigation of the ADP-ribosylation process in these tumor cell lines. In the present study we report the quantitative variations in protein-bound mono(ADP-ribose) levels as well as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activities and cellular NAD levels of various tumor cells. To this end, we also describe the development and characterization of polyclonal antisera to mono(ADP-ribose) and its potential use as a probe for studies of ADP-ribosylation.
Primary Care Provider Practice Patterns and Barriers to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance.

Background & Aims Low rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance are primarily due to provider-related process failures. However, few studies have evaluated primary care provider (PCP) practice patterns, attitudes, and barriers to HCC surveillance at academic tertiary care referral centers. Methods We conducted a web-based survey of PCPs at 2 tertiary care referral centers (133 providers) from June 2017 through December 2017. The survey was adapted from pretested surveys and included questions about practice patterns, attitudes, and barriers to HCC surveillance. We used the Fisher exact and Mann–Whitney rank-sum tests to identify factors associated with adherence to HCC surveillance recommendations, for categoric and continuous variables, respectively. Results We obtained a provider-level response rate of 75% and clinic-level response rate of 100% (133 providers). Whereas most PCPs performed HCC surveillance themselves, one-third deferred surveillance to subspecialists and referred patients to a hepatology clinic. Providers believed the combination of ultrasound and α-fetoprotein analysis to be highly effective for early stage tumor detection and reported using the combination for assessment of most patients. However, PCPs were more likely to use computed tomography– or magnetic resonance imaging–based surveillance for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or decompensated cirrhosis. Most providers believed HCC surveillance to be efficacious for early tumor detection and increasing survival. However, they desired increased high-quality evidence to characterize screening benefits and harms. Providers expressed notable misconceptions about HCC surveillance, including the role for measurement of liver enzyme levels in HCC surveillance and cost effectiveness of surveillance in patients without cirrhosis. They also reported barriers, including not being up to date on HCC surveillance recommendations, limited time in the clinic, and competing clinical concerns. Conclusions In a web-based survey, PCPs reported misconceptions and barriers to HCC surveillance. This indicates the need for interventions, including provider education, to improve HCC surveillance effectiveness in clinical practice.
Rank-Based Empirical Likelihood for Regression Models with Responses Missing at Random

In this paper, a general regression model with responses missing at random is considered. From an imputed rank-based objective function, a rank-based estimator is derived and its asymptotic distribution is established under mild conditions. Inference based on the normal approximation approach results in under coverage or over coverage issues. In order to address these issues, we propose an empirical likelihood approach based on the rank-based objective function, from which its asymptotic distribution is established. Extensive Monte Carlo simulation experiments under different settings of error distributions with different response probabilities are considered. The simulation results show that the proposed approach has better performance for the regression parameters compared to the normal approximation approach and its least-squares counterpart. Finally, a data example is provided to illustrate our method.
Arachidonic acid and colorectal adenoma risk: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background Previous studies have shown a link between increased dietary intake of arachidonic acid (ARA) and colorectal neoplasms. It has been shown that erythrocyte phospholipid membrane concentrations of ARA are strongly determined by genetic variation. Fatty acid desaturase (FADS) controls the rate limiting step in ARA production, and FADS variant rs174537 has been shown to be responsible for up to 18.6% of the variation seen. To determine if a causal association exists between erythrocyte membrane ARA concentrations and colorectal adenomas, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using rs174537 as an instrumental variable (IV). MR analysis was chosen because it is less susceptible to bias and confounding. Patients and methods A case-control study was performed using the Tennessee Colorectal Polyps Study. Patients were matched on age, gender, race, facility site, and year of colonoscopy. Cases were defined as any colorectal adenoma on colonoscopy (n=909) and controls were polyp free (n=855). A two-stage logistic regression was conducted using rs174537 as the IV with the dependent variable being the presence of a colorectal adenoma on colonoscopy. Results Cases were older (59 vs 57 years of age, P<0.0001), and more likely to use alcohol (47.4% vs 19.8%, P=0.001) and to smoke (77.0% vs 66.9%, P<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in: age, sex, alcohol use, body mass index (BMI), or NSAID use when stratified by the rs174537 alleles. Genotype was strongly associated with erythrocyte membrane ARA concentrations (P<0.0001). We found no evidence of an association between our IV (rs174537) and colorectal adenomas (P=0.41). Conclusion In our MR study increased erythrocyte ARA concentrations were not associated with the risk of colorectal adenomas.