cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advertising Images of Mature Adults: An Update

Abstract Data generated from a 1990 content analysis of magazine advertisements and television commercials do not support the contention that media portrayals of late adulthood and mature people have increased or have changed over the past decade because of shifts in the population. The results indicate that the portrayals cannot be considered negative; mature adults are typically described as happy, knowledgeable, and confident. They appear frequently in caring and helping roles, such as grandparents, which may be stereotypic, and in authority and wisdom roles; although in these roles, women are under represented. Mature adults may comprise a larger segment of the market than in the past; their presence in advertising remains somewhat scant and circumscribed.
HDAC4 Protein Regulates HIF1α Protein Lysine Acetylation and Cancer Cell Response to Hypoxia

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF1α) is an essential part of the HIF-1 transcriptional complex that regulates angiogenesis, cellular metabolism, and cancer development. In von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-null kidney cancer cell lines, we reported previously that HIF1α proteins can be acetylated and inhibited by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors or specific siRNA against HDAC4. To investigate the mechanism and biological consequence of the inhibition, we have generated stable HDAC4 knockdown via shRNA in VHL-positive normal and cancer cell lines. We report that HDAC4 regulates HIF1α protein acetylation and stability. Specifically, the HIF1α protein acetylation can be increased by HDAC4 shRNA and decreased by HDAC4 overexpression. HDAC4 shRNA inhibits HIF1α protein stability. In contrast, HDAC1 or HDAC3 shRNA has no such inhibitory effect. Mutations of the first five lysine residues (lysine 10, 11, 12, 19, and 21) to arginine within the HIF1α N terminus reduce protein acetylation but render the mutant HIF1α protein resistant to HDAC4 and HDACi-mediated inhibition. Functionally, in VHL-positive cancer cell lines, stable inhibition of HDAC4 decreases both the HIF-1 transcriptional activity and a subset of HIF-1 hypoxia target gene expression. On the cellular level, HDAC4 inhibition reduces the hypoxia-related increase of glycolysis and resistance to docetaxel chemotherapy. Taken together, the novel biological relationship between HDAC4 and HIF1α presented here suggests a potential role for the deacetylase enzyme in regulating HIF-1 cancer cell response to hypoxia and presents a more specific molecular target of inhibition.
Solvation and ion binding in a non-aqueous surfactant lamellar phase

Abstract The solvation and counterion binding were investigated by NMR in the lamellar phase area of the system formamide/sodium dodecyl sulphate/decanol. Comparison of the 23 Na quadrupolar splittings with those from the analogous aqueous system indicates a greater interaction with non-aqueous lamellar surfaces; primarily a consequence of the relatively weaker interaction between the solvent and surfactant headgroups. Deuterium splittings from the formamide are discussed in terms of a two-state model with fast exchange between bound and essentially isotropic liquid states similar to the corresponding aqueous systems.
Induction of AMPK activity corrects early pathophysiological alterations in the subtotal nephrectomy model of chronic kidney disease

The rat kidney ablation and infarction (A/I) model of subtotal or 5/6th nephrectomy is the most commonly studied model of nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD). The A/I kidney at 1 wk exhibits reductions in kidney function, as determined by glomerular filtration rate, and diminished metabolic efficiency as determined by oxygen consumption per sodium transport (QO2/TNa). As renoprotective AMPK activity is affected by metabolic changes and cellular stress, we evaluated AMPK activity in this model system. We show that these early pathophysiological changes are accompanied by a paradoxical decrease in AMPK activity. Over time, these kidney parameters progressively worsen with extensive kidney structural, functional, metabolic, and fibrotic changes observed at 4 wk after A/I. We show that induction of AMPK activity with either metformin or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide increases AMPK activity in this model and also corrects kidney metabolic inefficiency, improves kidney function, and ameliorates kidney fibrosis and structural alterations. We conclude that AMPK activity is reduced in the subtotal nephrectomy model of nondiabetic CKD, that altered regulation of AMPK is coincident with the progression of disease parameters, and that restoration of AMPK activity can suppress the progressive loss of function characteristic of this model. We propose that induction of AMPK activity may prove an effective therapeutic target for the treatment of nondiabetic CKD.
Exploring polarmetric infrared using classic image computing methods

In this paper we apply classic image computing methods to a dataset of passive polarmetric long wave infrared data (LWIR). By employing several different pattern recognition techniques such as k-means clustering, support vector machine (SVM), Naive Bayes, and AdaBoost, we demonstrate accurate classification of skin vs. background with an 84% average classification rate. In addition we explored classification using different polarmetric features such as degree of linear polarization (DoLP), angle of linear polarization (AoLP), and the newly introduced, delta and rho functions.
THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF SYNTHETIC GRIMSELITE, K3Na[(UO2)(CO3)3](H2O)

Crystals of grimselite, K 3 Na[(UO 2 )(CO 3 ) 3 ](H 2 O), were synthesized by room-temperature evaporation of an aqueous solution. The structure of grimselite is hexagonal, a 9.302(2), c 8.260(3) A, V 618.9(3) A 3 , space group P 62 c , Z = 2. The crystal structure was refined on the basis of F 2 for all 546 unique reflections measured using Mo K α X-radiation and a CCD-based detector to an R 1 of 2.55%, calculated using the 459 unique observed reflections with F o ≥ 4σ F . Consistent with other uranyl carbonates with a U : C ratio of 1 : 3, the structure of grimselite contains the uranyl tricarbonate cluster [(UO 2 )(CO 3 ) 3 ], which consists of a uranyl hexagonal bipyramid that shares three equatorial edges with (CO 3 ) triangles. The uranyl tricarbonate clusters are oriented perpendicular to [001] and are interconnected through bonds to Na and K polyhedra.
Drug trafficking stories: Everyday forms of Narco-folklore on the U.S.–Mexico border

Abstract The United States government's so-called "War on Drugs" is predicated on the idea that drug consumption and drug trafficking are unequivocally harmful and dangerous activities that the country's population will fear and reject. Yet, ethnographic findings from the U.S.–Mexico border indicate that drug trafficking has become such a common activity that it has generated its own sub-cultural style, including music and folklore. To date, anthropological studies of border drug-trafficking culture have mainly focused on narcocorridos , a genre of Mexican folk/pop music that celebrates and chronicles the drug trade and the lives of high-level traffickers. These studies provide valuable insights into the inner workings of drug organizations and the cultural context from which they emerge. However, most workers in the drug trade are not the wealthy superheroes or villains portrayed in narcocorridos. They are common people whose primary motivation for engaging in drug trafficking is economic survival. Drawing on a rich folklore about drug-trafficking that has become pervasive in the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez border region, this ethnographic study shows how drug commerce has become a "normal," expectable part of everyday life. The quotidian folklore surrounding drug trafficking indicates the degree to which the drug trade affects border residents on multiple levels. The desensitizing of the population to drug trafficking, as illustrated by everyday drug folklore, and its very mundaneness in the border region, are a direct challenge to the idea that the government is winning the "Drug War."
Using Qualitative Research

A renewed urgency has emerged in the qualitative health research community concerning the utility of qualitative research. This urgency is the result of several converging trends in health care research, including the elevation of practical over basic knowledge, proliferation of qualitative health research studies, and the rise of evidence-based practice as a paradigm and methodology for health care. Diverse conceptualizations of use and users exist, and these have different implications for understanding, demonstrating, and enhancing the utility of qualitative research findings. Issues affecting the utilization of these findings include the varied ways in which they are conceived, presented, synthesized, signified, and translated, and the complex repertoire of skills required to activate the knowledge transformation cycle in qualitative health research fully.
The acute phase response and soman-induced status epilepticus: temporal, regional and cellular changes in rat brain cytokine concentrations

Neuroinflammation occurs following brain injury, including soman (GD) induced status epilepticus (SE), and may contribute to loss of neural tissue and declined behavioral function. However, little is known about this important pathological process following GD exposure. Limited transcriptional information on a small number of brain-expressed inflammatory mediators has been shown following GD-induced SE and even less information on protein upregulation has been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to further characterize the regional and temporal progression of the neuroinflammatory process following acute GD-induced SE. The protein levels of 10 cytokines was quantified using bead multiplex immunoassays in damaged brain regions (i.e., piriform cortex, hippocampus and thalamus) up to 72 hours following seizure onset. Those factors showing significant changes were then localized to neural cells using fluorescent IHC. A significant concentration increase was observed in all injured brain regions for four acute phase response (APR) induction cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Increases in these APR cytokines corresponded both temporally and regionally to areas of known seizure damage and neuronal death. Neurotoxic cytokines IL-1α and IL-1β were primarily expressed by activated microglia whereas the potentially neuroprotective cytokine IL-6 was expressed by neurons and hypertrophic astrocytes. Increases in neurotoxic cytokines likely play an active role in the progression of GD-induced SE neuropathology though the exact role that these and other cytokines play in this process require further study.
Investigation of Structure Development in Mod Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 Films by an Optical Method

For i roving the metalorganic decomposition (MOD) process, such that perovskite Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 thin films can be fabricated at low temperatures, understanding of structure development is required. Here we report a nondestructive optical method for investigating the structure development in MOD PZT films. Using this method we have identified the temperatures at which the formation of both pyrochlore and perovskite was completed as a function of Zr/Ti ratio. Also for PZT solid solutions, we have identified the temperatures at which the initial presence of both pyrochlore and perovskite was observed. These temperatures compare very well with those obtained from the X-ray diffraction studies. In contrast to X-ray methods, the proposed technique can also be effectively utilized for studying the pyrochlore formation from the amorphous phase. Furthermore, it was also shown that the optical method can be used for characterizing the phase transformation kinetics in PZT films.
Computer-Based Analysis of Preoperative and Postoperative Prognostic Factors in 100 Patients with Combined Aortic and Mitral Valve Replacement

From 1963 to 1971, aortic and mitral valves were replaced in 100 patients; 22 died in hospital. Follow-up in survivors is 100%. Catheterization was performed preoperatively in 99 patients and postoperatively in 85% of survivors. The influence of 19 preoperative potential risk factors on hospital mortality, postoperative symptomatic improvement, and long-term survival (assessed by monthly cohort-adjusted survival tables) was determined. Long-term survival was also assessed by comparing average values of the various risk factors in patients surviving 1, 2, and 3 years with values in patients who died during these intervals. In addition, changes induced by operation were studied 6 months postoperatively and their value in predicting subsequent longevity assessed. Significant (P < 0.05) findings were: a higher hospital mortality in patients with left atrial pressures ≥30 mm Hg or with fabric-covered valves; less postoperative symptomatic improvement in older patients; lower long-term survival rate in men and ...
Optimizing narrow-wall slotted waveguide arrays using HOBIES

The narrow-wall slotted waveguide array is widely used in many radar applications and is complicated to analyze. Previous works have been reported on how to analyze the structure. However, it is the first time that the optimization results of this waveguide array antenna are presented in this paper. Two optimization examples are given and results show that the radiation patterns are improved after optimization.
Reflective surfaces for cooler buildings and cities

Abstract Many roofs and pavements are dark coloured. In warm and sunny climates these surfaces become hot by absorbing sunlight. This can have the undesirable conseauences of increasing the heat flow into the building beneath the hot roofs, which then increases the demand for air conditioning. The hot surfaces also heat the outside air, again increasing air conditioning demand but also increasing the concentration of ozone (smog). We estimate the benefits of replacing (as part of routine maintenance) the present dark surfaces with more reflective surfaces. We conclude that it is a practical way to save energy and to reduce smog in warm climates.
Eliciting honest value information in a batch-queue environment

Markets and auctions have been proposed as mechanisms lor efficiently and fairly allocating resources in a number of different computational settings. Economic approaches to resource allocation in batch-controlled systems, however, have proved difficult due to the fact that, unlike reservation systems, every resource allocation decision made by the scheduler affects the turnaround time of all jobs in the queue. Economists refer to this characteristic as an "externality", where a transaction affects more than just the immediate resource consumer and producer. The problem is particularly acute for computational grid systems where organizations wish to engage in service-level agreements but are not at liberty to abandon completely the use of space-sharing and batch scheduling as the local control policies. Grid administrators desire the ability to make these agreements based on anticipated user demand, but eliciting truthful reportage of job importance and priority has proved difficult due to the externalities present when resources are batch controlled. In this paper we propose and evaluate the application of the Expected Externality Mechanism as an approach to solving this problem that is based on economic principles. In particular, this mechanism provides incentives for users to reveal information honestly about job importance and priority in an environment where batch-scheduler resource allocation decisions introduce "externalities" that affect all users. Our tests indicate that the mechanism meets its theoretical predictions in practice and can be implemented in a computationally tractable manner.
Growth and survival of selected lines of eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin 1791) affected by juvenile oyster disease

Abstract Juvenile oyster disease (JOD) has had severe impacts on eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, culture in the northeastern United States in recent years. JOD mortalities in Maine have resulted in juvenile crop losses exceeding 90%. Previous research has demonstrated an inverse relationship between oyster size and JOD-induced mortality; thus the use of genetically selected broodstock along with specific management options may help manage JOD-related mortality. The goals of this project were to determine the size specificity and temporal and spatial variability of JOD outbreaks with respect to several lines selected for fast growth. Two lines (including within line unselected controls) having undergone two generations of selection for faster growth, along with an unselected wild line, were deployed during the 1994–1995 growing seasons at two sites in the Damariscotta River, ME, an estuary historically impacted by JOD. Periodic monitoring of size (shell height and live weight) and mortality of replicate cohorts was conducted to track oyster growth and incidence of JOD-induced mortalities. Due to the asynchrony of spat deployment between the cohorts, differences among lines were not feasible to evaluate, but within two lines (Flowers G 2 and Milford G 2 ), selected sublines both outgrew the within line controls and had lower rates of JOD-induced mortality. The reduced mortality in the selected sublines presumably resulted from their faster growth and hardiness thus enabling the cohort to reach a refuge size/age sooner and reduce its susceptibility to JOD.
A1 Reduction in Intact Cyanobacterial Photosystem I Particles Studied by Time-Resolved Step-Scan Fourier Transform Infrared Difference Spectroscopy and Isotope Labeling †

Time-resolved step-scan Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectroscopy, with 5 mus time resolution, has been used to produce P700(+)A(1)(-)/P700A(1) FTIR difference spectra in intact photosystem I particles from Synechococcus sp. 7002 and Synechocystis sp. 6803 at 77 K. Corresponding spectra were also obtained for fully deuterated photosystem I particles from Synechococcus sp. 7002 as well as fully (15)N- and (13)C-labeled photosystem I particles from Synechocystis sp. 6803. Static P700(+)/P700 FTIR difference spectra at 77 K were also obtained for all of the unlabeled and labeled photosystem I particles. From the time-resolved and static FTIR difference spectra, A(1)(-)/A(1) FTIR difference spectra were constructed. The A(1)(-)/A(1) FTIR difference spectra obtained for unlabeled trimeric photosystem I particles from both cyanobacterial strains are very similar. There are some mode frequency differences in spectra obtained for monomeric and trimeric PS I particles. However, the spectra can be interpreted in an identical manner, with the proposed band assignments being compatible with all of the data obtained for labeled and unlabeled photosystem I particles. In A(1)(-)/A(1) FTIR difference spectra obtained for unlabeled photosystem I particles, negative bands are observed at 1559 and 1549-1546 cm(-)(1). These bands are assigned to amide II protein vibrations, as they downshift approximately 86 cm(-)(1) upon deuteration and approximately 13 cm(-)(1) upon (15)N labeling. Difference band features at 1674-1677(+) and 1666(-) cm(-)(1) display isotope-induced shifts that are consistent with these bands being due to amide I protein vibrations. The observed amide modes suggest alteration of the protein backbone (possibly in the vicinity of A(1)) upon A(1) reduction. A difference band at 1754(+)/1748(-) cm(-)(1) is observed in unlabeled spectra from both strains. The frequency of this difference band, as well as the observed isotope-induced shifts, indicate that this difference band is due to a 13(3) ester carbonyl group of chlorophyll a species, most likely the A(0) chlorophyll a molecule that is in close proximity to A(1). Thus A(1) reduction perturbs A(0), probably via a long-range electrostatic interaction. A negative band is observed at 1693 cm(-)(1). The isotope shifts associated with this band are consistent with this band being due to the 13(1) keto carbonyl group of chlorophyll a, again, most likely the 13(1) keto carbonyl group of the A(0) chlorophyll a that is close to A(1). Semiquinone anion bands are resolved at approximately 1495(+) and approximately 1414(+) cm(-)(1) in the A(1)(-)/A(1) FTIR difference spectra for photosystem I particles from both cyanobacterial strains. The isotope-induced shifts of these bands could suggest that the 1495(+) and 1414(+) cm(-)(1) bands are due to C-O and C-C modes of A(1)(-), respectively.
P2X7 receptor agonists pre- and postcondition the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury by opening pannexin-1/P2X7 channels

Protection of the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury can be achieved by ischemic preconditioning and ischemic postconditioning. Previous studies revealed that a complex of pannexin-1 with the P...
The Role of Sleep in Motor Learning

Numerous factors affect motor learning, and its subsequent consolidation into effortlessly retrievable motor memories. Evidence from sleep research suggests a role for sleep in motor learning and motor memory consolidation. Optimal motor performance on a recently learned task is facilitated by sleepmediated consolidation of motor memories. Yet, sleep independent motor memory consolidation occurs for few tasks and do not appear to hamper performance. Growing evidence, however, is suggestive of a facilitative role for sleep in motor learning. Meanwhile the mechanisms underlying sleepmediated consolidation of motor memories are not clear, and the possible relevance of hippocampus to motor memory in the context of sleep-state awaits exploration.
IR Thermal Imaging of a Monkey’s Head: Local Temperature Changes in Response to Somatosensory Stimulation

The past two decades have produced dramatic advances in the diagnostic imaging of the structure of the human brain, but there is a relative lack of techniques for the noninvasive characterization of neural function. Much progress has been made with techniques such as PET (Positron Emission Tomography, Phelps and Maziotta 1985) and SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) which measure blood flow or glucose uptake associated with tissue metabolism, but these techniques require internalization of radioactive tracers, a factor which compromises their overall utility. In addition, these techniques require complex and expensive instrumentation (e.g., a PET scanner must be located in close proximity to a cyclotron) which limits their availability.
Reply: Patent Holdup and Royalty Stacking

We argued in our paper, "Patent Hold-Up and Royalty Stacking," that the threat to obtain a permanent injunction greatly enhances the patent holder's negotiating power, leading to royalty rates that exceed a benchmark level based on the value of the patented technology and the strength of the patent. John Golden, in his extensive comment on our paper, claims: "Lemley and Shapiro err when they claim to have proven that 'patentees whose inventions are only one component of a larger product are systematically overcompensated.'" However, the error is Golden's not ours. When patentees systematically capture value they did not create from others who did create it, they are being overcompensated by any reasonable measure, including the standard economic models on which we relied. In Part II, we briefly respond to his criticism of our empirical study of court-awarded reasonable royalties. Finally, Golden also claims that our recommendation to reduce the availability of permanent injunctions to patent holders who have claims to reasonable royalties but not lost profits remedy "threatens to distort markets for innovation." We strongly disagree. It is patent holdup, which skews damages in ways more favorable to reasonable royalties, that distorts markets for innovation. A rule such as the one we propose, in which damages are calibrated to compensate patentees for their loss, is sensible public policy.
The alignment error of the hole-drilling method

The hole-drilling method is one technique for measuring residual stresses. All the existing equations for the calculation of residual stresses are based on the assumption that the hole is located at the rosette center. In this paper, the stress-strain relationship for the eccentric hole case has been derived and expressed in terms of the off-center distance and the polar angle. The alignment error is studied and demonstrated by two examples, namely, a uniaxial-stress field and a hydrostatic-stress field. The error analysis yielded the following typical result: ten percent of hole radius off-center will yield about five-percent measurement error for the standard rosette (EA-09-062-RE-120).
Bring the Popcorn: Using Film to Teach Sexual and Reproductive Health

The use of film as a teaching modality offers an opportunity for nursing students to explore the intersections of science, theory, and personal values prior to caring for clients with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs. Although the use of a broad range of arts and humanities modalities in the classroom is described in the literature, the use of film in relationship to teaching SRH has not been explored. Furthermore, there is a paucity of literature regarding the didactic or clinical teaching of SRH in nursing education. This article provides a framework for incorporating film as a teaching strategy into both case-based and problem-based teaching pedagogies. Reviews and discussion questions of films are provided.
Research on a Method for Purification and Multiplication of PTGMS Lines

[Objective] The aims was to explore PTGMS line purification and multiplication technology. [Method]Three commercial PTGMS lines,Annong 810S,P88S and C815S,were used in this study. In the first year,two sterile line populations with same genetic background were multiplied by dividing seedling; meanwhile,selection and multiplication of the core individuals were conducted; within the year,the core seeds harvested were multiplied under the isolated condition in Hainan,and at the same time,superior individuals were selected and used as the seeds for two populations with same genetic background in the next year. In the second year,seeds harvested in Hainan were planted in Changsha,while the core individuals were selected and multiplied; the core seeds harvested were continued to multiply in Hainan. The above procedures were repeated in the following years. [Result] The test results showed that in two years the proportion of core individuals in the population of Annong 810S,P88S and C815S increased from 40. 3%,0. 7% and 0. 3% in the first year to 71. 67%,66. 00% and 68. 67% in the second year respectively. [Conclusion]This suggested that this method of purification and multiplication of the PTGMS lines for consecutive years can effectively control the drift of the critical sterility inducing temperature,and at the same time,core seeds with high purity and controlled inducing temperature can be harvested.
Care of the Elderly Mechanically Ventilated Patient: Preserving the Fragile Environment

Caring for the elderly mechanically ventilated patient is a challenging and increasingly frequent clinical situation confronting critical nurses. The key complications and states to which the elderly patient is particularly susceptible are nosocomial pneumonia; congestive heart failure; malnutrition; reactions to medications, especially antibiotics, morphine sulfate, and valium; changes in mental status, and pneumothorax. These can significantly contribute to multisystem deterioration. It is unclear which mode of ventilation is best for sustaining the patient during the course of illness or the weaning process. It is critical to recognize the assessment indicators of failed weaning. Paramount in this assessment are rapid shallow breaths, change in blood pressure of 20 mmHg, change in respiratory rate of more than 10 breaths per minute, tidal volume of less than 250 to 300 mL, a minute ventilation with an increase of 5 L/minute, and an oxygen saturation of less than 90% per pulse oximeter. Research in these areas is needed.
Measuring nutrition attitude among university students.

An attitude scale was developed to measure how open an individual is to nutrition-related concepts.
Catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation: antral pulmonary vein isolation and elimination of nonpulmonary vein triggers are sufficient.

Since its original description in 1998, the technique of catheter-based atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation has undergone several modifications.1 Currently, many operators use an anatomic approach consisting of circumferential lesions encircling individual or ipsilateral pulmonary veins (PVs) with additional empirical left atrial (LA) ablation (lines), whereas others perform a more PV-specific approach using entrance/exit block to validate isolation, deferring any additional non-PV lesions unless clinically indicated.2–7 Despite these differences in technique, the outcome data for AF patients undergoing ablation seem remarkably consistent between centers, with overall single procedure efficacy of ≥70% in achieving long-term arrhythmia control for patients with paroxysmal AF but significantly lower success rates for patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF. These observations imply that the mechanisms underlying persistent/long-standing persistent AF may be different from paroxysmal AF. It has been posited that once in the persistent stage, the underlying substrate rather than triggers alone maintains this arrhythmia. Although this hypothesis remains to be proven, it has nevertheless resulted in the development of adjunctive substrate modification strategies for patients with more established forms of AF.8–11 Among the various substrate modification strategies currently being used, complex fractionated electrogram (CFE) ablation is the most popular. This technique was originally described by Nademanee et al,8 where by targeting CFEs exclusively these investigators were able to achieve long-term arrhythmia control after a single procedure in up to 70% of patients with persistent AF. However, subsequent attempts by other investigators have not yielded comparable results.12,13 Despite this inconsistency, many centers are targeting CFEs as a part of the ablation strategy in this group of patients. Contrary to this practice and regardless of the type of AF, our group at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has consistently used an approach comprising pulmonary …
Seasonal variations of the 7Be solar neutrino flux

Measuring the {sup 7}Be solar neutrino flux is crucial towards solving the solar neutrino puzzle. The Borexino experiment, and possibly the KamLAND experiment, will be capable of studying the {sup 7}Be neutrinos in the near future. We discuss (1) how the seasonal variation of the Borexino and KamLAND data can be used to measure the {sup 7}Be solar neutrino flux in a background independent way and (2) how anomalous seasonal variations might be used to discover vacuum neutrino oscillations, independent of the solar model and the measurement of the background. In particular, we find that, after three years of Borexino or KamLAND running, vacuum neutrino oscillations can be either established or excluded for almost all values of (sin{sup 2}h2{theta},{Delta}m{sup 2}) preferred by the Homestake, GALLEX, SAGE, and Super-Kamiokande data. We also discuss how well seasonal variations of the data can be used to measure (sin{sup 2}h2{theta},{Delta}m{sup 2}) in the case of vacuum oscillations. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Private Insurance System Concerns

As compared to a public health insurance system, a private system faces unique challenges related to ethics and efficiency. Public systems are not immune to moral hazard efficiency challenges, but they take different approaches to solving them. This article first considers why private systems fall short of providing cradle-to-grave universal coverage financed by a progressive tax structure. It discusses the regulations and private market solutions that arise to address problems in private systems and compares them to approaches taken in public systems. Some of these regulations which are motivated by ethical concerns can inadvertently contribute to the instability of private insurance markets.
One size does not fit all : generalising entrepreneurial insights in a world of differences

This article is an introduction to the special issue on 'Entrepreneurship: Cross-National and Cross-Cultural Perspectives'. Besides providing overviews of the six articles published in the special issue, we discuss some of the challenges that arise when scholars explore cross-national and cross-cultural perspectives in entrepreneurship.
The S.M.A.R.T. (small mass, affordable, rapid, transfer-less) digestion method for heavy metal determinations

ABSTRACTThe S.M.A.R.T. (small mass, affordable, rapid, transfer-less) digestion method was developed to determine heavy metal concentrations in small sample masses. The S.M.A.R.T. digestion method is a hot water bath digestion where sample digestion and dilution are performed in the original sample tube. This method is faster than the typical methods used and reduces potential sources of error. Masses as small as 0.01 g have been digested and analysed using this method. The preparation and digestion time is reduced from 10 h to less than 4 h. Acid volumes are reduced from millilitres to microlitres and the only disposable supplies needed are sample tubes and pipette tips. Method accuracy was determined by digesting seven replicates of two standard reference materials using the S.M.A.R.T. method and analysing samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The S.M.A.R.T. digestion method was found to provide excellent recoveries for Al (76 ± 2.7%), Mn (99 ± 11%), Co (92 ± 17%), Ni (93 ± 28%), Cu (...
When your patient dies by suicide; aftermath and implications

Over fifty percent of psychiatrists will have at least one patient die by suicide while in treatment and some will have more than one patient suicide during the course of their career. The impact of patient suicide on the personal and professional lives of those psychiatrists can be profound. Personally, many suffer a grief reaction than can progress to depression in some cases. Almost all experience a sense of shock upon first learning of the event. Feelings of guilt are also common. Professionally, many fear disapproval from peers and may never again treat a suicidal patient. Some psychiatrists leave the field completely or go into administration so that they never have to treat patients again. Surveys of training programs have found that most provide training in the assessment of suicide risk and in the management of the suicidal patient but there is minimal training in how to deal with the aftermath of a patient suicide. There is a need to teach and to help practicing psychiatrists, at whatever stage in their career, cope with the stress that occurs when one of their patients dies by suicide during the course of therapy. Important issues are how and when to contact family members and other survivors, whether or not to attend a funeral or memorial service and what and what not to do regarding discussing the case with others. The risk of litigation also is influenced by how psychiatrists behave after patient suicide occurs. The case of Ernest Hemingway is used as an example to illustrate some of these concepts.
Reproducibility of Central Corneal Thickness Measurements in Healthy and Glaucomatous Eyes.

Author(s): Realini, Tony; Gurka, Matthew J; Weinreb, Robert N | Abstract: PurposeThe purpose of this study is to characterize intraday and interday variation in central corneal thickness (CCT) in healthy and glaucomatous subjects.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, 40 healthy subjects and 42 subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent CCT measurements by ultrasonic pachymetry on 5 days over 1 year: first at baseline, then at 1 week and 1, 6, and 12 months after baseline. On 1visit, CCT was measured every 2 hours from 08:00 to 20:00. Intraday CCT variance was compared with interday CCT variance.ResultsMean CCT at all visits and time points ranged from 561 to 574 µm in healthy eyes and from 548 to 563 µm in glaucomatous eyes. The mean intraday CCT range (highest minus lowest readings) was 21±10 µm in healthy participants and 21±10 µm in glaucoma patients. The mean interday CCT range was 27±13 µm in healthy participants and 24±14 µm in glaucoma patients. Within-subject variance was significantly larger among the interday CCT measurements than the intraday CCT measurements in both healthy subjects and glaucoma patients (Pl0.0001 for both) demonstrating that measurements taken on separate days are more different than measurements taken on the same day. Interday CCT differences of ≥30 µm were seen in 27.7% of normal subjects and 30% of glaucoma patients.ConclusionsCCT measurements exhibit intraday and interday variation, with the latter being significantly greater than the former. A single CCT assessment inadequately characterizes CCT and may impact risk assessment in patients with suspect and/or diagnosed glaucoma.
Simultaneous Preferences for Hedging and Doubling Down: Focal Prospects, Background Positions, and Nonconsequentialist Conceptualizations of Uncertainty

Most theories of decision making are consequentialist. They presume that people evaluate prospects on the basis of potential outcomes. However, people may often conceptualize prospects in part nonconsequentially. Consider someone evaluating a new, “focal” prospect given an unresolved “background” position to which that person is already exposed. If the two are positively correlated, the individual may conceptualize the focal prospect as a bet “with” the individual’s background position; if they are negatively correlated, the individual may conceptualize the focal prospect as a bet “against” the individual’s background position. Because people like to be consistent, this nonconsequentialist conceptualization may induce a taste for betting “with” the background position. Such bets constitute risk-seeking doubling down, not risk-averse hedging. Indeed, we observe that relative to corresponding background-less choices, participants with unresolved background positions are relatively risk-seeking, favoring pos...
Effect of counseling quality on anxiety, grief, and coping after second-trimester abortion for pregnancy complications.

Abstract Objective We sought to explore the relationship between counseling quality, measured by shared decision making and decision satisfaction, and psychological outcomes (anxiety, grief, and posttraumatic stress) after second-trimester abortion for pregnancy complications. Study design We conducted a cross-sectional study of women who underwent second-trimester abortion for complications. We recruited participants from Facebook and online support groups and surveyed them about counseling experiences and psychosocial issues. We used multivariate linear regression to evaluate relationships between counseling quality and psychological outcomes. Results We analyzed data from 145 respondents. Shared decision making and decision satisfaction scores were positively and strongly correlated in bivariate analysis (r=0.7, p Conclusions Decision satisfaction and shared decision making have a positive effect on psychological outcomes after second-trimester abortion for pregnancy complications. Counseling quality may be especially important in this setting given the sensitive nature of decisions regarding pregnancy termination for complications. Implication These results highlight the importance of patient-centered counseling for women seeking pregnancy termination.
Quantitative ray methods for scattering by tilted cylinders

After a review of ray methods and phenomena associated with high frequency scattering by spheres and cylinders in water viewed broadside, generalizations to tilted cylinders relevant to spectral and imaging domains will be summarized. These extensions were found to be useful for meridional as well as helical ray backscattering enhancements associated with leaky (or supersonic) waves on shells [F. J. Blonigen and P. L. Marston, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112, 528–536 (2002)]. For such enhancements, Fermat’s principle is useful for identifying ray paths of interest. In the case of helical waves (and in the broadside special case) the scattering amplitude can be expressed in terms of a Fresnel patch area where the guided wave is excited on the shell. Fresnel patches also give insight into the relatively large magnitude of meridional ray contributions. The coupling coefficient is proportional to the radiation damping of the leaky wave. For some shells it is necessary to take into account the anisotropy of the phase ...
Autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy: Prospective evaluation of 90 patients in 1 year.

In this prospective evaluation of serum and CSF samples, all but two CSF GFAPα-IgG positive patients had autoimmune meningoencephalomyelitis while serum GFAPα-IgG positivity alone was less specific. Phenotypes were diverse among patients that were serum positive only. Adult and pediatric clinical presentations were similar. Most patients were immunotherapy responsive. Co-existing NMDA-R-IgG and cancer were associated with lack of response to first-line immunotherapy. Among patients with follow-up information, 18% had relapses. This study demonstrates CSF GFAPα-IgG is a specific autoimmune meningoencephalomyelitis biomarker, with favorable corticosteroid response. Lack of response should prompt evaluation for co-existing NMDA-R-IgG or malignancy.
We The People's Executive

Perhaps to no one’s surprise, a recent survey found that most Americans know far more about television hits than they know about the United States Constitution. For instance, 52% of Americans surveyed could name at least two characters from The Simpsons, and 41% could name at least two judges from American Idol. Meanwhile, a mere 28% could identify more than one of the rights protected by the First Amendment.Surveys such as this help clear up one of the apparent mysteries of the last five years: How did we change so quickly from a nation in which the rule of law seemed deeply entrenched to a nation that has seen an astonishingly successful executive power grab?The answer, is that many Americans — including those who serve in Congress — neither know nor care very much about our constitutional system. Although the subject of constitutional checks and balances is a matter of endless interest to most of the people who populate America’s law schools, the rule of law and the protection of constitutional rights turn out to be matters of extreme indifference to quite a few of our fellow citizens.
Vitamin D in Kidney Disease

Aside from their role in calcium and phosphate metabolism, the hormone 1,25(OH) 2 dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol) and its parent compounds also play a crucial role in maintaining the function of the cardiovascular, immune, hematopoietic, and metabolic organ systems. All aspects of vitamin D metabolism are affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), including the precursor cholecalciferol synthesis, the prohormone calcidiol as well as calcitriol synthesis and their breakdown. Thus, deficiency in vitamin D compounds is widespread among patients with CKD, with potentially significant impact on their morbidity and mortality. Judicious supplementation with either calcitriol (and its analogs) or their precursors offers the possibility to ameliorate the side-effects of loss of kidney function, reduce morbidity, and improve survival in this high-risk population.
Survey Instrument Validity Part II: Validation of a Survey Instrument Examining Athletic Trainers' Knowledge and Practice Beliefs Regarding Exertional Heat Stroke

Context: Instrument validation is an important component to sound survey research methods. Objective: The purpose of this article is to discuss the process of developing and validating an instrument to investigate an athletic trainer's attitudes and behaviors regarding the recognition and treatment of exertional heat stroke. Background: Following up from our initial paper, which discussed the process of survey instrument design and validation, we present the practical application of those general guidelines as described by Netemeyer and colleagues. Description: There are four basic steps to developing a valid survey instrument: (1) defining the construct, (2) item development and judgment, (3) designing and conducting studies to develop a survey, and (4) finalizing the instrument. Following these steps, we present our survey instrument used to evaluate an athletic trainer's knowledge and practice beliefs regarding exertional heat stroke. Conclusions: Following the process of survey development and validat...
Synthesis of Expanded Porphyrinoids with Azulene and Indene Subunits and an opp-Dioxadicarbaporphyrin from Fulvene Carbinols and a Dioxacarbatripyrrin.

In an attempt to prepare quatyrin derivatives, which are hydrocarbon analogues of the porphyrins, azulene-appended fulvene carbinols were self-condensed in the presence of BF3·Et2O. Although these investigations failed to give structures related to quatyrin, expanded porphyrin analogues were obtained instead. In dichloromethane, the major macrocyclic product consisted of three fulvene units, but when chloroform was used as the reaction solvent, a tetrafulvene macrocycle was isolated. Self-condensation of a furan-appended fulvene alcohol gave trace amounts of an opp-dioxadicarbaporphyrin. An alternative route to this novel system was developed where a dioxacarbatripyrrin was condensed with an indene dialdehyde in the presence of HBr. The heterodicarbaporphyrinoid proved to have strong globally aromatic properties as assessed by 1H NMR spectroscopy, anisotropy of induced current density, and NICS calculations. In the presence of excess trifluoroacetic acid, an unstable aromatic cation was formed by C-proton...
PLGA microsphere/PVA hydrogel coatings suppress the foreign body reaction for 6 months

Abstract The application of dexamethasone releasing poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres embedded in a poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel coatings have been successfully used in the suppression of the foreign body response (FBR) to implantable glucose sensors. In the current study, dexamethasone-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared by blending two types of PLGA polymers (RG503H and DLG7E with MW of ca. 25 kDa and 113 kDa, respectively) to achieve long-term (6 months) inhibition of the FBR. The microsphere composition was optimized according to the in vitro drug release profiles. Microspheres with DLG7E/RG503H/dexamethasone = 70/13.3/16.7 wt% composition, when embedded in a PVA hydrogel, provided a continuous drug release for 6 months. By combining the aforementioned microspheres with microspheres composed solely of the DLG7E polymer within a similar PVA hydrogel realized an even longer (>7 months) in vitro drug release. A heat map was constructed to depict the daily in vitro drug released and elucidate possible lag phases that could affect the pharmacodynamic response. These drug-loaded implant coatings were investigated in vivo (rat model) and showed inhibition of the foreign body response for 6 months. These results suggest that the minimum effective daily dose to counter chronic inflammation is ca. 0.1 μg per mg of coating surrounding a 0.5 × 0.5 × 5 mm silicon implant (dummy sensor). Accordingly, these drug-eluting composite coatings can ensure long-term inflammation control for miniaturized implantable devices.