cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does pelvic organ prolapse quantification exam predict urethral mobility in stages 0 and I prolapse

Objective: To determine if women with anterior support stages 0 or I by pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) system require Q-tip testing to assess urethral mobility. Methods: A prospective study of 134 women presenting for urogynecologic evaluation were examined and assigned stages of anterior wall support according to the POP-Q system. A Q-tip test was performed and urethral hypermobility was defined as a straining angle ≥30°. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess degree of correlation between POP-Q point Aa position and Q-tip values. Results: The correlation coefficient between point Aa position and Q-tip angle was r=0.787 (P<0.001). Urethral hypermobility was noted in 91% of stage I and 100% of stage II–IV patients. The positive predictive value of Q-tip angle ≥30° in stage I–IV prolapse was 99%. Conclusion: The POP-Q system is highly predictive of straining urethral angle in all stages of prolapse.
Tandem Inter [4 + 2]/Intra [3 + 2] Cycloadditions of Nitroalkenes. Application to the Synthesis of Aminocarbasugars

The tandem inter [4+2]/intra [3+2] cycloaddition of nitroalkenes in the bridged mode was applied to the stereoselective synthesis of β-D-4-amino-2,4-dideoxycarbagulose, a representative aminocarbasugar. The synthesis required only five steps from known materials and delivered the protected aminocarbasugar (−)-20 in excellent yield (see Scheme 9). The success of the synthetic sequence relies on 1) the ability to incorporate O-substituents at the nitroalkene moiety, 2) the identification of a suitably modified chiral dienophile, and in particular 3) the development of specific experimental conditions and protocols that allow for the formation and isolation of the highly sensitive nitroso acetals. The reduction of the C(1) carbonyl group of (+)-19 gave unexpected stereoselectivity, which could be rationalized by a conformational inversion of the substrate (see Scheme 11).
Operating room fires in otolaryngology: risk factors and prevention.

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to characterize the causes of operating room (OR) fires in otolaryngology. Materials and methods A questionnaire was designed to elicit the characteristics of OR fires experienced by otolaryngologists. The survey was advertised to 8523 members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. Results Three hundred forty-nine questionnaires were completed. Eighty-eight surgeons (25.2%) witnessed at least one OR fire in their career, 10 experienced 2 fires each, and 2 reported 5 fires each. Of 106 reported fires, details were available for 100. The most common ignition sources were an electrosurgical unit (59%), a laser (32%), and a light cord (7%). Twenty-seven percent of fires occurred during endoscopic airway surgery, 24% during oropharyngeal surgery, 23% during cutaneous or transcutaneous surgery of the head and neck, and 18% during tracheostomy; 7% were related to a light cord, and 1% was related to an anesthesia machine. Eighty-one percent of fires occurred while supplemental oxygen was in use. Common fuels included an endotracheal tube (31%), OR drapes/towels (18%), and flash fire (where no substrate burned) (11%). Less common fuels included alcohol-based preparation solution, gauze sponges, patient's hair or skin, electrosurgical unit with retrofitted insulation over the tip, tracheostomy tube, tonsil sponge, suction tubing, a cottonoid pledget, and a red rubber catheter. Conclusions OR fire may occur in a wide variety of clinical settings; endoscopic airway surgery, oropharyngeal surgery, cutaneous surgery, and tracheostomy present the highest risk for otolaryngologists. Electrosurgical devices and lasers are the most likely to produce ignition.
Dispersion of surface plasmons in dielectric-metal coatings on concave diffraction gratings

Anomalies in the intensity ofp-polarized light from concave diffraction gratings (Wood's anomalies) have been used to obtain surface plasmon dispersion curves for dielectric-metal layers on the grating surface. These include a 350 A MgF2 layer and Al2O3 layers varying from a few angstroms to over 800 A on an Al substrate. The wavelength range of the incident and diffracted light is from the visible to the vacuum ultraviolet (7,500−500 A). Anomalous polarization peaks for Al2O3 layers in the vacuum ultraviolet (at ∼ 1,600 A) are shown to shift significantly to longer wavelengths for only a few angstroms (up to 50 A) of oxide thickness, while for thicknesses greater than ∼ 50 A any further shift is small. In the visible region (> 4,000 A), on the other hand, the wavelength shifts are small for dielectric thicknesses up to ∼ 50 A, but are large for thicknesses of several hundred angstroms. These results are in substantial agreement with the theoretical dispersion curves for these cases. Also considered are some of the effects of diffusion pump oil.
Topical cannabinoid agonist, WIN55,212-2, reduces cornea-evoked trigeminal brainstem activity in the rat.

Cannabinoids act at receptors on peripheral and central neurons to modulate diverse physiological functions and produce analgesia. Corneal sensory nerves express the CB1 cannabinoid receptor and project to two spatially discrete regions of the lower brainstem, the trigeminal interpolaris/caudalis (Vi/Vc) transition and subnucleus caudalis/upper cervical cord (Vc/C1) junction region. The function of CB1 expression on corneal nerves is not known. To determine if cannabinoid receptors in the anterior eye affect the activity of trigeminal brainstem neurons at the Vi/Vc and Vc/C1 the CB1 agonist, WIN55,212-2 (WIN-2), was applied topically prior to chemical excitation of corneal afferent fibers. In the first series of experiments WIN-2 was applied topically prior to excitation of corneal nociceptors by mustard oil (MO). WIN-2 reduced significantly the number of Fos-like immunoreactive neuronal nuclei (Fos-LI) at the Vi/Vc transition (-46.7+/-8.2%, P<0.05), while smaller non-significant reductions occurred at the Vc/C1 junction region (-20.3+/-7.6%). The selective CB1 antagonist, SR141716A (1mg/kg, i.v.), prevented WIN-2-evoked reduction in Fos-LI after MO. Systemic administration of WIN-2 (1 or 10mg/kg, i.p.) or SR141716A (1mg/kg, i.v.) or topical corneal application of morphine sulfate did not affect Fos-LI produced by MO. In parallel experiments, topical WIN-2 reduced the magnitude of single unit activity recorded at the Vi/Vc transition (-80+/-7%, P<0.025), but not at the Vc/C1 junction region (-34+/-30%) evoked by CO(2) pulses applied to the cornea. Topical morphine did not alter CO(2)-evoked unit activity at either recording location. These results indicated that cannabinoid receptor agonists acted, at least in part, at CB1 receptors in the anterior eye to reduce corneal stimulation-evoked trigeminal brainstem neural activity. Corneal nociceptor-evoked activity at the Vi/Vc transition was reduced significantly by topical WIN-2, while activity at the Vc/C1 junction region displayed only minor decreases. These findings were consistent with the hypothesis that CB1 receptors affect the activity of corneal-responsive neurons that preferentially contribute to homeostasis of the anterior eye and/or reflexive aspects of nociception rather than the sensory-discriminative aspects of corneal nociception.
Choline in the Cell Wall of a Bacterium: Novel Type of Polymer-Linked Choline in Pneumococcus

Radioactive choline is incorporated by pneumococcus (strain R36A) into a polymeric substance from which it can be quantitatively recovered as free choline, after hydrolysis by strong acid. The polymeric substance is insoluble in lipid solvents and can be degraded by periodate. Fractionation studies and chemical analyses suggest that choline is linked to a polysaccharide component of pneumococcal cell wall.
Localization of the 230-kilodalton bullous pemphigoid antigen in cultured keratinocytes: formation of a prehemidesmosome.

Abstract The hemidesmosome is the major attachment structure of the epidermal basal cell visible ultrastructurally in skin. The importance of its components to cultured cell attachment to substratum is not understood, however. A component of the hemidesmosome, the 230-kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen (p230), has been shown to be present in an insoluble or particulate fraction of cultured cells. In order to more fully characterize its potential importance for cell-matrix adhesion in cultured keratinocytes, specific antibodies were raised to the C-terminal region of p230 expressed as a bacterial fusion protein. Such antibodies recognize the hemidesmosome of epidermis, binding on the cytoplasmic region of its plaque. In addition, keratinocytes cultured in a 0.15 m M Ca 2+ -defined medium contain a detergent-resistant pool of p230 which appears to lie in the same focal plane as the culture substrate and has a patchy or irregular distribution by indirect immunofluorescence. Treatment of cultured cells at 4 °C with trypsin or pronase sufficient to release keratinocytes from the culture dish does not affect the electrophoretic migration of p230 on SDS-gels, suggesting that p230 is not exposed to the extracellular space. In cells cultured in 0.15 m M Ca 2+ , 230-kDa BP antigen is localized to discrete clusters resting near the basal plasma membrane of the cell by immunogold staining following brief detergent treatment and fixation. These clusters are approximately 0.1 μm in diameter, which is similar in size to the in vivo hemidesmosome. Fully formed electron dense hemidesmosomal plaques are not observed under the same culture conditions, however. It appears that these clusters are early precursors of the hemidesmosome.
The Quantitative Determination of Surface Oxide Thickness on Deposited Metal Films by Combination Auger Spectroscopy and Inert Gas Ion Bombardment

A technique combining Auger spectroscopy and inert gas ion bombardment has been employed for the determination of
On the use of neural networks in high-energy physics experiments

Abstract We investigate the possibilities for applying neural networks in high-energy physics experiments. After a survey of the main “intelligent behavior paradigms”, we discuss a number of possibilities where this new technology finds its application in particle detectors and particle accelerators. Finally, we comment on commercially available NN-tools, point to their limitations and extrapolate into the future.
An HSV-1 Vector Containing the Rat Tyrosine Hydroxylase Promoter Enhances Both Long-Term and Cell Type-Specific Expression in the Midbrain

A defective herpes simplex virus type one (HSV-1) vector that contains a 6.8-kb fragment of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase promoter (pTHlac-7kb) was examined for its capability to target catecholaminergic cell type-specific expression in the CNS. Cell type-specific expression was assessed by comparison with a control vector (pHSVlac) that uses the HSV-1 immediate early 4/5 promoter to support expression in multiple cell types. In initial experiments comparing expression in catecholaminergic and noncatecholaminergic cell lines, pTHlac-7kb supported a seven- to 20-fold increase in reporter gene expression in catecholaminergic cell lines. Four days after stereotactic injection into the midbrain of adult rats, pTHlac-7kb supported a 10-fold targeting of beta-galactosidase expression to tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta compared with pHSVlac. Expression from pTHlac-7kb was stably maintained for 6 weeks with no significant changes in the pattern of expression. Long-term expression from pTHlac-7kb was confirmed by RNA and DNA analysis. In contrast, reporter gene expression in the midbrain from pHSVlac decreased approximately 30-fold between 4 days and 6 weeks after gene transfer. Thus, within the context of this HSV-1 vector system, the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter enhanced cell type-specific expression and contributed to stable, long-term expression of a recombinant gene product in neurons. The capability to target recombinant gene expression to catecholaminergic neurons in specific brain areas may be useful for studies on the roles of these neurons in brain physiology and behavior.
Modulation of potassium channels in the hearts of transgenic and mutant mice with altered polyamine biosynthesis.

Inward rectification of cardiac I(K1)channels was modulated by genetic manipulation of the naturally occurring polyamines. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was overexpressed in mouse heart under control of the cardiac alpha -myosin heavy chain promoter (alpha MHC). In ODC transgenic hearts, putrescine and cadaverine levels were highly elevated ( identical with 35-fold for putrescine), spermidine was increased 3.6-fold, but spermine was essentially unchanged. I(K1)density was reduced by identical with 38%, although the voltage-dependence of rectification was essentially unchanged. Interestingly, the fast component of transient outward (I(to,f)) current was increased, but the total outward current amplitude was unchanged. I(K1)and I(to)currents were also studied in myocytes from mutant Gyro (Gy) mice in which the spermine synthase gene is disrupted, leading to a complete loss of spermine. I(K1)current densities were not altered in Gy myocytes, but the steepness of rectification was reduced indicating a role for spermine in controlling rectification. Intracellular dialysis of myocytes with putrescine, spermidine and spermine caused reduction, no change and increase of the steepness of rectification, respectively. Taken together with kinetic analysis of I(K1)activation these results are consistent with spermine being a major rectifying factor at potentials positive to E(K), spermidine dominating at potentials around and negative to E(K), and putrescine playing no significant role in rectification in the mouse heart.
Review essay / mental illness and criminal justice

Norval Morris, Madness and the Criminal Law Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1982, 235 pp.
Remembering Helen Tamiris

In March of 1936, when I was still known as Pauline Bubrick, I joined the Dance Project of the WPA's Federal Theatre Project and was assigned to the group directed by Helen Tamiris. I had been a student of Martha Graham since I had turned up at her studio the day after I first saw her perform in 1934, but in the depths of the Depression a paying job as a concert dancer was not easy to find-while bills had to be paid and food put on the table. Thus it was that I had the opportunity to work for more than three years with one of the remarkable women of American dance, and one whose full contribution has yet to be acknowledged. Although Graham remains my greatest inspiration, my regard for Tamiris has grown immeasurably through the years. Helen Tamiris was born Helen Becker in New York City on April 23, 1902, into a poor but cultured family whose social values were to be a dominant influence on her life as a dancer and choreographer. Recognizing her enthusiasm for dance, the family registered her for classes in Duncan-inspired movement at the Henry Street Settlement, located in her neighborhood on the Lower East Side of New York City. Tamiris went on to study Italian ballet at the Metropolitan Opera, where she became a member of the corps de ballet, and Russian ballet at Fokine's studio. Her training was as intensive as her per-
Familial Hirschsprung's disease: study of a Texas cohort.

Objective. To better define the types of transmission of Hirschsprung9s disease (HD) in order to allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment and reduction of attendant morbidity. Methods. A proband with HD was identified. A detailed family history was obtained and a 54-member, five-generation family pedigree constructed and analyzed. Results. Six members of the kindred presented with classic biopsy-proven HD. Two of the six members were a pair of dizygotic twins. Three additional members had symptoms reminiscent of HD or HD variant (neuronal intestinal dysplasia) and were managed nonoperatively. There was one death related to HD. Hirschsprung9s disease was manifested in offspring of both affected parent(s) and unaffected parents. Symptom manifestation was noted to skip generations. Conclusions. Analysis of this kindred lends strong evidence to the possibility of autosomal dominant inheritance. This inheritance has a variable penetrance (expression) that may be a factor of mutation or of a spectrum of the disease, ie a type of neural crestopathy. Kindreds of this sort need to be identified to allow for a complete data collection and understanding of the vagaries of HD transmission. This detailed documentation will allow for earlier diagnosis and effective treatment and possible gene localization of the specific defect.
Behavioral Contagion and Manageability Learning Disability and Regular Education Teachers' Perspectives

Forty-four regular and 39 LD teachers completed the Behavior Manageability and Behavioral Contagion Scales to determine (1) whether teacher group differences in manageability and contagion were present, and (2) which specific behaviors were viewed as most contagious and least manageable. Statistical analyses indicated no significant group differences on either dependent measure. However, socially withdrawn behavior was rated concurrently as most difficult to manage and as least contagious. The more acting-out behaviors (negative aggressive, poor peer cooperation) were, as expected, viewed as most disruptive to other students (contagious). Implications for working with LD students who exhibit problem behaviors in both regular and special class settings are discussed.
The Effect of Incubation Temperature on Recovery of Mesophilic Bacteria from Broiler Chicken Carcasses Subjected to Temperature Abuse

Abstract The optimum temperature to recover mesophilic organisms from temperature-abused broiler chicken carcasses was determined. Twenty broiler carcasses were collected from a commercial processing plant in each of three trials. Ten carcasses were sampled immediately (Day 0 control); 8 carcasses were sampled after holding at 3 C for 3 d, temperature abusing at 25 C for 12 h, and holding them at 3 C for an additional 3 d (temperature abused); and the remaining 2 carcasses were sampled after holding at 3 C for 7 d (Day 7 control). Whole carcass rinses were analyzed using total aerobic plate counts (TPC) and impedimetric detection times (DT) at incubation temperatures of 41, 42, 43, and 44 C. Total plate counts decreased (P
Finding New Words: How I Use Critical Literacy in My Multicultural Teacher Education Classroom.

We must find new words or new combinations of and meanings for old words that more accurately reflect our reality. When we don't—when we resign ourselves to the old words that apportion us less wor...
Sources of Capital for Small Family‐Owned Businesses: Evidence from the National Survey of Small Business Finances

Securing adequate capital is an ongoing challenge for many small family-owned businesses. This article uses data from the 1993 National Survey of Small Business Finances to determine the extent to which small family-owned firms use various types of credit products. Using logistic regression, it also identifies variables that predict the likelihood of using credit. Findings reveal that size, age, and profitability of the firm were the most important predictors. Results also indicate that there were virtually no differences between family-owned and nonfamily-owned businesses in the usage of various credit products.
Enhanced Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigens by Human Alveolar Lymphocytes during Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Responses to mycobacterial and nonmycobacterial antigens were examined in bronchoalveolar cells (BAC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (n=16) and healthy subjects (n=23). DNA synthesis in BAC (but not PBMC) from tuberculosis patients was significantly increased in response to the mycobacterial antigens purified protein derivative (PPD), antigen 85, and mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan but not to nonmycobacterial antigens. The response to PPD was also increased in enriched alveolar lymphocytes from tuberculosis patients (P<.05). The frequency of interferon-gamma but not interleukin-4- or -10-producing cells by ELISAspot was increased in PPD-stimulated BAC from patients with tuberculosis (P<.05). Accessory function of alveolar macrophages for T lymphocyte responses was similar and suppressive activity was variably decreased in tuberculosis patients. Thus, there is compartmentalization of mycobacterial antigen-specific lymphocytes to the lungs during active tuberculosis that on challenge produce a Th1-type cytokine host response.
Information Transfer Effects of Bond Rating Downgrades

This paper investigates information transfer effects of bond rating downgrades measured by equity abnormal returns for industry portfolios. Industry rivals can be subject to two opposing effects, the contagion effect and the competition effect. We find that the net effect is strongly dependent on the original bond rating of the downgraded firm. For investment-grade (speculative-grade) firms, industry abnormal equity returns are negative (positive), which implies a predominant contagion (competition) effect. The analysis reveals a rich pattern of positive and negative correlations across negative credit events, which can be used to improve our understanding of portfolio credit risk models.
Microstructure and properties of Cu-rich 123: Part II. Homogeneous copper and high magnetic Jc

Copper- and yttrium-rich YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 bulk superconductors have been prepared by mixing copper oxide or yttrium oxide in nitric acid and adding the solution to premade stoichiometric YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 followed by annealing. In contrast to materials made by mixing oxide powders, both samples contain copper-rich defects spread homogeneously throughout the grains, either small platelet copper oxide precipitates or bundles of planar defects (Cu–O double planes). These materials also show large magnetic hysteresis at 77 K, comparable to the results obtained from decomposed YBa 2 Cu 4 O 8 . This implies that small copper oxide precipitates and bundles of planar defects are strong flux pinners, and indicates a processing route to producing large amounts of strongly intragranular pinned superconductors. However, the materials also show clean grain boundaries, so an equally valid interpretation is that there is a substantial component of intergranular superconductivity in field, enhancing the effective circuit size to a value far larger than the grain size.
Overestimation of base-rate differences in complex perceptual categories

The optimality of multidimensional perceptual categorization performance was examined for several base-rate ratios, for both integral and separable dimension stimuli, and for complex category structures. In all cases, the optimal decision bound was highly nonlinear. Observers completed several experimental sessions, and all analyses were performed at the single-observer level using a series of nested models derived from decision-bound theory (Maddox, 1995; Maddox & Ashby, 1993). In every condition, all observers were found to be sensitive to the base-rate manipulations, but the majority of observers appeared to overestimate the base-rate difference. These findings converge with those for cases in which the optimal decision bound was linear (Maddox, 1995) and suggest that base-rates are learned in a similar fashion regardless of the complexity of the optimal decision bound. Possible explanations for the consistent overestimate of the base-rate difference are discussed. Several continuous-valued analogues of Kruschke’s (1996) theory of base-rate learning with discrete-valued stimuli were tested. These models found some support, but in all cases were outperformed by a version of decision-bound theory that assumed accurate knowledge of the category structure and an overestimate of the base-rate difference.
Antiplane Shear Waves in Two Contacting Ferromagnetic Half Spaces

The problem of reflection and refraction of antiplane shear (or magneto-elastic) waves at the interface between two ferromagnetic half-spaces with slipping contact (vacuum gap) is studied for waves propagating normal to the direction of the applied external magnetic field which is assumed to be parallel to the interface. We show the existence of new waves that are localized near the interface between the two ferromagnetic media and accompany the reflected and the transmitted waves. We call the new waves as accompanying surface magneto-elastic (ASME) waves; their amplitudes depend upon values of magnetoelastic parameters of the two media and the intensity of the applied magnetic field. We derive closed-form expressions for magnitudes (coefficients) of the reflected, the refracted (transmitted) and the ASME waves. We show that for a range of values of the applied magnetic field the coefficient of the reflected wave increases and that of the transmitted wave decreases with an increase in the magnitude of the applied magnetic field; these coefficients eventually approach 1 and 0, respectively. That is, the applied external magnetic field can totally eliminate the transmitted wave, and can control energies of the reflected, the refracted and the ASME waves.
s-RT-MELT for rapid mutation scanning using enzymatic selection and real time DNA-melting: new potential for multiplex genetic analysis

The rapidly growing understanding of human genetic pathways, including those that mediate cancer biology and drug response, leads to an increasing need for extensive and reliable mutation screening on a population or on a single patient basis. Here we describe s-RT-MELT, a novel technology that enables highly expanded enzymatic mutation scanning in human samples for germline or low-level somatic mutations, or for SNP discovery. GC-clamp-containing PCR products from interrogated and wild-type samples are hybridized to generate mismatches at the positions of mutations over one or multiple sequences in-parallel. Mismatches are converted to double-strand breaks using a DNA endonuclease (Surveyor TM ) and oligonucleotide tails are enzymatically attached at the position of mutations. A novel application of PCR enables selective amplification of mutationcontaining DNA fragments. Subsequently, melting curve analysis, on conventional or nano-technology real-time PCR platforms, detects the samples that contain mutations in a high-throughput and closed-tube manner. We apply s-RT-MELT in the screening of p53 and EGFR mutations in cell lines and clinical samples and demonstrate its advantages for rapid, multiplexed mutation scanning in cancer and for genetic variation screening in biology and medicine.
Split cord malformation and situs inversus totalis: case report and review of the literature

Introduction Situs inversus is a rare condition of visceral transposition in which the spinal axis is rarely affected.
Use of the University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database for study of microbial degradation

Microorganisms are ubiquitous on earth and have diverse metabolic transformative capabilities important for environmental biodegradation of chemicals that helps maintain ecosystem and human health. Microbial biodegradative metabolism is the main focus of the University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database (UM-BBD). UM-BBD data has also been used to develop a computational metabolic pathway prediction system that can be applied to chemicals for which biodegradation data is currently lacking. The UM-Pathway Prediction System (UM-PPS) relies on metabolic rules that are based on organic functional groups and predicts plausible biodegradative metabolism. The predictions are useful to environmental chemists that look for metabolic intermediates, for regulators looking for potential toxic products, for microbiologists seeking to understand microbial biodegradation, and others with a wide-range of interests.
Redox Mechanisms in Blood Vessels

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of virtually every stage of vascular lesion formation, hypertension, and other vascular diseases. We are currently gaining insight into important sources of reactive oxygen species in the vessel wall, including the NADPH oxidases, xanthine oxidase, uncoupled nitric oxide synthase, and mitochondrial sources. Although various reactive oxygen species have pathological roles, some serve as important signaling molecules that modulate vascular tone, growth, and remodeling. In the next several months, a series of articles in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology attempt to further elucidate how reactive oxygen species are produced by vascular cells and the roles of these in vascular homeostasis. This series promises to provide a valuable update on a wide variety of issues related to the biochemistry, molecular biology, and physiology of these important and fascinating molecules.
The Negative Effects of Student Mobility: Mobility as a Predictor, Mobility as a Mediator

Policy discussions on how to improve educational outcomes have traditionally focused on schools and teachers. While schools and teachers have measurable effects on educational outcomes, reforms aimed at only improving schools and teachers have failed to eliminate persistent achievement gaps. Thus, some scholars have argued for a broader, bolder approach to education. These scholars have investigated the effect of nonschool factors, such as health and early childhood care, on educational outcomes. The present study is intended to add to this growing body of literature. Two analyses that were conducted to examine the effect of student mobility on achievement are discussed. The first uses a multi-level analysis to investigate the relationship between student mobility and reading achievement of students. The second analysis uses aggregate school-level data to investigate if student mobility mediates the relationship between a school's socioeconomic status and its academic achievement levels. The results suggest that student mobility is indeed a predictor of academic struggles—at the individual student level as well as the school level—and should be included in the increasing number of conversations aimed at changing social policies to improve student outcomes.
Incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction and of 2-year mortality in 577 elderly patients undergoing noncardiac vascular surgery treated with and without statins.

Of 577 patients, mean age 74 years, undergoing noncardiac vascular surgery, 300 (52%) had carotid endarterectomy, 179 (31%) had lower extremity revascularization, and 98 (17%) had abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Of the 577 patients, 302 (52%) were treated with statins. Perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) occurred in 18 of 302 patients (6%) treated with statins and in 38 of 275 patients (14%) not treated with statins (p = 0.001). Two-year mortality occurred in 18 of 302 patients (6%) treated with statins and in 43 of 275 patients (16%) not treated with statins (p = 0.0002). Perioperative MI or mortality occurred in 34 of 302 patients (11%) treated with statins and in 74 of 275 patients (27%) not treated with statins (p < 0.0001). Stepwise Cox regression analysis showed that significant independent prognostic factors for perioperative MI or death were use of statins (risk ratio = RR = 0.43, p < 0.0001), use of beta blockers (RR = 0.55, p = 0.002), carotid endarterectomy (RR = 0.60, p = 0.009), and diabetes (RR = 1.5, p = 0.045). In conclusion, patients undergoing noncardiac vascular surgery treated with statins had a 57% less chance of having perioperative MI or death at 2-year follow-up after controlling for other variables.
Dysregulated eating behaviors in borderline personality disorder: Are rejection sensitivity and emotion dysregulation linking mechanisms?

The relationship between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and dysregulated eating behaviors is quite strong, with binge-eating and purging frequently found in individuals with BPD both with1, and without2, diagnoses of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Yet, the mechanisms linking these two phenomena are less well known. One potential mechanism is the dysregulation of negative affect, which has been linked to both BPD3 and dysregulated eating4,5. These findings indicate that dysregulated eating behaviors may arise from fluctuations in negative affect, as well as difficulty tolerating negative emotions6-8. There is also evidence indicating that dysregulated eating behaviors may reduce negative affect9. One factor that may contribute to emotion dysregulation in both BPD and dysregulated eating behaviors is rejection sensitivity. Rejection sensitivity refers to the disposition to defensively or anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to situations where rejection is possible10. Essentially, a person with high rejection sensitivity is constantly anticipating rejection, and he or she likely has a low threshold for identifying what are perceived as legitimate signs of rejection. Research on those with high levels of rejection sensitivity has indicated that they are more ready to perceive intentional hurt by significant others, even if the behavior of that significant other is ambiguous or innocuous11. Importantly, no studies to our knowledge have linked rejection sensitivity to dysregulated eating behaviors, although rejection sensitivity has been linked to BPD12. Rejection sensitivity may induce emotion dysregulation and be particularly relevant to dysregulated eating behaviors in BPD. Appearance-related rejection sensitivity, for example, may contribute to purging behaviors in BPD as a method of simultaneously attempting to change appearance and regulate emotion. The purpose of this study is to test the roles of rejection sensitivity and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between BPD and dysregulated eating behaviors.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Typicality of the Occupation in Young Adulthood

Previous research has shown that sexual minorities are more likely than heterosexuals to work in occupations that are atypical for their genders. This study seeks to extend the literature by examining the association between sexual orientation and gender typicality at the occupational-title level. The analysis focuses on the young adult population and uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Consistent with previous research, people who report same-sex orientation and both-sex orientation tend to have more gender-atypical occupations than those who report other sex orientation. This difference is observed regardless of the sexuality measure used (attraction, dating relationships, sexual contact, or identity), although sexual minorities’ tendency to hold gender-atypical occupations is more pronounced for men than women and for people who report same-sex orientation than those who report both-sex orientation. Contrary to previous arguments and common belief, gender-typed behaviors in adolescence account very little for the difference. Instead, educational qualifications, marital status, and parental status help explain the difference. Much of the gap remains unexplained, highlighting the need to examine the role of sexuality discrimination in future research.
Visualization of sneeze ejecta: steps of fluid fragmentation leading to respiratory droplets

Coughs and sneezes feature turbulent, multiphase flows that may contain pathogen-bearing droplets of mucosalivary fluid. As such, they can contribute to the spread of numerous infectious diseases, including influenza and SARS. The range of contamination of the droplets is largely determined by their size. However, major uncertainties on the drop size distributions persist. Here, we report direct observation of the physical mechanisms of droplet formation at the exit of the mouth during sneezing. Specifically, we use high-speed imaging to directly examine the fluid fragmentation at the exit of the mouths of healthy subjects. We reveal for the first time that the breakup of the fluid into droplets continues to occur outside of the respiratory tract during violent exhalations. We show that such breakup involves a complex cascade of events from sheets, to bag bursts, to ligaments, which finally break into droplets. Finally, we reveal that the viscoelasticity of the mucosalivary fluid plays an important role in delaying fragmentation by causing the merger of the droplet precursors that form along stretched filaments; thereby affecting the final drop size distribution farther downstream.
Persistence and Perversity: The Global Financial Crisis, the Failure of Reform, and the Legitimacy Crisis of Finance Capitalism

A year after the collapse of the global financial system we can begin to see the consequences of what should constitute a critical juncture leading to substantial political economic change. The results: despite world-wide public fury and much official debate, economic governance and financial regulation have changed little, while the surviving major financial institutions have become even larger and more powerful. This paper proposes three reasons for this outcome to date. First, modern finance capitalism is dependent on the core institutions of the financial sector to prop up and drive the economy in the advanced industrial countries and in export-driven developing countries, which privileges the financial sector so long as no alternative growth model is in prospect. Second, major financial institutions, including those in the "shadow" banking system, form a powerful and pivotal interest group with strong ties to parties on both the left and right that have helped insulate it from political attack and regulatory reform. Third, the international scope of financial firms and markets has made them far more difficult to regulate, owing to the potential mobility of capital and financial business, and the difficulty of securing multilateral consensus on financial regulation and capital flows. The result has been political paralysis, the pre-conditions for future crises, and a looming political economic legitimacy crisis.
The role of TGF-ß1 in osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint in two genetic mouse models.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to elucidate osteoarthritis (OA) progression in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in two genetic mouse models by assessing the expression of an identified inflammatory marker associated with OA, viz., Tgf-s1. This study provides mechanistic insight into disease progression based on the temporal expression of Tgf-s1 in the TMJ. Design The two models included the heterozygous chondrodysplasia mutation (cho/+), a Coll11a1 mutation, and the autosomal semidominant disproportionate micromelia mutation (Dmm/+), a Col2a1 mutation. To determine OA status histologically, TMJs from each mutant were fixed, sectioned and stained with Safranin O to identify proteoglycans in condylar cartilage and counterstained with Fast Green. The extent of staining and onset of OA-like changes were quantified using the Modified Mankin scoring system. Using immunofluorescence, selected tissue sections of each genotype were stained for the presence of Tgf-s1, HtrA1, and p-Smad2. Results The results revealed Mankin scores of the condylar cartilage of both mutants that are consistent with established histopathological changes of OA. Immunofluorescence indicated increased expression of all three molecular markers and their co-localization within condylar chondrocytes of both mutants. Conclusions Elevated Tgf-s1 expression in mutant condylar cartilage supports the hypothesis that this inflammatory mediator is mechanistically involved in the pathogenesis of TMJ OA. Compared to basal expression in control TMJs, the positive co-localized staining for Tgf-s1, HtrA1, and p-Smad2 in both mutants demonstrates involvement of these molecules in the degradative pathway of OA. Tgf-s1 therefore is a potential target for further study for the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ OA.
The Politics of Authoritarian Rule: Why Authoritarian Parties? The Regime Party as an Instrument of Co-optation and Control

While a party card is of course no guarantee of success, [the] lack of it is a guarantee that you will not have a career of any kind. Voslensky, Nomenklatura (1984, 98) What actually holds the present regime together is not a set of uncoordinated policies that pleases all sectors and paralyzes the government, but rather a system of mobility that attracts the personal allegiance of spokesmen for all the PRI sectors from the bottom to the top of the party hierarchy. Hansen, The Politics of Mexican Development (1971, 220) A growing body of research finds that dictatorships with a single or a dominant political party represent an especially resilient form of authoritarian rule. In a seminal paper, Geddes (1999a) classified dictatorships into personalist, military, single-party, and their hybrids and showed that single-party dictatorships are less likely to break down and democratize than the remaining categories. Research on an institutionally related category of dictatorship – dominant or hegemonic party regimes – similarly concludes that these regimes are particularly robust, even in the face of economic crises and popular opposition (Slater 2003; Smith 2005; Magaloni 2006; Brownlee 2007a). In a complementary line of research, Gandhi and Przeworski (2007) report that leaders in single-party regimes survive longer in office, and Chapter 4 shows that leadership in dictatorships with parties is less likely to be deposed by noninstitutional means, such as coups and popular uprisings. Even when single- and dominant-party dictatorships democratize, former party elites frequently shape the transition process and, in many cases, continue to maintain economic and political influence (Grzymala-Busse 2002, 2007).
EUS in Pancreatic Cysts

Pancreatic cysts pose a clinical conundrum for physicians due to their increased identification on radiology imaging and potential for malignancy in a minority of cysts. Diagnostic evaluation should focus on identifying mucinous and malignant cysts using MRI of the pancreas with MRCP. EUS-FNA of select cysts may add valuable diagnostic information. Despite de-emphasis of cyst size in the 2012 international consensus guidelines for mucinous cysts, size remains an important predictor of malignancy. With diagnosis of pancreatic cysts being challenging, translational research and endoscopic innovations hold promise for improved diagnosis as well as management with EUS-guided ablation techniques.
Diagnosing Sinusitis — Perhaps Less of a Headache

Recently, DeMuri and Wald from the University of Wisconsin presented a cogent, evidence-based, and straightforward approach to the diagnosis and management of acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS) in children.1 Their recommendations largely agree with those promulgated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America in their most recently-published guidelines.2 Essentially, the diagnosis of ABS should be considered when 1 of 3 distinct clinical presentations occurs: 1) nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, or cough persisting at least 10 days, without improvement; 2) fever and purulent rhinorrhea lasting for 3 …
Branching points of renal resistance arteries are enriched in L-type calcium channels and initiate vasoconstriction

The morphologic structures responsible for the drop in blood pressure along the preglomerular vasculature are not completely defined. Theoretical and videomicroscopic analyses of nonrenal vascular ...
A NOVEL METHOD OF CALCULATING WATER-FLOODED GAS IN PLACE AND WATER INFLUX OF WATER DRIVE GAS RESERVOIRS

In water drive gas reservoirs, especially large water influx gas reservoirs, the water influx helps to maintain the reservoir pressure, and thus maintain gas productivity at initial productivity, at least until water breakthrough. As a result, the process directly affects the recovery. Therefor, it is of great importance to obtain accurate data of dynamic gas in place and water influx of the gas reservoir so as to make correct performance forecast. In this paper, a novel method is proposed. In the method the measured formation pressure and production data are used to build an objective function, and least square best-fitting is performed to obtain automatic matching, and thus the dynamic gas in place and water influx of the gas reservoir can be calculated directly. Comparative analyses of the results from this and other methods indicate that the proposed method is simpler and easier to use as well as accurate and reliable.
Partition and Conquer: Map/Reduce Way of Substructure Discovery

Transactional data mining (decision trees, association rules etc.) has been used to discover non trivial patterns in unstructured data. For applications that have an inherent structure (such as social networks, phone networks etc.) graph mining is useful as mapping such data into an unstructured representation will lead to loss of relationships. Graph mining finds use in a plethora of applications: analysis of fraud detection in transaction networks, finding friendships and other characteristics are to name a few. Finding interesting and frequent substructures is central to graph mining in all of these applications. Until now, graph mining has been addressed using main memory, disk-based as well as database-oriented approaches to deal with progressively larger sizes of applications.
Maximally stateless model checking for concurrent bugs under relaxed memory models

Shared-memory multiprocessor architectures are now ubiq-uitous. To achieve higher performance, the constraints on the memory models become weaker. This makes it more challenging to verify concurrent programs. It is known that sequential consistency (SC) [7] is the most intuitive memory model. However, even for SC, it is challenging enough to verify the correctness of concurrent programs, because the number of the interleavings grows exponentially with the number of threads and the size of the program. For relaxed memory models, the verification problem is more tough because operations from the same thread can be re-ordered and there is even no globally consistent order among the operations of different threads. For example, for the Total Store Order (TSO) [9] and Partial Store Order (PSO) memory models, the order between a write and a following read or a write to different memory locations [2] can be re-ordered non-deterministically in the store buffer.
Adoption of duty-hour standards in a pharmacy residency program

On July 1, 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented new common duty-hour minimum standards for all accredited medical residency programs.[1][1] Participants in our pharmacy residencies (including pharmacy practice, critical care, oncology, pediatrics, and
Service Learning in Business Ethics

Those of us engaged in the education of future businesspersons need to ask about the efficacy of our efforts. The business person is, first and foremost, a member of the community, a citizen, attempting to meet the needs of that community by providing goods and services.