cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
I’m A Jesus Girl: Coping Stories of Black American Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Breast cancer continues to be the most diagnosed cancer for all women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, in the United States. Incidence rates are 1 in 8 for an American woman being diagnosed. Moreover, statistics indicate that every 13 min an American woman dies from complications related to breast cancer. Despite all the gains made in the area of cancer research, Black American women continue to have a 67% higher mortality rate than their White counterparts. There is no preparation for a diagnosis of breast cancer. Upon hearing the words: you have breast cancer, a woman’s life is forever altered. The woman’s initial reactions of denial and/or anger yield to strategic responses. These responses may strengthen the woman’s resiliency both during and following treatments. Research indicates that Black Americans, specifically Black American women, exhibit greater religiosity/spirituality than do other racial/ethnic groups. In addition, the use of religiosity/spirituality by Black Americans increases during a crisis. This qualitative study examines how religiosity/spirituality was utilized as a coping mechanism by a group of Black American women following their diagnoses of breast cancer.
Abnormal neurohumoral response to nitroprusside infusion in congestive heart failure

Vasodilator drugs produce tachycardia and an increase in circulating plasma norepinephrine in normal subjects. In contrast, heart rate does not change when the same drugs are given to patients with congestive heart failure. To assess if this difference could be related to a different reflex activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the response of plasma norepinephrine to nitroprusside infusion and to head-up tilt was studied in 5 normal subjects and in 46 patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Norepinephrine and heart rate increased significantly during both stimuli in normal subjects but were unchanged during nitroprusside infusion for the entire group of patients with heart failure, with considerable variability in individual responses. In 21 patients (Group I) norepinephrine increased during nitroprusside infusion, while in the remaining 25 (Group II) norepinephrine decreased. The hemodynamic response to nitroprusside was similar in the two groups, thus suggesting that the different changes in plasma norepinephrine could not be explained on the basis of a different hemodynamic response to the drug. Plasma norepinephrine also did not change significantly in Group II during tilt, although the decrease in intracardiac pressure and the increase in peripheral resistance were similar to those in Group I who increased norepinephrine normally by 56%. These data indicate that a subset of patients with severe ventricular dysfunction have an abnormal humoral, reflex sympathetic response to changes in arterial or intracardiac pressure, or both. The higher mortality in Group II suggests that this alteration in the sympathetic response may be a marker of the severity and prognosis of heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy-Related Mutations (E244D, K247R, D270N, and K273E) in the H2-Helix of Cardiac Troponin T Have Varied Effects on Myofilament Responsiveness to Calcium and Crossbridge Recruitment Dynamics

Two hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)-related mutations, E244D and K247R, and two dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)-related mutations, D270N and K273E, have been identified along a centralized helix of cardiac troponin T (cTnT). This helix, termed H2(T), is centrally located in the core domain of cardiac troponin, interacting with cardiac troponin I and troponin C. This indicates a functional role of H2(T) in translating conformational changes sensed in troponin C and troponin I to the rest of the thin filament, but this structure-function relationship is not well understood. To determine the significance that disease-related alterations in the structure of H2(T) have in altering contractile function, we measured the contractile properties of rat cardiac muscle fibers containing rat cTnT variants cTnTE245D, cTnTK248R, cTnTD271N, or cTnTK274E corresponding to human E244D, K247R, D270N, or K273E mutations, respectively. We measured simultaneous force production and ATPase activity, as well as force responses (F(t)) to step-length perturbations in demembranated cardiac muscle fibers activated at various [Ca2+], at both sarcomere lengths 2.0 and 2.3 μm. Fibers containing cTnTK274E exhibited an increase in myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity when compared to those containing wild-type (WT)-cTnT. In addition, crossbridge recruitment dynamics, as estimated by model-predictions of F(t) and ktr measurements, were slower in fibers containing cTnTK274E, a trend that was also seen in fibers containing cTnTD271N. Ca2+ sensitivity of fibers containing cTnTK248R or cTnTD271N was less than that of fibers containing WT-cTnT. Furthermore, maximal ATPase activity was slightly but significantly increased in fibers containing cTnTE245D or cTnTK248R. These findings suggest that mutations along H2(T) influence the cTnT-modulated mechanisms of myofilament activation and crossbridge recruitment dynamics, and may contribute in part to cardiac dysfunction associated with HCM and DCM diseases.
Microglandular hyperplasia: a model for the de novo emergence and evolution of endocervical reserve cells

Summary Background Microglandular hyperplasia (MGH) of the cervix in human beings is associated early with gland proliferation and terminates in mature squamous metaplasia. Using antibodies to basal cell markers, we analyzed biopsies with MGH to profile the distribution and evolution of reserve cells and their relationship to these epithelial components. Design Serial sections of 24 MGHs were subdivided into (1) early MGH with microacinar proliferation, abundant subnuclear vacuoles, and a paucity of supporting stroma and (2) late MGH with more prominent supporting stroma and/or squamous metaplasia. Serial sections were stained with antibodies to p63, bcl-2, and keratin-5. Results Three patterns of p63 staining were observed corresponding to the age of the MGH: (1) scattered staining of columnar cells, (2) focal subcolumnar staining in a reserve cell distribution, and (3) linear subcolumnar arrays of p63-positive reserve cells that in some MGHs expanded into a squamous metaplasia. Early acinar proliferations showed weak and focal columnar cell staining followed by focal subcolumnar p63-positive cells. In late lesions, p63 staining was compartmentalized to the extraglandular (or subcolumnar) areas. Stainings of p63, bcl-2, and keratin-5 were concordant. Staining for keratin 14, which localizes to squamous cells, was variable. Conclusions The immunohistochemical profile in MGH indicates that reserve cells are created in adulthood during specialized columnar proliferations. This columnar to reserve cell transition may produce a stable population of reserve cells or a transition to squamous metaplasia. Similar patterns are seen in cervical neoplasia, suggesting a link between benign and neoplastic cervical epithelial differentiation.
Infarction after embolization of the ileocolic artery.

Treatment of colonic hemorrhage by therapeutic embolization of the involved artery may, rarely, result in bowel infarction. In one patient with angiodysplasia, bowel infarction resulted from a therapeutic embolization of the ileocolic artery. Because of the arterial anatomy of the cecum, occlusion of the cecal branches can result in devascularization of the cecum and appendix, even if the colic and ileal branches are not occluded. Thus, the ileocolic artery may not be a good candidate for therapeutic embolization.
Maternal attachment of high-risk mothers with well newborns: a pilot study.

An uncontrolled pilot study of 10 high-risk mothers separated for at least 24 hours from their well newborns following delivery is described. The Maternal Attachment Tool was used to document maternal attachment behavior during the first mother-newborn interaction and, again, following the nursing interventions. Separation may have impeded the attachment processes. Nursing interventions did aid in maternal score gains.
Sensitivity of intensity and transmission fluctuations in light scattering to frequency, absorption and impurity configuration

Abstract The effects of frequency changes, absorption and changes in the impurity configuration on intensity and transmission fluctuations in light scattering from a random medium are investigated. Owing to the diffusive nature of the light propagation these fluctuations are sensitive to these perturbations.
Technetium 99m—HL-91: A potential new marker of myocardial viability assessed by nuclear imaging early after reperfusion

Abstract Objective . 99mTc-HL-91 (Prognox) is a potential new hypoxia-avid myocardial imaging agent. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this tracer would demonstrate increased activity in nonviable myocardium in vivo. Methods and Results . A 3-hour left circumflex artery (LCx) occlusion was followed by 1 hour of reperfusion, injection of 99mTc-HL-91 (185 MBq), and 2 hours of gamma camera imaging in 6 open-chest canine experiments. Microspheres were injected during baseline, at occlusion, at the time of tracer injection, and at the end of the experiment. After the animals were killed, heart slices were imaged. Blood flow and tracer activity were determined by well counting. Mean infarct size was 19.2% ±2.2% (SEM) . All six dogs demonstrated no increased 99mTc-HL-91 myocardial activity other than small foci on in vivo and ex vivo gamma camera images. The mean large region of interest (ROI)-determined LCx/LAD (left anterior descending) ratio was 1.10 ±0.03 in vivo, and 1.0 ±0.02 ex vivo. Mean clearance curves from LCx and LAD ROI were not significantly different, and 2-hour retention was 15.2% ± 2.1% for the LCx and 18.6% ± 2.7% for the LAD ( p = NS ) . ROI clearance curves demonstrated biexponential clearance over the first hour and linear clearance over the second hour. Myocardial blood flow (microspheres) versus well-counted tracer uptake curves were linear with near-zero slopes for viable tissue, nonviable tissue, and mosaic tissue. Blood clearance was triexponential with a 2-hour retention of 7.8% ±1.1%. Conclusions . In contrast to viable ischemic tissue, normal and nonviable myocardium demonstrate similar 99mTc-HL-91 uptake and retention kinetics. This agent warrants further clinical studies in situations where there is a need to differentiate ischemic viable from nonviable myocardium.
Impact of seating posture on user comfort and typing performance for people with chronic low back pain

Abstract Many people who experience chronic low back pain find that sitting upright for long periods of time can cause discomfort. For some, a measure of relief is achieved by lying down periodically throughout the work day. Devices exist that allow computer operators to work from a significantly reclined or supine posture. However, very little has been written to describe the impact of these alternate postures on typing performance and user comfort. This study used a modified tilt and recline wheelchair seating system and common desktop computer components to measure the impact of five different postures on typing performance and user comfort. The study required participants to complete a series of short typing tests (approximately 20 min) in each of the five postures. The results indicate that for short typing tasks, discomfort in upper extremities can cause significant differences in typing speed and user comfort in supine postures when compared to traditional upright typing postures. Relevance to Industry Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of typing from supine or significantly reclined postures can lead to alternate computer workstations that may decrease repetitive stress injuries and increase employment opportunities for people with chronic low back pain.
Microfabrication of Individual 200μm Diameter Transdermal Microconduits Using High Voltage Pulsing in Salicylic Acid and Benzoic Acid

We describe an extension of semiconductor fabrication methods that creates individual ≈ 200;μm diameter aqueous pathways through human stratum corneum at predetermined sites. Our hypothesis is that spatially localized electroporation of the multilamellar lipid bilayer membranes provides rapid delivery of salicylic acid to the keratin within corneocytes, leading to localized keratin disruption and then to a microconduit. A microconduit penetrating the isolated stratum corneum supports a volumetric flow of order 0.01;ml per s with a pressure difference of only 0.01;atm (about 10 2 ;Pa). This study provides a method for rapidly microengineering a pathway in the skin to interface future devices for transdermal drug delivery and sampling of biologically relevant fluids.
Nice vs. Necessary: Reference Collections in ARL Member Libraries

This study assesses the reference collection management practices and strategies used in the reference departments of academic members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Librarians who participate in the management of the humanities and social science reference collections within ARL member libraries responded to an online survey about collection development policies, acquisition processes, collection use, weeding, and marketing of their reference collections. The results of this survey suggest that a large percentage of academic ARL member libraries are weeding their collections regularly, measuring use of the print and electronic reference collection, and moving decidedly toward electronic reference materials.
Chemical communication in hermaphroditic digenetic trematodes

Adult hermaphroditic digenetic trematodes show a tendency to pair or aggregate in vivo, on the chick chorioallantois, and in vitro. Intraspecific pairing studies onEchinostoma revolutum, Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae, andAmblosoma suwaense are reviewed. Lipophilic excretory-secretory products are involved in chemical communication in hermaphroditic digeneans. Free sterols are involved in chemical attraction inL. constantiae andE. revolutum and sterol esters play a similar role inA. suwaense. In vitro pairing betweenE. revolutum and various other digenean species suggest that interspecific pairing occurs in Digenea and that nonspecific factors are involved.
Noncollinear spin transport in magnetic multilayers

We study giant magnetoresistance at $4.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ in magnetic multilayers with noncollinear magnetizations, and various thicknesses of one of the layers. We show that these measurements are extremely sensitive to the transverse spin currents in ferromagnets, and measure the transverse spin-current penetration length into a ferromagnet. The implications of our results for the spin-torque effect are discussed.
Parental recognition of overweight in school-age children.

Objective: Examine the accuracy of parental weight perceptions of overweight children before and after the implementation of childhood obesity legislation that included BMI screening and feedback. Methods and Procedures: Statewide telephone surveys of parents of overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) Arkansas public school children before (n = 1,551; 15% African American) and after (n = 2,508; 15% African American) policy implementation were examined for correspondence between parental perception of child's weight and objective classification. Results: Most (60%) parents of overweight children underestimated weight at baseline. Parents of younger children were significantly more likely to underestimate (65%) than parents of adolescents (51%). Overweight parents were not more likely to underestimate, nor was inaccuracy associated with parental education or socioeconomic status. African-American parents were twice as likely to underestimate as whites. One year after BMI screening and feedback was implemented, the accuracy of classification of overweight children improved (53% underestimation). African-American parents had significantly greater improvements than white parents (P < 0.0001). Discussion: Parental recognition of childhood overweight may be improved with BMI screening and feedback, and African-American parents may specifically benefit. Nonetheless, underestimation of overweight is common and may have implications for public health interventions.
The Relaxation Dynamics and Short-Time Optical Response of a Multimode Open System

When dividing a large system into a subsystem and a bath, one sometimes needs to include multiple nuclear coordinates in the subsystem in order to treat the remaining bath modes by Markovian relaxation theory (which assumes fast bath relaxation). This paper examines the effects of Redfield relaxation on the timeresolved fluorescence signal and on the loss of energy from a three-mode system. Simulations are compared for system coordinates coupled to the same bath mode and to independent bath modes, for coupling linear and quadratic in the system coordinates, and for different temperatures. To make these comparisons meaningful, a criterion is proposed for normalization of the coupling strengths in the different cases. The fluorescence Stokes shift and the system energy are shown to be sensitive to different relaxation processes. The coupling of multiple system coordinates to the same bath mode results in a wide range of relaxation rates. Simple descriptions in terms of individual population relaxation and coherence dephasing rates are inadequate due to sequential processes and to coupling between populations and coherences. These results have implications not only for Redfield treatments but also for other relaxation theories such as the Brownian oscillator model.
Ultrafast terahertz probes of transient conducting and insulating phases in an electron–hole gas

Many-body systems in nature exhibit complexity and self-organization arising from seemingly simple laws. For example, the long-range Coulomb interaction between electrical charges has a simple form, yet is responsible for a plethora of bound states in matter, ranging from the hydrogen atom to complex biochemical structures. Semiconductors form an ideal laboratory for studying many-body interactions of electronic quasiparticles among themselves and with lattice vibrations and light1,2,3,4. Oppositely charged electron and hole quasiparticles can coexist in an ionized but correlated plasma, or form bound hydrogen-like pairs called excitons5,6. The pathways between such states, however, remain elusive in near-visible optical experiments that detect a subset of excitons with vanishing centre-of-mass momenta. In contrast, transitions between internal exciton levels, which occur in the far-infrared at terahertz (1012 s-1) frequencies7,8,9, are independent of this restriction, suggesting10 their use as a probe of electron–hole pair dynamics. Here we employ an ultrafast terahertz probe to investigate directly the dynamical interplay of optically-generated excitons and unbound electron–hole pairs in GaAs quantum wells. Our observations reveal an unexpected quasi-instantaneous excitonic enhancement, the formation of insulating excitons on a 100-ps timescale, and the conditions under which excitonic populations prevail.
Zero Kullback-Liebler Divergence Image Data Hiding

In this paper, we propose a computationally- efficient data hiding method for images which achieves Cachin's security criterion: zero Kullback- Liebler(KL) divergence. In order to preserve the statistical properties of the cover medium, we change the order of pixels rather than modify their values to embed the hidden message. We then subject the proposed stego method to a higher-order statistics based universal steganalysis algorithm and a new learning based steganalysis that we propose specifically for this hiding algorithm. Experimental results show that our proposed method can prevent statistical detection, when the embedding rate is smaller than or equal to 10%, which is higher than those of other existing data hiding methods. Hence the proposed method is safe even in a practical sense against a steganalysis method designed specifically against this stego method.
Effects of continuous positive airway pressure on diaphragm dimensions in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the treatment of a variety of neonatal respiratory conditions is associated with improvement in arterial oxygen saturation, decreased long-term morbidity, and an overall improvement in infant survival. We reasoned that CPAP might change diaphragm length by increasing end-expiratory lung volume (EEV), but the extent to which this occurs has not been assessed. This study was designed to evaluate (1) the extent to which CPAP shortens the diaphragm and (2) the relationship of diaphragm thickness and excursion with arterial oxygen saturation in spontaneously breathing preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN Ultrasonographically (7.5 MHz transducer), diaphragm thickness and diaphragm excursion were measured in 12 stable preterm infants [birth weight 1120+/-225 g (mean+/-SD); study weight 1187+/-400 g; gestational age 29+/-1 week; postnatal age 10+/-8 days, six males and six females] at three levels of CPAP [1-3, 4-6, and 7-9 cm H(2)O (low, medium, and high, respectively)]. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial oxygen saturation were simultaneously recorded. RESULTS We found that diaphragm thickness and arterial oxygen saturation increased, and diaphragm excursion decreased significantly at higher levels of CPAP (p<0.05). The shortening of the diaphragm at the high levels of CPAP, calculated from the increase in diaphragm thickness, was 36% at EEV and 31% at end-inspiratory volume. CONCLUSION We conclude that the improvement in arterial oxygen saturation with CPAP occurred despite the presence of a shorter and a less mobile diaphragm, and that other physiological and mechanical alterations accompanying the application of CPAP offset its negative effects on diaphragm function. We speculate that with excessive CPAP, however, diaphragm dysfunction along with the previously described adverse hemodynamic effects may outweigh its benefits on oxygenation.
Characteristics of biodegradable Mater-Bi®-starch based foams as affected by ingredient formulations

Abstract Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foams are widely used to provide protection to merchandise during shipping and handling. The disposal of EPS foams, however, causes pollution to the environment. Starch based loose fill packaging foams are commercially available to replace the EPS foams. Starch foams dissolve readily in water, and do not possess satisfactory physical and mechanical properties. To improve the functional properties and water resistance of starch foams, regular (25% amylose) and waxy corn starches blended with Mater-Bi® ZF03U (MBI) were extruded into loose-fill packaging foams using a co-rotating twin screw extruder. MBI contents of 10, 25 and 40% and starch moisture contents of 19, 22 and 25% (d.b.) were used. Waxy starch produced foam with greater radial expansion and lower unit and bulk densities than regular starch. Higher levels of MBI reduced radial expansion and increased unit and bulk densities. Foam made with regular starch had a lower water solubility index than foam made with waxy starch. The addition of MBI improved the water solubility. Higher starch moisture contents increased foam water solubility indices. Foams made from both types of starch possessed acceptable mechanical properties. Regular starch produced more rigid foams than the waxy starch as indicated by the higher compressibility values based on both single-piece and bulk samples. Moisture content affected the compressibilities. Higher moisture contents produced more rigid foams. The spring indices of bulk samples were excellent (>95%) for all MBI contents.
Predictability of event occurrences in partially-observed discrete-event systems

This paper studies the problem of predicting occurrences of a significant event in a partially-observed discrete-event system. The predictability of occurrences of an event in a system is defined in the context of formal languages. The predictability of a language is a stronger condition than the diagnosability of the language. Two necessary and sufficient conditions for predictability of occurrences of an event in systems modeled by regular languages are presented. Both conditions can be algorithmically tested. The first condition employs diagnosers. The second condition employs verifiers and results in a polynomial-time (in the number of states) complexity test for verification of predictability. When predictability holds, diagnosers can be used online to predict the significant event.
Quality of Maternal Parenting among Intimate-Partner Violence Victims Involved with the Child Welfare System

Children are overrepresented in households with intimate-partner violence (IPV), and many suffer the double burden of being the subject of maltreatment and bearing the consequences of abuse to their mothers. Despite this situation, little information exists concerning parenting by women who have been abused by an intimate partner. We examine the relationship between women’s experiences with IPV and the quality of maternal parenting using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. The sample consisted of 1,943 female caregivers of children younger than 10 years investigated for child maltreatment. Women who had experienced IPV in the past but were no longer victims of IPV had significantly better parenting scores than women who were currently experiencing IPV, when other risk factors were controlled. This study adds to the evidence that IPV does not necessarily impair maternal parenting. Women abused by an intimate partner deserve a thorough assessment of what services they need: parenting services should be offered as warranted on a case-by-case evaluation of the particular woman’s parenting skills.
Mechanisms for the release and redistribution of 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (6-CB) from hepatic tissues in the rat

Abstract The translocation of 6-[14C]CB from rat hepatic tisses to various media was studied employing in situ hepatic perfusion and primary hepatocyte culture techniques. 6-[14C]CB release from the hepatic tissues of female rats pretreated with 2 μCi 6-CB was dependent on the relative proportion of perfusate buffer components. Approximately 10% of hepatic 6-CB was released into buffer containing either 4% BSA or 4% BSA and 100 mg/dl exogenous human very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). 6-CB release was significantly increased under simulated hyperlipidemic conditions (400 mg VLDL/dl). Release declined when BSA was eliminated or replaced with Dextran. The distribution of 6-CB between the triacylglycerol (TG)-rich VLDL and the protein buffer components was found to be dependent on the ratio of TG:protein. Under hyperlipidemic perfusate conditions, approximately 83% of the 6-CB associated with the BSA fraction. Under normolipidemic conditions, 99% of the 6-CB associated with BSA. The concentration of 6-CB in TG was greatly increased under hyperlipidemic conditions. Thus, 6-CB distribution under simulated normolipidemic conditions could not be explained by saturation of the VLDL fraction. Approximately 15% of 6-CB was released from hepatocytes prepared from late pregnant or age-matched control rats. Eighty percent of 6-CB was associated with VLDL secreted from hepatocytes. The TG:protein ratio in culture media was approximately 1:6 while ratios of 1:20 or 1:600 occurred in the perfusion studies. These data suggest that 6-CB may be released from hepatic tissues in association with newly synthesized TG, but that once in the circulation, its distribution is dependent on the ratio of TG to protein present.
Purification of human von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease and its identification as a new member of the metalloproteinase family.

von Willebrand factor (vWF) is synthesized in megakaryocytes and endothelial cells as a very large multimer, but circulates in plasma as a group of multimers ranging from 500 to 10 000 kd. An important mechanism for depolymerization of the large multimers is the limited proteolysis by a vWF-cleaving protease present in plasma. The absence or inactivation of the vWF-cleaving protease results in the accumulation of large multimers, which may cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The vWF-cleaving protease was first described as a Ca++-dependent proteinase with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 300 kd. Thus far, however, it has not been isolated and characterized. In this study, the purification of human vWF-cleaving protease from a commercial preparation of factor VIII/vWF concentrate by means of several column chromatographic steps, including 2 steps of heparin-Sepharose column, is reported. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the anion exchange and gel filtration column fractions showed that the vWF-cleaving protease activity corresponded to a protein band of 150 kd. After reduction, it migrated with an apparent weight of 190 kd. The amino terminal sequence of the 150-kd band was AAGGIL(H)LE(L)L(D)AXG(P)X(V)XQ (single-letter amino acid codes), with the tentative residues shown in parentheses. A search of the human genome sequence identified the vWF-cleaving protease as a new member of the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motif) family of metalloproteinase. An active site sequence of HEIGHSFGLEHE (single-letter amino acid codes) was located at 150 residues from the N terminus of the protein.
Childhood diabetes: what the case manager needs to know.

Abstract An 8-year-old girl arrives in the emergency room with a 10-day history of excessive thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss. Her blood sugar is 1000 mg/dL, with urine positive for glucose and ketones. A 14-year-old obese teenager also arrives with dark, thickened skin over his neck and a blood sugar level at 800 mg/dL, with normal urine. The first child has type 1 diabetes and the second type 2 diabetes. As case manager, it is your job to inform the patients and their families that the children have diabetes, see that they are taught basic management skills, and facilitate discharge from the hospital.
Alarm response in larval western toads, Bufo boreas: release of larval chemicals by a natural predator and its effect on predator capture efficiency

Abstract An alarm response in larvae of the western toad, Bufo boreas, was examined in the laboratory. A natural predator, the giant water bug, Lethocerus americanus, while capturing and feeding on a tadpole, can cause sufficient damage for the release of toad alarm substance and subsequent alarm response in prey conspecifics. Larvae increased their activity and avoided the side of the tank that had a predator feeding on a conspecific tadpole in a visually isolated but interconnected container. Larvae did not increase activity or avoid the side of the tank that had a predator feeding on a heterospecific tadpole. Performance of the alarm response in conspecifics increased survivorship. The capture efficiency of predators (naiads of the dragonfly Aeshna umbrosa) hunting larvae that had been exposed to the alarm substance of conspecifics was reduced: predators required more capture attempts per successful attack compared to control tests.
Chronic inflammation is associated with an increased proportion of goblet cells recovered by bronchial lavage

To evaluate the possibility that bronchoalveolar lavage could provide sufficient respiratory epithelial cells to quantify changes in epithelial cell types associated with chronic inflammation, we examined the epithelial cells obtained in the first infused (20 ml) aliquots that were processed separately from later aliquots, a process known to enrich for bronchial contents. Epithelial cells, including ciliated cells, goblet cells, and fragments of desquamated epithelium, were easily identified after preparation by cytocentrifugation and staining with a modified Giemsa stain. Quantification of the columnar cell types revealed that those with chronic bronchitis and asymptomatic smokers have increased goblet cells as a percentage of the total columnar epithelial cells (chronic bronchitics 36 ± 2 percent, asymptomatic smokers 22 ± 2 percent) compared with normal subjects (9 ± 1 percent, p 1 percent (r = −0.74, p (Chest 1991; 100:389-93)
Secondary gliosarcoma with extra-cranial metastases: a report and review of the literature.

Abstract Objective To describe a unique case of secondary gliosarcoma (SGS) with widespread extra-cranial metastases that developed more than 5 years after the initial diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This interval is the longest among the cases reported to date. Methods A PUBMED search using the key words “secondary gliosarcoma” and “extra-cranial metastases” was performed followed by a review of cited literature. Results Including our report, we found 44 cases of SGS, of which only 5 developed extra-cranial metastases. Conclusion SGS with extra-cranial metastases is extremely rare. Of previously reported cases, the longest survival was 2 months after the diagnosis of SGS. The present case had a survival of 6.5 months. Our case highlights the importance of screening for extra-cranial metastases in SGS. The optimal treatment of SGS is not known and strategies based on GBM and sarcoma treatments have been employed with limited success. A combination of treatment modalities may extend survival as in the present report; however the prognosis remains poor.
Cluster Randomized Trials: Considerations for Design and Analysis

Scientists often use randomized controlled trials to compare a newly developed treatment to the existing one, or to a placebo. Patients are randomly assigned to a treatment, and they are compared with respect to the outcome of interest. The cluster randomized trial (CRT) is a type of randomized controlled trial in which the treatments are randomized at the group, rather than individual, level. The intracluster correlation (ICC) measures the degree of similarity between individuals within clusters. CRTs can be designed in several ways; it is essential that researchers carefully plan the study, from sample size calculations to ICC calculation to analysis, in order to get valid and meaningful results. In this article we review and discuss the considerations essential to conducting a successful CRT using both frequentist and Bayesian approaches, and we discuss recent trends in CRT analysis, including highlighting new methodology for both binary and continuous data.
Far-Ultraviolet Spectrum of Fairall 9 with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope

We observed the Seyfert 1 galaxy Fairall 9 with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) for ~3500 s during the Astro-2 mission. The spectrum covers 820-1840 A with a resolution of ~3 A. The intrinsic far-UV continuum is unattenuated to wavelengths as short as 920 A (~880 A in the galaxy's rest frame) and can be fitted with a power law with fν ∝ ν-1.0 after a reddening correction corresponding to EB − V = 0.03 mag. The power-law fit to the far-UV continuum of Fairall 9 may be extrapolated to connect to the soft X-ray component measured with ROSAT, forming a weak UV bump. Photoionization by such an energy distribution would produce relatively weak high-ionization lines. The intensity ratio of O VI λ1034 + Lyβ emission to that of C IV λ1549 is ~0.36. While this is typical for high-redshift quasars, it is one of the lowest among the low-luminosity, low-redshift AGNs observed by HUT. A correlation between the strength of O VI emission and the soft X-ray excess is supported by the observations of Fairall 9 and other AGNs.
Variational lyapunov method for discrete hybrid systems

In this paper, we consider the difference equation @Dy(n) = f(n,y), y(n"0) = x"0. We relax the smoothness condition on f with respect to y that was imposed in [1] and obtain an improved version of the nonlinear variation of parameter (NVP) formula. We then develop a variational Lyapunov method (VLM) for difference equations and apply it to discrete hybrid systems.
Pyrolysis of Cyclopentadienone: Mechanistic Insights from a Direct Measurement of Product Branching Ratios

The thermal decomposition of cyclopentadienone (C5H4═O) has been studied in a flash pyrolysis continuous flow microreactor. Passing dilute samples of o-phenylene sulfite (C6H4O2SO) in He through the microreactor at elevated temperatures yields a relatively clean source of C5H4═O. The pyrolysis of C5H4═O was investigated over the temperature range 1000–2000 K. Below 1600 K, we have identified two decomposition channels: (1) C5H4═O (+ M) → CO + HC≡C—CH═CH2 and (2) C5H4═O (+ M) → CO + HC≡CH + HC≡CH. There is no evidence of radical or H atom chain reactions. To establish the thermochemistry for the pyrolysis of cyclopentadienone, ab initio electronic structure calculations (AE-CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pCVQZ//AE-CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ and anharmonic FC-CCSD(T)/ANO1 ZPEs) were used to find ΔfH0(C5H4═O) to be 16 ± 1 kcal mol–1 and ΔfH0(CH2═CH—C≡CH) to be 71 ± 1 kcal mol–1. The calculations predict the reaction enthalpies ΔrxnH0(1) to be 28 ± 1 kcal mol–1 (ΔrxnH298(1) is 30 ± 1 kcal mol–1) and ΔrxnH0(2) to be 66 ± 1 kcal mol–1 (Δ...
Symmetry boundary condition in dissipative particle dynamics

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) is a coarse-grained particle method for modeling mesoscopic hydrodynamics. Most of the DPD simulations are carried out in 3D requiring remarkable computation time. For symmetric systems, this time can be reduced significantly by simulating only one half or one quarter of the systems. However, such simulations are not yet possible due to a lack of schemes to treat symmetric boundaries in DPD. In this study, we propose a numerical scheme for the implementation of the symmetric boundary condition (SBC) in both dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and multibody dissipative particle dynamics (MDPD) using a combined ghost particles and specular reflection (CGPSR) method. We validate our scheme in four different configurations. The results demonstrate that our scheme can accurately reproduce the system properties, such as velocity, density and meniscus shapes of a full system with numerical simulations of a subsystem. Using a symmetric boundary condition for one half of the system, we demonstrate about 50% computation time saving in both DPD and MDPD. This approach for symmetric boundary treatment can be also applied to other coarse-grained particle methods such as Brownian and Langevin Dynamics to significantly reduce computation time.
Interspecific associations of Cape ground squirrels with two mongoose species: benefit or cost?

Mixed-species associations have been described in many vertebrate species, but few behavioral studies have investigated associations between species from different mammalian orders. Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) are highly social rodents that inhabit burrows with two species of mongoose, but the benefits of these interspecific associations to ground squirrels remain unresolved. We compared the behavior of squirrels while solitary, with conspecifics, and in the presence of suricates (Suricata suricatta) and yellow mongooses (Cynictis pencillatus). Squirrels spent less time alert and more time feeding when suricates were present, but increased vigilance in the presence of yellow mongooses. In a series of mobbing trials with a puff adder (Bitis arietans), a common predator of all three species, Cape ground squirrels were the most active in mobbing the snake. Our results suggest that Cape ground squirrels benefit from associating with suricates, but not necessarily with yellow mongooses. Both mongoose species benefit from the burrowing activities of the squirrels for thermoregulation and escape from predators, and a suite of other organisms may similarly benefit from the habitat modifications by Cape ground squirrels, suggesting they could be considered ecosystem engineers of the arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa. Thus, the association between Cape ground squirrels and suricates appears mutually beneficial, whereas yellow mongooses may merely be commensals of the squirrels.
The development of depth perception from motion parallax in infancy

Little is known about infants' perception of depth from motion parallax, even though it is known that infants are sensitive both to motion and to depth-from-motion cues at an early age. The present experiment assesses whether infants are sensitive to the unambiguous depth specified by motion parallax and, if so, when this sensitivity first develops. Eleven infants were followed longitudinally from 8 to 29 weeks. Infants monocularly viewed a translating Rogers and Graham (1979) random-dot stimulus, which appears as a corrugated surface to adult observers. Using the infant-control habituation paradigm, looking time was recorded for each 10-sec trial until habituation, followed by two test trials: one using a depth-reversed and one using a flat stimulus. Dishabituation results indicate that infants may be sensitive to unambiguous depth from motion parallax by 16 weeks of age. Implications for the developmental sequence of depth from motion, stereopsis, and eye movements are discussed.
Edward B. D. Neuhauser Lecture. Paleoradiology of the prehistoric Australian aborigines.

Prehistoric populations suffered the rigors of everyday survival as hunter-gatherers, and some of the individuals had osseous manifestations as a result both of these stresses and of aging. Paleomedical scientists usually seek out osseous abnormalities found in skeletal remains, thus stressing the morbidity of a population [4]. In so doing, they portray those populations as less healthy than their own. This may not necessarily be the case. Specimens without signs of injury should be considered as evidence of the population's vitality; bones with evidence of injury that has healed during life should be considered as evidence of debility; and bones with evidence of conditions that are occupational in origin should be considered as evidence of social, economic, and ecological environmental conditions [4]. This is more useful than singling out specimens with abnormalities as signs of the population's morbidity [4]. This is confirmed by the majority of bones appearing osteologically healthy, except for the cha...
Modifications in the simultaneous determination of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen

Improved analytical procedures are presented for the simultaneous determination of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in solid organic materials by the gas volumetric method. The accuracy is improved, and the method is less dependent upon the analyst's technique.
Primary Intramedullary Spinal Germ Cell Tumors

Background Intramedullary spinal germ cell tumors are rare lesions, with germinomas being the most common variant. Methods To date, there have been 23 reports of primary intramedullary germ cell tumors described in the literature, the vast majority occurring in Japanese patients. Results We present a case of a nonmetastatic intramedullary germ cell tumor in a 28-year-old Caucasian woman. Conclusions Characteristics of intramedullary germ cell tumors are summarized, and the current role for surgery and adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy are discussed.
Social status signalling in white-crowned sparrows: an experimental test of the social control hypothesis

Abstract Abstract. Some winter flocking passerines possess variable plumage that functions to signal social status. The social control hypothesis has been proposed to explain why subordinate birds do not cheat by displaying the brighter signal of dominant birds. This hypothesis assumes like-versus-like aggression between dominants and suggests that cheating is prevented by an increase in the number of interactions that cheaters encounter with legitimately dominant birds. The presence of like-versus-like aggression in white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys, was assessed by simultaneously introducing an adult and immature male, members of the highest and next to lowest ranking age-sex classes, respectively, into four aviaries containing resident adult and immature males. Contrary to the social control hypothesis there was no difference in the amount of aggression resident adults directed against introduced adults and immatures. Furthermore, resident adult males did not initiate aggression against other resident adult males more often than against resident immature males. Adult residents behaved the same regardless of whether they were the more or less common age class among residents. Social control is unlikely to be responsible for the evolutionary stability of social status signalling in white-crowned sparrows, and a review of other studies reveals little evidence that it controls cheating in any species.
North American economic integration and industrial pollution in the Great Lakes region

This paper provides an assessment of the impact of increased economic integration within North America on industrial pollution intensities within the Great Lake states of the United States. It utilizes a three-country, applied general equilibrium model of the North American economy, data from the World Bank's Industrial Pollution Projection System, and employment data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis to simulate the industrial pollution impacts of North American trade liberalization within the Great Lakes region. The results reflect the liberalization of tariff and non-tariff barriers, their trade and production impacts, state-level shares in the production changes, and the resulting industrial effluent changes. Two trade liberalization experiments show that, in many cases, the Great Lake states account for a substantial portion of the total emission changes caused by North American economic integration. Of particular concern to the Great Lake states are the emissions of the base metals, transportation equipment, and petroleum sectors.
Evaluation of partial cystectomy for carcinoma of bladder.

Abstract We reviewed 117 patients who had undergone partial cystectomy for primary carcinoma of the bladder. The recurrence rate was 78 per cent. Treatment of recurrences included transurethral resection, radiation therapy, and total cystectomy. The five-year survival rate of patients treated for recurrent disease was 68 per cent for Stages 0 and A, 31 per cent for Stage B, and 6 per cent for Stages C and D1 Total cystectomy gave the best salvage rate The five-year survival rate of patients without recurrences was 4 per cent.
Extension of the Carter-Yang polynomial growth curve model to allow unique times of measurement for subjects.

A PC program extending the procedure due to Carter and Yang (Commun Stat: Theory Methods, 8 (1986) 2507-2526) to allow unique times of measurement for subjects is described, illustrated and made available. Given longitudinal observations on each of N subjects comprising a single group, this program determines the lowest degree polynomial in time adequate to tit the average growth curve (AGC); estimates this curve and provides confidence bands for the AGC, and confidence intervals for the corresponding polynomial regression coeffkients; and so-called prediction intervals which, with a given level of confidence, will contain the growth curve of a ‘new’ subject from the same population of which the N subjects constitute a random sample. Two kinds of missing data are accommodated. First, in the context of studies planned so that subjects will be measured at identical times and, second, in unstructured studies where subjects may present with their own, unique times of measurement.