cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opioid use and misuse in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) may be exposed to opioids over their disease duration. The use of such medications carries significant risk, including intestinal dysmotility and potential for addiction. However, the rates of narcotic use and misuse in patients with UC have not been studied extensively. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) are prevalent in patients with UC, and have been shown to increase the risk of narcotic use and misuse in patients with Crohn's disease. We hypothesized that patients with UC and a concurrent diagnosis of FGID would have increased rates of both opioid use and misuse in our patient cohort. AIM To evaluate the prevalence of chronic opioid use and misuse in UC. METHODS A retrospective chart review of UC patients seen at the University of Virginia Digestive Health Center was performed on all patients evaluated between 2006 and 2011. Patient demographics, medical, surgical, and medication histories were obtained from the electronic medical record. Concomitant diagnosis of FGID was also noted at the time. The electronic prescription monitoring program was accessed to obtain prescription opioid filling histories. Prescription opioid misuse was defined as opioid prescriptions filled from four or more prescribers and four or more different pharmacies in a 12-mo period. RESULTS A total of 497 patients with UC were included. Patients with UC and FGID were more likely to be female, but no other demographic variables were associated with FGID. Of the UC patients who had FGID, a greater proportion were found to be using opioids chronically (36% with FGID vs 9% without FGID, P < 0.0001) and were misusing prescription opioids (12.8% vs 1.3%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated a significant association with FGID and chronic opioid use (OR = 4.50; 95%CI: 1.91-10.59) and opioid misuse (OR = 5.19; 95%CI 1.04-25.76). Tobacco use (OR 2.53; 95%CI: 1.06-6.08) and anxiety (OR 3.17; 95%CI: 1.08-9.26) were other variables associated with an increased risk of chronic narcotic use. CONCLUSION FGID was associated with a 4.5-fold increase in chronic opioid use and a 5-fold increased risk of opioid misuse in this patient cohort with UC.
Microcanonical thermodynamics of three and four atoms.

Clusters are treated in the microcanonical ensemble. Two classical choices for the partition function are used in Boltzmann’s assumption for entropy: Phase space volume and phase space density. For both definitions, exact statistical analogs are derived for energy derivatives of entropy to arbitrary order. The analogs are used in rigorous microcanonical Monte Carlo simulation to measure entropy derivatives up to order three for systems of three and four atoms. All simulation results are confirmed by direct numerical integration of the statistical analogs.Clusters are treated in the microcanonical ensemble. Two classical choices for the partition function are used in Boltzmann’s assumption for entropy: Phase space volume and phase space density. For both definitions, exact statistical analogs are derived for energy derivatives of entropy to arbitrary order. The analogs are used in rigorous microcanonical Monte Carlo simulation to measure entropy derivatives up to order three for systems of three and four atoms. All simulation results are confirmed by direct numerical integration of the statistical analogs.
Contemplating homeownership tax subsidies and structural racism

An insidious form of racism is facilitated by those who are heedless of structural inequities — or in this instance, the fact that legal structures have been developed to protect the experiences of those who are white, with an underlying obliviousness to the fact that persons of color may have a different experience. Almost 80% of the United States’ four centuries of existence has involved racialized slavery and extreme racial segregation. The subject of structural discrimination should be almost noncontroversial by this point: established social and political structures have been built upon a foundation of racial inequality, inherently conferring power and privilege to some, while perpetuating the marginalization of others. A system that treats equally those who are positioned unequally will only serve to exacerbate the pre-existing inequalities. Sweeping changes were made to two important homeownership tax subsidies when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on December 20, 2017, and signed into law by President Trump on December 22, 2017. Within the framework of these tax expenditures, this Essay explores the notion that TCJA amendments have structurally racist implications both because of the persistently harmful way in which homeownership continues to be subsidized, and also because of the supply-side allocation of revenue generated by the amendments. This is less a polemic, more a thought piece, and perhaps more accurately an economic meditation, contemplating the way in which structural racism exists organically in institutions or structures that have historically incorporated racialized norms such that facially “neutral” changes to those structures are not in fact neutral. This idea is particularly relevant to housing law and policy — an area in which equal opportunity has either been blocked or simply neglected.
Doctoral E-Mentoring: Current Practices and Effective Strategies

Effective mentoring has been the cornerstone of a successful doctoral experience. Traditional doctoral education uses an apprenticeship model for mentoring to help students learn what is required as an academic professional. However, online environments present unique challenges to creating and maintaining mentor-mentee relationships. Using keywords specific to e-mentoring and online graduate education, literature searches were conducted to isolate relevant research from the last decade. From this literature, it was possible to synthesize current practices in e-mentoring and identify effective strategies to use for doctoral students conducting research. Using Yob and Crawford (2012) framework, results were organized into the following six independent categories: Competence, Availability, Induction, Challenge, Communication, and Emotional Support. Other aspects that impact the mentoring relationship are also discussed.
A Novel Posterior Rod-Link-Reducer System Provides Safer, Easier, and Better Correction of Severe Scoliosis.

Abstract Study Design Retrospective review. Objectives To compare the Cobb >75° scoliosis correction obtained using a novel Rod-Link-Reducer (RLR) system versus traditional corrective techniques (TCT) in patients with severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Summary of Background Data Current implant strategies provide for good correction, especially for moderate curves; however, severe scoliosis continues to be challenging to obtain correction in a safe and effective manner. Methods A novel correction device was developed so that two provisional rods are placed on the convex side of the scoliosis proximally and distally, which are then linked to an external reduction device termed the RLR. A retrospective analysis was performed to compare the RLR versus the TCT in patients with curve >75° with the diagnosis of AIS with respect to the radiographic outcomes, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, and SRS-30 scores of a minimum 2-year follow-up. Results A total of 36 patients were evaluated (RLR-18, TCT-18). The data sets were similar for age, gender, coronal Cobb, curve flexibility, and follow-up period. The mean preoperative Cobb for the RLR group was 91.7° (76°–113°) and 91.8° (78°–108°) for the TCT group. The mean coronal Cobb correction rate was significantly greater for the RLR group (73.1% vs. 56.6%, p Conclusion In a matched cohort, the use of the RLR exhibited greater coronal Cobb correction, shorter operative time, and was less likely to have critical neuro-monitoring changes compared with the TCT group. The RLR provides safer and improved correction for severe curves without adding surgical risk. Level of Evidence Level III.
Assessment and prevention of cartilage degeneration surrounding a focal chondral defect in the porcine model.

Abstract Focal defects in articular cartilage are unable to self-repair and, if left untreated, are a leading risk factor for osteoarthritis. This study examined cartilage degeneration surrounding a defect and then assessed whether infilling the defect prevents degeneration. We created a focal chondral defect in porcine osteochondral explants and cultured them ex vivo with and without dynamic compressive loading to decouple the role of loading. When compared to a defect in a porcine knee four weeks post-injury, this model captured loss in sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs) along the defect's edge that was observed in vivo, but this loss was not load dependent. Loading, however, reduced the indentation modulus of the surrounding cartilage. After infilling with in situ polymerized hydrogels that were soft (100 kPa) or stiff (1 MPa) and which produced swelling pressures of 13 and 310 kPa, respectively, sGAG loss was reduced. This reduction correlated with increased hydrogel stiffness and swelling pressure, but was not affected by loading. This ex vivo model recapitulates sGAG loss surrounding a defect and, when infilled with a mechanically supportive hydrogel, degeneration is minimized.
Short-Term and Long-Term Resilience Among At-Risk Adolescents: The Role of Family and Community Settings.

Objective: Given the severe consequences associated with maltreatment, establishing an understanding of pathways to resilience among trauma-exposed youth is a critical public health aim. Longitudinal research has either examined short-term or long-term responses to traumatic events, which prevents testing for a) individual differences between resilience subtypes and b) consistency of short-term, resilient responses over time. Additionally, post-traumatic stress and depression represent the two most common symptom patterns in youth exposed to maltreatment, however few studies have simultaneously investigated resilience to these outcomes. In response, the current study employs a dimensional analytic approach to distinguish between short-term (the ability to demonstrate adaptive responses to ongoing adversities) and long-term (lack of distress over several years in response to a prior adversity) resilience. Consistent with an ecological perspective, the study examines whether family- and community-level protective factors are similarly or uniquely associated with different resilience subtypes.Method: Participants included 943 individuals (469 male, 474 female) from a nationally-representative, at-risk sample of adolescents who completed self-report measures of maltreatment exposure, depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress symptoms at ages 12, 16, and 18. During the age 12 visit, participants' caregivers completed self-report measures of family routines and neighborhood social cohesion.Results: Overall, we found that family routines uniquely buffered against trauma-related distress across resilience conceptualizations, while social cohesion played a role in short-term resilience to depressive symptoms (p .05).Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of understanding resilience dimensionally for adolescents exposed to maltreatment.
The effects of water hardness on the growth, metabolic indicators and stress resistance of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides

Abstract Water hardness varies regionally and optimal levels for fish are often species specific. It is generally assumed that largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, require elevated water hardness, but this has not yet been investigated. In this two-part study, M. salmoides juveniles were subjected to 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/l CaCO3 (by CaCl2 additions) and the survival, growth, ammonia-N excretion/oxygen consumption rates, biochemical composition and ion-regulatory enzymes were measured after one month. Afterwards, fish were subjected to a sudden salinity shock test (SSST) at 10 ppt. In experiment 2, M. salmoides juveniles were subjected to 50 or 400 mg/l CaCO3 for one month and measured for the above-mentioned parameters. In experiments 1 and 2, both feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased at 400 mg/l CaCO3, compared to 50 or 100 mg/l CaCO3, however, hardness had no significant effect on survival or growth. There was no significant effect to gill Na+/K+-ATPase or H+-ATPase activities; however, survival to SSST was significantly less at 50 or 100 mg/l than the other treatments. At 400 mg/l CaCO3, ammonia-N excretion/oxygen consumption rates were significantly less compared at 50 mg/l CaCO3, indicating greater energy expenditure at lower water hardness. These results demonstrate that while high water hardness substantially improves stress resistance in M. salmoides juveniles, they do not require high water hardness for optimal growth.
Differential expression of striatal proteins in a mouse model of DOPA-responsive dystonia reveals shared mechanisms among dystonic disorders

Dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that cause debilitating twisting movements and postures. Although basal ganglia dysfunction is implicated in many forms of dystonia, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, to reveal abnormal striatal cellular processes and pathways implicated in dystonia, we used an unbiased proteomic approach in a knockin mouse model of DOPA-responsive dystonia, a model in which the striatum is known to play a central role in the expression of dystonia. Fifty-seven of the 1805 proteins identified were differentially regulated in DOPA-responsive dystonia mice compared to control mice. Most differentially regulated proteins were associated with gene ontology terms that implicated either mitochondrial or synaptic dysfunction whereby proteins associated with mitochondrial function were generally over-represented whereas proteins associated with synaptic function were largely under-represented. Remarkably, nearly 20% of the differentially regulated proteins identified in our screen are associated with pathogenic variants that cause inherited dystonic disorders in humans suggesting shared mechanisms across many different forms of dystonia.
Corporate ESG Profiles, Matching, and the Cost of Bank Loans

I examine the impact of corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) profiles on the formation of lending relationships between firms and banks, and the implications of this matching for loan pricing. I find that high ESG firms are more likely to receive a bank loan, and their loans come with lower interest rates. These effects, however, are driven by banks previously linked to a group of borrowers with low sustainability performance. These findings suggest that low ESG banks have a stronger incentive to improve their ESG profile by linking themselves to high ESG-rated firms, and thus they are willing to provide a loan with a lower spread. I support these findings using the FTSE4Good US Index rebalance events as shocks to borrowers' ESG reputation. Lastly, I find that borrowers attempt to improve their ESG while seeking a loan, and then once they get it, they reduce that effort.
Rural Democratisation in Mexico’s Deep South: Grassroots Right-to-Know Campaigns in Guerrero

In Mexico’s southern state of Guerrero, rural social and civic movements are increasingly claiming their right to information as a tool to hold the state publicly accountable, as part of their ongoing issue-specific social, economic, and civic struggles. This study reviews the historical, social and political landscape that grounds campaigns for rural democratisation in Guerrero, including Mexico’s recent information access reforms and then compares two different regional social movements that have claimed the ‘right to know’. For some movements, the demand for information rights is part of a sustained strategy, for others it is a tactic, but the claim bridges both more resistance-oriented and more negotiation-oriented social and civic movements.
Analyzing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on micromobility transportation

The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous social and economic impacts throughout the world. Many cities around the world adopted different lockdown policies impacting how people travel. Micromobility systems, such as scooter sharing and bikeshare, were among the transportation systems impacted by COVID-19. E-Scooters and bikeshares provide convenient and quick rides for short distances and can act as a connection for first/last mile trips, but the shared nature of those modes, along with a lack of understanding of how COVID-19 spread, likely contributed to the decline. This study quantifies the impact of COVID-19 on scooter sharing and bikeshares in Louisville, Kentucky, through a descriptive analysis and discussed the findings. © ASCE
A comparison between monopolar radiofrequency ablation and electrocautery (Diathermy) ablations in left modified MAZE (short-term results)

Introduction Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The classic cut-and-sew maze procedure is successful in 85–95% of patients. However, it is technically challenging and requires prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass. The left modified maze procedure is successful in 65–85% of patients. The aim of this study was to compare the success of two different ablation sources in the left modified MAZE. Patients and methods Between June 2010 and December 2016, 40 patients underwent left modified MAZE (Cox III) procedure: 20 patients were done with monopolar radiofrequency ablation (group A) and the other 20 patients were done with diathermy as electrocautery ablation (group B). All patients had left maze plus a concomitant operation. Results The patients' mean age was 38.2 ± 12.7 years; there was no mortality or stroke or any thromboembolic events in both groups. There were 14 (35%) males and 26 (65%) females. The mean left atrial size ranged from 62.6 to 27.4 mm. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was 115.1 ± 84.9 min. The mean cross-clamp time was 86 ± 64 min. The incidence of freedom from atrial fibrillation was 45% at the end of the operation (40% of patients with normal sinus rhythm with group A and 50% with group B), and after 1-year follow-up, this incidence increased to 67.5%, with 70% in group A and 65% in group B; only one patient required permanent pacemaker. Conclusion Although monopolar radiofrequency ablation is slightly superior to electrocautery, diathermy is definitely a cheaper option and can be used with satisfactory considerable short-term results in left modified Maze procedure in case of absence of standard devices of ablation.
Labour Markets in Professional Sports

Important elements of supply and demand are starkly observable in professional athletics. Demand affects how pay varies with personal productivity, racial discrimination, the nature of factor substitutions, and player mobility. Property rights affect the supply of athletic talent, arms races and incentives to restrict competition. In sports, excess incentives to win can create negative externalities. Collective agreements such as reverse-order drafts, payroll caps and revenue sharing constrain these forces, but redistribute rents from talented players to owners because they punish success. The European approach–promoting better-performing teams and relegating those with the poorest records–punish failure.
Microbially Mediated Redox Reactions

Abstract This chapter briefly presents the most important microbially mediated redox reactions in ecosystems. The chapter introduces redox reactions and their terminology, electron donors and acceptors, and energy yields from redox reactions. It then describes some of the most important microbially mediated redox reactions and the environments in which each typically occurs. The chapter presents the sequence in which redox reactions typically occur as electron acceptors are successively depleted, and briefly discusses why microbially mediated redox reactions are important in ecosystem element cycles.
Chromatin Clumping in Mature Leukocytes: A Hitherto Unrecognized Abnormality

A 62-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman were found to have a nuclear abnormality characterized by exaggerated clumping of the chromatin in the mature granulocytic and erythroid cells. The mature granulocytes showed loss of normal segmentation. The abnormality was not noted in other family members and appeared to be related to an atypical leukemic process. The nuclear abnormality was shown to be associated with a defect in cellular production within the marrow. Granulocyte precursors and normoblasts incorporated 3H-TdR but did not divide. Electron microscopy suggested the distribution of more than normal quantities of heterochromatin to mature leukocytes. Ferrokinetic studies disclosed ineffective erythropoiesis. The sharing of this abnormality by the myeloid and erythroid cells suggests a common stem cell origin. A functional defect of phagocytosis and cellular aggregation was demonstrated in the neutrophils, but bacterial killing was not affected. The nuclear anomaly described herein may be a pre-leukemic abnormality. Since this paper was submitted for publication, we have treated two more patients with an identical nuclear defect; an 82-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man. The woman succumbed of acute leukemic transformation, while the man is still alive.
Use of Channelrhodopsin for Activation of CNS Neurons

Optogenetics-the use of optically activated proteins to control cell function-allows for control of neurons with an unprecedented degree of spatial, temporal, and neurochemical precision. Three protocols are presented in this unit describing the use of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a light-activated cation channel. These protocols emphasize practical issues of working with ChR2, including guidelines for selecting a gene delivery method, light source, and method of tissue implantation, as well as steps for fabricating fiber optic patch cables and chronic implantable optical fibers. The first protocol describes the use of ChR2 in electrophysiological recordings from brain slices. The second and third involve the use of ChR2 in vivo, with light delivered through chronic fiber implants or guide cannula.
Hawking's Radiation via Fourier Integral Operators

AbstractThis is a new geometric study in the theory of partial di erential equations:an application of Fourier integral operators to equations with distributionalcoecients. As an example, a derivation of the existence and spectrum ofHawking’s radiation from a collapsing star is given. 1 IntroductionUsing techniques of Fourier integral operator theory, one may derive the existenceand spectrum of a generalized Hawking’s radiation for any pseudoriemannian spacein which the metric tensor has distributional coecients. By regarding the metric ten-sor as a distributional tensor rather than a smooth tensor, spacetime singularities areincluded in the smooth manifold, the metric tensor, the curvatures, the d’Alembertianoperator for the wave equation, etc. 1 Note that this approach will not require the con-sideration of any topological spaces more general than smooth manifolds. As it turnsout, the properties of this generalized Hawking’s radiation are intimately connectedwith certain properties of the solutions of a wave equation having distributional coef- cients in its d’Alembertian operator. When applied to the particular example of thespacetime of a collapsing star, the general procedure specializes to yield the originalformulas of Hawking.
Transcriptional analysis of the region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome containing the UL8, UL9, and UL10 genes and identification of a novel delayed-early gene product, OBPC.

The region of the UL component of the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome between nucleotides 17,793 and 25,150 includes three open reading frames that code for the protein products of the UL8, UL9, and UL10 genes (D.J. McGeogh, M.A. Dalrymple, A.J. Davison, A. Dolan, M.C. Frame, D. McNab, L.J. Perry, J.E. Scott, and P. Taylor, J. Gen. Virol. 69:1531-1574, 1988). We have mapped and characterized the overlapping transcripts in this region and have found that, in addition to the low-abundance UL8 and UL9 transcripts and the abundant UL10 transcript, at least two additional transcription units, designated UL8.5 and UL9.5, are specified by this region of the genome. The 5' ends of the UL8, UL8.5, and UL9 transcripts were mapped to nucleotides 20,682, 22,351, and 23,381, respectively. The 5' terminus of the UL9.5 transcript has not yet been mapped. The 3' ends of the UL8, UL8.5, UL9, and UL9.5 transcripts are coterminal at nucleotide 18,197. The 5' end of the UL10 mRNA, which is transcribed from the strand opposite that specifying the UL8, UL8.5, UL9, and UL9.5 transcripts, lies within the UL9 open reading frame at nucleotide 22,944, while the 3' terminus was mapped to nucleotide 24,666. Time course studies demonstrated that the UL8 and UL9 transcripts are members of the early kinetic class, the UL8.5 mRNA is a delayed-early transcript, and the UL9.5 and UL10 transcripts belong to the true-late kinetic class. Examination of the nucleotide sequence of the UL8.5 transcript revealed a potential open reading frame that overlaps and is in frame with the C-terminal half of the open reading frame encoding the origin-binding protein (OBP), the product of the UL9 gene. In vitro translation of the UL8.5 transcript demonstrated that it encodes a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 53 kDa. This protein was recognized by antibody directed against the C-terminal region of OBP and has thus been designated OBPC. A protein with an identical apparent molecular mass was also recognized by this antibody in infected-cell lysates, indicating that OBPC is synthesized during viral infection.
At Physiological pH, d(CCG)15 Forms a Hairpin Containing Protonated Cytosines and a Distorted Helix†

To investigate potential structures of d(CGG/CCG)n that might relate to their biological function and association with triplet repeat expansion diseases (TREDs), the structure of a single-stranded (ss) oligonucleotide containing d(CCG)15 [ss(CCG)15] was examined by studies of the pH and temperature dependence of electrophoretic mobility, UV absorbance, circular dichroism, chemical modification, and P1 nuclease digestion. ss(CCG)15 had an unusually high pKa (7.7 +/- 0.2). At pH 8.5, ss(CCG)15 formed a relatively unstable (Tm = 30 degrees C in 1 mM Na+) hairpin containing CpG base-pair steps. At pH 7.5, the hairpin contained protonated cytosines but no detectable C x +C base pairs, increased thermal stability (Tm = 37 degrees C), increased stacking of the CpG base-pair steps, and a single cytosine that was flipped away from the central portion of the helix. Examination of ss(CCG)18 and ss(CCG)20, which were designed to adopt hairpins containing alternative GpC base-pair steps, revealed hairpins containing CpG base-pair steps, pKas of approximately 8.2 and approximately 8.4, respectively, and distorted helices. The results suggest that DNA sequences containing (CCG)(n > or = 15) adopt hairpin conformations that contain CpG rather than GpC base-pair steps; the mismatched cytosines are protonated at physiological pH but are not H-bonded. We propose that protonation arises from the stacking of two cytosines in the minor groove of a distorted helix.
Electrical dc conductivity in iodine‐doped pseudo‐IPNs of conjugated polymer network (C‐PDMS/L‐P4BCMU)

We have prepared pseudo-IPNs (PIPN) of crosslinked PDMS and linear P4BCMU and characterized them by DSC and SEM. The proposed theory about electrical hopping conduction along the linear chain is supported by the observed electrical conductivity properties of these IPNs of conjugated linear polymers. We also studied the low-temperature (T) DC conductivity of the single-phase PIPN and these showed a change from minus to plus in dσ/dt below 120 K. At 4 K, σ was about seven times larger than at 120 K. This reversal is not shown by the bulk polymers composing these PIPNs and polymer blends of linear conjugated polymer in linear insulating host polymer. We speculate that this may indicate some degree of quantum coherence in σ of the one-dimensional pseudo- PIPNs. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Novel immunization reminder/recall approaches: rural and urban differences in parent perceptions.

Abstract Objective To assess the following among parents of young children: 1) preferences about the source of immunization reminder/recall (R/R) messages, 2) the degree of acceptability of different R/R modalities, and 3) factors that influence preferences, including rural and urban characteristics. Methods We conducted a survey among parents of children 19 to 35 months old who needed ≥1 immunization according to the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS). Equal numbers of urban and rural respondents were randomly selected. Up to 4 surveys were mailed to each parent who had a valid address. Results After removing invalid addresses, the response rate was 55% (334 of 607). Half of parents (49.7%) had no preference about whether the public health department or their child's doctor sent reminders. Urban parents were more likely to prefer R/R come from their child's doctor (46.7%) compared to rural parents (33.7%), P = .003. Mail was the preferred R/R method (57.7%), then telephone (17.0%), e-mail (12.7%), and text message (10.7%). Although not preferred, 60.1% reported it would be acceptable to receive R/R by e-mail and 46.2% by text message. Factors associated with preferring to receive R/R from their child's doctor were urban residence and educational level of college graduate or greater. Conclusions A large portion of parents are willing to be reminded about vaccinations by their health department rather than their child's provider and via novel modalities, such as e-mail or text messaging. Urbanicity and higher educational level were associated with preferring that R/R come from a provider.
Successful and less-successful research performance of junior faculty

In academic medical centers, there is increasing concern about the diminishing supply of clinical investigators and the amount of clinical investigation being conducted. This study developed and evaluated an instrument designed to measure characteristics of a successful researcher. All assistant professor faculty in the tenure track at this research university were sent a two-page survey. Analyses revealed that 50 percent of the items significantly discriminated successful and less-successful researchers. A factor analysis of these items produced four stable factors: research activities, mentoring, local networks, and scholarly habits. A backward stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that only two of the four factors were needed to effectively identify successful researchers. These two factors were research activities and scholarly habits. The rate of correct classification of the two-factor equation was such that 92 percent of the successful researchers were correctly identified. Testing this instrument in other academic settings would help to determine its generalizability.
State of the science: hot flashes and cancer. Part 1: definition, scope, impact, physiology, and measurement.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To critically evaluate and synthesize multidisciplinary research related to hot flashes in the context of cancer. Topics include the definition, scope, and impact of hot flashes; physiologic mechanisms; and measurement issues. DATA SOURCES Published, peer-reviewed articles and textbooks; editorials; unpublished data; and computerized databases. DATA SYNTHESIS Hot flashes can affect a diverse group of men and women diagnosed with or at high risk for certain cancers with a resulting negative impact on quality of life. Although the exact physiologic mechanisms underlying hot flashes remain unclear, a complex interplay of thermoregulatory, gluconeuroendocrine, genetic, and behavioral factors appears to be involved. Measurement of hot flashes should be considered carefully because they can be operationalized objectively and subjectively. CONCLUSIONS The large and diverse evidence base and current national attention on measurement of hot flashes highlight the importance of the symptom to healthcare professionals, including oncology nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Careful attention to assessment and measurement of hot flashes in patients with cancer is needed.
Reconstruction of large thoracoabdominal defects using two-stage free tissue transfers and prosthetic materials

Very large full thickness defects of the thorax or abdomen after tumoral resections commonly need to be reconstructed with free tissue transfers. We retrospectively analysed the protocol of performing the free tissue transfer before the wide excision in 15 patients (mean age of 48) with large tumours of the thorax and abdomen. During the first stage, the flap was folded on itself in a strategic position close to the future resection site and microsurgical anastomoses performed. The second stage surgery consisted of the full thickness excision and definitive reconstruction of the defect by unfolding the flap over prosthetic material. The inclusion criteria were: large thoracoabdominal resections exposing lung or bowel and requiring the use of prosthetic material as part of the reconstruction after resection for locally aggressive tumours such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. In 8/10 patients, vein grafts were used in the arterial anastomosis. The mean time interval between the first and the second stage was 17 days (7-50 days). Flap survival was one hundred percent on first attempt. In one patient who had presented with a large abdominal haemangioma, pulmonary embolism occurred during the second stage. In another patient, an infection under the flap occurred 3 years after reconstruction. Results of this series of patients support our belief that a two-stage microsurgical strategy can be useful in selected patients where large free flaps (with grafted pedicle) in combination with prosthetic materials have to be performed for reconstruction of full thickness defects of the trunk or the abdomen.
Early voiding dysfunction associated with prostate brachytherapy.

Abstract Introduction: Transperineal prostate brachytherapy is gaining popularity as a treatment for clinically localized carcinoma of the prostate. Very little prospective data exists addressing the issue of complications associated with this procedure. We present an analysis of the early voiding dysfunction associated with prostate brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients who underwent Palladium-103 (Pd-103) seed placement for clinically localized prostate carcinoma were evaluated prospectively for any morbidity associated with the procedure. Twenty-three patients completed an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire preoperatively, at their first postoperative visit, and at their second postoperative visit. The total IPSS, each of the seven individual components, and the “bother” score were evaluated separately for each visit, and statistical significance was determined. Results: Urinary retention occurred in 7/46 patients (15%). Of these, 5 were able to void spontaneously after catheter removal. One patient is maintained with a suprapubic tube, and one patient is currently on continuous intermittent catheterization. Baseline IPSS was 7.1 and this went to 20.0 at the first postoperative visit ( p
A Nonradioisotope Biomedical Assay for Intact Oligonucleotide and Its Chain-Shortened Metabolites Used for Determination of Exposure and Elimination Half-Life of Antisense Drugs in Tissue

Rigorous extraction methods coupled with capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) provide a basis for a nonradiolabel assay for quantitation of intact antisense drug and its numerous chain-shortened metabolites. As part of the validation of the CGE method, we compared the quantitation of unlabeled ISIS 3521 (ISI 641A) and its chain-shortened metabolites with total radioactivity of [(35)S]-ISIS 3521. ISIS 3521 was labeled on the fifth nucleotide linkage from the 5'-end with (35)S by well-established methods. Multiple tissues collected from rats after administration of [(35)S]-ISIS 3521 were assayed by both radiolabel (liquid scintillation spectroscopy) and CGE methods. The CGE method provided accurate quantitation of the drug and its metabolites in kidney cortex and liver tissues. The correlation between methods for multiple tissues over time was excellent with 88.5% of the measurements being statistically equivalent. These data suggest that CGE is an accurate means of quantitating oligonucleotide in tissue and that it compares favorably with traditional radiochemical techniques. Clearance half-lives for total measurable oligonucleotides were equivalent to clearance of total radioactivity in both liver and kidney with the longest clearance half-life associated with the kidney.
Three phonon coupling to a two dimensional helium film

Abstract An experimental measurement of thermal boundary conductance to a two dimensional superfluid has been carried out using third sound resonance. This conductance varies as T6.5±1 between 0.7K and 0.1K. It is four orders or magnitude smaller , at 0.1K, than even the boundary conductance originally calculated by Khalatnikov for three dimensions. We consider a simple three phonon process which gives a conductance which varies as T8 and agrees with measurements to within an order of magnitude.
Comparison Of Simultaneous MST Radar And Electron Density Probe Measurements In The Polar Mesosphere

Rockets containing dc probes were launched at Poker Flat, Alaska in two different campaigns in June 1983 and July 1986 to measure electron density irregularities with high spatial resolution. They were launched at times when the MST radar showed regions of intense backscatter in the mesosphere. Large changes and strong gradients in the electron density are observed in the region of most intense backscatter. The electron density profiles in general show different characteristics in the peak scattering region. Two profiles, one from each campaign, however, show a deep 'bite out' or depletion in electron density near 86 km. Spectra of the spatial density fluctuations are derived from the first campaign results. In the region of most intense backscatter, the power is up over the whole frequency range by almost 5 orders of magnitude. An intercomparison of the probe data is given, followed by a comparison between the measured radar echo power and calculated echo power based on the in situ rocket measurements.
Surface area changes and the electrophoretic mobility of tissue culture cells

Abstract The electrophoretic mobilities and surface areas of tissue culture cells fixed in different morphological states were determined under standard conditions. The apparent surface area of cells fixed in a spread state was found to be approximately two times greater than the surface area of cells fixed in suspension. However, the electrophoretic mobility of spread and non-spread cells was the same indicating that the charge density of the cell surface remains unaltered during these morphological changes. The possible mechanisms for retaining a constant electrophoretic mobility while the apparent surface area changes are discussed and it is concluded that probably the cell surface has undulations which become flattened and thus increase the apparent surface area when the cell spreads out while the charge density remains unaltered.
Investigation of the drying process in fine-grain alumina articles

Unfired alumina after acid processing contains up to 3% hydrates and oxychlorides of aluminum. In the materials fired at high temperatures the hydrates and oxychlorides of aluminum are practically absent (0.1%), and therefore cannot have any marked effect on the drying of the products. In the range 30–50° some 93.5% of the total moisture is separated. Consequently, decisive significance in the development of mechanical stresses leading to cracking in the products is shown by the rate of temperature rise in this range.
Public Relations from the Ivory Tower: Comparing Research Universities with Corporate/Business Models

The study explored the practice of public relations in higher education. It measured the characteristics of public relations programs at a set of research universities against known characteristics of excellence in public relations in businesses and other organizations. It asked whether the chief public relations officers at the research universities highly value strategic-managerial characteristics and historical-technical ones, whether university structure or individual demographics affect chief public relations officers' perceptions of the characteristics, and whether the research universities provide support for excellent public relations. The data suggest that chief public relations officers at research universities do believe that the characteristics known to indicate excellence in public relations are very important; however those beliefs are not necessarily reflected by the priorities the public relations officers set. Also, the data show that the universities often exhibit the indicators of organizations and corporations that provide appropriate support for excellent public relations. Demographics affect chief public relations officers' perceptions in only a few areas, but they are interesting ones. For example, chief public relations officers with more experience outside of academia rate their universities' support for public relations programs higher than do those with more experience inside academia. There is also a difference in responses based on the placement of the public relations program within the university structure. Where there is a single vice-president with responsibility for both public relations and fund raising, the chief public relations officers rate the characteristics of excellence less highly than where there is separate vice-president for public relations and for fund raising. The results lead to further questions such as whether research universities are in transition from a more historical-technical model of public relations to a more strategic-managerial model, whether having separate vice-presidents for public relations and for fund raising will promote that transition and therefore increase public relations effectiveness, and whether universities actually provide more support to public relations when the chief public relations officers comes from outside of academe.
Integrating diverse research and development approaches to the construction of social cyberspaces

Researchers take a broad range of approaches in studying social cyberspaces, and each approach has its own theoretical underpinnings, goals, methods, advantages, and disadvantages. We intend to bring researchers from various backgrounds together, document the range of variation in this interdisciplinary area, and build connections among these practitioners. Using a survey instrument, this workshop will create a resource catalog (distributed through the web) that can be used by others in this field to guide them through the range of approaches in current use. Particular attention will be paid to the advantages and disadvantages of the different methodological approaches researchers take to understand, develop and enhance specific research topics.
Use of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs present many challenges, and the complication of paraplegia remains a concern for both the surgeon and the nurse caring for the patient in the postoperative period. Paraplegia can occur secondary to spinal cord ischemia from prolonged aortic clamping during the repair of the descending thoracic aorta. Paraplegia is a devastating complication for the patient and family. Multiple adjunct techniques have been instituted to prevent reduced spinal cord perfusion during and after the operation, including the use of shunts and cardiopulmonary bypass, femoral artery-femoral vein bypass, left atrial-femoral artery bypass, and selective revascularization of the dominant intercostal artery. Other methods, such as somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during the operation and regional spinal hypothermia techniques, have not reduced the incidence of paraplegia. Improved outcomes have been seen with the use of methods to reduce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. One such method is the use of external CSF drainage during the operation, followed by use of a lumbar drain system for as long as 72 hours after the operation. This system setup uses a transducer to monitor CSF pressure and a drip chamber to drain CSF to maintain a normal pressure. This article describes thoracoabdominal aneurysms, surgical techniques to repair the aneurysm, and the use of external CSF drainage and related nursing care measures.
Comparison of types of fermentation vessels for an in vitro artificial rumen procedure.

Abstract Three types of containers (125-ml Erlenmeyer flasks, 122×28mm glass centrifuge tubes, and 200×25mm glass screwcapped tubes) were compared as fermentation vessels for a modified Tilley and Terry two-stage in vitro artificial rumen procedure. This in vitro technique estimates true dry matter digestibility. Four forages (orchard-grass, alfalfa, bromegrass, and timothy) with wide differences in digestibility and three sample sizes (250, 375, and 500mg) were utilized for the comparison. Digestibilities were consistently low with the centrifuge tubes. Results with screw-capped tubes were comparable to those with Erlenmeyer flasks. Tubes utilize water bath space more efficiently and do not require a constant supply of CO 2 during fermentation to maintain an anaerobic condition. Small but significant differences in digestibility occurred between sample sizes.
Contrasting the Effects of Generation, Class, Sex, and Age on Group Identification in the Jewish and Protestant Communities

This article presents a joint set of eight religio-ethnic identification dimensions which are equally applicable to the Jewish and Protestant communities. Given such a conceptual scheme, it becomes possible to evaluate the impacts of United States generations, social status, sex, and age, upon group identification. Such an evaluation reveals the rejection by the younger, higher-status members of both groups of many of their traditional acts and beliefs but a constant, or strengthened, interest in improved religious education for their children and upon activity in religio-ethnic organizations. When upper-status Jews and Protestants are compared, the surprising thing is their fairly similar index values on the dimensions of religious behavior, pietism, and religious education. However, such Jews are a lot more active in Jewish organizations than are their Protestant equivalents. Upper-status Jews and Protestants further differ in that the Jews are less traditional in beliefs, socialize to a greater degree within their ethnic community, and are more concerned about the religious education of their children. T nhere is a long tradition in sociology of exploring the effects of class upon religious involvement. One can start with, for example, the classic work of Weber (1963), go to the work of Niebuhr (1957), and enter the contemporary world through the book by Lenski (1961) and the recent publication by Demerath (1965). Then, in post-World War II social science writings, generation became a variable of considerable concern. Here we cian start with the work of the historian Marcus Hansen (1952), go to his interpreter Will Herberg (1960), and to fairly recent comments upon their three generations hypothesis by Lenski (1961), and Lazerwitz and Rowitz