cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of maternally administered Depot ACTH1–24 on fetal maturation and the timing of parturition in the mare

The aims of this study were to ascertain 1) whether fetal maturation could be induced precociously by maternal administration with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and 2) whether maturation could be achieved without significant risk to mare or fetus. Twenty-two mares received either 1 mg (low dose, LD, n = 6) or 4 or 5 mg (higher dose, HD, n = 16) synthetic Depot ACTH(1-24) at 300, 301 and 302 days gestation. Because, during the course of the study, ACTH appeared to have a greater influence on mares mated during the later part of the breeding season, the HD group were divided retrospectively into those mated before (HDE, n = 6), or after (HDL, n = 10), 1st July. All LD mares were mated before 1st July. Control injections were not performed but gestational data were compared retrospectively with 64 untreated, spontaneously foaling pony mares mated between May and October. Plasma progestagen and cortisol concentrations increased significantly (P<0.05) following ACTH administration in all groups, but progestagens were higher and cortisol elevated for longer in HD mares. ACTH stimulated mammary development and milk electrolyte changes in HD mares. Mean +/- s.e. gestation period (days) was significantly (P<0.01) shorter in HDL mares (318 +/- 1.8) compared with LD (335 +/- 3.7), HDE (340 +/- 4.3) and untreated mares mated after 1st July (327 +/- 1.3). All foals were mature except 2 HDL foals which were stillborn. HDL foals had a higher MCV and lower mean bodyweight, indicating they were delivered before full term. In conclusion, maternal ACTH administration appears to accelerate fetal maturation and delivery in pony mares given high doses and mated late in the breeding season. Further work is required to establish the optimal gestational age and dosage for maternal ACTH administration before clinical recommendations can be given for this therapy.
Protease activation in glycerol-based deep eutectic solvents

Abstract Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) consisting of mixtures of a choline salt (chloride or acetate form) and glycerol are prepared as easily accessible, biodegradable, and inexpensive alternatives to conventional aprotic cation–anion paired ionic liquids. These DES systems display excellent fluidity coupled with thermal stability to nearly 200 °C. In this work, the transesterification activities of cross-linked proteases (subtilisin and α-chymotrypsin), immobilized on chitosan, were individually examined in these novel DESs. In the 1:2 molar ratio mixture of choline chloride/glycerol containing 3% (v/v) water, cross-linked subtilisin exhibited an excellent activity (2.9 μmol min −1 g −1 ) in conjunction with a selectivity of 98% in the transesterification reaction of N -acetyl- l -phenylalanine ethyl ester with 1-propanol. These highly encouraging results advocate more extensive exploration of DESs in protease-mediated biotransformations of additional polar substrates and use of DESs in biocatalysis more generally.
pbx is required for pole and eye regeneration in planarians

Planarian regeneration involves regionalized gene expression that specifies the body plan. After amputation, planarians are capable of regenerating new anterior and posterior poles, as well as tissues polarized along the anterior-posterior, dorsal-ventral and medial-lateral axes. Wnt and several Hox genes are expressed at the posterior pole, whereas Wnt inhibitory genes, Fgf inhibitory genes, and prep, which encodes a TALE-family homeodomain protein, are expressed at the anterior pole. We found that Smed-pbx (pbx for short), which encodes a second planarian TALE-family homeodomain transcription factor, is required for restored expression of these genes at anterior and posterior poles during regeneration. Moreover, pbx(RNAi) animals gradually lose pole gene expression during homeostasis. By contrast, pbx was not required for initial anterior-posterior polarized responses to wounds, indicating that pbx is required after wound responses for development and maintenance of poles during regeneration and homeostatic tissue turnover. Independently of the requirement for pbx in pole regeneration, pbx is required for eye precursor formation and, consequently, eye regeneration and eye replacement in homeostasis. Together, these data indicate that pbx promotes pole formation of body axes and formation of regenerative progenitors for eyes.
Spatial aspects of interspecific competition.

Using several variants of a stochastic spatial model introduced by Silvertown et al., we investigate the effect of spatial distribution of individuals on the outcome of competition. First, we prove rigorously that if one species has a competitive advantage over each of the others, then eventually it takes over all the sites in the system. Second, we examine tradeoffs between competition and dispersal distance in a two-species system. Third, we consider a cyclic competitive relationship between three types. In this case, a nonspatial treatment leads to densities that follow neutrally stable cycles or even unstable spiral solutions, while a spatial model yields a stationary distribution with an interesting spatial structure.
Noncontact photoacoustic imaging achieved by using a low-coherence interferometer as the acoustic detector.

We report on a noncontact photoacoustic imaging (PAI) technique in which a low-coherence interferometer [(LCI), optical coherence tomography (OCT) hardware] is utilized as the acoustic detector. A synchronization approach is used to lock the LCI system at its highly sensitive region for photoacoustic detection. The technique is experimentally verified by the imaging of a scattering phantom embedded with hairs and the blood vessels within a mouse ear in vitro. The system’s axial and lateral resolutions are evaluated at 60 and 30 μm, respectively. The experimental results indicate that PAI in a noncontact detection mode is possible with high resolution and high bandwidth. The proposed approach lends itself to a natural integration of PAI with OCT, rather than a combination of two separate and independent systems.
Electrical Transport in Ultrathin NdNiO 3 Films

Electrical transport properties in ultrathin NdNiO3 films grown on single crystal LaAlO3(001) substrate were characterized. Films with thicknesses ranging from 0.6 nm to 12 nm were grown using a pulsed laser technique. Four probe resistivity as a function of temperature measurements indicated a strong dissipation of strain effects from 0.6 nm to 6 nm as well as the presence of defects in the 12 nm sample. A proposed mechanism of kinetically stable glassy phase formation explains the time dependence of the resistivity in both cooling and heating cycles.
Littlewood-Paley Theorem for Schrodinger Operators

Let H be a Schrodinger operator on ℝ n. Under a polynomial decay condition for the kernel of its spectral operator, we show that the Besov spaces and Triebel-Lizorkin spaces associated with H are well defined. We further give a Littlewood-Paley characterization of Lp spaces in terms of dyadic functions of H. This generalizes and strengthens the previous result when the heat kernel of H satisfies certain upper Gaussian bound.
Optimal design and relaxation of variational problems, III

Abstract : This paper has attempted a synthesis of three subjects that have developed separately - optimal design, homogenization, and relaxation in the calculus of variations. The underlying theme is that of oscillations. They occur with certain definite patterns in minimizing sequences for the variational problem. The same patterns recur in nearly optimal designs and in the coefficients of the equation being homogenized. Each problem is resolved by determining the structure of those oscillations, and above all their macroscopic averages. It is those averages that solve the relaxed problem. They also determine the optimal design and the solution of the homogenized equation. We emphasize also the role of optimization. The homogenized equations and composite materials of interest here come not from arbitrary mixtures but from those that are extremal, since they correspond to minimizing sequences for the variational problem. The effective properties of these composites attain the optimal bounds for given materials in fixed proportions.
Modeling longitudinal data with nonignorable dropouts using a latent dropout class model.

Summary. In longitudinal studies with dropout, pattern-mixture models form an attractive modeling framework to account for nonignorable missing data. However, pattern-mixture models assume that the components of the mixture distribution are entirely determined by the dropout times. That is, two subjects with the same dropout time have the same distribution for their response with probability one. As that is unlikely to be the case, this assumption made lead to classification error. In addition, if there are certain dropout patterns with very few subjects, which often occurs when the number of observation times is relatively large, pattern-specific parameters may be weakly identified or require identifying restrictions. We propose an alternative approach, which is a latent-class model. The dropout time is assumed to be related to the unobserved (latent) class membership, where the number of classes is less than the number of observed patterns; a regression model for the response is specified conditional on the latent variable. This is a type of shared-parameter model, where the shared “parameter” is discrete. Parameter estimates are obtained using the method of maximum likelihood. Averaging the estimates of the conditional parameters over the distribution of the latent variable yields estimates of the marginal regression parameters. The methodology is illustrated using longitudinal data on depression from a study of HIV in women.
Molecular parasitology in the 21st Century

Protist parasites cause important human and animal diseases, and because of their early divergence from other eukaryotes they possess structural and biochemical characteristics not found in other cells. The completion of the genome projects of most human protist parasites and the development of novel molecular tools for their study guarantee a rapid progress in understanding how they invade, modify and survive within their hosts. The ultimate goal of these studies will be the identification of targets for the design of drugs, diagnostics and vaccines. In addition, the accessibility of some of these parasites to multiple genetic manipulations has converted them into model systems in cell and molecular biology studies that could lead to the understanding of basic biological processes, as well as their evolution and pathogenesis. In the present chapter we discuss the biochemical and molecular peculiarities of these parasites and the molecular tools available for their study.
Trade expectations and the outbreak of peace: Détente 1970–74 and the end of the cold war 1985–91

(1999). Trade expectations and the outbreak of peace: Detente 1970–74 and the end of the cold war 1985–91. Security Studies: Vol. 9, Power and the Purse: Economic Statecraft, Interdependence, and National Security, pp. 15-58.
A variable-step LMS based on tap weight time variation

A promising method is introduced for adjusting the LMS (least-mean-square) step size mu , based on the time variation of the tap weights. This method belongs to the class of diagonal step-matrix algorithms: a separate mu is used for each tap weight. Computer simulations are presented for a self-tuning filter configuration operating on a sine wave of abruptly changing frequency in Gaussian white noise. It is shown that the algorithm can converge quickly, with small error after convergence. >
Redesigning care to meet national recommendation of four or more yearly clinic visits in patients with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic disease requiring patients to have frequent specialty healthcare visits to delay progression of lung disease, prevent and treat failure to thrive and initiate early interventions to prevent acute illness and complications. The CF Foundation recommends that patients have visits with the CF care team at least every 3 months. During participation in the CF Foundation Learning and Leadership Collaborative IV, the CF team at Arkansas Children9s Hospital initiated quality improvement work with the aim to increase the percentage of patients attending clinic four or more times a year from 35% in 2004 and 56% in 2005 (CF Foundation Registry data) to 90% or greater. We redesigned our scheduling system, rescheduled missed patient appointments in a timely fashion and created a process to monitor attendance. This quality improvement work led to a sustained increase in the percentage of patients attending clinic visits four or more times a year reaching our goal of 90% in 2012. Improvements were also noted in the number of patients with body mass index/weight-for-length centile of 25 or greater, which could be related to more frequent clinic attendance.
A high stopping power, large acceptance Bragg curve spectrometer for heavy ion detection☆

Abstract A large acceptance, high stopping power Bragg curve spectrometer has been developed for use in coincidence experiments with heavy ions. The electron collection fields are radial and position information is obtained from a resistive anode. The detector is 60 cm deep and operates at pressures of up to 2.5 atm of P-10 gas. It is mated to a scattering chamber which allows it to be moved out of plane during coincidence measurements. Factors affecting the performance of the detector are discussed, and results obtained with the detector are presented.
Irreversibility of time and the construction of historical developmental psychology

Developmental psychology has failed to emphasize the historical nature of the phenomena of development. Hence it continues to face a major conceptual problem: the time frame of developmental phenomena is irreversible, whereas our accounts of development assume repetitiveness of different kinds of developmental events across places and times. This problem was addressed by Henri Bergson in his philosophy of time and constructive evolution. Bergson's thinking was the major source of intellectual influence upon the major developmental scientists of this century (e.g., J. Piaget, L. Vygotsky, H. Wallon), and was in its turn based on the psychological, evolutionary and sociogenetic thinking of the turn of the century (J. M. Baldwin, P. Janet, W. James). Despite its later development in the intuitivist direction, Bergson's thinking about the dynamics of life processes deserves careful analysis in a number of specific domains (e.g., concept of time, role of semiotic mediation in the regulation of the stream of co...
The regulation of pinocytosis in mouse macrophages. I. Metabolic requirements as defined by the use of inhibitors.

A method is described to study the formation of pinocytic vesicles in cultivated mouse macrophages. Vesicles which arise in the peripheral cytoplasm and are in transit to the centrosphere region are enumerated by the phase-contrast microscopy of glutaraldehyde-fixed cells. Under these conditions there is a prompt reversible response of vesicle formation to calf serum factors in the external environment. The reduction of pinosome formation by a variety of metabolic inhibitors was then studied in a medium containing 50% newborn calf serum. Inhibitors of both glycolysis and respiration reduced vesicle formation to low levels. This influence was most striking with cyanide, antimycin A, and anaerobiosis. This indicates an important contribution of an intact respiratory pathway in pinocytosis. Both 2,4-dinitrophenol and oligomycin inhibited vesicle formation at low concentrations. These data suggest a central role of ATP as an energy source for vesicle formation. Inhibitors of protein synthesis, such as puromycin and p-fluorophenylalanine, produced a prompt reduction in vesicle formation. The action of p-fluorophenylalanine was effectively reversed with L-phenylalanine. Actinomycin D depressed pinocytosis to low levels at concentrations of 0.1 to 0.003 µg/ml. This effect was observed only after a 120 min lag phase. A 10°C reduction in ambient temperature lowered vesicle counts to 30% of control preparations at 37°C.
Xq28-linked noncompaction of the left ventricular myocardium : prenatal diagnosis and pathologic analysis of affected individuals

Isolated noncompaction of the left ventricular myocardium (INVM) is characterized by the presence of numerous prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses within the left ventricle, sometimes also affecting the right ventricle and interventricular septum. Familial occurrence of this disorder was described previously. We present a family in which 6 affected individuals demonstrated X-linked recessive inheritance of this trait. Affected relatives presented postnatally with left ventricular failure and arrhythmias, associated with the pathognomonic echocardiographic findings of INVM. The usual findings of Barth syndrome (neutropenia, growth retardation, elevated urinary organic acids, low carnitine levels, and mitochondrial abnormalities) were either absent or found inconsistently. Fetal echocardiograms obtained between 24-30 weeks of gestation in 3 of the affected males showed a dilated left ventricle in one heart, but were not otherwise diagnostic of INVM in any of the cases. Four of the affected individuals died during infancy, one is in cardiac failure at age 8 months, and one is alive following cardiac transplant at age 9 months. The hearts from infants who died or underwent transplantation appeared, on gross examination, to be enlarged, with coarse, deep ventricular trabeculations and prominent endocardial fibroelastosis. Histologically, there were loosely organized fascicles of myocytes in subepicardial and midmyocardial zones of both ventricles, and the myocytes showed thin, often angulated fibers with prominent central clearing and reduced numbers of filaments. Markedly elongated mitochondria were present in some ventricular myocytes from one specimen, but this finding was not reproducible. Genetic linkage analysis has localized INVM to the Xq28 region, where other myopathies with cardiac involvement have been located.
The Learning Commons as a Locus for Information Literacy

Many institutions of higher education are designing spaces to facilitate learning. Libraries have created information or learning commons to support this activity. This article draws from the literature and best practices to explore this new direction. Academic libraries have focused on student learning and the teaching of skills and strategies that develop information literacy competency. Although there is an assumption that learning commons facilitate student learning, there is a need to more closely connect this new environment with information literacy and pedagogy and to demonstrate its merits in enhancing learning. A basic premise is that each learning commons that is planned well will be unique. This is because a key component of the planning process is to understand the campus perspective, student learning styles and preferences, and the role of the campus library. The combination of those factors will result in a learning commons that supports its own institutional priorities and profile in a spe...
Tobacco abuse and the urologist: time for a more proactive role.

t The link between smoking and bladder cancer is solidly documented. The risk of developing renal cancer, for both transitional cell and renal cell, is also increased by tobacco abuse. Evolving data now strongly suggest that tobacco abuse is also associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. In addition, an association has been suggested between smoking and testicular dysfunction with consequent infertility. Despite the fact that these linkages have been progressively well documented, this information seems to be having, thus far, a very limited impact on the clinical practice of most urologists. The goal of this commentary is to encourage urologists to move beyond mere cognitive recognition. They are urged to take a proactive role, by encouraging smoking cessation, by promoting the avoidance of tobacco addiction, by supporting high-quality research in this area, and by advocating increased public awareness of the consequences of tobacco toxicity.
Population Structure of the Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia hermsii as Indicated by Polymorphism of Two Multigene Families That Encode Immunogenic Outer Surface Lipoproteins

The tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia hermsii evades the mammalian immune system by periodically switching expression among members of two multigene families that encode immunogenic, antigenically distinct outer surface proteins. The type strain, B. hermsii HS1, has at least 40 complete genes and pseudogenes that participate in this multiphasic antigenic variation. Originally termed vmp (for variable major protein) genes, they have been reclassified as vsp (for variable small protein) and vlp (for variable large protein) genes, based on size and amino acid sequence similarities. To date, antigenic variation in B. hermsii has been studied only in the type strain, HS1. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of 23 B. hermsii HS1 genes revealed five distinct groups, the vsp gene family and four subfamilies of vlp genes. We used PCR with family- and subfamily-specific primers, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, to compare the vsp and vlp repertoires of HS1 and seven other B. hermsii isolates from Washington, Idaho, and California. This analysis, together with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis genome profiles, revealed that the eight isolates formed three distinct groups, which likely represent clonal lineages. Members of the three groups coexisted in the same geographic area, but they could also be isolated across large geographical distances. This population structure may result from immune selection by the host, as has been proposed for other pathogens with polymorphic antigens.
Dangerous Delusions? Misidentification Syndromes and Professional Negligence

A number of case histories have reported an association between the presence of misidentification syndromes and violent behavior. If patients with such delusions are truly more likely to perpetrate violent acts, treating mental health professionals could potentially be considered liable for not warning or protecting potential victims. However, the purported association between violence and misidentification can be adequately explained by biased case ascertainment and reporting. The current literature on misidentification syndromes is used as a means of demonstrating possible sources of error and bias that must be considered whenever mental health professionals are asked to reach conclusions about the relationship of rare events.
Reliable broadcast in hypercube multicomputers

A simple algorithm for broadcasting in a hypercube multicomputer containing faulty nodes/links is proposed. The algorithm delivers multiple copies of the broadcast message through disjoint paths to all the modes in the system. Its salient feature is that the delivery of the multiple copies is transparent to the processes receiving the message and does not require the processes to know the identity of the faulty processors. The processes on nonfaulty nodes that receive the message identify the original message from the multiple copies using some scheme appropriate for the fault model used. The algorithm completes in n+1 steps if each node can simultaneously use all of its outgoing links. If each node cannot use more than one outgoing link at a time, then the algorithm requires 2n steps. >
Addressing Map Interface Usability: Learning from the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Interactive Map

These are exciting days for cartography, as emerging technologies have greatly expanded the possibilities of online, interactive maps. These developments, however, now require cartographers to think about issues that only a few years ago fell solely in the domains of human-computer interaction (HCI) and web design. Further, given how fast these changes have occurred, there are few tried-and-true guidelines for building digital maps. This paper reports on the design, development, and evaluation of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve Interactive Map (www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu) and outlines many of the insights gleaned from this process. The purpose of this article is to strengthen the important bridge between cartography and usability evaluation (i.e., how we study the way in which users interact with their maps and how we measure the success of those interactions) so that the efforts of a team of developers and stakeholders can be coordinated in a way that ensures the map works equally well for all potential end users. We outline the relative merits of two broad categories of evaluation techniques, arguing that there is no single, correct evaluation technique appropriate for all evaluation scenarios, and then detail the specific strategy adopted for evaluation of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Interactive Map. We conclude by offering four design guidelines for online, interactive maps revealed during the evaluation of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Interactive Map: two positive strategies we recommend for consideration when designing map interfaces (inclusion of cascading interface complexity and provision of map browsing flexibility) and two pitfalls we caution to avoid (minimalist design of interface widgets and employment of a lorem ipsum map during development).
Plasma kinetics of an oral dose of [2H4]retinyl acetate in human subjects with estimated low or high total body stores of vitamin A

The deuterated retinol dilution technique is an indirect method for quantitatively estimating total body stores of vitamin A by using the postequilibration plasma isotopic ratio [2H4]retinol:retinol and the prediction model described by Furr et al (Am J Clin Nutr 1989;49:713-6). Limited data are available on the time required for an oral dose of labeled vitamin A to mix with vitamin A body stores in human subjects. This article describes the plasma retinol kinetics of an oral dose of [2H4] retinyl acetate in 4 healthy adults (2 men and 2 women) and 1 healthy female child in the United States and in 4 Bangladeshi women. After an oral dose of [2H4]retinyl acetate was administered, plasma samples were collected at 6, 12, and 24 h postdose during the first day and at 15 time points during the subsequent 90-d period for measurement of plasma [2H4]retinol:retinol. The mean respective plasma isotopic ratios on day 20 for US and Bangladeshi subjects (0.02 +/- 0.02 and 0.17 +/- 0.12, P = 0.03) and estimated total body vitamin A reserves (1.03 +/- 0.45 and 0.10 +/- 0.11 mmol, P = 0.003) were significantly different. The fraction of dose in plasma was plotted against time, and biexponential equations were fit to the kinetic data by using the time points from 24 h through day 90. The mean equilibration time (time required for the fraction of dose in plasma to reach a plateau) for all subjects was 16.6 +/- 3.8 d (11-23 d). There was no difference in estimated equilibration time between the group of US and Bangladeshi adult subjects (17.5 +/- 4.4 and 16.3 +/- 3.9 d, respectively, P = 0.69). Thus, the size of hepatic vitamin A reserves does not appear to affect equilibration time within the range of values observed.
IMPROVED DETECTION OF CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS USING CMR

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging is used to detect cardiac amyloid (CA); however, image interpretation is very challenging due to poor image quality. Normally, the inversion time (TI) at which the blood pool nulls is shorter than that of the
Reconstruction of 3D Pose for Surfaces of Revolution from Range Data

Axial symmetry is a common property of everyday objects. Bottles, cups, cans and bowls, all usually fall in that category and can be modeled by surfaces of revolution (SOR). In this paper, we address the problem of estimating the parameters of an SOR (axis and generatrix) from range data. Although SOR reconstruction from RGB images is well studied, previous works using depth measurements are limited. We propose a formulation similar to the 3D registration problem and our solution is based on an alternating procedure that recovers the complete surface geometry, i.e. The axis and the profile curve of the SOR. We evaluate our method both quantitatively and qualitatively using four different datasets that provide depth images from a large variety of axially symmetric objects.
Economically Efficient Constitutional Governance

The economy is modeled as a set of leveraged firms (including households) with potentially superior information who choose their assets to maximize their net-worth, while an efficient, not-for-profit government enacts and administers constitutional rules for free trading of goods, services and assets. This paper shows that enforcement of rules consistent with the constitutional tenet of equal protection of everybody’s earned wealth are necessary to achieve economic efficiency and equilibrium. In equilibrium, potential moral hazard is efficiently resolved at the firm level due to free trading and at the government level due to a constitutionally efficient safe central bank. The safe central bank offers equal security of the safe asset (deposits), chosen by any firm. The safe central bank obviates financial panics and the federal guarantee of bank deposits. The model proves that eliminating the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and amending the Federal Reserve Act to grant equal privilege to all firms (not just financial firms) is constitutional and efficient, which then makes the Federal Reserve identical to the equilibrium safe central bank. In equilibrium, (a) the asset risk premium is negatively related to volatility of a levered firm, (b) the asset volatility and risk premium are both increasing functions of the asset-to-debt ratio, and (c) the minimum threshold asset-to-debt ratio below which the firm goes bankrupt is an increasing function of the asset risk premium.
How do we transfuse blood components in cirrhotic patients undergoing gastrointestinal procedures

The liver plays a pivotal role in hemostasis. Consequently, patients with cirrhosis frequently demonstrate abnormal coagulation profiles on routine laboratory tests. These tests mainly reflect decreased procoagulant proteins. However, in cirrhosis, complex changes also occur in anticoagulant and fibrinolytic pathways. Recent evidence demonstrates that patients with cirrhosis exist in a state of hemostatic rebalance. Accordingly, routine tests inadequately represent hemostatic alterations in these patients. Unfortunately, these tests are regularly used to guide the transfusion of blood components with the assumption that they will correct laboratory abnormalities and improve hemostasis in a bleeding patient or prevent excessive bleeding following a procedure. With an absence of both accurate laboratory testing to assess hemostasis and evidence-based guidelines to direct the transfusion of blood components, management of patients with cirrhosis poses a significant challenge to clinicians. Therefore, we developed multidisciplinary guidelines for the periprocedural transfusion of blood components in patients with cirrhosis based on concurrent evidence and personal experience at our medical center.
THE APPARENT FAILURE OF ETHYL ALCOHOL TO INHIBIT THE FORMATION OF CONDITIONED EYEBLINK RESPONSES IN MAN.

Prior experience with central depressants lead to the expectation that alcohol would inhibit eyeblink conditioning. A similar prediction could also be generated from Eysenck's drug postulate. In a study involving normal male subjects no differences were obtained between the conditioned eyeblink response behavior of placebo and alcohol treatment groups. Possible reasons for this finding are offered in terms of suggestion and the nature of the placebo group. Ways of examining these possibilities are considered.
Neoliberal Parenting, Future Sexual Citizens, and Vaccines Against Sexual Risk

Public health systems in the USA and elsewhere recommend vaccination for children from birth through college. Some vaccines target diseases that are easily spread through casual contact, others—like those against hepatitis B and the human papilloma virus (HPV)—target infections spread though more intimate contact, including the exchange of bodily fluids during sexual activity. Although vaccination is very safe, it is in fact a medical intervention into the body that carries some minute risk and that requires individuals or parents to consent. As such, vaccines make for an exciting case through which to understand meanings of health, disease, sexuality, and choice in the context of neoliberalism. Using qualitative data from parents, pediatricians, and attorneys from the vaccine injury compensation system, this article first explores parents’ perceptions of these two vaccines for their children, beliefs about their children’s future sexual selves, and their goals to raise children into the kinds of sexual citizens they desire them to be. Second, the parents’ views are placed in dialogue with pediatricians’ experiences of working with parents to gain trust in the HPV vaccine, as well as barriers to providing care to teens when they become sexually active. Finally, implications for policy are discussed.
Analysis of pyrolysis products of polystyrene by GC-MS

Objective:To analyze the pyrolysis products of polystyrene under the situation that the different temperature process,which includes the category,quantity and the detection method of the poisonous harmful material,released in the air of the work place.Methods:Imitating a different heating condition,collecting the pyrolysis products of polystyrene and injecting the air sample directly and separating by DB-5MS capillary column and determinate by GC-MS using SCAN mode.Results:Enable to easily,effectively separate and determinate the pyrolysis products of polystyrene.In this method,good relative(r0.9981),broad linearity range,low detection limit,good analytic accuracy and precision were obtained(RSD%2.62).The average recoveries rates were between 88.2% and 102.1%.Conclusion:The polystyrene can pyrolysis product benzene and dimethylbenzene under heating condition attain 80℃.The pyrolysis products are of dissimilarity under the different heating temperature condition.The temperature is higher,the category is more and the density is higher.
Clinical significance of detections of serum tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels in children with acute respiration distress syndrome

【Objective】To investigate the relationship of serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in children with acute respiration distress syndrome(ARDS).【Methods】Serum TNF-α and IL-6 contents were measured by ELISA in 90 children with ARDS and 45 healthy children as control. 【Results】Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in children with ARDS were significantly higher than those in healthy children(all P 0.05). Compared with mild ARDS, Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly higher in children with moderate and severe ARDS(all P 0.05). Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in children with severe ARDS were significantly higher than those in children with moderate ARDS(all P 0.05). Serum levels of TNF-α showed a positive correlation with serum levels of IL-6 in children with ARDS.【Conclusions】Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 may be related with the pathogenesis and development of ARDS.
Bilateral Loudness Balancing and Distorted Spatial Perception in Recipients of Bilateral Cochlear Implants

Objective: To determine whether bilateral loudness balancing during mapping of bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) produces fused, punctate, and centered auditory images that facilitate lateralization with stimulation on single-electrode pairs. Design: Adopting procedures similar to those that are practiced clinically, direct stimulation was used to obtain most-comfortable levels (C levels) in recipients of bilateral CIs. Three pairs of electrodes, located in the base, middle, and apex of the electrode array, were tested. These electrode pairs were loudness-balanced by playing right-left electrode pairs sequentially. In experiment 1, the authors measured the location, number, and compactness of auditory images in 11 participants in a subjective fusion experiment. In experiment 2, the authors measured the location and number of the auditory images while imposing a range of interaural level differences (ILDs) in 13 participants in a lateralization experiment. Six of these participants repeated the mapping process and lateralization experiment over three separate days to determine the variability in the procedure. Results: In approximately 80% of instances, bilateral loudness balancing was achieved from relatively small adjustments to the C levels (≤3 clinical current units). More important, however, was the observation that in 4 of 11 participants, simultaneous bilateral stimulation regularly elicited percepts that were not fused into a single auditory object. Across all participants, approximately 23% of percepts were not perceived as fused; this contrasts with the 1 to 2% incidence of diplacusis observed with normal-hearing individuals. In addition to the unfused images, the perceived location was often offset from the physical ILD. On the whole, only 45% of percepts presented with an ILD of 0 clinical current units were perceived as fused and heard in the center of the head. Taken together, these results suggest that distortions to the spatial map remain common in bilateral CI recipients even after careful bilateral loudness balancing. Conclusions: The primary conclusion from these experiments is that, even after bilateral loudness balancing, bilateral CI recipients still regularly perceive stimuli that are unfused, offset from the assumed zero ILD, or both. Thus, while current clinical mapping procedures for bilateral CIs are sufficient to enable many of the benefits of bilateral hearing, they may not elicit percepts that are thought to be optimal for sound-source location. As a result, in the absence of new developments in signal processing for CIs, new mapping procedures may need to be developed for bilateral CI recipients to maximize the benefits of bilateral hearing.
Call Center Productivity Over 6 Months Following a Standing Desk Intervention

OCCUPATIONAL ABSTRACTStand-capable desks have been shown to successfully reduce sedentary behavior in the modern office, but whether their utilization improves cognitive productivity is not known. We compared productivity between stand-capable desk users and traditional seated desk users in a call center environment. Data were collected daily over a continuous 6-month period. We found that increased stand-capable desk use is a likely contributor to increased productivity over traditional seated desk use. These findings indicate that use of stand-capable desks as ergonomic interventions to improve physical health among employees may also positively impact their work productivity.TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: Many office employees are spending up to 90% of their workday seated, and employers are considering stand-capable desks as a way to increase physical activity throughout the day. When deciding on adoption of stand-capable workstations, a major concern for employers is that the benefits, over time, may...
Disclosure of Depression in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study of Women's Perceptions.

Abstract Background Health care providers are better able to diagnose depression and initiate treatment when patients disclose symptoms. However, many women are reluctant to disclose depressive symptoms. Little is known about the experience of disclosing depression symptoms in primary care among racially and ethnically diverse women across the life course. We qualitatively explore experiences of disclosure of depressive symptoms to primary care providers among self-identified African American, Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women. Methods Twenty-four women with depression were recruited for open-ended interviews. We recorded, transcribed, and coded interviews using inductive content analysis. Findings Two distinct domains emerged: participant factors that hinder and facilitate disclosure and provider cues that encourage and dissuade discussing depression. Participants described perceptions about primary care not being the appropriate place, fear of not having a choice in treatment decisions, and the emotional cost of retelling as impediments to disclosure; perceiving an increased likelihood of getting help was described as a facilitator. Women identified provider behaviors of asking about depression and showing concern as facilitators, and provider time constraints as a barrier to disclosure. Conclusions Women perceive that primary care is not the appropriate place to disclose depression symptoms. Increased public education about behavioral health management in primary care, as well as more robust integration of the two, is needed. Efforts to improve depression disclosure in primary care must also encompass systematic use of depression screening tools and implementation of targeted interventions to cultivate provider empathy.
Treatment Onset and Epilepsy Prognosis

The efficacy of treatment in relation to the lost time “tiempo perdido” in a group of 3529 epileptic patients was evaluated in the Division of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Hospital General du Cataluna, Barcelona, Spain.
Three new species of Psilorhynchus from the Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, Myanmar (Teleostei: Psilorhynchidae)

Psilorhynchus brachyrhynchus, new species, from the upper Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, northern Myanmar, is distinguished based on a combination of characters, including a short snout (43–48% HL), scale-less ventral surface between paired fins, and features of dorsal and caudal-fin pigmentation. Psilorhynchus piperatus, new species, from the eastern slopes of the Rakhine Yoma mountain range, lower Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, Myanmar, is distinguished based on its unique caudal-fin pigmentation. Psilorhynchus gokkyi, new species, also from the eastern slopes of the Rakhine Yoma mountain range, lower Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, Myanmar, is distinguished based on unique shape of its snout, which exhibits a deep notch at the level of the ethmoid region.
Improving efficiency of maximizing spread in the flow authority model for large sparse networks

Based on the Flow Authority model, we propose the VSM (Vector-based Spread Maximization) algorithm that estimates the SSS (Steady-state Spread) objective function for multiple seeds based on SSS values of individual seeds to reduce computation. Based on three real-world large sparse networks, our empirical results indicate that VSM is more effective than two existing algorithms, and two orders of magnitude more efficient than one of them.
Addiction: Substance Abuse

Traditionally, substance abuse and addiction are closely related, yet have different meanings. Substance abuse occurs when a drug or medication is used in any way other than as prescribed or designed for medical purposes. Addiction is the pattern of behavior associated with the psychologic and physiologic compulsive desire to use a drug or medication, particularly the continued use of the medication even in the setting of it negatively affecting one’s life [1]. The DSM-V, however, essentially defines substance use disorders as traditional addiction. Criteria include requiring more of a substance, “cravings,” inability to control use, spending time thinking about and obtaining a given substance, withdrawal, tolerance, and persistent use despite negative consequences [2].
Methods of Interoperability: Moodle and WeBWorK

The first requirement for an online mathematics homework engine is to encourage students to practice and reinforce their mathematics skills in ways that are as good or better than traditional paper homework. The use of the computer and the internet should not limit the kind or quality of the mathematics that we teach and, if possible, it should expand it. Now that much of the homework practice takes place online we have the potential of a new and much better window into how students learn mathematics, but only if we continue to ensure that students are studying the mathematics we want them to learn and not just mathematics that is easily gradable. Learning Management Systems handle mathematics questions poorly in general but when properly combined with specialized mathematics question engines, they can do much better and still retain their own look and feel for managing a course and collecting data. This paper presents an overview of two interoperation mechanisms developed to connect Moodle (an LMS) and WeBWorK (a mathematics question engine) for use in the WEPS (World Educational Portals) Open Online Courses. It provides a preview of the type of data that can be collected using these tools.
What Is Peace? Being an Autoethnographic Account of Methodological Musings From the Beach:

This autoethnographic essay is focused on methodological space of “problematization”—the wrenching intellectual and emotional process (and lived experience) that a scholar goes through before settling into a long-term writing project—in this case travel to different parts of the world, in an attempt to explore the idea and experience of “Peace” in each of those places. Weaving through elements of family memoir, Georgia history, eco-criticism, and Peace Studies (across different sub fields), the essay illuminates the personal and liminal space of methodological engagement before field work.
Using Game-Based Virtual Reality with Haptics for Skill Acquisition

Abstract Background Nurse educators are challenged to find innovative methods to help nursing students develop and remember fundamental skills while ensuring patient safety. Virtual reality (VR) headgear and custom haptic technology combined with game-based learning principles may provide an innovative approach to promoting mastery learning and retention. Method This mixed methods pilot study explored the usability of, and user reaction to, a game-based VR system designed to practice urinary catheterization. Time on task and number of procedures completed in one hour were compared with subjects who practiced traditionally, using a task trainer with faculty oversight. Follow-up skill demonstration was compared two weeks after the practice session. Results Subjects (n = 20) rated usability of the VR system favorably; they also rated practicing catheter insertion this way as highly engaging and enjoyable. Subjects using the VR system spent more time practicing (p = .001) and completed more procedures in 1 hour than students who practiced traditionally (p Conclusion Practicing nursing skills using game-based VR may be an effective way to promote mastery learning and retention.
Extraction Separation of V and Fe in High Acid and High Iron Solution

Aim to the separation problem of high concentration V–Fe in stronger acidic leaching solution of vanadium slag, a novel chelating extraction system is proposed to separate V and Fe. Influence factors including initial pH value, the extractant concentration, the phase ratio, temperature and time are investigated. The experiment results show that single extraction rate of V and Fe reach 85.57 and 0.39% respectively, when pH value is −0.4, organic phase composition is 30% Mextral 973H + 70% sulfonated kerosene oil, O:A = 1:1, stirring time is 10 min, extraction temperature is 30 °C. The industrial experiment results of three levels countercurrent extraction show that the total extraction rate of vanadium and iron can reach 97.44 and 0.23%, separation factor is 6410. The effective separation of V and Fe in high acid and high iron solution can be accomplished.
A Dimensional Approach to Behavior Disorder: The Revised Behavior Problem Checklist

The Behavior Problem Rating Scale has been used for 15 years in schools and other applied settings for purposes of screening and assessment, and to provide epidemiological data. More than 100 publi...