cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3136: Characterization of Mortality Risk Associated with Surgery Following Drug Eluting Stent Use

Introduction: There is mounting evidence of stent thrombosis and associated adverse events following cessation of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with drug eluting stents (DES). However, the risk of adverse events in relation to surgical procedures following DES remains less well-defined. Methods: We identified all patients that have had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with DES at Cleveland Clinic since 2003 and had an inpatient surgical procedure at any time point after PCI. Baseline demographic information including antiplatelet therapy status at time of surgery was collected. Social security death index was used to obtain mortality data. The primary endpoint was the risk of all-cause mortality following surgery. Results: 485 patients underwent PCI with DES followed by index surgical procedure at Cleveland Clinic. The 30-day mortality rates were significantly different depending on time from PCI to surgery. Baseline characteristics based on time to surgery from PCI are shown in the table. A significantly higher proportion of patients going to surgery within one month of PCI were on clopidogrel at least 72 hours prior to surgery. Conclusion : This is the first description of short-term mortality estimates following surgical procedures after DES. Mortality is significantly increased if surgery has to be performed within 30 days of DES implantation. However, in this cohort there was no difference in mortality after this time period.
What Is the Glomerular Ultrafiltration Barrier

Since the unique features of the three-layered glomerular capillary wall between the blood and the urine were first visualized by electron microscopy, the identity of the definitive components that restrict the filtration of albumin, Igs, and other large plasma constituents has been controversial.
Toward Understanding Hidden Patterns in Human Mobility Using Wi-Fi

A reliable model for identifying spatial-temporal regularities in human dynamics is rewarding in many applications such as computer networking and mobile communication. These hidden patterns are inherited from our repeating behaviours with respect to three primary contexts: time, space, and social environments. Thus, selecting a suitable source of sensor data that is scalable, multidimensional, and social network illustrative, can enable us to develop a reliable human mobility model and potentially a prediction system. We first demonstrate that collected Wi-Fi network scans from mobile phone devices share a similar set of characteristics to real-world large-scale networks. One aspect particularly is the long-tailed property of node degree distribution of projection networks. This feature can be interpreted as the robustness of the system against structural changes caused by removing a set of nodes or connections. Then, we transform Wi-Fi events into a tabular data format containing different time granularities and location-tagged information. However, the new data is sparse and difficult to analyze. Thus, we reduce the dimensionality of the data by extracting its structural patterns using the principal components of the new features. Our analysis shows that we can reconstruct the original data with more than 90% accuracy using only a set of top eigenvectors with one-quarter of the original features, while the outliers or the noisy user data are filtered out. Our proposed technique helps to visualize user similarities and behaviour dynamics, and reduce the computation complexity of further analysis.
Comparing the effects of teacher collaboration on student performance in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore

Teacher collaboration is generally believed to relate positively to student performance. Although many researchers have investigated the influence of teacher collaboration on student performance, m...
Metastable δ-Fe During Reduction of Ferric Oxide and Its Magnetic Properties

Metallic iron exhibits three distinct crystallographic phases, α-(bcc), γ-(fcc), and δ-(bcc), under variable temperature. In this paper, we show that iron oxide, in the hematite composition, Fe2O3, was reduced to its pure metallic form, using carbon obtained from the nut shells of pistachios or walnuts, at temperatures exceeding 1400°C, annealed in argon gas atmosphere. In addition to α-, γ-, and δ-phases of Fe, x-ray diffraction analysis shows the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and amorphous carbon. There was no residual ferric oxide present as long as the appropriate ratios of nut shell powder to Fe2O3 were selected. The quantity of each of the three Fe phases was a function of the temperature and the time of processing. Transmission electron microcopy revealed the presence of large quantities of CNTs formed during annealing. Magnetic data suggested the average magnetic moment was consistent with α-Fe, but reduced moment for both the γ-Fe and δ-Fe. This is the first observation of producing δ-Fe stable at room temperature along with CNTs. This has potential industrial applications as composites. Although both α- and δ-ferrites are body-centered cubic, δ-ferrite is a more compact structure indicative of higher specific density and hence improved mechanical properties. In addition, the magnetic and structural properties of the metastable Fe provide insights in understanding the novel properties of artificial structures on the nanometer scale made using advanced thin film techniques.
Use of Time Series Load Data to Size Energy Storage Systems

Vast amounts of newly-available time series measurements of electrical loads now enable data-driven optimization of energy storage systems. This paper presents an algorithm for sizing the installed capacity of an Energy Storage System (ESS) with the objective of minimizing the total energy cost for a load having a specific time series profile. This algorithm considers not only energy costs, but also demand charges, which often represent a significant portion of electric cost for commercial users. The sizing process—implemented using linear programming—takes into account ESS characteristics and costs as well as time-of-day electricity rates. This paper discusses optimization results for two case studies—a commercial property and a railroad traction substation—using the time series of hourly load profiles for one year. The algorithm successfully identified the optimal ESS capacities for both cases, yielding cost savings of 10% and 28% respectively. The algorithm also shows that a single ESS serving the aggregated loads (assuming they are co-located) would further increase the economic benefit of the ESS installation, while also being 10% smaller in capacity compared to the total sum of optimal capacities for the two individual cases. This algorithm can be used by practitioners to analyze scenarios in which two applications with different load profiles can create synergies in ESS installations, particularly for commercial businesses.
Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients with Hemophilia after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Abstract Background: The incidence of coronary artery disease is increasing in hemophilia patients as their life expectancy improves. However, there are limited evidence-based studies available, and most current guidelines for antiplatelet therapy in patients with hemophilia are largely based on expert opinions. The assessment of benefit and risk of using antiplatelet therapy in these patients remains a clinical challenge. Aim: This study reports our institution's clinical outcome of patients with inherited hemophilia who underwent antiplatelet therapy for percutaneous coronary intervention in the last 10 years. Methods: Retrospective chart review from a single hospital for 10 calendar years of patients with inherited hemophilia A or B and a diagnosis of coronary artery disease who received oral antiplatelet agents. Results: See data Table 1 below. Conclusions: The usage of antiplatelet therapy for coronary artery disease as well as dual-antiplatelet therapy post percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with Hemophilia A or B carries a realistic risk of bleeding. However, outside of one patient with traumatic laceration of the liver, we did not identify any life threatening bleeding events in our patients who were placed on antiplatelet therapy. Since all subjects had no more than mild to moderate factor deficiency, it would be important to see how patients with severe deficiency would do on such therapy. Further studies are needed in the future to provide evidence and clarify the overall risk versus benefit of antiplatelet therapy in hemophilia patients with coronary artery disease. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Spatio-Spectral Characterization of Multipolar Plasmonic Modes of Au Nanorods via Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

Tip-enhanced Raman (TER) spectral images of 4-thiobenzonitrile-coated Au nanorods map the spatial profiles and trace the resonances of dipolar and multipolar plasmonic modes that are characteristic...
Mechanisms linking childhood trauma exposure and psychopathology: a transdiagnostic model of risk and resilience

Transdiagnostic processes confer risk for multiple types of psychopathology and explain the co-occurrence of different disorders. For this reason, transdiagnostic processes provide ideal targets for early intervention and treatment. Childhood trauma exposure is associated with elevated risk for virtually all commonly occurring forms of psychopathology. We articulate a transdiagnostic model of the developmental mechanisms that explain the strong links between childhood trauma and psychopathology as well as protective factors that promote resilience against multiple forms of psychopathology. We present a model of transdiagnostic mechanisms spanning three broad domains: social information processing, emotional processing, and accelerated biological aging. Changes in social information processing that prioritize threat-related information—such as heightened perceptual sensitivity to threat, misclassification of negative and neutral emotions as anger, and attention biases towards threat-related cues—have been consistently observed in children who have experienced trauma. Patterns of emotional processing common in children exposed to trauma include elevated emotional reactivity to threat-related stimuli, low emotional awareness, and difficulties with emotional learning and emotion regulation. More recently, a pattern of accelerated aging across multiple biological metrics, including pubertal development and cellular aging, has been found in trauma-exposed children. Although these changes in social information processing, emotional responding, and the pace of biological aging reflect developmental adaptations that may promote safety and provide other benefits for children raised in dangerous environments, they have been consistently associated with the emergence of multiple forms of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology and explain the link between childhood trauma exposure and transdiagnostic psychopathology. Children with higher levels of social support, particularly from caregivers, are less likely to develop psychopathology following trauma exposure. Caregiver buffering of threat-related processing may be one mechanism explaining this protective effect. Childhood trauma exposure is a powerful transdiagnostic risk factor associated with elevated risk for multiple forms of psychopathology across development. Changes in threat-related social and emotional processing and accelerated biological aging serve as transdiagnostic mechanisms linking childhood trauma with psychopathology. These transdiagnostic mechanisms represent critical targets for early interventions aimed at preventing the emergence of psychopathology in children who have experienced trauma.
Collateral Legal Consequences of Criminal Convictions in a Society of Equals

This paper concerns what if any obligations a “society of equals” has to criminal offenders after legal punishment ends. In the United States, when people leave prisons, they are confronted with a wide range of federal, state, and local laws that burden their ability to secure welfare benefits, public housing, employment opportunities, and student loans. Since the 1980s, these legal consequences of criminal convictions have steadily increased in their number, severity, and scope. The central question I want to ask is whether the infliction of these burdensome legal consequences for those who have already been punished by the state is consistent with the ideal of equality. I argue that these collateral legal consequences violate relational egalitarian principles of justice and are thus objectionable. I conclude by examining possible objections to my argument.
Optimizing ad allocation in mobile advertising

As Internet advertisements (also called "ads") revenue growth is being driven further than ever before, one challenge facing publishers, such as Google and Amazon, is to quickly select and place a group of ads in an ad space for each online user with the objective of maximizing the expected revenue. This is especially challenging in the context of mobile advertising due to the smaller screen size of mobile devices and longer user session. We notice that most existing models do not allow the publisher to place the same ad in multiple positions. However, it has been reported that people must see an advertisement at least several times before they will acquire enough interest to consider buying the product or service advertised. To capture this repetition effect we largely generalize the previous model by allowing the publisher to repeat the same ads multiple times. We also notice that many existing models assume that a user will leave the ad session permanently after clicking an ad. Our framework allows a more realistic but complicated user behavior by allowing a user to return to the previous ad session. Our model is able to capture many factors that may affect the click probability of an ad such as the intrinsic quality of the ad, the position of the ad, and all ads that have been previously displayed. We also extend our work to adaptive setting where publishers can dynamically adjust their ad display according to user's feedback. We develop effective algorithms with guarantees of finding either optimal or approximate solutions.
Biomanufacturing of value-added products from oils or fats: A case study on cellular and fermentation engineering of Yarrowia lipolytica.

The United States produces more than 10 million tons of waste oils and fats each year. This paper aims to establish a new biomanufacturing platform that converts waste oils or fats into a series of value-added products. Our research employs the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica as a case study for citric acid (CA) production from waste oils. First, we conducted the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the bioreactor system and identified that the extracellular mixing and mass transfer is the first limiting factor of an oil fermentation process due to the insolubility of oil in water. Based on the CFD simulation results, the bioreactor design and operating conditions were optimized and successfully enhanced oil uptake and bioconversion in fed-batch fermentation experiments. After that, we investigated the impacts of cell morphology on oil uptake, intracellular lipid accumulation, and CA formation by overexpressing and deleting the MHY1 gene in the wild type Y. lipolytica ATCC20362. Fairly good linear correlations (R2 > 0.82) were achieved between cell morphology and productivities of biomass, lipid, and CA. Finally, fermentation kinetics with both glucose and oil substrates were compared and the oil fermentation process was carefully evaluated. Our study suggests that waste oils or fats can be economical feedstocks for biomanufacturing of many high-value products.
A Case Study for the Interrater Reliability of Journal Referees

Purpose: Current research indicates problems are emerging in our current system of anonymous journal reviews. We find a proliferation of predatory journals and difficulty in identifying them and ex...
Therapeutic drug monitoring of anticonvulsants. State of the art.

There is considerable interindividual variation in the relationship between control of seizures and the serum anticonvulsant concentration. The minimum effective serum concentration is dependent on the type and severity of the epilepsy, and varies from patient to patient. The therapeutic range should be used as a guide to adjust the dose in order to further improve seizure control or reduce toxicity; the latter is more likely with higher serum concentrations, but can also be present when concentrations are low. A request for the serum concentration of an anticonvulsant should be made only for good clinical reasons, and an interpretation of that concentration can only be made if all the relevant clinical details are available. Indications for the measurement of serum anticonvulsant concentrations include poor seizure control, toxicity, suspected gross noncompliance, status epilepticus and the elapse of 2 to 4 weeks after the initiation of therapy. Additional drug therapy, pregnancy or illness may alter drug disposition in a well controlled patient and therapeutic drug monitoring may, therefore, help to prevent seizures secondary to these changes. The measurement of anticonvulsants in saliva as opposed to serum may be of benefit in some patients.
One-to-one lossless codes in the variable input-length regime: Back to Kraft's inequality

Unique decodability in the “one-shot” lossless coding scenario, where a single block of source samples is compressed, requires the assignment of distinct codewords to different blocks (one-to-one mapping), without the prefix constraint. As a result, for fixed-length blocks, the corresponding block entropy is not a lower bound on the expected code length, a fact that has recently attracted renewed interest. In this note, we consider an alternative scenario, where the encoder is fed with blocks of arbitrary length, which we argue better reflects the conditions under which one-shot codes may be of any interest. Elaborating on an argument by Rissanen, we first show that the block-entropy is still a fundamental performance bound for one-to-one codes. We then design a code that essentially achieves this bound and satisfies Kraft's inequality for each block length. This code can be implemented with a modification to the termination procedure of the popular Shannon-Fano-Elias code. We conclude that Kraft's inequality is relevant also in the one-shot coding scenario.
The importance of olfactory and visual cues in developing better monitoring tools for Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)

To improve the monitoring of the invasive European woodwasp, both sexes of Sirex noctilio were studied in a walk-in wind tunnel. We evaluated three trap types: unbaited traps, traps baited with a three-component pheromone lure and traps baited with a commercial Sirex kairomone lure and ultraviolet light. 2 When no lure was present, the black intercept trap caught more females than the clear jar trap. The increase in pheromone concentration from 0.1 to 1 mg increased the capture of females, and not males, in the black intercept panel trap. Both of these findings suggest that the visual cues provided by the black intercept trap play an important role in attraction for females. 3 Capture rates between unbaited clear versus black intercept traps did not differ but the addition of a ultraviolet light increased trap efficacy. Intercept traps baited with light were more attractive than the commercial kairomone lure. 4 Both olfactory and visual cues were found to play important roles in the response of S. noctilio to traps. A black trap may enhance the capture of females, whereas the addition of ultraviolet light could enhance capture for both sexes. Integrating these different components may help in developing an improved species-specific trap for S. noctilio.
International nursing exchange and collaboration with China: a perspective from the South and the East.

Background There are an imbalanced world power relationships and international knowledge system, as well as cultural differences across nations. Results Based on the author's international experiences, this article describes the needs and motivations of international exchange and collaboration in nursing from the perspective of both China and Western countries, examines the ethical and cultural issues involved, and suggests winning strategies. Conclusions Western educators and scholars must keep these issues and strategies in mind in order to build a productive, mutually beneficial, and sustainable international exchanges and collaboration.
Responses to Seasonal Change in Polar Mammals

The sections in this article are: 1 The Climate of the Polar Regions 2 Acclimatization and Other Adjustments 3 Comparative Physiology of Cold Acclimatization 3.1 Coat Color and Windchill 3.2 The Arctic Gull 3.3 The Arctic Ground Squirrel 3.4 The Arctic Seal 3.5 The Arctic Fox 3.6 The Arctic Lemming 4 Photoperiodism in Polar Animals 4.1 The Variable Light Cycle in the Polar Regions 4.2 Influence of the Pineal Gland 4.3 “Cold Acclimatization without Cold” 4.4 Biological Clocks in the Polar Regions 4.5 Farm Animals in the Arctic Photoperiod 5 Hibernation in the High Latitudes 6 Fat Metabolism and Acclimatization 7 Summary
Storing and sharing wisdom and traditional knowledge in the library

Traditional library practice focuses on print collections and developing collections of materials that have been published, which means the documents have gone through some kind of review or vetting process. This practice leaves a wide swath of potential knowledge out of the collection. For example, indigenous knowledge, beliefs, and experience are different, in that they do not undergo the same review or vetting process; we might refer to these types of content as wisdom. Non-print collections, such as collections of recorded oral histories, represent less traditional forms of knowledge. Human libraries push the boundaries further in the quest to integrate wisdom and lived experience into library collections. This paper delineates the relationship between wisdom and knowledge that arose during a phenomenological study of the everyday information practices of Kenyan university women. The women were asked to photograph everyday events from their life and describe what they saw. One finding was a divergent presentation of wisdom and knowledge. Because the women were describing this in relation to their education, we assert that this demonstrates a need to reconsider positivist assumptions in library science, bringing what the women called wisdom into the stacks. How, though, can wisdom be stored and shared?
The False-Profile View May Be Used to Identify Cam Morphology

Purpose To identify the accuracy of measuring the alpha angle on the false-profile, anteroposterior (AP), and 90° Dunn lateral views of the hip as compared with computed tomography (CT) scan findings. Methods Forty patients were needed to have power greater than 80%. Forty-five consecutive patients undergoing hip arthroscopy were retrospectively reviewed with preoperative radial oblique CT reformatted scans and plain radiographs. Alpha angles were measured on plain radiographs (AP, 90° Dunn lateral, and false profile) and CT reformatted views. Abnormal alpha angles were considered greater than 50.5°. Two orthopaedic surgeons independently measured the images, and the results were compared between imaging modalities. Results The false-profile view was 60% sensitive and 89.0% specific for diagnosing cam deformities of the hip. All radiographs combined were 86% sensitive and 75% specific for diagnosing cam deformities. The false-profile view most strongly correlated with the 2-o'clock ( R = 0.746, P = .001) and 3-o'clock ( R = 0.698, P Conclusions This study has proved that the false-profile view effectively characterizes cam deformity, especially anterior deformity at the 3-o'clock position. Measuring the alpha angle on the false-profile view appears to be reproducible. The false-profile view along with standing AP pelvis and 90° Dunn lateral views of the hip comprises a good screening radiographic series for patients presenting with symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement. Level of Evidence Level III, diagnostic study.
The relation of culturally influenced lay models of hypertension to compliance with treatment.

Problems in compliance with treatment and illness management have frequently been traced to differences between patients' explanatory models of illness and the biomedical model. We investigated the relationship of cultural beliefs about hypertension to compliance with treatment. Using semistructured interviews, we elicited the explanatory models of hypertension held by 60 black hypertensive women being treated at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. The patient sample was followed for 2 months to obtain data on compliance with antihypertensive treatment and blood pressure control. As described, 53% of the patient sample recognized two basic folk illness models: "high blood" and "high-pertension." Patients' illness models were significantly related to compliance with treatment at the P = .01 and .001 levels. Compliance was related to blood pressure control at the P = .05 level. These results indicate that culturally influenced health beliefs are an important influence on compliance and, in turn, blood pressure control. Improved understanding of these problems by physicians may improve the management of their patients' illness.
Use of simulators to explore specialty recommendation for a palpable breast mass

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate recommendation patterns of different specialties for the work-up of a palpable breast mass using simulated scenarios and clinical breast examination models. Methods Study participants were a convenience sample of physicians (n = 318) attending annual surgical, family practice, and obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) conferences. Two different silicone-based breast models (superficial mass vs chest wall mass) were used to test clinical breast examination skills and recommendation patterns (imaging, tissue sampling, and follow-up). Results Participants were more likely to recommend mammography ( P P P P P P P Conclusions Recommendation patterns differed across the 2 models in line with existing practice guidelines. Additionally, differences in practice patterns between primary care and specialty providers may represent varying clinician capabilities, healthcare resources, and individual preferences. Our work shows that simulation may be used to track adherence to practice guidelines for breast masses.
Butanol fermentation research: Upstream and downstream manipulations

An overview of advances in acetone-butanol fermentation research is presented with specific reference to the history of acetone-butanol fermentation, genetic manipulation of the butanol-producing Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052, as well as upstream and downstream processing. Specific reference is made to the development of the hyperamylolytic, hyper-"butanolagenic" C. beijerinckii BA101 strain. Amylolytic enzyme production by C. beijerinckii BA101 was 1.8- and 2.5-fold greater than that of the C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 strain grown in starch and glucose, respectively. We confirmed the presence of a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) associated with cell extracts of C. beijerinckii BA101 by glucose phosphorylation by PEP and ATP-dependent glucose phosphorylation. It was found that C. beijerinckii BA101 was defective in PTS activity and that it compensates for this defect with enhanced glucokinase activity, resulting in an ability to transport and utilize glucose during the solventogenic stage. The principal problem associated with acetone-butanol fermentation by C. beijerinckii or C. acetobutylicum is butanol toxicity/inhibition to the culture. To solve this problem, we have attempted various alternative in situ/online techniques of butanol removal including membrane-based systems such as pervaporation, liquid-liquid extraction, and gas stripping. We found that gas stripping and pervaporation appear to be the most promising of the in situ acetone-butanol fermentation and recovery techniques but, in terms of cost-effective industrial applications, gas stripping appears to be the most promising.
Strategies in Controlling the Homogeneity of Zirconia-Silica Aerogels: Effect of Preparation on Textural and Catalytic Properties

Abstract We have used a sol-gel synthesis, followed by supercritical drying, to prepare zirconia-silica aerogels with different molecular ratios and varying degrees of homogeneity. Even at levels as low as 1-5 mol%, silica retards surface area loss and phase transformations that would normally occur in zirconia samples upon heat treatment. At 5 mol% silica, prehydrolysis of the silicon precursor tetraethylorthosilicate produces mixed oxide gels whose textural properties, most notably surface area and pore size distribution, vary with gel time in a manner that parallels pure zirconia aerogels. This evidence suggests that prehydrolysis effectively matches precursor reactivities and, in turn, produces homogeneous mixed oxides. Choosing an alternate silicon precursor, tetramethylorthosilicate, or chemically modifying the zirconium precursor by treatment with acetylacetone is also effective in matching precursor reactivity. Well-mixed 95 mol% zirconia-5 mol% silica aerogels are more active in 1-butene isomerization than are poorly mixed samples or either single component aerogel.
Relationship of Strength, Weight, Age, and Function in Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND The natural history of ambulatory function in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) consists of deterioration over time. This is thought to be due, in part, to the relationship between strength and weight, which is postulated to become less favorable for ambulation with age. METHODS The study design was prospective, case series of 255 subjects, aged 8 to 19 years, with diplegic type of CP. The data analyzed for the study were cross-sectional. Linear regression was used to predict the rate of change in lower extremity muscle strength, body weight, and strength normalized to weight (STR-N) with age. The cohort was analyzed as a whole and in groups based on functional impairment as reflected by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level. RESULTS Strength increased significantly over time for the entire cohort at a rate of 20.83 N/y (P=0.01). Weight increased significantly over time for the entire cohort at a rate of 3.5 kg/y (P<0.0001). Lower extremity STR-N decreased significantly over time for the entire cohort at a rate of 0.84 N/kg/y (P<0.0001). The rate of decline in STR-N (N/kg/y) was comparable among age groups of the children in the study group. There were no significant differences in the rate of decline of STR-N (N/kg/y) among GMFCS levels. There was a 90% chance of independent ambulation (GMFCS levels I and II) when STR-N was 21 N/kg (49% predicted relative to typically developing children). DISCUSSION The results of this study support the longstanding clinically based observation that STR-N decreases with age in children with CP. This decrease occurs throughout the growing years, and across GMFCS levels I to III. Independent ambulation becomes less likely as STR-N decreases. This information can be used to support the rationale, and provide guidelines, for a range of interventions designed to promote ambulation in children with CP.
Positron emission tomography imaging of D(2/3) agonist binding in healthy human subjects with the radiotracer [(11)C]-N-propyl-norapomorphine: preliminary evaluation and reproducibility studies.

Objective: (−)-N-[11C]-propyl-norapomorphine (NPA) is a full dopamine D2/3 receptor agonist radiotracer suitable for imaging D2/3 receptors configured in a state of high affinity for agonists using positron emission tomography. The aim of the present study was to define the optimal analytic method to derive accurate and reliable D2/3 receptor parameters with [11C]NPA. Methods: Six healthy subjects (four females/two males) underwent two [11C]NPA scans in the same day. D2/3 receptor-binding parameters were estimated using kinetic analysis (using one- and two-tissue compartment models) as well as simplified reference tissue method in the three functional subdivisions of the striatum (associative striatum, limbic striatum, and sensorimotor striatum). The test–retest variability and intraclass correlation coefficient were assessed for distribution volume (VT), binding potential relative to plasma concentration (BPP), and binding potential relative to nondisplaceable uptake (BPND). Results: A two-tissue compartment kinetic model adequately described the functional subdivisions of the striatum as well as cerebellum time-activity data. The reproducibility of VT was excellent (≤10%) in all regions, for this approach. The reproducibility of both BPP (≤12%) and BPND (≤10%) was also excellent. The intraclass correlation coefficients of BPP and BPND were acceptable as well (>0.75) in the three functional subdivisions of the striatum. Although SRTM led to an underestimation of BPND values relative to that estimated by kinetic analysis by 8–13%, the values derived using both the methods were reasonably well correlated (r2 = 0.89, n = 84). Both methods were similarly effective in detecting the differences in [11C]NPA BPND between subjects. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that [11C]NPA can be used to measure D2/3 receptors configured in a state of high affinity for the agonists with high reliability and reproducibility in the functional subdivisions of the human striatum. Synapse 63:574–584, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Six Ways to Sum a Series

(1993). Six Ways to Sum a Series. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 402-421.
Osteoarthritis screening using Raman spectroscopy of dried human synovial fluid drops

We describe the use of Raman spectroscopy to investigate synovial fluid drops deposited onto fused silica microscope slides. This spectral information can be used to identify chemical changes in synovial fluid associated with osteoarthritis (OA) damage to knee joints. The chemical composition of synovial fluid is predominately proteins (enzymes, cytokines, or collagen fragments), glycosaminoglycans, and a mixture of minor components such as inorganic phosphate crystals. During osteoarthritis, the chemical, viscoelastic and biological properties of synovial fluid are altered. A pilot study was conducted to determine if Raman spectra of synovial fluid correlated with radiological scoring of knee joint damage. After informed consent, synovial fluid was drawn and x-rays were collected from the knee joints of 40 patients. Raman spectra and microscope images were obtained from the dried synovial fluid drops using a Raman microprobe and indicate a coarse separation of synovial fluid components. Individual protein signatures could not be identified; Raman spectra were useful as a general marker of overall protein content and secondary structure. Band intensity ratios used to describe protein and glycosaminoglycan structure were used in synovial fluid spectra. Band intensity ratios of Raman spectra indicate that there is less ordered protein secondary structure in synovial fluid from the damage group. Combination of drop deposition with Raman spectroscopy is a powerful approach to examining synovial fluid for the purposes of assessing osteoarthritis damage.
Calcium-Induced Restructuring of Nuclear Envelope and Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Stores

The spatial organization of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope (NE) calcium stores is important for the regulation of localized calcium signals and sustained calcium gradients. Here, we have used a lumenal GFP fusion protein and shown that, in resting cells, large molecules can rapidly diffuse across the cell within the lumenal storage space defined by the ER and NE membranes. Increases in cytosolic calcium concentration reversibly fragmented ER tubules and prevented lumenal diffusion. However, the integrity of the NE was maintained, and a significant fraction of NE lumenal protein accumulated in an NE-associated vesicle. These dynamic properties of ER-NE calcium stores provide insights into the spatiotemporal control of calcium signaling.
Comments on the past and predictions on the future of neonatal research – consortia, randomized cluster trials, brain care centres and xenon

I will discuss the background of how ideas for research projects evolve. This is a topic that researchers rarely explain. It is obviously very important. Unfortunately, editors rarely, if ever, request that such material be included in publications. My friend, Dr Mary Ellen Avery, Professor at Harvard University, suggested the subject to me and intended to write such an article herself. Unfortunately, she never did. I will discuss the birth of three good ideas I have had over a long career in neonatology, from 1952 to 2011! These were phototherapy, the Vermont Oxford Network and helping to organize large, international randomized control trials of xenon. I am now 85 years old, long past the age you are supposed to have ‘hot’ ideas, but I think I have important ideas about the future. It is my belief that brain care, brain cooling plus some other agents are the future. Proving this, however, will take reorganization of our current ways of carrying out clinical research. It is my personal belief, based on the basic research to date, that xenon gas is likely to be successful. To prove this ‘idea’, our field needs to reorganize into large consortia. It will probably take a decade or longer to prove this hypothesis by carrying out the necessary, very large, randomized trials. We need to encourage neonatologists to unite and work together on new advances.
Concept analysis: abuse of ageing caregivers by elderly care recipients

Concept analysis: abuse of ageing caregivers by elderly care recipients Purpose. The purpose of this article is to clarify the concept of abuse within the context of ageing women who are at risk for or experiencing physical or emotional injury inflicted by elderly family members for whom they provide care. Background. The study of abuse of ageing individuals in family caregiving situations has traditionally focused on abuse of the dependent care receiver. However, evidence supports the health risks related to abuse of ageing caregivers as well. Women, usually spouses, daughters, or daughters-in-law, most frequently assume the caregiver role. Methods. A modification of the strategies for concept analysis proposed by Walker and Avant (1995) is used to clarify the concept of caregiver abuse. Searches of the professional literature reveal that caregiver abuse is rarely addressed; therefore, the broader concept of elder abuse is reviewed and then placed within the general context of family caregiving. Audiotapes of the first session of a community based intervention research study entitled Intervention for the Abuse of Ageing Caregivers (Phillips et al., NIH Grant No. R01 DA-AG11155-01, 1996), in which ageing women caregivers described abusive caregiving situations, were analysed qualitatively using the principles of concept analysis. The audiotapes serve as a second source of data for the concept analysis process. Findings. Antecedents, defining characteristics, and consequences of abuse of ageing caregivers were identified through the process of concept analysis. Model, contrary, and borderline cases are presented to illustrate the findings. Conclusions. Findings supported the need for awareness that ageing caregivers can be placed at risk by verbally and physically abusive behaviours of the elders for whom they provide care. Use of the term ‘abuse’ by health care professionals has potentially negative consequences for identification and intervention in cases of potential or actual caregiver abuse.
Effect of semicore orbitals on the electronic band gaps of Si, Ge, and GaAs within the GW approximation

We study the effect of semicore states on the self-energy corrections and electronic energy gaps of Si, Ge, and GaAs. Self-energy effects are computed within the GW approach, and electronic states are expanded in a plane-wave basis. For these materials, we generate ab initio pseudopotentials treating as valence states the outermost two shells of atomic orbitals, rather than only the outermost valence shell as in traditional pseudopotential calculations. The resulting direct and indirect energy gaps are compared with experimental measurements and with previous calculations based on pseudopotential and ``all-electron'' approaches. Our results show that, contrary to recent claims, self-energy effects due to semicore states on the band gaps can be well accounted for in the standard valence-only pseudopotential formalism.
Pain and distress during abortion.

Although there has been recent emphasis on the long‐term effects of abortion on women, the distressing aspects of the procedure itself are seldom addressed. The pain and distress experienced by 35 women undergoing first‐trimester abortion were addressed. The quality and intensity of pain were measured using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and a pain intensity visual analog scale (VAS). Distress measures included a VAS, state anxiety, observation of behavior, and observer‐rated distress. The women reported elevated levels of state anxiety before the abortion and pain and distress during the procedure. The pattern of verbal descriptors on the MPQ was comparable to previously reported descriptors of abortion, labor, and menstrual pain. The MPQ dimension scores did not differ by type of anesthesia received. Findings indicate that first‐trimester abortion is a painful and distressing medical procedure and support the use of the MPQ as a measure of the character and intensity of the pain experienced.
Romantic partners' individual coping strategies and dyadic coping: Implications for relationship functioning.

Individual coping strategies and dyadic coping independently predict partner well-being and relationship functioning; however, it is unclear whether the coping processes are inter-related and whether they uniquely contribute to romantic relationship functioning. One hundred heterosexual dating couples rated the individual coping strategy of negative mood regulation as well as positive and negative dyadic coping. Relationship functioning was assessed via partners' reports of relationship satisfaction and observers' ratings of negative interaction in conflict. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs; Cook & Kenny, 2005; Kashy & Kenny, 2000) revealed associations between individual coping and dyadic coping in the predicted directions. APIMs also indicated the unique contributions of positive and negative dyadic coping to relationship functioning, above and beyond contributions of individual coping strategies. Implications of dyadic coping as a target of efforts to prevent or treat partner and/or relational distress are discussed.
Directly Counting Nucleoporins Inside the Yeast Nuclear Pore Complex

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is one of the largest supramolecular structures in eukaryotic cells. Its octagonal ring-scaffold perforates the nuclear envelope and houses a molecular sortase that regulates nucleocytoplasmic transport. It is composed of ∼30 different nucleoporins (Nups), estimated at 8, 16 or 32 copies per NPC, although this has not been confirmed due to the inherent difficulty of counting protein within supramolecular complexes. Here we used single-molecule SPEED microscopy to directly count the copy-number of twenty-four different Nups within the NPC of live yeast, and found significant deviations from previous estimates. Each NPC contained a maximum of 16 copies of Nsp1 and Nic96, rather than 32 as previously estimated; 16 copies of thirteen additional Nups; 8 copies of four Nups; and 10-15 copies of five Nups. This in situ molecular-counting technology can help resolve the architecture of NPCs and other supramolecular structures in living cells.
Poly(D‐lactide)–Poly(menthide)–Poly(D‐lactide) Triblock Copolymers as Crystal Nucleating Agents for Poly(L‐lactide)

Poly(d-lactide)-poly(menthide)-poly(d-lactide) (PDLA-PM-PDLA) triblock k copolymers were explored as novel nucleating agents for the crystallization of poly-(l-lactide) (PLLA). PLLA/PDLA-PM-PDLA blends containing >85 wt% PLLA were prepared in a batch melt mixer. SAXS analysis was consistent with the ability of PDLA-PM-PDLA to form micelles when mixed with atactic polylactide. The presence of the stereocomplex in the PLLA matrix was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effectiveness of the putative stereocomplexed micelle crystallites for nucleating PLLA crystallization was also confirmed by DSC. Nucleation efficiencies near 100% were obtained when using a triblock copolymer with 15 kg/mol PDLA end blocks. In addition, fast crystallization kinetics were observed in isothermal crystallization experiments at 140 °C. Compared to PLLA/PDLA homopolymer blends, improvements in nucleation efficiency were observed when blending PLLA with PDLA-containing triblock copolymers.
Determination of the Effects of Fislh vs Plant and Feather Meal-based Diets on the Growth and Health of Rainbow Trout

Abstract Rahnema, S. and Borton, R. 2007. Determination of the effects offish vs plant and feather meal-based diets on the growth and health of rainbow trout. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 32: 113–117. Two hundred and forty fingerling rainbow trout were used in an experiment to compare performance of rainbow trout receiving diets containing various levels offish meal (FM) and/or plant and feather meal protein (PFMP) based diets. Fish were fed once per day all the feed that they would eat within 15 minutes. Feed consumption and fish weights (by cage) were measured seven times over a 90-day period. At the end of the feeding trial, two fish from each cage were harvested, frozen in water and stored at −25C. After thawing one trout from each cage was wrapped in aluminum foil and baked in an oven at 163C for 30 min for organoleptic evaluation. The ash content as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sodium content of the diets declined as the amount of PFM was increased. Fish consuming a diet containing ...