cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From BabyLit to Lusty Little Women: Age, Race, and Sexuality in Recent Little Women Spinoffs

During the past five years, the afterlife of Little Women has witnessed few print items as memorable as those I discussed in The Afterlife of “Little Women” (2014): nothing comparable to, say, Gera...
Dialyzer reuse: is it safe and worth it?

A reutilizacao de dialisadores, a pratica de usar o mesmo dialisador para multiplos tratamentos de hemodialise, existe desde a decada de 1960., Embora tenha ocorrido um declinio constante da reutilizacao de dialisadores nos Estados Unidos e na Europa desde o final da decada de 1990, tal pratica permanece predominante na maior parte do mundo em desenvolvimento.– A reutilizacao do dialisador envolve um complicado processo de varias etapas que inclui enxague, limpeza, teste de desempenho e desinfeccao de dialisadores antes da [...]
Self-Management of Health Care Among Youth: Implications for Policies on Transitions of Care.

Abstract Purpose Transitions from pediatric to adult health care are important milestones for youth. In surveys, providers report that youth lack the motivation or skills to manage their care independently, a prerequisite for successful transitions. To assess the validity of this belief, we surveyed youth regarding their current and desired level of involvement in their care. Methods In 2017–2018, we conducted a national text message survey of youth aged 14–24 years. The survey included three open-ended questions assessing participants' independence on three health care tasks (scheduling appointments, attending appointments, and picking up prescriptions) and one open-ended question assessing their desire to be more, less, or equally involved in their care as they are now. We qualitatively analyzed free-text responses to identify themes. Results Among 1,214 eligible participants, 805 (66.3%) completed all four questions and were included in the sample. Forty-one percent of youth reported wanting to be more involved in their care. Among young adults aged 18–24 years, 22% were not fully independent on the three health care tasks and reported wanting to be less involved or equally as involved as they are currently. Conclusion Many youth should be viewed as partners in health care transitions instead of as barriers, but some youth are at high risk for failed transitions. Policymakers and providers should promote routine screening of youth for their current levels of engagement in care and desire to be more involved.
Cardiac Dysfunction Identified by Strain Echocardiography Is Associated With Illness Severity in Pediatric Sepsis.

OBJECTIVES Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction has been associated with illness severity and mortality in pediatrics. Although early sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction diagnosis could aid in hemodynamic management, current echocardiographic metrics for assessing biventricular function are limited in detecting early impairment. Strain echocardiography is a validated quantitative measure that can detect subtle perturbations in left ventricular and right ventricular function. This investigation evaluates the utility of strain echocardiography in pediatric sepsis and compares with to conventional methods. DESIGN Retrospective, observational study comparing left ventricular and right ventricular strain. Strain was compared with ejection fraction and fractional shortening and established sepsis severity of illness markers. SETTING Tertiary care medical-surgical PICU from July 2013 to January 2018. PATIENTS Seventy-nine septic children and 28 healthy controls. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, patients with severe sepsis demonstrated abnormal left ventricular strain (left ventricular longitudinal strain: -13.0% ± 0.72; p = 0.04 and left ventricular circumferential strain: -16.5% ± 0.99; p = 0.046) and right ventricular (right ventricular longitudinal strain = -14.3% ± 6.3; p < 0.01) despite normal fractional shortening (36.0% ± 1.6 vs 38.1% ± 1.1; p = 0.5129) and ejection fraction (60.7% ± 2.2 vs 65.3% ± 1.5; p = 0.33). There was significant association between depressed left ventricular longitudinal strain and increased Vasotrope-Inotrope Score (r = 0.52; p = 0.034). Worsening left ventricular circumferential strain was correlated with higher lactate (r = 0.31; p = 0.03) and higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality-III score (r = 0.39; p < 0.01). Depressed right ventricular longitudinal strain was associated with elevated pediatric multiple organ dysfunction score (r = 0.44; p < 0.01) CONCLUSIONS:: Compared with healthy children, pediatric septic patients demonstrated abnormal left ventricular and right ventricular strain concerning for early signs of cardiac dysfunction. This was despite having normal ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Abnormal strain was associated with abnormal severity of illness markers. Strain echocardiography may have utility as an early indicator of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction in pediatric sepsis.
Economic Simulation Modeling in Type 2 Diabetes.

This paper provides an overview of type 2 diabetes economic simulation modeling and reviews current topics of discussion and major challenges in the field. Important challenges in the field include increasing the generalizability of models and improving transparency in model reporting. To identify and address these issues, modeling groups have organized through the Mount Hood Diabetes Challenge meetings and developed tools (i.e., checklist, impact inventory) to standardize modeling methods and reporting of results. Accordingly, many newer diabetes models have begun utilizing these tools, allowing for improved comparability between diabetes models. In the last two decades, type 2 diabetes simulation models have improved considerably, due to the collaborative work performed through the Mount Hood Diabetes Challenge meetings. To continue to improve diabetes models, future work must focus on clarifying diabetes progression in racial/ethnic minorities and incorporating equity considerations into health economic analysis.
Use of a Digital, Profession-Specific Dissection Guide Is Associated with Improved Examination Performance and Student Satisfaction

Anatomical knowledge is requisite for effective physical therapy (PT) practice. Cadaver dissection is a popular teaching method employed in PT anatomy courses. Limited time in the laboratory requires effective dissection instructions. Several limitations of a printed, non-discipline specific dissection guide have been identified by students and instructors in anatomy curricula. The objective of this project was to evaluate the effect of using a digital, PT specific dissection guide on examination performance and student satisfaction. A digital guide was developed that incorporated improvements based on observations of student experiences using a printed guide. The digital guide covered two lower extremity regional dissections and was distributed for use during the summer 2017 course. Enhancements included clarification of dissection procedures, formative quizzes, image galleries, embedded videos, and a glossary of terms. Students used a printed guide for all other dissections in the course. The percentage of correct answers from practical examinations was calculated and compared between summer of 2015 (print) and 2017 (digital) courses. A survey consisting of nineteen five-point Likert items was distributed. The percentage of correct answers was significantly higher for the digital guide (91.7 ± 7.11%) compared with the print guide (84.2 ± 9.51%, P < 0.0001). On the survey, the median item rating was strongly agree for two, agree for fifteen, and neither agree or disagree for two. These results suggest that developing a curriculum specific, digital guide was effective in improving student knowledge and satisfaction. These results encourage development of additional content specific guides in a digital format.
Building a Corpus-based Interdisciplinary Vocabulary Model in University Reading Support Courses

The availability of corpora has greatly strengthened the possibilities of identifying high-frequency lexical items in a more systematic and objective man1ner than has typically been used for vocabu...
A Novel Pupillometric-Based Application for the Automated Detection of ADHD Using Machine Learning

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder among children and adolescents. Current clinical diagnosis, however, is inaccurate and inefficient, hindering the administration of proper treatment regimens. Clinical assessments are based on qualitative observations of perceived behavior. They are time-consuming and costly, preventing individuals from gaining the support they need to succeed academically, socially, and occupationally. A more accurate and efficient method of detection is necessary to ensure that all children are able to be diagnosed and given proper treatment regimens. This research proposes a novel machine learning-based method to analyze pupil-dynamics data as an objective biomarker to characterize ADHD. After visualizing and engineering pupillometric features, an evaluation of state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms showed that an Ensemble Voting Classifier yielded the optimal binary classification metrics using leave-one-out-cross-validation (LOOCV). The model classified ADHD with 82.1% sensitivity, 72.7% specificity, and 85.6% AUROC. Moreover, novel insights into associations between pupillometric features and the presence of ADHD were garnered and statistically validated. The optimal machine learning model was implemented in a web application that administers a memory task and captures pupil biometrics in real-time to output a probabilistic risk score of a patient having ADHD. This application is the first to use pupil-size dynamics as a biomarker, and offers a time-efficient and accurate approach to detect ADHD in children.
Team awareness for workplace substance abuse prevention: the empirical and conceptual development of a training program.

This paper describes the empirical and theoretical development of a workplace training program to help reduce/prevent employee alcohol and drug abuse and enhance aspects of the work group environment that support ongoing prevention. The paper (1) examines the changing social context of the workplace (e.g., teamwork, privacy issues) as relevant for prevention, (2) reviews studies that assess risks and protective factors in employee substance abuse (work environment, group processes, and employee attitudes), (3) provides a conceptual model that focuses on work group processes (enabling, neutralization of deviance) as the locus of prevention efforts, (4) describes an enhanced team-oriented training that was derived from previous research and the conceptual model, and (5) describes potential applications of the program. It is suggested that the research and conceptual model may help prevention scientists to assess the organizational context of any workplace prevention strategy. The need for this team-oriented approach may be greater among employees who experience psychosocial risks such as workplace drinking climates, social alienation, and policies that emphasize deterrence (drug testing) over educative prevention. Limitations of the model are also discussed.
Methods of demonstrating measurement relationships between vaginal hysterectomy ligatures and the ureters.

Abstract 1. 1. This study permitted visualization of the field of operation and the ureters in the living patient under actual operating conditions. 2. 2. The ureter was not compromised in any of these cases used for demonstration. 3. 3. Even in those cases when the ureters were splinted by ureteral catheters, it was difficult, in fact impossible, to be certain that the ureter could be palpated during the placement of critical clamps. 4. 4. A maximum of ureteral complications should be avoided as the result of continuous caution by the gynecologist and adequate exposure by the assistants who are providing retraction of the bladder and firm continuous traction on the cervix. 5. 5. Knowledge of the fact that caution and care can reduce ureteral complications by maintaining adequate distances between clamps and ureter should not eliminate the necessity for every gynecologist to be well indoctrinated in the fundamentals of those procedures essential to repair ureteral and bladder complications. 6. 6. If one conforms to the opinion that a careful exploratory palpation of the abdominal contents should accompany every abdominal operation, certainly every vaginal procedure should be preceded by an intravenous pyelogram. 7. 7. In spite of our 15 years' experience with no recognized ureteral injuries, and the results of the 140 patients, pre- and post-operatively x-rayed, any unilateral pain radiating to the lumbar area in a patient who has undergone a previous hysterectomy should indicate the necessity for intravenous pyelogram investigation. One must recognize that associated allergies are not without hazard. 8. 8. Although technically a greater hazard and problem, contrast media locked in the uterine cavity may have contributed to the value of the study. 9. 9. Stereoscopic visualization was attempted on an aditional case and contributed nothing to the study.
On Polar Visibility Representations of Graphs

We introduce polar visibility graphs, graphs whose vertices can be represented by arcs of concentric circles with adjacency determined by radial visibility including visibility through the origin. These graphs are more general than the well-studied bar-visibility graphs and are characterized here, when arcs are proper subsets of circles, as the graphs that embed on the plane with all but at most one cut-vertex on a common face or on the projective plane with all cut-vertices on a common face. We also characterize the graphs representable using full circles and arcs.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Tat Protein Activates Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell E-selectin Expression via an NF-κB-dependent Mechanism

Human immunodeficiency virus infection is associated with inflammation and endothelial cell activation that cannot be ascribed to direct infection by the virus or to the presence of opportunistic infections. Factors related to the virus itself, to the host and/or to environmental exposures probably account for these observations. The HIV protein Tat, a viral regulator required for efficient transcription of the viral genome in host cells is secreted from infected cells and taken up by uninfected by-stander cells. Tat can also act as a general transcriptional activator of key inflammatory molecules. We have examined whether Tat contributes to this endothelial cell activation by activating NF-κB. Human endothelial cells exposed to Tat in the culture medium activated E-selectin expression with delayed kinetics compared with tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Tat-mediated E-selectin up-regulation required the basic domain of Tat and was inhibited by a Tat antibody. Transfection of human E-selectin promoter-luciferase reporter constructs into Tat-bearing cells or into endothelial cells co-transfected with a Tat expression vector resulted in induction of luciferase expression. Either Tat or TNF activated p65 translocation and binding to an oligonucleotide containing the E-selectin κB site 3 sequence. Tat-mediated p65 translocation was also delayed compared with TNF. Neither agent induced new synthesis of p65. A super-repressor adenovirus (AdIκBαSR) that constitutively sequesters IκB in the cytoplasm as well as cycloheximide or actinomycin D inhibited Tat- or TNF-mediated κB translocation and E-selectin up-regulation.
Abstract T MP25: Recanalization of Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Improves Mortality and Functional Outcome: A Meta-Analysis

Background and purpose: Randomized trial data supporting/refuting recanalization are sparse in acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) with only one small RCT in literature. There is a wealth of data in the form of observational case series spanning several decades. We sought to synthesize outcome and mortality estimates from the available studies on acute BAO. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov were searched with keywords “acute ischemic stroke” and “basilar artery occlusion”. Heterogeneity was calculated using Cochran Q (Q>df; p<0.5- significant), I2 and tau2. Dersimonian and Laird random-effects model was used to synthesize data. Pooled estimates were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. MIX Pro 2.0 was used for all analyses. Results: Thirty-seven studies provided mortality data (n= 1784), while 35 provided poor outcome data (n = 1755). In mortality synthesis, heterogeneity was significant (Q = 49.18, p = 0.07). Figure 1 shows OR for mortality with recanalization. A...
Megapixel‐Wärmebilder mit 1280 × 1024 Pixeln

Ingenieure und Wissenschaftler aller Disziplinen erleben eine Revolution von Auflosung und Geschwindigkeit in der Infrarotkameratechnik: Qualitativ hochwertige Warmebilder mit einer Auflosung von 1280 × 1024 Pixeln zeigen selbst minimale thermische Anomalien und kleinste Details.
Improvements in Ultrasonic Measurement Modeling with Applications to Ultrasonic Reliability

Over the past several years, work has been reported on the development and implementation of a measurement model relating measured ultrasonic signals obtained through planar or cylindrically curved interfaces to far field scattering amplitudes (1). A number of applications have also been described, including obtaining scattering amplitudes (2) to improve sizing capability via the inverse Born approximation (3), predicting detected signals from cracks in planar (4) and cylindrical (5) geometries, and establishing detection filters (6) for improved inspectability. These applications have used models of diffraction effects for the case of piston source radiation (7) which were developed to account only for the axial pressure fields. A number of desired applications such as treating large flaws and scanning modes will require the ability to model the full radiation field of a probe. As a first step, a model of the radiation of Gaussian profile probes through planar or curved surfaces has been developed (8). With suitable normalization, this model can be used to predict the far-field behavior of piston probes. This allows modeling of full field behavior near the focal region of either focussed probes or focussing part surfaces. This paper will discuss the incorporation of the Gaussian beam theory into the measurement model. Also reported will be several new applications of the measurement model to problems associated with ultrasonic reliability.
Attenuated fibroblast growth factor 21 response to acute aerobic exercise in obese individuals.

Abstract Background and aim Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is positively associated with body mass index, potentially as a compensatory mechanism to mediate obesity related metabolic and inflammatory insult due to chronic low-grade elevations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Therefore, FGF21 response in obese subjects and the associations with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, and energy utilization warrants investigation. Methods and results Twenty four untrained subjects (12 obese and 12 normal-weight) performed 30 min of continuous submaximal aerobic exercise. Following exercise, obese subjects exhibited a blunted FGF21 response to exercise compared to normal-weight subjects as indicated by area-under-the-curves "with respect to increase" (AUCi) analyses ( p = 0.005). Furthermore, while exercise-induced plasma FGF21 was not associated with any inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) response, FGF21 AUCi was positively correlated with glucose AUCi (r = 0.495, p = 0.014), total relative energy expenditure (r = 0.562, p = 0.004), and relative maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ; r = 0.646, p = 0.001) in all subjects. Conclusion Impaired cardiorespiratory fitness may influence the sensitivity of FGF21 response to acute exercise in obese individuals, potentially contributing to the attenuated metabolic response (e.g., glucose) and total exercise energy expenditure. Therefore, exercise training aimed at improving cardiorespiratory fitness and/or body composition may augment cardioprotective properties against obesity-associated CVD through enhanced FGF21 flux.
A Conceptual Framework For Personalized And Mobile Health Care

The widespread adoption of cell phones and other mobile platforms represent an opportunity to extend the benefits of personalized point-of-care healthcare applications to providers and patients in the developing world. However, the challenges facing the effective deployment of mobile health care applications are complex; thus, requiring a scalable, flexible, and configurable approach. A conceptual framework based on service-oriented-architecture is proposed to address the challenges of developing and deploying mobile health care applications. A particular emphasis of the framework is a service-agent-modeling-based personalized process support that is needed to support the diverse needs of the users.
A numerical study of the field dependence of signal-to-noise ratio in high-field MRI

The increasing interest in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for quantitative spectroscopy, real-time imaging, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and other emerging applications has led to increased effort towards maximizing the available signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). For a designer to be able to maximize the available SNR, an accurate analysis method is required. However, many of the trends in hardware design intended to increase SNR (such as the move towards higher B/sub 0/ field strengths) make the analysis of SNR more complicated. The intrinsic SNR (ISNR) is a quantity which represents a fundamental limit of the performance of an MR system for a given patient/coil configuration. We use the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to study the SNR of MRI at frequencies up to 340 MHz (corresponding to the Larmour frequency of protons in an 8 T B/sub 0/ field). The principle of reciprocity together with the FDTD analysis is used to provide a means of computing the intensity of the NMR signal from all points in the sample. The FDTD can accommodate an inhomogeneous model of the patient being imaged, which more accurately describes the physical situation than previous approaches. This technique is used to assess the field-dependence of the ISNR in high-field MRI.
The Prevention of School Violence: New Evidence to Consider

Abstract This paper highlights theproblems of school violenceand delinquency among youth in our society. It presents research involving regression analysis of data available at the county level for the state of Illinois. A cross-sectional design is utilized for the 102 counties of that state. Results indicate that school violence isimpacted by demographics, i.e, the number of African Americans and whites, while controlling for the youth population. However, school violence is primarily affected by the level of domestic violence and the level of hate crimes in the respective counties. Evidence suggests this to be the primary focus of preven-tion.
First report of charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina in soybean in New York.

Charcoal rot of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), incited by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidanich, is commonly found in much of the southern soybean production region of the United States, where it can be a major contributor to yield loss in warm, dry seasons (4). The disease has also been reported in northern states including Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin (1,2,3). In early July of the warmer and drier than normal 2012 growing season, wilted soybean plants were observed and collected for diagnosis from a field in Cayuga County, NY. The diseased plants showed brown discoloration of the stem and roots but the diagnostic microsclerotia of M. phaseolina had not yet developed in the epidermis. Cut pieces of roots and crowns were surface-sterilized in 20% sodium hypochlorite, rinsed in sterile distilled water, and incubated on potato dextrose agar at room temperature with a 12-h photoperiod for 7 days. The pathogen was observed growing out of many of the crown and root pieces, and produced abundant microsclerotia as described by Smith and Wyllie (4). Pathogenicity of isolate Mp001NY12 was confirmed using a cut stem inoculation method. Five soybean plants were grown to the unifoliate stage and inoculated by cutting the stem above the unifoliate leaves and applying a fully colonized agar plug to the wound. Within 2 weeks, infection was obvious with microsclerotia formed in the epidermis of all infected plants, and M. phaseolina was reisolated from all infected plants. DNA of isolate Mp001NY12 was extracted from colonies grown on PDA with PrepMan Ultra DNA extraction kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA), and the DNA was submitted for ITS sequencing with the ITS1 and ITS4 primers used for PCR amplification. The ITS sequence (GenBank Accession No. KC800709) of Mp001NY12 was compared to those in the NCBI GenBank database using a BLAST search, and had 99% nucleotide sequence identity with M. phaseolina (accessions JX945170, FJ415067, and EU250575). To the best of our knowledge, charcoal rot has not been reported previously on soybean or other plant hosts in New York or in other states in the northeastern United States. References: (1) Baird et al. Mycopathologia 170:169, 2010. (2) C. A. Bradley and L. E. del Rio. Plant Dis. 87:601, 2003. (3) M. E. ElAraby et al. Plant Dis. 87:202, 2003. (4) G. S. Smith and T. D. Wyllie. Charcoal rot. Page 29 in: Compendium of Soybean Diseases, 4th ed. G. L. Hartman et al., eds. APS Press, St. Paul, MN, 1999.
Intracellular distribution of actin in cells of the orgen of Corti: A structural basis for cell shape and motility

Immunofluorescence staining and phalloidin labeling have provided localization of actin in the sensory and supporting cells of the inner ear at the light microscopic level. However, with electron microscopy, neither actin nor actin filaments have been found in the outer hair cell body. This paper describes various techniques utilized to preserve and identify cytoplasmic actin at the ultrastructural level. Post-embedding staining of Lowicryl K4M sections, pre-embedding staining of permeabilized cells of the organ of Corti, pre-embedding staining of vibratome sections, and pre-embedding staining of permeabilized dissociated cells documented the presence of actin, but each of these techniques was best suited to localize actin in specific parts of the cell. Cytoplasmic actin was labeled when isolated cells were lightly fixed and membranes were permeabilized with detergent--conditions under which the cell ultrastructure was compromised. Under conditions of optimal fixation, cytoplasmic filaments embedded in the dense granular matrix of the hair cell cytoplasm were observed.
Nonnative species influence vegetative response to ecological restoration: Two forests with divergent restoration outcomes

Abstract Changes in the vegetative structure and diversity of ponderosa pine forests have generated interest in conducting ecological restoration projects to improve the overall forest health of these ecosystems. Ecological restoration prescriptions often consist of thinning trees to emulate pre-1870s forest structure followed by prescribed burning. Disturbances associated with ecological restoration can, however, promote invasion by nonnative species. We compared two northern Arizona ponderosa pine forests treated for ecological restoration, one at the Fort Valley Experimental Forest and one at Mt. Trumbull on the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. We examined the response of native and nonnative plant species, as well as all species combined, to treatments at the two forests. Both study sites showed a significant increase in native and nonnative species cover and richness by the fifth year post-treatment that remained significant by the tenth year post-treatment. Despite these general trends in native and nonnative community development, the understory vegetation at the two sites followed diverging successional patterns after treatment. By the tenth year post-treatment Fort Valley was dominated by native species and Mt. Trumbull was dominated by a single nonnative species, cheatgrass. The differences in post-treatment understory recovery are likely due to pretreatment forest conditions. At Fort Valley, nonnatives were present, but accounted for only 0.11% of the pretreatment cover. At Mt. Trumbull, nonnatives accounted for 5.26% of the pretreatment understory cover, with cheatgrass accounting for approximately 4% of the understory cover. Additionally, the soil seedbank at Fort Valley had greater overall species richness and greater native perennial grass richness than Mt. Trumbull. We propose that the application of ecological restoration treatments should be targeted to sites with low abundance of nonnatives prior to treatment. Sites containing high abundance of nonnatives prior to treatment should be managed for nonnative species mitigation before initiating any ecological restoration projects.
Unusual Equilibria Involving Group 4 Amides, Silyl Complexes, and Silyl Anions via Ligand Exchange Reactions

Silyl anion SiButPh2- (2) was found to substitute an amide ligand in Zr(NMe2)4 (3) to give the disilyl complex Zr(NMe2)3(SiButPh2)2- (1a) and Zr(NMe2)5- (1b) in THF. The reaction is reversible, and nucleophilic amide NMe2- attacks the Zr−SiButPh2 bonds in 1a or Zr(NMe2)3(SiButPh2) in the reverse reaction, leading to an unusual ligand exchange equilibrium 2 3 + 2 2 ⇌ 1a + 1b (eq 1). The silyl anion 2 selectively attacks the −N(SiMe3)2 ligand in Zr(NMe2)3[N(SiMe3)2] (6) to give 1a and N(SiMe3)2- (7). Reversible reaction occurs as well, where 7 selectively substitutes the silyl ligand in Zr(NMe2)3(SiButPh2)2- (1a) or Zr(NMe2)3(SiButPh2), giving the equilibrium 6 + 2 2 ⇌ 1a + 7 (eq 3). The thermodynamics of these equilibria has been studied: For eq 1, ΔH° = −8.3(0.2) kcal/mol, ΔS° = −23.3(0.9) eu, and ΔG°298K = −1.4(0.5) kcal/mol at 298 K; for eq 3, ΔH° = −1.61(0.12) kcal/mol, ΔS° = −2.6(0.5) eu, and ΔG°298K = −0.8(0.3) kcal/mol. In both equilibria, the enthalpy changes for the forward reactions outweigh the...
Franz Kafka: The Office Writings

Edited by Stanley Corngold, Jack Greenberg, and Benno Wagner (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2009), xx + 404 pp. $49.95 cloth. Franz Kafka: The Office Writings is a rich and useful coll...
A balanced bin sort for hypercube multicomputers

We propose a balanced bin sort for hypercube multicomputers. This sorting algorithm has an empirically measured expected run time that is greater than that of hyperquicksort but less than that of bitonic sort. Also, its space requirements are less than that of hyperquicksort but more than that of bitonic sort. So, it is useful in situations in which there is some excess memory but not enough to run hyperquicksort.
Talking Whiteness: Representations of Social Justice in One School

This post-structural discourse analysis examines how whiteness is discursively and materially maintained and reproduced through an anti-bias discourse. It attempts to surface ways in which counter discourses are mediated within a dominant discourse such as whiteness. Understanding one school’s determined efforts to “combat oppression” and the difficulties inherent in this charge may allow for expanded notions of how schools might challenge taken for granted norms on which many visions of reform rest. Finally, taking into consideration the ways in which dominant discourses of normalization may act as a barrier to producing transformational environments for teaching and learning in K-12 schools, may make more evident the need for schools to have mechanisms that challenge normative structures, social practices, as well as create space for counter discourses to be generated.
Amphetamine sensitization of hallucinatory-like behaviors is dependent on prefrontal cortex in nonhuman primates.

Abstract Background Repeated amphetamine (AMPH) exposure in nonhuman primates produces a chronic state of monoamine dysregulation and long-lasting changes in behaviors elicited by acute AMPH (including tracking, grasping “at thin air,” manipulating nonapparent stimuli, and hypervigilance) in a manner that bears a marked resemblance to symptoms of both amphetamine psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia. These abnormal responses have historically been referred to as psychotomimetic or hallucinatory-like. In contrast to negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, the positive symptoms of schizophrenia including hallucinations have not traditionally been linked to prefrontal dysfunction. Methods The dorsomedial (9/8B), dorsolateral (46/8A), and inferior (45/12) sectors of prefrontal cortex were lesioned, singly or in combination. Lesioned and nonlesioned control monkeys were sensitized over a 6-week period using an intermittent schedule of escalating low doses of AMPH. Behavioral responses to acute AMPH after chronic exposure were compared with preexposure responses. Results Bilateral lesions of prefrontal cortex performed before subchronic AMPH suppressed the sensitization of hallucinatory-like behaviors but markedly enhanced locomotor sensitization compared with control animals. Conclusions These findings indicate that the primate prefrontal cortex may be a substrate for the development of the full complement of behaviors elicited by AMPH sensitization, including hallucinatory-like behaviors.
Effect of various water-soluble components of phospholipids on the photooxidation of chlorophyllin.

Abstract Photooxidation of water-soluble chlorophyllin was measured in the presence of glycerol, phosphate, choline, phosphorylcholine, ethanolamine, phosphorylethanolamine and liposomes made from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The choline containing compounds protected chlorophyllin from destruction while the ethanolamines enhanced degradation. The difference in activity between the two families of compounds is related to the availability of their protons. These experiments provide a further indication that in the thylakoid phosphatidylcholine may protect chlorophyll from photooxidation.
The Place of Pulmonary Resection in the Treatment of Tuberculosis

This study represents a careful analysis of 426 tuberculous patients subjected to 437 pulmonary resections between 1934 and January 1, 1950 (11 patients had a second resection). All except two of the living patients have been followed and their present condition evaluated. The following points of special interest are emphasized: 1)Outline of indications. 2)Comparison of results in pre- and post-streptomycin eras. 3)Analysis of present day risk of resection. 4)Preliminary report of a small group of segmental resections. 5)Late follow-up of patients (a)Pre-streptomycin era — 3 years to 16 years. (b)Post-streptomycin era — 6 months to 3 years.
Optimal voting rules under uncertainty

The theory of ‘constitutional’ choice of voting rules developed by Buchanan and Tullock is an extended to an explicit decision-theoretic form. Voters in the ‘constitutional’ position choose what they believe will be their optimal share or majority rule for making social decisions, by maximizing their individual expected utility from the anticipated social decisions, under conditions of uncertainty. The rule that maximizes expected social benefits depends upon (1) the expected distribution and intensity of preferences on future issues, and (2) the decisionmaking procedures and costs. ‘Decisionmaking’ and ‘external’ costs are shown to be interrelated. Following this analysis, failure to pass laws imposes ‘external’ costs in the same way that passing them does, so that the optimal majority may be lower when desirable laws are viewed as changing over time. Decisionmaking costs depend upon the way in which voters are persuaded to support or oppose bills, upon the distribution of preferences on bills, and on vote-trading possibilities. If vote-trading is almost costless, a wide range of decision rules has nearly equal social benefits. Finally, the model is used to discuss optimal voting rules for several decisionmaking bodies.
A two-site model for sodium transport in human erythrocytes

Abstract A kinetic model has been proposed for human erythrocytes to account for the responses of sodium transport to alterations in the extracellular sodium concentration in the presence and absence of potassium. The proposed model characterizes the movement of sodium from the outer surface of the erythrocyte membrane to the inner surface in terms of a carrier which has two sites with differing affinities for sodium ions.
Mechanistic aspects of silicon-mediated polymerization (group transfer polymerization) of methyl methacrylate with ester enolate anions as nucleophilic catalysts

The role of ester enolate anions in silicon-mediated polymerization (group transfer polymerization) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was investigated using cesium, tetrabutylammonium and lithium salts of 9-methylfluorenide as the nucleophilic catalysts. The results of normal anionic polymerization of MMA using these carbanion salts were compared directly with those of analogous GTP procedures with these carbanions in the presence of the silyl ketene acetal initiator 1-methoxy-1-(trimethylsiloxy)-2-methylprop-1-ene (MTS). In the absence of MTS these reactions are characterized by low conversions (14–52%), no control of Mn and broad molecular weight distributions. In the presence of MTS, controlled MMA polymerization is observed with molecular weights calculated based on the moles of MTS and not fluorenide anion. The MMA stereochemistry was also determined for both anionic polymerization and GTP for the same counter ions (tetrabutylammonium, cesium, lithium); within experimental error, the triad tacticities are the same for anionic polymerization and GTP. It is concluded that these results are consistent with the ester enolate anions as propagating intermediates in nucleophile-catalyzed GTP. These results are consistent with an associative GTP mechanism only if it is postulated that the chemistry and stereochemistry of a pentacovalent siliconate anion are the same as those of an ester enolate anion intermediate.
Tremelimumab: a review of development to date in solid tumors

Tremelimumab is an investigational, fully human IgG monoclonal antibody directed against CTLA-4, a coinhibitory receptor that represses effector T-cell activity in cancer. Tremelimumab has produced promising anticancer responses in early clinical trials. However, a phase III trial of tremelimumab monotherapy versus chemotherapy in advanced melanoma was stopped early when no statistically significant difference in overall survival was observed between the two interventions. This article describes tremelimumab's putative mechanism of action, its preclinical pharmacology and clinical results to date across a range of cancer settings as monotherapy, as well as in combination with other therapies. The failure of the Phase III trial in melanoma is examined and factors affecting the possible future clinical development of tremelimumab are also explored.
Pyrimidines. XV. (Amino Acids. II.) DL-β-(dihydroxypyrimidinyl) alanines

The Prepration of two uracil derivatives of alanine, DL-β-(5-uracilyl)alanine and DL-β(6-uracilyl)alanine, are reported. A structural analog, dl-4,6-dihydroxy-β-(2-(pyrimidinyl)alanine, which was reported to be labile to acid hydrolysis, has now been successfully prepared in our laboratories. The relationship between the relative position of an alanine moity on some nitrogen hetrocyclic ring systems and their color formation with ninhydrin are discussed.
Changes in Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates and Disparities for Rural Physician Shortage Areas Staffed by the National Health Service Corps: 1984-1998.

ABSTRACT: Objective: This study assesses whether the National Health Service Corps's legislated goals to see health improve and health disparities lessen are being met in rural health professional shortage areas for a key population health indicator: age-adjusted mortality. Methods: In a descriptive study using a pre-post design with comparison groups, the authors calculated age-adjusted mortality rates at baseline (1981-1983) and follow-up (1996-1998) for the populations of 448 rural whole-county health professional shortage areas arrayed into 3 groups based on the number of study years they were staffed by National Health Service Corps physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners (terms of 1 to 7, 8 to 11, and 12 to 15 years). The authors compared changes over time in age-adjusted mortality rates in the 3 county groups that had National Health Service Corps staffing with rate changes in 172 whole-county rural health professional shortage areas and 772 non–health professional shortage area rural counties that had no National Health Service Corps. Results: At baseline, age-adjusted mortality was higher in all 4 health professional shortage area county groups than in the non–health professional shortage area county group. Age-adjusted mortality rates improved with time in all groups, including health professional shortage area counties both with and without National Health Service Corps support, and non–health professional shortage area counties. Essentially, baseline differences in age-adjusted mortality rates between health professional shortage areas and non–health professional shortage area counties did not diminish with time, whether or not there was National Health Service Corps support. Conclusions: From the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, the National Health Service Corps's goal to see health improve in rural health professional shortage areas was met, but its goal to diminish geographical health disparities was not. Because age-adjusted mortality rates improved in all county groups, the authors conclude that improvement was likely due to a variety of factors, including decreasing poverty and unemployment rates and increasing primary care physician-to-population ratios, to which the National Health Service Corps may have contributed.
The Judicial Power of the Purse: How Courts Fund National Defense in Times of Crisis. By Nancy Staudt. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011. 199 pp. $25.00 paper.

The Judicial Power of the Purse: How Courts Fund National Defense in Times of Crisis. By Nancy Staudt. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011. 199 pp. $25.00 paper.I find this a peculiar book. Its core finding is well-supported, clearly presented, and consistent with a related literature, and yet many of the details seem off-key. In part that seems the result of an overly elaborate theoretical account, whose own details require qualification to accommodate findings in tension with the theory. Readers can take away the central finding, rely on a simpler, less theorized explanation, and leave the specifics behind.The core finding is this: The federal courts, and especially the Supreme Court, respond to their perception that the nation is facing a foreign policy crisis, particularly a crisis of national defense, by becoming more receptive to claims for revenue asserted by the national government in tax, public contract, and similar cases implicating the government's fiscal resources. The cases are not about foreign policy, or about revenue measures directly related to the crisis, but the courts appear to be concerned about ensuring that the government has the resources it needs to deal with the crisis. This finding parallels findings about judicial responses to rights-claims during war time (Epstein et al. 2005).The theory behind the finding is that the courts receive signals from Congress and the executive-sometimes consistent with each other, sometimes less so-about the existence of a crisis, and infer from those signals the need for fiscal resources. The signals trigger judicial responses because the judges prefer safety over risk, and believe (or act as though they believe) that spending money will enhance safety. The book's first chapter establishes, to the extent that it needs to be established, that justices are aware of and sometimes refer to national fiscal needs in their deliberations and decisions. The book then offers statistical tests linking signals the courts receive to the voting behavior of individual justices and of the Court as a whole, with some analysis of the behavior of courts of appeals.I think it unclear what the theoretical account adds to common sense, that judges live in the world and participate in the general culture. And sometimes the need for theory produces odd results. So, for example, Staudt rejects as "obviously . . . flawed" (p. 67) the claim, developed in detail by Mary Dudziak (2012), that the United States has been in a condition of emergency for much of the twentieth century. …
Correction of Coagulation Defect in Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair by Mesenteric Shunting

The authors have previously characterized laboratory coagulation abnormalities in patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAA) repair as a reduction in clotting factor activity and an increase in the fibrinolysis that occurs after supraceliac clamping. A return to normal in these patients did not occur until the time of skin closure and was influenced by fresh frozen plasma (FFP) administration. To test the hypothesis that shortening the mesenteric ischemic time would mitigate the defect earlier in the operative course, the authors developed a technique of mesenteric shunting during TAA repair and studied coagulation response prospectively. Twelve consecutive elective patients had TAA repair carried out in standard fashion. No heparin was used. After completion of the proximal anastomosis, a coronary perfusion catheter was secured inside a previously sewn graft side arm and inserted into either the superior mesenteric artery or the celiac axis; the graft was clamped below the side arm. Blood levels of fibrinogen, F1.2, D-dimer, and Factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII were analyzed at induction, immediately prior to mesenteric shunt insertion, at reimplantation of the visceral button and 30 minutes after visceral button reimplantation. Clamp times, volume and timing of blood products, and clinical outcomes were recorded prospectively. A two-sided, paired t test (pairwise/intersample) was applied for each factor studied. There was no coagulopathic bleeding. Indicators of fibrinolysis (fibrinogen, D-dimer) continued to rise throughout the procedure as had been true in our previous series. However, clotting factors returned to baseline shortly after mesenteric shunting and prior to administration of exogenous clotting factors. The return to baseline of the coagulation factors studied began at the time of the insertion of a mesenteric shunt. Visceral perfusion appears to have an impact on coagulation response. Earlier reperfusion may help extend the window of operative time by limiting coagulopathic bleeding that is occasionally seen during TAA repair.
Polychlorinated biphenyls in solid waste and solid-waste-related materials.

Municipal refuse along with various solid-waste processing samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In all cases, the samples required drying, particle-size reduction, separation of extraneous material, and extraction with an organic solvent. The extracts were cleaned-up by chromatography and analyzed by gas chromatography. The qualitative results obtained indicate that PCBs were present in several of the samples analyzed. These results are consistent with findings, by other investigators, that there is PCB contamination in many parts of the environment and they indicate that disposal of solid waste contributes to this contamination.