cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What is the Role of Respiratory Viruses in Community-Acquired Pneumonia?: What is the Best Therapy for Influenza and Other Viral Causes of Community-Acquired Pneumonia?

Respiratory viruses have long been appreciated as a cause of community acquired pneumonia (CAP), particularly among children, people with serious medical comorbidities, and military recruits. They are increasingly recognized as a cause of CAP among adults. Polymerase chain reaction-based testing has allowed detection of newer agents and improved the ability to detect such viral infections as influenza virus and rhinovirus. Coinfection with viruses and bacteria is common and it remains challenging to determine which patients have only viral infection as the cause of CAP. Better ways to diagnose viral CAP and to integrate detection into management, and better treatment options for noninfluenza respiratory viral infections are needed.
Simulated Partners and Collaborative Exercise (SPACE) to boost motivation for astronauts: study protocol

Astronauts may have difficulty adhering to exercise regimens at vigorous intensity levels during long space missions. Vigorous exercise is important for aerobic and musculoskeletal health during space missions and afterwards. A key impediment to maintaining vigorous exercise is motivation. Finding ways to motivate astronauts to exercise at levels necessary to mitigate reductions in musculoskeletal health and aerobic capacity have not been explored. The focus of Simulated Partners and Collaborative Exercise (SPACE) is to use recently documented motivation gains in task groups to heighten the exercise experience for participants, similar in age and fitness to astronauts, for vigorous exercise over a 6-month exercise regimen. A secondary focus is to determine the most effective features in simulated exercise partners for enhancing enjoyment, self-efficacy, and social connectedness. The aims of the project are to (1) Create software-generated (SG) exercise partners and interface software with a cycle ergometer; (2) Pilot test design features of SG partners within a video exercise game (exergame), and (3) Test whether exercising with an SG partner over 24-week time period, compared to exercising alone, leads to greater work effort, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, exercise adherence, and enhanced psychological parameters. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Chronic exercisers, between the ages 30 and 62, were asked to exercise on a cycle ergometer 6 days per week for 24 weeks using a routine consisting of alternating between moderate-intensity continuous and high-intensity interval sessions. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: no partner (control), always faster SG partner, or SG partner who was not always faster. Participants were told they could vary cycle ergometer output to increase or decrease intensity during the sessions. Mean change in cycle ergometer power (watts) from the initial continuous and 4 min. interval sessions was the primary dependent variable reflecting work effort. Measures of physiological, strength, and psychological parameters were also taken. This paper describes the rationale, development, and methods of the SPACE exergame. We believe this will be a viable intervention that can be disseminated for astronaut use and adapted for use by other populations.
Do invasive quagga mussels alter CO 2 dynamics in the Laurentian Great Lakes

The Laurentian Great Lakes have experienced unprecedented ecological and environmental changes, especially after the introduction of invasive quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis). While impacts on ecological functions have been widely recognized, the response of carbon dynamics to invasive species remains largely unknown. We report new CO2 data showing significant increases in pCO2 (up to 800 μatm in Lake Michigan) and CO2 emission fluxes in most of the Great Lakes compared to those prior to or during the early stage of the colonization of invasive quagga mussels. The increased CO2 supersaturation is most prominent in Lakes Huron and Michigan, followed by Lakes Ontario and Erie, but no evident change was observed in Lake Superior. This trend mirrors the infestation extent of invasive quagga mussels in the Great Lakes and is consistent with the decline in primary production and increase in water clarity observed pre- and post-Dreissena introduction, revealing a close linkage between invasive species and carbon dynamics. The Great Lakes have become a significant CO2 source to the atmosphere, emitting >7.7 ± 1.0 Tg-C annually, which is higher than the organic carbon burial rate in global inland-seas and attesting to the significant role of the Laurentian Great Lakes in regional/global CO2 budget and cycling.
Patriotism, sentiment, and male hysteria: Putin’s masculinity politics and the persecution of non-heterosexual Russians

A contributing factor to the current persecution of Russian non-heterosexual individuals is Vladimir Putin’s overcompensating masculinist wish to claim Russia’s role as a global powerhouse. While m...
Effect of laser shock peening on residual stress, microstructure and fatigue behavior of ATI 718Plus alloy

Abstract The effects of Laser Shock Peening (LSP) on the microstructure, residual stress, hardness, strength, and fatigue life of ATI 718 Plus (718Plus) alloy was investigated and the results are reported. Microstructure before and after LSP and after mechanical testing was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)/orientation imaging microscopy (OIM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). LSP led to severe surface plastic deformation, which, in turn, led to a high magnitude of surface compressive residual stresses (∼−725 MPa) and changes in the near-surface microstructure. This change was in the form of high dislocation density forming dislocation entanglements and slip bands and formation of a few near-surface sub-grains, which, in turn, caused high surface hardening (∼8.3 GPa). In addition, a 16% increase in the yield strength (∼175 MPa) and around 15% increase in the endurance limit (∼110 MPa) occurred in corresponding tests at room temperature. The improvement in fatigue life was due to the shielding and resistance to crack initiation that the LSP treatment provided to the material through the near-surface microstructure, hardening and high compressive residual stress. This shielding also hindered crack propagation, lowering its rate to a third compared with baseline. Results of studies of stress relaxation with cycles showed how the LSP shield was affected by cycling and, in turn, the improvement in fatigue life of 718Plus. The results have demonstrated that LSP is a powerful surface engineering technique that can improve mechanical properties and fatigue performance of many important metallic materials.
Medical Modernization: A Macro Level Conceptualization of Medical Care Programs

The authors seek to conceptualize the assumptions underlying the theoretical models of medical modernization. They note that the implantation of a rational and scientific health care system has often meant simply copying western models.The application of medical modernization models is examined in relation to marginal and disadvantaged groups in the United States as well as developing countries. The authors attempt to identify the general characteristics of these programmes and to evaluate the outcomes.The main outcomes of the transplantation of this model are seen as:a heavy accent on curative as opposed to preventive medicine which, due to the high costs of training and equipping specialized personnel has meant an astronomic increase in health spending.a medical "brain drain" towards richer countries or regions.a tendancy for the distribution of health care to be oriented towards the higher-income, highly industrialized segments of the society.a deepening of political and economic inequalities.For the purposes of comparison, the authors briefly examine another model which they term "health development". This models indicates that a general improvement in the health of the population depends as much on economic, political, ideological and technological factors as health care itself. Drawing on examples from China and Cuba, the authors note the importance of a more equitable distribution of goods, power and participation in the process of improving health. They conclude by stressing the necessity to carefully wegh the effects of importing modern medical practices.
The Impact of Institutional and Land Use Change on Local Incomes in Chilean Patagonia

Many developing rural economies depend on natural capital stocks for generating income and wealth. However, common property natural resources are often over-exploited. One method of solving over-ex...
Working memory in children assessed with serial chaining and Simon tasks

Abstract In the serial chaining task, participants are required to produce a sequence of responses to stimuli in the correct order, and sometimes must determine the sequence at trial outset if stimuli are masked after the first response is made. Similarly, the Simon memory span task presents a participant with a sequence of colors, and the participant must recreate the sequence after the full series is shown. In efforts to directly link the comparative literature on sequential planning behavior and working memory span with the developmental literature, we presented preschool children with the serial chaining task using masked Arabic numerals (N = 44) and the Simon memory span task (N = 65). Older children outperformed younger children in each task, sequencing a longer string of numbers in the serial chaining task and remembering a greater number of items in the Simon task. Controlling for the role of age, there was a significant positive relationship between task scores. These results highlight the emergence of working memory skills that might underlie planning capacities in children using a task developed for nonhuman animals, and the results indicate that improvement in general executive functions could be measured using either or both of these tasks among human children and nonhuman species.
Feline uveal melanoma model induced with feline sarcoma virus

This paper described the first animal model of a virally induced uveal melanoma. Tumors developed following the injection of an RNA tumor virus, i.e., Gardner strain feline sarcoma virus, into the anterior chamber of newborn kittens. Histologically, the tumors were found to be iris and ciliary body melanomas, many of which showed invasion. The histology and ultrastructure of those tumors are described.
Shared decision making: fertility and pediatric cancers.

Childhood cancer is a familial disease; no family member escapes unscathed from the impact of a young person’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up procedures. As new treatment options unfold and more children survive, families are faced with multiple critical decisions at the time of diagnosis. This chapter will address one of the goals of oncofertility research – to improve the decision making competencies of family members confronting the news of a child’s cancer diagnosis plus the additional information that the treatment may or will affect the child’s future fertility. We will bring together key constructs and research from family systems theory and the shared decision making model in order to understand better how families whose children are newly diagnosed with cancer can make informed choices about the future fertility of their children while immediately confronting a potentially life-threatening illness. To accomplish this purpose, the chapter will unfold in the following manner: first, we will briefly articulate the current state of childhood cancer and fertility preservation. Second, we will explicate a systems approach to family communication and decision making. Third, we will summarize the recent evolving work on shared decision making in health care. Fourth, the current state of childhood cancer and fertility preservation options will be described as a highly stressful context into which a family systems approach and shared decision making models must be integrated for immediate and long-range successful health care outcomes. In doing so, we will review the recent research that has investigated how families and health care professionals do and want to make decisions about fertility preservation when children are diagnosed with cancer. We will conclude by summarizing what we now know about shared decision making by families and health care professionals concerning fertility preservation for children with cancer and what we still need to know. As family members and health professionals confront this situation together, the desired outcome is a shared decision-making process that involves parent(s),
Buyer-Seller Similarity Measures as Correlates of Sales Success in Industrial Selling

Over the year several studies have attempted to answer the question, "What makes salespeople successful?" This paper presents a comprehensive review of the major conceptual approaches and studies that tried to identify the factors contributing to the success of salespeople. The paper also reports the findings of an empirical research project which investigated the usefulness of similarity measures in determining sales success in industrial selling.
Distributed Statistical Estimation of High-Dimensional and Nonparametric Distributions

We consider the problem of estimating high-dimensional and nonparametric distributions in distributed networks, where each sensor in the network observes an independent sample from the underlying distribution and can communicate it to a central processor by writing at most $k$ bits on a public blackboard. We obtain matching upper and lower bounds for the minimax risk of estimating the underlying distribution under $L$ 1 loss. Our results reveal that the minimax risk reduces exponentially in k. Instead of relying on strong data processing inequalities for the converse as commonly done in the literature, we build on a new representation of the communication constraint, which leads to a tight characterization of the problem.
Interventions to promote adherence to endocrine therapy among breast cancer survivors: A meta-analysis

Objective Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) significantly reduces risk of breast cancer recurrence in those patients whose tumor tests hormone (estrogen and/or progesterone) receptor positive. Many who are prescribed AET do not adhere adequately. Studies have sought to examine the effects of interventions to enhance patients' AET adherence, with strikingly mixed results. In order to reconcile a disparate literature, this paper aims to (1) quantitatively review the aggregate effect of interventions designed to optimize AET adherence within the current literature and (2) meta-analyze these effects across studies' by intervention design. Methods Duplicate searches were conducted using multiple electronic databases as well as hand searches of recent year conference abstracts. Studies were included that (1) tested an intervention to promote AET adherence; (2) reported at least one measure of medication adherence; and (3) reported (or provided upon request) data sufficient to calculate effect size. Effect sizes were calculated using random effects models. Results Seven studies representing eight unique interventions were included. We observed an overall null effect across all interventions (k = 8; d [95% CI] = 0.28 [-0.05, 0.61]); however, sensitivity analyses showed that interventions that used bi-directional communication showed statistically significant effects relative to control groups within each study (k = 4; d [95% CI] = 0.59 [0.23, 0.95]) while those relying only on providing information to the patient (one-way communication) did not (k = 4; d [95% CI] = -0.03 [-0.27, 0.20]). Conclusions Interventions that promote patient self-report may improve AET adherence through enhancing patient engagement. Investigators and clinicians who wish to optimize medication adherence in this population can consider this approach.
Bone Anatomy and Structure

Abstract Bone is a composite tissue comprised mineral and collagen. The orientation and cross-linking of collagen fibers, its mineralization, as well as non-collagenous proteins and water together help form a structure that is both stiff and ductile. The skeleton is divided into axial and appendicular regions; each region contains bone that has both a dense outer shell (cortical bone) and an inner porous bony lattice-work (trabecular bone). The skeleton has many unique microstructural features that facilitate vascularization, innervation by the nervous system, attachment to tendons, and interaction with joint spaces.
Comparing and assessing the consequences of two different approaches to measuring school effectiveness

Nations, states, and districts must choose among an array of different approaches to measuring school effectiveness in implementing their accountability policies, and the choice can be difficult because different approaches yield different results. This study compares two approaches to computing school effectiveness: a “beating the odds” type approach and a “value-added” approach. We analyze the approaches using both administrative data and simulated data and reveal the reasons why they produce different results. We find that differences are driven by a combination of factors related to modeling decisions as well as bias stemming from nonrandom assignment. Generally, we find that the value-added method provides a more defensible measure of school effectiveness based purely on test scores, but we note advantages and disadvantages of both approaches. This study highlights the consequences of several of the many choices facing policymakers in choosing a methodology for measuring school effectiveness.
Dominant and Shadow Narratives Regarding the Desegregation of North Carolina Public Higher Education

Objective: This article reports on a study of archival legal and administrative texts generated during desegregation litigation instituted during the 1970s to enforce Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rig...
Indigenous Feminisms: Disturbing Colonialism in Environmental Science Partnerships:

Efforts have been under way by Indigenous peoples to reanimate governance that includes people of all ages and genders. Simultaneous initiatives to decolonize science within environmental fields mu...
Missing diversity in brain tumor trials

Background Clinical trials for brain tumors represent a significant opportunity for both patients and providers to understand and combat a disease with substantial morbidity. The aim of this study was to quantify and map ethnic and racial representation in brain tumor trials and examine the potential gaps in trial recruitment. We also show that these representation gaps persist even in large multicultural cities like New York City. Methods We analyzed brain tumor clinical trials registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov between July 1, 2005 and completed on or before November 11, 2017. We used a combination of PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar to find associated publications and obtained trial information as well as patient demographic information (when available) including race or ancestry. Results Out of 471 trials, 27% had no published results. Only 28.4% of trials with results reported race or ethnicity of trial participants, with no observed upward trend by year. Whites were significantly overrepresented in trials for metastatic brain tumors (P < .001) and high-grade trials (P < .001). Blacks/African Americans (AAs), Hispanics, and Asians were significantly underrepresented (P < .001) in high-grade trials, while only Blacks/AAs were underrepresented in trials for metastatic brain tumors (P < .001). Representation gaps were not observed in pediatric trials. Despite being a multicultural hub, New York City displayed similar gaps in trial representation. Conclusions Despite increasing representation in the American population, minorities are underrepresented in brain tumor trials. In addition, despite numerous legal requirements and ethical mandates, published results including race-based information are remarkably absent from 70% of brain tumor trials.
Dead Horse Point, Southeastern Utah

The Dead Horse Point geosite, within the state park by the same name, is located in the heart of the Canyonlands region of Utah between Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. The views are spectacular, sublime, awe-inspiring, and majestic, and hard to surpass anywhere on the Colorado Plateau. The mood of the vistas changes by season and time of day. Here, one of nature’s engineers, in this instance the Colorado River and its tributaries, has carved and exposed strata of Late Pennsylvanian (307 million years ago [Ma]) to Early Jurassic (200 Ma) age within just the past 5 million years (figures 2 and 3).
New developments in membranes for bioprocessing – A review

Abstract Membrane systems play an essential role in the production of all biopharmaceuticals. This includes initial clarification of cell culture fluid by both depth filtration and tangential flow filtration, biomolecule purification by membrane adsorbers, sterilizing grade filtration and bioburden reduction by normal flow filtration, and virus removal by specially designed virus filtration membranes. Recent developments in biomanufacturing are driving new innovations in membrane technology to address the needs associated with continuous bioprocessing, single-use flexible manufacturing, and the production of more complex biotherapeutics for gene and cell-based therapies. This Review examines how the membrane industry has responded to these challenges, with a focus on recent developments in membranes, modules, and processes specifically targeted to biomanufacturing. A brief discussion is also provided of future bioprocessing challenges that will provide unique opportunities for membrane technologies.
Investigating the Presence of the History of Medicine in North American Medical Education: Can One of the Medical Humanities Concisely Integrate with Biomedical and Clinical Content with Reference to Clinical Competencies?

As a curricular topic, the history of medicine can reinforce medical knowledge while integrating the benefits associated with humanities education. This study examined the degree to which medical history was present in the curricula of North American Medical Schools, how those sessions (if any) were delivered, and who delivered them. We hypothesized that medical history would be present but that very few American Medical schools would have mandatory sessions, that the presentation of this content would be very diverse, and that sessions would be presented by a variety of professionals. We compiled a contact list of deans and curricular administrators at each institution and recruited respondents from an online discussion board. Respondents completed a short survey regarding the curriculum at their home institution. We received responses from 96 of 209 institutions (46.0%). Of these, 29.2% of respondents indicated that their institution had mandatory sessions on medical history, 42.7% had non-mandatory curricular sessions, 49.0% had extracurricular sessions, and 21.4% had electives on the history of medicine. Lecture was the primary means of delivery in all modalities except for the electives, which primarily used small group discussion. Clinical faculty were the most common people overseeing these sessions, but a wide variety of others also contributed. While few North American medical schools had mandatory sessions on the history of medicine, the topic was present in very diverse ways. The lack of standardization in teaching the history of medicine may provide fertile ground for subsequent research in medical education.
Discharge Planning in the Era of Climate Change

Abstract We are living in an era of climate change, which has a tremendous impact on the health of our patients. Therefore, radiological nurses should be aware of and address climate change–related problems that impact patient health, such as heat, air quality, drought, wildfires, increased precipitation, and extreme weather. This article highlights the concerns and consequences of climate change on patients discharged from interventional radiological and other outpatient settings. Recommendations for discharge planning are provided to support, protect, and promote the health of patients in radiological services.
Accelerating structure-based design of rapid uncharged reactivators of organophosphate-inhibited human acetylcholinesterase by joint X-ray/neutron mechanistic studies

Nucleophilic oxime reactivators of organophosphate (OP) inhibited human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) are reactivating antidotes against OP intoxication from nerve agent (e.g., VX, sarin) or OP pesticide (e.g., paraoxon) exposure. Within the past decade it has become increasingly clear that for effective and complete recovery from OP intoxication antidotal action is needed in both peripheral and central nervous system tissues. We are using structure-based design to create uncharged bis-oxime reactivators that possess superior in vitro properties for reactivation of various OP-conjugates of hAChE compared to the known charged pyridinium aldoxime-based therapies. Our strategies involve studying hAChE from the atomic to the molecular level by employing a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques, including X-ray and neutron crystallography, neutron vibrational spectroscopy and molecular simulations. Starting with RS-170B, MMB4 (both charged) and RS194B (uncharged) oximes we have obtained a clear view of their binding to native and VX- or paraoxon-inhibited hAChE. Neutron vibrational spectra in the 5-50 cm-1 frequency regime indicated softening of the vibrational dynamics in the paraoxon-bound hAChE, pointing to significant softening of picosecond vibrational motions of the acyl pocket loop that must accommodate one of the pesticide’s ethoxy groups. We have used our crystal structures to design and test uncharged bis-oximes, demonstrating in vitro that several of them exceeded efficacy of RS194B in reactivation of sarin, cyclosarin, VX and paraoxon inhibited hAChE. To further the reactivator design, we are working on obtaining neutron structures of hAChE which will provide direct experimental observation of hydrogen atoms to determine protonation states of hAChE residues and bound reactivators. Our designed uncharged bis-oxime antidotes are a conceptually novel, effective scaffold of nucleophilic reactivators and a promising new resource for creation of adjustable, accelerated centrally active antidotes against OP intoxication.
Long-term dynamics of the human oral microbiome during clinical disease progression.

Oral microbiome dysbiosis is linked to overt inflammation of tooth-supporting tissues, leading to periodontitis, an oral condition that can cause tooth and bone loss. Microbiome dysbiosis has been described as a disruption in the symbiotic microbiota composition’s stability that could adversely affect the host’s health status. However, the precise microbiome dynamics that lead to dysbiosis and the progression of the disease are largely unknown. The objective of our study was to investigate the long-term dynamics of periodontitis progression and its connection to dysbiosis. We studied three different teeth groups: sites that showed disease progression, sites that remained stable during the study, and sites that exhibited a cyclic deepening followed by spontaneous recovery. Time-series analysis revealed that communities followed a characteristic succession of bacteria clusters. Stable and fluctuating sites showed high asynchrony in the communities (i.e., different species responding dissimilarly through time) and a reordering of the communities where directional changes dominated (i.e., sample distance increases over time) in the stable sites but not in the fluctuating sites. Progressing sites exhibited low asynchrony and convergence (i.e., samples distance decreases over time). Moreover, new species were more likely to be recruited in stable samples if a close relative was not recruited previously. In contrast, progressing and fluctuating sites followed a neutral recruitment model, indicating that competition between closely related species is a significant component of species-species interactions in stable samples. Finally, periodontal treatment did not select similar communities but stabilized α-diversity, centered the abundance of different clusters to the mean, and increased community rearrangement. Here, we show that ecological principles can define dysbiosis and explain the evolution and outcomes of specific microbial communities of the oral microbiome in periodontitis progression. All sites showed an ecological succession in community composition. Stable sites were characterized by high asynchrony, a reordering of the communities where directional changes dominated, and new species were more likely to be recruited if a close relative was not recruited previously. Progressing sites were characterized by low asynchrony, community convergence, and a neutral model of recruitment. Finally, fluctuating sites were characterized by high asynchrony, community convergence, and a neutral recruitment model.
Torsional Stiffness of Embedded Footings

Numerical values of torsional spring constants with corresponding stress and displacement distribution are obtained for circular footings for various embedment. The presence of rigid discs (thin rock layer), and voids (loose soil pockets), below the surface are considered, and torsional stiffnesses are obtained. The stress distribution around a footing boundary is considered in the elastic range. The method of solution is equally applicable for finding the spring constants of rocking about a horizontal axis in circular footings.
New Estimates of the Equity Risk Premium and Why Business Economists Need Them

The equity risk premium (ERP) is used to estimate a firm's cost of equity and overall cost of capital. It therefore is relevant to, for example, capital budgeting analyses and calculation of economic value added. Unfortunately, current estimates of the ERP range widely. Some claim it has fallen to as low as around 2%, while others place it at 3 to 4 times this amount. Using a model that extracts the required return on equity from a valuation model based on dividends and repurchases of shares the ERP is estimated. This approach leads to estimates of the ERP of 3% to 6%.
Modeling Energy Conservation for HVAC Chiller Performance in a Commercial Facility

Demands for greater efficiency in energy consumption have made chiller equipment a major factor in efforts at energy conservation since HVAC systems are amongst the largest consumers of energy in commercial buildings. An energy conservation study on the chillers of a commercial facility was performed using a method that can be adopted by energy management practitioners. This method calculates chiller load, energy savings, and simple payback. Flowcharts were developed and energy consumption data and measurements were used to study the operating costs, savings, and simple payback for the facility. The study shows that the method can be used to determine if a chiller replacement is worthwhile, as well as the energy savings and payback for the investments.
Failure of estrogen and progesterone to affect protein synthesis by an established endometrial cell line.

The usual symptom of pelvic arteriovenous fistulas is aching pain in the lower quadrants which may radiate to the hip or thigh. The symptoms are generally mild. Frequently, there is a history of prior pelvic or abdominal surgery. Swelling of the extremity, thrills, bruits, or pulsatile masses may be present. The diagnosis is confirmed by arteriography. Despite the long interval between injury and diagnosis, the presence of cardiac decompensation is infrequent. Simple surgical removal of the fistulas suffices, but operation may be associated with significant blood loss. This patient presents the classic history for pelvic vascular fistula. She gave a history of multiple pelvic operations, the last being about 4 years prior to admission. There was a long interval until diagnosis. The presenting symptoms were minimal; however, the physical findings and aortogram were striking. She appears to have been successfully treated by conservative operation. Pelvic vascular abnormalities, especially within the uterus, are frequently noted in cases of choriocarcinoma.a Although these arteriographic changes are known to persist indefinitely after curative chemotherapy, it is doubtful that this patient could have successfully carried 3 term infants without prior evidence of vascular compromise. It is apparent that the repeatedly negative serum p-subunit HCG assays document the pregnancy test as false positive. In this case one must speculate as to the origin of pulmonary emboli from the remaining portions of the dilated right ovarian veins.
Balancing work and solidarity in the Western Democracies

The capitalist democracies of western Europe and the U.S. have developed extensive social programs, based on the principle of solidarity, that provide assistance to the destitute, the unemployed, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly. Due in part to growing levels of spending on these solidarity programs that may threaten financial solvency in some of these countries and in part to a growing belief that social programs should help people work and achieve self-sufficiency, these countries have implemented work activation policies that try to encourage, entice, and cajole physically-able people to work. Experience implementing such work activation policies now suggests that policy can emphasize the relatively new goal of work activation while still achieving the traditional social purpose of solidarity programs by greatly reducing poverty. The aim of this paper is to review the experiences of the U.S. and selected European nations in attempting to balance solidarity with work activation by discussing both the components of an ideal work activation system and the problems these systems often encounter. The problems examined include too few jobs, recessions, low wages, and disconnected adults. The overarching purpose of the paper is to find a balance between the goals of social solidarity and work activation.
More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data. Nicole C. Engard, Editor

A solid follow-up to its predecessor, Library Mashups (2009), Nicole Engard has compiled a collection for a wide range of skill levels and different methodologies. Ranging from repurposing free res...
Bringing Astrobiology Down to Earth

Astrobiology seeks to understand life in the universe through various disciplines and approaches. Astrobiology not only provides crosscutting content, but its study supports the three dimensions of learning promoted by the Next Generation Science Standards. While astrobiology research has been progressive and has accomplished great feats for science and society, astrobiology education in schools and colleges has lagged behind astrobiology research. Astrobiology can be used in the classroom as an engaging context for the Socratic method or in long- or short-term projects to encourage higher-order thinking.
Advances in Management of Carotid Atherosclerosis

Carotid artery stenosis is a common and potentially treatable cause of stroke. Stroke risk is increased as the degree of carotid stenosis increases, as well as in patients with neurological symptoms referable to the stenosed carotid artery. Carotid stenosis can be quantified by ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, or conventional angiography. Medical treatment with platelet antiaggregants reduces stroke risk in some patients; other patients are best treated with carotid endarterectomy. Experimental treatments for carotid stenosis, including carotid angioplasty with or without stenting, are under investigation. We summarize the current literature and provide treatment recommendations for patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery disease.
Optical Imaging of Facial Perfusion in Migraine (I9-1.002)

Background: Migraine is a disorder of autonomic outflow as well as sensation. Trigeminal and autonomically mediated perfusion changes in the face (e.g. flushing, pallor, conjunctival injection) can be discerned with the naked eye; we reasoned that optical imaging techniques developed for animal models of migraine might be used to image the face in migraineurs. Methods: Von Frey filaments were used to determine each test subject’s baseline pain threshold. Participants were then positioned supine under a CCD camera. EKG leads and a respiratory monitor were attached and the right nostril was occluded. Skin reflectance from the upper two thirds of the subject’s face was recorded for a total of 3 minutes. After 90 seconds of recording, ammonia vapor was inhaled until pain threshold was reached, and recording continued for the remaining 90 seconds. The participant’s mechanical pain thresholds were then reassessed. CCD video images were processed with ImageJ. Anatomically consistent regions of interest were generated for each subject, and percent-change in skin reflectance was measured for baseline and ammonia-stimulated conditions. Results: Mechanical pain thresholds (baseline and post-ammonia inhalation) were significantly lower in migraineurs compared to normal controls in all regions of interest (p < 0.05 for all comparisons; ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey test). Hemodynamic oscillation amplitude and frequency were significantly lower in migraineurs compared to controls (p < 0.05; T-test). Amplitude and duration of ammonia-induced hemodynamic changes did not differ between migraineurs and controls. Conclusions: Our pilot data suggest that migraineurs and controls may be distinguishable based on baseline and stimulus-evoked facial hemodynamic oscillations. Reflectance imaging of facial trigeminal and autonomic function is feasible and may be useful to examine physiological endophenotypes of migraine and other craniofacial neurological disorders. Disclosure: Dr. Peterson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hunter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cortez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Theriot has nothing to disclose. Dr. Brennan has received personal compensation for activities with MAP Pharmaceuticals and Allergan, Inc. as an advisory board member.
Tropical Pacific climate response to obliquity forcing in the Pleistocene

[1] Marine proxy records of Pleistocene seawater temperature and productivity in the tropical Pacific Ocean vary over a 41,000-year period that has been attributed to Earth's obliquity cycle. The proxy records are paradoxical both because obliquity has a small effect on low-latitude insolation and because tropical seawater temperature and productivity were anticorrelated with obliquity insolation forcing. In this study, we investigate the response of the tropical Pacific climate to obliquity forcing using a coupled ocean-atmosphere model to reconcile the proxy records with climate theory. Two glacial and two modern simulations were completed with extreme high and low axial tilts of 24.5° and 22.2°. In response to an increase in axial tilt, tropical sea surface temperatures decrease by as much as 0.8°C because of the local reduction in insolation. Subsurface water temperatures in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific increase by nearly 1°C. Anomalous heating through high-obliquity forcing also generates dynamical responses that weaken mean annual midlatitude westerlies and subtropical trade winds, contributing to a ∼20% reduction in the subtropical gyre circulation. Analyses using a Lagrangian transport model indicate that low-latitude subsurface warming is due to a reduction in heat export from the tropics and the advection and ventilation of anomalously warm South Pacific extratropical waters through the thermocline circulation. The model's response to obliquity is consistent with Pleistocene proxy data that indicate the tropical Walker circulation and thermocline slope were not strongly influenced by changes in axial tilt. The model results also support the hypothesis that Earth's obliquity influences climate through its control on meridional insolation gradients.
Putative water effects on the cryogenic FSOT capillary chromatography of sulfur‐containing gases

Data are presented to illustrate putative water effects on the retention times and peak shapes for seven sulfur-containing compounds when determined by sub-ambient FSOT capillary GC/FPD. The observations are consistent with explanations based upon reported “phase soaking” and “reverse solvent effect” phenomena.
Serumless medium for cultivation of cells of normal and malignant origin.

SummaryA serumless medium suitable for prolonged growth and repeated subculture of Walker carcinosarcoma 256, sarcoma 180, KB and human heart cells in vitro was described. In addition to amino acids, vitamins, minerals and glucose, it contained insulin, salmine sulfate, pyruvate, mucate, methyl oleate, folinic acid and lactalysate. The latter group of materials with exception of mucate was required for maximal growth rates, comparable to those on media containing dialyzed serum. Suspension cultures of Walker carcinosarcoma 256 were grown with continuous passage in the serumless medium.
Current advancements in the treatment of psoriasis: Immunobiologic agents

Abstract Psoriasis is a chronic, T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder that affects up to 2.5% of the population worldwide and is accompanied by substantial physical and psychosocial distress. Recent progress in understanding the mechanisms behind the efficacy of conventional treatments has transformed psoriasis from a disease of keratinocyte hyperproliferation to that of T cell pathogenesis. Current treatment options for psoriasis are limited in efficacy and are associated with a number of problems such as inconvenience, organ toxicity, and broad-band immunosuppression. Hence, there has been a demand for new therapeutic approaches that are more convenient, effective, safe, and immunologically selective. Numerous biologic agents that modulate T cell and cytokine action at various steps along the pathogenic sequence have been developed and studied in clinical trials for the treatment of psoriasis. The current review will explore these novel immunomodulatory therapies.
Bridging Race Divides: Black Nationalism, Feminism, and Integration in the United States, 1896-1935

African American women in the early-twentieth century made significant contributions toward the development of a black feminist tradition, were at the forefront of black nationalism, and challenged the apparent dichotomy between black nationalism and integrationism. Kate Dossett examines the political thought and cultural production of prominent black women leaders in the years between the founding of the National Association of Colored Women in 1896 and the National Council of Negro Women in 1935.By featuring the contributions of women like the pioneering black hairdresser, Madam C. J. Walker, and her daughter, as well as club woman Mary McLeod Bethune and United Negro Improvement Association activist Amy Jacques Garvey, Dossett also makes a distinctive contribution to the field of women's history by challenging the reverse class bias that has meant that middle-class women have been deemed less worthy of study, or worse, dubbed assimilationist and accused of lacking race pride.While revealing the depth and complexity of black women's thought in the early twentieth century and highlighting their contribution to a black feminist tradition of activism, "Bridging Race Divides" positions black women at the forefront of both intellectual and practical endeavors in the struggle for black autonomy.
Domain V of Giardia lamblia large-subunit rRNA: structure of the peptidyl transferase loop from an early-branching eukaryote and correlation with antibiotic sensitivity

Large subunit rRNA (LSR) sequences that have been implicated in peptide bond formation form a specific secondary structure called the peptidyl transferase loop (PTL). Although well conserved, the PTLs of eubacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes have several distinct differences. These differences correlate with different sensitivities to peptidyl transferase and translocase inhibitors. To shed light on the basis for these kingdom-specific differences in PTL structure and function, we have analyzed the sequence and secondary structure of LSR domain V, which contains the PTL, from Giardia lamblia. This parasitic protozoan derives from a very early branch in eukaryotic evolution, and its rRNA was previously shown to have bacteria-like features. In vitro and cell-free systems were also used to test the sensitivity of G. lamblia protein synthesis to specific PTL-targeted inhibitors. Our results indicate that the PTL structure and inhibitor sensitivity typical of higher eukaryotes is conserved in G. lamblia. However, several adjacent domain V sequences more closely resemble archaebacterial rRNA, confirming the 'primitive' nature of G. lamblia rRNA. Thus, the eukaryotic PTL has been conserved over a vast evolutionary period. We speculate that the eukaryotic PTL is primordial and employs specific RNA-RNA interactions to catalyze protein synthesis. Three potential interactions were identified.
Selective nonoperative management of penetrating abdominal solid organ injuries.

Nonoperative management of blunt trauma to solid intra-abdominal organs (liver, spleen, kidney) has been the standard of care for many years. However, the concept of selective nonoperative management for penetrating solid organ injuries has remained largely unexplored and operative management is considered as the standard of care by most surgeons. The Los Angeles County and University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Trauma Center has been practicing nonoperative management of selected patients with penetrating solid organ injuries for more than 12 years. The present prospective study evaluated the safety and success rate of nonoperative management of penetrating injuries to the liver, spleen, or kidney.
Design of two delay lines for optical interferometers.

This paper describes the designs of the delay lines constructed for the Mark III Optical Interferometer (M3OI) currently operating on Mt. Wilson and for the Infrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) to be constructed for Mt. Hopkins. Special attention is given to experience with M3OI which was used to improve the design of the IOTA system. Schematics are presented for the IOTA instrument layout, the IOTA coarse delay line, and the IOTA long delay line.
Faculty Training Strategies to Enhance Pedagogy-Technology Integration

One of the unprecedented benefits of campus-wide distance learning strategies has been the incorporation of more technology-based pedagogy into traditional classrooms, thus, increasing faculty and student teaching and learning opportunities. This "hybrid" or "blended" teaching has emerged largely due to a desire to widen access to educational opportunities, continuing education, and university resources Curran, 2004; Garrison & Kanuka, 2004. However, a major challenge to this technologically enhanced pedagogy has been the training of higher education faculty. This article focuses on faculty technology literacy, the implementation of technology into traditional faculty pedagogy, and the need for effective faculty training to enhance appropriate technology integration into classroom instruction Keengwe, 2007. In this paper, the authors recommend two tier training as a possible strategy to technology integration training challenges that instructors face in their pedagogical practices.