cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compliance of pediatric patients with treatment involving antibiotic suspensions: A pilot study

Abstract In collaboration with 11 German pediatricians in private practice, this pilot study assessed the treatment compliance of 289 pediatric patients (56.1 % male; mean age, 53.9 ± 35.6 months) who were given antibiotic suspensions (selection and duration determined by the pediatrician) to treat the following bacterial infections: acute otitis media, 34.6%; group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis/scarlet fever, 28.7%; lower respiratory tract infection, 18.3%; sinusitis/sinobronchitis, 9.3%; and other infections, 9.0%. The most frequently used antibiotics were amoxicillin (26.3%), erythromycin estolate (19.0%), penicillin V benzathine (14.2%), and cefaclor (13.5%). Compliance was assessed by means of a standardized telephone interview and a urine test that detects antibacterial activity using a Bacillus subtilis spore suspension. Overall compliance (positive urine test result at the end of the planned treatment period) was 79.6% (230 of 289 patients). Compliance was highest with erythromycin estolate (94.5%), followed by penicillin V benzathine (85.4%), cefaclor (76.9%), and amoxicillin (71.1%). Good compliance was also significantly associated with a patient age of ≥3 years and a treatment duration of ≤7 days. Compliance was not significantly influenced by the underlying bacterial infection. In summary, 20.4% of patients were non-compliant when treated with antibiotic suspensions.
Unique cytomegalovirus intracytoplasmic inclusions in ectocervical cells on a cervical/endocervical smear

This case demonstrates unique cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated intracytoplasmic inclusions in the intermediate squamous cells of a cervical/endocervical smear. These concentric, rod-shaped, perinuclear inclusions were stained for CMV by immunohistochemistry. Cytomegalovirus endocervicitis was also documented on a concurrent cervical biopsy. The finding of these characteristic inclusions on a routine endocervical/cervical smear may provide morphologic evidence for CMV infection in the absence of an adequate endocervical component.
Research Note: Changes in Heterophils Following Antigen Injection in Immature Male Chickens

Eight-week-old Single Comb White Leghorn male chickens were injected intravenously with either .1 mL Brucella abortus (BA) or saline. Blood samples were drawn at 0 and 12 h postinjection and were examined for heterophil numbers and morphology. Differences between numbers of circulating heterophils/mm3 blood were not significant for saline and BA-treated birds at time zero. However, 12 h following injection, heterophil numbers in BA-treated birds were significantly (P less than .05) greater than those in saline-treated birds. Heterophil appearance took two forms: in the first form, granules were small, round, and strongly eosinophilic; in the second form, the granules were large, rod-shaped and more basophilic in staining. These changes indicate the possible involvement of heterophils in the initiation of a humoral immune response through enhancement of some secretory function.
Adsorption of heavy metals by green algae and ground rice hulls

Abstract This research demonstrates the applicability of low cost, readily available alternate adsorbents to remove and recover toxic heavy metals from water. Heavy metal ion adsorption has been investigated using two different adsorbing biomasses, algae and rice hulls. Algal biomass adsorption studies were conducted with: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn, and rice hull biomass adsorption studies were conducted with: As, Cd, Cr, Pb and Sr. Both biomasses were dried and pulverized to maximize surface area. The green alga, Chlorella minutissima, adsorbed greater than 90% of the initial Pb, and greater than 98% of the initial Co concentrations. Rice hulls (Mars and Rico Varieties) exhibited similar adsorption percentages: 94% for Sr, and greater than 99% for Pb. The rate of adsorption was fast; the solution metal concentration reached equilibrium within minutes. The cell wall metal complex was found to be stable; the bound metal did not desorb over time under static conditions. Most cationic metal ions could be...
Electrochemical stripping analysis of organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents

Abstract A sensitive electrochemical stripping voltammetric method for analyzing organophosphate (OP) compounds was developed using a carbon paste electrochemical (CPE) transducer. OPs strongly adsorb on a CPE surface and provide facile electrochemical quantitative methods for electroactive OP compounds. Operational parameters have been optimized, and the stripping voltammetric performance has been studied using square wave voltammetry. The adsorptive stripping voltammetric response is highly linear over the 1–60 μM methyl parathion range examined (2-min adsorption), with a detection limit of 0.05 μmol/L (10-min adsorption) and good precision (RSD = 3.2%, n = 10). These findings can lead to a widespread use of electrochemical sensors to detect OP contaminates.
"AliCe-ViLlagE" Alice as a Collaborative Virtual Learning Environment

There is a growing literature demonstrating the importance of collaboration and teamwork in the process of learning computational thinking and the foundational aspects of computer science. While Collaborative Virtual Environments are becoming widespread in the software development professional domain and in various areas of advanced learning, their use in the introductory stages of learning computing is still very limited. On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a blooming of attractive programming environments specifically designed to expose young students (e.g., middle school age) to computational thinking. Alice is a very popular introductory programming environment, focused on programming through animations and story-telling. This paper introduces a novel extension of the Alice framework that enables interaction and collaboration among students in the development of programs. In particular, the new version of Alice described in this paper provides support for virtual pair programming. The modified version of Alice allows two students to remotely share a virtual world, and interact in its construction; the system supports roles assignments, to allow teachers to control activities and contributions of the two students in the creation of a programming project.
Newer Anesthesia and Rehabilitation Protocols Enable Outpatient Hip Replacement in Selected Patients

Advancements in the surgical approach, anesthetic technique, and the initiation of rapid rehabilitation protocols have decreased the duration of hospitalization and subsequent length of recovery following elective total hip arthroplasty. We assessed the feasibility and safety of outpatient total hip arthroplasty in 150 consectutive patients. A comprehensive perioperative anesthesia and rehabilitation protocol including preoperative teaching, regional anesthesia, and preemptive oral analgesia and antiemetic therapy was implemented around a minimally invasive surgical technique. A rapid rehabilitation pathway was started immediately after surgery and patients had the option of being discharged to home the day of surgery if standard discharge criteria were met. All 150 patients were discharged to home the day of surgery, at which time 131 patients were able to walk without assistive devices. Thirty-eight patients required some additional intervention outside the pathway to resolve nausea, hypotension, or sedation prior to discharge. There were no readmissions for pain, nausea, or hypotension yet there was one readmission for fracture and nine emergency room evaluations in the three month perioperative period. This anesthetic and rehabilitation protocol allowed outpatient total hip arthroplasty to be routinely performed in these consectutive patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. With current reimbursement approaches the modest savings to the hospital in length of stay may be outweighed by the additional costs of personnel, thereby making this outpatient system more expensive to implement.
Design, synthesis, and docking studies of novel telmisartan–glitazone hybrid analogs for the treatment of metabolic syndrome

A novel hybrid class of telmisartan–rosiglitazone molecules was synthesized in an attempt to discover a dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist/angiotensin II antagonist for treatment for metabolic syndrome. Almost all the synthesized molecules showed moderate PPARγ activity. However, none of the hybrid analogs showed binding affinity toward the AT1 receptor.
The role of the arts in group care work with children and youth: A European perspective

The article consists of an overview of European practices with regard to the arts in special education and in therapy as a basis for their application in group care. It starts with some historical perspectives and a description of the arts in the context of six major theoretical models: the developmental, the psychoanalytic, the humanistic, the behavioral, the ecological, and the transcendental. It then describes therapeutic uses of music, the visual arts, creative movement, and the integrated arts. Finally, a tribute is given to the Polish-Jewish physician and educator Janusz Korczak as an early and leading proponent of the role of the arts in group care for children and youth.
The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 interacts with glycogen synthase kinase 3 and attenuates activity.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a widely expressed Ser/Thr protein kinase that phosphorylates numerous substrates. This large number of substrates requires precise and specific regulation of GSK3 activity, which is achieved by a combination of phosphorylation, localization, and interactions with GSK3-binding proteins. Members of the Wnt canonical pathway have been shown to influence GSK3 activity. Through a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the Wnt canonical pathway co-receptor protein low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) as a GSK3-binding protein. The interaction between the C terminus of LRP6 and GSK3 was also confirmed by in vitro GST pull-down assays and in situ coimmunoprecipitation assays. In vitro assays using immunoprecipitated proteins demonstrated that the C terminus of LRP6 significantly attenuated the activity of GSK3β. In situ, LRP6 significantly decreased GSK3β-mediated phosphorylation of tau at both primed and unprimed sites. Finally, it was also demonstrated that GSK3β phosphorylates the PPP(S/T)P motifs in the C terminus of LRP6. This is the first identification of a direct interaction between LRP6 and GSK3, which results in an attenuation of GSK3 activity.
Exaggeration of experimental hypertension in rats by contraceptive steroids (Enovid).

The possibly additive pressor effects of contraceptive steroids were studied by treating hypertensive rats chronically with Enovid®. Renal hypertensive rats were unaffected by drug treatment during the first 5 weeks, but, from the 6th to the 8th week, Enovid-treated rats had much higher systolic pressures than those given corn oil alone. However, these differences dwindled and became insignificant from the 9th to the 16th week despite continued treatment. Subsequently, other rats were pretreated with Enovid or corn oil for 5 weeks before hypertension was induced by implanting deoxycorticosterone acetate (Doca). In contrast to the equivocal results obtained previously, Doca hypertension was consistently more pronounced in rats treated with Enovid than in those given corn oil. This pressure difference was later verified by direct measurement of phasic aortic pressures from indwelling catheters and by the postmortem finding that Enovid-treated rats had larger hearts than com oil-treated ones. The exact mecha...
FURTHER STUDIES ON ESTRIN-HYPOPHYSEAL ANTAGONISM IN THE WHITE RAT

Moore and Price (1) have advanced the theory that injections of gonadal hormones inhibit the hypophysis as regards production of the gonad-stimulating factor and thereby explain the degeneration of the gonads following injection of estrin and the male sex hormone. The authors (2) (3) have studied the effects of estrin administration on the growth rate and found that young rats injected daily with 20 rat units of estrin did not grow as rapidly as did their litter mate controls. They also made histological studies of the gonads and confirmed the findings of Moore and Price; the gonads did not develop normally but remained small and infantile. The authors further found that the damage done was not permanent; prompt recovery both in growth and gonadal function occurred following cessation of the injections. In the present study we desired to determine whether the effects of estrin injections could be overcome by the use of appropriate hormones, that is, whether the simultaneous injection of the growth-promoti...
Neurophysiological studies of sensory gating in rats: effects of amphetamine, phencyclidine, and haloperidol.

Abstract Central mechanisms of sensory gating were assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats by an evoked potential technique similar to one that we have previously used to show diminished sensory gating in psychotic patients. Middle latency (15–50 msec) auditory evoked potential responses were recorded at the skull in unanesthetized freely moving animals. Gating mechanisms were assessed in a conditioning-testing paradigm by measuring the supression of response to a 74 dB click test stimulus following an earlier identical conditioning stimulus at 0.5-sec intervals. The rats demonstrated significant suppression of the N50 response to the second auditory stimulus. Amphetamine treatment significantly interfered with the suppression of the response to the second stimulus; haloperidol, injected after the amphetamine, returned the conditioning-testing ratio toward normal values. Phencyclidine caused a similar decrease in suppression and was similarly antagonized by haloperidol. During some periods of hyperarousal, animals showed spontaneous loss of suppression; this condition could be reversed by haloperidol treatment. These results with psychotomimetic drugs in an animal model parallel abnormalities in sensory gating previously observed in psychotic human subjects.
Outsourcing Supply Management

SUMMARY There is increasing interest in outsourcing part or all of the supply function, but little empirical knowledge of the drivers of this phenomenon. Based on a survey of 126 chief purchasing officers, internal purchasing outperforms third parties when strategic buys are involved. For nonstrategic purchases, performance is about equal for internal and third party purchasers, except where tight systems connections or strategic input are critical. Accompanying case studies support these conclusions and illustrate the approaches used by leading firms to position internal purchasing for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
Poly-l-methionine Sulfoxide: A Biologically Inert Analogue of Dimethyl Sulfoxide with Solubilizing Potency

Abstract Poly- l -methionine sulfoxide is a water-soluble polymer containing the sulfoxide moiety. The preparation and radiolabeling of this polymer is described and its bioeffects are compared with those of dimethyl sulfoxide. Poly- l -methionine sulfoxide is similar to dimethyl sulfoxide in that it is a potent solubilizer of lipophilic compounds in water. Although the partition coefficient of poly- l -methionine sulfoxide in 1-octanol-water is only 20 times lower than that of dimethyl sulfoxide, it was found not to penetrate into intracellular spaces. In contrast to dimethyl sulfoxide, poly- l -methionine sulfoxide and L-methionine sulfoxide were found to be ineffective in inducing differentiation in murineerythroleukemia cells and inhibiting differentiation of avian neural crest cells, suggesting that compounds effective in these processes must have the ability to penetrate into cells or membrane proteins. Overall lack of bioactivity of poly- l -methionine sulfoxide, combined with low toxicity (2 g/kg, iv, in the mouse with no effect), makes this compound a suitable inert solubilizer and carrier for lipophilic drugs.
A METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE ADHESIVE PHENOTYPE OF WILD ISOLATES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN COLI-BACTERIN PRODUCER STRAINS

Use of the suicidal vector pCH103 permitted the creation of recombinant strain with the chromosome DNA site coding for adhesin (FimH) replaced by the kanamycin resistance gene (npt). The resultant chimeras transformed by vectors containingfimH genes of different origin express type I piles of the relevant phenotype. This method was used to modifyE. coli M17 producer strain with an unfavorable adhesive phenotype.
The Mayer-Erdös phenomenon

Abstract Two rational numbers r and r′ are said to be similarly ordered if r = a/q, r′ = a′/q′, gcd(a, q) = gcd(a′, q′) = 1, and (a − a′) (q − q′) ⩾ 0. We investigate the problem of similar ordering of chains of consecutive Farey fractions.
Aiming at self-deception: Deflationism, intentionalism, and biological purpose

Deflationists about self-deception understand self-deception as the outcome of biased information processing, but in doing so, they lose the normative distinction between self-deception and wishful thinking. Von Hippel & Trivers (VH&T) advocate a deflationist approach, but they also want preserve the purposive character of self-deception. A biologically realistic analysis of deception can eliminate the contradiction implicit in their position.
Giant Merkel cell carcinoma involving the upper extremity

We report a case of Merkel cell carcinoma involving the upper extremity that exceeded 23 cm x 18 cm in size. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the largest tumor of this type reported.
Giants and pygmies: Mammoths of Santa Rosa Island, California (USA)

Abstract Mammoth remains have been known from the northern Channel Islands of California since 1856. Initially, it was considered that there were several species of mammoths on the islands. It has now been determined that there are only two species: 1) Mammuthus exilis, the island pygmy mammoth, and 2) Mammuthus columbi, the giant, continental (mainland) mammoths which were the ancestral mammoths from which M. exilis was derived. Discovery and recovery of the most complete skeleton of M. exilis, in 1994 prompted new research efforts and a numerical chronology for the pygmy mammoths, ranging from 11,030 BP to greater than 200,000 a by U/Th (Uranium/Thorium). Little attention had been paid to the chronology of the less abundant M. columbi remains. Uranium/Thorium dates on two M. columbi teeth yielded dates of 28,000 ± 2000 a, and 64,500 + 7400/−6900 a. If the U/TH dates are valid, they indicate a long history of shared island occupation, with M. exilis, or repeated migrations of M. columbi from the mainland to the islands. No M. exilis remains have been discovered on the mainland. In 2009 additional efforts to date the Columbian mammoth remains were initiated, to ascertain whether they were: 1) contemporary with the pygmy mammoths; 2) represented remnants of the founding population; or 3) represented late migration from the North American mainland.
Computer simulation of an ideal fluid, constant depth, fluidic controlled submersible vehicle

This study was carried out to find a mathematical model that represents uniform potential incompressible steady flow over a two-dimensional blunt body that has mass flow injected into the main flow at a predetermined location on the body geometry. It has application as a towed submersible vehicle. A change in depth of the vehicle is sensed by a depth valve which introduces a pitch command to the fluidic device. The control activates a thruster, thereby restoring the vehicle to its desired depth. The fluidic control part of the vehicle, however, is not investigated in the study. The shape of the vehicle (a streamline) is obtained by a combination of the elemenatry flow patterns, namely, uniform flow and a distribution of sources and sinks. The computer is used to determine the best combination possible by adjusting the elementary flow patterns and the positions of the control jet on the vehicle. Some numerical examples have been made. It is seen that a suitable mathematical model of a towed vehicle to operate automatically at constant depth can be designed.
A Conceptualization and Test of the Influences of Individual Differences in Goal-Setting Situations1

.\ urrh Dukota Slore L'tiri~ertrr\ This research tests a hypothesized model of the relationships among several individual difierences and variables associated with the setting of goals. Participants uere randomly assigned lo a self-set goal condition. or to moderatel? or very-difficult assigned-goal onditions. By aggregating scores of performance. personal goals. ratings of self-efficacy. and goal commitment over multiple goal-setting and task-performance occasions, the oterall relationships among these variables and need for achievement, self-esteem. and low\ ot control uere determined. Results provide strong suppon for Locke and Latham's (IYY0a. 1990b) model of the goal-per(brmance relation. but fail to support the hypothesized role of individual differences. The implications of these findings and individual differencer in goal-setting situations are discussed. Goal setting has become a useful strategy for increasing motivation in a variety of situations. Research on goal setting has usually focused on how the technique can be used most efficiently to maximize performance (see Locke & Latham, 1990a, for a review). This goal-performance relationship is the cornerstone of goal-setting research. However, less is known about how personality variables and other attributes associated with the task performer contribute to the effectiveness of the goal-setting process (Austin & Klein, 1996). To increase our knowledge about these variables in conjunction with the goal-setting process, this study tests a proposed model of the effects of need for achievement, selfesteem, and locus of control in both self-set and assigned goal-setting situations. Initially, this paper will discuss the attributes of the goal, task performer. and situation that influence the goal-performance relation.
From the Editor of Sexuality and Disability: A Revitalized Voice is Being Heard Around the World

The continued increase in our journal’s 2012 Impact Factor and Citations highlights a revitalized voice between readership and authorship in the area of sexuality and disability. The significant increase of our Editorial Board Members this year highlights professional dedication in the area of sexuality and disability. The continued support from Springer and the wonderful talented staff highlights commitment in the area of sexuality and disability. As I write this Editorial Note, I am sadly informed that Virginia Johnson, the pioneering sex researcher who was part of the pioneering team Masters and Johnson has died at age 88. Dr. William Masters and Johnson conducted the inaugural modern research on sexuality and the treatment of sexual dysfunction that paved the way for the sexual revolution in America. Together they published several classic books, for example, ‘‘Human Sexual Response’’ in 1966 and ‘‘Human Sexual Inadequacy’’ in 1970. Now almost half a century later from their book in 1966, the mission to understand, help and educate society continues. For many, the interest and importance has increased. For countless, the fear has decrease or been eliminated. Most importantly, we whisper the words ‘‘sexuality’’ and ‘‘disability’’ less. Gratitude to those involved in making this difference. Sexuality and Disability continues to provide original impact articles addressing the mental health and medical aspects of sexuality in relation to rehabilitation, hospital, academic and community settings, publishing up-to-date articles, case studies, clinical practice reports, reviews, featured articles, historical articles, special grand rounds topics, brief research reports and survey data reports. Value benefit is provided to authors through worldwide electronic exposure and professional access, while readership gains from scholarly contributions to advance the field through research, best-practice and educational articles. The refined lens of individual contributions from the local and international community continues to deliver a wealth of information on the topic of sexuality and disability for the reader. Welcome, and thank you for joining us.
Prompt γ-ray emission in the reactions of 120 MeV 20Ne with 27A1

The emission of prompt γ-radiation in the de-excitation of the products of the reactions of 120 MeV 20Ne with 27Al has been studied. Three NaI detectors placed at angles of 35°, 90° and 145° to the direction of the 20Ne beam were used to detect γ-rays in coincidence with reaction products having 6 ≦ Z ≦ 20, detected in a counter telescope. Data were obtained with the counter telescope in the same plane, as well as in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the beam and the NaI detectors. The average multiplicities 〈Mγ〉, average energies 〈Eγ〉, primary γ-ray energy spectra and the variation of 〈Mγ〉 and 〈Eγ〉 with angle of observation and kinetic energy of the detected products are presented and discussed in terms of the dominant reaction mechanisms.
Measurement of the adsorption of 14C-Polyethyleneimine polymers during flocculation of silica, bacteria and algae

Abstract 14 C-Polyethyleneimine polymers of two different mol. wts have been prepared. These polymers have been used to study the flocculation of silica in water, of the bacterium E. coli in its nutrient and over a range of polymer concentration from about 1 to 1000 ppm. The degree of flocculation, and the amounts of polymer adsorbed on the colloid surface and the corresponding equilibrium concentration of polymer in solution have been measured. The concentration of polymer added to produce flocculation increased in the ratio from 1:30:500 in comparing silica. E. coli and C. ellipsoidia , respectively. However, the amount of polymer adsorbed on the same three colloids labelled with the tagged polymer, increased in the ratio 1:10:20 under comparable conditions. The higher concentrations needed to flocculate the two biocolloids cannot, therefore, be attributed to lack of adsorbed polymer on the surface. It is also true that much higher concentrations of polymer were needed on the surface to reverse the charge on the biocolloids compared with silica in order that flocculation might occur. The results are discussed briefly especially in relation to the need to explain flocculation phenomena in terms of the surface areas of the colloids and surface coverage by the polymers. Experimental results are reported which indicate that interaction of PEI polymers with anions in the algal and E. coli nutrients, and with biopolymers formed in the growth of the latter are important in affecting flocculation.
Self-assembled peptide monolayers as a toxin sensing mechanism within arrayed microchannels.

A sensor for the lethal bacterial enzyme, botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A), was developed using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). SAMs consisting of an immobilized synthetic peptide that mimicked the toxin’s in vivo SNAP-25 protein substrate were formed on Au and interfaced with arrayed microfluidic channels. Efforts to optimize SAM composition and assay conditions for greatest reaction efficiency and sensitivity are described in detail. Channel design provided facile fluid manipulation, sample incubation, analyte concentration, and fluorescence detection all within a single microfluidic channel, thus avoiding sample transfer and loss. Peptide SAMs were exposed to varying concentrations of BoNT/A or its catalytic light chain (ALC), resulting in enzymatic cleavage of the peptide substrate from the surface. Fluorescence detection was achieved down to 20 pg/mL ALC and 3 pg/mL BoNT/A in 3 h. Toxin sensing was also accomplished in vegetable soup, demonstrating practicality of the method. The modular design...
The Diadora principle: efficient execution of concurrent logic and related languages

Compile-time partitioning of fine-grained concurrent languages is difficult, because it must be both powerful enough to greatly increase the grain size and safe from introducing errors, particularly cycles (data dependencies that circularly link tasks). Incorrect assignment of a cycle into a single thread can result in deadlock, but perfectly safe data dependency analysis is especially difficult for concurrent logic programming languages (CLPs) because of the prevalence of logic variables, which can cause hidden cycles through aliasing, and because efficiency requires that many tasks be placed in the same thread. This paper describes the Diadora computation model, developed to partition CLPs by instituting deadlock breaking if an inadvertent cycle has been sequentialized, and task stealing for runtime load balancing, thus exploiting the synergy between simple static analysis and a simple runtime system. The Diadora model is a form of lazy task creation a la Mohr, Kranz and Halstead (1991). However, it is customized for CLPs and the somewhat different problems and features of these languages. >
Specificity and sensitivity of insulin staining by aldehyde fuchsin, pseudoisocyanin and toluidine blue.

Aldehyde fuchsin, pseudoisocyanin and toluidine blue, histochemical dyes reported to be specific for insulin–containing granules of the pancreatic beta cell, were applied to insulin fixed in polyacrylamide gel by disc electrophoresis. Two major and four minor bands were resolved as demonstrated by staining with amidoschwarz; only the two major bands, were stained by aldehyde fuchsin. The addition of serum did not affect this reaction. Serum or insulin components gave no metachromatic reactions to the other stains. Under the conditions applied, aldehyde fuchsin is the only one of these dyes specific for insulin in this, system, but this stain is not sufficiently sensitive to detect normal serum levels of the hormone.
Rankings versus reality in pancreatic cancer surgery: a real-world comparison.

Abstract Background Patients are increasingly confronted with systems for rating hospitals. However, the correlations between publicized ratings and actual outcomes after pancreatectomy are unknown. Methods The Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database was queried to identify pancreatic cancer resections carried out during 2005–2009. Hospitals performing fewer than 10 pancreatic resections in the 5-year period were excluded. Primary outcomes included mortality, complications, median length of stay (LoS) and a composite outcomes score (COS) combining primary outcomes. Ranks were determined and compared for: (i) volume, and (ii) ratings identified from consumer-directed hospital ratings including the US News & World Report (USN), Consumer Reports, Healthgrades and Hospital Compare. An inter-rater reliability analysis was performed and correlation coefficients ( r ) between outcomes and ratings, and between rating systems were calculated. Results Eleven hospitals in which a total of 804 pancreatectomies were conducted were identified. Surgical volume correlated with overall outcome, but was not the strongest indicator. The highest correlation referred to that between USN rank and overall outcome. Mortality was most strongly correlated with Healthgrades ratings ( r = 0.50); however, Healthgrades ratings demonstrated poorer correlations with all other outcomes. Consumer Reports ratings showed inverse correlations. Conclusions The plethora of publicly available hospital ratings systems demonstrates heterogeneity. Volume remains a good but imperfect indicator of surgical outcomes. Further systematic investigation into which measures predict quality outcomes in pancreatic cancer surgery will benefit both patients and providers.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DOSE AND APPARENT VOLUME OF DISTRIBUTION OF SALICYIATE IN CHILDREN

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between dose and the distribution of salicylate in the body. The apparent volume of distribution was determined from the concentration of salicylate in plasma or serum at various times after salicylate ingestion and from the amount of drug remaining in the body at these times as assessed from urinary excretion data. These studies were carried out on eleven children, 4 months to 16 years old, who had ingested from about 36 to over 340 mg. salicylic acid (mainly as aspirin) per kg. of body weight. The apparent volume of distribution of salicylate ranged from 162 to 345 ml./kg. and increased with increasing dose. This means that plasma salicylate concentrations in children who have ingested large doses of the drug are proportionately not as high as those in children who ingested lower doses of salicylate. These observations help to rationalize the use of the Done nomogram (which involves estimation of initial salicylate concentrations by back extrapolation) to assess the severity of salicylate intoxication on the basis of plasma salicylate concentrations. (Supported in part by grants GM19568 and RR-628 from the National Institutes of Health)
The effect of sediment mixing on Pb-210 accumulation rates for the Washington continental shelf

Abstract Nine cores from the Washington continental shelf were examined by radiochemical techniques in order to evaluate the effect of mixing on the calculation of sediment accumulation rates from Pb-210 profiles. Th-234 profiles indicate mixing coefficients of 140 cm 2 yr −1 for the seabed offshore from the Columbia River and 47 cm 2 yr −1 for the seabed of the Mid-Shelf Silt Deposit (75 km north of the Columbia River). These large mixing coefficients demonstrate that particles can penetrate to the base of the intensely mixed surface layer (∼ 10 cm) within one year after emplacement at the seabed surface. Observed depths of Cs-137 penetration within the seabed are compared with depths predicted from the surface mixed-layer thickness and the Pb-210 accumulation rate. The observed and predicted depths agree well at all but one station. At this station a combination of Th-234, Co-60, Pb-210 and Cs-137 profiles suggests that active mixing occurs below the intensely mixed surface layer. The agreement of Pb-210 and Cs-137 data at the other stations, however, indicates a general absence of deep mixing on the Washington shelf. Thus, the apparent accumulation rates calculated from Pb-210 profiles (below the intensely mixed surface layer) on the Washington shelf generally reflect the true rates of sediment accumulation.
Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide effects on sorghum and soybean nutrient status 1

Abstract Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration could have significant implications on technologies for managing plant nutrition to sustain crop productivity in the future. Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) (C3 species) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) (C4 species) were grown in a replicated split‐plot design using open‐top field chambers under ambient (357 μmol/mol) and elevated (705 μmol/mol) atmospheric CO2. At anthesis, leaf disks were taken from upper mature leaves of soybean and from the third leaf below the head of sorghum for analysis of plant nutrients. Leaf greenness was measured with a Minolta SPAD‐502 chlorophyll meter. Concentrations of chlorophylls a and b and specific leaf weight were also measured. Above‐ground dry matter and seed yield were determined at maturiry. Seed yield of sorghum increased 17.5% and soybean seed yield increased 34.7% with elevated CO2. There were no differences in extractable chlorophyll concentration or chlorophyll meter readings du...
Nonlinear elastic modeling of differential expansion in trilayer conjugated polymer actuators

Conjugated polymers are promising actuation materials for biomimetic robots and biomedical devices. Large bending is involved in some of these applications. This poses significant challenges in electromechanical modeling, because the linear elasticity theory is only valid when the strain is small. In this paper an effective strategy based on the nonlinear elasticity theory is proposed to model the mechanical output of a trilayer conjugated polymer beam under actuation. Instead of using the elastic modulus as in the linear elasticity theory, we use a nonlinear strain energy function to capture the stored elastic energy under actuation-induced swelling, which further allows us to compute the induced stress. The deformation variables are obtained by numerically solving the force and bending moment balance equations simultaneously. Experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed model shows superiority over the linear model, and is able to capture the actuation behavior well under large actuation voltages. The proposed framework can also be applied to the analysis of large deformations in some other electroactive polymers.
GIS Development in China's Urban Governance: A Case Study of Shenzhen

Government agencies have been an important actor in using GIS and other information technologies across the world. However, contextual examinations of government GIS practices over time within non-Western contexts remain sparse in the existing GIScience literature. In particular, little is known with respect to China's significant growth of using GIS in its urban government amidst its rapid urbanization and enormous transformation. This article presents an in-depth investigation of the case of Shenzhen city, one of the China's leading cities in urban government GIS development. Drawing upon critical GIS research and GIS implementation studies, a synthesized theoretical framework is developed to interrogate the nature and evolutionary process of Shenzhen's government GIS practices. The analysis is focused on examining the role of broader social conditions, local contextual factors and organizational characteristics in shaping GIS development in Shenzhen's urban governance. Situated in this contextual analysis, this article also illustrates the three major transformations of GIS development in Shenzhen's planning agency over the past decade. The findings show that GIS development in Chinese urban governance has been influenced not only by the instrumental functions of GIS, but also by the interactions and relationships among different actors and institutions with various vested interests in the process of structuring and governing the urban spaces. This study will contribute to the ongoing discussion of understanding the interwoven relationship between GIS and society in GIScience research.
Fusarium-induced vascular gels from banana roots — a partial chemical characterization

Xylem vessels often become occluded when plants are subjected to pathogen or abiotic stresses. The composition of these vessel-obstructing gels has never been directly analyzed. Roots of wilt-resistant (Valery) and susceptible (Gros Michel) cultivars of banana (Musa acuminata L.) trees were inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum Schlect f. sp. cubense Snyd. and Hans, and vascular gels were collected 5 days later. Gas chromatographic and colorimetric analyses indicate that the gels are rich in neutral sugars (arabinose, glucose and xylose) and uronic acids that are also found in the cell walls of the host. The idea that these vessel occlusions are composed, at least in part, of carbohydrates digested from the cell walls of the host is discussed.
BIOREGIONALISM AND REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY: PLACE, PEOPLE, AND NETWORKS

‘Bioregionalism’ is a term referring to an action-oriented movement based on ecological principles. It has not been strong in academic geography, though it clearly has space and place as its concerns. From a merging of classical regional geography and general systems one might have expected a bioregional synthesis to emerge. The bio-regional ideal can be given rigorous expression in a regional system comprising three sub-systems - a biophysical sub-system, an inhabiting sub-system, and a network sub-system. Le mot ‘bioregionalisme’ s'attache a un mouvement ?action et de pensee ecologiste. Peu represente au sein de la geographie ‘officielle, ii a neanmoins des rapports avec le problematique de ľespace et des lieux. On aurait du attendre que la convergence de la geographie regionale classique et ľetude des systemes nous ameneraient a un synthese ‘bioregional.’Ľesprit bioregional peut s'exprimer ?une facon rigoureuse sous forme ?un systeme regional, comprenant trois sous-systemes - sous-systeme biophysique, sous-systeme ?habitat, et sous-systeme des liaisons et des reseaux.
DNA adduct formation from tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines

Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines are a group of carcinogens derived from the tobacco alkaloids. They are likely causative factors for cancers of the lung, esophagus, pancreas, and oral cavity in people who use tobacco products. The most carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines in laboratory animals are 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN). DNA adduct formation from NNK and NNN has been studied extensively and is reviewed here. NNK is metabolically activated by cytochromes P450 to intermediates which methylate and pyridyloxobutylate DNA. The resulting adducts have been detected in cells and tissues susceptible to NNK carcinogenesis in rodents. The methylation and pyridyloxobutylation pathways are both important in carcinogenesis by NNK. NNK also induces single strand breaks and increases levels of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine in DNA of treated animals. NNAL, which like NNK is a potent pulmonary carcinogen, is also metabolically activated to methylating and pyridyloxobutylating intermediates. NNN pyridyloxobutylates DNA in its rat target tissues, esophagus and nasal mucosa. Methyl and pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts are detected in human tissues. The methyl adducts most likely result in part from exposure of smokers to NNK, but these adducts are also detected in non-smokers. Some of the methyl adducts detected in non-smokers may be due to environmental tobacco smoke exposure. There are also potential dietary and endogenous sources of these adducts. Pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in human tissues result mainly from exposure to tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines. In laboratory animals, DNA adduct formation and carcinogenicity of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines are closely correlated in many instances, and it is likely that similar relationships will hold in humans.
Changes in the response of viscoelastic solids to changes in their internal structure

The manner in which a viscoelastic body relaxes or creeps is determined by the viscoelastic body’s internal structure. In this paper, we are primarily interested in the changes in the body’s internal clock due to the changes in its structure. This internal clock’s working can be modified due to the effect of temperature, moisture, and electromagnetic fields, thereby degrading or enhancing the response of the viscoelastic body. Within a purely mechanical context, by degradation or enhancement, one means the decrease or increase in the load carrying capacity. Such degradation or enhancement due to the effect of moisture and temperature in elastic solids has been studied earlier. In this paper, we extend these ideas to the response of viscoelastic solids, particularly through the alteration of the viscoelastic body’s internal clock. To evaluate the efficacy of the model that we have developed, we study a very interesting problem, a biological application wherein the viscoelastic uterine wall’s stress relaxation characteristic changes significantly. The constitutive relation that is developed, and more importantly the methodology that is being put into place, can be used to describe a variety of problems in polymer mechanics and biomechanics and is not limited to the special example that is considered.
Programmatic, counselor, and client-level comparison of rural versus urban drug court treatment.

Despite a number of recent evaluations demonstrating the effectiveness of “drug court” programs for reducing both substance abuse and criminal behavior, some authors have recently called for more thorough process evaluations (inside the “black box” of treatment) of these programs. Specifically, this article describes the need for thorough process evaluation to examine differences in program implementation across rural and urban drug courts. The delivery of substance-user treatment and allied social services is examined in a sample of four adult drug courts (two urban and two rural), using a direct observation methodology, as well as traditional surveys and interviews of treatment staff and administrators. Results reveal that there are, in fact, differences in implementation, and staff and client characteristics between courts in each type of geographic region and suggest that these differences may impact the effectiveness of the court programs in meeting their goals of reduced substance use and criminal b...
Generalizations of M-matrices which may not have a nonnegative inverse

Abstract Generalizations of M -matrices are studied, including the new class of GM -matrices. The matrices studied are of the form sI - B with B having the Perron–Frobenius property, but not necessarily being nonnegative. Results for these classes of matrices are shown, which are analogous to those known for M -matrices. Also, various splittings of a GM -matrix are studied along with conditions for their convergence.
Marked by association: techniques for proximity-dependent labeling of proteins in eukaryotic cells

Various methods have been established for the purpose of identifying and characterizing protein–protein interactions (PPIs). This diverse toolbox provides researchers with options to overcome challenges specific to the nature of the proteins under investigation. Among these techniques is a category based on proximity-dependent labeling of proteins in living cells. These can be further partitioned into either hypothesis-based or unbiased screening methods, each with its own advantages and limitations. Approaches in which proteins of interest are fused to either modifying enzymes or receptor sequences allow for hypothesis-based testing of protein proximity. Protein crosslinking and BioID (proximity-dependent biotin identification) permit unbiased screening of protein proximity for a protein of interest. Here, we evaluate these approaches and their applications in living eukaryotic cells.
Postmigratory neural crest cells expressing c-RET display restricted developmental and proliferative capacities

c-RET is an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase essential for enteric neurogenesis in mice and is involved in several human genetic disorders. RET is also one of the earliest surface markers expressed by postmigratory neural crest cells in the gut. We generated anti-RET monoclonal antibodies to isolate such cells. We find that RET+ cells are antigenically and functionally distinct from neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) characterized previously. Unlike NCSCs, which are RET− and MASH1−, most RET+ cells express MASH1. Moreover, unlike NCSCs, which are multipotent and have high proliferative capacity, many RET+ cells generate only neurons following a limited number of divisions. This behavior is observed even in the presence of glial growth factor, a polypeptide that suppresses neuronal and promotes glial differentiation by NCSCs. These data provide direct evidence for the existence of committed neuronal progenitor cells and support a model of neural crest lineage diversification by progressive restriction of developmental potential.