cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Friendship, Power and the Language of Compliance-Gaining

This study examines the impact of degree of friendship between actor and target, power of the target, and identity of the primary beneficiary of compliance on the selection of persuasive message st...
Opioid Inhibition of Adrenergic and Dopaminergic but Not Serotonergic Stimulation of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Release from Immortalized Hypothalamic Neurons

Opioids are known to have an inhibitory effect on the secretion of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) when administered to whole animals in vivo or when applied to hypothalamic fragments in vitro. Whether opioids have this effect by acting directly on the LHRH secreting neurons or require the mediation of an interneuron is controversial. To examine this question, a clonal cell line derived from a hypothalamic neuron (GT1-7) was perfused and fractions collected every 6 min. Morphine treatment had no effect on basal secretion of LHRH, nor on the spontaneous, pulsatile release of LHRH. Isoproterenol, dopamine, and serotonin all produced significant increments in LHRH secretion. Pretreatment of GT1-7 cells for 2 h with morphine, suppressed the LHRH response to isoproterenol and dopamine but had no apparent effect on serotonin-induced LHRH release. These data indicate that morphine has a direct effect on GT1-7 cells that alters their responsiveness to some, but not all, LHRH secretagogues. These results suggest that, in vivo, the inhibitory effects that opioids have on LHRH release may not require an interneuron.
Chronic in utero morphine exposure alters μ-agonist-stimulated [35S]-GTPγS binding in neonatal and juvenile guinea pig brainstem regions associated with breathing control

Abstract Narcotic analgesics act acutely upon opioid receptors in the brainstem to depress respiration in neonates, whereas withdrawal from chronic in utero exposure to morphine is associated with hyperventilation in the newborn. Because of the association between breathing and exposure to exogenous opioids, opioid-stimulated [35S]-guanylyl-5′-O-(γ-thio)-triphosphate ([35S]-GTPγS) binding was examined in respiratory control areas of the brainstem in 3-, 7-, and 14-day-old guinea pigs who were exposed during the last 2 weeks of gestation by maternal subcutaneous injections of 7.5 mg/kg of morphine or an equal volume of saline twice daily. Ten micromolar d -ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5-enkephalin (DAMGO), a μ-specific opioid receptor agonist, stimulated [35S]-GTPγS binding in the caudal and rostral ventral respiratory groups (cVRG and rVRG), nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), and the parabrachial nucleus (PB). There were no statistically significant age-related changes in DAMGO-stimulated binding for any of the respiratory areas. However, morphine-exposed animals had decreased DAMGO-stimulated [35S]-GTPγS binding in these brainstem areas compared to saline-exposed animals. We hypothesize that this morphine-induced decrease in DAMGO activation of the μ-opioid receptor may be a partial explanation for the hyperventilation observed during neonatal morphine withdrawal.
VARIATIONS OF RELATIVE RETENTION TIMES IN OPEN‐TUBULAR GAS‐CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS: RELEVANCY TO FRUIT VOLATILES

SUMMARY: Open-tubular gas chromatographic columns made from stainless steel tubing, coated with methyl silicone oil, give variable retention times for individual alcohols, dependent on the size of sample. This difficulty is largely overcome by using a small proportion of adsorption-reducing material with the methyl silicone. There are cases of reversal of peak order, caused by differences in column temperature or minor differences in the coating. However, with care, relative retention times are nearly constant and are helpful as an aid in identification of compounds. A procedure for precise comparison of the retention times of unknown fruit volatiles with known compounds is described. Relative retention times of representative compounds are given for twelve different stationary liquids.
Measurement and prediction of Young’s modulus of a Pb-free solder

Accurate and reproducible measurements of the Young’s modulus of solders are complicated by the early onset of yielding, microporosity, and variations in cooling rate. In this study, we report measurements of Young’s modulus of an Sn–3.5 wt % Ag solder by two techniques: (a) loading–unloading measurements in tension, and (b) non-destructive resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. Both techniques yielded similar values of Young’s modulus. The modulus decreased with increasing microporosity, in accordance with predicted values. Cooling rate affected the Ag3Sn intermetallic morphology, but not Young’s modulus since the distribution of the particles was relatively random. This result was confirmed by microstructure-based finite element modeling.
Importance of the herpes simplex virus UL24 gene for productive ganglionic infection in mice

The UL24 gene of herpes simplex virus overlaps the viral thymidine kinase (tk) gene. Most previous studies of UL24 have examined UL24 mutants that have also contained tk and sometimes other mutations. To address the importance of UL24 for viral replication in cell culture and in infections of a mammalian host, we constructed a mutant virus containing a UL24 nonsense mutation that does not affect TK activity and a second mutant that contains clustered point mutations in UL24 and a mutation in tk that does not by itself affect the ability of the virus to replicate acutely in mouse ganglia or to reactivate from latent infection following corneal inoculation of mice. Both mutant viruses replicated in cells in culture and in the mouse eye, albeit less efficiently than wild type or control viruses. Both mutants were much more severely impaired for acute replication in trigeminal ganglia and for reactivation from latency following explant of these ganglia. Viral DNA and latency-associated transcripts were present, albeit at lower levels in ganglia infected with the nonsense mutant. These results indicate that UL24 is especially important for productive infection of mouse sensory ganglia and may have implications for the behaviors of certain tk mutants in pathogenesis.
Energy storage in organic photoisomers

Abstract Criteria for the successful photochemical storage of solar energy as latent heat in organic materials are outlined. Photoisomerization reactions which have some potential for storage of photon energy in kinetically stable products are surveyed. Emphasis is placed on well-known internal cyclo-additions which display thermal reversibility, large storage capacities and high chemical and quantum efficiencies. Chemicals available on an industrial scale, which are known to undergo valence isomerization, are identified. Attempts to drive these reactions via exciplexes (complexes involving strong electron donor or electron acceptor sensitizers) are described. The sensitized isomerization of dimethylnorbornadiene-2,3-dicarboxylate (7) and a model compound, hexamethyldewarbenzene, are identified as bona fide exciplex isomerizations. Triplet sensitizers have been employed in the sensitization of 7 to visible light (to 500 nm). The potential importance of endothermic energy transfer in triplet sensitization (the upconversion of very low energy triplets) is discussed. The review includes developments by several research groups in the spectral sensitization of isomerizable substrates, the use of heterogeneous photosensitizers, and photocalorimetric techniques.
Sol-Gel Coatings on Acoustic Wave Devices: Thin Film Characterization and Chemical Sensor Development

We have investigated the use of porous oxide coatings, formed using sol-gel chemistry routes, as the discriminating elements of acoustic wave (AW) chemical sensors. These coatings provide several unique advantages: durability, high adsorption capacity based on large surface areas, and chemical selectivity based on both controlled pore size and acid/base, ion exchange or chelation chemistry. The porosity of these coatings is determined by performing nitrogen adsorption isotherms using the AW device response to mass changes to monitor the uptake of nitrogen at 77 K. These studies demonstrate how sol-gel chemistry and film deposition can be combined to tailor the microstructure of thin oxide coatings. The chemical sensitivity and selectivity obtained with this class of coatings will be demonstrated using several examples: hydrous titanate ion exchange coatings, zeolite/silicate microcomposite coatings, and surface-modified silicate films.
Preliminary Study of Inhibitory Effects of Tetracyclines on Membranous Bone Growth in Rhesus Monkeys

Various doses and forms of tetracycline were administered to young monkeys that received multiple injections of lead acetate as a vital marker of the calcification sites. The effects of these tetracyclines on membranous bone growth were assessed histologically ; retarded bone growth occurred under some conditions.
Meeting Holistic Health Needs through a Religious Organization The Congregation

Jesus's healing ministry is making a comeback in Christian congregations today. One method the church is using to facilitate this healing ministry is through the parish nurse ministry. The parish nurse model uses the holistic health concept that health is an interplay of body, mind, and spirit. The parish nurse ministry implements the gospel through health education, health counseling, patient advocacy, referrals, support groups, and the training of volunteers. The focus of this article is meeting the holistic health needs through a religious organization: the congregation. This article briefly reviews the concepts of holistic health and Christianity and healing, and it gives an example of implementing this concept in a congregation.
Partitioning and adsorption in gas-liquid-solid chromatography: Models of temporal moments for retention and variance

The resolution of gaseous chemical species in gasliquid-solid chromatography is influenced by absorption (partitioning) in the liquid and adsorption at the liquid-solid interface. We consider fundamental mass transfer models with adsorption and partitioning effects for solid chromatographic supports covered with thin films of stationary liquid. The dynamic models, based on mass-balance partial-differential equations, include the significant phenomena: convection, axial dispersion, gas-liquid mass transfer, intraparticle diffusion, and liquid-solid adsorption. Expressions for retention time and band variance (first and second temporal moments) are presented and evaluated for four distinct models: (1) capillary tube with inner surface covered with a uniform-thickness liquid film, (2) column of nonporous spheres covered with a uniform-thickness liquid film, (3) porous spherical particles with intraparticle pores covered with a uniform-thickness liquid film, (4) porous spherical particles with intraparticle pores completely filled with liquid.
Cross-talk between ER and HER2 regulates c-MYC-mediated glutamine metabolism in aromatase inhibitor resistant breast cancer cells

Resistance to endocrine therapies in hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer is a significant clinical problem for a considerable number of patients. The oncogenic transcription factor c-MYC (hereafter referred to as MYC), which regulates glutamine metabolism in cancer cells, has been linked to endocrine resistance. We were interested in whether MYC-mediated glutamine metabolism is also associated with aromatase inhibitor (AI) resistant breast cancer. We studied the expression and regulation of MYC and the effects of inhibition of MYC expression in both AI sensitive and resistant breast cancer cells. Considering the role of MYC in glutamine metabolism, we evaluated the contribution of glutamine to the proliferation of AI sensitive and resistant cells, and performed RNA-sequencing to investigate mechanisms of MYC-mediated glutamine utilization in AI resistance. We found that glutamine metabolism was independent of estrogen but still required estrogen receptor (ER) in AI resistant breast cancer cells. The expression of MYC oncogene was up-regulated through the cross-talk between ER and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in AI resistant breast cancer cells. Moreover, the glutamine transporter solute carrier family (SLC) 1A5 was significantly up-regulated in AI resistant breast cancer cells. ER down-regulator fulvestrant inhibited MYC, SLC1A5, glutaminase (GLS) and glutamine consumption in AI resistant breast cancer cells. Inhibition of MYC, SLC1A5 and GLS decreased AI resistant breast cancer cell proliferation. Our study has uncovered that MYC expression is up-regulated by the cross-talk between ER and HER2 in AI resistant breast cancer cells. MYC-mediated glutamine metabolism is associated with AI resistance of breast cancer.
Forward and backward stepping in variable selection

For stepwise regression and discriminant analysis the parameters F in and F out govern the inclusion and deletion of variables. The candidate variable with the biggest F—ratio is included if this exceeds F inthe included variable with the smallest F—ratio is deleted if this is less than F in If F in ≧F out; then return to a previous subset size implies improvement in the criterion measure. This result also holds for a generalization, stepwise multivariate analysis, which includes stepwise regression and discriminant analysis as special cases Eliminations do not occur if forward regression and backward elimination yield the same sequence of subsets. Conversely, there is a more liberal stepping rule which always eliminates if the two sequences differ.
Evaluation of the "Tilt Test" in children

The "tilt test" (assessment of orthostatic pulse and blood pressure) is a non-invasive screening test for acute intravascular volume loss with well-accepted utility in the emergency evaluation of adults. Its value in children has been questioned because of reports of high false-positive rates. We report a prospective study to compare "tilt test" results between children with and without clinical volume depletion in a pediatric emergency setting. Children 4 to 15 years old seeking care at an urban pediatric emergency department were eligible. Children meeting the following criteria were classified as dehydrated: an acute history of vomiting or diarrhea and a volume depletion score greater than or equal to 4. The control sample was selected from children with minor complaints, and a volume depletion score less than 4. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at one-minute intervals by an automatic noninvasive blood pressure monitor for three minutes in the supine position. Subsequently, measurements were taken for two minutes in the standing position with the arm supported at heart level. Sixteen dehydrated and 21 normal children were enrolled; the groups were comparable in mean age, weight, sex, and oral temperature, but differed significantly in racial background. The mean orthostatic rise in heart rate was 29.1 beats per minute (+/- 10.7) in the clinically dehydrated group and 13.1 beats per minute (+/- 8.5) in the control group (P less than .001). There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the small decrease in systolic blood pressure (0.38 and 0.46 mm Hg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
On the costs of temporary policy

Abstract The effects and costs of a temporary trade liberalization experiment are studied in terms of a model with an infinitely-lived individual, under perfect capital mobility and no static gains from trade. It is shown that the current account deteriorates during liberalization, and becomes more negative, the shorter is the liberalization period. The costs are non-monotonic with respect to the latter, and timing of their maximum varies widely with parameters. The analysis is extended to include durable and home goods, money, and static gains from trade.
Parametric study of multi-splat solidification/remelting including contact resistance effects

Solidification and remelting behavior of a series of deposited splats is investigated through numerical modeling. The non-perfect thermal contact at the interface between the splat and the substrate surface is accounted for by introducing a heat transfer coefficient. The effect of the interfacial thermal contact resistance as well as the effect of splat solidification parameters such as splat superheats, splat thickness, substrate temperature and splat deposition frequency on the resulting remelting depth of the previously solidified layer are discussed. Numerical results show that in the absence of thermal contact resistance between the splat and substrate interface, the remelting depth is underestimated. It is also found that the remelting depth increases for either an increase in substrate temperature or increasing splat thickness. In addition, the findings in the present study imply that in some practical applications, decreasing the deposit frequency would be a valid method to ensure the constant remelting thickness for depositing layers.
Effects of instructions on responses to the nicotine patch: a laboratory study.

Smokers have weak positive expectancies for nicotine replacement therapies relative to smoking (Juliano and Brandon, Nicotine Tob Res, 6:569–574, 2004). This study investigated if a manipulation designed to alter expectancies for the nicotine patch was effective in increasing positive expectancies for the patch and influencing smoking cessation outcomes during a 2-day abstinence period. Smokers (n = 72) were randomly assigned to receive information that emphasized either patch benefits (n = 25) or standard patch information including side effects (n = 25). Participants wore placebo patches but were told that the patches contained nicotine. A control condition (n = 22) was informed that they received placebo patches while given standard patch information to independently test the effect of the nicotine-dose instructional set on abstinence outcomes. Benefits information significantly increased positive expectancies for the patch and promoted positive mood during the abstinence period relative to the side effects information. Nicotine-dose instructions resulted in fewer lapsed cigarettes and higher ratings of patch helpfulness than placebo instructions. In particular, women’s smoking behavior appeared to be more influenced by nicotine instructions than that of men. The results of this preliminary study suggest that information provided to smokers about patch effects and nicotine content may influence behavioral and subjective outcomes of patch use.
Synthesis of a new precursor to the nicotinic receptor tracer 5-IA-85380 precursor using trimethylsilyl iodide as deblocking agent

Abstract We describe the synthesis of a new precursor of 5-IA-85380, specific radiotracer for α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. (S)-5-Trimethylstannyl-3-(2-azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine ( 4 ) was prepared in six steps and 62% overall yield starting from (S)-2-azetidinecarboxylic acid. The key step of this synthesis is selective release of the amine function without removing the stannyl moiety using trimethylsilyl iodine.
Notes on the Lives of Cholodkovsky and Portchinsky.

N. A. Cholodkovsky was born on the 4th of March 1858 at Irkutsk, Siberia, where his father was a physician. He attended school in St Petersburg (now Leningrad) and at the age of 17 entered the Academy of Medicine. After completing his medical education, having no inclination for practice, he joined the University and in 1885 obtained the lectureship of Zoology in the Institute of Forestry.
Low-power decimator design using approximated linear-phase N-band IIR filter

This correspondence presents a new design of a low-power decimation filter, which consists of a poly-phase finite-impulse-response (FIR)-4 comb filter, an approximate linear-phase one-third-band infinite-impulse-response (IIR) filter, and a half-band FIR filter. A poly-phase FIR-4 comb filter architecture was designed, which consumes 75% less power than the recursive comb filter architecture. New general equations were derived for the design of 1/N-band IIR filters, and these equations were used to design a novel approximate linear-phase one-third-band IIR filter. The decimation filter is designed using Simulink and DSP Blockset, and Matlab simulations are performed to verify the phase linearity and magnitude response of the designed filter. The group delay for the passband region of one-third-band IIR filter has a negligible error of 0.009%. The resulting decimation filter has 60% less hardware and consumes 67% less power than the comb-FIR-FIR decimation filter.
Acceleration schedules for a recirculating heavy-ion accelerator

The recent development of miniature inductive adders has made it feasible to design programmable high-repetition-rate pulsers with a substantially higher voltage than is possible using a conventional field-effect transistor architecture. Prototype pulsers using the new technology are being developed as part of a series experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to test the concept of a recirculating induction accelerator. Preliminary numerical work is reported here to determine what effects the higher-voltage pulsers would have on the beam quality of the LLNL small recirculator.
Private Higher Education’s Quality Assurance in Ghana

This article discusses factors influencing the establishment of Ghana’s National Accreditation Board. Salient aspects are the growing population’s demand for higher education, increase in private providers and concerns about quality. Also discussed are the accreditation board’s quality assurance procedures and attendant problems.
Heat induced 'masking' of redox sensitive component(s) of the DNA-nuclear matrix anchoring complex.

The ‘masking effect’ is the observation that heat shock reduces or masks the apparent expression of ionizing radiation (IR) damage to DNA. The mechanism of this effect is thought to involve the aggregation of proteins to the nuclear matrix or chromatin, thereby stabilizing these structures and masking actual DNA damage from assays and presumably from DNA repair complexes. Previously, using the ‘halo assay’, it has been shown that nucleoids treated with 1 mm dithiothreitol (DTT) and/or IR inhibited the rewinding of DNA supercoils and that this effect was masked in nucloids isolated from heated cells. Here it is reported that treatment of living cells with reducing agents diminishes the interaction between DNA and Protein Disulphide Isomerase (PDI) and that hyperthermia restored the PDI-DNA interaction, indicating that the masking effect occurred in vivo. PDI is a nuclear matrix protein which binds MAR DNA sequences and may be involved in regulating the degree of DNA supercoiling. It is hypothesized that he...
Recent advances in BIST

The author briefly reviews various recent results in data compression for BIST. His primary focus is on MISR compression, considering the practical design issues that interest a designer. Issues related to the choice of error model, feedback polynomial, and suitable test lengths are discussed. >
EFFECTS OF TENTH RIB FAT THICKNESS ON MOISTURE, LIPID AND CHOLESTEROL CONTENT OF SUBCUTANEOUS, INTERMUSCULAR AND INTERNAL FATS

Samples from subcutaneous, intermuscular and internal fat depots of 30 crossbred pig carcasses with tenth rib fat thickness ranging from 1.5 to 4.3 cm were used to evaluate the relationships of backfat thickness and fat depot composition (moisture, lipid and cholesterol contents). Moisture and cholesterol were highest and lipid content was lowest in intermuscular fat while cholesterol was lowest (P < 0.05) in subcutaneous fat when compared to the other fat depots. Significant (P < 0.01) linear effects of tenth rib fat depth on moisture and lipid contents of all fat depots were observed. Linear effects (P < 0.05) of tenth rib fat thickness on cholesterol content of subcutaneous and internal fat depots were observed on both a wet and dry bases. However, the linear effect (P < 0.05) of tenth rib fat depth on cholesterol content in the intermuscular fat depot was observed only on a dry basis. When the three fat depots were combined, increased tenth rib fat depth resulted in decreased moisture and cholesterol contents on a dry basis while percentage lipid increased (P < 0.05).
MOTION OF A SET BY THE CURVATURE OF ITS BOUNDARY

Abstract The study of a crystal shrinking or growing in a melt gives rise to equations relating the normal velocity of the motion to the curvature of the crystal boundary. Often these equations are anisotropic, indicating the preferred directions of the crystal structure. In the isotropic case this equation is called the curve shortening or the mean curvature flow equation, and has been studied by differential geometric tools. In general, there are no classical solutions to these equations. In this paper we develop a weak theory for the generalized mean curvature equation using the newly developed theory of viscosity solutions. Our approach is closely related to that of Osher and Sethian, Chen, Giga and Goto, and Evans and Spruck, who view the boundary of the crystal as the level set of a solution to a nonlinear parabolic equation. Although we use their results in an essential way, we give an intrinsic definition. Our main results are the existence of a solution, large time asymptotics of this solution, and its connection to the level set solution of Osher and Sethian, Chen, Giga and Goto, and Evans and Spruck. In general there is no uniqueness, even for classical solutions, but we prove a uniqueness result under restrictive assumptions. We also construct a class of explicit solutions which are dilations of Wulff crystals.
MRSD: Multirate-Based Service Differentiation for the IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Sensor Network

The IEEE 802.15.4 standard has no provisions for rate sensitive applications because of its ability to operate in pure CSMA/CA or TDMA modes. Some operating scenarios for rate-sensitive applications arise when one considers wireless video surveillance and target detection applications for wireless sensor networks. To support such rate-sensitive applications in wireless sensor networks, we present a Multirate-based Service Differentiation (MRSD) based on unslotted CSMA/CA. Unlike existing priority-based service differentiation models, the MRSD defines independent virtual MACs, each of which consists of Adaptive Backoff Window Control (ABWC) and Virtual Collision Avoidance (VCA) algorithms. The ABWC dynamically adjusts the backoff window to reflect the local network state in the local collision domain. The VCA prevents virtual collisions and preempts packets with the minimal utility in the virtual collision domain. By analyzing these algorithms, we prove that the ABWC enables the achieved transmission rate to converge to the rate requirement and the VCA produces a virtual collision-free schedule to avoid degradation of the achieved transmission rate. Through the simulation, we validate our analysis and show the MRSD outperforms existing algorithms in terms of convergence to the rate requirement.
Electrical Breakdown and Dielectric Recovery of Propylene Carbonate

Polar liquids are characterized by high permittivity and high dielectric strength. These properties make them appealing dielectrics for use in high-energy storage systems and as high-power switching media. Most of the studies on electrical breakdown and recovery have focused on water as a switch medium in pulsed-power systems. As an alternative to water, the authors have studied the breakdown and dielectric recovery of propylene carbonate (C4H6O 3). One advantage of propylene carbonate over water is its relatively low freezing temperature of -55degC, which allows its use at a high altitude. The permittivity of propylene carbonate is 65, somewhat less than water (81). Its dielectric strength for pulses of 200-ns duration was measured as 2.2 MV/cm, higher than that of water (1.5 MV/cm). A nonlinear increase in conductivity above electric fields of 1.225 MV/cm, assumed to be due to field-enhanced dissociation, was recorded in both cases. The recovery of propylene carbonate is similar to that of water, with plasma decay, shock-wave emission, and vapor bubble formation, except for the very last phase, which is determined by chemical reactions: the generation and decay of polypropylene polymers. This limits the time for dielectric recovery of propylene carbonate switches to values of more than 10 ms
Compliance Communication in Home Health Care: A Mutually Reciprocal Process:

The study described in this article examined the process of compliance gaining in home health care. The investigation focused on nurse-patient communication and the relational and content aspects of compliance communication. Six registered nurses and 25 adult patients from two cooperating home care agencies participated in this study. Observation during home visits and interviews with nurses and patients revealed a prosocial, collaborative model of compliance gaining. The findings show compliance communication to be embedded in nurse-patient conversations, with both nurse and patient engaging in control and affiliative behaviors. Implications for compliance research and the mutual-participation model of medical care are discussed.
Narrow-spectrum chemoreceptor cells in the antenules of the american lobster, Homarus americanus

Abstract The present study shows that smell (antennular) receptor cells are as narrowly tuned to single compounds as taste (leg) receptor cells in the lobster. Antennular receptors responded best to hydroxy- l -proline (57% of the 30 cells sampled) and taurine (24%). In the presence of 14 other compounds in equimolar concentrations, the hydroxy- l -proline and taurine receptors showed a suppressed response to their best stimulus. Other cells had best responses to ammonium chloride, betaine, L-glutamate or L-proline. The results have implications for molecular receptor processes and for the neural basis of feeding behavior.
A Framework for Categorizing Social Interactions Related to End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes

Purpose: Almost half of people age 85 and older who die annually in the United States die as nursing home residents, yet because it is not always clear who is close to death, not all residents who might benefi t from end-of-life care receive it. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for organizing social interactions related to end-of-life care and to characterize the social construction of dying in two nursing homes. Design: Secondary analysis of qualitative ethnographic data collected before the death of 45 residents who were selected for the study on account of their “declining” health status. Methods: Field notes, medical chart data, and transcribed interviews corresponding to 45 residents in two nursing homes in a large Midwestern city were analyzed using qualitative descriptive methods guided by symbolic interaction and role theory. The data were also grouped by resident to facilitate the development of cases that illustrate the categories of social interactions. A second reader also categorized all the resident cases into one of fi ve categories as a means of verifying the model. Results: A new framework of fi ve categories to name the stance toward the possibility of dying is presented and illustrated with cases. The categories include: dying allowed, dying contested, mixed message dying, not dying , and not enough information . Cases are provided to illustrate the importance of recognizing the impact that social interactions can have on care. Over half the resident cases were classifi ed as mixed message dying or not enough information, which speaks to the ambiguity regarding care plan goals found in the two nursing homes in the study. Implications: Social interactions related to the health care and dying status of a nursing home resident help to construct a social reality, and that social reality can affect the care the nursing home resident receives. Conversations about goals of care, and how these goals will be operationalized are important issues for discussion among residents (to the extent able), family, staff, and physicians. Social interactions, or the lack thereof, matter.
Electrical Properties of n-Type CdSe

The electrical properties of n-type CdSe were studied over the temperature range of 4.2 to 300 °K. Measurements were made in both as-grown crystals and crystals annealed under controlled Cd pressures. Hall effect measurements on low resistivity specimens indicate the presence of a donor level 0.014 eV below the conduction band, with concentrations typically ≈ 1016 cm-3. Analysis of the Hall mobility data indicates that the predominant scattering mechanism at room temperature and above is polar optical mode scattering. The magnetoresistance effects observed are consistent with the energy structure determined by previous optical studies. The transport properties exhibited typical characteristics of impurity band conduction at low temperatures (< 77 °K), including negative magnetoresistance. Die elektrischen Eigenschaften von n-Typ CdSe wurden im Temperaturbereich von 4,2 bis 300 °K untersucht. Die Messungen wurden an Kristallen unmittelbar nach der Zuchtung und nach Temperung unter kontrolliertem Cd-Druck durchgefuhrt. Die Messungen des Hall-Effektes an Proben mit geringem spezifischen Widerstand zeigen das Vorhanden-sein eines Donatorniveaus 0.014 eV unterhalb des Leitfahigkeitsbandes mit typischen Konzentrationen von ≈ 1016 cm −3. Die Analyse der Hall-Bewegliehkeitswerte deutet darauf hin, das sowohl bei Raumtemperatur als auch bei hoheren Temperaturen eine Streuung durch polare optische Phononen vorherrscht. Die beobachteten Magnetowiderstandsanderungen befinden sich in ubereinstimmung mit der Energiebandstruktur, die durch fruhere optische Untersuchungen bestimmt wurde. Die Transporteigenschaften zeigen bei tiefen Temperaturen (< 77 °K) die typischen Merkmale der Storbandleitung einschlieslich einer negativen Magnetowiderstandsanderung.
Metallography in music: Microstructures in the Caribbean steel drum

Abstract Optical and electron metallography have been employed for the last 4 years to study various aspects of the materials science and metallurgy behind the Caribbean steel drum. Various drum steels used for steel drum manufacturing have been characterized to differentiate original microstructures. Observations have been made in various musical notes or “note zones” of the Caribbean steel drum in an effort to determine how specific microstructural features contribute to its construction and musical quality. Heating the drum head over a fire has been observed to improve the musical (or tonal) quality due to strain aging by increasing the hardness of the steel drum head and providing the requisite elastic properties to individual notes. Heat-treating the steel drum at high-temperatures has a drastic effect on hardness. Microstructural observations by metallographic techniques have made possible the determination of the origin of such hardness increases. These observations may provide innovative variations to producing different musical tones in the Caribbean steel drum.
A Library of Design: Electronic Collections Inspire Modern Research Spaces

The Xavier University of Louisiana Library Resource Center was built in 1993. After Hurricane Katrina filled the library with 18 inches of water in 2005, its first floor was re-carpeted, its bookshelves refurbished and the reference room was returned to its original state. In 2013, the Xavier Library began acquiring electronic resources to replace the majority of its print reference and print journal collections. As more virtual resources were purchased, less shelving space was needed, inspiring Xavier librarians to seize this opportunity to create a more inviting library that students could use for research, gathering, and studying. This article describes how discarding items formally collected in print and currently collected electronically, gave new life to the research spaces at the Xavier University Library.
Technology transfer in Thailand: descriptive validation of a technology transfer model

Thailand's sixth Five Year Development Plan aims towards increased levels of industrial development within the country. The coordination of governmental incentive and foreign, largely Japanese, investment has underpinned Thailand's current era of technologically–driven economic growth. This paper briefly examines the development of this agricultural–based economy into one which has added manufacturing technology. The discussion takes the form of a descriptive validation of an existing model of the factors necessary for successful technology transfer.
The intrinsic geometry of the human brain connectome.

This paper describes novel methods for constructing the intrinsic geometry of the human brain connectome using dimensionality-reduction techniques. We posit that the high-dimensional, complex geometry that represents this intrinsic topology can be mathematically embedded into lower dimensions using coupling patterns encoded in the corresponding brain connectivity graphs. We tested both linear and nonlinear dimensionality-reduction techniques using the diffusion-weighted structural connectome data acquired from a sample of healthy subjects. Results supported the nonlinearity of brain connectivity data, as linear reduction techniques such as the multidimensional scaling yielded inferior lower-dimensional embeddings. To further validate our results, we demonstrated that for tractography-derived structural connectome more influential regions such as rich-club members of the brain are more centrally mapped or embedded. Further, abnormal brain connectivity can be visually understood by inspecting the altered geometry of these three-dimensional (3D) embeddings that represent the topology of the human brain, as illustrated using simulated lesion studies of both targeted and random removal. Last, in order to visualize brain’s intrinsic topology we have developed software that is compatible with virtual reality technologies, thus allowing researchers to collaboratively and interactively explore and manipulate brain connectome data.
Next generation sequencing for whole genome analysis and surveillance of influenza A viruses.

Abstract Background The Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), conducts routine diagnosis and surveillance of influenza viruses. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) with next generation sequencing (NGS) was initiated to provide more rapid, detailed, thorough, and accurate analysis. Objectives To optimize and implement a method for routine WGS of influenza A viruses. To use WGS to monitor influenza A viruses for reassortment, mutations associated with antiviral resistance and antigenicity changes, as well as those potentially affecting virulence and tropism. Study design Multiple extraction and amplification methods were investigated and optimized for the production of template to be used for NGS. Additionally, software options were considered for data analysis. Initial WGS influenza projects have included the comparison of mixed population sequence data obtained with NGS, Sanger dideoxy sequencing, and pyrosequencing, the comparison of sequences obtained from paired primary/cultured samples, the analysis of sequence changes over several influenza seasons, and phylogenetic analysis. Results Procedures were optimized for extraction and amplification such that WGS could be successfully performed on both cultured isolates and primary specimens. Data is presented on 15 A/H1pdm09 and 44 A/H3N2 samples. Analysis of influenza A viruses identified and confirmed variant and mixed populations affecting antigenicity and antiviral susceptibility in both primary specimens and cultured isolates. Conclusions An influenza A whole genome PCR method has been optimized for the reliable production of template for NGS. The WGS method has been successfully implemented for enhanced comprehensive surveillance and the generation of detailed clinical data on drug resistance and virulence. Data obtained with this method will also aid in future vaccine selection.
A Multi-state Model for Designing Clinical Trials for Testing Overall Survival Allowing for Crossover after Progression.

In designing a clinical trial for comparing two or more treatments with respect to overall survival (OS), a proportional hazards assumption is commonly made. However, in many cancer clinical trials, patients pass through various disease states prior to death and because of this may receive treatments other than originally assigned. For example, patients may crossover from the control treatment to the experimental treatment at progression. Even without crossover, the survival pattern after progression may be very different than the pattern prior to progression. The proportional hazards assumption will not hold in these situations and the design power calculated on this assumption will not be correct. In this article, we describe a simple and intuitive multi-state model allowing for progression, death before progression, post-progression survival, and crossover after progression and apply this model to the design of clinical trials for comparing the OS of two treatments. For given values of the parameters o...
Extracranial vascular disease: advances in operative indications and technique.

Although the major concern in preventing perioperative strokes incident to carotid endarterectomy has been protection of the brain from clamping ischemia, analysis of over 2,000 operative procedures performed in conscious patients in whom vigorous efforts were made to discover the cause of perioperative neurologic deficits revealed that clamping ischemia accounted for 0.5% of the neurologic deficits while rethrombosis of the operative site, cerebral embolization during or immediately postoperatively, and intracerebral hemorrhage each accounted for 0.5%. In a fifth group, the diagnosis was not clear. The total incidence of neurologic cerebral deficits was 2.5% and the incidence varied markedly with the neurologic status of the patient at the time of operation, the condition of the contralateral carotid artery, and the tolerance to clamping ischemia while awake.
326 DOES HYPERGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA PREDISPOSE PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA TO SECONDARY SOLID TUMORS

Background Occurrence of second hematologic malignancies in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is well known, but development of secondary solid tumors has not been well documented. Isolated case reports indicate that CLL patients may have a predisposition to develop solid tumors. There is not enough literature available to support this hypothesis. We here intend to study the incidence of secondary solid tumors in CLL patients with regard to their treatment and immunoglobulin levels. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 323 CLL patients over the last 20 years at Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kansas City. Broadly, the patients were divided into two groups, the group that received chemotherapy for CLL (74/323) versus the group that did not receive treatment (249/323), and their median immunoglobulin levels were also documented. Patients who developed secondary hematologic malignancies were excluded from this study. Results The overall incidence of solid tumors was found to be 14.8% (48/323). In the chemotherapy-treated CLL, the incidence of solid tumors was 18% (14/74) compared with 13.6% (34/249) in the nontherapeutic group (p value .12). The most common malignancies noted were gastrointestinal malignancies, genitourinary tumors, and skin cancers, including melanomas. Interestingly, CLL patients who developed secondary solid tumors had a higher median IgG levels (1,010 g/L) when compared with those who did not develop secondary tumors (738 g/L, p value Conclusion Our study shows that there is a higher overall incidence of secondary solid tumors in patients with CLL when compared with the incidence in the general population. There is no significant increase in the incidence of therapy-related solid tumors in CLL patients. Upward drift in immunoglobulin levels should raise a suspicion for diagnosis of secondary solid tumors in patients with CLL. More studies are warranted to confirm this finding.
Prevalence and risk factors of chrongic diseases among occuparional population in Beijing Chongwen district

Objective To explore the prevalence and risk factors for common chronic diseases among occupational population in Beijing Chongwen district.Methods A total of 350adults aged 18to 60years were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method.All participants were invited to receive a face-to-face questionnaire interview,physical examination and laboratory tests.Results The prevalence of hypertension,diabetes and dyslipidemia were 32.6%,12.6%and 20.8%respectively.An upward trend can be seen in the prevalence of these diseases with age rising(P0.01).And no statistic differences were seen in different occupation(P0.05).Logistic analysis showed that BMI was the primary risk factor of hypertension.The possibility of developing hypertension in overweight or obese person was 2.83and 6.04times higher than people with normal weight.The analysis also showed that men(OR=2.109),sitting more than 4hours per day(OR= 1.762),having a family history of chronic disease(OR=2.109),diabetes(OR=2.476)and longer waist circumference(OR=3.688)were at high-risk for dyslipidemia.Conclusions Common chronic diseases and related risk factors are very popular among the mental work professinal people.We should take more notice of the group who are men,overweight,obesity,and those with longer waist circumference in conducting health education and intervention.
Serologic analysis of influenza A(H5N1) and pandemic influenza A(H1N1 2009) among Population with Occupational Exposure in Shandong Province

Objective:To study influenza A(H5N1) and pandemic influenza A(H1N1 2009) infection among population with occupational exposure in Shandong province.Methods: All sera of population with occupational exposure in 2009-2010 were detected with Hemagglutination-inhibition(HI) test to observe the antibody of influenza A(H5N1) and pandemic influenza A(H1N1 2009).Results: No serum samples collected in 2009-2010 were found to be positive for antibodies against influenza A(H5N1).Five serum samples collected in 2009 were found to be positive for antibodies against pandemic influenza A(H1N1 2009),the positive rate was 1.55%;the positive rate in 2010 was 11.96%,17.19% for group under 29 years and 10.87% for group between 30~59 years.Conclusion: No human-avian A(H5N1) infection was found among occupational exposed population in Shandong.Moreover,the surveillance of occupational exposed population must be improved.At the same time,the positive rate of antibody to pandemic influenza A(H1N1 2009) is still low,the effective protection by antibody has not been formed.