cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Women’s Values and Preferences Regarding Osteoporosis Treatments: A Systematic Review

Background Several treatments are available to reduce the risk of fragility fractures associated with osteoporosis. The choice of treatment requires knowledge of patients' values and preferences. The aim of the present study was to summarize what is known about the values and preferences relevant to the management of osteoporosis in women. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search of several databases for studies reported in any language that had included women who had already started or were about to start any pharmacological therapy for osteoporosis. Pairs of reviewers independently selected the studies and extracted the data. The results were synthesized narratively. Results We included 26 studies reporting on 15,348 women (mean age, 66 years). The women considered the effectiveness and adverse events equally, followed by the convenience of taking the drug and its effect on daily routine (less frequent dosing was preferred, the oral route was preferred, and the injectable route was preferred over oral if given less frequently). The treatment cost and duration were less important factors for decision making. Fear of breast cancer and fear of resuming uterine bleeding were common reasons for not choosing estrogen therapy. Calcium and vitamin D were viewed as safe and natural. Across the studies, the preferences were not affected by age, previous drug exposure, or employment status. Conclusions Women starting osteoporosis medications value effectiveness and side effects equally and prefer medications given less frequently. Injectable drugs appear acceptable if given less frequently. More research on patient values and preferences is needed to guide decision making in osteoporosis.
Applied teaching model for veterinary junior surgery laboratory

Objective: To assess perceived veterinary student confidence and surgical skill set following a live animal, nonrecovery porcine surgical laboratory and to assess veterinary alumni long-term surgical confidence benefits from this laboratory during their first few years in practice. Sample Population: Four hundred students pre- and post-laboratory self-assessment surveys were analyzed from veterinary students participating in the junior surgery laboratory (JSL) from 2009 to 2018. One hundred and fifty veterinary alumni surveys were analyzed from JSL participants graduating between 2014 and 2018. Materials and Methods : Procedures performed on swine culled from food production included wound closure, abdominal exploratory, abdominal closure, splenectomy, nephrectomy, gastrostomy, intestinal anastomosis, and cystotomy. Procedures performed aimed to facilitate development of atraumatic tissue handling, vessel ligation, and hollow organ surgery. Results: All participants demonstrated significant self-evaluation improvement (P
Traumatic Parafalcine Subdural Hematoma: A Clinically Benign Finding.

Abstract Background Guidelines for management of intracranial hemorrhage do not account for bleed location. We hypothesize that parafalcine subdural hematoma (SDH), as compared to convexity SDH, is a distinct clinical entity and these patients do not benefit from critical care monitoring or repeat imaging. Methods We identified patients presenting to a single level I trauma center with isolated head injuries from February 2016 to August 2017. We identified 88 patients with isolated blunt traumatic parafalcine SDH and 228 with convexity SDH. Results Demographics, comorbidities, and use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents were similar between the groups. As compared to patients with convexity SDH, patients with parafalcine SDH had a significantly lower incidence of radiographic progression, and had no cases of neurologic deterioration, neurosurgical intervention, or mortality (all P Conclusions Patients presenting with a parafalcine SDH are a distinct and relatively benign clinical entity as compared to convexity SDH and do not benefit from repeat imaging or intensive care unit admission.
Stability of developmental status and risk of impairment at 24 and 36 months in late preterm infants.

Abstract Background Few studies investigated whether late preterm infants might have developmental delays in several domains in early life and how stable the lag in developmental status might be. Aim We aimed to examine the stability of potential delays across developmental domains at 24 and 36 months of age in late preterm (34°-366 weeks) and term (≥37 weeks) children and whether the risk of delays remained high at 36 months. Study design, subjects, and outcome measure We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of the children of pregnant women participating in the Vitamin Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART). 652 children who were prospectively followed up and had parent-completed Ages Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) questionnaires at both 24 and 36 months were analyzed to assess their domain-specific developmental status. Results 6.61 % (42/635) of children had a late preterm birth. Developmental delays were stable between 24 and 36 months on all 5 domains for the children born preterm and on 4/5 domains for those born at term. The developmental domains with the status stability at 24 and 36 months in both late preterm and term children were the gross motor, communication, personal-social skills, and problem-solving. Late preterm children compared with term children remained at higher risk of delays at 36 months for gross motor, communication, and problem-solving skills (aOR = 4.54, 95 %CI: 1.81−10.79; aOR = 8.60, 95 %CI: 3.10−23.28 and aOR = 3.80, 95 %CI: 1.58−8.73, respectively). Conclusion Late preterm birth is associated with suboptimal development and stability in several domains at both 24 and 36 months and compared with term birth, requiring early monitoring and assessment of the developmental lag to avoid potential long-term implications.
Modeling strongyloidiasis risk in the United States.

Abstract Objectives To provide a spatial risk assessment for the neglected disease strongyloidiasis in the United States by prioritizing areas with high probability of Strongyloides stercoralis presence and to offer recommendations for targeted screening and surveillance. Methods The risk assessment was based on a species distribution model with parasite occurrence data and ecologically important environmental variables as input and local habitat suitability for the species as output. The model used a maximum entropy algorithm and occurrence records and environmental data from public sources. This ecological risk assessment was coupled to socioeconomic factors using multi-criteria analysis. Results The model predicts suitable habitat for the parasite in ten states beyond the southeastern United States where it has been recorded including states in the south, east and northeast, and west coasts. Conclusions We recommend strongyloidiasis should be reportable in 16 states at high risk and uniform, near universal solid organ transplant screening should be implemented alongside approaches to heighten clinical suspicion.
Operationalising homeowner wildfire risk mitigation in fire-prone areas

A significant amount of research has examined what motivates people living in fire-prone areas to mitigate their wildfire risk (i.e. engage in activities that reduce vulnerability and the effects of a wildfire on an individual’s property). However, drawing overarching conclusions from this research is difficult because of the myriad of ways researchers have measured and analysed wildfire risk mitigation. Although recommendations exist for measuring risk-mitigation activities, no research to date has based these recommendations on an examination of how different operationalisations influence subsequent interpretations of homeowner preparedness. We addressed this gap by examining how the effects of demographics and contextual factors on preparedness differ across different ways of counting the amount of vegetation management completed. We also examined how different statistical approaches influence the results. We found that measuring vegetation management as the sum of activities completed is problematic and can obfuscate important relationships. For example, age is positively related to the proportion of applicable activities completed, but not the total number. We recommend assessing which items are applicable to respondents and constructing proportional measures rather than sums. We also recommend that, given the need for maintenance of vegetation, researchers use non-binary measures that allow respondents to indicate how much work they have undertaken towards each activity.
Current Fertility Preservation Options for Female Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Importance Many adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) experience disease progression requiring high-dose alkylating salvage therapy, which often results in permanent infertility. Objective The aim of this report is to discuss fertility preservation options in female patients with consideration of chemotherapeutic agents in HL. Evidence acquisition An electronic literature review was performed utilizing a combination of the terms "Hodgkin lymphoma," "fertility preservation," "ovarian tissue cryopreservation," "oocyte cryopreservation," "embryo cryopreservation," and "gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist." References and data from identified sources were searched and compiled to complete this review. Results Initial treatment of HL is often nonsterilizing; however, salvage therapy and conditioning for stem cell transplantation confer significant gonadotoxicity. Established fertility preservation options for pubertal females include embryo cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation. These options are contraindicated within 6 months of receipt of chemotherapy. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is an option for patients who require salvage therapy within 6 months of first-line therapy. Conclusions Timing and choice of fertility preservation techniques depends on planned first-line chemotherapy and response to treatment. In patients initially treated with low-risk chemotherapy, it is reasonable to defer invasive fertility techniques until treatment failure; however, upfront fertility preservation should be considered in patients planning to undergo primary treatment with high-risk therapy.
The Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Genotype, Frailty and Gait speed: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Objective: To examine whether the association between dopamine-related genotype and gait speed differs according to frailty status or race. Design: Cross-sectional population-based study (Cardiovascular Health Study) Setting: Multi-center study, 4 US sites. Participants: Volunteer community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, without evidence of Parkinson’s Disease (N= 3,744, 71 years, 82% white, 39% male). Measurements: Gait speed (usual pace, m/sec), physical frailty (Fried definition), and genetic polymorphism of Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT, rs4680), an enzyme regulating tonic brain dopamine levels, were assessed. Interaction of COMT by frailty and by race predicting gait speed were tested, and, if significant, analyses were stratified. Multivariable regression models of COMT predicting gait speed were adjusted for demographics and locomotor risk factors. Sensitivity analyses were repeated stratified by clinical cut-offs of gait speed (0.6 and 1.0m/sec) instead of frailty status. Results: Compared to Met/Met (higher dopaminergic signaling), the Val/Val group (lower dopaminergic signaling) walked marginally more slowly in the full cohort (0.87 vs 0.89 m/sec, p=0.2). The interaction of COMT by frailty and COMT by race predicting gait speed were p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively. Gait speed differences by genotype were significant for frail (n=220, 0.55 vs 0.63 m/sec, p=0.03), but not for pre-frail (n=1691, 0.81 vs 0.81 m/sec, p=0.9), or non-frail (n=1833, 0.98 vs 0.97 m/sec, p=0.7); results were similar in fully adjusted models. Among frail, associations were similar for whites and blacks, but statistically significant for whites only. Associations stratified by clinical cut-offs of gait speed were not significant. Conclusion: The association of dopamine-related genotype with gait speed is stronger among adults with frailty compared to those without. The potential effects of dopaminergic signaling on preserving physical function in frail adults should be further examined. This is significant to public health as it could improve quality of life of older adults and decrease adverse health outcomes.
Distance Traveled to Access Knowledgeable Trans-Related Healthcare Providers

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals experience a variety of disparities regarding healthcare and healthcare access. While many of these disparities are interpersonal, such as discrimination and experiences of violence at the hands of medical providers, there are also systemic issues that contribute to these inequities. One such issue is that of finding and accessing providers who are knowledgeable about trans-related care. This study examines how far TGD people are traveling to access providers with more trans-related health knowledge and explores gender differences regarding distance traveled. Data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey are used, with an analytic sample of N = 5,639. Findings from the chi-square tests of independence and logistic regressions indicate there is a relationship between highly knowledgeable care and distance traveled, such that certain groups of TGD individuals (across race, income level, and educational achievement) are taking on the burden of having to travel further in order to access the most knowledgeable healthcare providers, with few significant differences across genders. Overall, 34.5% of TGD individuals have to travel over 25 miles to access providers knowledgeable about trans-related care. While much of the discussion about increasing trans-affirming healthcare has centered on reducing interpersonal issues, the hardship potentially caused by traveling further to get knowledgeable care should certainly be part of this conversation.
Helium atom scattering from potassium tantalate/niobate(001) surfaces

The results of He atom scattering experiments on KTa0.48Nb0.52O3(001) surfaces are presented and compared with similar experiments on mixed potassium tantalate/niobate perovskites with lower concentrations of Nb. The results are puzzling, unique and intriguing. Angular distributions of the He scattering intensities (the He surface diffraction pattern) are found to be very similar to those obtained from targets with lower Nb fractions. However, drift spectra (the intensity of the He specular reflection as a function of the He wave vector) are not. Whereas the drift spectra in the 〈10〉 azimuth do resemble those of the 0, 6 and 10% Nb fraction targets, in the 〈11〉 azimuth they are more similar to the strange drift spectra found from the 30% Nb-doped targets. Most intriguing are the surface temperature scans (the He specular intensity as a function of the target surface temperature); for they are quite distinct from those with lower Nb fractions. Finally, the inelastic He scattering experiments provide phonon dispersion results that are similar in most respects to those found for the lower Nb level samples. In particular, the most prominent feature is an Einstein-like mode at about 13.5 meV which spans the entire surface Brillouin zone in both 〈10〉 and 〈11〉 azimuths.
An examination of the Beck Anxiety Inventory structure and psychometric properties: A study of American employees.

Anxiety in the workplace is a major human resource problem. Adverse outcomes in organizations include employee wellbeing, healthcare, and productivity costs. The World Health Organization reports t...
Challenges Faced by Rural Primary Care Providers When Caring for COPD Patients in the Western United States.

Rationale Rural chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have worse outcomes and higher mortality compared with urban patients. Reasons for these disparities likely include challenges to delivery of care that have not been explored. Objective To determine challenges faced by rural primary care providers when caring for COPD patients. Methods Rural primary care providers in 7 primarily western states were asked about barriers they experienced when caring for COPD patients. Results A total of 71 rural primary care medical providers completed the survey, of which 51% were physicians and 49% were advanced practice providers (APPs). A total of 61% used Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease or American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines as an assessment and treatment resource. The presence of multiple chronic conditions and patient failure to recognize and report symptoms were the greatest barriers to diagnose COPD. A total of 89% of providers used spirometry to diagnose COPD, but only 62% were satisfied with access to spirometry. Despite recommendations, 41% of providers never test for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. A total of 87% were comfortable with their ability to assess symptoms, but only 11% used a guideline-recommended assessment tool. Although most providers were satisfied with their ability to treat symptoms and exacerbations, only 66% were content with their ability to prevent exacerbations. Fewer providers were happy with their access to pulmonologists (55%) or pulmonary rehabilitation (37%). Subgroup analyses revealed differences based on provider type (APP versus physician) and location (Colorado and Kansas versus other states), but not on population or practice size. Conclusions Rural providers face significant challenges when caring for COPD patients that should be targeted in future interventions to improve COPD outcomes.
Sexual disorientation: queer narratology and affect plots in new narrative

This essay argues that New Narrative exemplifies queer experimental literature's innovation of interpretative protocols and affective relations that break from those sanctioned within the heteronor...
Efficient Solutions for Targeted Control of Multi-Agent MDPs

This work considers multi-agent systems where agents' decisions are influenced by a global entity, named the superplayer. The superplayer's goal is to influence the agents to realize game-play at target joint strategies. Defining each player's utility as a function of the superplayer's influence, the problem can be described and solved as a parametric game. We focus on systems whose agents can be clustered; as a consequence the superplayer can partition the agents and then find a control policy for each cluster. Under Markovian repeated play dynamics, an overall control policy is found by solving a related Markov decision problem. This cluster-based control policy generally yields a greater optimal value than a policy that assigns the same control to all agents. To efficiently solve the MDP in the larger action space, we introduce a Clustered Value Iteration (CVI) algorithm which solves the cluster-based MDP via a “round robin” approach. CVI provides a significant computational savings as compared to standard value iteration (VI), as the complexity of each iteration scales linearly (versus exponentially) with the number of clusters. Properties of CVI are shown and used to prove convergence. Finally, simulations empirically show how CVI converges significantly faster than VI with only a small penalty in value.
Exposure to Gulf War Illness-related agents leads to the development of chronic pain and fatigue.

Abstract Aims A substantial contingent of veterans from the first Gulf War continues to suffer from a number of Gulf War-related illnesses (GWI) affecting the neurological and musculoskeletal systems; the most common symptoms include chronic pain and fatigue. Although animal models have recapitulated several aspects of cognitive impairments in GWI, the pain and fatigue symptoms have not been well documented to allow examination of potential pathogenic mechanisms. Main methods We used a mouse model of GWI by exposing mice repeatedly to a combination of Gulf War chemicals (pyridostigmine bromide, permethrin, DEET, and chlorpyrifos) and mild immobilization stress, followed by investigating their pain susceptibilities and fatigue symptoms. To assess whether enhanced antioxidant capacity can counter the effects of GW agents, transgenic mice overexpressing extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3OE) were also examined. Key findings The mouse model recapitulated several aspects of the human illness, including hyperalgesia, impaired descending inhibition of pain, and increased tonic pain. There is a close association between chronic pain and fatigue in GWI patients. Consistent with this observation, the mouse model showed a significant reduction in physical endurance on the treadmill. Examination of skeletal muscles suggested reduction in mitochondrial functions may have contributed to the fatigue symptoms. Furthermore, the negative impacts of GW agents in pain susceptibilities were largely diminished in SOD3OE mice, suggesting that increased oxidative stress was associated with the emergence of these Gulf War symptoms. Significance the mouse model will be suitable for delineating specific defects in the pain pathways and mechanisms of fatigue in GWI.
Young, Empowered and Strong: A Web-Based Education and Supportive Care Intervention for Young Women With Breast Cancer Across the Care Continuum.

PURPOSEPatient-centered digital interventions may help empower young women to self-manage symptoms and psychosocial concerns and support informational needs often unaddressed in clinic.METHODSYoung...
Chickens & Eggs, Pigs and Their Lipstick: The Trouble with Asking Principlism to Do Too Much.

Principlism is simple. Four intuitive ideas, creating order out of moral chaos, at least categorizing considerations for better deliberation over right and wrong, good and bad, in a modern, plurali...
Case 6: Transporting a Critically Ill Patient Without Monitors

A 27-year-old man has been critically injured in a tractor accident in Chad. He is brought into the emergency room (ER) after a 4-h journey by car. He has multiple long bone fractures and is to be taken to the operating room. You, as the anesthesiologist, are called to the ER. Here you place two large bore IVs, a central line and an arterial line and order blood. The patient is stabilized after about 30 min and deemed ready for transport to the operating room (OR). Unfortunately, the OR is in another building 450 ft (140 m) away. To add to your misery, there are no vital signs transport monitors available. As you leave the ER, his vital signs are HR 100, BP 100/70, and oxygen saturation 100%. He is intubated and sedated. You are ventilating him with 100% oxygen using a Jackson-Rees circuit (a modified Mapleson E system called F). With one hand, you hold the endotracheal tube (ETT), and with the other hand, you ventilate the lungs. You therefore have no hands free to feel his pulse pressure. You are the only medically qualified person accompanying him. There are two orderlies one in front and one in the back pushing and steering the gurney.
Association of growth trajectory profiles with asthma development in infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis.

ABSTRACT Background Little is known about the relationship of longitudinal growth trajectory in early life with asthma development, particularly in infants with bronchiolitis (a high-risk population). Objective Among infants with bronchiolitis, we aimed to identify growth trajectory profiles and to determine their longitudinal relationship with the risk for developing childhood asthma. Methods A multicenter prospective study enrolled infants (aged — derived from BMI-for-age at ages 0, 6, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 36 months by using a longitudinal clustering method. We examined associations between growth trajectory profiles and asthma development by age 5 years. Results The analytic cohort consists of 880 infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis (median age, 3 months). Overall, 26% developed asthma by age 5 years. The longitudinal clustering identified five distinct profiles: persistent low growth (27%), normative growth (33%), transient overweight (21%), late-onset overweight (16%), and persistent obesity (3%) profiles. In multivariable model, compared to children with a normative profile, those with a persistent obesity profile had significantly higher risks of developing asthma (24% vs. 38%, OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.07-6.09, P=0.03). Among children with a persistent obesity profile, those without allergic predisposition had significantly higher risks of asthma (OR 3.02, 95%CI 1.05-8.64, P=0.04 in the non-parental allergic history group; OR 3.18, 95%CI 1.02-9.92, P=0.047 in the non-IgE sensitization group) while those with allergic predisposition were not at increased risk. Conclusions This multicenter cohort study of infants with bronchiolitis demonstrated distinct growth trajectory profiles that have differential risks for developing asthma.
Mechanisms of Action of Immunopotentiating Agents in Cancer Therapy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanisms of action of lmmunopotentiating agents in cancer therapy. Although bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was one of the first immunostimulants to be tested for therapeutic value in animals and in humans, basic studies on the mechanism of action and identity of the active substance(s) have been reported. By careful pathological and electron microscopic examination of tumors and draining lymph nodes of strain-2 guinea pigs bearing carcinogen-induced hepatomas, it is demonstrated that the macrophage is probably the primary activated immune cell. The mechanism of action of bacterial endotoxins on tumor growth appears to be complex, and the outcome of endotoxin treatment of tumor-bearing hosts depends on dose and time of application in relation to stage of tumor development. Thus, treatment with Bordetella pertussis prior to spontaneous tumor development decreased the incidence of neoplasm in the AKR mouse. The mechanism of the antitumor activity of the double-stranded polynucleotides, polyinosinic–polycytidylic and polyadenylic-polyuridylic acids, is not clear, but is probably the result of both an antitumor cell metabolic effect and an augmentation of the host's immune response to the tumor.
Corpus annotation in service of intelligent narrative technologies

Annotated corpora have stimulated great advances in the language sciences. The time is ripe to bring that same stimulation, and consequent benefits, to computational approaches to narrative. I describe an effort to construct a corpus of semantically annotated stories. I outline the structure of the corpus, a structure which colloquially can be described as a "handful of handfuls." One handful of the corpus has already been constructed, viz., 18k words of Russian folktales. There are two handfuls under construction: legal cases focused on the area of probable cause, and stories from Islamist Extremist Jihadists. Four more handfuls are being planned: folktales from Chinese, English, and a West Asian culture, and stories of international conventional and cyber conflicts. There are numerous additional handfuls under discussion. The main focus of the corpus so far has been on textual materials that are annotated for their surface semantics using conventional annotation tools and techniques; nonetheless, there are numerous novel dimensions along which the corpus might grow and become useful for different communities. In particular I propose for discussion the outlines of a few novel sources, annotation schemes, and collection methodologies that could potentially make the corpus of great use to the interactive narrative or narrative generation communities.
Use of hydraulic head to estimate volumetric gas content and ebullition flux in northern peatlands

[1] Hydraulic head was overpressured at middepth in a 4.2-m thick raised bog in the Glacial Lake Agassiz peatlands of northern Minnesota, and fluctuated in response to atmospheric pressure. Barometric efficiency (BE), determined by calculating ratios of change in hydraulic head to change in atmospheric pressure, ranged from 0.05 to 0.15 during July through November of both 1997 and 1998. The overpressuring and a BE response were caused by free-phase gas contained primarily in the center of the peat column between two or more semielastic, semiconfining layers of more competent peat. Two methods were used to determine the volume of gas bubbles contained in the peat, one using the degree of overpressuring in the middepth of the peat, and the other relating BE to specific yield of the shallow peat. The volume of gas calculated from the overpressuring method averaged 9%, assuming that the gas was distributed over a 2-m thick overpressured interval. The volume of gas using the BE method averaged 13%. Temporal changes in overpressuring and in BE indicate that the volume of gaseous-phase gas also changed with time, most likely because of rapid degassing (ebullition) that allowed sudden loss of gas to the atmosphere. Estimates of gas released during the largest ebullition events ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 mol m−2 d−1. These ebullition events may contribute a significant source of methane and carbon dioxide to the atmosphere that has so far largely gone unmeasured by gas-flux chambers or tower-mounted sensors.
Learning from Collective Behavior.

Inspired by longstanding lines of research in sociology and related fields, and by more recent largepopulation human subject experiments on the Internet and the Web, we initiate a study of the computational issues in learning to model collective behavior from observed data. We define formal models for efficient learning in such settings, and provide both general theory and specific learning algorithms for these models.
Consistent, multi-instrument single tube quantification of CD20 in antibody bound per cell based on CD4 reference.

Detecting changes in the expression levels of cell antigens could provide critical information for the diagnosis of many diseases, for example, leukemia, lymphoma, and immunodeficiency diseases, detecting minimal residual disease, monitoring immunotherapies and discovery of meaningful clinical disease markers. One of the most significant challenges in flow cytometry is how to best ensure measurement quality and generate consistent and reproducible inter-laboratory and intra-laboratory results across multiple cytometer platforms and locations longitudinally over time. In a previous study, we developed a procedure for instrument standardization across four different flow cytometer platforms from the same manufacturer. CD19 quantification was performed on three of the standardized instruments relative to CD4 expression on T lymphocytes with a known amount of antibody bound per cell (ABC) as a quantification standard. Consistent and reliable measures of CD19 expression were obtained independent of fluorochrome used demonstrating the utility of this approach. In the present investigation, quantification of CD20 relative to CD4 reference marker was implemented within a single tube containing both antibodies. Relative quantification of CD20 was performed using anti-CD20 antibody (clone L27) in three different fluorochromes relative to anti-CD4 antibody (clone SK3). Our results demonstrated that cell surface marker quantification can be performed robustly using the single tube assay format with novel gating strategies. The ABC values obtained for CD20 expression levels using PE, APC, or PerCP Cy5.5 are consistent over the five different instrument platforms for any given apparently healthy donor independent of the fluorochrome used. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Acutely traumatized canine ureter. Effects of low molecular weight dextran and surfactant pluronic F-68.

Abstract An experimental model for measuring effects of various pharmacologic agents on results of acute trauma in the canine ureter is described. The effects of two agents, low molecular weight dextran and Pluronic F-68, a nonionic detergent, were measured on this model. Neither agent was found to affect the formation of post-traumatic edema. After acute high-dose administration of Pluronic F-68 no toxicity was detected in either kidney or bladder.
Atmospheric Optical Propagation: An Integrated Approach

The task of characterizing optical wave propagation through the earth's atmosphere under low-visibility weather conditions is extremely difficult; it requires, in essence, solution of the general multiple-scattering problem. This paper describes results from an integrated approach to propagation through the turbid atmosphere in which experiments are used to establish the magnitude of the propagation effects and to supply empirical relationships which permit simplifying approximations in the theory. In particular, line-of-sight laser measurements of multipath spread, angular spread, beam spread, and incoherent source measurements of angular spread and power transmission versus range are reported. From the behavior of these data two approximate propagation theories, viz., multiple forward scatter and strong multiple scatter, are developed.
The anti-apoptotic protein clusterin is induced by cancer chemotherapy, stabilized by the proteasome, and degraded by intracellular proteases

B20 Background: Cancer is generally treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Highly malignant, p53-negative cancer cells are partially resistant to chemotherapy, and an important candidate mechanism is the induction of clusterin, which is strongly induced by chemotherapy and promotes drug resistance. Clusterin is capable of inhibiting apoptosis by binding to Bax or promoting apoptosis by binding to the DNA repair protein Ku70 in the nucleus. We have analyzed the regulatory pathways that control clusterin expression after chemotherapy.Experimental procedures: MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells were treated with doxorubicin in combination with pharmacological inhibitors the proteasome, and clusterin expression was analyzed by western blot. Clusterin expression was then suppressed by RNAi, and its effect on apoptosis was analyzed by cleavage of PARP and pro-caspase 3.Results: Clusterin expression was strongly induced by doxorubicin, as previously published. However, clusterin was degraded following treatment with doxorubicin in combination with the proteasome inhibitor epoxomicin in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that clusterin is stabilized by proteasome activity. Thus, clusterin is similar to other anti-apoptotic proteins, such as the transcription factor NF-κB, which are inactivated by proteasome inhibitors. In contrast, clusterin levels were increased following treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132, either alone or in combination with doxorubicin. Using RNAi directed to the third exon of clusterin, we determined that clusterin suppressed MG132-induced apoptosis. MG132 differs from epoxomicin in that it inhibits several non-proteasome proteases. Our findings suggest a model in which MG132-sensitive proteases degrade clusterin following chemotherapy, suppressing apoptosis.Conclusions: Proteasome inhibitors are a promising class of anti-neoplastic drugs that are currently in clinical trials. Clusterin is an anti-apoptotic target protein for highly specific proteasome inhibitors, suggesting that clusterin may be a useful marker for proteasome inhibitor activity in tumors. In addition, our results are consistent with a model in which cellular proteases inhibit clusterin and promote apoptosis following chemotherapy. This protealytic activity towards clusterin is suppressed by the proteasome and by histone deacetylases (see accompanying abstract). As a result, clusterin expression may be an important parameter for individualized treatment with proteasome inhibitors.
Analysis of production systems with potential for severe disruptions

Abstract Organizations often have to make production capacity decisions in a setting where production disruptions occur. This presents managers with a combination of strategic capacity decisions and operational inventory management options to manage disruptions. This paper uses Bayesian methods to analyze operational data where data on parameters required in logistics models are unavailable, then models production and inventory management in systems that have the potential for major disruptions. The produce-to-stock with production disruptions model is applicable to systems where the decision on production rate is coupled with the setting of the base stock level when production disruptions are possible. The model is applied to a proposed food processing facility at a correctional institution that is subject to disruptions due to safety and security issues.
The Decalogue Predates Mount Sinai: Indicators from the Book of Genesis

A general consensus exists that the Decalogue has exerted more influence on ethics and law than any other part of Scripture, or any document outside of Scripture. In Roman Catholic moral theology, in Protestant ethics, and in Western law the Ten Commandments have been foundational for millennia. Legal codes of the Middle Ages were often prefaced with the Ten Commandments. Many commentaries have been written on the Decalogue by both Christian and Jewish authors.1 The Decalogue is the towering ethical document in Scripture. It is quoted by almost every biblical writer following the Exodus, including the psalmists,2 prophets3 and historians.4 In the New Testament, Jesus Himself refers to the Decalogue and affirms its exalted nature.5 The
Development of Aortic Valve Disease in Familial Hypercholesterolemic Swine: Implications for Elucidating Disease Etiology.

Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a prevalent hereditary disease associated with increased atherosclerosis and calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). However, in both FH and non‐FH individuals, the role of hypercholesterolemia in the development of CAVD is poorly understood. This study used Rapacz FH (RFH) swine, an established model of human FH, to investigate the role of hypercholesterolemia alone in the initiation and progression of CAVD. The valves of RFH swine have not previously been examined. Methods and Results Aortic valve leaflets were isolated from wild‐type (0.25‐ and 1‐year‐old) and RFH (0.25‐, 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year‐old) swine. Adult RFH animals exhibited numerous hallmarks of early CAVD. Significant leaflet thickening was found in adult RFH swine, accompanied by extensive extracellular matrix remodeling, including proteoglycan enrichment, collagen disorganization, and elastin fragmentation. Increased lipid oxidation and infiltration of macrophages were also evident in adult RFH swine. Intracardiac echocardiography revealed mild aortic valve sclerosis in some of the adult RFH animals, but unimpaired valve function. Microarray analysis of valves from adult versus juvenile RFH animals revealed significant upregulation of inflammation‐related genes, as well as several commonalities with atherosclerosis and overlap with human CAVD. Conclusions Adult RFH swine exhibited several hallmarks of early human CAVD, suggesting potential for these animals to help elucidate CAVD etiology in both FH and non‐FH individuals. The development of advanced atherosclerotic lesions, but only early‐stage CAVD, in RFH swine supports the hypothesis of an initial shared disease process, with additional stimulation necessary for further progression of CAVD.
HeLa cell adherence, actin aggregation, and invasion by nonenteropathogenic Escherichia coli possessing the eae gene.

Abstract Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) produce diarrhea in humans by a mechanism that involves close adherence to epithelial cells in the intestine and colon. Close adherence is associated with effacement of microvilli and condensation of actin beneath the bacteria, a process termed attaching/effacing adherence. Attaching/effacing adherence of EPEC occurs in vitro in tissue culture, simplifying the study of the molecular genetics of this process. An EPEC gene (eae) necessary for attaching/effacing adherence was recently characterized. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli and the rabbit-specific RDEC-1 strain adhere in a like fashion in vivo and hybridize with eae. However, these strains adhere poorly to tissue culture cells, complicating the in vitro study of attaching/effacing adherence. In order to develop an in vitro model for the study of attaching/effacing activity of non-EPEC bacteria, a plasmid encoding the F1845 adhesin of an E. coli strain (C1845) isolated from a patient with diarrhea was transformed into RDEC-1 and enterohemorrhagic E. coli. The transformed strains adhered in a diffuse pattern to HeLa cells, and they aggregated HeLa cell actin at points of adherence in the fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labeled phalloidin assay. They also invaded HeLa cells in a gentamicin invasion assay, although not to the extent seen with EPEC. The construction of adherent non-EPEC strains facilitates the molecular study of the attaching/effacing properties and invasiveness of these strains in tissue culture models.
The estimation of complete aggregation structures

Abstract The object of this paper is to establish several results which permit efficient estimation of behavioral parameters in models of aggregate data. The approach follows the ‘minimum chi-square’ estimation strategy customarily applied to contingency tables; by treating aggregates as general functionals of empirical distribution functions for each ‘cell’ (i.e., aggregation unit), consistent and asymptotically normal estimates are obtained for a fixed number of aggregation units as the number of observations per unit increases. The paper also discusses conditions under which the proposed estimators are asymptotically efficient, and gives examples applying the approach to continuous and discrete demand models.
ON THE USE OF QUASI-STATIC TESTING TO ASSESS IMPACT DAMAGE RESISTANCE OF COMPOSITE SHELL STRUCTURES

The response of various composite structures to transverse loading was studied through im-pact and quasi-static testing. The AS4/3501-6 graphtie/epoxy composite structures considered have a [±4.5n/0n]s, layup configuration and include convex and concave shell sections, plates, and full cylinders. The impact tests fall within the so-called large-mass, low-velocity regime, where previous findings for composite plates indicate that quasi-static tests represent the impact response accurately; i.e., impact and quasi-static tests can be considered equivalent. This equivalence includes damage if the same peak force is reached in both the impact and quasi-static tests. The present work extends the impact and quasi-static equivalence from composite plates to various composite (shell) structures, including shells with an instability. Over nearly the entire range of impact events and shell structures considered, impact and quasi-static responses (including damage extent and distribution) are found to be equivalent. ...
Warfarin-Induced Skin Necrosis

Background: Warfarin is a frequently used oral anticoagulant in the treatment and prevention of various medical conditions. One uncommon adverse effect that can occur following the initia- tion of therapy is warfarin-induced skin necrosis. Because it is a rare effect with an undetermined pathophysiology of disease, the treatment is not well established. Case: A 52-year-old female was prescribed warfarin and enoxaparin for a newly diagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the left lower extremity. On day 4 of therapy, the patient had a supra- therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR), prompting the discontinuation of enoxaparin and a decrease in the warfarin dose. The patient returned to the emergency department on day 7 of treatment with a purple, cold, and extremely painful right foot with punctate areas of necrosis and petechiae proximal to the discoloration. The patient's INR was found to be 10.64. Following the diagnosis of warfarin-induced skin necrosis, the patient was administered vitamin K intrave- nously and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to reverse the effects of warfarin and promote protein C and S synthesis. Once the patient's INR was no longer supratherapeutic, subcutaneous enoxaparin was re-started as treatment for the known recent DVT. The patient's necrotic foot began to improve and she was discharged home with an anticipated full recovery. Conclusions: Based on the proposed pathophysiology of disease, adequate bridge therapy may decrease the likelihood of developing this life-threatening condition. Early recognition and treat- ment with intravenous vitamin K, FFP or 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate, and continued wound care are essential to prevent further complications.
Diagnosis and treatment of patients with pouchitis.

Pouchitis is the most common long-term complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with underlying ulcerative colitis. Clinical symptoms of pouchitis are not specific, and they can be caused by other conditions such as rectal cuff inflammation and irritable pouch syndrome. Therefore, to make an accurate diagnosis, endoscopic evaluation together with symptom assessment is necessary. Among five available treat-first and test-first strategies, the initial approach with pouch endoscopy without histology was the most cost-effective strategy for the diagnosis of pouchitis. On the basis of clinical course, pouchitis can be classified into acute, relapsing and chronic forms. Pouchitis can also be classified into three categories based on the response to antibacterial therapy: (i) antibacterial-responsive; (ii) antibacterial-dependent; and (iii) antibacterial-resistant. Metronidazole and ciprofloxacin are both effective in treating acute pouchitis. Although antibacterial therapy can induce and maintain remission, probiotics such as VSL#3 can also be used as to maintain clinical remission and prevent relapse in patients with relapsing or chronic pouchitis. For patients with chronic pouchitis that is resistant to antibacterials, therapy with anti-inflammatory agents and immunomodulators is often required.
Responding to Partners’ Expression of Anger: The Role of Communal Motivation

The effects of communal motivation on reactions to relationship partners’ expressed anger were examined. In Study 1, married couples reported on the communal strength of their marriage, their expressions of anger to their spouse, and relationship satisfaction. In Study 2, college students reported on the communal strength of their best friendships, those friends’ expressions of anger, and their evaluations of and provision of support to those friends. In Study 3, communal motivation toward a stranger who expressed mild anger was manipulated and evaluation of that stranger was measured. In all three studies, low communal motivation was associated with more negative evaluations of angry partners, lower relationship satisfaction, and, in Study 2, lower support provision. In contrast, when communal motivation was high, these decreases either did not occur (Studies 1 and 3) or were diminished (Study 2), and in Study 2, partners’ anger was associated with increased provision of social support.
Limb blood flow, cardiac output and quadriceps muscle bulk following spinal cord injury and the effect of training for the Odstock functional electrical stimulation standing system

As part of the assessment of the Odstock functional electrical stimulation (FES) standing system for mid to low thoracic lesion spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects, cardiac output, high blood flow and quadriceps muscle thickness were measured before and following an electrical stimulation muscle retraining programme. The same parameters were also measured in a group of uninjured subjects and in SCI subjects. It was found that there was no difference in cardiac output between the groups. However thigh blood flow was found to be around 65% of normal values in the spinally injured group. This returned to normal values following the retraining programme. The quadriceps muscle wasted to approximately 50% of its original thickness in the first 3 weeks following spinal cord injury. The retraining programme increased the muscle thickness to near normal values.