cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical improvement after revision in Fontan patients

Background Arrhythmias, decreased exercise tolerance, or malabsorption will develop in a significant number of Fontan patients. Fontan revision consisting of creation of lateral atrial tunnel, reconnection of the Glenn shunt when present, or both appears to improve these patients. Methods Over a 34-month period, 9 patients underwent Fontan revision. The mean age was 11 ± 5 years and the mean interval from Fontan operation to revision was 3 ± 2 years. The reason for revision included marked impairment in exercise capacity, inability to go to school consistently, and chronic fatigue in 6 patients, 3 of whom also had serious atrial arrhythmias. Five of the 6 patients had a classic Glenn shunt. The mean right atrial pressure was greater than the pressure of the Glenn shunt (20 ± 1.6 versus 17 ± 0.8 mm Hg). Three of the 6 patients also showed a significant gradient between the right or left pulmonary artery wedge and ventricular end-diastolic pressure, indicating pulmonary vein obstruction from the bulging atrial septum or partitioning patch (13 ± 3 versus 6.8 ± 1 mm Hg). The remaining 3 patients had revision because of malabsorption (1), hepatomegaly and obstructed right pulmonary veins from bulging atrial septum (1), and tricuspid insufficiency (1). Fontan revision was accomplished with creation of a lateral atrial tunnel and Glenn reconnection in 6 patients, Glenn reconnection in 2, and creation of a lateral atrial tunnel in 1. Four patients had additional procedures. Results One patient died of Pseudomonas pneumonia. Early extubation, chest tube removal, and postoperative hospital discharge were accomplished in 8 patients (mean = 1.4 ± 1, 2.8 ± 1, and 8 ± 3 days, respectively). One patient died 8 months postoperatively of brain damage after ventricular fibrillation from attempted cardioversion for atrial flutter. The remaining patients had marked improvement in exercise capacity with ability to consistently go to school, improvement in duration and tolerance to arrhythmias on less medication, and resolution of malabsorption up to 37 months postoperatively (mean, 20 ± 12 months). Conclusions We conclude that creation of lateral atrial tunnel with excision of a bulging atrial septum or atrial partitioning patch that causes pulmonary venous obstruction, reconnection of the Glenn shunt, which allows better distribution of flow based on the pulmonary vascular bed and resistance of each lung, or a combination of these procedures will improve Fontan patients.
Mania associated with St. John's wort.

Abstract Background: St. John’s wort, the popular herbal remedy touted as an antidepressant, is generally thought to be benign, with few reported side effects. Given its possible efficacy as an antidepressant, evaluation of its propensity to cause affective switching should be evaluated. Methods: This report presents two cases of mania temporally associated with the use of St. John’s wort (hypericum). Results: As with other antidepressant agents, St. John’s wort may precipitate hypomania, mania, or an increased cycling of mood states, particularly in patients with occult bipolar disorder. Conclusions: Because the majority of people who take this popular over-the-counter preparation do so without formal psychiatric evaluations, risk of hypericum-induced mania may be significant. Physicians should screen patients for a history of hypomania or mania before recommending use of St. John’s wort for depression.
Prostatic and hepatic metabolism of (1,2-3H)testosterone as affected by DDT pretreatment in the mouse☆

Abstract The 10-day oral administration of DDT (25 or 50 mg/kg) led to significant reductions in the accumulation of [1,2- 3 H]testosterone and its principal metabolite [1,2- 3 H]5α-dihydrotestosterone by the anterior prostate gland of the mouse. However, the ratio of [1,2- 3 H]testosterone to [1,2- 3 H]5α-dihydrotestosterone was not altered significantly. This would suggest that the uptake, but not the subsequent metabolism, of the labeled androgen was decreased. Hepatic formation of polar metabolites of [1,2- 3 H]testosterone was also reduced by DDT pretreatment. No significant changes were observed in accessory sex organ weights or prostate gland fructose concentration following pretreatment with this pesticide. The data suggest that DDT may in part alter the accumulation of prostatic androgens as a result of altered hepatic steroid hydroxylation. However, the results obtained do not rule out a direct effect of DDT on the uptake of [1,2- 3 H]-testosterone by the prostate gland.
Organic Pepper Production Systems Using Compost and Cover Crops

ABSTRACT In a national survey and through statewide focus groups, organic farmers identified pest management and soil fertility as their most critical vegetable research needs. In response, a long- term experiment was established to compare pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) growth, productivity, insect populations, harvest cullage and postharvest weight loss under conventional and organic management. Treatments from the first 3 years (1998 to 2000) consisted of combinations of two synthetic fertilizer and three compost-based certified organic soil amendments. In addition to the compost treatments, effects of a cover crop of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) and rye (Secale cereale L.) were evaluated in the organic system from 1999 onward. Pepper growth, harvest weight and marketable fruit numbers were similar in conventional and organic production systems from 1998 to 2000 when 112 kg ha−1 N was applied through synthetic fertilizer or compost. Zone-tillage or incorporation of cover crops prior to planting result...
HDL3, but not HDL2, stimulates plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 release from adipocytes: the role of sphingosine-1-phosphate

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lysophospholipid that regulates numerous key cardiovascular functions. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are the major plasma lipoprotein carriers of S1P. Fibrinolysis is a physiological process that allows fibrin clot dissolution, and decreased fibrinolytic capacity may result from increased circulating levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). We examined the effect of S1P associated with HDL subfractions on PAI-1 secretion from 3T3 adipocytes. S1P concentration in HDL3 averaged twice that in HDL2. Incubation of adipocytes with increasing concentrations of S1P in HDL3, but not HDL2, or with S1P complexed to albumin stimulated PAI-I secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that S1P1–3 are expressed in 3T3 adipocytes, with S1P2 expressed in the greatest amount. Treatment of adipocytes with the S1P1 and S1P3 antagonist VPC23019 did not block PAI-1 secretion. Inhibiting S1P2 with JTE-013 or reducing the expression of the gene coding for S1P2 using silencing RNA (siRNA) technology blocked PAI-1 secretion, suggesting that the S1P2 receptor mediates PAI-1 secretion from adipocytes exposed to HDL3 or S1P. Treatment with the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor RO-318425, or the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 all significantly inhibited HDL3- and S1P-mediated PAI-1 release, suggesting that HDL3- and/or S1P-stimulated PAI-1 secretion from 3T3 cells is mediated by activation of multiple, downstream signaling pathways of S1P2.
Parameterization of decoupling controllers in the unity-feedback system

The problem of decoupling in the linear, time invariant, multiinput-multioutput unity-feedback system is studied. A parameterization of all stabilizing decoupling controllers and all achievable decoupled closed-loop transfer functions is obtained for full-row rank plants which do not have any coinciding poles and zeros in the undesirable region of the complex plane. >
Metagenomic Analysis of the Bioremediation of Diesel-Contaminated Canadian High Arctic Soils

As human activity in the Arctic increases, so does the risk of hydrocarbon pollution events. On site bioremediation of contaminated soil is the only feasible clean up solution in these remote areas, but degradation rates vary widely between bioremediation treatments. Most previous studies have focused on the feasibility of on site clean-up and very little attention has been given to the microbial and functional communities involved and their ecology. Here, we ask the question: which microorganisms and functional genes are abundant and active during hydrocarbon degradation at cold temperature? To answer this question, we sequenced the soil metagenome of an ongoing bioremediation project in Alert, Canada through a time course. We also used reverse-transcriptase real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) to quantify the expression of several hydrocarbon-degrading genes. Pseudomonas species appeared as the most abundant organisms in Alert soils right after contamination with diesel and excavation (t = 0) and one month after the start of the bioremediation treatment (t = 1m), when degradation rates were at their highest, but decreased after one year (t = 1y), when residual soil hydrocarbons were almost depleted. This trend was also reflected in hydrocarbon degrading genes, which were mainly affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria at t = 0 and t = 1m and with Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria at t = 1y. RT-qPCR assays confirmed that Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus species actively expressed hydrocarbon degradation genes in Arctic biopile soils. Taken together, these results indicated that biopile treatment leads to major shifts in soil microbial communities, favoring aerobic bacteria that can degrade hydrocarbons.
A compumetrical approach to summarize benchmark results

The authors suggest a metric-based approach that emphasizes the necessity for analyzing computer performance variables and shows how to normalize the performance variables to a known machine and summarize benchmark results by one parameter that represents relative system performance. The methodology is applied to a specific case and is illustrated in two phases: (1) univariate analysis and the necessity for transforming the variables logarithmically, and (2) looking at the rules of P.J. Fleming and J.J. Wallace (1986) more closely and summarizing benchmark results. >
Electronic Granularity and the Work Function of Transparent Conducting ZnO:Al Thin Films

Controlling the efficiency of electron transport across oxide interfaces is essential for numerous emerging technologies including advanced photovoltaics and light emitting devices. This work illuminates the connections between granular structure, defect chemistry, and the work function of a technologically important transparent conductor, ZnO:Al. Visual evidence is provided for a model of grain boundary oxidation in the form of nanometer-scale heterogeneity in the contact potential between grains and grain boundaries, a phenomenon referred to as electronic granularity. By correlating scanning probe data with photoemission spectroscopy we relate electronic granularity to defect chemistry and, importantly, account for the overall trends in work function. The resulting physical picture connects heterogeneity at the nanoscale to macroscopic properties, informs the design of transparent electrodes, and may be broadly relevant to granular oxide conductors.
SELECTIVE INHIBITION OF GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION IN SEA URCHIN EMBRYOS: Incorporation of 5-Bromodeoxyuridine into Low Molecular Weight Nuclear DNA

Experimental evidence suggests that exposure of sea urchin gastrulae to 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR), an analog of thymidine, causes a reduction in the rate of synthesis of some RNA species usually transcribed at this stage of development. In pulse-chase experiments, 3H (in gastrula stage 8–15S nuclear DNA labeled with BUdR-3H) could not be chased, with unlabeled BUdR, into 20–60S size-range DNA; in similar experiments in which gastrulae were pulsed with thymidine-3H and then chased with unlabeled thymidine, 3H in 8–15S nuclear DNA could be extensively chased into 20–60S DNA. DNA-RNA hybridization assays indicate that gastrula stage nuclear DNA in the range of 20–60S has greater sequence homology for gastrula stage RNA-3H than does nuclear DNA of similar size-range taken from gastrulae exposed to BUdR for 1 hr. An explanation is offered for the effect of BUdR on transcription and DNA replication in sea urchin embryos.
Features of the cerebral vascular pattern that predict vulnerability to perfusion or oxygenation deficiency: an anatomic study.

In an ongoing study of brain microvasculature in humans at autopsy, we had the opportunity to analyze the overall scheme of this vascular supply. The native endothelial membrane enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, is used to precipitate black lead sulfide salt in the vessel wall, rendering the brain microvasculature visible by both light microscopy and microradiography. There are six distinct patterns of intraparenchymal afferent blood supply to the supratentorial brain: short arterioles from a single source (e.g., those in the cortex); short- to intermediate-length arterioles, single source (anterior two-thirds of the corpus callosum); short- to intermediate length arterioles and arteries, dual source (subcortical U fibers); intermediate-length arterioles and arteries, triple source (extreme/external capsule and claustrum); long arteries and arterioles, single source (centrum semiovale); and large, long muscular arteries, single source (thalamus and basal ganglia). The nature of this arrangement offers some protection to certain regions of the cerebrum from circulatory challenges such as hypotension, while leaving other areas vulnerable. The distal arterioles supplying two of these protected regions, the U-fiber area and the extreme/external capsule and claustrum area, also exhibit the feature of interdigitation, which can offer additional collateral potential from one arteriolar territory to the next. Aging, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis can have a significant impact on brain microcirculation. The way in which vascular patterns dictate the distribution of these effects is discussed. The ability to stain the cerebral microvessels and demonstrate the finer points of their patterns in sections and microradiographs has enabled us to resolve some long-standing questions about vascular connections and directions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
X-ray diffraction studies of the tophaceous deposits in gout.

The form of the uric acid present in the crystalline material of subcutaneous tophi in two gouty patients has been positively characterized as monosodium urate monohydrate by using x-ray diffraction technics, while a urinary calculus was shown to contain free uric acid. The x-ray diffraction powder patterns and d line values for the reference compounds uric acid, monosodium urate monohydrate, and disodium urate dihydrate are also presented. Le forma de acido uric que es presente in le materia crystallin del tophos subcutanee in duo patientes con gutta esseva positivemente characterisate como urato monosodic monohydratic per le uso de technicas a diffraction de radios X, durante que libere acido uric esseva identificate in un calculo urinari. Es etiam presentate le configurationes pulverose de diffraction de radios X e le valores de linea d pro le compositos de referentia, i.e. acido uric, urato monosodic monohydratic, e urato disodic dihydratic.
Failure to Detect Senescence in Persistence of Some Grassland Rodents

Several recent papers raise the question of how frequently senescence is detectable in survival estimates from natural populations of mammals. If animals do not age, the probability of disappearance is constant through time. This null hypothesis leads to the prediction that lengths of residence on a trapping grid, censused monthly, will follow a geometric distribution. After testing for survival differences between sexes and among seasons, I compared lengths of residence (persistence) from capture-recapture data for five species of small rodents in an old-field habitat near Lawrence, Kansas, USA to geometric distributions. Gender did not influence persistence on the grid for any species, but persis- tence of Microtus ochrogaster and Reithrodontomys megalotis varied significantly with season. All species showed a tendency for high rates of disappearance in the 1st mo after individuals were marked. When the analysis was limited to individuals residing on the area for at least 1 mo, neither Peromyscus maniculatus, P. leucopus, nor Sigmodon hispidus departed significantly from the geometric model. Seasonal analysis of Reithrodontomys megalotis was precluded by small samples, but data for all seasons combined seemed to indicate age- (or persistence-) specific rates of disappearance, as did M. ochrogaster, except those first captured in spring. To identify which patterns were consistent with senescence, I regressed rates of disappearance against persistence, testing for positive slopes. Only those M. ochrogaster first captured in winter and autumn exhibited senescence by these criteria, despite disappearance rates of R. megalotis that increased sharply beyond persistence of 5 mo. The regression test for P. maniculatus indicated senescence even though the geometric test failed to indicate persistence specificity. The regression method alone is not a reliable test of senescence, because it does not incorporate variances of estimated probabilities of survival. Any approach derived from horizontal life tables potentially confounds seasonality with aging, making determination of senescence equivocal. In my data there is little con- vincing evidence that survival in the wild decreases with age in these rodents.
Telomeres and Telomerase in Ageing and Cancer

Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes and shorten each time somatic human cells divide. As a consequence, cells enter senescence after a limited number of divisions. The enzyme telomerase expressed in cancer cells and renewal tissues can prevent the shortening of telomeres and extend cellular lifespan. Keywords: telomere; telomerase; cancer; ageing
The OECD Health Care Quality Indicators Project: history and background.

Objective . To describe the background, history, and approach of the OECD Health Care Quality Indicators (HCQI) Project, an initiative to implement quality measures for international benchmarking of medical care at the health system level. Method . The participating countries and international organizations selected five priority areas (cardiac care, diabetes, mental health, patient safety, and primary care/prevention) and developed a conceptual framework to guide the project. International expert panels were formed to identify clinically important, scientifically sound, and feasible measures based on a structured consensus process. Results . The consensus process was successfully completed in all five priority areas leading to a recommendation of 86 indicators. Nine indicators were selected for diabetes, 12 for mental health, 17 for cardiac care, 21 for patient safety, and 27 for primary care and prevention. Conclusions . The initial experience of the HCQI Project demonstrates that international consensus can be achieved in how to measure the quality of care in priority areas, suggesting substantial demand for and interest in comparative information at the health system level. However, much additional work remains necessary before the project can supply policymakers and researchers with ongoing, comprehensive, and reliable data on the quality of care in industrialized countries.
EFNEP Graduates' Perspectives on Social Media to Supplement Nutrition Education: Focus Group Findings From Active Users

Abstract Objective To identify ways to effectively use social media to communicate nutrition-related information to low-income populations. Methods The authors conducted 4 focus groups with female Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program graduates who used social media at least twice a week (n = 26 total). Transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify key themes. Results For participants, page content, page maintenance, and networking opportunities with others were important aspects of a nutrition education social media page. Trust emerged as a central theme, because participants expressed a need for reliable information from known, credible sources and safe places to share ideas. Conclusions and Implications Using social media to provide nutrition-related messages may be an effective way to encourage sustained positive behavior changes resulting from educational programming and to engage participants beyond class time. Establishing the trustworthiness of the social media site is essential to its use among low-income participants.
T cell receptor gene recombination patterns and mechanisms: cell death, rescue, and T cell production.

The antigen-specific receptors of T and B lymphocytes are generated by somatic recombination between noncontiguous gene segments encoding the variable portions of these molecules. The semirandom nature of this process, while desirable for the generation of diversity, has been thought to exact a high price in terms of sterile (out-of-frame) products. Historically, the majority of T lymphocytes generated in mammals were thought to be useless, either because they generated such sterile rearrangements or because the receptors generated did not appropriately recognize self-molecules (i.e., positive and negative selection). In the studies described here, we characterize the onset of T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chain gene rearrangements and quantitate their progression throughout T cell development. The results show that T cell production efficiency is enhanced through (a) rearrangement of TCR-beta chain genes early during T cell development, with selective expansion of those cells possessing in-frame rearrangements; (b) deletion of sterile rearrangements at the TCR-alpha chain locus through ordered (proximal to distal) sequential recombination; and (c) modification of nonselectable alpha/beta heterodimer specificities through generation and expression of new TCR-alpha chains. In addition, we demonstrate strict correlations between successful TCR-beta gene rearrangement, the onset of TCR-alpha gene rearrangement, rapid cell division, and programmed cell death, which together serve to maintain cell turnover and homeostasis during T cell development.
Polymer electrolyte gating of carbon nanotube network transistors.

Network behavior in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is examined by polymer electrolyte gating. High gate efficiencies, low voltage operation, and the absence of hysteresis in polymer electrolyte gating lead to a convenient and effective method of analyzing transport in SWNT networks. Furthermore, the ability to control carrier type with chemical groups of the host polymer allows us to examine both electron and hole conduction. Comparison to back gate measurements is made on channel length scaling. Frequency measurements are also made giving an upper limit of ∼300 Hz switching speed for poly(ethylene oxide)/LiClO4 gated SWNT thin film transistors.
Dyadic Curve-of-Factors Model: An Introduction and Illustration of a Model for Longitudinal Nonexchangeable Dyadic Data

The analysis of longitudinal data collected from nonexchangeable dyads presents a challenge for applied researchers for various reasons. This article introduces the dyadic curve-of-factors model (D–COFM), which extends the curve-of-factors model (COFM) proposed by McArdle (1988) for use with nonexchangeable dyadic data. The D–COFM overcomes problems with modeling composite scores across time and instead permits examination of the growth in latent constructs over time. The D–COFM also appropriately models the interdependency among nonexchangeable dyads. Different parameterizations of the D–COFM are illustrated and discussed using a real data set to aid applied researchers when analyzing dyadic longitudinal data.
Interaction of human thymus-derived and non-thymus-derived lymphocytes in vitro. Induction of proliferation and antibody synthesis in B lymphocytes by a soluble factor released from antigen-stimulated T lymphocytes.

Relatively pure populations of human T and B lymphocytes were obtained from blood and tonsils using density gradient centrifugation in bovine serum albumin. Antigen alone was incapable of triggering the B lymphocyte into blast transformation or to secrete antibody. However, supernatants from tetanus toxoid-stimulated T cells obtained from immune donors contained a factor mitogenic for B lymphocytes. 50–60% of B cells responded to this lymphocyte mitogenic factor (LMF) by proliferation, loss of C3 reactivity, and change to a secretory state. LMF-stimulated B cells exhibited a three- to fivefold increase in protein secretion and a six- to eightfold increase in gamma G globulin secretion. De novo secreted IgG had specificity directed to the tetanus toxoid present in the LMF containing T-cell supernatants. This was confirmed by an increase in the number of indirect plaque-forming cells to tetanus toxoid-coated sheep red blood cells after stimulation of B cells with LMF. It is proposed that in the course of the response to a previously encountered protein antigen, sensitized human T cells emit a signal in the form of a soluble product that, together with antigen, triggers B cells into division and antibody secretion. The experimental model utilized can be adapted to study human T-B cell cooperation under various conditions in normal individuals and in individuals with immunodeficiency diseases.
Nonconvexity issues for Internet rate control with multiclass services: stability and optimality

In this paper, we investigate the problem of distributively allocating transmission rates to users on the Internet. We allow users to have concave as well as sigmoidal utility functions that are natural in the context of various applications. In the literature, for simplicity, most works have dealt only with the concave case. However, we show that when applying rate control algorithms developed for concave utility functions in a more realistic setting (with both concave and sigmoidal types of utility functions), they could lead to instability and high network congestion. We show that a pricing based mechanism that solves the dual formulation can be developed based on the theory of subdifferentials with the property that the prices "self-regulate" the users to access the resource based on the net utility. We discuss convergence issues and show that an algorithm can be developed that is efficient in the sense of achieving the global optimum when there are many users.
The last common bilaterian ancestor

Many regulatory genes appear to be utilized in at least superficially similar ways in the development of particular body parts in Drosophila and in chordates. These similarities have been widely interpreted as functional homologies, producing the conventional view of the last common protostome-deuterostome ancestor (PDA) as a complex organism that possessed some of the same body parts as modern bilaterians. Here we discuss an alternative view, in which the last common PDA had a less complex body plan than is frequently conceived. This reconstruction alters expectations for Neoproterozoic fossil remains that could illustrate the pathways of bilaterian evolution.
3V: cavity, channel and cleft volume calculator and extractor

As larger macromolecular structures become available, there is a growing need to understand their 'internal' volumes--such as deep clefts, channels and cavities--as these often play critical roles in their function. The 3V web server can automatically extract and comprehensively analyze all the internal volumes from input RNA and protein structures. It rapidly finds internal volumes by taking the difference between two rolling-probe solvent-excluded surfaces, one with as large as possible a probe radius and the other with a solvent radius (typically 1.5 A for water). The outputs are volumetric representations, both as images and downloadable files, which can be used for further analysis. The 3V server and source code are available from http://3vee.molmovdb.org.
Protein sorting receptors in the early secretory pathway.

Estimates based on proteomic analyses indicate that a third of translated proteins in eukaryotic genomes enter the secretory pathway. After folding and assembly of nascent secretory proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the coat protein complex II (COPII) selects folded cargo for export in membrane-bound vesicles. To accommodate the great diversity in secretory cargo, protein sorting receptors are required in a number of instances for efficient ER export. These transmembrane sorting receptors couple specific secretory cargo to COPII through interactions with both cargo and coat subunits. After incorporation into COPII transport vesicles, protein sorting receptors release bound cargo in pre-Golgi or Golgi compartments, and receptors are then recycled back to the ER for additional rounds of cargo export. Distinct types of protein sorting receptors that recognize carbohydrate and/or polypeptide signals in secretory cargo have been characterized. Our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms und...
Interstitial Cystitis: Update on Etiologies and Therapeutic Options

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a syndrome of pelvic and/or perineal pain, urinary urgency, and frequency. It is now agreed that IC is a multifactorial syndrome, not a single condition. A variety of etiologies for IC have been proposed, but none has been definitively proven. Since the etiologies for IC remain unknown, the current treatments are empiric. This article will review the major theories of etiology for IC and discuss the current treatment options with relevance to the proposed etiologies. No single treatment is effective for all IC patients. Therefore, the approach is to try different treatments, alone or in combination, until symptom relief is satisfactory. In some cases, none of the empiric IC treatments are successful. These patients require adjunctive pain management, and a small minority of IC patients resort to surgery if all other options fail.
Prenatal Education, Significant Other Support and Demographic Determinants of Breastfeeding within a Rural Community

Introduction: Breast feeding is the most natural and nutritious way to encourage a baby’s optimal development and research over the past two decades clearly indicates multiple benefits to infants. Still, underprivileged, underserved, and minority women are not breastfeeding at rates that are comparable with national averages. National estimates indicate breastfeeding is initiated at much lower rates for minorities, adolescent mothers, socio-economically disadvantaged women and women who reside in rural areas. Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of prenatal education, significant other support and demographics on breastfeeding initiation of women residing in a small rural community. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design that prospectively examined the breastfeeding intentions of the targeted population. A convenience sample of 41 post-partum women were recruited from a rural hospital within 48 hours of giving birth. Participants were administered a self- reporting 27-item questionnaire. Descriptive, Pearson’s rho and chi-square analysis were conducted to determine associations. Results: Approximately 65.9% of the women reported initiating breastfeeding. Prenatal education was not statistically significant associated using chi-square analysis at p < 0.05. Based on a Likert scale ranging from 1- least supportive to 3- very supportive, breastfeeding moms report a high level of support from healthcare providers and family members with mean scores ranging from 2.44 to 2.96. Older, more educated and women who had breastfed a previous baby were more likely to breastfeed at p< 0.05. Breastfeeding was initiated at higher rates in women whose extended family were breastfed. Conclusion: Continued research aimed at increasing breastfeeding in rural communities will be useful in identifying best practices that will improve the health of mothers and infants. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.14574/ojrnhc.v15i2.372 Keywords : Breastfeeding, Healthcare, Rural community,
Acute Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura — Management in Childhood

To the Editor: We congratulate the ASH for wishing to develop practice guidelines, but we believe that it may not have been a wise decision to choose ITP as the focus of its initial effort.[1][1] There are very few randomized controlled studies of ITP that provide firm data to guide the clinician,
The State of Daddy Issues

A brief discussion of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment constitutional issues underpinning the current Bauer/ Marotta child support case unfolding in Kansas, with reference to an earlier work regarding Ferguson v. McKiernan, 940 A. 2d 1236 (Pa. 2007):"[T]his is not a gay-parenting issue. This is not a contract issue. This is a civil rights issue. Laws like Kansas statue 23-2208(f) deprive children of their right to due process protection under the law. [...] Children have a liberty right to a relationship with biological family, and a property right in the financial support that children often receive from family members."
Abstract 2367: Increased Density Of Neuroscience Providers Is Associated With Decreased Risk Of Death From Stroke In The United States

Background. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Given that neurologists and neurosurgeons hold special expertise in this area relative to other healthcare provid...
A simple Bayesian method of inferring extinction: comment.

Author Posting. © Ecological Society of America, 2016. This article is posted here by permission of Ecological Society of America for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Ecology 97 (2016): 796–798, doi:10.1890/15-0336.1.
Newer Modalities in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ejaculatory Duct Obstruction

AbstractIn this study, 8 patients were diagnosed as having ejaculatory duct obstruction. The complaints included infertility, painful ejaculation, hematospermia, and perineal and/or testicular pain. Preoperative diagnostics included transrectal ultrasonic scanning and magnetic resonance imaging. A body coil and an endorectal coil using fast spin-echo techniques were used. The diagnosis of ejaculatory duct obstruction in each patient was confirmed by vasography with a combined iodinated contrast medium and methylene blue solution for radiological and direct visualization. A resecto-scope was used for careful unroofing of the involved ejaculatory duct orifice. Patency was confirmed radiographically and by direct vision. In terms of presenting complaints, 7 of 8 patients improved symptomatically and/or objectively. Ejaculatory duct obstruction, a more prevalent condition than is currently appreciated, should be thoroughly investigated and actively treated in cases of infertility or complaints referable to ej...
DC Glow Discharges: A Computational Study for Flow Control Applications

A numerical study of glow discharges was carried out in order to evaluate their potential for flow control applications. As part of this project, a three-dimensional computer code has been written to solve, in an implicit, loosely-coupled fashion, the fluid conservation laws, the charged particle continuity equations under the drift-diffusion model, and the Poisson equation for the electric potential. Fully three-dimensional calculations have been carried out for DC discharges in nitrogen, and changes in the flow in the presence a discharge have been demonstrated. In computations of a three-dimensional electrode configuration mounted on a flat plate in a Mach 5 crossflow, the discharge was found to thicken the boundary layer. The resulting compression waves led to increased pressure forces at the plate surface. These changes in flow structure occurred through dissipative heating; the body force term in the fluid momentum equation was negligible. The computations are in qualitative agreement with total temperature measurements made in a similar configuration for air flow. A preliminary investigation of the effect of an applied magnetic field has also been carried out. A computation of a simple discharge between parallel plates showed that an applied axial magnetic field tends to suppress the radial component of the current density.
On the Reaction of FNO2 with CH3, tert-Butyl, and C13H21

Theoretical studies are reported for the reaction of FNO2 with the radicals CH3, tert-butyl, and C13H21, which are templates for the radical site of a hydrogenated diamond (111) surface. All struct...
Sn-Cu nanocomposite anodes for rechargeable sodium-ion batteries.

Sn0.9Cu0.1 nanoparticles were synthesized via a surfactant-assisted wet chemistry method, which were then investigated as an anode material for ambient temperature rechargeable sodium ion batteries. The Sn0.9Cu0.1 nanoparticle-based electrodes exhibited a stable capacity of greater than 420 mA h g–1 at 0.2 C rate, retaining 97% of their maximum observed capacity after 100 cycles of sodium insertion/deinsertion. Their performance is considerably superior to electrodes made with either Sn nanoparticles or Sn microparticles.
Total Sleep Deprivation Decreases Immobility In The Forced-Swim Test

Sleep deprivation can exert antidepressant effects in humans in less than 24 h, making it the fastest acting antidepressant treatment. However, it is rarely used clinically because the effect disappears once the subject goes back to sleep. An understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation should help to develop new rapidly acting antidepressant strategies. In the present report, an animal model of depression (the forced-swim test) was used to determine whether the effects of total sleep deprivation parallel those obtained with antidepressant drugs. Using the disk-over-water method, rats deprived of sleep for 24 h exhibited increased swimming behavior when compared to cage control rats, mimicking the effects of serotonergic antidepressants. After 48 h, sleep-deprived rats exhibited increased swimming when compared to both cage control and stimulus control rats, demonstrating that the effect is due to sleep deprivation per se, and not to extraneous factors inherent in the sleep deprivation protocol (such as stress and movement). We believe that this paradigm can be used to study the neurobiological mechanisms of rapid antidepressant effects induced by sleep deprivation.
Factors Influencing Adolescent Shoplifting

In 1981, customer shoplifting was estimated at over $16 billion annually (Forbes 1981) and annual retail losses were on the rise (Conner 1980) intensifying the need to handle this problem. Because of these figures, retailers are interested in not only being able to predict who will shoplift, but also in effectively preventing shoplifting.
Selektivvertrag für die schwere COPD

Einen Selektivvertrag zur „qualitatsgesicherten ambulanten Versorgung von Patienten mit ausgepragter chronisch obstruktiver Lungenerkrankung (COPD)“ hat der Bundesverband der Pneumologen zusammen mit der KBV erarbeitet. Der Vertrag, der den Krankenkassen zurzeit angeboten wird, soll die Betreuung von COPD-Patienten in den Stadien III und IV und speziell die Versorgung von Patienten mit Sauerstoff-Langzeittherapie optimieren.
The Non-market Value of Birding Sites and the Marginal Value of Additional Species: Biodiversity in a Random Utility Model of Site Choice by eBird Members

Abstract The eBird database is the product of a huge citizen science project at the Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Members report their birding excursions both their destinations and the numbers and types of birds they observe on each trip. Based on home address information, we calculate travel costs for each birder for trips to alternative birding hotspots. We focus on the Pacific Northwest U.S. (Washington and Oregon states). Many birders are “listers” who seek to maximize the cumulative number of species they have been able to see, and each hotspot is characterized by the number of bird species expected to be present. In a random utility model of destination site choice, we allow for seasonal as well as random heterogeneity in the marginal utility per bird species. For this population of birders, marginal WTP for an additional bird species is highest in June when birds are in their mating-season plumage (at more than $3 per species per trip). Total WTP for a birding outing also depends on other site attributes (including ecological management regime, the possible presence of endangered bird species, urban/rural location, ecological region and relative congestion/popularity). Evidence of variety-seeking can also be discerned in birders' destination choices.
Effect of Chemical and Physical Properties on the In Vitro Degradation of 3D Printed High Resolution Poly(propylene fumarate) Scaffolds

Two distinct molecular masses of poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) are combined with an additive manufacturing process to fabricate highly complex scaffolds possessing controlled chemical properties and porous architecture. Scaffolds were manufactured with two polymer molecular masses and two architecture styles. Degradation was assessed in an accelerated in vitro environment. The purpose of the degradation study is not to model or mimic in vivo degradation, but to efficiently compare the effect of modulating scaffold properties. This is the first study addressing degradation of chain-growth synthesized PPF, a process that allows for considerably more control over molecular mass distribution. It demonstrates that, with greater process control, not only is scaffold fabrication reproducible, but the mechanical properties and degradation kinetics can be tailored by altering the physical properties of the scaffold. This is a clear step forward in using PPF to address unmet medical needs while meeting regulatory ...
A parallel log barrier-based mesh warping algorithm for distributed memory machines

Parallel dynamic meshes are essential for computational simulations of large-scale scientific applications involving motion. To address this need, we propose parallel LBWARP, a parallel log barrier-based tetrahedral mesh warping algorithm for distributed memory machines. Our algorithm is a general-purpose, geometric mesh warping algorithm that parallelizes the sequential LBWARP algorithm proposed by Shontz and Vavasis. The first step of the algorithm involves computation of a set of local weights for each interior node which describe the relative distances of the node to each of its neighbors. The weight computation step is the most time consuming in the parallel algorithm. Based on our choice of the mesh partition and the corresponding distribution of data and assignment of tasks to processors, communication among processors is avoided in an embarrassingly parallel computation of the weights. Once this representation of the initial mesh is determined, a target deformation of the boundary is applied, also in an embarrassingly parallel manner. Finally, new coordinates of the interior nodes are obtained by solving a system of linear equations with multiple right-hand sides that is based on the weights and boundary deformation. This linear system can be solved using one of three parallel sparse linear solvers, i.e., the distributed block BiCG, block GMRES, or LU algorithm, all of which support the solution of linear systems with multiple right-hand side vectors. Our numerical results demonstrate good efficiency and strong scalability of parallel LBWARP on up to 64 processors, as the experiments show close to linear speedup in all cases. Weak scalability is also demonstrated. The performance of the parallel sparse linear solvers is dependent on factors such as the mesh size, the amount of available memory, and the number of processors. For example, the distributed LU algorithm gives better performance on small meshes, whereas the distributed block BiCG and distributed block GMRES algorithms yield better performance when the amount of available memory is limited. Finally, we demonstrate the parallel LBWARP performance for a sequence of mesh deformations which can significantly reduce the runtime of the overall algorithm. When applied to k deformations, parallel LBWARP reuses the weight matrix, that was computed during the first deformation, when the distributed LU linear solver is employed. This gives close to k-time performance for sufficiently many deformations.
Tolerance for psychological pain and capability for suicide: Contributions to suicidal ideation and behavior.

Among people with suicide ideation most do not attempt suicide or die by suicide. In this online study of adult US Facebook users (n = 219), we examined capability for suicide, operationalized as fearlessness about death, and tolerance for psychological pain as potential variables that may explain why some people move from suicide ideation to suicidal behavior. Tolerance for psychological pain was significantly higher for participants who had never attempted suicide. Fearlessness about death was higher in participants who had attempted suicide, but not significantly. At high levels of psychological pain, one's belief in the ability to cope with psychological pain, a dimension of tolerance for psychological pain, was lower in participants with a history of suicide attempt than in participants who had never attempted suicide. The odds of suicidal desire were almost cut in half with each unit increase in participants' belief in their coping ability, whereas for each unit increase in fearlessness about death, the odds of suicidal desire increased by 65%. The Pearson correlation between tolerance for psychological pain and fearlessness about death was negligible. Our findings support a role for both tolerance for psychological pain and capability for suicide/fearlessness about death in the ideation-to-action framework of suicide.
Prognostic Value of Anatomical SYNTAX Score and SYNTAX Score II in Veterans With Left Main and/or Three-Vessel Coronary Artery Disease.

Anatomical SYNTAX score (SS1) and SYNTAX score II (SS2) are often utilized to determine the optimal revascularization strategy. Although US veterans have unique characteristics that may affect outcomes after revascularization, the prognostic values of SS1 and SS2 in veterans have not yet been validated. We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive veteran patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for left main and/or 3-vessel disease from 2009 to 2014. SS1 and SS2 were calculated for each patient. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The prognostic values of SS1 and SS2 were compared by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The predicted 4-year mortality derived from SS2 was compared with the observed 4-year mortality estimated from Kaplan-Meier analysis. After exclusion, 286 patients (99% male) were included. Among 286 patients, 79 patients (27.6%) had left main disease, 151 (52.8%) underwent PCI, and 135 (47.2%) underwent CABG. Overall mortality was 27.6% at a median follow-up of 5.0 years. SS2 had better discriminative ability for all-cause mortality than SS1 (c-index 0.79 vs 0.52, p
Materials for Bone Repair, Augmentation, and Implant Coatings

This paper briefly describes some commercial and experimental materials used in maxillofacial, orthopedic and dental applications for bone augmentation, substitution and repair. These materials include:
CONTROLLER VERIFICATION USING QUALITATIVE REASONING

Abstract The performance of a heterogeneous (gain scheduling) controller is verified, for the control of a CSTR with a reversible exothermic reaction, in the face of sizable disturbances and under uncertainty. A qualitative reasoning technique. NSIM, is used to build and simulate semi-quantitative models with both parametric and non-parametric uncertainty. Bounds on the state variables are determined that are guaranteed to include all of the solutions to the uncertain model, and hence, this technique can be used for automatic proof construction.
Mechanical behavior of crystalline ionic porphyrins

Mechanical properties of six different binary ionic porphyrin crystals with variable morphologies were measured and correlated with their structural properties. These solids were formed from stoich...