cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond Human-in-the-Loop: Empowering End-Users with Transparent Machine Learning

Advances in data analytics and human computation are transforming how researchers conduct science in domains like bioinformatics, computational social science, and digital humanities. However, data analytics requires significant programming knowledge or access to technical experts, while human computation requires in-depth knowledge of crowd management and is error-prone due to lack of scientific domain expertise. The goal of this research is to empower a broader range of scientists and end-users to conduct data analytics by adopting the End-User Development (EUD) models commonly found in today’s commercial software platforms like Microsoft Excel, Wikipedia and WordPress. These EUD platforms enable people to focus on producing content rather than struggling with a development environment and new programming syntax or relying on disciplinary non-experts for essential technical help. This research explores a similar paradigm for scientists and end-users that can be thought of as End-User Data Analytics (EUDA), or Transparent Machine Learning (TML).
Red cell mass (RCM) determination is essential for proper diagnosis of early stage polycythemia vera (PV)

543 Objectives The 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) revised consensus criteria for dx of PV have not been evaluated prospectively. These include 2 major criteria, (1) increased RCM and (2) JAK2 mutation; and 3 minor criteria (bone marrow biopsy (BMB) morphology, low serum erythropoietin (Epo), endogenous erythroid colony (EEC) formation). The dx of PV requires both major and 1 minor criterion or the first major criterion & 2 minor. Hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration is emphasized as the first major criterion (Hgb>18.5 g/dL in ♂ and >16.5 g/dL in ♀) with RCM relegated as an alternate method. We submit that RCM is necesary to accurately assess absolute erythyrocytosis. Methods 30 pts with PV phenotype were prospectively evaluated using WHO criteria. In all pts RCM and plasma volume were measured using dual radioisotope indicator dilution technique (51Cr-RBCs and 125I-HSA). JAK2 positivity was determined quantitatively. BMBs were interpreted by 3 blinded observers. The dx of PV or essential thrombocythemia (ET) was confirmed by whether or not the pt required phlebotomy (median follow-up: 4 years). Results 28 of 30 pts were diagnosed as PV based on increased RCM and JAK2 positivity. In all 28 BMB showed hypercellularity with panmyeolosis. Median phlebotomy requirement in the first year = 4. Two cases met the WHO criteria for PV with increased Hct and JAK2 status but had normal RCM indicating ET, confirmed by BMB and Epo level. There was no rise in Hgb or Hct or need for phlebotomy in these 2 pts. 18 PV pts met major criterion (1) by elevated RCM but not by increased Hgb. Only 21 patients had a low Epo level, as did 1 of 2 ET patient. Conclusions Using Hgb or Hct as a major criterion 18 (64%) and 9 (32%) respectively would not warrant PV dx. As correct dx of PV in its early phase has important clinical management implications, dual radioisotope indicator dilution technique (51Cr-RBCs and 125I-HSA) remains critical for determining absolute erythrocytosis. The WHO criteria should be revised to avoid delay in diagnosis in early phase PV
Performing Loitering: Feminist Protest in the Indian City

Why Loiter is a performative, feminist protest group based in Mumbai. Using strategies developed from the 2011 book of the same name, Why Loiter brings women together in public spaces to loiter as ...
Fatigue in Long-Haul Truck Drivers: A Concept Analysis:

The majority of long-haul truck drivers are affected by fatigue. Notably, fatigue impacts not only quality of life, but the risk for human error, thus impacting the safety of our nation's roads. In 2015, 400,000 trucking accidents occurred with the top driver impairment identified as being "asleep or fatigued." Yet, the current scientific literature reflects different understandings of the concept of fatigue, hindering synchronized measurement and efforts toward its alleviation. The purpose of this work was to analyze the concept of fatigue in long-haul truck drivers using the Rodgers' evolutionary method. The physical, cognitive, and emotional dimensions of fatigue are presented.
Inferior outcomes and treatment disparities in elderly patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a national cancer data base analysis.

Elderly patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) are understudied and poorly defined. The National Cancer Data Base was queried for adults with cHL diagnosed 2004–2013: 22,547 age 18–39, 12,8...
Radiation induced nanovoid shrinkage in Cu at room temperature: An in situ study

Abstract Radiation induced void swelling is widely observed in a variety of metallic materials. Here, by using sputtering deposition technique, we have introduced faceted nanovoids into Cu films. In-situ Kr ion irradiation was subsequently performed at room temperature to investigate the evolution of nanovoids. Most nanovoids found to shrink gradually with increasing dose. Irradiation induced high-density vacancy clusters exist mostly in the form of stacking fault tetrahedrons. Phase field modeling reveales that void shrinkage arises from biased absorption of interstitials. These findings provide insights to the physical mechanisms of radiation response of nanovoids in metallic materials.
Racial differences in bone histomorphometry in children and young adults treated with dialysis.

Abstract Background Healthy African-Americans are known to have greater bone mineral density and decreased risk of fracture when compared to Caucasians. In fact, comparisons of bone histomorphometry in healthy South African children and adults reveal greater cortical thickness in Black subjects as compared to White. How these differences are reflected in the bone of American children and young adults on dialysis is unknown. Methods Using tetracycline-labeled, iliac crest bone biopsies obtained in prior research protocols in pediatric and young adult dialysis patients, we compared trabecular and cortical parameters between non-Hispanic African-American subjects and non-Hispanic Caucasian subjects matched by age and gender. A linear regression model controlled for trabecular turnover and mineralization was used to further investigate the association of race with cortical thickness. Results The matched cohort consisted of 52 subjects-26 African-American and 26 Caucasian. Turnover, mineralization and volume parameters in trabecular bone did not show significant differences between racial groups. Characterizing subjects by renal osteodystrophy type did not show a statistically significant difference although Caucasian patients had double the prevalence of mineralization defects. Consistent with this was a trend toward better mineralization parameters in African-Americans including shorter osteoid maturation time and lower osteoid volume. A sub-cohort of patients with cortical measures demonstrated greater median (IQR) cortical thickness in African-Americans (541 μm [354, 694]) than in Caucasians (371 μm [336, 446], p = 0.08). In a linear regression model controlling for trabecular turnover and mineralization, African-American subjects had 36.2% (95% CI 0.28 to 85.1%, p = 0.048) greater cortical thickness as compared to White subjects. There was no significant difference in cortical porosity. Conclusions Although likely limited by sample size, our findings suggest that, similar to findings in populations of normal children, African-American race in pediatric and young adults on dialysis is associated with greater cortical thickness. Additionally, there was a trend toward greater mineralization defects in Caucasian children. Both findings require further exploration with larger patient samples in order to thoroughly explore these racial differences and the implications on CKD-MBD treatment.
AB1276 THE RISK OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS: A COHORT STUDY

Background Few studies have suggested higher prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). To date, the risk of type 1 or 2 DM among patients with JIA patients has not been fully understood. Objectives To examine the incidence rate (IR) of DM in JIA patients compared to patients with asthma and healthy children. Methods We conducted a cohort study using a U.S. claims data from Truven MarketScan (2005-2016). We identified individuals between age 6 and 18 with ≥2 diagnoses of JIA with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and 10 diagnostic codes followed by one dispensing of JIA-treatment medication. For comparison, we selected 1) children with asthma and 2) healthy individuals. Each JIA patient was matched by age, sex and index date to 5 asthma patients and 5 healthy children. The primary outcome was DM, identified with 1 ICD diagnostic code followed by one dispensing of an antidiabetic drug. We assessed type 1 DM and type 2 DM separately, and composite endpoint of type 1 or 2 DM. IR and hazard ratio (HR) of DM in JIA patients versus patients with asthma and healthy subjects was calculated along with stratification by age (6 to 12 versus 13 to 18). Results After 1:5 matching, there were 74,385 healthy children, 74,385 asthma patients, and 14,877 JIA patients. The mean age in all cohorts was 13.9 years and 66.9% were female. During a mean follow up of 3.72 years, the composite IR of DM in the JIA group was 0.85 per 1,000 person-years (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.61-1.19) compared to 0.63 (0.54-0.74) per 1,000 person-years in the asthma population and 0.53 (0.45-0.62) per 1,000 person-years in the healthy population (Table 1). The multivariable adjusted HR (95% CI) associated with DM in JIA was 1.27 (0.77-2.07) compared to the asthma group and 1.47 (0.90-2.42) compared to the healthy population (Table 2). Age-stratified analyses also showed numerically increased risk of DM in JIA patients. † The study cohorts were age-, sex-, and index date-matched. IR is per 1,000 person-years Conclusion In our cohort of 163,647 children with 14,877 JIA patients, JIA was associated with a numerically higher, albeit not statistically significant, risk of type 1 or 2 DM compared to asthma patients or healthy children. References [1] Schenck S, et al. Comorbidity of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. The Journal of pediatrics. Jan 2018;192:196-203. Acknowledgement This study was supported by an investigator-initiated research grant from Bristol-Myer-Squibb. Disclosure of Interests Hemin Lee: None declared, Yinzhu Jin: None declared, Jun Liu: None declared, Ezra Cohen: None declared, Sarah Chen: None declared, Seoyoung Kim Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche/Genentech and AbbVie.
A novel, one-pot preparation ofN-methyl-α-amino acid dipeptides from oxazolidinones and amino acids

Abstract A new synthetic method has been developed to prepareN-methyl dipeptides in one-pot directly from oxazolidinones. Treatment of oxazolidinone1 with an amino ester yields an intermediateN-hydroxymethyl dipeptide3, which is treated with TFAA and triethylsilane to giveN-methyl dipeptide6 in good yield. The reaction parameters which were explored include the rate of oxazolidinone ring opening, the stability of3, and the optimum solvent and acid for conversion of3 to6.
PAHSAs enhance hepatic and systemic insulin sensitivity through direct and indirect mechanisms

Palmitic acid esters of hydroxy stearic acids (PAHSAs) are bioactive lipids with antiinflammatory and antidiabetic effects. PAHSAs reduce ambient glycemia and improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant aged chow- and high-fat diet-fed (HFD-fed) mice. Here, we aimed to determine the mechanisms by which PAHSAs improve insulin sensitivity. Both acute and chronic PAHSA treatment enhanced the action of insulin to suppress endogenous glucose production (EGP) in chow- and HFD-fed mice. Moreover, chronic PAHSA treatment augmented insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in glycolytic muscle and heart in HFD-fed mice. The mechanisms by which PAHSAs enhanced hepatic insulin sensitivity included direct and indirect actions involving intertissue communication between adipose tissue and liver. PAHSAs inhibited lipolysis directly in WAT explants and enhanced the action of insulin to suppress lipolysis during the clamp in vivo. Preventing the reduction of free fatty acids during the clamp with Intralipid infusion reduced PAHSAs' effects on EGP in HFD-fed mice but not in chow-fed mice. Direct hepatic actions of PAHSAs may also be important, as PAHSAs inhibited basal and glucagon-stimulated EGP directly in isolated hepatocytes through a cAMP-dependent pathway involving Gαi protein-coupled receptors. Thus, this study advances our understanding of PAHSA biology and the physiologic mechanisms by which PAHSAs exert beneficial metabolic effects.
Bidding for delayed rewards: Accumulation as delay discounting, delay discounting as regulation, demand functions as corollary

In the accumulation paradigm animals press one manipulandum to accumulate pellets or seconds of access to food, and then press another manipulandum, or run some distance, to collect it. The accumulation may be interpreted as delay discounting, with the animals adjusting the distal amount to compensate for its distance or delay. The amount accumulated before being collected is a linear function of the distance or time that the experimental paradigm stipulates for collecting it. That linear function follows from the Unit-Price/Unit-Amount axiom. The inverse of the linear compensation functions gives a delay-discount hyperbola. The advantages of the accumulation paradigm and analytic framework for delay discounting studies are noted. Compensation functions are then derived from a behavioral regulation model, which generalizes them to contexts where the individual's budget for response cost becomes over-taxed. In turn, such compensation/regulation models lead directly to representative demand functions. In sum, regulation models provide a theoretical grounding for demand functions, compensation functions, and delay discounting hyperbolas. The parameter that links them is the unit amount k, the slope of the compensation function and of the discount function, the setpoint for consumption in a regulation model, and the ideal quantity consumed at minimal price in a demand analysis.
B1 and B2 B cells are characterized by distinct CpG modification states at DNMT3A-maintained enhancers

We show that DNA methylation is a layered process in B lymphocytes. An underlying foundational methylome is stably established during B lineage commitment and overlaid with a DNMT3A-maintained dynamic methylome which is sculpted in distinct ways in B1 and B2 B cells during B cell development. An engineered loss of DNMT3A after commitment to the B lineage unmasks a foundational methylome that is shared in both B1 and B2 sub-lineages. The dynamic methylome is comprised of novel enhancers whose methylation state is maintained by DNMT3A but can be modulated in strikingly different ways in B1 and B2 B cells. During B1 B cell development, the dynamic methylome undergoes a prominent programmed demethylation event that is not observed during B2 B cell development. The methylation pattern of the dynamic methylome is determined by the coincident recruitment of DNMT3A and TET enzymes and it regulates the developmental expression of B1 and B2 lineage-specific genes.
CHAPTER 28 – Statistics Packages

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of Statistics packages. The folder or directory Statistics contains the packages ConfidenceIntervals, Continuous Distributions, DataManipulation, DescriptiveStatistics, DiscreteDistributions, HypothesisTests, InverseStatisticalFunctions, LinearRegression, MovingAverage, and NormalDistribution. The chapter presents a list of commands contained in the package ConfidenceIntervals.m and illustrates these commands. MeanCI [datalist, options], one of the commands contained in the package ConfidenceIntervals, gives the confidence interval given in the form {min, max} for the population mean of the data indicated in datalist. The chapter discusses some commands contained in the package ContinuousDistributions.m. with examples. It also describes a list of commands contained in the package DataManipulation.m and describes these commands. A command from the package DiscreteDistributions.m, BernoulliDistribution [P], represents the Bernoulli distribution of mean p. This is the probability distribution for one trial where success occurs with probability p and failure with probability (1–p). Success and failure correspond to the values of one and zero, respectively. The chapter describes various commands contained in the package DiscreteDistributions.m and presents their examples.
Chapter 2 – Atoms

Accurate values of absolute cross-sections, both total and partial, are required in a variety of contexts. Early work with available light sources was largely restricted to measuring total cross-sections. Partial cross-section measurement emerged as an active field in the last two decades, with the advent of third-generation storage rings incorporating undulators. The experimental knowledge of partial cross-sections for photoionization of nitrogen atom is much less detailed than it is for those of the noble gases, or even lithium or atomic oxygen. The absolute partial cross-sections are calculated using photoelectron spectroscopy and photoionization mass spectrometry. Here, branching ratio is measured and partial cross-section inferred and also calculations are made using the R-matrix method and the Hartree–Fock wave function. The chapter begins with a detailed discussion of various methods and calculations used to infer the partial cross-section of helium. Recently, fluorescence has been observed as a competitive decay to autoionization of helium in restricted regions of excitation. The impact of fluorescence on the partial ionization cross-section should be significant only within approximately 0.05 eV of the He+ (n=2) threshold. The second chapter deals with lithium. A summary of deduced values of σ(Li+), σ (Li2+), and σ (Li3+) at selected energies are provided. The next chapter presents details on the various calculations and methods used for nitrogen. The subsequent chapters describe autoionizing resonances, inner shell excitation and photoionization of oxygen, and photoionization in the vicinity of the K shell and valence shell photoionization of neon. Lastly inner and outer valence cross-sections and K shell ionization of sodium, and a brief description of data on cross-sections of atomic chlorine and argon are described.
The Centrality of Evidence in the Communication Discipline

This 2020 WSCA Presidential Address is on the 2019 WSCA Convention theme: Advocating with Evidence. The theme is that there is a need to better establish the connection between the Communication di...
The promise of placental extracellular vesicles: models and challenges for diagnosing placental dysfunction in utero

Monitoring the health of a pregnancy is of utmost importance to both the fetus and the mother. The diagnosis of pregnancy complications typically occurs after the manifestation of symptoms, and limited preventative measures or effective treatments are available. Traditionally, pregnancy health is evaluated by analyzing maternal serum hormone levels, genetic testing, ultrasonographic imaging, and monitoring maternal symptoms. However, researchers have reported a difference in extracellular vesicle (EV) quantity and cargo between healthy and at-risk pregnancies. Thus, placental EVs (PEVs) may help to understand normal and aberrant placental development, monitor pregnancy health in terms of developing placental pathologies, and assess the impact of environmental influences, such as infection, on pregnancy. The diagnostic potential of PEVs could allow for earlier detection of pregnancy complications via noninvasive sampling and frequent monitoring. Understanding how PEVs serve as a means of communication with maternal cells and recognizing their potential utility as a readout of placental health have sparked a growing interest in basic and translational research. However, to date, PEV research with animal models lags behind human studies. The strength of animal pregnancy models is that they can be used to assess placental pathologies in conjunction with isolation of PEVs from fluid samples at different time points throughout gestation. Assessing PEV cargo in animals within normal and complicated pregnancies will accelerate the translation of PEV analysis into the clinic for potential use in prognostics. We propose that appropriate animal models of human pregnancy complications must be established in the PEV field.
Renal cell carcinoma, part 2.

ABSTRACT Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for most renal malignancies. This article, the second in a three-part series, addresses how renal masses are classified, signs and symptoms of RCC, medical treatments for RCC, and priority nursing interventions for patients with RCC.
The contributions of William A. Hammond (1828-1900) to Civil War medicine & modern neurology.

Abstract William Alexander Hammond was an American military physician and a main driving force for the development of modern-day clinical Neurology in America. Hammond served as the 11th Surgeon General of the United States Army, acting during the Civil War. Throughout his time as Surgeon General, with influence from Florence Nightingale, Hammond enforced strict hygienic measures and called for the construction of pavilion style hospitals in order to decrease non-wound mortalities. He implemented further reformation of the American Medical Service that would improve efficiency and decrease general mortality for years to come. After his dismissal from the military service, Hammond continued to make meaningful achievements, spearheading the specialization of Neurology. He established the first private practice limited to diseases of the nervous system, published the first American Neurology textbook, coined the term “athetosis”, and was the impetus for the formation of the American Neurological Association.
TH-AB-BRA-01: Biologically Based Prostate Cancer Treatment Planning with Combined Brachytherapy and External Beam Radiotherapy

Purpose: Currently, when external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is combined with brachytherapy, they are planned independently of one another. Standard EBRT strives to deliver homogeneous physical dose to target, ignoring the non-homogeneous nature of brachytherapy. Here, we take advantage of the difference in dose distribution and the resulting biologic effects from both modalities, and examine an alternative approach to deliver homogeneous biological effect. Specifically, we implement the new methodology to the combination of permanent seed brachytherapy and IMRT for the treatment of prostate cancer. Methods: Prostate cancer treatments consisting of 125I (or 103Pd) implants (110 Gy or 100 Gy, respectively) followed by 45 Gy in 25 IMRT fractions are considered. A biological iso-effective dose (IED) is calculated from clinically-derived biologic parameters to determine the desired dose for each voxel within the target and dose constraints for normal tissue. Steep dose gradients are avoided by replacing the voxel doses required by IED with iso-dosimetric optimization structures for IMRT planning. For sub-volumes receiving large brachytherapy doses less than 45 Gy physical dose constraints are imposed; similarly, for cool sub-volumes, more than 45 Gy physical dose constraints are imposed. Results: Retrospective evaluation of patient cases shows that improvement in therapeutic ratio is obtained with the new IED-based treatment plan optimization. Dose distribution, IED-volume histograms, and IED-equivalent DVH for a 45-fraction IMRT treatment are presented. Conclusion: We describe a new biological optimization-based treatment planning implementation. IED is calculated (rather than physical dose) while respecting practical aspects of the EBRT plan. The resulting plans predict reduced toxicity to urethra, bladder and rectum. The results require further clinical verification in a larger number of cases. This new methodology can be generalized to any treatment combination. Funding Support: Research grant from Varian Medical Systems. Conflict of Interest: Xinjie Qiu, Gig Mageras, Marco Zaider: Varian Medical Systems; Laszlo Voros, Gilad Cohen, Jie Yang: None.
Utility of magnetic resonance cholangiography in the evaluation of biliary obstruction.

Abstract Background: Evaluation of suspected biliary obstruction has traditionally involved a variety of imaging modalities including ultrasound, CT, and invasive cholangiography. These techniques have limitations because of poor visualization of intraductal stones (ultrasound and CT) and the need for an invasive procedure (ERCP and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography). Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is a noninvasive imaging modality that provides good visualization of the hepatobiliary system. The aim of the present study was to determine the utility of MRC in evaluating patients with suspected biliary obstruction. Study Design: One hundred forty-three patients were identified with suspected acute biliary obstruction and underwent MRC. Patient selection was based on clinical criteria including an elevation in serum liver chemistries or evidence of biliary ductal dilatation on conventional imaging. MRC was performed using a half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo sequence involving single breath-hold rapid image acquisition. A final diagnosis was determined in each patient based on invasive cholangiography, findings at surgery, and clinical course. Results: Of the 143 patients, 73 had an obstructing biliary lesion. A malignant process was identified in 25 patients with final diagnoses of pancreatic cancer (n = 15), ampullary cancer (n = 4), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 3), and hepatic or nodal metastases (n = 3). MRC correctly identified biliary obstruction in all these patients and accurately identified the level of biliary obstruction in 24 of 25 patients. Based on the MRC images alone, a malignant process was suspected in 21 of the 25 patients. Forty patients were found to have common bile duct stones and eight patients had a benign distal bile duct stricture. MRC correctly identified common bile duct stones in 37 patients with one false-positive exam (sensitivity = 92%; specificity=99%). MRC also correctly identified distal biliary strictures in eight patients. In the remaining 70 patients, no definite biliary obstruction was identified by MRC, and in all patients the absence of mechanical obstruction was confirmed by invasive cholangiography or overall clinical course. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that MRC is able to accurately identify the level and cause of biliary obstruction in both malignant and benign disease. MRC may prove to be an important noninvasive tool in preoperative evaluation of patients with suspected biliary obstruction and identification of patients most likely to benefit from an invasive radiologic or surgical procedure.
Induction of antitumor immunity using bone marrow-generated dendritic cells.

We have previously shown that bone marrow-generated dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with a class I-restricted peptide are potent inducers of CD8+ CTL. In the present study we have investigated whether bone marrow-generated DC are capable of inducing antitumor immunity. We show that a single immunization with DC pulsed with OVA peptide was highly effective in eliciting a protective immune response against a challenge with tumor cells expressing the OVA gene (E.G7-OVA), more so than immunization with irradiated E.G7-OVA cells, OVA peptide-pulsed RMA-S cells, or free OVA peptide mixed with adjuvant. The addition of free OVA protein to day 4 or day 7 bone marrow cultures, but not to day 9 mature DC, was also effective in eliciting CTL and engendering antitumor immunity, but was less effective than peptide-pulsed DC. Induction of CTL and antitumor immunity by bone marrow-generated DC pulsed with the class I-restricted OVA peptide correlated with the expression of syngeneic MHC class II molecules on the DC. This and the fact that induction of tumor immunity was dependent on CD4+ T cells suggest that in vivo priming of CTL and induction of antitumor immunity by bone marrow-generated DC also require the presentation of MHC class II-restricted epitopes and activation of CD4+ T cells. This observation has potentially important implications to the use of peptide-pulsed DC in clinical immunotherapy.
Ovulation induction with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in amenorrheic, infertile women☆

Abstract Thirteen women with infertility thought due to anovulation were treated with LRH. Etiologic diagnoses of amenorrhea included hypothalamic or “idiopathic” and PCOD. All patients had normal gonadotropins and otherwise normal endocrinologic and infertility evaluations; none had ovulated with clomiphene. Patients were studied for six 35 day cycles, single blind, and received LRH or placebo by subcutaneous injections for 28 days/cycle (LRH dosage 1.0 mg 2 or 3 times each day). Frequent assessments of physical status, cervical mucus, vaginal cytology, and serum LH, FSH, estrogen, and progesterone were performed. Ovulation was documented by basal temperature, serum progesterone and, on occasion, endometrial biopsy. Follow-up was continued for 6 months after therapy. Of the 13 patients treated, eight have ovulated and five have conceived. There were no complications of therapy.
Gendering The Labor Of Social Media Production

In recent years and against the backdrop of a creative economy marked by rapid innovation, a mushrooming independent workforce, and the much-vaunted ideal of entrepreneurialism, social media platfo...
Developing a selection method for graduate nursing students.

Purpose: The student selection process is an important faculty responsibility that impacts student success in individual courses, retention, and ultimately graduation rates. The purpose of this article is to review the existing research on graduate student selection and describe one university's newly developed selection process. Data sources: Existing literature and research and one university's selection data. Conclusions: There is limited existing research on graduate student selection to assist faculty in selecting students. One university's process is described in detail for possible replication by others to improve the process. Implications for practice: The process highlighted in this article may be useful to other faculty as a model for improvement of student selection processes.
Inhibition of macrophage migration inhibitory factor decreases proliferation and cytokine expression in bladder cancer cells

The importance of various inflammatory cytokines in maintaining tumor cell growth and viability is well established. Increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has previously been associated with various types of adenocarcinoma. MIF IHC was used to localize MIF in human bladder tissue. ELISA and Western blot analysis determined the synthesis and secretion of MIF by human bladder transitional cell carcinoma cells. The effects of MIF inhibitors (high molecular weight hyaluronate (HA), anti-MIF antibody or MIF anti-sense) on cell growth and cytokine expression were analyzed. Human bladder cancer cells (HT-1376) secrete detectable amounts of MIF protein. Treatment with HA, anti-MIF antibody and MIF anti-sense reduced HT-1376 cell proliferation, MIF protein secretion, MIF gene expression and secreted inflammatory cytokines. Our evidence suggests MIF interacts with the invariant chain, CD74 and the major cell surface receptor for HA, CD44. This study is the first to report MIF expression in the human bladder and these findings support a role for MIF in tumor cell proliferation. Since MIF participates in the inflammatory response and bladder cancer is associated with chronic inflammatory conditions, these new findings suggest that neutralizing bladder tumor MIF may serve as a novel therapeutic treatment for bladder carcinoma.
Time series prediction via two-step clustering

Linear and nonlinear models for time series analysis and prediction are well-established. Clustering methods have also been applied to this area. This paper explores a framework that can be used to cluster time series data. The range of values of a time series is clustered. Then the time series is clustered by data windows that flow into the initial set of value clusters. This allows predictive temporal patterns to be discovered across the whole range of values.
The Galileo Spacecraft: A Communications Legacy for Future Space Flight

The Galileo mission to Jupiter has implemented a wide range of telecommunication improvements in response to the loss of its high gain antenna. These have resulted in a 20 dB (100 fold) increase in returned information, allowing the mission to meet the vast majority of its science objectives. While necessity dictated the use of these new techniques for Galileo, they have now been proven in flight and are available for future deep space missions. This telecommunications legacy of Galileo will aid in our ability to conduct a meaningful exploration of the solar system, and beyond, at a reasonable cost.
Can total knee arthroplasty be safely performed in patients with chronic renal disease

Background and purpose — The prevalence of chronic renal disease (CRD) is rising worldwide. Patients with CRD are more likely to have associated medical problems and are at greater risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. We evaluated patient characteristics and risk of early revision, surgical site infection (SSI), thromboembolic events, mortality, and re-admission of patients with CRD undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized that this patient population would have higher rates of complications. Patients and methods — We conducted a retrospective analysis of data that had been prospectively collected by a Total Joint Replacement Registry. All primary TKAs performed from 2005 through 2010 were included. 41,852 primary TKA cases were evaluated, of which 2,686 (6.4%) TKA procedures had been performed in CRD patients. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and general health status were evaluated. Cox proportional hazard regressions and logistic regressions were used to evaluate the a...
Aspartame : neuropsychologic and neurophysiologic evaluation of acute and chronic effects

Background Neurobehavioral symptoms have been reported anecdotally with aspartame. Objective This study sought to determine whether aspartame can disrupt cognitive, neurophysiologic, or behavioral functioning in normal individuals. Design Forty-eight healthy volunteers completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The first month was aspartame free. Subjects then consumed sodas and capsules with placebo, aspartame, or sucrose for 20 d each. Order was randomized and subjects were assigned to either a high- (45 mg x kg body wt(-1) x d(-1)) or low- (15 mg x kg body wt(-1) x d(-1)) dose aspartame group. Neuropsychologic and laboratory testing was done on day 10 of each treatment period to determine possible acute effects and on day 20 for possible chronic effects. Results Plasma phenylalanine concentrations increased significantly during aspartame treatment. Neuropsychologic results; adverse experiences; amino acid, insulin, and glucose values; and electroencephalograms were compared by sex and by treatment. No significant differences were found for any dependent measure. Conclusion Large daily doses of aspartame had no effect on neuropsychologic, neurophysiologic, or behavioral functioning in healthy young adults.
Atomic Excitation Effects on Nuclear Resonances and Q Values

Atomic excitation effects in nuclear interactions are studied in terms of the moments of the energy distribution of the atomic electrons by using sum rules which allow calculation of modifications to nuclear resonance line shapes and to s+-decay Q-values determined from (p,n) threshold energies. These modifications may be observable with current experimental precision. A previous low-energy resonance experiment is reviewed in terms of sum rules, and feasible high-precision resonance experiments using small accelerators are suggested. Modifications to s+-decay Q-values are given for cases relevant to tests of weak-interaction theories.
Kings Domination on a Torus

Abstract Domination problems on chessboards have been widely studied in recent years. We present a variation of these standard problems in which the various chess pieces make their moves on a torus. In particular, we establish the domination number for the kings graph on a torus.
Usefulness of brachial artery reactivity to isometric handgrip exercise in identifying patients at risk and with coronary artery disease.

The change in brachial artery (BA) diameter after release of an occluding cuff has been used as a measure of endothelial function, to characterize atherosclerotic risk factors, and as a surrogate marker for coronary artery disease (CAD). We compared the change in BA diameter to isometric handgrip (IHG) with the occlusion release method to determine if a physiologic stress could be used to distinguish patients at risk and with CAD. BA diameter was measured by ultrasound during and after IHG, and after occlusion release in 93 subjects. At 120 seconds after release of IHG, BA diameter increased by 9.99 ± 8.3% (p <0.001) in 26 average-risk patients, increased 1.84 ± 5.7% in 37 high-risk patients, and decreased 3.9 ± 5.6% in 30 patients with CAD (p = 0.0001 for trend and p <0.01 between groups). There was a good correlation between change in BA diameter to IHG and occlusion release (r = 0.763 and p = 0.0001). The capacity for IHG and BA occlusion to characterize subjects by group was comparable with the exception of high-risk patients versus patients with CAD (80.5% for IHG vs 71.6% for occlusion and release, p = 0.086). BA response to IHG may be useful for identifying risk factors, patients at risk and with preclinical CAD, and the assessment of treatment strategies.
Academic freedom and academic-industry relationships in biotechnology

Commercial academic-industry relationships (AIRs) are widespread in biotechnology and have resulted in a wide array of restrictions on academic research. Objections to such restrictions have centered on the charge that they violate academic freedom. I argue that these objections are almost invariably unsuccessful. On a consequentialist understanding of the value of academic freedom, they rely on unfounded empirical claims about the overall effects that AIRs have on academic research. And on a rights-based understanding of the value of academic freedom, they rely on excessively lavish assumptions about the kinds of activities that academic freedom protects.
Studies on gaffkemia, a bacterial disease of the American lobster, Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards).

A study was made of the local distribution of Gaffkya homari Hitchner and Snieszko and of its host-parasite relationship with the American lobster, Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards). Of the lobsters from the Marine Biological Laboratory supply, 11.8–32% were found infected and one out of ten lobsters caught off Woods Hole was infected with a Gaffkya-like organism. No isolations were made from lobsters dragged from the edge of the continental shelf nor from lobsters trapped off Martha's Vineyard. G. homari, when inoculated into healthy lobsters, established bacteremia or septcemia on the first or second day after inoculation and induced mortality a few days later. Uninfected lobsters or those pretreated with Vibrio endotoxin did not acquire the disease on contact with the exception of one uninfected contact lobster which developed a slight, temporary bacteremia but survived. Twenty out of 21 lobster sera when tested in vitro stimulated the growth of G. homari while only one out of 21 sera stimulated the growth of Vibrio and seven actually inhibited it. Prior inoculation of heat-killed G. homari did not alter the course of the infection. Such pretreatment also had no influence on the in vitro activity of the serum.
Suppression of human lymphocyte mitogenesis mediated by phagocyte-released reactive oxygen species: Comparative activities in normals and in chronic granulomatous disease☆

Human blood monocytes and neutrophils stimulated in vitro with phorbol myristate acetate, N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine, activated zymosan, or heat aggregated gamma-globulin were found to suppress lymphocyte mitogenic responses. In activated phagocyte-lymphocyte cocultures, both blast transformation and [3H]-thymidine incorporation were reduced while numbers of dead cells were increased, thus suggesting a cytolethal suppressive mechanism. Suppression was prevented by catalase but not by other oxygen radical scavengers nor by cyclooxygenase inhibitors, thus implicating H2O2 as the suppressive mediator. Activated monocytes and neutrophils but not lymphocytes released measurable quantities of H2O2 into cell supernatants. However, transfer of an inhibitory effect with these supernatants was not routinely achieved. Finally, as opposed to normals, lymphocyte blastogenesis in chronic granulomatous disease patients was not inhibited by their activated phagocytes. However, catalase -reversible suppression could be restored in cocultures of normal phagocytes and patient lymphocytes. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate a potentially important mechanism whereby activated phagocytes may alter lymphocyte reactivity.
Scheduling mammograms for asymptomatic women

Abstract A decision theoretic model was used to investigate the relative importance of risk level, radiation hazard, mammographic accuracy, and cost in mammographic screening decisions. The model uses woman-specific medical and family history facts and clinic-specific information regarding mammographic accuracy and practice to profile both woman and clinic, and to formulate periodic screening recommendations. Model parameters were varied extensively to investigate the sensitivity of screening schedules to input values. Multivariate risk was estimated within the program using published data from the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project 5-year follow-up study. Radiation hazard estimates were developed from published radiation physics and radioepidemiologic risk data. Benchmark values for mammographic sensitivity and specificity under screening conditions were calculated from Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project data. Procedural costs used in the analysis were varied around values reflecting conditions at the Washington University Medical Center. Mortality advantages of early versus late breast cancer detection were accounted for using Health Insurance Plan of New York case survival rates. Results are compared with published screening policies to provide insight into implicit assumptions behind those policies. This analysis emphasizes the importance of accounting for variations in clinical accuracy under screening circumstances, in costs, in radiation exposure, and in womanspecific risk when recommending mammographic screening.
Pressure effects on the resistivity of pristine and doped polyacetylene

Abstract Room temperature compressibility and resistivity measurements as a function of pressure for pristine and iodinated polyacetylene are reported. Pressurization results in an initial one order of magnitude decrease in resistivity followed by a gradual increase. Irreversible transformation to a high resistance material occurs at pressures greater than 50 kbar.
Hospital bloodborne pathogens programs: program characteristics and blood and body fluid exposure rates.

Objective To describe hospital practices and policies relating to bloodborne pathogens and current rates of occupational exposure among healthcare workers. Participants and methods Hospitals in Iowa and Virginia were surveyed in 1996 and 1997 about Standard Precautions training programs and compliance. The primary outcome measures were rates of percutaneous injuries and mucocutaneous exposures. Results 153 (64%) of 240 hospitals responded. New employee training was offered no more than twice per year by nearly one third. Most (79%-80%) facilities monitored compliance of nurses, housekeepers, and laboratory technicians; physicians rarely were trained or monitored. Implementation of needlestick prevention devices was the most common action taken to decrease sharps injuries. Over one half of hospitals used needleless intravenous systems; larger hospitals used these significantly more often. Protected devices for phlebotomy or intravenous placement were purchased by only one third. Most (89% of large and 80% of small) hospitals met the recommended infection control personnel-to-bed ratio of 1:250. Eleven percent did not have access to postexposure care during all working hours. Percutaneous injury surveillance relied on incident reports (99% of facilities) and employee health records (61%). The annual reported percutaneous injury incidence rate from 106 hospitals was 5.3 injuries per 100 personnel. Compared to single tertiary-referral institution rates determined more than 5 years previously, current injury rates remain elevated in community hospitals. Conclusions Healthcare institutions need to commit sufficient resources to Standard Precautions training and monitoring and to infection control programs to meet the needs of all workers, including physicians. Healthcare workers clearly remain at risk for injury. Further effective interventions are needed for employee training, improving adherence, and providing needlestick prevention devices.
VIRIAL EXCHANGE-CORRELATION ENERGY DENSITY IN HOOKE'S ATOM

Application of the virial theorem to the interelectronic Coulomb repulsion shows that the virial of the exchange potential yields the exchange energy. However, the virial of the correlation potential does not yield the correlation energy. We have recently constructed a “hypercorrelated” potential whose virial is the correlation energy. We apply these ideas to a system which contains two interacting electrons in an external harmonic potential, Hooke's atom. This system can be solved analytically for a set of spring constants and numerically for any spring constant. By inverting the Kohn–Sham equations, the exact exchange and correlation potentials can be found. These exact values are compared with several popular approximate functionals, namely local spin density (LSD), Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE), and Becke and Lee–Yang–Parr (BLYP). We illustrate our results for two values of the spring constant. At a moderate value, the density is comparable to the He atom, while for a low spring constant, we explore extremely low densities. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 69: 533–540, 1998