cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Annealing and Graphene Modification of Exfoliated Hydrogen Titanate Nanosheets for Enhanced Lithium-ion Intercalation Properties

Hydrogen titanate has been considered as a promising lithium intercalation material due to its unique layered structure. In the present work, we fabricate 2D graphene/hydrogen titanate hybrid nanosheets for application as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. H2Ti3O7 nanosheets are synthesized by exfoliation of a layered precursor via interacting bulky tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) cations, followed by ion exchange with Na+ ions and washing with water. The as-prepared hydrogen titanate nanosheets are well-dispersed exhibiting ultra-thin thickness with a lateral size up to a few micrometers. The sample is then annealed at 450, 650 and 850 °C, to optimize its Li+-intercalation property. Heating at 450 °C leads to well-crystallized hydrogen titanate with a trace amount of TiO2. Heating at 650 and 850 °C results in mixed sodium titanates, since some sodium ions in the interlayer structure cannot be washed away and become chemically bonded to [TiO6] octahedra at high temperatures. Electrochemical properties of all the four samples are then evaluated by charged/discharged for 100 electrochemical cycles at 0.01–2.5 V vs. Li+/Li at a specific current of 170 mA g−1. The unannealed hydrogen titanate delivers the highest initial discharge capacity of 130.5 mA h g−1, higher than 124.6 mA h g−1 from hydrogen titanate annealed at 450 °C, as well as 101.3 and 63.8 mA h g−1 from hydrogen titanate annealed at 650 and 850 °C, respectively, due to the high surface area from well-dispersed unannealed nanosheets. However, after 100 electrochemical cycles, well-crystallized hydrogen titanate annealed at 450 °C retain the highest charge capacity of 115.2 mA h g−1, corresponding to a capacity retention of 92.5%, while unannealed hydrogen titanate exhibits a final capacity of 72.1 mA h g−1 and a capacity retention of only 55.2%. To further improve energy density of lithium-ion battery, graphene/hydrogen titanate hybrid nanosheets are fabricated by adding graphene nanosheets into hydrogen titanates. The initial charge capacities of unannealed and annealed hydrogen titanate at 450 °C are significantly increased to 170.7 and 233.9 mA h g−1, respectively. A charge capacity of 101.0 mA h g−1 is retained for unannealed hydrogen titanate with graphene-modification after 100 electrochemical cycles since well-dispersed hydrogen titanate nanosheets can be mixed with 2D graphene more uniformly and thus facilitates diffusion of Li+ ions and retard aggregation of active materials.
MRI of the cuboid bone: Analysis of changes in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients and their clinical significance

Abstract Objectives (1) To investigate the association between diabetes and marrow changes in the cuboid; and (2) to evaluate the influence of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and use of insulin in the occurrence of marrow changes in the cuboid. Research design and methods MR and X-ray foot examinations of 237 patients [94 males, 143 females; mean age, 47.1 years (range 16–93 years)], five of whom underwent bilateral examinations, were reviewed. MR and radiographic studies were analyzed for the presence of marrow edema and fractures in the cuboid. Findings were correlated with demographic data (age, gender) and clinical information (BMI and use of insulin). Results Two hundred and forty two feet – 69 diabetic and 173 non-diabetic – were retrospectively evaluated. There was a higher prevalence of marrow edema and fractures in the diabetic cuboid (n = 31, 45%) compared to non-diabetic cuboid (n = 25, 14%, p = 0.02). A fracture line was seen in fourteen (20%) diabetic cuboid bones compared to 4 (2%) in non-diabetic cuboid bones (p Conclusion Despite not bearing weight, the cuboid bone is more vulnerable to marrow edema and fractures in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic patients. Age seems to be an influential factor.
Influence of high levels of plant and animal fats in calf starters on growth, feed consumption, and palatability.

Summary In a growth experiment with seven calves per starter, the addition of 10% brown grease, 10% hydrogenated cottonseed oil, or 5% of each to calf starters markedly reduced consumption and weight gain. The addition of 10% of each of the fats further reduced weight gains and starter consumption. The simple and partial correlations between starter consumption and weight gains were 0.84 and 0.85, which indicates that a major portion of the reduction in growth was associated with reduced starter intake. In a cafeteria study, each of nine calves significantly preferred the control starter. However, one calf demonstrated a similar decisive preference for the starter with 10% added brown grease. In another cafeteria study with 11 calves, 1% brown grease did not significantly affect palatability of a calf starter.
Dynamics of self-trapping in the discrete nonlinear Schro¨dinger equation

Abstract We study dynamical aspects of the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation (DNLS) for chains of different sizes with periodic and open boundary conditions. We focus on the occurrence of a self-trapping transition in the different geometries. The initial condition used is that which places the particle (or power) on one lattice site (or nonlinear waveguide) and the quantity studied is the time-averaged probability for the particle to remain in that site. We show that the self-trapping transition in long chains occurs for parameter values not very different from that for very small clusters.
Small bowel complications after supravesical urinary diversion in pelvic exenteration

Abstract Between June, 1966, and June, 1984, 102 pelvic exenterations were performed at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Medical Center and all patients had some type of supravesical urinary diversion. Of these patients, 23 were reexplored for a gastrointestinal complication and 15 of those had a small bowel complication. Small bowel fistula occurred in 15 instances and 9 patients were reexplored. The fistula associated mortality was 53.3%. All the fistulas occurred in previously radiated patients who had undergone an enteroenteroanastomosis. The recent use of enterocolostomies after the construction of an ileal conduit in 21 patients has not produced any postoperative small bowel fistula, while in 43 patients who underwent enteroenterostomies, 13 fistulas occurred (P
Bupivacaine anesthesia—A clinical trial for endodontic therapy

Abstract In this double-blind clinical trial, thirty-two patients were randomly assigned to two groups of sixteen and administered 0.5 percent bupivacaine 1 200,000 epinephrine or 2 percent lidocaine 1 100,000 epinephrine for endodontic therapy. The onset and profundity of anesthesia were similar for the two groups. However, the bupivacaine group had prolonged anesthesia following treatment and a significant decrease in postoperative pain.
Gas-Phase Molecular Halogen Formation from NaCl and NaBr Aerosols: When Are Interface Reactions Important?

Unique interface reactions at the surface of sea-salt particles have been suggested as an important source of photolyzable gas-phase halogen species in the troposphere. Many factors influence the relative importance of interface chemistry compared to aqueous-phase chemistry. The Model of Aerosol, Gas, and Interfacial Chemistry (MAGIC 2.0) is used to study the influence of interface reactions on gas-phase molecular halogen production from pure NaCl and NaBr aerosols. The main focus is to identify the relative importance of bulk compared to interface chemistry and to determine when interface chemistry dominates. Results show that the interface process involving Cl-(surf) and OH(g) is the main source of Cl2(g). For the analogous oxidation of bromide by OH, gaseous Br2 is formed mainly in the bulk aqueous phase and transferred across the interface. However, the reaction of Br-(surf) with O3(g) at the interface is the primary source of Br2(g) under dark conditions. The effect of aerosol size is also studied. P...
Paving a road to well? How the legal pitfalls of wellness programs can harm organizational performance

Abstract Wellness programs are growing in popularity. This is not surprising, given that studies have found wellness programs can create important benefits for employees and employers alike. However, companies need to be aware that wellness programs can also create significant and costly legal problems. No wellness program can be designed to completely avoid legal risks, but companies can minimize their chances of falling victim to financial damages by (1) steering clear of disparate impact; (2) rewarding behavior, not outcomes; (3) keeping programs voluntary; (4) not letting wellness programs influence employment decisions; (5) protecting employees’ medical information; (6) not creating hostile work environments via wellness activities; and (7) clearly separating work hours and wellness activities.
Protein synthesis: Stop the nonsense

A subtle biochemical alteration can reprogram signals that herald the termination of protein translation into signals encoding amino acids at the level of messenger RNA — and without altering the corresponding DNA. See Letter p.395 The three 'nonsense' or 'stop' codons that signal the ribosome to cease translation — UAA, UAG and UGA — all contain an initial uridine residue. John Karijolich and Yi-Tao Yu demonstrate that isomerization of this uridine, converting it to pseudouridine (Ψ), allows the codons to be read by the ribosome in vivo. Specific amino acids are inserted into the resulting protein, with ΨAA and ΨAG coding for serine and threonine, and ΨGA for tyrosine and phenylalanine. Although there is yet no evidence for a physiological role for this RNA modification, it could offer a way of expanding the genetic code. Similar RNA modification could also be useful as a means of nonsense suppression in vivo, either experimentally or clinically.
Overexpression of Agrin Isoforms inXenopusEmbryos Alters the Distribution of Synaptic Acetylcholine Receptors during Development of the Neuromuscular Junction

Abstract Synapse formation involves a large number of macromolecules found in both presynaptic nerve terminals and postsynaptic cells. Many of the molecules involved in synaptogenesis of the neuromuscular junction have been discovered through morphological localization to the synapse and functional cell culture assays, but their role in embryonic development has been more difficult to study. One of the best understood of these molecules is agrin, a synaptic extracellular matrix protein secreted by both motor neurons and muscle cells, that organizes the postsynaptic apparatus, including high-density aggregates of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), at the neuromuscular junction. We tested the specific hypothesis that different agrin isoforms made by neurons and muscle cells contribute to agrin's synapse organizing activity in the embryo. Agrin isoforms were overexpressed by injecting synthetic RNA into Xenopus laevis embryos at the one- or two-cell stage. To mark cells containing agrin RNA, green fluorescent protein (GFP) RNA was coinjected. The relative area of muscle AChR aggregates was measured by confocal microscopy and image analysis in GFP-positive segments of injected embryos. Innervated regions of myotomal muscles were compared in animals injected with a mixture of agrin and GFP RNAs or with GFP RNA alone. Overexpression of COOH-terminal 95-kDa fragments of a rat agrin isoform made only by neurons (4,8) and the major isoform (0,0) made by muscle cells both increased AChR cluster area by 100–200%. Rat agrin protein was colocalized with AChR aggregates in innervated regions of muscles in injected embryos. These results show that agrin derived from both the nerve terminal and the muscle cell could contribute to synaptic differentiation at the embryonic neuromuscular junction. They further demonstrate the usefulness of overexpression by RNA injection as an assay for molecular function in embryonic synapse formation.
Parenting of Men With Co-Occurring Intimate Partner Violence and Substance Abuse

No studies to date have compared parenting behaviors of men with co-occurring intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance abuse (SA) with community controls. This study was designed to document mediators of differences in parenting behavior of fathers and the emotional-behavioral problems of their children for men with co-occurring SA and IPV. The self-reported parenting (negative, positive and coparenting behaviors) and the child emotional-behavioral problems of 43 fathers with children aged 2 to 6 years with a recent history of SA + IPV were compared to a sample of 43 community control fathers with the same socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Fathers completed measures on their parenting behavior with a target child, coparenting behavior with the child’s mother, emotion regulation, romantic attachment, psychiatric symptoms, and the behavior of the target child. Men with co-occurring SA + IPV had significantly less positive coparenting and more negative parenting behaviors than community control fa...
Anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right aortic sinus: A familial clustering

Origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva or the right coronary artery is a well-described anomaly. We report 3 cases which suggest a familial association of this anomaly. The familial clustering that we report has not been previously demonstrated.
Local control following therapeutic nodal dissection for melanoma.

Regional recurrence of melanoma is usually treated with surgical resection alone. Unfortunately sites of failure following surgical resection are poorly documented. Little information exists regarding local failure following surgery. In order to define local control, a retrospective analysis was performed of all patients undergoing a potentially curative lymph node dissection for metastatic melanoma. From 1978 to 1988, 48 patients underwent lymph node dissection with removal of all known disease (15 axillary, 25 groin and 8 radical neck dissections). Seven patients had stage II disease with simultaneous resection of the primary lesion and nodal dissection. The remaining 41 patients had stage I disease with dissection delayed until nodal metastasis became apparent. Of these 48 patients, 25 experienced local failure for an overall local control rate of 48%. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed only age to be a statistically significant prognostic indicator of local failure with a rate of 31% for patients >50 years of age vs. 66% for patients >50 years of age (P = 0.02). Nodal size, number of nodes involved, extracapsular extension, initial stage, location, or sex did not influence prognosis. Although not statistically significant, time to recurrence was much shorter in patients with extracapsular extension, 5 months vs. 16 months. With an overall local failure rate of 52% following a potentially curable therapeutic nodal dissection further local treatment should be considered. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Molecular, electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of MM quadruply bonded units supported by trans-6-carboethoxy-2-carboxylatoazulene ligands

The reaction between M(2)(TiPB)(4) (M = Mo, W) where TiPB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate and 6-carboethoxy-2-azulenecarboxylic acid (2 equiv.) in toluene leads to the formation of complexes M(2)(TiPB)(2)(6-carboethoxy-2-azulenecarboxylate)(2). Compound (M = Mo) is blue and compound (M = W) is green. Both are air sensitive, hydrocarbon soluble species that gave the corresponding molecular ions in their mass spectra (MALDI-TOF). They show metal based oxidations and ligand based reductions. Electronic structure calculations (DFT and time dependent DFT) indicate that the two azulene carboxylate pi systems are coupled by their interactions with the M(2)delta orbitals. Their intense colors arise from M(2)delta to azulene pi* electronic transitions. While compound exhibits weak emission at approximately 900 nm, no emission has been detected for . Both and have been studied by fs and ns transient absorption spectroscopy. The X-ray analysis of the molecular structure of in the solid state confirmed the paddlewheel nature of its W(2)(O(2)C)(4) core and the trans orientation of the ligands.
Why Are Spine Surgery Patients Lost to Follow-up?

Long-term outcome studies are frequently hindered by a decreasing frequency of patient follow-up with the treating surgeon over time. Whether this attrition represents a “loss of faith” in their index surgeon or the realities of a geographically mobile society has never been assessed in a population of patients undergoing spinal surgery. The purpose of this article is to determine the frequency with which patients who have undergone prior surgery and develop new problems attempt to follow-up with their index spine surgeon. The study design was a population survey. All patients seen at two university-based spine centers over a 3-month period were surveyed regarding prior spine surgery. The questionnaire asked details of the previous operation, whether the patient had sought follow-up with their index surgeon, why the patient did not continue treatment with that surgeon, and whether the patient was satisfied with their prior treatment. Sixty-nine patients completed the survey. Prior operations were lumbar (53 patients) and cervical (16). When asked the reason for not seeing their prior surgeon, 10 patients (15%) stated that they (the patient) had moved and 16 (23%) responded that their surgeon no longer practiced in the area. Thirteen (19%) were unhappy with their previous care, 22 (32%) were seeking a second opinion, and 7 (10%) were told they needed more complex surgery. Thirty-seven (54%) discussed their symptoms with their original surgeon before seeking another surgeon. Although 32 patients (46%) had not discussed their new complaints with their index surgeon, only 3 patients (4%) chose not to return to their prior surgeon despite having the opportunity to do so. Forty-nine patients (71%) were satisfied with their prior surgical care, and 42 patients (61%) would undergo the index operation again. Most of the patients seen at the authors' practices after undergoing prior spine surgery elsewhere failed to follow up with their prior spine surgeon for geographical reasons. It appears that the majority of patients who develop new spinal complaints will seek out their treating surgeon when possible. This suggests that patient attrition over long-term follow-up may reflect a geographically mobile population rather than patient dissatisfaction with prior treatment.
Ablation of Skeletal Muscle Triadin Impairs FKBP12/RyR1 Channel Interactions Essential for Maintaining Resting Cytoplasmic Ca2+

Previously, we have shown that lack of expression of triadins in skeletal muscle cells results in significant increase of myoplasmic resting free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]rest), suggesting a role for triadins in modulating global intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. To understand this mechanism, we study here how triadin alters [Ca2+]rest, Ca2+ release, and Ca2+ entry pathways using a combination of Ca2+ microelectrodes, channels reconstituted in bilayer lipid membranes (BLM), Ca2+, and Mn2+ imaging analyses of myotubes and RyR1 channels obtained from triadin-null mice. Unlike WT cells, triadin-null myotubes had chronically elevated [Ca2+]rest that was sensitive to inhibition with ryanodine, suggesting that triadin-null cells have increased basal RyR1 activity. Consistently, BLM studies indicate that, unlike WT-RyR1, triadin-null channels more frequently display atypical gating behavior with multiple and stable subconductance states. Accordingly, pulldown analysis and fluorescent FKBP12 binding studies in triadin-null muscles revealed a significant impairment of the FKBP12/RyR1 interaction. Mn2+ quench rates under resting conditions indicate that triadin-null cells also have higher Ca2+ entry rates and lower sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ load than WT cells. Overexpression of FKBP12.6 reverted the null phenotype, reducing resting Ca2+ entry, recovering sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content levels, and restoring near normal [Ca2+]rest. Exogenous FKBP12.6 also reduced the RyR1 channel Po but did not rescue subconductance behavior. In contrast, FKBP12 neither reduced Po nor recovered multiple subconductance gating. These data suggest that elevated [Ca2+]rest in triadin-null myotubes is primarily driven by dysregulated RyR1 channel activity that results in part from impaired FKBP12/RyR1 functional interactions and a secondary increased Ca2+ entry at rest.
From complexity theory to transactionalism: Moving occupational science forward in theorizing the complexities of behavior

Over the past decade, the notion of complexity has assumed increasing importance in conceptions of occupational engagement. Several scholars in occupational science and occupational therapy have employed theories of complexity (including chaos theory, dynamic systems theory, and complexity theory) for various ends; however, few have analyzed the continued explanatory utility of these theories vis‐a‐vis occupational constructs. This paper offers one such analysis, and further posits the superiority of Dewey's theory of transactionalism over the systems‐based theories of complexity that currently inform the discipline and profession. Although complexity theory and transactionalism address many similar concepts, their respective ontologies generate notably distinct implications for their application in scholarship on occupation. Upon review, the problems inherent in behavioural applications of complexity theory appear to unnecessarily limit the future theoretical development of occupational science and occup...
WikiBrain: Democratizing computation on Wikipedia

Wikipedia is known for serving humans' informational needs. Over the past decade, the encyclopedic knowledge encoded in Wikipedia has also powerfully served computer systems. Leading algorithms in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, data mining, geographic information science, and many other fields analyze the text and structure of articles to build computational models of the world. Many software packages extract knowledge from Wikipedia. However, existing tools either (1) provide Wikipedia data, but not well-known Wikipedia-based algorithms or (2) narrowly focus on one such algorithm. This paper presents the WikiBrain software framework, an extensible Java-based platform that democratizes access to a range of Wikipedia-based algorithms and technologies. WikiBrain provides simple access to the diverse Wikipedia data needed for semantic algorithms and technologies, ranging from page views to Wikidata. In a few lines of code, a developer can use WikiBrain to access Wikipedia data and state-of-the-art algorithms. WikiBrain also enables researchers to extend Wikipedia-based algorithms and evaluate their extensions. WikiBrain promotes a new vision of the Wikipedia software ecosystem: every researcher and developer should have access to state-of-the-art Wikipedia-based technologies.
Evidence of long-distance transport of mountain cedar pollen into Tulsa, Oklahoma

&p.1: Previous study of Cupressaceae pollen in the Tulsa atmosphere during December and January suggested that the source of this pollen is the Juniperus ashei (mountain cedar) populations that occur mainly in southern Oklahoma and central Texas. The present investigation examined the evidence of long-distance transport of pollen from these populations during the 1996/1997 season at three sites in Oklahoma using Burkard traps. Two of the pollen-monitoring stations were operated in conjunction with Mesonet meteorological stations. It was found that the December and January Cupressaceae pollen occurs outside of the local season at Tulsa. Pollen concentrations are intermittent and correspond to days of peak concentrations at sites nearer the mountain cedar populations. Peak concentrations are associated with winds coming from the south over the mountain cedar areas. Diurnal rhythms show night-time peaks with a delay in timing at the northern-most site. These results are all consistent with the hypothesis that pollen is being transported over long distances from the mountain cedar populations to Tulsa, Oklahoma. These findings are important as they represent one of the few incidences of long-distance transport of pollen in significant concentrations to an area where the source vegetation is not present. Pollen-monitoring sites located in conjunction with Mesonet meteorological stations provide a unique opportunity to further examine atmospheric conditions during long-distance transport events. This will aid future studies of the spatial modeling of long-distance dispersal of pollen.
Antiglobal Challenges to Marketing in Developing Countries: Exploring the Ideological Divide

Abstract Antiglobalization critics have accused marketing in developing countries of undermining local cultures, placing intellectual property rights ahead of human rights, contributing to unhealthy dietary patterns and unsafe food technologies, and promoting unsustainable consumption. Following a brief review of the history of development theory and practice, the author describes these four challenges and presents rebuttals, drawing from the philosophy of marketing. Subsequent sections explore some areas of similarity between antiglobal and marketing thought, as well as some further ideological differences.
Fashion leadership, shopping enjoyment, and gender: Hispanic versus, Caucasian consumers׳ shopping preferences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the role of gender and ethnicity of Hispanic and Caucasian Gen Y consumers as they impact fashion leadership and shopping enjoyment. Previous research comparing these groups on fashion leadership is limited. Results indicated that differences exist between ethnic groups, between genders, and between genders within the Hispanic group and among Hispanic fashion leaders. In general, Hispanics indicated higher levels of fashion leadership and shopping enjoyment. In addition, the research has implications regarding shopping channels and clothing idea sources among levels of Hispanic fashion leadership.
Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of darunavir plus ritonavir and etravirine in semen and rectal tissue of HIV-negative men.

BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy has become a central component of combination in HIV prevention efforts. Defining the individual exposure of commercially available antiretroviral therapy in genital secretions and vulnerable mucosal tissues is paramount to designing future prevention interventions. METHODS A pharmacokinetic (PK) study was performed in 12 HIV-negative men receiving 600 mg of darunavir, 100 mg of ritonavir, and 200 mg of etravirine orally, twice daily for 8 days. Seven blood plasma (BP) samples were collected over 12 hours on day 1 (PK1) and days 7 and 8 (PK2). One rectal tissue (RT) sample from each subject was collected during PK1 and PK2. During PK1, 2 seminal plasma (SP) samples were collected from each subject. During PK2, 6 SP samples were collected from each subject over 2 days. RESULTS Antiretrovirals were detected in SP and RT within 1 hour after a single dose. Over PK1 and PK2, SP exposures were lower than BP by 80%-92% (DRV), 89-95% (RTV), and 83-88% (ETR). However, protein binding in SP (14% for darunavir, 70% for ritonavir, and 97% for etravirine) was lower than in BP. Rectal tissue exposures were higher than BP by 39- to 155-fold for darunavir, 12- to 61-fold for ritonavir, and 20- to 40-fold for etravirine. CONCLUSIONS Lower SP protein binding resulted in higher pharmacologically active darunavir and etravirine concentrations compared with BP. High RT concentrations may also be favorable for suppressing viral replication in the gastrointestinal mucosa. The high protein-unbound exposures in SP and total exposures in RT support further investigations of darunavir plus ritonavir and etravirine in secondary prevention.
Poster: on trust evaluation with missing information in reputation systems

Reputation plays a critical role in managing trust in decentralized systems. Quite a few reputation-based trust functions have been proposed in the literature for many different application domains. However, one cannot always obtain all information required by the trust evaluation process. For example, access control restrictions or high collect costs might limit the ability gather all required records. Thus, one key question is how to analytically quantify the quality of scores computed using incomplete information. In this paper, we start a first effort to answer the above question by studying the following problem: given the existence of certain missing information, what are the worst and best trust scores (i.e., the bounds of trust) a target entity can be assigned? We formulate this problem based on a general model of reputation systems, and examine the monotonicity property of representative trust functions in the literature. We show that most existing trust functions are monotonic in terms of direct missing information about the target of a trust evaluation.
Emergency Department Children Are Not as Sick as Adults: Implications for Critical Care Skills Retention in an Exclusively Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice

Abstract We wished to compare the acuity of adults vs. children using a representative sample drawn from a geographically isolated region. We retrospectively analyzed Emergency Department (ED) patient logs, billing records, and trauma data from two hospitals serving a geographically isolated region (Santa Barbara, California), and compared the following measures of acuity by age, triage category, rates of admission, billing levels of service, procedures (ED intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and invasive line placement), and trauma team activations. We analyzed 88,864 patients treated at the two EDs over an 18-month period, of whom 15,589 (17.5%) were children (
Lactic dehydrogenase in l1210 cells.

PROMPTED by the striking difference in lactic dehydrogenase activity observed by Woodliff1 in sensitive L1210 leukaemic cells compared with those resistant to amethopterin and 6-mercaptopurine we have examined lactic dehydrogenase-levels in sensitive L1210Z and a strain (L1210C59) resistant to both amethopterin and 6-mercaptopurine and partially resistant to cytoxan.
Age-related changes in magnitude and diversity of cross-reactive CD4+ T-cell responses to the novel pandemic H1N1 influenza hemagglutinin

Accumulating evidence suggests that T-cell responses play a significant role in controlling influenza disease. Although humoral responses to the major antigenic component hemagglutinin (HA) have been studied in considerable detail, our understanding of the cellular responses against this antigen is limited. Here, we systematically characterized the magnitude and diversity of immunity to pandemic H1N1 HA and its relationship to seasonal H1N1 HA responses in a cohort of healthy nonimmunized adults. We observed considerable diversity in the magnitude of crossreactive pandemic CD4+ T-cell responses among the subjects, with a subset of the individuals demonstrating higher magnitude T-cell responses against the pandemic antigen compared with the seasonal antigen. Importantly, the data suggest that age-related changes in CD4+ T-cell responses preferentially segregate to the antigenically drifting globular region of HA, more so than the conserved region involved in membrane fusion. These results have important ramifications for our understanding of influenza immunity in humans and development of vaccine strategies against this important pathogen.
Hemolymph volume of noninfected and Plasmodium berghei-infected Anopheles stephensi.

Abstract The hemolymph volume of Anopheles stephensi adult female mosquitoes was determined by a radioisotope dilution technique. [carboxy-14C]Inulin was injected into the hemocoels of mosquitoes with a calibrated capillary needle. After sufficient time for thorough mixing, the labeled hemolymph was collected from groups of 50 mosquitoes by a centrifugation technique. Total hemolymph volume was calculated by a conventional formula for radioisotope dilution. The mean hemolymph volume of the newly emerged adult female mosquitoes was 336 nl/mosquito. The ratio of hemolymph volume to body weight was 0.25 μl/mg body wt. By 14 days after emergence, hemolymph volume had dropped to 190 nl/mosquito. Infection of mosquitoes with the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, had no significant effect on hemolymph volume of the mosquito.
A Note on Verifiable Privacy-Preserving Tries

We describe a security flaw in the construction of the privacy-preserving trie presented in an ICC'12 paper. The flaw allows a semi-honest-but-curious cloud to forge a verifiable dictionary entry with a set of documents that do not contain the keyword in the query. We then proceed to offer a fix.
Measurement Sensitivity in Tapping-Mode Atomic Force Microscopy using a Bi-harmonic Drive Signal

Abstract In tapping mode atomic force microscopy, surface features are measured indirectly via the amplitude of the tapping cantilever. A change in surface profile is detectable only if it results in an amplitude change that is significant enough to be measured by the optics. Previous works have focused on improving sensitivity through the system's Q-factor, either by changing physical cantilever properties or using feedback control, but those approaches undesirably slow down the dynamic response. In this work we take a novel approach to sensitivity amplification by reshaping the tapping trajectory. By shaping the trajectory so that the probe spends a greater portion of each period close to the sample, where nonlinear forces is strongest, the amplitude sensitivity can be altered. A two harmonic trajectory is considered and standard feed forward control techniques are employed to generate the desired cantilever drive signal. Simulation results are included and benchmarked against previous literature using standard methods. The results demonstrate that measurement sensitivity can be improved by a significant amount.
The Ethics of Medical Marijuana: Government Restrictions vs. Medical Necessity

Marijuana is listed by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as an illegal Schedule I drug which has no currently accepted medical use. However, on March 17, 1999, 11 independent scientists appointed by the Institute of Medicine reported that medical marijuana was effective in controlling some forms of pain, alleviating nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, treating wasting due to AIDS, and combating muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis. There was also no evidence that using marijuana would increase illicit drug use or that it was a "gateway" drug. Despite this evidence the DEA refuses to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug, which would allow physicians to prescribe unadulterated and standardized forms of marijuana. After reviewing the pertinent scientific data and applying the principle of double effect, there is a proportionate reason for allowing physicians to prescribe marijuana. Seriously ill patients have the right to effective therapies. To deny patients access to such a therapy is to deny them dignity and respect as persons.
Semiorders and Riordan Numbers

In this paper, we define a class of semiorders (or unit interval orders) that arose in the context of polyhedral combinatorics. In the first section of the paper, we will present a pure counting argument equating the number of these interesting (connected and irredundant) semiorders on n + 1 elements with the nth Riordan number. In the second section, we will make explicit the relationship between the interesting semiorders and a special class of Motzkin paths, namely, those Motzkin paths without horizontal steps of height 0, which are known to be counted by the Riordan numbers.
Impact of an electronic health record operating room management system in ophthalmology on documentation time, surgical volume, and staffing.

Importance Although electronic health record (EHR) systems have potential benefits, such as improved safety and quality of care, most ophthalmology practices in the United States have not adopted these systems. Concerns persist regarding potential negative impacts on clinical workflow. In particular, the impact of EHR operating room (OR) management systems on clinical efficiency in the ophthalmic surgery setting is unknown. Objective To determine the impact of an EHR OR management system on intraoperative nursing documentation time, surgical volume, and staffing requirements. Design, Setting, and Participants For documentation time and circulating nurses per procedure, a prospective cohort design was used between January 10, 2012, and January 10, 2013. For surgical volume and overall staffing requirements, a case series design was used between January 29, 2011, and January 28, 2013. This study involved ophthalmic OR nurses (n = 13) and surgeons (n = 25) at an academic medical center. Exposures Electronic health record OR management system implementation. Main Outcomes and Measures (1) Documentation time (percentage of operating time documenting [POTD], absolute documentation time in minutes), (2) surgical volume (procedures/time), and (3) staffing requirements (full-time equivalents, circulating nurses/procedure). Outcomes were measured during a baseline period when paper documentation was used and during the early (first 3 months) and late (4-12 months) periods after EHR implementation. Results There was a worsening in total POTD in the early EHR period (83%) vs paper baseline (41%) ( P P = .28), although POTD in the cataract group remained worse than at baseline (64%, P P P P Conclusions and Relevance Electronic health record OR management system implementation was associated with worsening of intraoperative nursing documentation time especially in shorter procedures. However, it is possible to implement an EHR OR management system without serious negative impacts on surgical volume and staffing requirements.
The acute inflammatory response and its regulation

The acute inflammatory response is composed of an elaborate cascade of both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators. The balance between these mediators often determines the outcome after injury. In clinical scenarios, such as trauma or sepsis, there is often unregulated production of proinflammatory mediators that can cause multiple organ failure. Further understanding of the endogenous mechanisms that control the inflammatory response is needed to facilitate development of therapeutic options. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of the mechanisms leading to development of acute inflammatory injury as well as the factors that regulate this response.
Cross-reactions among carbonic anhydrases I, II, and III studied by binding tests and with monoclonal antibodies

Cross-reactions among carbonic anhydrases (CAs) I, II, and III were studied using a variety of antisera: (1) a rabbit antiserum to bovine CA III, (2) mouse antisera to human CA I, CA II, and CA III; and (3) five monoclonal antibodies prepared by the hybridoma technique using splenocytes from a mouse immunized with human CAs I and II and bovine CA III. Cross-reactions between CAs were readily found by binding assays using these antisera. Human CA I, but not human CA II, inhibited the reaction of the rabbit anti-CA III with its homologous antigen. Mouse antisera to CA I or CA II bound the homologous I or II with nearly as great efficiency as the autologous isozyme and sometimes weakly bound CA III. Mouse antisera to CA III frequently bound CA I or II. These cross-reactions were confirmed by the first use of hybridoma-prepared, monoclonal antibodies to CAs. The mouse monoclonal antibodies to CA isozymes varied in the amount of cross-reactivity among I, II, and III: at one extreme, one monoclonal was highly specific for the autologous CA III; at the other extreme, one monoclonal weakly reacted with some examples of CAs I, II, and III.
Yeast UBL-UBA proteins have partially redundant functions in cell cycle control

Background: Proteins containing ubiquitin-like (UBL) and ubiquitin associated (UBA) domains have been suggested to shuttle ubiquitinated substrates to the proteasome for degradation. There are three UBL-UBA containing proteins in budding yeast: Ddi1, Dsk2 and Rad23, which have been demonstrated to play regulatory roles in targeting ubiquitinated substrates to the proteasome for degradation. An involvement of these proteins in cell cycle related events has also been reported. We tested whether these three proteins act redundantly in the cell cycle. Results: Here we show that the UBL-UBA proteins are partially redundant for cell cycle related roles. RAD23 is redundant with DDI1 and DSK2, but DDI1 and DSK2 are not redundant with each other and the triple deletion shows a synthetic effect, suggesting the existence of at least two roles for RAD23 in cell cycle control. The rad23Δddi1Δdsk2Δ triple deletion strain delays both in G2/Mphase and in mid-anaphase at high temperatures with duplicated spindle pole bodies. Cell cycle progression in the triple deletion strain can only be partially rescued by a rad23 allele lacking the c-terminal UBA domain, suggesting that RAD23 requires its c-terminal UBA domain for full function. In addition to their ability to bind ubiquitin and the proteasome, the UBL-UBA proteins also share the ability to homodimerize. Rad23 and Dsk2 dimerization requires their UBL and/or UBA domains whereas Ddi1 dimerization does not. Here we show that Ddi1 homodimerization is necessary for its cell cycle related functions. Conclusion: The three yeast UBL-UBA proteins have partially redundant roles required for progression through mitosis.
Long-lived steam-sterilizable membrane probes for dissolved oxygen measurement

Steam-sterilizable membrane probes that are virtually maintenance-free and capable of operation for over 1 year are described. The probes can withstand repeated steam sterilizations. They have a silver cathode, a lead anode, an acetate buffer, and a Teflon membrane. The probes have a linear response from below 0.00002 to over 0.2 atm. of oxygen.
Treating haemophilia A with recombinant blood factors: a comparison.

The mainstay in the treatment of haemophilia A is replacement therapy with repeated infusions of plasma-derived Factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates or recombinant FVIII products. While modern plasma-derived FVIII concentrates have an excellent safety profile, there is an inexorable shift towards the use of recombinant products, especially in affluent countries. Recombinant FVIII products have demonstrated excellent haemostatic efficacy and higher safety with regard to the transmission of blood-borne pathogens. The experience in haemophilia A treatment with five currently available recombinant FVIII products, including the first third-generation product, Advate®, which is completely free from human or animal proteins, is summarised. Some unresolved problems concerning the efficacy and assaying of recombinant factors and future perspectives of both recombinant and plasma-derived FVIII products in global haemophilia care, are also discussed.
Relating Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) Occupancy to Habitat and Landscape Features in the Context of Fire

Abstract. The Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) is a focal species of concern associated with shallowly flooded emergent wetlands, most commonly sedge (Carex spp.) meadows. Their populations are believed to be limited by loss or degradation of wetland habitat due to drainage, altered hydrology, and fire suppression, factors that have often resulted in encroachment of shrubs into sedge meadows and change in vegetative cover. Nocturnal call-playback surveys for Yellow Rails were conducted over 3 years at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Effects of habitat structure and landscape variables on the probability of use by Yellow Rails were assessed at two scales, representing a range of home range sizes, using generalized linear mixed models. At the 163-m (8-ha) scale, year with quadratic models of maximum and mean water depths best explained the data. At the 300-m (28-ha) scale, the best model contained year and time since last fire (≤ 1, 2–5, and > 10 years). The probab...
Differential expression of epithelial and mesenchymal proteins in a panel of prostate cancer cell lines.

Purpose: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition is an important process that results in increased cell migration, invasion and metastasis of many carcinomas. During epithelial to mesenchymal transition epithelial cells down-regulate cell-cell adhesion molecules (ie E-cadherin), up-regulate mesenchymal proteins (ie N-cadherin and cadherin-11), alter polarity, reorganize the cytoskeleton and become isolated. In combination this leads to greater motility. We investigated the role of E-cadherin and the associated catenin-protein complex in regulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer progression.Materials and Methods: The relative invasion index of prostate cancer cells was assessed by MTT based in vitro invasion assay. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot were done to determine cadherin-complex formation, and catenin and cadherin protein expression.Results: Restoration of E-cadherin expression in nonE-cadherin expressing prostate cancer cells decreased invasive potential. However, in vitr...
Oxidative stress in organ preservation: a multifaceted approach to cardioplegia

Every transplant is a reperfused organ and, therefore, undergoes some degree of oxidative damage. Postischemic reperfusion injury results in non-specific free radical-mediated acute endothelial damage, cell death and organ failure. The endothelium is a key site of injury from reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the endothelial cell dysfunction is central to the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Accelerated arteriosclerosis, secondary to chronic allograft rejection, is a major long-term complication of heart transplantation. Therefore, preservation methods that would decrease injury during reperfusion are very important. We have developed a unique preservation solution, with a multifaceted approach, which best preserves the organ from ROS for an extended period of time before transplantation. The advantages of extending this period of preservation include an expansion of the donor pool, by permitting more distant procurement, the ability to perform detailed tissue typing, therefore, improves histocompatibility match and a reduction in emergency surgery as a result of graft rejection.
Uptake of Depression Treatment Recommendations Among Latino Primary Care Patients

Background: Primary care providers (PCP) are the entry point for public sector depression treatment for many Latino patients. However, many Latino patients do not initiate their PCPs’ recommended treatment, which likely contributes to ethnic disparities in depression treatment. This study examined factors related to Latino patients’ uptake of their PCPs’ recommendations for depression treatment. Method: Ninety Latino primary care patients who received a depression treatment recommendation from their PCP participated in a telephone interview. Patients rated their working alliance with their PCP and their PCP’s cultural competence. They also reported their treatment preference, the type of recommendation, and their intended and actual uptake of the recommendation. Patients were contacted at two time points (Time 1: M 14 days after PCP appointment; Time 2: M 84 days after PCP appointment) to report their uptake status. Results: At Time 1, 23% of patients had initiated uptake of the treatment recommendation, increasing to 53% at Time 2. Patients who received a medication recommendation were more likely to have followed though on the recommendation, compared with patients who received a psychotherapy recommendation. The working alliance was positively associated with intention to follow up on a treatment recommendation, and also mediated the relationship between cultural competence and intention of following up on the recommendation. Conclusion: PCP’s treatment recommendation and the PCP– patient alliance play a role in Latino primary care patients intention to follow a treatment recommendation for depression. An improved understanding of this role could enhance efforts to improve depression treatment uptake.