cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
We Should Implement Process-Based Use of High-Tech Impregnated Central Venous Lines to Prevent Bloodstream Infections

Central venous lines (CVLs), although prone to infection, are used when the less risky peripheral catheters cannot be used. An infected CVL can cause catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). For every 1000 CVL-days, there are 5 CRBSIs.[1] Eighty thousand CRBSIs[2] occur yearly in the United States with costs of between $4000 and $29,000 each, and alarmingly, between 2400 and 20,000 deaths yearly.[2] Many of these deaths are preventable.[3,4]
9 – SOLVING EQUATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on solving equations. To solve an equation, isolate the unknown. One may add or subtract the same number to both sides of the equation, or multiply or divide both sides by the same nonzero number. One may also remove parentheses or combine terms. Any of these procedures results in a new equation whose solution is the same as the old. An equation may arise from the study of a function. The term “algebra” is the manipulation of symbols to solve equations and other mathematical relations. Multiplication by a positive integer is a shortcut for repeated addition. The distributive law works for subtraction as well as addition. Some equations arise when one variable is proportional or inversely proportional to another. A proportion is an equation of ratios. Proportions arise in the study of functions where one variable is proportional to another.
Stochastic Lightcuts for Sampling Many Lights

We introduce stochastic lightcuts by combining the lighting approximation of lightcuts with stochastic sampling for efficiently rendering scenes with a large number of light sources. Our stochastic lightcuts method entirely eliminates the sampling correlation of lightcuts and replaces it with noise. To minimize this noise, we present a robust hierarchical sampling strategy, combining the benefits of importance sampling, adaptive sampling, and stratified sampling. Our approach also provides temporally stable results and lifts any restrictions on the light types that can be approximated with lightcuts. We present examples of using stochastic lightcuts with path tracing and indirect illumination with virtual lights, achieving more than an order of magnitude faster render times than lightcuts by effectively approximating direct illumination using a small number of light samples, in addition to providing temporal stability. Our comparisons to other stochastic sampling techniques demonstrate that we provide superior sampling quality that matches and improves the excellent convergence rates of the lightcuts approach.
Anti-Opioid Antibodies in Individuals Using Chronic Opioid Therapy for Lower Back Pain.

In addition to the risk of developing opioid use disorder (OUD), known side-effects of long-term opioid use include chronic inflammation and hyperalgesia, which may arise from immune responses induced following chronic opioid use. To investigate this hypothesis, blood samples were obtained from individuals with chronic back pain who were either chronically taking prescription opioids or had minimal recent opioid exposure. Patient samples were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against hydrocodone- or oxycodone-hapten conjugates to assess the levels of antibodies present in the samples. While no specific response was seen in opioid-naive subjects, we observed varying levels of anti-opioid IgM antibodies in the exposed subjects. In these subjects, antibody formation was found to be weakly correlated with current reported daily opioid dose. Other drugs of abuse found to elicit an immune response have been shown to generate advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) through reaction with glucose and subsequent modification of self-proteins. Investigations into this potential mechanism of anti-opioid antibody production identified reduced the formation of reactive intermediate species upon norhydrocodone reaction with glucose in comparison with nornicotine, thus identifying potentially important differences in hapten processing to yield the observed adaptive immune response.
Heterogeneous aggregation of amyloid-β 42 from single-molecule spectroscopy

Protein aggregation is implicated as the cause of pathology in various diseases such as Alzheimer9s and Parkinson9s disease. Polymorphism in the structure of fibrils formed by aggregation suggests the existence of many different assembly pathways and therefore a heterogeneous ensemble of soluble oligomers. Characterization of this heterogeneity is the key to understanding the aggregation mechanism and toxicity of specific oligomers, but in practice it is extremely difficult because oligomers cannot be readily separated. Here, we investigate highly heterogeneous oligomerization and fibril formation of the 42-residue amyloid-β peptide (Aβ42). We developed and used new single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopic and fluorescence lifetime imaging methods, combined with deep learning for image analysis. We found that the concentration of oligomers, including dimers, is extremely low and that the dimer is conformationally diverse. Aggregation to form fibrils is also highly heterogeneous in terms of the number of strands in a fibril and the elongation speed and conformation of fibrils. This heterogeneity in all stages of aggregation explains diverse and sometimes irreproducible results of experimental studies of amyloid-β. Based on our observations and analysis, we propose a new model for aggregation of Aβ42.
Utilizing Colpocleisis to Repair a Vesicovaginal Fistula in a Cervical Cancer Patient with History of Pelvic Radiation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background Vesicovaginal fistula is a rare and distressing urological condition. It is especially prevalent in developing countries with the predominant etiology secondary to obstructed labor. Radiation therapy in female patients with cervical cancer is a risk factor for vesicovaginal fistula formation in the United States. Case Presentation. A 53-year-old woman with a history of cervical cancer and radiation presented with continuous urinary incontinence. Following diagnostic vaginoscopy, a 1 cm vesicovaginal fistula was diagnosed at the vaginal apex. The patient elected for surgical repair. She subsequently underwent successful transvaginal fistula closure using colpocleisis to optimally address the systemic factors of poor wound healing associated with irradiated tissue. Because of the adjacent tissue having been compromised by pelvic radiation, we opted to use a biologic graft made of human cadaveric pericardial tissue (CPT) instead of a native tissue flap to provide additional support for the fistula repair. Conclusion A transvaginal approach for surgical repair of vesicovaginal fistula can be successful in patients with a prior history of pelvic radiation. Transvaginal colpocleisis is a viable option to augment vesicovaginal fistula repair for patients with significant comorbidities when sexual intercourse is no longer desired.
Julian of Toledo and Don Yllán de Toledo:: Exemplum XI of Don Juan Manuel’s Libro del Conde Lucanor

Exemplum XI of Don Juan Manuel’s Libro del Conde Lucanor (“De lo que contescio a un dean de Sanctiago con don Yllan, el grand maestro de Toledo”, ca. 1331‒1335) relates the encounter of Don Yllan de Toledo, a learned necromancer, and the ambitious Dean of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Exemplum XI is one of the best known and most celebrated stories in the book for its seemingly preternatural turn in the plot’s action and the characters’ visit to the Other World. The article seeks to identify Don Yllan with Archbishop Julian of Toledo (642‒690), author of the Prognosticon futuri saeculi (687), an important theological tract that circulated widely during the Middle Ages and that served as the basis for the doctrine of Purgatory. The Prognosticon contains illustrative anecdotes of dialogs with the dead and journeys to and from the Other World. As such, it endowed Julian with the legendary reputation of necromancer and probably served as inspiration for Don Juan Manuel’s Exemplum XI of El Conde Lucanor.
Generation Influences Perceived Coolness But Not Favorable Attitudes Toward Cool Hotel Brands

Although cool brands are increasingly popular in the marketplace, there is scant research examining generational differences in consumers’ coolness perceptions. To address this gap, the present res...
Income inequality and child maltreatment rates in US counties, 2009-2018

Abstract Background and objective Studies have confirmed that income inequality is associated with compromised health and well-being. However, much less is known about the effects of county-level income inequality on risk of perpetrating child maltreatment, particularly for distinct types of child maltreatment. By utilizing recent national data over 10 years (2009–2018), our study explored the associations of county-level income inequality (i.e., Gini index and income quantile ratios) with child maltreatment rates, including both overall and specific types of maltreatment rates (i.e., physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and neglect) in the US. Participants and setting We utilized data from approximately 902 US counties by linking the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System with the American Community Survey. Methods Ordinary Least Squares regression models were estimated to examine the relationship between county-level income inequality and child maltreatment rates and the moderating role of poverty rates. Results Higher scores on county-level Gini index were significantly associated with higher overall child maltreatment rates and neglect, after controlling for county-level characteristics. Income quantile ratios were significantly associated with overall child maltreatment, physical abuse, and neglect. We also found significant interaction effects between income inequality and poverty rates in the associations with physical and psychological abuse rates, suggesting that the effects of inequality were exacerbated by county-level poverty. Conclusions Given the tremendous increases in inequality in the US over recent decades, this research sheds light on the mechanisms through which inequality impacts parents' caregiving abilities in highly unequal counties.
From community to validated measure: Development and validation of the patient-informed cancer communication scale (PICCS).

159Background: Assessing patient-centered communication (PCC) is critical to improving quality patient-centered cancer care. While shown to be reliable and valid, most PCC measures were created by ...
The Vertebral Fracture Cascade: Etiology and Clinical Implications

A vertebral fracture is a marker of bone fragility and is associated with a downward spiral of recurrent fractures known as the vertebral fracture cascade. Etiology of this unfortunate cascade includes bone and muscle loss from immobility, changes in spinal mechanics causing increased loading on adjacent vertebrae, and the development of an increased thoracic kyphosis (hyperkyphosis [HK]). Degenerative disc disease, common in osteoporotic patients, can also cause HK. HK of any etiology has been associated with decreased thoracic extensor muscle strength, unstable gait, increased body sway, decreased physical and pulmonary functions, chronic pain, and increased spinal loads contributing to the vertebral fracture cascade. Preventing this downward spiral requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes early identification, consideration of pharmacologic treatment, early mobilization of the fracture patient, appropriate exercise, and back protection. Exercise should include weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening activities, but caution is needed to avoid undue stress on the back. Physical therapy can be particularly helpful by teaching the patient how to safely perform daily activities and can assist the patient in establishing a safe exercise program that avoids flexion but promotes back extension and weight-bearing activities. Hopefully, these measures will decrease pain, prevent falls, improve posture, prevent additional bone and muscle loss, and potentially abort the devastating downward spiral of the vertebral fracture cascade.
Women‘s land rights in Gambian irrigated rice schemes: Constraints and opportunities

This paper discusses the significance of gender-based conflicts for thefailure of Gambian irrigated rice projects. In particular, it illustrateshow resource control of a gendered crop, rice, shifts from females to maleswith the development of pump-irrigated rice projects. Irrigation imposes aradically different labor regime on household producers, demanding thatthey intensify labor for year-round cultivation. Yet, the Gambian farmingsystem evolved for a five month agricultural calendar, in which women wereaccorded specific land and labor rights. The need to restructure familylabor, specifically skilled female labor, to meet the cultivation demandsof pump irrigation is crucial for understanding the pattern of gender-basedconflicts in Gambian rice schemes. The case study illustrates thatirrigation involves more than technology transfer. Appropriate irrigationdemands sensitivity to the social structure of household production systems. The paper concludes by emphasizing the centrality of gender issuesfor improving food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
GABA transaminases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana complement function in cytosol and mitochondria

GABA transaminase (GABA-T) catalyses the conversion of GABA to succinate semialdehyde (SSA) in the GABA shunt pathway. The GABA-T from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScGABA-TKG) is an α-ketoglutarate-dependent enzyme encoded by the UGA1 gene, while higher plant GABA-T is a pyruvate/glyoxylate-dependent enzyme encoded by POP2 in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtGABA-T). The GABA-T from A. thaliana is localized in mitochondria and mediated by an 18-amino acid N-terminal mitochondrial targeting peptide predicated by both web-based utilities TargetP 1.1 and PSORT. Yeast UGA1 appears to lack a mitochondrial targeting peptide and is localized in the cytosol. To verify this bioinformatic analysis and examine the significance of ScGABA-TKG and AtGABA-T compartmentation and substrate specificity on physiological function, expression vectors were constructed to modify both ScGABA-TKG and AtGABA-T, so that they express in yeast mitochondria and cytosol. Physiological function was evaluated by complementing yeast ScGABA-TKG deletion mutant Δuga1 with AtGABA-T or ScGABA-TKG targeted to the cytosol or mitochondria for the phenotypes of GABA growth defect, thermosensitivity and heat-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study demonstrates that AtGABA-T is functionally interchangeable with ScGABA-TKG for GABA growth, thermotolerance and limiting production of ROS, regardless of location in mitochondria or cytosol of yeast cells, but AtGABA-T is about half as efficient in doing so as ScGABA-TKG. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that pyruvate/glyoxylate-limited production of NADPH mediates the effect of the GABA shunt in moderating heat stress in Saccharomyces. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spontaneous chaotic granular mixing

There are several types of instabilities in fluid mechanics that lead to spontaneous chaotic mixing and intricate patterns. Classical examples include the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability1,2 in shear layers, the instability of Taylor–Couette flow between rotating cylinders3,4 and the Rayleigh-Benard instability in thermal convection5. More recently, a variety of two- and three-dimensional chaotic mixing phenomena have been observed in other geometries6,7,8,9. Mixing in granular flows10,11, unlike that in stirred fluids, is thought to be diffusive—although periodic forcing has been used to enhance granular mixing12,13, spontaneous chaotic granular mixing has not previously been reported. Here we report the observation of chaotic granular mixing patterns in simple cylindrical tumblers partially filled with fine grains. The patterns form spontaneously when sufficiently fine grains (≲300 µm diameter) are blended. We identify the mechanism by which the chaotic patterns are produced: a periodic stick–slip behaviour occurs in the shear layer separating static and flowing regions of grains. This causes weakly cohesive grains to mix at rates overwhelmingly exceeding those achievable for previously studied11,14 freely flowing grains.
Central Nervous System Infections

Central nervous system infections are usually life-threatening, necessitating immediate diagnosis and treatment to prevent death or significant residual brain damage A. Headache with fever and signs of meningeal irritation (nuchal rigidity and Brudzinski’s sign) strongly suggests infection which must be ruled out without delay; however, neonates or elderly individuals with central nervous system infection may not be able to report headache and fever, and signs of meningeal irritation may be absent B. Predisposing factors for central nervous system infections include bacteremia (such as in bacterial endocarditis), debilitating conditions (such as chronic renal failure), immunologic compromise (such as from AIDS, lymphoma, or immunosuppressive drugs), disruption of protective barriers (such as following basilar skull fracture with associated cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea or following neurosurgical procedures such as cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement)
Navigating Dangerous Constitutional Straits: A Prolegomenon on the Federal Marriage Amendment and the Disenfrachisement of Sexual Minorities

Navigating Dangerous Constitutional Straits: A Prolegomenon on the Federal Marriage Amendment and the Disenfranchisement of Sexual Minorities considers the nature of the constitutional amendment process and the Supreme Court's historical approach to incorporating new amendments into the existing constitutional text. Professors Krotoszynski and Spitko argue that, given the Supreme Court's consistent narrow reading of new amendments to preserve pre-existing constitutional rights, the Federal Marriage Amendment must be broadly written to override expressly due process and equal protection guarantees against not only sexual orientation discrimination, but also gender discrimination. In our view, however, if a proposed Federal Marriage Amendment were sufficiently broad to preclude effectively any constitutional protection for same-sex couples, it would probably be incapable of securing ratification.The Article also considers prudential objections to the Federal Marriage Amendment, including concerns rooted in federalism, the history of amending the Constitution to expand the sphere of guaranteed personal liberty, and the dangerous precedent of amending the Constitution to achieve a specific substantive outcome on a very particularized policy question. We argue that, beyond the substantive problems associated with drafting an effective Federal Marriage Amendment, these prudential objections augur strongly against congressional passage and state ratification of such an amendment.
Proliferation in the Rat Olfactory Epithelium: Age-Dependent Changes

Vertebrate olfactory sensory neurons are replaced continuously throughout life. We studied the effect of age on proliferation in olfactory epithelium in postnatal rats ranging in age from birth (P1) until P333. Using BrdU to label dividing cells, we determined the proliferation density of basal cells, i.e., the number of labeled nuclei/unit length (240 microm) of olfactory epithelium in coronal sections from six different anterior-posterior levels from each animal. A total length of >1 m of olfactory epithelium was counted in each age group. We observed a dramatic decrease of proliferation density from P1 through P333. At P1, proliferation density is 151 cells/mm; it decreases to approximately half at P21 (70 cells/mm), and half again at P40 (37 cells/mm). At P333 the proliferation density was only 8/mm, approximately 5% of that seen at P1. The changes were clearly related to age and not to body weight, because the values were essentially identical for males and females of the same age but of different body weight. Proliferating cells appear in patches that, after P40, become more separated from one another and contain fewer cells. In 6- and 11-month-old rats, 30 and 45% of all units contained no labeled cells. We confirmed the data of others that the olfactory surface area continuously increases with age; we showed that there is a reciprocal relationship between proliferation density and surface area. The proliferating cells provide neurons to sustain growth as well as to replace dying cells.
Isolation and purification of growth‐inhibitors from Vietnamese rice cultivars

Bioactive compounds that are produced by select rice cultivars have the potential to control barnyardgrass, a major rice yield-limiting factor. In this study, the Vietnamese rice cultivars, OM 3536, OM 4498 and OM 5930, were selected and their inhibitory activity on cress, lettuce, canola and barnyardgrass was evaluated by using donor–receiver bioassays. These bioassays revealed that OM 3536 and OM 5930 exerted the greatest inhibitory activity, with an average growth inhibition of 57.2% on the roots and shoots of barnyardgrass. A bioassay-guided approach was used to identify the allelopathic fractions from OM 5930 and was coupled with reverse-phase chromatography in order to isolate several growth-inhibitory fractions. The effective dose of the aqueous methanol extract of the rice plants that was required for 50% inhibition (ID50) of the shoot and root growth of the four test plant species, as determined by a logistic regression analysis, averaged 0.091 and 0.062 g mL−1 for OM 5930 and 0.112 and 0.072 g mL−1 for OM 3536, respectively. The ID50 of the barnyardgrass roots and shoots in the assays, as determined by a logistic regression analysis, was 0.044 and 0.149 g mL−1 for OM 3536 and 0.052 and 0.114 g mL−1 for OM 5930, respectively. A growth-inhibitory fraction in the aqueous methanol extract of OM 5930 was isolated and the inhibitory activity on lettuce seedlings was determined. At a concentration of 100 p.p.m., this growth-inhibitor inhibited lettuce root growth by up to 80.2%, compared to the control plants. These findings demonstrate that the dried plant tissues of Vietnamese rice cultivars could contain bioactive compounds that strongly inhibit plant growth.
Biologic correlates and significance of axonogenesis in prostate cancer.

Summary Cancer-related axonogenesis and neurogenesis are recently described biologic phenomena. Our previously published data showed that nerve density and the number of neurons in the parasympathetic ganglia are increased in prostate cancer (PCa) and associated with aggressive disease. Tissue microarrays were constructed from 640 radical prostatectomy specimens with PCa. Anti–protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) antibodies were used to identify and quantify nerve density. Protein expression was objectively analyzed using deconvolution imaging, image segmentation, and image analysis. Data were correlated with clinicopathological variables and tissue biomarkers available in our database. Nerve density, as measured by PGP 9.5 expression, had a weak but significant positive correlation with the lymph node status ( ρ = 0.106; P = .0275). By Cox univariate analysis, PGP 9.5 was a predictor of time to biochemical recurrence, but not on multivariate analysis. Increased nerve density correlated with increased proliferation of PCa cells. It also correlated with expression of proteins involved in survival pathways (Phosphorylated alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase, NF κ B, GSK-2, PIM-2, c-Myc, SKP-2, SRF, P27n, PTEN), with increased levels of hormonal regulation elements (androgen receptor, estrogen receptor α ), and coregulators and repressors (SRC-1, SRC-2, AIB-1, DAX). Axonogenesis is a recently described phenomenon of paramount importance in the biology of PCa. Although the degree of axonogenesis is predictive of aggressive behavior in PCa, it does not add to the information present in current models on multivariate analysis. We present data that corroborate that axonogenesis is involved in biologic processes such as proliferation of PCa, through activation of survival pathways and interaction with hormonal regulation.
Effect of sulfhydryl reagents and protease inhibitors on sodium dodecyl sulfate-heat induced dissociation of Ricinus communis agglutinin

Abstract Ricinus communis agglutinin dissociated to lower molecular weight forms when heated in sodium dodecyl sulfate in the absence of reducing agents, while ricin was little affected by such treatment. The data suggest that strong noncovalent bonds hold together two A-B heterodimers in the Ricinus communis agglutinin tetramer. Protease inhibitors such as diisopropylfluorophosphate, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, and EDTA, did not prevent the sodium dodecyl sulfate-heat induced dissociation; however, sulfhydryl specific reagents (N-ethylmaleimide, 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) and p-chloromercuribenzoate) were effective. Titration of the lectins in sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that ricin contains one sulfhydryl and Ricinus communis agglutinin four sulfhydryl groups, none of which react in the presence of 8 M urea. The sulfhydryl groups that could be titrated in the intact proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate were on the A chains.
SPECT/CT in the management of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Background:The treatment of osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) is mainly based upon the stage of the disease so accurate imaging is crucial. SPECT/CT combines bone scan with high-resolution CT and can provide functional-anatomical images in a single stage. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of SPECT/CT in the management of OLT.Materials and Methods:From 2004 to 2009, 22 patients with OLT were identified that had both SPECT/CT and MRI of the foot and ankle. All charts were reviewed to ascertain the reason for ordering the SPECT/CT and the additional information obtained. AOFAS outcome scores were calculated at the time of followup.Results:Twelve patients underwent ankle arthroscopy for debridement or drilling of the osteochondral lesion. The mean AOFAS score in these 12 patients was 83.6. SPECT/CT helped preoperative planning by identifying the exact location of the active lesion, especially in multifocal disease or revision surgeries while showing the depth of the active lesion. Ten pa...
The road to functional imaging and ultrahigh fields

The Center for Magnetic Resonance (CMRR) at the University of Minnesota was one of the laboratories where the work that simultaneously and independently introduced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of human brain activity was carried out. However, unlike other laboratories pursuing fMRI at the time, our work was performed at 4T magnetic field and coincided with the effort to push human magnetic resonance imaging to field strength significantly beyond 1.5T which was the high-end standard of the time. The human fMRI experiments performed in CMRR were planned between two colleagues who had known each other and had worked together previously in Bell Laboratories, namely Seiji Ogawa and myself, immediately after the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) contrast was developed by Seiji. We were waiting for our first human system, a 4T system, to arrive in order to attempt at imaging brain activity in the human brain and these were the first experiments we performed on the 4T instrument in CMRR when it became marginally operational. This was a prelude to a subsequent systematic push we initiated for exploiting higher magnetic fields to improve the accuracy and sensitivity of fMRI maps, first going to 9.4T for animal model studies and subsequently developing a 7T human system for the first time. Steady improvements in high field instrumentation and ever expanding armamentarium of image acquisition and engineering solutions to challenges posed by ultrahigh fields have brought fMRI to submillimeter resolution in the whole brain at 7T, the scale necessary to reach cortical columns and laminar differentiation in the whole brain. The solutions that emerged in response to technological challenges posed by 7T also propagated and continues to propagate to lower field clinical systems, a major advantage of the ultrahigh fields effort that is underappreciated. Further improvements at 7T are inevitable. Further translation of these improvements to lower field clinical systems to achieve new capabilities and to magnetic fields significantly higher than 7T to enable human imaging is inescapable.
Monovalent Iron in a Sulfur-Rich Environment

A series of low-coordinate, paramagnetic iron complexes in a tris(thioether) ligand environment have been prepared. Reduction of ferrous {[PhTttBu]FeCl}2 [1; PhTttBu = phenyltris((tert-butylthio)methyl)borate] with KC8 in the presence of PR3 (R = Me or Et) yields the high-spin, monovalent iron phosphine complexes [PhTttBu]Fe(PR3) (2). These complexes provide entry into other low-valent derivatives via ligand substitution. Carbonylation led to smooth formation of the low-spin dicarbonyl [PhTttBu]Fe(CO)2 (3). Alternatively, replacement of PR3 with diphenylacetylene produced the high-spin alkyne complex [PhTttBu]Fe(PhCCPh) (4). Lastly, 2 equiv of adamantyl azide undergoes a 3 + 2 cycloaddition at 2, yielding high-spin dialkyltetraazadiene complex 5.
Iterative Linking With the Differential Functioning of Items and Tests (DFIT) Method Comparison of Testwide and Item Parameter Replication (IPR) Critical Values

A Monte Carlo study was conducted to examine the accuracy of differential item functioning (DIF) detection using the differential functioning of items and tests (DFIT) method. Specifically, the performance of DFIT was compared using “testwide” critical values suggested by Flowers, Oshima, and Raju, based on simulations involving large numbers of DIF-free items, with item-specific critical values obtained via the newer item parameter replication (IPR) method. Also examined were the benefits of single-stage, two-stage, and iterative linking for dichotomous and ordered polytomous data involving samples of various size, tests of different length, types and percentages of DIF items, and levels of impact. Overall, the results indicated that testwide and IPR-based critical values corresponding to a nominal alpha of .01 provided similar power for detecting DIF due to shifts in extremity parameters, but IPR power was generally lower when DIF was due to differences in discrimination. In addition, IPR-based critical...
Effects of diet composition on liver antioxidant defense and detoxification enzymes in mice with murine AIDS

Abstract Liver antioxidant defense and detoxification enzymes in murine AIDS-infected mice fed cereal based-diet or purified diet were studied with 32 C57BL/6 female mice in a 2×2×2 (diet × virus × period) treatment design. The mice were divided into two groups and fed Purina mice chow or a liquid diet. One week later, half of the mice in each diet group were injected intraperitoneally with LPBM5 murine retrovirus (MAIDS) stock. Two and 4 weeks after infection, half of the mice in each of the 4 treatment groups were killed, and the livers were excised for biochemical analysis. The results showed that MAIDS virus infection significantly decreased activities of glutathione peroxidase (GP) at 2 weeks postinfection in the liquid diet group, superoxide dismutase (SOD) at both periods in the liquid diet group, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) toward 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB) at both periods in both diet groups when compared to the control groups. MAIDS virus infection did not affect reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, or activities of catalase and glutathione reductase (GR). GSH levels and activities of catalase and GSTs were significantly lower in the mice fed the liquid diet than in those fed mice chow. Virus-mediated decline in antioxidant defense and detoxification capability of MAIDS infected mice may contribute to further development of the disease. The results suggest that chow diet provides a higher antioxidant defense capability than the liquid diet.
Salesmen's Personality Characteristics and Sample Bias:

A major issue in marketing concerns potential bias from nonreturns in survey research. This study was designed to examine if their are personality characteristics that differentiate the respondents from nonrespondents in a mailed questionnaire. Five hundred and eight salesmen of a national marketing firm participated in the study. Nine of the twenty variables studied had a significant difference between respondents and nonrespondents. Practical and theoretical considerations suggests that a respondent population may be an even more select group than previously considered.
The use of magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the accuracy of a handheld ultrasound machine in localizing the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa.

Background and objective Ultrasound has become an increasingly popular modality in facilitating the performance of peripheral nerve blocks. There is a paucity of data describing techniques of ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve blocks. By using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a gold standard, the objective of this study was to describe the ability of a handheld ultrasound machine to accurately locate the sciatic nerve. Methods Ten patients were prospectively enrolled and placed in the prone position. By using a 4- to 7-MHz ultrasound transducer, the sciatic nerve was visualized in short axis between 5 to 10 cm above the popliteal crease. The distance from the skin to the nerve was measured by ultrasound, and a MRI lucent marker was placed at this site. This process was repeated in one additional location. The patient was then placed supine in the MRI scanner and short-axis T1-weighted images were obtained. On the MRI image, we recreated the 2 lines extending down from the markers using the distances previously measured by ultrasound. The point of intersection of these 2 lines represents the ultrasound-determined location of the sciatic nerve, which was then compared with the midpoint of the nerve complex on MRI. Results The sciatic nerve was easily visualized by ultrasound in all 10 patients. MRI showed the division of the sciatic nerve in 9 out of 10 patients. Ultrasound was able to confirm this division in 7 patients. The mean distance between the MRI and ultrasound midpoint location of the sciatic nerve was 2.9 ± 1.3 mm. Conclusions The data presented here suggest that the specific ultrasound machine evaluated in this study can accurately localize the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa.
On the Frequency Distribution of Atmospheric Kelvin Waves.

Abstract The linearized model of Holton is used to compute the stratospheric response to forcing in the form Of a white noise frequency distribution of diabatic heating the equatorial troposphere. It is found that the atmosphere acts as a bandpass filter so that for any zonal wavenumber there is a significant Kelvin wave response in the lower stratosphere only for a limited range of frequencies. It is concluded that a 10–20 day spectral peak in tropospheric forcing is not required to account for the observed spectral distribution of stratospheric Kelvin waves.
Accelerated protocol for measurement of carbonation through a crack surface

Abstract This paper introduces a method for accelerating experiments to quantify gaseous carbonation of cementitious materials through a sheltered crack surface. To date the majority of measurements of carbonation have focused upon the determination of the carbonation reaction through an open material face with no restriction to gaseous exposure. Experiments to determine the extent of carbonation through a crack surface can verify the extent to which restrictions of gaseous exposure can alter rates of carbonation into the crack surface as well as the depth into the crack to which the reaction occurs. The paper demonstrates that with experimental data the accelerated protocol can produce differences in outcomes in time intervals that are short relative to those in which the reaction occurs naturally. The experiment conducted to demonstrate the viability of the accelerated protocol involved measuring differences in the penetration of carbonation into the crack surface that resulted from differences in crack width. A byproduct of this experiment was a measurement of the depth into the crack (from the material face) to which carbonation occurs. It is not the intent of the paper to develop a theory of rates of carbonation, but rather to demonstrate that statistical differences are obtainable with the accelerated protocol.
Demographic Characteristics and Factors Ranked Important by Indian and Riverboat Casino Patrons

Abstract Differences and similarities between the patrons of Indian and riverboat casinos related to demographic characteristics and casino usage were assessed. Patrons were different in age, gender, dependent children, annual visitation, and money budgeted. Patrons ranked chance to win, service, security, and food and beverage as their top factors. With increased competition, casino operators need to know their customer to survive.
OHIO‐1 β‐lactamase resistant to mechanism‐based inactivators

Spontaneous mutants of OHIO-1 β-lactamase, an SHV-1 family enzyme, resistant to inactivation by clavulanic acid, sulbactam and tazobactam, have been isolated. The resistant mutant (M4) was inhibited by 100 μg/ml ampicillin plus 32 μg/ml clavulanic acid compared to ≤2 μg/ml clavulanic acid required for the parent strain. The pI of the mutant beta-lactamase was 7.0, identical to the parent enzyme. Kinetic parameters showed that the M4 enzyme had an increased VmaxKm ratio for all beta-lactam substrates compared to the parent enzyme. The apparent Ki for clavulanic acid, sulbactam and tazobactam was 15.1, 182 and 18 μM, respectively, up to 70-fold higher than the parent enzyme. Partial nucleotide sequencing revealed that the mutant enzyme had a predicted methionine69 → isoleucine69 substitution accounting for the observed changes in substrate specificity.
Globalization Discontent: The Effects of Globalization on Ethnic Protest

In the wake of the Cold War political and economic forces were unleashed that culminated in a wave of ethnic conflict and civil wars on multiple continents. Yet prior to any ethnic conflict or civil war are potentially violent precursors, namely protest. This work examines the link between globalization and ethnic protest. Specifically, we identify socioeconomic factors that lead to ethnic protest. Protest represents the first stage of the process that leads to ethnic conflict, civil war, insurgence, and revolution. Each of these forms of political violence has at its base some sort of grievance. Governments are not willing or able to address these grievances thus protest can be seen as the precursor to greater conflict. In this work we examine a period of time where various forms of conflict peaked in terms of number of active conflicts: 1990-1995. A multiple regression model is constructed that tests the various factors of globalization. Robust findings point to aspects of globalization that increase protest and some that may decrease protest. The paper concludes with potential avenues for policy reform that may help to alleviate the root causes of ethnic protest.
2.5.4 Modeling Objectives on Cost: Insight for Practitioners and Academicians

Following a previous paper entitled Modeling Objectives on Cost in a Decision Maker's Value Structure, the authors present the results of survey research conducted to determine whether or not the objective of minimizing cost should be included as part of the fundamental objectives hierarchy when modeling a decision maker's value structure. Conclusions are drawn for both practitioners and academicians. For practitioners, the discussion addresses which technique those who know and use decision analysis prefer and why. Suggestions for using the two competing techniques both separately and together are offered. For academicians, as a by-product of the surveys, survey results illuminate how much and what kind of decision analysis training and education is received by systems engineers, operations researchers, engineering managers, decision analysts, and others. Standard contingency table hypothesis testing is used to validate certain points.
A contemporary review of management and prognostic factors of upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Abstract Background Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) accounts for Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify all studies examining prognostic factors and management options for UTUC. The search included the Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, and abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology meetings up to November 2014. An updated systematic review was performed. Results Preoperative prognostic factors for UTUC patients include age, race, performance status, obesity, smoking status, elevated fibrinogen levels, hydronephrosis, tumor size, multi-focality, location, clinical grade and previous/synchronous bladder cancer. Postoperative variables include tumor stage/grade, multifocality, nodal involvement, lympho-vascular invasion, initial ureteral location, necrosis, sessile architecture, variant histologies and presence of tissue ALDH1 and SOX2. Curative treatment of choice is NU, with lymphadenectomy conferring survival benefits. Minimally invasive surgery has equivalent oncologic and better peri-operative outcomes compared to open surgery. Conservative therapy includes adjuvant BCG and intravesical mitomycin C. Two randomized trials investigating postoperative instillation of mitomycin C suggest bladder recurrence benefits. Adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy may be useful for patients with advanced T3/4 and/or N+ disease. Conclusion Gold-standard treatment for UTUC remains NU, increasingly performed using minimally invasive surgery. Nomograms including pre- and post-operative variables can aid prognostication and guide further therapy.
Raman Scattering in Paratellurite, Te O 2

Raman spectra of the tetragonal ${{D}_{4}}^{4}$ structure of Te${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, paratellurite, have been obtained at temperatures of 85 and 295 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Frequencies and symmetry assignments for 18 of the 21 Raman-active optical branches are given with only one singlet-${A}_{1}$ and two doublet-$E$ modes not observed. The measured LO-TO splittings of the six $E$ modes observed accounts for 63% of the total oscillator strength of the known ionic contribution to the ordinary-ray dielectric constant. Estimates for the positions of the LO and TO branches of the Raman-inactive, infrared-active, ${A}_{2}$ modes are made from the anisotropic frequency shifts of the oblique phonons in the extraordinary ray. In addition some weak, anomalous, polarization-selection-rule violations are reported.
Integration of direct carbon and hydrogen fuel cells for highly efficient power generation from hydrocarbon fuels

Abstract In view of impending depletion of hydrocarbon fuel resources and their negative environmental impact, it is imperative to significantly increase the energy conversion efficiency of hydrocarbon-based power generation systems. The combination of a hydrocarbon decomposition reactor with a direct carbon and hydrogen fuel cells (FC) as a means for a significant increase in chemical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency is discussed in this paper. The data on development and operation of a thermocatalytic hydrocarbon decomposition reactor and its coupling with a proton exchange membrane FC are presented. The analysis of the integrated power generating system including a hydrocarbon decomposition reactor, direct carbon and hydrogen FC using natural gas and propane as fuels is conducted. It was estimated that overall chemical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of the integrated system varied in the range of 49.4–82.5%, depending on the type of fuel and FC used, and CO2 emission per kWelh produced is less than half of that from conventional power generation sources.
Modeling and role of feedback controlled stochastic ratchets in cellular transport

This paper develops a model for Brownian ratchets to analyze the cases where the transport characteristics are affected by feedback mechanisms. One main application of this approach is to gain insights on the intracellular transport of motor proteins (such as Kinesin and Dynein) on a microtubular track, and on the role of feedback control on their transport. The model comprises of a stochastic system where the system switches between two stochastic differential systems, where the switching criteria is a state-dependent stochastic variable. Simulations demonstrate that the feedback mechanism helps achieve an increased average velocity of transport and corroborates the hypothesis that a motor protein can achieve higher speeds of transport by restricting or enabling attachment/detachment of ATP/ADP like molecules depending on conformational changes in the motor-protein.
Clinical Experience with Ciprofloxacin in the USA

This interim analysis of the efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin is based on case reports of 1241 adult patients treated primarily in the USA; 1026 were suitable for analysis of drug efficacy. The daily dose ranged from 500 to 1500 mg, the unit dose being given every 12 h. Duration of treatment ranged from 5 to 211 days (mean 12.6 days). In 1046 cases of infection the site was the urinary tract (514), skin structures (218), respiratory tract (215), blood (43), bone (27), abdomen (13), gastrointestinal tract (13) and pelvis (3). Organisms responsible for infection were Escherichia coli (282), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (238), Staphylococcus spp. (149), Streptococcus spp. (107), Klebsiella spp. (105), Proteus spp. (97), Haemophilus spp. (71), Enterobacter spp. (58), Salmonella spp. (44), Citrobacter spp. (27), and Serratia spp. (22). Signs and symptoms of infection resolved in 84% of all cases; 12.6% improved and 3.4% failed to improve. Pathogens were eradicated in 91% of urinary tract infections and in 87% of all other cases of infection combined; superinfections occurred in 5.3% of all patients. At the four-week follow-up 83% of patients with urinary tract infection still had sterile urine. Adverse reactions during therapy were considered probably or possibly drug-related in 166 patients. Nausea (37), diarrhea (25), vomiting (15), nervousness (28), and rash (9) were the most frequent; in only 2% of cases was it necessary to discontinue the drug. Results of ophthalmologic studies were generally unremarkable. Occasional elevations of SGOT and SGPT, and rare elevations of NPN related to ciprofloxacin therapy were seen.
Gas Well Production Optimization Using Dynamic Nodal Analysis

This work presents a numerical algorithm that permits the production optimization of gas wells using the concept of dynamic nodal analysis. By combining the desirable features of nodal analysis, material balance technique and decline curve analysis, the method is able to match the historical performance of the well data. It is also able to predict the future performance of the gas well under the existing condition as well as altered conditions. The proposed technique, which has several advantages over the classical nodal analysis, can be used for the selection of the timing and capacity of surface compressor, the evaluation of the economic viability of a well stimulation, and the understanding of the effect of individual production component on the productivity of a gas well over the life of that well.
Processing Factors Affecting Yields and Meat Quality of Smoked Bobwhite Quail

Abstract Bobwhite quail (equal numbers of males and females) were processed at 16 weeks of age in each of two trials to study the effect of different chilling times, water agitation, and chill water salt concentration on cooling rate, thaw loss after frozen storage, yields, and quality characteristics of smoked Bobwhite quail meat. Sodium chloride solutions of 0, 5, and 10% were used for chilling carcasses either without agitation for 16 hr or with agitation for 3 hr. Brine chilling with or without agitation resulted in faster cooling rate when compared with the control (0% NaCl). Non-agitated chilling of carcasses in 5% NaCl solution resulted in significantly (P Regardless of chilling technique, tissue salt concentration increased in proportion with both chill time and brine concentration.