cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Stigma To Discrimination: An Analysis of Community Efforts To Reduce the Negative Consequences of Having a Psychiatric Disorder and Label

Discrimination related to psychiatric disorders and people diagnosed with them is receiving increased interest and attention from researchers, policy makers, and the general public There are diverse views about how best to alter and reduce what all parties agree are personally painful, socially wasteful, and morally inexcusable practices that surround people with psychiatric disorders. We report the results of a first step national survey of noteworthy on-the-ground efforts to reduce the negative consequences of having a psychiatric disorder and label. The sample consists of nontraditional, innovative local efforts along with wellknown programs. Nominations of exemplary antistigma and antidiscrimination efforts were solicited from a national data base developed for this project. Next, an expert consensus panel selected 36 exemplary programs from among 102 nominations. A descriptive analysis and summary of the shared qualities of exemplary programs are provided.
The Influence of Assortativity on the Robustness of Signal-Integration Logic in Gene Regulatory Networks

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) drive the cellular processes that sustain life. To do so reliably, GRNs must be robust to perturbations, such as gene deletion and the addition or removal of regulatory interactions. GRNs must also be robust to genetic changes in regulatory regions that define the logic of signal-integration, as these changes can affect how specific combinations of regulatory signals are mapped to particular gene expression states. Previous theoretical analyses have demonstrated that the robustness of a GRN is influenced by its underlying topological properties, such as degree distribution and modularity. Another important topological property is assortativity, which measures the propensity with which nodes of similar connectivity are connected to one another. How assortativity influences the robustness of the signal-integration logic of GRNs remains an open question. Here, we use computational models of GRNs to investigate this relationship. We separately consider each of the three dynamical regimes of this model for a variety of degree distributions. We find that in the chaotic regime, robustness exhibits a pronounced increase as assortativity becomes more positive, while in the critical and ordered regimes, robustness is generally less sensitive to changes in assortativity. We attribute the increased robustness to a decrease in the duration of the gene expression pattern, which is caused by a reduction in the average size of a GRN’s in-components. This study provides the first direct evidence that assortativity influences the robustness of the signal-integration logic of computational models of GRNs, illuminates a mechanistic explanation for this influence, and furthers our understanding of the relationship between topology and robustness in complex biological systems.
The Blame Game: Exploring the Nature and Correlates of Attributions Following Work–Family Conflict

Research focused on the work–family interface has explored many antecedents and consequences of work–family conflict (WFC) but has neglected to address cognitive reactions following conflict events...
Novel Mechanism of Tumor Suppression by Polarity Gene Discs Large 1(DLG1) Revealed in a Murine Model of Pediatric B-ALL

Drosophila melanogaster discs large(dlg)is an essential tumor suppressor gene (TSG) controlling epithelial cell growth and polarity of the fly imaginal discs in pupal development. A mammalian ortholog, Dlg1, is involved in embryonic urogenital morphogenesis, postsynaptic densities in neurons, and immune synapses in lymphocytes. However, a potential role for Dlg1 as a mammalian TSG is unknown. Here, we present evidence that loss of Dlg1 confers strong predisposition to the development of malignancies in a murine model of pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Using mice with conditionally deleted Dlg1 alleles, we identify a novel "pre- leukemic" stage of developmentally arrested early B-lineage cells marked by preeminent c-Myc expression. Mechanistically, we show that in B-lineage progenitors Dlg1 interacts with and stabilizes the PTEN protein, regulating its half-life and steady-state abundance. The loss of Dlg1 does not affect the level of PTEN mRNAs but results in a dramatic decrease in PTEN protein, leading to excessive phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling and proliferation. Our data suggest a novel model of tumor suppression by a PDZ domain-containing polarity gene in hematopoietic cancers. Cancer Immunol Res; 1(6); 426-37. � 2013 AACR.
Dependence of surface exchange coefficients on averaging scale and grid size

SUMMARY The value of the effective exchange coefficient for area-averaged fluxes can depend significantly on the averaging scale. This dependence implies that the exchange coefficient in numerical models should depend on grid size. The main goal of this study is the assessment of the importance of such scale-dependence. When the large-scale flow is weak, the mesoscale motions on scales smaller than the averaging width (grid size) may generate significant turbulence which is not represented by the area-averaged wind vector (resolved flow). In this case, the effective exchange coefficient must be larger than that predicted by similarity theory in order to predict the grid-averaged turbulent flux. This study reviews different approaches for representation of spatially-averaged surface fluxes over heterogeneous surfaces. The scale-dependence of the effective exchange coefficient is posed in terms of spatially averaging the bulk aerodynamic relationship. This scale-dependence is evaluated in terms of observed fluxes from three different field programs. The effective drag coefficient is found to be more scale-dependent than the effective exchange coefficients for heat and momentum. The effective conductance is found to be less scale-dependent than the effective exchange coefficient and effective resistance. Except for the case of weak flow over strong surface heterogeneity, the exchange coefficient is nearly independent of grid size.
CRÈME-MC: A physics-based single event effects tool

The CREME suite of tools have been extensively used to predict the effects of cosmic rays on microelectronics in space. These tools only consider electronic stopping of ions and nuclear reactions from protons on silicon. Ion-ion physics and the inclusion of additional electronic materials are required to predict large energy deposition events. The successor to the rate prediction tools, CREME-MC, is a Geant4 based application intended to address the challenges associated with highly-scaled or radiation-hardened devices.
Crowd distribution and location preference

Most crowd simulators focus on navigation and agents flow. In this paper, we present another perspective that concentrates on the overall distribution of virtual agents and uses psychological preferences for choosing goal locations. Both observation and published theory indicate that most people prefer to maintain their personal space as event spaces increase in density, particularly when they have no previous relationship to other individuals. The geometric structure that naturally forms could be highly approximated by a Voronoi tessellation. Our method allows users to specify sub-regions of an environment and tag the regions with information (e.g., permitted densities and features). A Centroidal Voronoi Tessellation (CVT) is then automatically constructed over the entire virtual world. The centers of mass of each resulting cell are taken as potential agent goal locations. Individual virtual agents then have the ability to choose their preferred goal locations on the basis of their own characteristics (e.g., personality traits, needs, and interests), the CVT, and semantic features of the sub-regions. This method results in more meaningful crowd simulations with minimal additional user effort. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Loss of Insulin Receptor in Osteoprogenitor Cells Impairs Structural Strength of Bone

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is associated with decreased bone mineral density, a deficit in bone structure, and subsequently an increased risk of fragility fracture. These clinical observations, paralleled by animal models of T1D, suggest that the insulinopenia of T1D has a deleterious effect on bone. To further examine the action of insulin signaling on bone development, we generated mice with an osteoprogenitor-selective (osterix-Cre) ablation of the insulin receptor (IR), designated OIRKO. OIRKO mice exhibited an 80% decrease in IR in osteoblasts. Prenatal elimination of IR did not affect fetal survival or gross morphology. However, loss of IR in mouse osteoblasts resulted in a postnatal growth-constricted phenotype. By 10–12 weeks of age, femurs of OIRKO mice were more slender, with a thinner diaphyseal cortex and, consequently, a decrease in whole bone strength when subjected to bending. In male mice alone, decreased metaphyseal trabecular bone, with thinner and more rodlike trabeculae, was also observed. OIRKO mice did not, however, exhibit abnormal glucose tolerance. The skeletal phenotype of the OIRKO mouse appeared more severe than that of previously reported bone-specific IR knockdown models, and confirms that insulin receptor expression in osteoblasts is critically important for proper bone development and maintenance of structural integrity.
Characterizing methamphetamine withdrawal in recently abstinent methamphetamine users: a pilot field study

Background: Methamphetamine dependence has become a significant problem, but methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms have not been well studied. Methods: This prospective observational pilot study was designed to examine withdrawal symptoms, mood, anxiety, cognitive function, and subjective measures of sleep over a 4-week period in six patients entering residential treatment for methamphetamine dependence. Results: Methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms, mood, and anxiety symptoms all resolve fairly quickly within 2 weeks of cessation of methamphetamine. Sleep was disrupted over the course of the 4-week study. No clinically significant alterations in blood pressure or heart rate were identified. This study did not demonstrate any alterations in cognitive function over the 4 weeks of the residential stay. Conclusions: This pilot study points toward the need for a double-blind, placebo-controlled amphetamine withdrawal paradigm in humans where changes in sleep, cognitive function, and withdrawal measures can be ex...
Diffusion in liquid metals

Mutual diffusion coefficients in dilute liquid metal solutions have been correlated by methods based upon absolute rate theory and the theory of corresponding states. Both correlations reproduce the experimental data to approximately ±25%, but the absolute rate theory method is simpler to use and is applicable to a larger number of systems.
Acetone Formation in the Vibrio Family: a New Pathway for Bacterial Leucine Catabolism

There is current interest in biological sources of acetone, a volatile organic compound that impacts atmospheric chemistry. Here, we determined that leucine-dependent acetone formation is widespread in the Vibrionaceae. Sixteen Vibrio isolates, two Listonella species, and two Photobacterium angustum isolates produced acetone in the presence of l-leucine. Shewanella isolates produced much less acetone. Growth of Vibrio splendidus and P. angustum in a fermentor with controlled aeration revealed that acetone was produced after a lag in late logarithmic or stationary phase of growth, depending on the medium, and was not derived from acetoacetate by nonenzymatic decarboxylation in the medium. l-Leucine, but not d-leucine, was converted to acetone with a stoichiometry of approximately 0.61 mol of acetone per mol of l-leucine. Testing various potential leucine catabolites as precursors of acetone showed that only α-ketoisocaproate was efficiently converted by whole cells to acetone. Acetone production was blocked by a nitrogen atmosphere but not by electron transport inhibitors, suggesting that an oxygen-dependent reaction is required for leucine catabolism. Metabolic labeling with deuterated (isopropyl-d7)-l-leucine revealed that the isopropyl carbons give rise to acetone with full retention of deuterium in each methyl group. These results suggest the operation of a new catabolic pathway for leucine in vibrios that is distinct from the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A pathway seen in pseudomonads.
Therapy preference and decision-making among patients with severe sickle cell anemia and their families.

Background Patients with severe sickle cell anemia (SCA) may benefit from therapeutic intervention with hydroxyurea (HU), chronic red cell transfusion (CT), or stem cell transplantation (SCT). Determination of best treatment is complicated by the tradeoff between each treatment's risks and benefits and the lack of data comparing them to determine efficacy. We explored factors that influenced making decisions regarding interventions and examined the relations between treatment preference and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods Children with severe SCA and their parents received brochures describing each treatment, discussed risk/benefits with a nurse-educator, and answered questions regarding HRQOL and the factors influencing treatment preference. Severe SCA was defined as ≥3 pain events requiring ER visits or hospitalizations within 12 months, ≥2 acute chest syndrome (ACS) events within 24 months, or a combination of the two. Results Thirty parents and 7 patients participated. HU was preferred by 21 parents and 4 children, CT by 5 parents and 1 child, and SCT by 3 parents and 1 child. One parent was undecided and one child preferred no treatment. Interviewees were most influenced by perceived efficacy and safety, but no factors differed significantly among treatment preference groups. HRQOL median scores (0–100 scale) for parents (56; range, 28–91) and children (61; range, 31–96) did not differ significantly among treatment preference groups. Conclusions Patients with severe SCA and their parents can identify their treatment preferences. Improved understanding of their preferences and decision-making process will aid in the design of future clinical trials and in medical decision-making. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:705–710. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Scalable Vaccine Distribution in Large Graphs given Uncertain Data

Given an noisy or sampled snapshot of a network, like a contact-network or the blogosphere, in which an infection (or meme/virus) has been spreading for some time, what are the best nodes to immunize (vaccinate)? Manipulating graphs via node removal by itself is an important problem in multiple different domains like epidemiology, public health and social media. Moreover, it is important to account for uncertainty as typically surveillance data on who is infected is limited or the data is sampled. Efficient algorithms for such a problem can help public-health experts take more informed decisions. In this paper, we study the problem of designing vaccine-distribution algorithms under an uncertain environment, with known information consisting of confirmed cases as well as a probability distribution of unknown cases. We formulate the NP-Hard Uncertain Data-Aware Vaccination problem, and design multiple efficient algorithms for factorizable distributions (including a novel sub-quadratic algorithm) which naturally take into account the uncertainty, while providing robust solutions. Finally, we show the effectiveness and scalability of our methods via extensive experiments on real datasets, including large epidemiological and social networks.
The role of adipose tissue and lipotoxicity in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

The widespread epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) suggest that both conditions are closely linked. An increasing body of evidence has shifted our view of adipose tissue from a passive energy depot to a dynamic “endocrine organ” that tightly regulates nutritional balance by means of a complex crosstalk of adipocytes with their microenvironment. Dysfunctional adipose tissue, particularly as observed in obesity, is characterized by adipocyte hypertrophy, macrophage infiltration, impaired insulin signaling, and insulin resistance. The result is the release of a host of inflammatory adipokines and excessive amounts of free fatty acids that promote ectopic fat deposition and lipotoxicity in muscle, liver, and pancreatic β cells. This review focuses on recent work on how glucose homeostasis is profoundly altered by distressed adipose tissue. A better understanding of this relationship offers the best chance for early intervention strategies aimed at preventing the burden of T2DM.
Grandparent education and intergenerational assessment of learning

ABSTRACTA rationale describes the need for societies with a lengthy lifespan to make education available that can support learning and favorable influence for a rapidly growing grandparent population. International studies drawn from varied disciplines are reviewed that make known the effects of formal education and the effects of social engagement on cognitive functioning of older adults. These two research streams have been merged and applied in grandparent education programs that also consider cultural variance. A three-generational strategy with acceptable psychometric instrumentation is documented. Practitioners in education, family studies, psychology, and social work who want to support grandparent education can benefit from an illustrative study involving 400 retired men and women. The 200 experimental grandparents participating in a 12-week intervention program made significant performance gains as perceived by grandparents, parents, and grandchildren who completed pre-post and delayed-post asses...
Changes in the Private Sector

Some of the environmental and growth limitation legislation is a concern with protecting that last white, middle-class haven — the suburbs. Interactions between the private and public sectors are described in detail. The private developer has been caught in the middle by attempts to redistribute costs. Attracting capital is one problem that is examined.
Phase Aware Warp Scheduling: Mitigating Effects of Phase Behavior in GPGPU Applications

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been widely adopted as accelerators for high performance computing due to the immense amount of computational throughput they offer over their CPU counterparts. As GPU architectures are optimized for throughput, they execute a large number of SIMD threads (warps) in parallel and use hardware multithreading to hide the pipeline and memory access latencies. While the Two-Level Round Robin (TLRR) and Greedy Then Oldest (GTO) warp scheduling policies have been widely accepted in the academic research community, there is no consensus regarding which policy works best for all applications. In this paper, we show that the disparity regarding which scheduling policy works better depends on the characteristics of instructions in different regions (phases) of the application. We identify these phases at compile time and design a novel warp scheduling policy that uses information regarding them to make scheduling decisions at runtime. By mitigating the adverse effects of application phase behavior, our policy always performs closer to the better of the two existing policies for each application. We evaluate the performance of the warp schedulers on 35 kernels from the Rodinia and CUDA SDK benchmark suites. For applications that have a better performance with the GTO scheduler, our warp scheduler matches the performance of GTO with 99.2% accuracy and achieves an average speedup of 6.31% over RR. Similarly, for applications that perform better with RR, the performance of our scheduler is within of 98% of RR and achieves an average speedup of 6.65% over GTO.
Effect of prostaglandin F 2 and gastrin pentapeptide on the lower esophageal sphincter.

SummaryProstaglandin F2α was found to increase the lower esophageal sphincter pressure in the intact opossum in vivo. Dose response curves of the effect of PGF2α showed that maximal response occurred with a dose of 4 μg/kg. The maximal response with gastrin pentapeptide occurred with a dose of 2 μg/kg for its action on increasing the lower sphincter pressure.We thank Dr. John Pike of the Upjohn Company for a generous gift of prostaglandin and the Ayerst Company for gastrin pentapeptide.
Castration of Male Alfalfa Weevils by Microctonus Spp.

Partial to complete castration may occur when males of Hypera postica (Gyllenbal) are parasitized by Microctonus spp. If the weevil is parasitized in the larval stage by either Microctonus , n. sp., or M. colesi Drea, the testes of the adult host usually fail to mature. If adult weevils are parasitized by M. aethiops (Nees), the parasite either completes its development within a short time and kills the host, in which case castration is not important, or the parasite remains for months within the diapausing host and usually causes partial to complete castration. Normal virgin females mated to parasitized males either do not oviposit or, if oviposition occurs, their eggs do not hatch or they have a markedly low percentage fertility.
Test–Retest Reliability and Measurement Invariance of Executive Function Tasks in Young Children With and Without ADHD

Objective: Measurement reliability is assumed when executive function (EF) tasks are used to compare groups or to examine relationships between cognition and etiologic and maintaining factors of psychiatric disorders. However, the test–retest reliabilities of many commonly used EF tasks have rarely been examined in young children. Furthermore, measurement invariance between typically developing and psychiatric populations has not been examined. Method: Test–retest reliability of a battery of commonly used EF tasks was assessed in a group of children between the ages of 5 and 6 years old with (n = 63) and without (n = 44) ADHD. Results: Few individual tasks achieved adequate reliability. However, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models identified two factors, working memory and inhibition, with test–retest correlations approaching 1.0. Multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) models confirmed configural measurement invariance between the groups. Conclusion: Problems created by poor reliability, includ...
THE STUDY OF THE OIL-BEARING CHARACTERISTICS OF DA'ANZHAI OIL RESERVOIR

Da'anzhai oil reservoirs are the chief production zones of Chuanzhong oil field. Most of oil and gas are from the Da'anzhai carbonate formation. With the long time past, the output decreases and some wells are even exhausted. So it is much necessary to study the oil-bearing characteristics and predict the output. In the paper, the reservoirs are classified into three types by oil productivity: dry zones, low production zones and high production zones. The qualitative characteristics of the different types are reduced according to the information of well logging, geology and production test, and the models of production formation are set up. Eventually, the methods are formed, which is used to select pay zone and predict the productivity.
A platform for estimating the relevance of information in vanet applications

Progress in wireless communication and sensing technologies enabled research on Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network applications that aim to disseminate useful information. Examples include safety applications such as the Emergency Electronic Brake Lights, Highway Merge Warning, or Control Loss Warning, or non-safety applications such as parking or travel time dissemination systems. A major problem in these applications is knowing when the information is relevant for a given vehicle. The knowledge of information relevance helps applications to make decisions such as when to warn the driver because of some reported safety related information or which parking location should the driver pursue given a list of available locations? The estimates of relevance can also be used to rank the information. This maximizes the use of available resources such as the communication bandwidth and allows for the most important information to be disseminated. Previously proposed methods for estimating relevance typically depend on heuristics or analytical solutions. These may be inaccurate or may not consider all the necessary factors. They are also application specific and therefore it is hard for developers to use these for novel applications. This dissertation proposes a simulation based platform for developing novel VANET applications. The platform generates relevance estimator modules that can be used in deployed applications. The method for generating the modules is based on a machine learning approach. The method works by using observations of vehicles in simulations to generate training examples that are used to learn a relevance function, which estimates the relevance of the given piece of information. This document presents research work on using this technique for safety and non-safety applications. It also presents an implementation of the platform for developing novel Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network safety warning applications.
Rhesus monkey lens as an in vitro model for studying oxidative stress.

Lenses from young rhesus monkeys were incubated in the presence of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} or oxygen radical generating systems to determine their suitability as a model for investigating lenticular oxidative stress. Additionally, direct comparisons were made between the effects found with the monkey lenses and those observed with cultured rat lenses exposed to the same oxidizing systems. As in earlier studies with rat lenses the monkey lenses exhibited impaired ability to actively accumulate from the medium radioactively labelled rubidium and choline following exposure to oxidative stress. Based on the effects of various scavengers of oxygen radicals it appeared that the mechanisms responsible for lens damage were the same for both rat and monkey lenses. However, rat lenses were damaged by lower concentrations of oxidants than were monkey lenses. It was concluded that oxidative stress affects both rat and monkey lenses by similar mechanisms but that lenses from monkeys, and probably other primates, are more resistant to these effects because they have better endogenous antioxidant defenses.
Classifying Finite Fields

After some preparatory material on homomorphisms, we prove that for each prime power q = p n , there is, up to isomorphism, a unique field with q elements. We also find a formula for the number of irreducible polynomials of degree n in F q [x] for any p and n, and use it to show that almost every polynomial in ℤ[x] is irreducible.
Intracoronary adenosine-induced ventricular arrhythmias during fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement: case series and literature review

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a standardized and well-established method frequently used in clinical practice to evaluate the hemodynamic significance of epicardial coronary stenosis identified by coronary angiography. It is based on the change in the pressure gradient across the stenosis after the achievement of maximal hyperemia of the coronary circulation which is commonly induced by intravenous (IV) or intracoronary (IC) administration of adenosine. Here, we have described three cases of IC adenosine-induced ventricular arrhythmias during FFR measurement from our institution, and after literature review we found that all the cases of ventricular arrhythmias induced by adenosine during FFR measurement were observed where it was administered via IC route. Although a causal relationship between the use of IC adenosine during FFR measurement and the induction of ventricular arrhythmias is not yet established, we suggest using IV adenosine as the preferred route of administration until we better understand the incidence and mechanism underlying this phenomenon.
AutoMaS: An Automated Middleware Specialization Process for Distributed Real-time and Embedded Systems

Developing distributed applications, particularly those for distributed, real-time and embedded (DRE) systems, is a difficult and complex undertaking due to the need to address four major challenges: the complexity of programming interprocess communication, the need to support a wide range of services across heterogeneous platforms and promote reuse, the need to efficiently utilize resources, and the need to adapt to changing conditions. The first two challenges are addressed to a large extent by standardized, general-purpose middleware (e.g. CORBA, DCOM and Java RMI) through the use of a “black-box” approach, such as the object-oriented paradigm (frameworks and design patterns). The need to support a large variety and range of applications and application domains has resulted in very feature-rich implementations of these standardized middleware. However, such a feature-richness acts counteractive to resolving the remaining two challenges; instead it incurs excessive memory footprint and performance overhead, as well as increased cost of testing and maintenance. To address the four challenges all at once while leveraging the benefits of general-purpose middleware requires a scientific approach to specializing the middleware. Software engineering techniques, such as aspect-oriented programming (AOP), feature-oriented programming (FOP), and reflection make the specialization task simpler, albeit still requiring the DRE system developer to manually identify the system invariants, and sources of performance and memory footprint bottlenecks that drive the specialization techniques. Specialization reuse is also hampered due to a lack of common taxonomy to document the recurring specializations, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of these techniques. To address these requirements, this paper presents a case for an automated, multi-stage, feature-oriented middleware specialization process that improves both middleware developer productivity and middleware performance. Three specific contributions are made in this paper. First, contemporary middleware specialization research is framed in terms of a three-dimensional taxonomy. Second, the principles of separation of concerns are used in the context of this taxonomy to define six stages of a middleware specialization process lifecycle. Finally, a concrete implementation of the six stage, automated middleware specialization process is presented along with empirical data illustrating the benefits accrued using the framework.
Use of the Prostate Health Index for detection of prostate cancer: results from a large academic practice

Use of the Prostate Health Index for detection of prostate cancer: results from a large academic practice
Choose Your Weapon: The Impact of Strategic Considerations and Resource Constraints on Terrorist Group Weapon Selection

Historians of terrorism note that modern terrorists rely almost exclusively on two weapon types: the gun and the bomb. However, the comparative use of these weapons differs from one terrorist group...
Chapter 39 Cell Preparation for the Identification of Leukocytes

Publisher Summary There are many problems and pitfalls that can be encountered when labeling cells with antibodies. These problems need to be recognized and addressed when they occur and solutions devised, if the data obtained are to be correctly interpreted. This chapter focuses on these problems, their probable solutions, and several strategies for staining cells with antibodies labeled with different colored fluorochromes. Advances in flow cytometry instrumentation design and the availability of new fluorochromes and staining strategies have led to methods for immunophenotyping cells with two or more antibodies simultaneously. With this progress has come the realization that the use of a single antibody is insufficient for identification of a unique cell population. Instead cells within one population may have proteins in common with cells of another population. By evaluating the unique repertoire of proteins using several antibodies together, each coupled with a different fluorochrome, the repertoire for any given cell population can be determined. For immunophenotyping using a single color, it is customary to first stain cells with a primary antibody, usually a monoclonal antibody, directed to the epitope of interest. A secondary polyclonal antibody that is specific to epitopes on the primary antibody and that is covalently coupled with fluorescein is then used to bind to the primary antibody, effectively coloring the cell.
Overcoming Reductant Interference in Peroxidase-Based Assays for Hydrogen Peroxide Quantification.

A problem commonly encountered when using peroxidase-based methods for hydrogen peroxide quantification in biobased matrixes is interference due to the presence of endogenous reductants. Such assays are typically based on the generation of an oxidized reporter molecule in direct proportion to the amount of hydrogen peroxide reduced in the peroxidase-catalyzed reaction. Endogenous reductants confound such assays by reducing the oxidized reporter molecule, thus resulting in underestimates of hydrogen peroxide content. In the present work, we demonstrate how this problem can be circumvented by selectively oxidizing offending compounds by treatment with the oxidized reporter molecule prior to initiating the peroxidase reaction for hydrogen peroxide quantification. The approach is demonstrated using horseradish peroxidase, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), as the reporter molecule and a representative garlic paste as the hydrogen peroxide-containing biobased matrix. The approach is expect...
Back to the Basics: Neurologic Exam Trumps 24-Hour Follow-Up Computed Tomography Scans in Determining Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage (S49.004)

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether routine 24-hour computed tomography (CT) brain scan is a necessary test for all acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who were treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). BACKGROUND: Current research presents concerns surrounding subjecting patients to additional radiation through CT scans. We sought to determine if early neuro-deterioration (END) is a valid predictor of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) in tPA treated patients. DESIGN/METHODS: Consecutive patients with AIS given tPA between June 2008 and December 2011 were retrospectively identified. Cases were excluded if intra-arterial treatment was received (n=15), a 24-hr CT was not performed (n=9), or 24-hr NIHSS score was not documented (n=6). The remaining cases were divided into: END (>/=2pt increase in NIHSS) and No END. Baseline characteristics and medical history, 24-hr CT scan findings, orders for new medical and/or surgical management within 6hrs of imaging, and administration of antithrombotics by 10 a.m. the following day were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Two-hundred cases met criteria: END n=26 and no END n=174. Abnormal CT findings were found more often among patients with END (88.5% vs. 59.2%, p=0.002). Of the 174 patients without END who were radiated for a 24-hour head CT 0 patients experienced sICH. The sensitivity of END predicting sICH was 100% with a specificity of 89%. The sensitivity of END predicting PH1/PH2 is 64% and the specificity is 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Given the low percentage of patients in our sample who did not experience END the utility of a 24 hour CT for diagnosing sICH is questionable. Given the recent concerns over negative side effects of widespread CT scans for diagnostic procedures, further studies are needed to investigate the risk/benefit of subjecting patients to radiation during a 24 hour CT as opposed to scanning only patients who experience 2 point neurological deterioration. Supported by: Debakey Scholars Program of Tulane University School of Medicine. Disclosure: Dr. Boehme has nothing to disclose. Dr. George has received research support from Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Dunn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Albright has received research support from The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health. Dr. Siegler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Behring has nothing to disclose. Dr. Beasley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Martin-Schild has nothing to disclose.
Mutual coupling reduction using grounded strip line with diamond slots

This paper presents a new proposed grounded strip line with diamond slots structure to reduce the mutual coupling between two closely spaced rectangular patch antennas for WLAN applications. The two patches are printed on a Roger RO3003 substrate with a relative permittivity of 3 and thickness of 1.52 mm. The decoupling structure is composed of diamond shape slots etched on a rectangular metallic strip placed between the two antennas on the top side of the substrate. The structure is grounded by a single via placed at the center. An isolation of 15 dB has been achieved with a separation of 0.19 λ o at 5.8 GHz. The realized gain of the single element is around 6.2 dB. The array is suitable for WLAN application where compact size is required.
Paralyzed left vocal cord associated with ligation of patent ductus arteriosus.

We reviewed the records of 167 neonates and older children undergoing ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus to determine the prevalence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and identify risk factors that might increase the likelihood of injury. Paralysis or paresis of the left vocal cord was identified by fiberoptic laryngoscopy in seven patients. All seven weighed less than 1500 gm at the time of operation and the ductus had been ligated with a metal clip. All had persistent symptoms when observed for 5 to 19 months. Injury to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve occurs infrequently but may have long-term consequences.
Qualitative findings on building a partnered approach to implementation of a group-based diabetes intervention in VA primary care.

Objective Conduct a formative evaluation to inform the implementation of ‘Empowering Patients in Chronic Care’ (EPIC), an evidence-based interdisciplinary group medical appointment intervention to improve collaborative goal-setting in patients with treated but uncontrolled diabetes. Design The formative evaluation involved qualitative, in-depth interviews with clinicians, structured according to the Promoting Action on Research in Health Services framework. Interviews elicited (1) participants’ knowledge regarding interdisciplinary group self-management and goal-setting programmes and how well clinicians embrace these interventions (evidence), (2) physical and social climate at each target facility and how the intervention can best be embedded into routine primary care (context) and (3) site-specific needs to be addressed by our implementation team and clinicians’ preparedness and intentions to participate in the intervention (facilitation). Setting Clinicians were part of a primary care setting at one of five participating medical facilities within one Veterans Health Administration Veterans Affairs regional network. Participants We interviewed a snowball sample of 35 interdisciplinary clinicians engaged in diabetes management, practising leadership and administrators at target sites. Results Most participants had previous experience with diabetes group self-management programmes and viewed group appointments as an effective approach to enhancing care. Discussions about existing group appointments provided a context for evaluating potential barriers and facilitators to implementing EPIC into target sites. Interviews revealed clinicians’ expectations about the roles they would play in the intervention, their assessments of the roles and strategies to facilitate their performance in those roles. Conclusions Successful implementation of evidence-based practices into routine care requires a partnered approach with engaged local staff. The intervention should address local goals and research objectives to encourage bidirectional engagement. Robust partnerships are nurtured further by sustained, open communication and must consider the context, target population and local experience to address barriers and facilitators to implementation.
An opioid dispensing and misuse prevention algorithm for community pharmacy practice

Abstract Background Prescription opioid abuse has rapidly increased in recent years and is now considered a national epidemic by the United States government. Community pharmacies are at the forefront of opioid abuse, given their role in dispensing opioid prescriptions. Despite this role, however, there are few known guidelines to help community pharmacists navigate the process of detecting and managing prescription opioid abuse. Objectives To develop and evaluate a candidate guideline, based on clinical experience and existing literature, to help community pharmacists monitor and manage potential opioid prescription abuse. Methods We developed an algorithm based on literature and expert advice. The algorithm was reviewed by two discussion groups and six community pharmacy stakeholders through in-depth interviews, and revised based on feedback. Result Key themes identified from the discussions were that the algorithm should encompass the following: (1) start with ensuring authenticity of the prescription; (2) employ state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) as a primary screening tool to detect those at risk for prescription opioid abuse; (3) employ the additional abuse detection steps of clinical profile review and observation of the person picking up the prescription; (4) involve protocols of sharing concerns with the patient, making contact with the prescriber, and/or return of the prescription if appropriate, and (5) be easy to follow and significantly enhanced through color coding. Conclusion Future steps should explore the feasibility of using the algorithm in different community settings, and determine the algorithm's impact on the number of prescription opioids dispensed and the number of individuals referred to prescribers for discussions about possible prescription opioid abuse.
The Politics of Asymmetry

In their three thousand years of interaction, China and Vietnam have been through a full range of relationships. Twenty-five years ago they were one another’s worst enemy; fifty years ago they were the closest of comrades. Five hundred years ago they each saw themselves as Confucian empires; fifteen hundred years ago Vietnam was a part of China. Throughout all these fluctuations the one constant has been that China is the larger power and Vietnam the smaller. China has rarely been able to dominate Vietnam, and yet the relationship is shaped by its asymmetry. The Sino-Vietnamese relationship provides the perfect ground for developing and exploring the effects of asymmetry on international relations. Brantly Womack develops his theory in conjunction with an original analysis of the interaction between China and Vietnam from the Bronze Age to the present. The value of asymmetry theory is demonstrated in its illumination of the dynamics of the relationship.
Gene therapy technology applied to disorders of glucose metabolism: promise, achievements, and prospects.

Gene transfer technology has spawned an entire realm of clinical investigation, collectively referred to as “gene therapy.” The feasibility and achievements of gene therapy to prevent and treat glu...
LTE Quantification of SIMS of Ni-Cr Alloy

The quantitative correction of secondary ion intensities to elemental concentrations utilizing the Saha-Eggert equation was tried with a calibration sample of Ni-Cr alloy containing Ti , Fe, Cu and Zr. Some simplifications and improvements in the procedure as well as searches for bombarding conditions were made to get higher accuracy, and the relative deviation in concentration could be smaller than 20% for all constituent elements.
NFL Play 60: Managing the intersection of professional sport and obesity

Abstract Professional sport teams are increasingly involved in corporate social responsibility initiatives that target public health issues. However, the development of these programs are rarely guided by the best practices in public health, and they are almost never subjected to rigorous evaluation. Using a case study approach, intervention mapping, a public health method grounded in the social ecological model, was applied to NFL Play 60, the NFL’s efforts to combat childhood obesity. Using uncontested secondary data, the purpose of the research was to determine the ways in which the program conforms to or deviates from what is suggested by public health research and practice. Program components were examined at the individual and organizational level. The results of the current study suggest that the NFL’s most successful efforts to address childhood obesity are those that were developed with public health partners. Practical implications for developing theoretically-grounded methods and strategies for behaviour change are provided.
Comparative Analysis of the Nonoperative Treatment of Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries in Professional Baseball Players with and without Platelet-Rich Plasma:

Objectives:In the setting of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury, surgical reconstruction of the UCL is not always selected, as it leads to a prolonged recovery time and return to play rates bet...
Additively Manufactured Nitrogen-Atomized 17-4 PH Stainless Steel with Mechanical Properties Comparable to Wrought

The microstructure of additively manufactured (AM) nitrogen-atomized 17-4 contains 12 ± 4 pct retained austenite after conventional solutionization annealing at 1323 K (1050 °C) resulting in a yield strength of about half that of wrought, which contains ≈ 100 pct BCC/martensite. An AM17-4 microstructure containing a volume fraction of ≈ 95 pct martensite is achieved by solutionizing at 1273 K (1000 °C) instead of 1323 K (1050 °C), where more nitrogen is trapped as M(C,N)-carbides, followed by further cooling to 233 K (− 40 °C). This alternative solutionization recovers the yield strength of the AM material to > 90 pct of its wrought counterpart, a critical first step toward the implementation of AM17-4 in real-world applications.
Glucagon regulates hepatic mitochondrial function and biogenesis through FOXO1

Glucagon promotes hepatic glucose production maintaining glucose homeostasis in the fasting state. Glucagon maintains at high level in both diabetic animals and human, contributing to hyperglycemia. Mitochondria, a major place for glucose oxidation, are dysfunctional in diabetic condition. However, whether hepatic mitochondrial function can be affected by glucagon remains unknown. Recently, we reported that FOXO1 is an important mediator in glucagon signaling in control of glucose homeostasis. In this study, we further assessed the role of FOXO1 in the action of glucagon in the regulation of hepatic mitochondrial function. We found that glucagon decreased the heme production in a FOXO1-dependent manner, suppressed heme-dependent complex III (UQCRC1) and complex IV (MT-CO1) and inhibited hepatic mitochondrial function. However, the suppression of mitochondrial function by glucagon was largely rescued by deleting the Foxo1 gene in hepatocytes. Glucagon tends to reduce hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis by attenuating the expression of NRF1, TFAM and MFN2, which is mediated by FOXO1. In db/db mice, we found that hepatic mitochondrial function was suppressed and expression levels of UQCRC1, MT-CO1, NRF1 and TFAM were downregulated in the liver. These findings suggest that hepatic mitochondrial function can be impaired when hyperglucagonemia occurs in the patients with diabetes mellitus, resulting in organ failure.
Methyl Paraben May Increase Risk of Pruritus in African Americans Whereas Triclosan Is Inversely Associated With Pruritus and Eczema.

Background Phenols and parabens (PP 95% confidence interval, 1.03-154.06; P trend = 0.02). Triclosan was inversely associated with eczema in whites (P trend = 0.04). Conclusions Methyl paraben exposure may increase the risk of itchy rash in African Americans, whereas triclosan may decrease the risk of itchy rash and eczema. The potential effect of triclosan and methyl paraben in pruritus and eczema warrants further study.