cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Survey of Access to Trial of Labor in California Hospitals in 2012

In 2010, the NIH and ACOG recommended increasing women’s access to trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). This study explored access to TOLAC in California, change in access since 2007 and 2010, and characteristics of TOLAC and non-TOLAC hospitals. Between November 2011 and June 2012, charge nurses at all civilian California birth hospitals were surveyed about hospitals’ TOLAC availability and requirements for providers. VBAC rates were obtained from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Distance between hospitals was calculated using OSHPD geocoding. All 243 birth hospitals that were contacted participated. In 2010, among the 56% TOLAC hospitals, the median VBAC rate among TOLAC hospitals was 10.8% (range 0-37.3%). The most cited reason for low VBAC rates was physician unwillingness to perform them, especially due to the requirement to be continually present during labor. TOLAC hospitals were more likely to be larger hospitals in urban communities with obstetrical residency training. However, there were six (11.3%) residency programs in non-TOLAC hospitals and 5 (13.5%) rural hospitals offering TOLAC. The majority of TOLAC hospitals had 24/7 anesthesia coverage and required the obstetrician to be continually present if a TOLAC patient was admitted; 17 (12.2%) allowed personnel to be 15-30 minutes away. TOLAC eligibility criteria included one prior cesarean (32.4%), spontaneous labor (52.5%), continuous fetal monitoring and intravenous access (99.3%), and epidural analgesia (19.4%). The mean distance from a non-TOLAC to a TOLAC hospital was 37 mi. with 25% of non-TOLAC hospitals more than 51 mi. from the closest TOLAC hospital. In 2012, 139 hospitals (57.2%) offered TOLAC, 16.6% fewer than in 2007. Since 2010, five hospitals started and four stopped offering TOLAC, a net gain of one hospital offering TOLAC with three more considering it. Only two hospitals cited change in ACOG guidelines as a reason for the change. Despite the 2010 NIH and ACOG recommendations encouraging greater access to TOLAC, 44% of California hospitals do not allow TOLAC. Of the 56% allowing TOLAC, 10.8% report fewer than 3% VBAC births. Thus, national recommendations encouraging greater access to TOLAC had a minor effect in California.
Forgiveness as a character strength: Toward a developmental model and research agenda

Forgiveness involves a shift from negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to positive ones after a transgression. Previous research supports the benefits of forgiving, particularly for physical ...
Lack of drug interaction between levetiracetam and high-dose methotrexate in patients with lymphoma

Study objective To determine whether there is a drug-drug interaction precluding the concomitant use of levetiracetam and high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX). Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Large academic tertiary care medical center. Patients Adult lymphoma patients who received HDMTX as a 4-h infusion with or without concomitant levetiracetam. Measurements and main results Generalized estimating equations clustered on patient were used to assess each outcome. The primary outcome was the incidence of delayed MTX elimination (MTX level >1 µmol/L at 48 h). Secondary outcomes included incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and hospital length of stay (LOS). The 430 included patients receiving 1993 doses of HDMTX had a median (IQR) age of 66 (57.5, 72.6) years, 88 (20.5%) received concomitant levetiracetam with at least one dose of MTX, 267 (62.1%) were male, and 397 (92.3%) were Caucasian. HDMTX doses ranged from 1 to 8 g/m2 . The most common lymphoma diagnoses were systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL; 58.5%) and systemic DLBCL with central nervous system (CNS) involvement (32.8%). Rates of delayed elimination with and without levetiracetam were 13.4% and 16.3%, respectively (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.47-1.34, p = 0.39). AKI occurred in 15.6% and 17.0% of patients with and without concomitant levetiracetam, respectively (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.52-1.33, p = 0.28). The median LOS with and without levetiracetam was 4.2 and 4.1 days, respectively (p = 0.039). On multivariable analyses, only age, body surface area, diagnosis of systemic DLBCL with CNS involvement, serum creatinine, hemoglobin, total bilirubin, and dose of HDMTX were associated with delayed elimination. Conclusions High-dose methotrexate administered with concomitant levetiracetam was not associated with increased risk for delayed MTX elimination or AKI. These results support that levetiracetam and HDMTX are safe for coadministration.
Low-dose CT lung cancer screening uptake: A rural-urban comparison.

Purpose The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends lung cancer screening with Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) in high-risk individuals. Our objective was to identify demographic, health, and financial factors associated with screening uptake, with a focus on urban-rural differences. Methods We analyzed data from the 2018 and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and its optional Lung Cancer Screening Module to examine factors associated with screening uptake among 20 states that administered the optional module. We compared differences in factors associated with uptake overall and by geographical regions and conducted multivariable logistic mixed-effects regression, accounting for participant clustering by state to assess the impact of these factors on uptake. Findings Overall 1,268 participants underwent LDCT screening with no significant differences observed between rural (16.3%) and urban residents (17.7%, p = 0.67). In multivariable models, rural residents did not differ significantly in their LDCT screening uptake (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.67-1.09, p = 0.20), but uptake was significantly higher for participants with underlying chronic respiratory conditions, veterans, those with higher pack-year history, and those with poor/fair general health and prior history of cancer. Uptake declined with age, higher education level, concerns about paying for medical care, and lack of primary care. Conclusions Modifiable targets can be leveraged to increase LDCT screening. Based on significant predictors of screening uptake, clinicians should prioritize interventions that effectively consider smoking history as well as those identified as effective in veterans' health settings. Additionally, reducing structural barriers to care related to insurance and income will be key to reducing disparities.
Uterine Bacterial Isolates and Reproductive Performance in Lactating Holstein Cows with Uterine Health Disorders, Large Calves and Fever

Uterine health disorders are common in dairy cows and result in reproductive inefficiency and economic loss in dairy herds. Specific uterine bacteria associated with some uterine health disorders have been described. However, information regarding the relationship between calf birth weight and uterine bacteria is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between uterine bacterial isolates during the first four weeks after calving, uterine health disorders (metritis, retained placenta [RP], clinical and subclinical endometritis), fever and calf birth weight. The impact of uterine health disorders on reproductive performance was also evaluated.
Interstitial Lung Diseases in Small Lung Biopsies

Chronic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is a group of chronic pneumonias with unknown etiology. They share in common the insidious onset with progressively deteriorating course clinically. They have certain association with some other diseases such collagen vascular disease (CVD) or with some activity like cigarette smoking, but there is no clear-cut cause and effect relationship. On imaging studies they share the presence of ground-glass opacities and variable degree of interstitial fibrosis. The pulmonary function tests (PFTs) show restrictive changes.
Appendix 1: Supplement for Chapters 1 and 2

This Appendix provides more rigor for those who may desire more in-depth information surrounding §4 Gluing discs, §5 Slicing spheres, and §10 Dante’s 3-sphere. With regard to §4, we provide §A1 Flexing a disc and §A2 3-disc flex step. For §5 we provide the mathematics underlying the slicings of a 3-sphere — see §A5 Slices of a 3-sphere and §A6 Hyperplane slices of the 3-sphere. Both §A5 and §A6 require some technical background.
Dark Energy Survey Supernovae: Simulations and Survey Strategy

We present simulations for the Dark Energy Survey (DES) using a new code suite (SNANA) that generates realistic supernova light curves accounting for atmospheric seeing conditions and intrinsic supernova luminosity variations using MLCS2k2 or SALT2 models. Errors include stat-noise from photo-statistics and sky noise. We applied SNANA to simulate DES supernova observations and employed an MLCS-based fitter to obtain the distance modulus for each simulated light curve. We harnessed the light curves in order to study selection biases for high-redshift supernovae and to constrain the optimal DES observing strategy using the Dark Energy Task Force figure of merit.
Clinical Genetic Services in the United Kingdom

The aim of clinical genetic services is to help individuals or families with, or at risk of, conditions which may have a genetic basis to live and reproduce as normally as possible. In the UK, such specialist genetic services have, in general, developed as a network of regional genetics centres of which there are 23 (17 in England, 1 in Wales, 1 in Northern Ireland and 4 in Scotland) that serve populations of between 650 000 and 5 million people. Clinical geneticists work within these centres in multidisciplinary teams together with genetic counsellors and laboratory scientists. The clinical services are delivered through a network of central and district clinics and, in some cases, joint clinics with other specialists. Each centre also has a vital role in education as the relevance of genetics and genomics to all branches of medicine increases. Each centre also plays a key role in research, sometime initiating studies and sometimes recruiting their patients to multi-centre surveillance studies and clinical trials. Key Concepts: Clinical genetic services are organised on a regional geographical basis. Each centre has multidisciplinary working. There are regional differences in practice and some differences between the four UK countries. Mainstreaming genetic knowledge and skills to other clinicians is an important and increasing activity. National standards have been developed and are developing to provide a high quality service. Keywords: services; counselling; workload; outcome; registers
Observability of network-delayed multi-converter power systems

Power electronic converter systems have become a key feature of smart grid technologies due to the efforts to achieve increased levels of autonomy in power system operation. However, when devising control strategies for multi-converter power systems, nonlinearities-associated issues with these types of systems arise (e.g. bifurcations) and must be taken into account as even a slight variation of a system parameter could change the structure of the system. With the increasing need for remote control, investigation of converter system dynamics alone is insufficient. Remote control is achieved via a communication system that is used for information passing between sensors and controllers, which hence plays an important role on the overall performance of the power system. Therefore, a need arises for the study of the power system (plant) and the communication system (network) as a single entity as the performance of one is highly dependent on the other. The focus of this work is the development of a metric that will serve as an indicator of overall system status to the power system operator.
Ecological collapse and the emergence of travelling waves at the onset of shear turbulence

Simulated pipe flow is interpreted using an ecological model in which predatory zonal flow preys on turbulence, and laminar flows emulate nutrients — establishing a link between turbulence and the directed percolation universality class.
Technologies Based on Organometallic Vapor Phase Epitaxy

The organometallie vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE) technique originated from early work of Manasevit [1]. This technique, by which compound semiconductor epitaxial layers are grown using organometallie group III and organometallie or hydride group V molecules to transport the elements to the heated substrate, is also sometimes called metalorganic chemical vapor deposition or MOCVD. The class of compounds containing the group III or group V elements combined with methyl, ethyl, butyl, and other simple radicals is termed the organometallie compounds in common terminology. Since we are solely interested in the epitaxial growth of single crystalline layers for semiconductor device applications, the term OMVPE seems more appropriate. One sometimes also encounters the terms MOVPE and OMCVD in the literature. All four acronyms refer to exactly the same growth process.
Decentralized feedback maneuver of flexible spacecraft

This paper describes a novel approach to flexible spacecraft maneuver in which spacecraft motion relative to the motion of a shadow spacecraft is suppressed using a decentralized feedback control. The shadow spacecraft is a fictitious spacecraft that can be positioned, oriented, and allowed to undergo elastic deformations at the discretion of the designer. First, rest-to-spin maneuvers are investigated, with different choices for the shadow coordinates;. The angular velocities of the shadow coordinates are chosen as step functions, quadratic functions corresponding to minimum fuel maneuvers for rigid bodies, and quadratic functions with lag compensation in which the lag is associated with the spacecraft angular velocities relative to the shadow spacecraft angular velocities. The performance of the maneuvers is illustrated in the presence of multiple actuator failures. Next, both in-plane and out-of-plane rest-to-rest maneuvers are investigated. The associated shadow coordinates are chosen to correspond to those of minimum fuel maneuvers and minimum fuel maneuvers with lag compensation.
Direct Estimation of the Reynolds Stress Vertical Structure in the Nearshore

Abstract Measurements of the vertical Reynolds stress components in the wave-dominated nearshore are required to diagnose momentum and turbulence dynamics. Removing wave bias from Reynolds stress estimates is critical to a successful diagnosis. Here two existing Reynolds stress estimation methods (those of Trowbridge, and Shaw and Trowbridge) for wave-dominated environments and an extended method (FW) that is a combination of the two are tested with a vertical array of three current meters deployed in 3.2-m water depth off an ocean beach. During the 175-h-long experiment the instruments were seaward of the surfzone and the alongshore current was wind driven. Intercomparison of Reynolds stress methods reveals that the Trowbridge method is wave bias dominated. Tests of the integrated cospectra are used to reject bad Reynolds stress estimates, and the Shaw and Trowbridge estimates are rejected more often than FW estimates. With the FW method, wave bias remains apparent in the cross-shore component of the Rey...
The Half-Yearly Oscillations in the Tropics of the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract In the tropics of the Southern Hemisphere the zonal wind in the troposphere above the 500-mb level has a well defined half-yearly oscillation with westerly maxima (easterly minima) in May and November. It is demonstrated that the oscillation is associated with second harmonics of opposite phase in the temperature above the equator and in the subtropics. The temperature oscillations are tentatively explained as being the result of an intensification of vertical motions from autumn to winter. The half-yearly temperature oscillations reverse phase near the tropopause, and again near the 50-mb level. Above this level they are thus in the same phase as in the upper troposphere. The phase reversals imply that the second harmonic of the zonal component of the thermal wind likewise changes phase twice. A marked longitudinal asymmetry is observed with the oscillations being considerably stronger in the Eastern than in the Western Hemisphere.
Study of a biological model of membrane function by finite element analysis

Abstract A model of a functioning biological cell membrane has been postulated and programmed by Finite Element Analysis. This method facilitates altering assumptions, extending the number of variables of the model, and following changes in several parameters simultaneously. The kinetics of water loss, due to a temperature gradient, are considered in detail for several linear cooling rates. The results of the computer simulation predict a rapid outflow of water from the cell. It is noted that the higher the cooling rate, the faster the water outflow. In addition, these results indicate effect upon the cell due to changes in conditions during the cooling process. Thus, a basis is provided for experimental verification.
Toughening of Ceramics by Circumferential Microcracking

An approximate analysis is presented of the toughening induced by the incorporation of second-phase particles subject to microcracking. It is demonstrated that the toughening becomes appreciable for a narrow size distribution of particles of appropriate size. The magnitude of the toughening is determined by the mismatch strain (due to thermal contraction incompatibility) and the microfracture resistance of the particle/matrix interface. Implications for designing optimally tough ceramics are presented.
Hemodynamic and symptomatic consequences of ventricular pacing.

NISHIMURA, R.A. et al.: Hemodynamic and symptomatic consequences of ventricular pacing. After implantation of a ventricular demand pacemaker (VVI), occasional patients continue to have dizziness, syncope, or near syncope (“pacemaker syndrome”). To identify patients in whom VVI pacing may have deleterious effects, we compared cuff blood pressure responses to VVI pacing with blood pressure responses to atrioventricsler sequential pacing (DVI) or sinus rhythm in 50 consecutive patients. Patients with intact ventriculoatrial conduction had a much greater decrease in systolic blood pressure with VVI pacing (24 ± 11 mm Hg) than those with ventriculoatrial dissociation (−4 ± 15 mm Hg) (P<0.005). Patients who were in heart failure had a lesser decrease in blood pressure with VVI pacing than did those without failure (P<0.05); 13 of the 14 heart failure patients lacked ventriculoatrial conduction. Ten patients had symptomatic dizziness after VVI pacing; the incidence of symptoms was higher in patients with ventriculoatrial conduction (9 of 23) than in those without ventriculoatrial conduction (1 of 27) (P<0.003). We conclude that the presence of intact ventriculoatrial conduction appears to be a crucial determinent of the hemodynamic response to VVI pacing, and its presence may identify patients who are at risk for “pacemaker syndrome.”
An Adaptation of the Fast Fourier Transform for Parallel Processing

A modified version of the Fast Fourier Transform is developed and described. This version is well adapted for use in a special-purpose computer designed for the purpose. It is shown that only three operators are needed. One operator replaces successive pairs of data points by their sums and differences. The second operator performs a fixed permutation which is an ideal shuffle of the data. The third operator permits the multiplication of a selected subset of the data by a common complex multiplier.If, as seems reasonable, the slowest operation is the complex multiplications required, then, for reasonably sized date sets—e.g. 512 complex numbers—parallelization by the method developed should allow an increase of speed over the serial use of the Fast Fourier Transform by about two orders of magnitude.It is suggested that a machine to realize the speed improvement indicated is quite feasible.The analysis is based on the use of the Kronecker product of matrices. It is suggested that this form is of general use in the development and classification of various modifications and extensions of the algorithm.
Plasma membrane protein polarity and trafficking in RPE cells: past, present and future.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) comprises a monolayer of polarized pigmented epithelial cells that is strategically interposed between the neural retina and the fenestrated choroid capillaries. The RPE performs a variety of vectorial transport functions (water, ions, metabolites, nutrients and waste products) that regulate the composition of the subretinal space and support the functions of photoreceptors (PRs) and other cells in the neural retina. To this end, RPE cells display a polarized distribution of channels, transporters and receptors in their plasma membrane (PM) that is remarkably different from that found in conventional extra-ocular epithelia, e.g. intestine, kidney, and gall bladder. This characteristic PM protein polarity of RPE cells depends on the interplay of sorting signals in the RPE PM proteins and sorting mechanisms and biosynthetic/recycling trafficking routes in the RPE cell. Although considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the RPE trafficking machinery, most available data have been obtained from immortalized RPE cell lines that only partially maintain the RPE phenotype and by extrapolation of data obtained in the prototype Madin–Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell line. The increasing availability of RPE cell cultures that more closely resemble the RPE in vivo together with the advent of advanced live imaging microscopy techniques provides a platform and an opportunity to rapidly expand our understanding of how polarized protein trafficking contributes to RPE PM polarity.
Macro-invertebrates accelerate litter decomposition and nutrient release in a Hawaiian rainforest

Macro-invertebrates (>2 mm in size) can play a key role in litter decomposition by influencing litter chemistry and other components of the decomposer community, thus affecting rates of decomposition, nutrient release, and primary production. However, in many ecosystems the influences of macro-invertebrates on key ecosystem processes have not been adequately addressed. We investigated the influence of the macro-invertebrate community in litter decomposition and the cycling of nutrients in a young rainforest site on the island of Hawaii by using litter bags with and without 2.5 cm holes to allow or prevent access by macro-invertebrates. Presence of macro-invertebrates increased rates of litter decomposition by 16.9% and rates of nutrient release for N and Mn by 33.2% and 30.3%, respectively. Macro-invertebrate activity thus has a major impact on N release accounting for 3.32 kg/ha/yr. This internal ecosystem transfer of N from the litter is greater than estimates of nitrogen inputs from rain water, dry deposition, volcanic sources, atmospheric dust, and nitrogen fixation for this ecosystem. These findings demonstrate that improved knowledge of the ecosystem effects of macro-invertebrates is necessary to understand how ecosystems function.
How posttranslational modification of nitrogenase is circumvented in Rhodopseudomonas palustris strains that produce hydrogen gas constitutively.

Nitrogenase catalyzes the conversion of dinitrogen gas (N2) and protons to ammonia and hydrogen gas (H2). This is a catalytically difficult reaction that requires large amounts of ATP and reducing power. Thus, nitrogenase is not normally expressed or active in bacteria grown with a readily utilized nitrogen source like ammonium. nifA* mutants of the purple nonsulfur phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris have been described that express nitrogenase genes constitutively and produce H2 when grown with ammonium as a nitrogen source. This raised the regulatory paradox of why these mutants are apparently resistant to a known posttranslational modification system that should switch off the activity of nitrogenase. Microarray, mutation analysis, and gene expression studies showed that posttranslational regulation of nitrogenase activity in R. palustris depends on two proteins: DraT2, an ADP-ribosyltransferase, and GlnK2, an NtrC-regulated PII protein. GlnK2 was not well expressed in ammonium-grown NifA* cells and thus not available to activate the DraT2 nitrogenase modification enzyme. In addition, the NifA* strain had elevated nitrogenase activity due to overexpression of the nif genes, and this increased amount of expression overwhelmed a basal level of activity of DraT2 in ammonium-grown cells. Thus, insufficient levels of both GlnK2 and DraT2 allow H2 production by an nifA* mutant grown with ammonium. Inactivation of the nitrogenase posttranslational modification system by mutation of draT2 resulted in increased H2 production by ammonium-grown NifA* cells.
Low nitric oxide bioavailability upregulates renal heparin binding EGF-like growth factor expression

Decreased nitric oxide bioavailability has an important role in the initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) expression levels increased in the kidneys of both endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-knockout and eNOS-knockout diabetic (Lepr(db/db)) mice as early as at 8 weeks of age. Further increases in expression were only seen in eNOS-knockout diabetic mice and paralleled the progression of glomerulopathy. HB-EGF expression increased in endothelium, podocytes, and tubular epithelial cells. In cultured glomerular endothelial cells, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or L-N5-(1-iminoethyl) ornithine increased HB-EGF protein expression. Administration of L-NAME dramatically increased renal HB-EGF expression and urinary HB-EGF excretion in diabetic mice. On the other hand, replenishing nitric oxide with sodium nitrate in eNOS-knockout diabetic mice reduced urinary HB-EGF excretion and inhibited the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Furthermore, specific deletion of HB-EGF expression in the endothelium attenuated renal injury in diabetic eNOS-knockout mice. Thus, our results suggest that decreased nitric oxide bioavailability leads to increased HB-EGF expression, which may be an important mediator of the resulting progressive diabetic nephropathy in eNOS-knockout diabetic mice.
Luminal diameter and vasa vasorum response to stent dilation in the rabbit aorta

Rationale and Objectives. We examined the changes in luminal diameter and vasa vasorum after stent dilation of the aorta of nonatherosclerotic rabbits. Methods. Balloon-expandable stents were placed in the aortas of rabbits at the L3 level and were expanded. After 8 weeks, the rabbits were euthanized, perfused with barium sulfate particles, frozen, sectioned, and X-rayed. Results. The luminal intrastent diameter (2.3 ± 0.23 mm) was significantly different ( p p p Conclusion. After 8 weeks, luminal diameter was uniform. The increased vasa vasorum in the stented section suggested an increase in blood flow to the aortic wall, which may be important to the remodeling process.
what is axial about the axial age

the idea of an axial age in the mid-first millennium b.c. has a long history but was crystallized by karl jaspers in his 1949 book the meaning and goal of history. since then, voegelin, eisenstadt and many others have contributed to clarifying the four cases of axial “breakthrough”, to use jaspers's term, namely ancient israel, greece, india, and china. a number of significant background conditions — economic, social, and political — have been identified that indicate dramatic social change all across the old world, but there is no clear indication of the causal relation of these changes to the emergence of strikingly new cultural-religious formations. this article uses categories derived from the work of merlin donald to argue that in all four cases “theoretic” culture was applied to the reformulation of basic cultural premises, though “mimetic” and “narrative” traditions that had been central in older civilizations continued to be significant, but reformulated in the light of the new theoretic understandings. the four cases, however, are far from homogeneous. they show such differences between them that we can speak of “multiple axialities”, as we have come to speak of “multiple modernities”.
Tailoring Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Individuals Diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa

There is a wealth of data indicating the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. However, the best evidence indicates a treatment success rate of 50%. The purpose of this paper is to briefly describe cognitive behavioral treatment of bulimia nervosa and to offer suggestions on how this therapy approach may be tailored to best serve the needs of individual clients. Such tailoring should ultimately lead to even greater treatment success.
Addressing the Global Burden of Surgical Disease: Proceedings from the 2nd Annual Symposium at the American College of Surgeons

In the past decade, interest in surgery as a means to improve public health and engage in international service has increased significantly. International organizations, academic institutions, professional associations, and humanitarian aid organizations recognize that disparate access to surgical care affects global health and they have recently joined forces to address access to surgical care. Current initiatives focus on quantitatively defining surgical disparity, prioritizing a surgical agenda, and developing economically sustainable models for health care assistance, training, and delivery. The Global Burden of Surgical Disease Working Group (GBoSD WG) strives to (1) quantitatively define global disparity in surgical care; (2) assess unmet surgical need; (3) identify priorities; (4) develop sustainable models for improved health care delivery; and (5) advocate for a surgical presence within the global public health agenda. This article formally introduces the GBoSD Working Group and papers presented during the 2009 Symposium at the American College of Surgeons in Chicago.
Speaking with the People's Voice: How Presidents Invoke Public Opinion. By Jeffrey P. Mehltretter Drury. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2014. 195 pp.

Speaking with the People's Voice: How Presidents Invoke Public Opinion. By Jeffrey P. Mehltretter Drury. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2014. 195 pp. Scholars who study the discourse of America's contemporary presidents are familiar with the rhetorical presidency, the idea that presidents often circumvent Congress, instead appealing directly to public opinion to garner support for their presidential vision. As Jeffrey P. Mehltretter Drury notes in his exhaustive review of the extant literature on the rhetorical presidency, academic scholarship frequently evaluates presidential leadership success based on persuasive appeals to public opinion and the subsequent changes in public opinion polls following the communication event (p. 6). In Speaking with the People's Voice, however, Drury argues that a "complementary explanation" for evaluating presidential leadership involves examining how "presidential rhetoric might serve not only as leadership of public opinion but also as leadership by public opinion, in which public opinion is the means of leadership" (p. 9). His book, therefore, reframes the conventional practice of studying how presidents outline their policy agendas through their rhetorical appeals to public opinion, advancing the case that scholars should explore how presidents exercise their leadership through "invoked public opinion," which Drury defines as "the rhetorical representation of the beliefs and values of US citizens" (p. 12). Scholars in the communication, political science, and presidential studies fields will find that this book does, in fact, provide new insight into how contemporary presidents exercise their leadership, even as they cast the rhetorical presidency to fit present-day exigencies. After establishing the requisite background justifying his study in the first half of the introductory chapter, Drury provides readers with a brief synopsis on argumentation theory and the three argumentative patterns he employs in his study of modern presidential rhetoric and invoked public opinion: bandwagon appeals, identity appeals, and contra populum appeals. Most argumentation theorists will already be familiar with the bandwagon appeal. Drury describes the identity appeal as a pattern in which the "president invokes a public opinion shared by his audience as a catalyst for further agreement" while defining contra populum ploys as those "appeals 'against the people' [that] function to correct the invoked public opinion by means of alternative decision-making criteria" (p. 19). The book applies each appeal in Chapters 2, 3, and 4, respectively, by examining nationally televised presidential speeches from both Democratic and Republican presidents. Drury provides a well-articulated discussion of the rhetorical situations that prompted presidents to address the public via television (although readers familiar with the speeches included in this analysis should revisit them, given the innovative application of the three argumentative patterns). …
Impacts of Supplyshed-Level Differences in Productivity and Land Costs on the Economics of Hybrid Poplar Production in Minnesota, USA

The joint effects of poplar biomass productivity and land costs on poplar production economics were compared for 12 Minnesota counties and two genetic groups, using a process-based model (3-PG) to estimate aboveground biomass productivity. The counties represent three levels of productivity which, due to spatial stratification, were analogous to three biomass supplysheds. An optimal rotation age (ORA) was calculated that minimizes the annualized, discounted per-dry megagrams biomass cost for each county, genetic group and land cover, and for two discount rates (5 and 10 %). The ORA for the lowest-cost county (Todd) with specialist genotypes and a 5 % discount rate is 14 years and the breakeven price at that age is US$71 dry Mg−1, while for the highest-cost county (McLeod), the generalist genotype and a 10 % discount rate, the ORA is 10 years and the breakeven price at that age is US$175 dry Mg−1. Planting after a previous poplar stand increased breakeven prices and increased the ORAs by 1 to 2 years relative to planting after a previous annual crop. An ANOVA analysis showed a significant genetic group effect and significant productivity class × land rent interactions. All other factors being equal, an increase in the discount rate from 5 to 10 % is expected to reduce ORAs by 2 to 3 years. High-productivity supplysheds can also be expected to have ORAs that are 2 to 3 years shorter than low-productivity ones. Land costs were not as closely correlated to productivity as we expected.
Regulation of metallothionein gene expression by oxidative stress and metal ions

The metallothioneins (MT) are small, cysteine-rich heavy metal-binding proteins which participate in an array of protective stress responses. Although a single essential function of MT has not been demonstrated, MT of higher eukaryotes evolved as a mechanism to regulate zinc levels and distribution within cells and organisms. These proteins can also protect against some toxic metals and oxidative stress-inducing agents. In mice, among the four known MT genes, the MT-I and -II genes are most widely expressed. Transcription of these genes is rapidly and dramatically up-regulated in response to zinc and cadmium, as well as in response to agents which cause oxidative stress and/or inflammation. The six zinc-finger metal-responsive transcription factor MTF-1 plays a central role in transcriptional activation of the MT-I gene in response to metals and oxidative stress. Mutation of the MTF-1 gene abolishes these responses, and MTF-1 is induced to bind to the metal response elements in proximal MT promoter in cells treated with zinc or during oxidative stress. The exact molecular mechanisms of action of MTF-1 are not fully understood. Our studies suggest that the DNA-binding activity of MTF-1 in vivo and in vitro is reversibly activated by zinc interactions with the zinc-finger domain. This reflects heterogeneity in the structure and function of the six zinc fingers. We hypothesize that MTF-1 functions as a sensor of free zinc pools in the cell. Changes in free zinc may occur in response to chemically diverse inducers. MTF-1 also exerts effects on MT-I gene transcription which are independent of a large increase in MTF-1 DNA-binding activity. For example, cadmium, which has little effect on the DNA-binding activity of MTF-1 in vivo or in vitro, is a more potent inducer of MT gene expression than is zinc. The basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein, USF (upstream stimulatory factor family), also plays a role in regulating transcription of the mouse MT-I gene in response to cadmium or H2O2. Expression of dominant negative USF-1 or deletion of its binding site from the proximal promoter attenuates induction of the mouse MT-I gene. USF apparently functions in this context by interacting with as yet unidentified proteins which bind to an antioxidant response element which overlaps the USF-binding site (USF/ARE). Interestingly, this composite element does not participate in the induction of MT-I gene transcription by zinc or redox-cycling quinones. Thus, regulation of the mouse MT-I gene by metals and oxidative stress involves multiple signaling pathways which depend on the species of metal ion and the nature of the oxidative stress.
Influence of photosynthetically active radiation and spectral quality on UV-B-induced polyamine accumulation in soybean

Abstract UV-B-sensitive (Essex) and -insensitive (Williams) cultivars of soybean ( Glycine max ) were grown in growth chambers at photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) levels of 300 or 600 μmol m −2 sec −1 provided by either red- and far-red-deficient (MH) or blue-deficient (HPS/DX) lamps or a combination of both. The combined treatment provided a balanced output, similar to that provided by fluorescent plus incandescent lighting across the visible spectrum. Under the combined lamps, plants were exposed to 12 kJ m −2 day −1 of biologically effective UV-B (UV-B BE ) with 6-hr irradiance periods centred midway through the photoperiod. This irradiance corresponded to a decrease in stratospheric ozone of ca 20% for clear sky conditions at Beltsville, MD on 21 June. Plant growth was significantly inhibited by UV-B at 300 but not at 600 μmol m −2 sec −1 PAR. No cultivar differences were noted in the UV-B-induced inhibition of growth, although visible injury was less in Williams than in Essex. PAR had a large effect on polyamine levels in leaves, with higher levels of putrescine (Put) and spermidine observed at 600 than at 300 μmol m −2 sec −1 in both cultivars. UV-B-induced polyamine accumulation was observed primarily in Williams. Under MH or HPS/DX lamps alone, plants were exposed to two different UV-B levels, 9.9 and 12 kJ m −2 day −1 , corresponding to stratospheric ozone reductions of ca 9 and 20%. UV-B inhibited growth at both 300 and 600 μmol m −2 sec −1 PAR under either radiation source. There was no effect of PAR on the UV-B-induced growth inhibition with the HPS/DX lamps, but a partial amelioration of this inhibition occurred in Williams at 600 μmol m −2 sec −1 PAR under MH lamps. Dose-dependent UV-B-induced polyamine accumulation was also observed in both cultivars. PAR increased Put levels under MH but not HPS/DX lamps. These results indicate that the inhibition of UV-B stress by high PAR may require a balance of red and blue wavelengths and may involve polyamine accumulation.
Introducing Physician Order Entry at a Major Academic Medical Center: II. Impact on Medical Education

AbstractThe introduction of an information technology (IT) system that mandates order entry by physicians had significant and often unexpected effects on medical education at the University of Virginia Medical Center. The system was deactivated briefly after the introduction of laboratory ordering,
OVULATION IN RATS FROM PREOPTIC STIMULATION THROUGH PLATINUM ELECTRODES. IMPORTANCE OF DURATION AND SPREAD OF STIMULUS.

Adult female rats in proestrus, their spontaneous ovulation blocked by pentobarbital, were stimulated through platinum electrodes placed bilaterally 2 mm apart across the medial preoptic areas of the brain. Biphasic pairs of 1 msec rectangular pulses, 1 mamp peak-to-peak, 30/sec, were passed in 30-sec trains at 30-sec intervals. Full ovulation (9-12 ova) occurred overnight in all of 8 rats thus stimulated for 60 min. Shorter stimulation (15-30 min) led to fewer rats ovulating and smaller numbers of ova. Ovulation failed (5 rats) when stimulation lasted only 10 min. One tubal ovum among 5 rats was obtained after electrodes were simply inserted for 60 min. Stimulation for 60 min across the lateral preoptic area gave mostly negative results. Besides demonstrating the feasibility of stimulating “electrically” rather than by the electrolytic deposition of iron previously employed, the results emphasize the importance of time and of the degree of involvement of a postulated diffuse neuronal system traversing th...
DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE (DHT) STIMULATES BRANCHING MORPHOGENESIS IN EMBRYONIC LUNG EXPLANTS. ▴ 361

DHT affects late gestation lung development by increasing the proliferation of fibroblasts and Type II cells and delaying surfactant production. Based on these findings, it has been suggested that DHT prolongs late gestation (fetal) lung growth resulting in males having larger lungs than females. We postulated that DHT also affects the early gestation (embryonic) lung growth and morphogenesis. We tested this hypothesis by examining the effect of DHT on branching morphogenesis and thymidine incorporation into DNA in embryonic day 11 1/2 mouse lung explants. Lungs were cultured for 72 hours in serum free BGJb medium with either 10-8M DHT or an equal volume (10 μl/ml) of diluent as control. Branching morphogenesis was evaluated at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours by counting the total number of terminal buds of the left lung under light microscopy. These evaluations were done without knowledge of treatment group. At 48 hours 3H-thymidine (1μCi/ml) was added to all cultures. At 72 hours lung explants were harvested and thymidine incorporation into DNA was determined. The number of terminal buds was similar in the two groups at time zero. Thereafter, the number of terminal buds in the DHT treated group was significantly increased compared to control at 24 hours (DHT: 6.3±0.7 buds; Control: 4.0±0.4 buds; mean±SEM, P=0.006), at 48 hours (DHT: 10.8±0.7; Control 6.4±0.6, P=0.0001), and at 72 hours (DHT: 16.5±1.7; Control 11.1±1.1, P=0.01). The velocity of terminal bud formation, defined as the increase in buds within a given lung over time, was significantly greater in the DHT treated group for the time intervals of zero to 24 hours (DHT: 2.6±0.5; Control: 1.1±0.3; mean±SEM, P=0.02), zero to 48 hours (DHT: 7.1±0.6; Control: 3.5±0.7, P=0.0008), and zero to 72 hours (DHT: 12.8±1.3; Control: 8.2±1.2, P=0.01). Thymidine incorporation into DNA between 48 and 72 hours was decreased in DHT treated lungs (DHT 76%±15% of control; mean±SEM). These data suggest that DHT increases the early velocity of terminal bud formation in the embryonic lung. We speculate that DHT has divergent effects on the growth of airway epithelium versus mesenchymal tissue in embryonic lung, resulting in increased terminal bud formation but decreased overall thymidine incorporation. Supported by HL37930
Structural Dependence of the Apparent Initial Phase of Rayleigh Wave

Summary For Rayleigh waves generated by buried point sources, we investigate the effect of incomplete knowledge of the structure beneath the epicentre on the apparent initial phase. The effect is described in terms of a critical distance between epicentre and receiver, beyond which we expect an overall error in phase velocity which does not exceed 0.04 km s-'. A quarter of this error is due to uncertainty in the subepicentral structure. The main classes of focal mechanisms are treated explicitly. For the common classes of shallow-crustal continental, and crustal oceanic sources, the effect is unimportant. The main, deep-crustal continental mechanisms require critical distances of 1600-2200 km, with avoidance of a 30-s period range. The results for the common, shallow-subcrustal mechanisms show strong effects due to structural uncertainty. For an oceanic source depth of 34 km, one must accept large critical distances of 5100-6900 km if only a 40-s period range is to be avoided; for the smaller critical distances of 2600-2100 km, the period ranges to be avoided become quite large-up to 100s in extent. Of the common classes of sources at depths of about 72km, only vertical dip slip in an oceanic structure gives fairly good results. Other combinations of source class and environment result in critical distances of up to 11 000km, as well as some excessively large period ranges to be avoided. The results for the deeper, vertical dip-slip mechanisms are better: maximum critical distances of 4600 and 2000 km for source depths of about 150 and 300 km, respectively.
CT Scan and Neural Network Technology for Construction of Detailed Distribution of Residual Oil Saturation During Waterflooding

We present an integrated approach to imaging the progress of air displacement by spontaneous imbibition of oil into sandstone. We combine Computerized Tomography (CT) scanning and neural network image processing. The main aspects of our approach are I) visualization of the distribution of oil and air saturation by CT, II) interpretation of CT scans using neural networks, and III) reconstruction of 3-D images of oil saturation from the CT scans with a neural network model. The neural networks developed here construct 3-D images of fluid distribution at any time and/or location within the core. One neural network model interpolates between the CT images for a given position at different time levels and extrapolates the interval of time during which the images were collected. Likewise, the network interpolates spatially between images at a given time. After interpolation and extrapolation, other network models have been developed to reconstruct the three-dimensional distribution of oil in the core. Excellent agreement between the actual images and the neural network predictions is found.