cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Revised American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Guidelines for Common Bile Duct Stone Diagnosis

Background/aims The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) revised its guidelines for risk stratification of patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of the revision and to compare it to the previous guidelines. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 267 patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. We identified high-risk patients according to the original and revised guidelines and examined the diagnostic accuracy of both guidelines. We measured the association between individual criteria and choledocholithiasis. Results Under the original guidelines, 165 (62%) patients met the criteria for high risk, of whom 79% had confirmed choledocholithiasis. The categorization had a sensitivity and specificity of 68% and 55%, respectively, for the detection of choledocholithiasis. Under the revised guidelines, 86 (32%) patients met the criteria for high risk, of whom 83% had choledocholithiasis. The revised categorization had a lower sensitivity and higher specificity of 37% and 80%, respectively. The positive predictive value of the high-risk categorization increased with the revision, reflecting a potential decrease in diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpies (ERCPs). Stone visualized on imaging had the greatest specificity for choledocholithiasis. Gallstone pancreatitis was not associated with the risk for choledocholithiasis. Conclusion The 2019 revision of the ASGE guidelines decreases the utilization of ERCP as a diagnostic modality and offers an improved risk stratification tool.
Increase in C-Reactive Protein Predicts Increase in Rate of Bone Mineral Density Loss: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

This longitudinal cohort study's aim was to detect whether larger increases in C-reactive protein (CRP) predict greater amounts of subsequent bone loss in women transitioning from premenopause to postmenopause. Participants were initially 42 to 52 years of age and premenopausal or early perimenopausal. The sample included 1431 women who were not using hormone therapy and whose CRP values were not consistent with acute inflammation. Individual fixed effects (IFE) models estimated the association of log2 CRP with subsequent bone mineral density (BMD) decline rate, adjusted for menopause transition (MT) stage (1: premenopausal or early perimenopausal; 2: late perimenopausal or early postmenopausal; or 3: late postmenopausal), body mass index, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, bone active medications, and anti-inflammatory medications. BMD decline at both the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was faster for observations made in MT stage 2 than that during other stages (all p < .001). In adjusted IFE models, MT stage modified the relation between increase in CRP and BMD decline rate (interaction p values <.05). Each within-woman doubling of CRP was associated with a 0.09% faster yearly decline in FN BMD in MT stages 1 (p = .006) and 3 (p = .03), and 0.10% faster decline in LS BMD in MT stage 3 only (p = .007). Within-woman increases in CRP in premenopause and early perimenopause and in late postmenopause predict faster BMD decline in the next ~2 years, but the magnitude of CRP's effect is small. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Enantioselective Synthesis by Lithiation Adjacent to Nitrogen and Electrophile Incorporation

The formation of asymmetric carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds by lithiation-substitution at a carbon adjacent to nitrogen can be accomplished by deprotonations or destannylations, followed by reaction with electrophiles. Applications of these sequences for amine elaboration are summarized for reactions controlled by chiral ligands and chiral auxiliaries. Notable features include syntheses of alkaloids, the ability to make both enantiomers with a single chiral ligand and diastereoselective and enantioselective conjugate additions with benzylic and allylic lithiation intermediates. The sequences are classified, where information is available, in terms of stereocontrol in the lithiation or substitution step.
Who participates in energy activism? Profiling political engagement in the United States

Abstract In recent years, activists have increasingly organized to protest large-scale energy projects, and research has found that such activism affects project approval. Despite its increasing relevance, little is known about who participates in energy activism. This paper builds a profile of energy activists by drawing on existing literature to derive and test general expectations on resources, political attitudes, media exposure, trust, risk, climate concern, and local factors. We analyze an original survey from a nationally representative sample of the U.S. public to identify the individual-level determinants of energy activism and compare these factors with a more traditional model of political activism. We find that energy activists are distinct from political activists. Energy activists tend to be younger and more demographically diverse, more concerned about local environmental conditions, and, heterogeneous in their political attitudes. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the results, implications for energy producers, and suggestions for future research.
Moralizing Campaign Coverage: A Computerized Textual Analysis of New York Times’ Reporting on Clinton and Trump During the 2016 Presidential Election

The 2016 presidential election marked a new era of political campaign featured by social media-powered professional and citizen journalism. Still, legacy news organizations such as the New York Tim...
Experiences with Oxygen Transfer Testing of Diffused Air Systems under Process Conditions

This paper outlines three procedures used to evaluate oxygen transfer under process conditions. Steady state procedures, a radioactive tracer technique and off gas methods are described and methods of calculation are outlined. Two case histories, an industrial waste site and a municipal site, are presented.
Assessment of Swallowing Disorders

Difficulty with swallowing, also known as dysphagia, is a common condition. The prevalence of dysphagia ranges from 16 to 22 % [1, 2]. Dysphagia in adults could be due to a number of causes, primarily including neurological causes, aging, and head and neck cancer. Over the past decade, the assessment of dysphagia has been continually evolving, with speech-language pathologist services being increasingly sought after for the management of individuals with dysphagia. Assessment of dysphagia is multidisciplinary. The members of a multidisciplinary team vary depending on the primary causes of dysphagia. However, the core team members involved in the assessment of dysphagia often include a speech-language pathologist, otolaryngologist, radiologist, gastroenterologist, and dietician. Accurate assessment of individuals with dysphagia is critical to decrease morbidity secondary to aspiration pneumonia and reduce the health-care costs associated with long-term hospitalization for management of aspiration pneumonia [3].
The Subclavian Intraaortic Balloon Pump: A Compelling Bridge Device for Advanced Heart Failure.

Background A subclavian intraaortic balloon pump (SC-IABP) can help to optimize patients with advanced congestive heart failure as a bridge to definitive therapy. We retrospectively reviewed our experience to assess the application and safety of this technique. Methods We studied 88 patients with decompensated advanced congestive heart failure who received SC-IABP placement between January 2011 and December 2014. The SC-IABP was placed through a graft in the subclavian artery. The intended therapeutic goals for SC-IABP were bridge to transplant (n = 61), mechanical circulatory support (n = 21), or recovery (n = 6). Success was defined as stroke-free survival, achievement of therapeutic goal, and maintenance or improvement in renal function, hemodynamics, and physical conditioning through ambulation and rehabilitation. Results Eighty patients were successfully bridged to the next therapy (transplant 93.4%, mechanical circulatory support 95.3%, recovery 50%). There was no mortality related to SC-IABP placement. Duration of SC-IABP support was 4 to 135 days (median 21). Failure was attributed to escalation of support (n = 5), stroke (n = 2), and sepsis (n = 1). Mean pulmonary artery pressure significantly improved from 33 ± 11 mm Hg to 28 ± 8 mm Hg ( p p Conclusions The SC-IABP provided excellent hemodynamic support with minimal morbidity and mortality, allowed for extensive rehabilitation, and permitted more than 90% of patients to receive their intended therapy. Therefore, SC-IABP is a compelling bridge device for patients with advanced congestive heart failure.
The Ecuadorian Condor Bioreserve Initiative

Abstract The Condor Bioreserve (CBR) initiative is an attempt by government and non-governmental agencies to manage four ecological reserves and their surrounding areas and populations in Northern Ecuador for sustainability and natural resource conservation. The goal of this paper is to assist the participants at the CBR, and the interested reader, in understanding the decision process in which they are involved; the authors provide a general framework for understanding decision processes and problem solving approaches. Key issues addressed include social process, decision process, and the common interest. Social process refers to the context within which decision-making takes place, and includes the analysis of participants, their perspectives, values, and strategies, and the outcomes and effects of their interactions. Decision process refers to the various activities which constitute most problem-solving and policy-making processes: initiation, estimation, selection, implementation, evaluation and termi...
Neighborhood Latino ethnic density and mortality among HIV-positive Latinos by birth country/region, Florida, 2005-2008.

ABSTRACTObjective. Lower mortality for Latinos has been reported in high Latino density areas. The objective was to examine the contribution of neighborhood Latino density to mortality among HIV-positive Latinos.Methods. Florida HIV surveillance data for 2005–2008 were merged with the 2007–2011 American Community Survey data using zip code tabulation areas. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using multi-level weighted Cox regression and adjusted for individual-level factors and neighborhood poverty.Results. Of 4649 HIV-positive Latinos, 11.8% died. There was no difference in mortality risk across categories of Latino ethnic density for Latinos as a whole. There were subgroup effects wherein mortality risk differed by ethnic density category for Latinos born in some countries/regions. Residing in an area with ≥50% Latinos compared with <25% was associated with increased mortality risk for Latinos born in Puerto Rico (HR 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.01–2.70]). Residing in an area where Mexicans wer...
Front-Horizontal Foreshortening Theory

Front-horizontal foreshortening theory is the notion that people may perceive vertical lines as if they were horizontal lines extending in the distance toward the horizon. Keywords: perception
Cobicistat: Review of a Pharmacokinetic Enhancer for HIV Infection.

Abstract Purpose This article reviews the clinical pharmacology, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, clinical efficacy and tolerability, drug interactions, and dosing and administration of cobicistat. Methods Searches of MEDLINE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts from 1964 to February 2015 were conducted using the search terms cobicistat and GS-9350 . Relevant information was extracted from the identified clinical trials and review articles. Abstracts from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (2014–2015) and the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2013–2014) were also searched. Findings Cobicistat is a PK enhancer lacking antiviral activity that, via selective cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A inhibition, inhibits the metabolism of certain antiretroviral medications and is used for prolonging their effect. Cobicistat has been studied as a booster of elvitegravir, a second-generation integrase inhibitor, and of the protease inhibitors atazanavir and darunavir. Data on its clinical efficacy and tolerability have been presented in 2 Phase II trials and in 9 Phase III trials, which reported durable efficacy in terms of achievement of sustained suppression of HIV-1 RNA levels to Implications With potent durability through 48 weeks, a tolerability profile comparable to other first- and second-line antiretroviral therapies, and a convenient dosing schedule with low daily pill burden in fixed-dose combination tablets, cobicistat is a potential addition to the management of HIV infection as a PK enhancer. However, the effects of cobicistat on serum creatinine and its considerable drug-interaction potential may warrant additional monitoring.
Ability of PCR assay to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis in BACTEC 12B vials.

Introduction of PCR to directly detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical specimens has shown promise; however, interfering substances in clinical material have contributed to lowered assay sensitivities. We evaluated the ability of a PCR assay to detect M. tuberculosis in BACTEC 12B broth cultures. Clinical specimens were processed and inoculated into BACTEC 12B vials. Evaluation was approached in two phases, starting with an initial evaluation in which an aliquot of 12B broth was removed when the growth index (GI) was > or = 10 and stored at 4 degrees C until assayed by PCR. Of the 290 specimens initially assayed, 129 were culture negative for mycobacteria as well as PCR negative for M. tuberculosis. Except for one, cultures (n = 102) which grew mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis were all PCR negative. The remaining 59 broths were all culture and PCR positive for M. tuberculosis; 39% (n = 23) of these cultures when assayed by PCR had GIs of or = 10 were assayed in a similar manner except that specimens were amplified twice weekly to determine PCR9s impact on the length of time to identification of M. tuberculosis as compared with standard laboratory practices. Utilization of PCR resulted in a mean time to detection of M. tuberculosis of 14 days, compared with 29 days by using commercially available nucleic acid probes to identify M. tuberculosis complex from growth of BACTEC 12B subcultures on solid media. In light of an overall sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 99.7%, respectively, coupled with the ability to identify M. tuberculosis days or weeks before other methods can be applied, we conclude that PCR might prove to be a rapid alternative for identification of M. tuberculosis in culture and allow for earlier setup of susceptibility testing.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Forerunner of a Feminist Social Science

Charlotte Perkins Gilman considered herself a social scientist and a feminist theorist. In Gilman’s eyes, doing social science and doing feminist theory were not two separate enterprises, they were one. But modern historians have dismissed her claim to being a social scientist and have resurrected her solely as an important feminist from the past. There are at least two reasons for this dismissal. First, the social evolutionary theory on which Gilman based her claims for social reform was discarded long ago by social scientists because of its neo-Lamarckian reasoning. Secondly, since her feminism was an essential part of Gilman’s scientific argument, her social theory seems to be discounted on this basis alone. In other words, feminism, since it is a form of moral reasoning, has no place in social scientific research. Although historians of science are now engaged in assessing theories in the context of their time, no real consideration has been given to the role of moral reasoning in social scientific research. This is particularly important for those engaged in trying to reconstruct what a feminist social science might be.
Increased pulmonary vascular permeability as a cause of re-expansion edema in rabbits

In order to study the mechanism(s) underlying re-expansion edema, we measured the concentration of labeled albumin (RISA) in the extravascular, extracellular water (EVECW) of the lung as a measure of pulmonary vascular permeability. Re-expansion edema was first induced by rapid re-expansion of rabbit lungs that had been collapsed for 1 wk by pneumothorax. The RISA in EVECW was expressed as a fraction of its plasma concentration: (RISA)l/(RISA)pl. The volume of EVECW (ml/gm dry lung) was measured using a 24Na indicator. Results in re-expansion edema were compared with normal control lungs and with oleic acid edema as a model of permeability edema. In re-expanded lungs, EVECW (3.41 ± SD 1.24 ml/g) and (RISA)l/(RISA)pl (0.84 ± SD 0.15) were significantly increased when compared with normal control lungs (2.25 ± 0.41 ml/g and 0.51 ± 0.20, respectively). Results in oleic acid edema (5.66 ± 2.23 ml/g and 0.84 ± 0.23) were similar to re-expansion edema. This suggested that re-expansion edema is due to increased ...
Importance of cosmesis to patients undergoing renal surgery: a comparison of laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS), laparoscopic and open surgery.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Studies in other surgical populations have found that scarring is a relatively unimportant preoperative patient consideration when compared with surgical cure and safety, but that younger age was a significant factor influencing preference for ‘scarless’ surgery. The present study corroborates the findings of previous series, among patients who were contemplating kidney surgery. OBJECTIVE • To evaluate patient attitudes towards cosmesis relative to other considerations, before and after undergoing laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) vs laparoscopic/robot-assisted vs open kidney surgery. METHODS • Participants were provided with a survey querying demographic information, surgical history and importance of scarring relative to other surgical outcomes and considerations. • The relative importance of each outcome was recorded on a nine-level ranking scale, ranging from 1 (most important) to 9 (least important). • The median scores for each outcome were compared before and after surgery using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and by surgical approach using the Kruskal–Wallis test. • The importance of scarring was further analysed according to age (≤50 vs >50 years), surgical indication (oncological vs non-oncological), gender, and proportion of patients who had undergone previous abdominal surgery. RESULTS • A total of 90 patients completed surveys before surgery, of whom 65 (72.2%) also completed surveys after surgery. • ‘Surgeon reputation’ and ‘no complications’ were the most important considerations before surgery (median scores 2 and 3, respectively) and after surgery (median scores of 2 for both). • ‘Size/number of scars’ was the least important consideration before surgery (median score 8) and the second least important consideration after surgery (median score 7). • The median score for ‘size/number of scars’ was significantly higher for the LESS cohort before surgery (laparoscopic/robot-assisted vs LESS vs open surgery: 8.5 vs 6 vs 9; P = 0.003), but was nonsignificant after surgery (laparoscopic/robotic vs LESS vs open surgery: 7 vs 6.5 vs 7.5; P = 0.83). • The median score for ‘size/number of scars’ before surgery was significantly higher for younger patients (P = 0.05) and those with non-oncological surgical indications (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in this outcome for these sub-groups after surgery. CONCLUSIONS • For most patients contemplating urological surgery, cosmesis is of less concern than surgeon reputation and avoidance of surgical complications. • Cosmesis may be a more important preoperative consideration for younger patients and those with benign conditions, which warrants further investigation.
Spatiotemporal regulation of coagulation and platelet activation during the hemostatic response in vivo.

The hemostatic response requires the tightly regulated interaction of the coagulation system, platelets, other blood cells and components of the vessel wall at a site of vascular injury. The dysregulation of this response may result in excessive bleeding if the response is impaired, and pathologic thrombosis with vessel occlusion and tissue ischemia if the response is overly robust. Extensive studies over the past decade have sought to unravel the regulatory mechanisms that coordinate the multiple biochemical and cellular responses in time and space to ensure that an optimal response to vascular damage is achieved. These studies have relied in part on advances in in vivo imaging techniques in animal models, allowing for the direct visualization of various molecular and cellular events in real time during the hemostatic response. This review summarizes knowledge gained with these in vivo imaging and other approaches that provides new insights into the spatiotemporal regulation of coagulation and platelet activation at a site of vascular injury.
Needle age and season influence photosynthetic temperature response and total annual carbon uptake in mature Picea mariana trees

Using seasonal- and cohort-specific photosynthetic temperature response functions, we quantified the physiological significance of maintaining multiple foliar cohorts in mature (~40-45 year old) Picea mariana trees in an ombrotrophic Sphagnum-bog, northern Minnesota, USA. We measured photosynthetic capacity, foliar respiration (Rd), biochemistry and morphology to estimate annual carbon (C) uptake by cohort, season and canopy position. Temperature response of key photosynthetic parameters at 25 C (i.e., light-saturated rate of CO2 assimilation (Asat), light-saturated rate of Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax), light-saturated electron transport rate (Jmax)) were clearly dependent on season and were generally less responsive in younger needles. Temperature optimums range between 18.7-23.7, 31.3-38.3 and 28.7-36.7 C for Asat, Vcmax and Jmax respectively. Current-year (Y0) foliage had lower photosynthetic capacities compared to one-year-old (Y1) and two-year-old (Y2) foliage. As Y0 needles matured, values of Asat, Vcmax, Jmax, foliar LMA and nitrogen increased. Values of Vcmax, Jmax and Rd were related to foliar nitrogen but only in the youngest (Y0) cohort. Foliar ontogeny affected photosynthetic capacity more than growth temperature. Morphological and physiological cohort differences were reflected by their annual contribution to modeled C uptake, with a ~36% lower estimated annual C uptake by Y0 needles (LAI 0.52 m2m-2) compared to Y1&2 cohorts (LAImore » 0.67 m2m-2). Collectively, these results illustrate the physiological and ecological significance of characterizing multiple foliar cohorts during bud break and throughout the growth season, and for cumulative C uptake model estimates.« less
Constrictive pericarditis at abdominal CT: a commonly overlooked diagnosis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate findings at abdominal computed tomography (CT) in patients with proven constrictive pericarditis. The medical records of 25 patients with surgically proven constrictive pericarditis and abdominal CT examinations within 30 days of operation were reviewed. Clinical symptoms, laboratory findings and prospective CT findings were collated. The CT examinations were also retrospectively reviewed in an unblinded fashion. Direct CT findings of constrictive pericarditis with an abnormal pericardium were present in 23/25 patients. Only 9 of 25 (36%) patients were detected prospectively. Findings on retrospective review included pericardial calcification (10/25, 40%) or thickening (13/25, 52%), dilated IVC (20/25), dilated hepatic veins (14/25), ascites (14/25), mesenteric soft tissue stranding (12/25), mottled enhancement of the hepatic parenchyma (8/25), and cirrhosis (6/25). Anemia was present in (17/25), and an elevated AST levels occurred in 48% (12/25) of patients. The most common abdominal symptoms were pain (4/12), diarrhea (4/12), distention (3/12), and bloating (1/12). Constrictive pericarditis can present with vague abdominal symptoms. Anemia and elevated liver function tests are common laboratory abnormalities. Indirect CT findings of dilated IVC and/or hepatic veins, ascites, or cirrhosis should prompt inspection of the pericardium. In the majority of cases an abnormal pericardium could be identified (thickened, calcified or both).
Controlled release of growth hormone from thermosensitive triblock copolymer systems: In vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to design injectable controlled release polymer formulations for growth hormone using triblock copolymer PLGA–PEG–PLGA (MW 1400–1000–1400). Porcine growth hormone (pGH) formulations were prepared by adding pGH into 30% (w/v) aqueous solution of triblock copolymer. pGH concentrations in the released samples were determined using a standard MicroBCA method. In vitro release studies demonstrated that there were no initial burst of pGH from both formulations containing a low dose (0.12%, w/v) and a high dose (0.42%, w/v) of pGH. In vivo absorption study of pGH in rabbits showed that constant serum levels of exogenous pGH (3–7 ng/mL from high dose and 2–4 ng/mL from low dose) were detected for nearly 4 weeks from delivery systems upon single subcutaneous injection. The absolute bioavailability of pGH enhanced from the thermosensitive polymer-based systems, which was ∼5–15-fold those of subcutaneous aqueous solution. MTT assay and light microscopy were used to investigate the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of thermosensitive polymer delivery systems, respectively. Both in vitro and in vivo results support the biocompatible nature of these polymer delivery systems. Thus, the triblock copolymer used in this study was able to control the release of incorporated pGH in vitro and in vivo for longer duration and the delivery system was biocompatible.
Psychological games: theory & experiments

Belief-dependent motivation is important for understanding economic outcomes regarding e.g. anxiety & health, status & conformity, vengeance & wage rigidity, and guilt & contracts. The intellectual/mathematical home for describing belief-dependent motivation is an extension of traditional game theory labeled psychological game theory. My lecture will present this framework, as well as discuss how one can shed light on the empirical relevance of applications through experimental tests.
Encapsulation of Chondrocytes in High-Stiffness Agarose Microenvironments for In Vitro Modeling of Osteoarthritis Mechanotransduction

In articular cartilage, chondrocytes reside within a gel-like pericellular matrix (PCM). This matrix provides a mechanical link through which joint loads are transmitted to chondrocytes. The stiffness of the PCM decreases in the most common degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis. To develop a system for modeling the stiffness of both the healthy and osteoarthritic PCM, we determined the concentration–stiffness relationships for agarose. We extended these results to encapsulate chondrocytes in agarose of physiological stiffness. Finally, we assessed the relevance of stiffness for chondrocyte mechanotransduction by examining the biological response to mechanical loading for cells encapsulated in low- and high-stiffness gels. We achieved agarose equilibrium stiffness values as large as 51.3 kPa. At 4.0% agarose, we found equilibrium moduli of 34.3 ± 1.65 kPa, and at 4.5% agarose, we found equilibrium moduli of 35.7 ± 0.95 kPa. Cyclical tests found complex moduli of ~100–300 kPa. Viability was >96% for all studies. We observed distinct metabolomic responses in >500 functional small molecules describing changes in cell physiology, between primary human chondrocytes encapsulated in 2.0 and 4.5% agarose indicating that the gel stiffness affects cellular mechanotransduction. These data demonstrate both the feasibility of modeling the chondrocyte pericellular matrix stiffness and the importance of the physiological pericellular stiffness for understanding chondrocyte mechanotransduction.
The use of ancillary techniques to aid colonoscope insertion

There is more to a high-quality colonoscopy than reaching the cecum or finding adenomas. Gentle insertion involves ancillary techniques, some of which are impossible in patients receiving deep sedation. The aim of this study was to assess the importance of ancillary techniques in achieving a comfortable, complete colonoscopy. This was a prospective study of 500 consecutive outpatient colonoscopies performed by a single endoscopist. During the procedure, note was taken of various ancillary techniques used to facilitate insertion: turning the patient, patient holding their breath, abdominal pressure. The success of these techniques in helping scope advancement was also noted. After the procedure the patient was asked to rate the severity of their pain and their degree of satisfaction with the examination. A total of 238 women and 262 men participated in the study, and colonoscopy was complete in 96.2 and 98.5 %, respectively. Overall, 97 % of patients received versed alone (average dose 2 mg), and 3 % received a narcotic (average dose 46 U). Average pain score was 3.9 on a scale of 1 (least pain) to 10 (worst pain), and average satisfaction with the procedure as a whole was 9.5 on a similar scale. Ancillary techniques of holding breath, directed abdominal pressure, and turning to the left, right, and prone were used in 46, 56, 17, 23, and 4 % of examinations, respectively. Each technique was effective in helping insertion in over 70 % of cases. Turning the patient was also used to clear stool, open the colon, or facilitate polypectomy in another 33 cases. Multiple techniques were used in 49 % of patients. The use of ancillary techniques to facilitate colonoscope insertion helps avoid the expense and potential side effects of deep sedation.
Cinematic particle image velocimetry of high-Reynolds-number turbulent free shear layer

The objective of this research was to study the time-evolving velocity field in a two-stream, turbulent, planar free shear layer using a cinematic partide image velocimetry technique. The water shear layer had a velocity ratio of 0.23 and a Reynolds number of 2.62 X 10 4 based on velocity thickness and velocity difference. The cinematic particle image velocimetry system employed an argon-ion laser, a scanning mirror, and a 35-mm movie camera. Experimental data obtained by this technique yielded a combined spatial and temporal evolution of the two-dimensional velocity and spanwise vorticity fields. The detailed velocity field structure of the shear layer was significantly different from previous lower Reynolds number flow visualizations in that the classical well-defined eddies and braids were replaced with complex three-dimensional agglomerated vortices of both signs. The velocity field evolution was also notably different from that of the passive scalar field, where the former exhibited stronger temporal variations and reduced spatial coherency. Temporal and spatial correlations yielded transverse distributions of convection velocities based on both streamwise velocity perturbations and vorticity.
Major element composition of stratospheric micrometeorites

Results are presented on an element-composition study conducted on 200 interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected with NASA's U2 and RB 47 aircraft at altitudes near 20 km. These IDPs could be classified into two major morphological types, i.e., the 'porous' and the 'smooth' particle types, which showed significant compositional differences. Namely, elemental abundances found in porous particles are closely matching those of the CI chondrites, while the smooth particle group displayed systematic Ca and Mg depletions and contained stoichiometric 'excess' oxygen, consistent with the presence of hydrous phases. This fact, together with the occurrence of carbonates, magnetite framboids, and layer silicates, provides evidence that at least a significant number of the smooth-type IDPs were processed by aqueous activity. It is hypothesized that extensive aqueous activity only occurs in asteroids (as opposed to comets) and that the smooth class of IDPs is of an asteroidal origin.
Effect of Iron Form, Temperature, and Inoculation with Clostridium botulinum Spores on Residual Nitrite in Meat and Model Systems

The effect of iron form (ferrous, ferric, heme), temperature and botulinal spores on nitrite level was determined in meat. In model systems, ferritin iron was also included, and ascorbate was used as a reducing agent. Reduced hemoglobin caused the most rapid nitrite depletion in both systems. Ferrous iron caused faster nitrite depletion in model systems than in meat. Ferrous iron reduced nitrite readily in model systems at 27°C, but not at 5°C. Ferritin iron did not affect nitrite level. In meat at 27°C, nitrite depletion was much faster in inoculated samples. Protein-bound nitrite levels were higher in meat with added ionic iron. In cured meat with added ionic iron, iron-NO-protein complexes may form, lowering the amount of nitric oxide (NO) available to inhibit botulinal spore outgrowth.
Statistical inference under a stochastic ordering constraint in ranked set sampling

This paper introduces estimators for the judgment class and population cumulative distribution functions (CDF) under stochastic order restriction. The estimators are defined as the minimizer of a version of the Cramer-von Mises distance function. It is shown that the new estimators are strongly and uniformly consistent for the judgment class population distributions and have smaller integrated mean square errors than the integrated mean square errors of the empirical CDF estimators. The proposed estimators are used to calibrate the effect of imperfect ranking on statistical procedures. It is shown that this calibration works quite well in ranked set sample Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon rank-sum and sign tests. The use of estimators and calibration procedure are illustrated on a ranked set sample data.
Modulation of benzodiazepine by lysine and pipecolic acid on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures.

L-lysine, an essential amino acid for man and animals, and its metabolite pipecolic acid (PA) have been studied for their effects on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice. L-Lysine or L-PA i.p. significantly increased clonic and tonic latencies in a dose-dependent manner against 90 mg/kg PTZ-induced seizures. L-Lysine but not L-PA enhanced the anticonvulsant effect of diazepam (DZ) (0.2 mg/kg). L-PA (0.1 mmol/kg) i.c.v. showed a slight decrease in clonic latency; it did not enhance the antiseizure activity of DZ; it caused seizures at 0.6 mmol/kg. D-PA (0.1 mmol/kg) i.c.v. displayed an opposite effect compared to its L-isomer. The anticonvulsant effect of L-lysine in terms of increase in seizure latency and survival was even more amplified when tested with a submaximal PTZ concentration (65 mg/kg). L-Lysine showed an enhancement of specific 3H-flunitrazepam (FZ) binding to mouse brain membranes both in vitro and in vivo. The possibility of L-lysine acting as a modulator for the GABA/benzodiazepine receptors was demonstrated. Since L-PA showed enhancement of 3H-FZ binding only in vitro but not in vivo, the anticonvulsant effect of L-PA may not be linked to the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor.
Characteristics of L-proline and sodium transport in renal brush border membranes isolated from 7-day-old and adult rats

To explore the nature of differences in uptake by renal brush border vesicles from animals of different ages, vesicles were isolated from 7-day old and adult rats by a Mg-aggregation method. A number of criteria were compared in vesicles from the young and mature animals. The vesicles isolated from animals of both ages appear similar on electron microscopy, in response to osmotic changes, and in uptake kinetics for L-glucose. Despite these parameters which indicate no basic differences between the membranes of young and mature kidney, differences in proline and sodium handling are seen. When compared to the uptake pattern seen in vesicles from adult animals, the height of the sodium gradient-stimulated proline overshoot is diminished and sodium entry is faster in vesicles of the 7-day old rats. These are the same differences which were found in vesicles prepared by differential centrifugation from 7-day old animals. In addition, although sodium efflux was faster from vesicles of immature kidney and mirrored the faster sodium entry, proline efflux was slower. The data indicate a dissociation of proline and sodium fluxes in brush borders of the young rat kidney.
Methylation of SN(IV) by hydroponically incubated spartina alterniflora

Abstract Incubation of Spartina alterniflora plants for five days in tin‐amended Hoaglund's solutions increased their inorganic tin and methyltin concentrations in 9 of 10 samples. Compared to control plants, roots, but not leaves, accumulated considerable inorganic tin from solution. Mono‐and dimethyltin concentrations in leaves of treated plants were not significantly enhanced from concentrations in the control plant. However, trimethyltin, which was not detected in control leaves, had the highest concentration of any methyltin compound in treated plants.
Physiologic impairment of olfactory stimulus processing in schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Behavioral studies of olfaction have demonstrated impairments in the ability to detect and identify odors in patients with schizophrenia. These deficits appear to be independent of either symptom severity or other cognitive impairment. Only limited efforts have been made to investigate the neurophysiologic substrate of these olfactory abnormalities. This article reports the first examination of olfactory electrophysiologic responses in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Olfactory event-related potential responses to three different concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were recorded in a sample of 21 patients and 20 healthy control subjects. Odors were presented via an olfactometer to ensure there was no associated trigeminal nerve stimulation. Results Patients exhibited abnormalities in the amplitudes of the N1 and P2 components of the olfactory evoked potential, and delayed latency of the P2. The N1 abnormality, which denotes primary olfactory cortex activity, was related to impaired odor detection threshold sensitivity; the P2 abnormality was related to impaired odor identification. Conclusions These data indicate the presence of a primary physiologic impairment in the olfactory cortex underlying behavioral olfactory deficits seen in patients with schizophrenia. This is consistent with postmortem and in vitro studies suggesting abnormalities in olfactory receptor neurons. Understanding the nature of these physiologic olfactory impairments could offer clues to the basic neuropathology of this disorder.
Constraining the loop, releasing prion infectivity

Prions are the heretical protein-only agents that propagate biological information in the absence of nucleic acids. In mammals, prions are the infectious agents responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases, including Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, scrapie, and chronic wasting disease in animals. Prions replicate by propagating the misfolding of the infectious prion protein (termed PrPSc) to the homologous, but natively-folded cellular version of the prion protein (termed PrPC) (1). Despite considerable recent advance in knowledge of the infectious agent's nature and its mechanism of replication, we are still far from understanding the structural requirements for the infectious folding of the prion protein. In this issue of PNAS, Sigurdsson et al. (2) provide an important step forward in elucidating the role of a specific domain of the prion protein in the generation of infectivity.
Ultrasound diagnosis of penile fracture.

Background: Rupture of the corpus cavernosum, penile fracture, is an uncommon occurrence. Diagnosis is straightforward when classical historical and physical examination findings are present. However, atypical presentations can make the diagnosis difficult. Objectives: Review the literature supporting use of ultrasound for the diagnosis of penile fracture. Review of the ultrasonographic findings in patients with penile fracture. Case Report: A 32-year-old man presented with penile ecchymosis after sex but lacking several historical and physical examination elements for a diagnosis of penile fracture. Ultrasound performed by the treating physician revealed rupture of the tunica albuginea and presence of a hematoma, leading to a diagnosis of penile fracture. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a simple, efficient, and non-invasive imaging method to assist in the diagnosis of penile fracture.
Age and embodied masculinities: Midlife gay and heterosexual men talk about their bodies

This article integrates critical gerontology and masculinities theories to examine how midlife gay and heterosexual men experience their bodies in relation to cultural discourses of aging. Analyses of in-depth interviews with 15 gay and 15 heterosexual men ages 40-60 reveal that while both groups of men describe their bodies as deteriorating or declining in terms of functionality and are often distressed by these changes, midlife gay men also articulate a concern with a perceived decline in bodily appearance. Both gay and heterosexual midlife men frame their bodies as fundamentally different from women's, possibly in an attempt to protect a masculine identity in response to the threat that aging bodies pose to that identity. We argue that midlife men's embodied experiences are shaped by a discourse of midlife decline as well as inequalities between gay and heterosexual men. We also discuss the implications of embodiment for midlife men's well-being.
Mixing enhancement by use of swirling jets

It has been proposed that the mixing of fuel with air in the combustor of scramjet engines might be enhanced by the addition of swirl to the fuel jet prior to injection. This study investigated the effects of swirl on the mixing of a 30 deg wall jet into a Mach 2 flow. Cases with swirl and without swirl were investigated, with both helium and air simulating the fuel. Rayleigh scattering was used to visualize the flow, and seeding the fuel with water allowed it to be traced through the main flow. The results show that the addition of swirl to the fuel jet causes the fuel to mix more rapidly with the main flow, that larger amounts of swirl increase this effect, and that helium spreads better into the main flow than air.
Laboratory demonstrations of multi-object adaptive optics in the visible on a 10 meter telescope

ABSTRACT We have demonstrated MOAO-type atmospheric compensation on a 10 meter telescope at visible wavelengths with the UCO/Lick MCAO/MOAO testbed in the Laboratory for Adaptiv e Optics at UCSC. We repo rt Strehls of ~20% in R band (658 nm) on-axis and Strehls of ~15% off-axis 25 for a 3D Mauna Kea-type atmosphere with r 0 = 15 cm and T 0 = 3.5. We show that a tomographic MOAO approach with 5 LGSs in a 50 conste llation is sufficient to realize good correction in the visible. Two major improvements to the testbed realized this gain: (1) An upgrade to 64x64 subapertures across a 10 meter pupil (2) and a predictor-corrector wind model. We discuss limitations to wide-field visible light AO on 8-10 meter class telescopes and stress that the tomographic error due to blind modes is frequently the largest field-dependent error. We use a predictor-corrector wind model (Wiberg et al. 2006) to take advantage of wind-layer shearing in the atmosphere to reduc e the tomographic error over a 50 diameter field. Depending on the validity of the Taylor frozen flow model for individual layers in the re al atmosphere, this approach could be more effective than increasing the number of LGSs. Keywords: multi-conjugate, multi-object, adaptive optics, deformable mirror, Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, woofer, open-loop, tomography, wind, Taylor frozen flow
Numerical correlation of recent paleomagnetic records in two Lake Tahoe cores

Abstract Recent paleomagnetic fluctuations are smooth and well correlated in two short cores collected 28 km apart in Lake Tahoe. Cross-correlation analysis of the unit-vector time series data shows that the characteristic angular difference between the two records is only 11° for the past 3000 years. This compares favorably with the characteristic angular differences of 7–8° between adjacent samples within each core taken separately. The correspondingly high values of pairwise (between cores) and serial (within core) correlation are significant at 99.99% confidence. These data, collected and previously studied qualitatively by A.S. Goldstein, show that the sediment in Lake Tahoe can provide reliable Recent paleosecular variation records. The paucity of fine-scale paleomagnetic correlation between other cores from that basin is due likely to stratigraphic rather than rock magnetic difficulties.
Comparative application of the coefficient of variation and range-based statistics for assessing the taxonomic composition of fossil samples

Abstract Dental variation has been used commonly to assess taxonomic composition in morphologically homogeneous fossil samples. While the coefficient of variation (CV) has been used traditionally, range-based measures of variation, such as the range as a percentage of the mean (R%) and the maximum/minimum index (Imax/min) have recently become popular alternatives. The current study compares the performance of these statistics when applied to single- and pooled-species dental samples of extant Cercopithecus species. A common methodology for such problems of species discrimination has been to simply compare the maximum value of a variation statistic observed in extant samples with that observed in the fossil sample. However, regardless of what statistic is used, this approach has an unknowable Type I error rate, and usually has low power to detect multiple species. A more appropriate method involves a formal hypothesis test. The null hypothesis is that the level of variation in the fossil sample does not exceed what might be expected in a sample drawn randomly from a reference population, taking into account sampling error and the size of the fossil sample. Previous research using this method with the CV has indicated that it offers considerable power at an acceptable Type I error rate. In the current study, the data of primary interest were posterior dental dimensions for single- and pooled species samples from extant Cercopithecus species. In addition, the study also investigated the relative performance of variation statistics when applied to highly dimorphic canine dimensions, since much recent work has employed sexually dimorphic dental dimensions for assessing single-species hypotheses. The results indicate that the CV consistently out-performed the range-based statistics when using posterior dental dimensions to test a single-species hypothesis. Regardless of which statistic was used, tests on sexually dimorphic dimensions offered minimal power. In consideration of these results and the problem of studywise Type I error rates, we recommend against the use of multiple measures of variation to test for multiple species composition, and advocate the CV as the statistic of choice when using the method of Cope & Lacy (1992). For similar reasons, we argue for careful selection of dental variables for inclusion in such analyses, and in particular recommend against including sexually dimorphic dimensions when testing for multiple species composition.