cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microscopic extracapsular extension in the axilla: is this an indication for axillary radiotherapy?

Abstract Purpose: Although the axilla is often treated with radiotherapy (RT) postoperatively when microscopic extracapsular extension (EC) of lymph nodal metases is present, little data are available to assess axillary failure in the absence of such treatment. As it has been the practice at this institution to withhold axillary irradiation in the presence of microscopic extracapsular spread, we retrospectively analyzed our results for axillary recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Methods and Materials: Clinical records were reviewed of 82 women with Stage II node positive breast cancer treated with lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and RT in addition to systemic chemo/hormonal therapy. Axillary surgery consisted of a level I, II, ±III dissection, with a 16.5 nodes removed. Tangential radiotherapy fields were used to treat the breast. All patients were also treated with an abbreviated supraclavicular field with the lateral border medial to the humeral head. Pathological sections were available for review in 72 of the 82 women Results: Twenty-seven of 72 (37.5%) had evidence of ECE; 45 of 72 (62.5%) had metastic carcinoma confined within the nodal capsule. Clinical characteristics were comparable between the patients with and without ECE with the exception of (a) pathologic subtype, with a greater percentage of infiltrating ductal tumors associated with ECE ( p = 0.044), and (b) number of positive lymph nodes, with 93% of patients without ECE having one to three positive nodes vs. only 56% among patients with ECE ( p p = 0.4). There were no isolated axillary failures. Five-year disease-free survival (72% without ECE vs. 57% with ECE, p = 0.12) and overall survival (83% vs. 53%, respectively, p = 0.068) suggested a less favorable outcome for patients with ECE. Microscopic ECE appears to be associated with increased axillary involvement and decreased survival rather than subsequent axillary failure. Our data suggest that radiotherapy to a dissected axilla may be omitted for the sole indication of microscopic extracapsular disease.
Classical conditioning of the arterial pressor response.

In this experiment the arterial pressor response in a dog was classically conditioned. Aseptic surgical procedures were used to implant electrodes chronically in the fastigial nucleus (FN) and cardiovascular instrumentation. The CS was a tone and the US was one of three different intensities of electrical stimulation. It was found that US intensity determined the magnitude of the conditioned pressor response which occurred in conditioning and extinction. These preliminary results indicate that a classical conditioning paradigm can be used to evaluate the degree to which learning can modify the fastigal nucleus-produced arterial pressor response.
ERK/MAPK regulates the Kv4.2 potassium channel by direct phosphorylation of the pore-forming subunit

Kv4.2 is the primary pore-forming subunit encoding A-type currents in many neurons throughout the nervous system, and it also contributes to the transient outward currents of cardiac myocytes. A-type currents in the dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons are regulated by activation of ERK/MAPK, and Kv4.2 is the likely pore-forming subunit of that current. We showed previously that Kv4.2 is directly phosphorylated at three sites by ERK/MAPK (T602, T607, and S616). In this study we determined whether direct phosphorylation of Kv4.2 by ERK/MAPK is responsible for the regulation of the A-type current observed in neurons. We made site-directed mutants, changing the phosphosite serine (S) or threonine (T) to aspartate (D) to mimic phosphorylation. We found that the T607D mutation mimicked the electrophysiological changes elicited by ERK/MAPK activation in neurons: a rightward shift of the activation curve and an overall reduction in current compared with wild type (WT). Surprisingly, the S616D mutation caused the opposite effect, a leftward shift in the activation voltage. K(+) channel-interacting protein (KChIP)3 ancillary subunit coexpression with Kv4.2 was necessary for the T607D effect, as the T607D mutant when expressed in the absence of KChIP3 was not different from WT Kv4.2. These data suggest that direct phosphorylation of Kv4.2 at T607 is involved in the dynamic regulation of the channel function by ERK/MAPK and an interaction of the primary subunit with KChIP is also necessary for this effect. Overall these studies provide new insights into the structure-function relationships for MAPK regulation of membrane ion channels.
Nanoassembly of a Fractal Polymer: A Molecular "Sierpinski Hexagonal Gasket"

Mathematics and art converge in the fractal forms that also abound in nature. We used molecular self-assembly to create a synthetic, nanometer-scale, Sierpinski hexagonal gasket. This nondendritic, perfectly self-similar fractal macromolecule is composed of bis-terpyridine building blocks that are bound together by coordination to 36 Ru and 6 Fe ions to form a nearly planar array of increasingly larger hexagons around a hollow center.
The influence of lateral organization on the evaluation of paintings.

This study examines influence of directional properties of lateral organization on evaluation of paintings. Lateral organization, as defined here, has two dimensions: (1) left or right location of principal figure; and (2) left-to-right or right-to-left sequence of figures represented by direction of suggested movement, action, or lines. That previous studies have failed to demonstrate consistently a relationship between evaluations and directional properties is attributed to methodological shortcomings involving lack of control of stimulus properties and exposure time. Here, on basis of a well-defined judging procedure, paintings were distinguished according to whether each dimension of lateral organization depicted one or more than one direction. Under two exposure conditions, 5 and 20 s, three evaluations (general preference, balance, and dynamics) were made for paintings which were presented simultaneously in artist-created, original view, and mirror-image, reversed view. It was found that evaluations were influenced by directional properties (sequence of figures) with a 5 s exposure and by more inclusive formal features with a 20 s exposure. Implications of findings for perception and aesthetics are considered.
Privacy in domestic environments

While there is a growing body of research on privacy, most of the work puts the focus on information privacy. Physical and psychological privacy issues receive little to no attention. However, the introduction of technology into our lives can cause problems with regard to these aspects of privacy. This is especially true when it comes to our homes, both as nodes of our social life and places for relaxation. This paper presents the results of a study intended to capture a part of the phenomenology of privacy in domestic environments.
A Ca-INDUCED Na-CURRENT IN PARAMECIUM

Under a voltage clamp, step depolarization and repolarization can induce a sustained inward current and a tail inward current in Paramecium tetraurelia bathed in a solution containing 8 mM-Na+. These currents are best seen in the 'paranoiac' mutant. The I-V plot of the sustained inward current can have a region of negative resistance around -20 mV. This current is absent when Na+ is excluded from the bath solution, and it increases as the Na+ concentration increases from 2 to 8 mM. Injection of Na+ into the cell suppresses this inward current. This current develops very slowly, reaching its maximum seconds after the step depolarization and decays with a time constant of hundreds of milliseconds after the repolarization. This slow current is dependent on Ca2+. It can be suppressed by reduction or deletion of external Ca2+ or by iontophoretic injection of EGTA. 'Pawn' mutants with defective Ca-conductance also lack this current. We conclude that Paramecium has a Ca-induced conductance through which the Na-current flows. Although more prominent in the 'paranoiac' mutant, this Ca-induced Na-current is also seen in the wild type. This conductance may function in generating plateau depolarizations lasting seconds or even minutes and the corresponding prolonged backward swimming away from sources of irritation and stress.
The Listing, Size, and Value of Equity Warrants

This note examines whether listing on a major exchange raises the value of warrants. Such an increase is plausible, given the generally small size of warrant issues and the enhanced liquidity that organized trading can provide. Using Black-Scholes pricing techniques, the study concludes that listing has a positive and substantial impact on the per unit price of seasoned warrant issues. Moreover, the tests indicate that the impact is so consistently large for small warrant issues that firms should consider listing these securities at the time of issuance.
Breakage by hydrodynamic shear of the bonds between cohered ends of lambda-DNA molecules.

The rate of breakage by hydrodynamic shear of the cohered ends of λ-DNA molecules has been observed for the circular monomers, joined half molecules, and joined quarter molecules, in a capillary apparatus with known flow parameters. The rate constant for breakage has been measured as a function of shear stress, temperature, ionic strength, and molecular length. There is a large temperature coefficient, with an activation energy of 120 ± 20 kcal./mole. The values of d ln k/dG, where k is the rate constant for breaking and G is shear gradient, in aqueous solution at 25°C. are about 3.8 ± 0.3 × 10−4 see. The shear stresses needed for breakage of joined quarter molecules and of circular monomers, respectively, are about equal, and about half that needed for breakage of joined half molecules. The rate of breakage at a given shear stress increases with decreasing ionic strength, approximately as [Na+]−1.6. Self-protection effects are not observed for opening of circular monomers at a DNA concentration of 5 μg./ml. but are observed for breakage of joined half molecules at concentrations down to 0.5 μg./ml. The large temperature coefficient which is approximately equal to that of the thermal dissociation of the cohered ends is interpreted to mean that shear breakage is a mechanically assisted thermal reaction in which the thermal fluctuations provide most of the free energy of activation for breakage. A detailed model for this interpretation is presented. The self-protection effect implies that those molecules which break are not average molecules but exceptional ones which, due to some fluctuation, are more fully extended in the flow field.
Prospective analysis of life-sustaining therapy discussions in the surgical intensive care unit: a housestaff perspective.

Background Prospective data addressing end-of-life care in the surgical ICU are lacking. We determined factors surrounding life-sustaining therapy discussions (LSTDs) in our surgical ICU as experienced by housestaff. Study Design Housestaff were interviewed daily about the occurrence of an LSTD between themselves and either a patient or surrogate. Patients for whom at least one LSTD occurred were compared with patients for whom an LSTD never occurred. Housestaff also completed a standardized questionnaire that captured events surrounding each LSTD. Results Eighty LSTDs occurred among 50 patients. Lack of decision-making capacity (p = 0.04), age (p = 0.02), and acuity (p = 0.01) predicted independently the occurrence of an LSTD. Housestaff were significantly more likely to both report recent clinical deterioration (p Conclusions Age, acuity, and lack of decision-making capacity were the most important factors involved in the initiation of an LSTD. Housestaff reported that they initiated LSTDs for different reasons and proposed different end-of-life care plans relative to both patients and their surrogates. These disparities can contribute to failed enactment of proposed changes in end-of-life care plans.
Non-uniform displacements within the Achilles tendon observed during passive and eccentric loading

Abstract The goal of this study was to investigate Achilles tendon tissue displacement patterns under passive and eccentric loading conditions. Nine healthy young adults were positioned prone on an examination table with their foot secured to a rotating footplate aligned with the ankle. Subjects cyclically rotated their ankle over a 25° range of motion at 0.5 Hz. An inertial load geared to the footplate induced eccentric plantarflexor contractions with dorsiflexion. Passive cyclic ankle motion was also performed over the same angular range of motion. An ultrasound transducer positioned over the distal Achilles tendon was used to collect radiofrequency (RF) images at 70 frames/s. Two-dimensional ultrasound elastographic analysis of the RF data was used to track tendon tissue displacements throughout the cyclic motion. Non-uniform tissue displacement patterns were observed in all trials, with the deeper portions of the Achilles tendon consistently exhibiting larger displacements than the superficial tendon (average of 0.9–2.6 mm larger). Relative to the passive condition, eccentric loading consistently induced smaller tissue displacements in all tendon regions, except for the superficial tendon in a flexed knee posture. Significantly greater overall tissue displacement was observed in a more extended knee posture (30°) relative to a flexed knee posture (90°). These spatial- and posture-dependent displacement patterns suggest that the tendon undergoes non-uniform deformation under in vivo loading conditions. Such behavior could reflect relative sliding between the distinct tendon fascicles that arise from the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
Dual-Substrate Capacitive Loading for Size Reduction in Shorted Annular Ring Antennas

This communication presents a capacitive loading technique capable of providing significant size reduction in shorted annular ring antennas. Capacitive loading techniques are utilized in many antenna geometries to reduce the size of the radiator. Many such structures generate capacitance between parallel conducting planes. The new loading structure utilizes two separate microwave substrates. One substrate is contained beneath the radiator, and a high dielectric substrate is present between the parallel conductors to increase the capacitive effect. The new loading technique is verified with simulations and measurements with excellent agreement between the two.
Esophageal temperature threshold for sweating decreases before ovulation in premenopausal women

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that regulated body temperature is decreased in the preovulatory phase in eumenorrheic women. Six women were studied in both the preovulatory ph...
A flexible network architecture for data multicasting in "multiservice networks"

The paper describes a canonical model of data-transport architecture that offers a flexible framework for implementations of data multicasting on backbone networks to support multiservice applications (e.g., videoconferencing, digital TV broadcast). The architecture is based on acyclic graph structured communication channels that provide connectivity among data sources and destinations through switches and links in a backbone network. The paper adopts a network-wide logical addressing of communication channels, which allows data multicasting to be realized on specific backbone networks by establishing local bindings between a logical address and the information on network-specific routing of data over switches and links. The approach allows various sources to share the switches and links in a multicast path connecting to destinations. This is a desirable feature in view of the significant reduction in network routing control costs and data transfer costs when dealing with high-volume multisource data (say, in videoconferencing). In addition, logical addressing allows grouping of selected destinations to overlay different "virtual networks" on a base-level multicast channel (e.g., private discussion groups in a conference). As a demonstration of architectural flexibility, the paper describes the embedding of our multicast model on sample backbone networks capable of supporting multiservice applications: interconnected LANs, ATM networks, and high-speed public data networks (viz., SMDS networks). >
TransGraph: Hierarchical Exploration of Transition Relationships in Time-Varying Volumetric Data

A fundamental challenge for time-varying volume data analysis and visualization is the lack of capability to observe and track data change or evolution in an occlusion-free, controllable, and adaptive fashion. In this paper, we propose to organize a timevarying data set into a hierarchy of states. By deriving transition probabilities among states, we construct a global map that captures the essential transition relationships in the time-varying data. We introduce the TransGraph, a graph-based representation to visualize hierarchical state transition relationships. The TransGraph not only provides a visual mapping that abstracts data evolution over time in different levels of detail, but also serves as a navigation tool that guides data exploration and tracking. The user interacts with the TransGraph and makes connection to the volumetric data through brushing and linking. A set of intuitive queries is provided to enable knowledge extraction from time-varying data. We test our approach with time-varying data sets of different characteristics and the results show that the TransGraph can effectively augment our ability in understanding time-varying data.
Structure and Dynamics of Micelle-bound Human α-Synuclein

Misfolding of the protein alpha-synuclein (aS), which associates with presynaptic vesicles, has been implicated in the molecular chain of events leading to Parkinson's disease. Here, the structure and dynamics of micelle-bound aS are reported. Val3-Val37 and Lys45-Thr92 form curved alpha-helices, connected by a well ordered, extended linker in an unexpected anti-parallel arrangement, followed by another short extended region (Gly93-Lys97), overlapping the recently identified chaperone-mediated autophagy recognition motif and a highly mobile tail (Asp98-Ala140). Helix curvature is significantly less than predicted based on the native micelle shape, indicating a deformation of the micelle by aS. Structural and dynamic parameters show a reduced helical content for Ala30-Val37. A dynamic variation in interhelical distance on the microsecond timescale is complemented by enhanced sub-nanosecond timescale dynamics, particularly in the remarkably glycine-rich segments of the helices. These unusually rich dynamics may serve to mitigate the effect of aS binding on membrane fluidity. The well ordered conformation of the helix-helix connector indicates a defined interaction with lipidic surfaces, suggesting that, when bound to larger diameter synaptic vesicles, it can act as a switch between this structure and a previously proposed uninterrupted helix.
Transients in a periodic slab: Coupled waves approach

The reflection and transmission of rectangular and Gaussian pulses impinging on a periodically stratified slab are studied and a number of examples are illustrated and analyzed. The coupled waves approach is used to derive the reflection and transmission coefficient, then the fast Fourier transform is used to illustrate the transient responses.
An Investigation Into Alternative Television Viewership Habits Of College Students

Television viewership through the use of digital video recorders (DVRs) and the Internet are affecting viewership statistics. The utilization of the Internet by students to view television programs mandates that future marketing efforts be directed more toward the Internet instead of traditional television advertisements. Research focused on the television viewing habits of college students, current challenges in television advertising and marketing and the increasing use of DVRs and the Internet are investigated.
Computational and Experimental Assessment of Turbulence Stimulation on Flow Induced Motion of Circular Cylinder

In the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) of the University of Michigan, Flow Induced Motion (FIM) is studied as a means to convert marine hydrokinetic energy to electricity using the VIVACE energy harvester [1–4]. Turbulence stimulation in the form of sand-strips, referred to as Passive Turbulence Control (PTC), were added to oscillating cylinders in 2008 [5]. PTC enabled VIVACE to harness hydrokinetic energy from currents/tides over the entire range of FIM including VIV and galloping. In 2011, the MRELab produced experimentally the PTC-to-FIM Map defining the induced cylinder motion based on the location of PTC [6]. In 2013, the robustness of the map was tested and dominant zones were identified [7]. Even though the PTC-to-FIM Map has become a powerful tool in inducing specific motions of circular cylinders, several parameters remain unexplored. Experiments, though the ultimate verification tool, are time consuming and hard to provide all needed information. A computational tool that could predict the FIM of a cylinder correctly would be invaluable to study the full parametric design space. A major side-benefit of PTC was the fact that PTC enabled computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to generate results in good agreement with experiments by forcing the location of the separation point [8]. This valuable tool, along with experiments, is used in this paper to investigate PTC design parameters such as width and thickness and their impact on flow features with the intent of maximizing FIM and, thus, hydrokinetic energy conversion.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Enhanced Decision-Making Framework Using Reliability Concepts for Freeway Facilities

This paper presents a decision-making framework based on a travel time reliability methodology developed under the U.S. Strategic Highway Research Program. Existing methods consider a set of predefined prevailing conditions for the analysis of freeway facilities as the base case. However, a reliability analysis accounts for multiple recurring and nonrecurring congestion sources to estimate the travel time distribution over a long time horizon. This approach considers variations in traffic demand levels, inclement weather conditions, and incidents that occur stochastically on a freeway facility. Several performance measures are defined based on the travel time distribution, which comprehensively cover the full range of operational conditions on the system. Based on the proposed decision-making framework, mobility strategies can be identified, evaluated, and improved.
A cohort study of the morbidity of combined anterior-posterior cervical spinal fusions: incidence and predictors of postoperative dysphagia

To identify risk factors that may lead to the development of dysphagia after combined anterior and posterior (360°) cervical fusion surgery. A single center, retrospective analysis of patients who had same-day, 360° fusion at Henry Ford Hospital between 2008 and 2012 was performed. Variables analyzed included demographics, medical co-morbidities, levels fused, and degree of dysphagia. The overall dysphagia rate was 37.7 %. Patients with dysphagia had a longer mean length of stay (p < 0.001), longer mean operative time (p < 0.001), greater intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.002), and fusion above the fourth cervical vertebra, C4, (p = 0.007). There were no differences in the rates of dysphagia when comparing patients undergoing primary or revision surgery (p = 0.554). Prolonged surgery and fusion above C4 lead to higher rates of dysphagia after 360° fusions. Prior anterior cervical fusion does not increase the risk of dysphagia development.
IRA Assets and Characteristics of IRA Owners

This article examines the trends in assets in IRAs. Furthermore, the percentage of individuals owning IRAs along with relative frequency of ownership across various demographic groups are presented. Lastly, the characteristics of those who make tax-deductible contributions to IRAs are explored, with an additional look at the probability of the persistence of these contributions over a three-year period. IRA assets experienced their second only decline in 2001, falling from $2.5 trillion in 2000 to $2.4 trillion. As of February 2000, 17.2% of all Americans ages 21 or older owned an IRA with an average balance of $40,960. Nearly 22 percent of those who made a tax-deductible contribution to an IRA in 1998 had also made one in both 1996 and 1997.
An Open Approach to Condition Monitoring, Diagnosis and Decision Support Systems

In increasing the availability and reducing the maintenance costs of gasturbines in critical applications, there has been an increasing trend towards Condition Monitoring, Diagnostic and Decision Support systems (CMD&D). The idea is to reduce the number of routine preventative maintenance procedures, in favor of techniques that continuously monitor the health and diagnose faults as they develop. Early isolation of the root cause of problems, allows the operators to better plan the corrective maintenance actions, taking into account the gasturbine and the other units with which it collaborates.Clearly, this requires expertise in many fields such as Data Acquisition, Trending, Aerothermodynamic Performance, Vibration, Emissions, Fault Isolation, etc. In addition, it is increasingly becoming expensive to have experts available at all locations, so the solution obviously lies in (Semi-)autonomous systems. Their task would be to monitor the health and diagnose symptoms of machinery, perhaps in collaboration with junior experts locally and senior experts at a remote center.This report outlines some of the results of a short but broad technical exploration in the questions of why none of the existing packages have achieved widespread acceptance, and how a turbine control manufacturer can play a significant role. A conceptual solution is presented which can meet the challenging functionality, data abstraction, automation and communication requirements by integration of expertise and modules from different groups. However, details on how to turn the concept into a product have been puposely ommitted in order to safeguard proprietory activity.© 1998 ASME
Evaluation of a Direct Spectrophotometric Procedure for Quantitating Plasma Hemoglobin

We evaluated the analytical performance of a direct spectrophotometric scanning procedure for quantitation of plasma hemoglobin. Hemoglobin concentration was determined using formulas employing absorbance values at 415, 380, and 450 nm (Harboe, or “Allen correction” formula) or at 415, 380, and 470 nm (Noe, or “polychromatic” formula). Linearity, recovery, and precision were all acceptable. Bilirubin and triglyceride interference in the determination of low levels of hemoglobin (10 mg/dL) was positive increased linearly with increasing concentration of bilirubin or triglyceride, was higher for bilirubin than triglyceride, and was higher using the Noe formula. Myoglobin interference was significantly positive at concentrations not expected to occur in clinical conditions routinely associated with the measurement of plasma hemoglobin. Similar values for hemoglobin concentration were obtained from absorbance measurements by single-beam (discrete wavelength) or dual-beam (scanning) spectrophotometry applied to either the Harboe or Noe formula. We confirm the higher values for hemoglobin concentration obtained using the polychromatic formula vs Harboe formula1 and conclude that scanning wavelength spectrophotometry is an acceptable method for laboratory use in the quantitation of hemoglobin in nonicteric, nonturbid “plasma” using the “Harboe” formula.
Peer review: Troubled from the start.

Pivotal moments in the history of academic refereeing have occurred at times when the public status of science was being renegotiated, explains Alex Csiszar.
Load Model Based Study on Dynamic Stability and Transmission Limit of Yunnan Power Grid

Employing BPA simulation software to analyze the effect of load model structures and parameters on dynamic simulation of Yunnan Power Grid,and comparing the oscillation frequency and damping ratio under different load model structures and parameters,this paper calculates the power transmission limits of major sections in Yunnan Power Grid with static load model and dynamic load model separately.The results indicate that the power transmission limit with dynamic load modle is higher than that wth static load model when the load is on the end site of transmission line while the opposite case occurs when the load is on the start site of transmission line.The power transmission limits of major sections in Yunnan Power Grid are very different among different load models.So it is necessary to establish a measured dynamic load model for Yunnan Power Grid.
Analysis on sperm quality of 4598 infertile males in Huai′an area

Objective To investigate the causes of male infertility by routinely detecting sperm in infertile males in Huai′an area.Methods According to WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervicalmucus Interaction,all the 4 598 semen samples of male infertility were analyzed through CASA(WLJY9000 made by Beijing Weili Company),and all the infertile males in the reproductive technical department of our hospital were performed the semen detection from Dec.2007 to Mar.2011.Results Among 4 598 infertile males,sperm was normal in 2 725 cases,accounting for(54.96%),and abnormal in 1 873 cases(45.04%).Among the abnormal cases,there were 1 110 cases of abnormal viability(24.14%),1 648 cases of abnormal motility(33.24%),745 cases of abnormal concentration(16.20%),742 cases of abnormal semen volume(16.14%),423 cases of abnormal liquefying time(9.21%),271 cases of abnormal pH value(5.91%) and 136 cases of azoospermia(2.96%).Conclusion Compared with fertile males at same term,the semen quality of infertile males in Huai′an area is markedly decrease,45.04% of infertile males have abnormal semen quality.Abnormal sperm motility and sperm viability occupy a higher proportion,which suggests that the quality decrease of sperm is the main factor causing male infertility.
Patient, Program, and System Barriers and Facilitators to Detoxification Services in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration: A Qualitative Study of Provider Perspectives.

ABSTRACTBackground: Because substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is expanding, and detoxification (detox) is often the entry point to SUD treatment, it is critical to provide ready access to detox services. Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to examine patient, program, and system barriers or facilitators to detox access within an integrated health care system with variable rates of detox utilization across facilities. Methods: Inpatient and outpatient providers from 31 different U.S. Veterans Health Administration detox programs were interviewed. Results: Qualitative analyses identified six facilitators and 11 barriers to detox access. Facilitators included program staff and program characteristics such as encouragement and immediate access, as well as systemic cooperation and patient circumstances. Barriers to detox included programmatic and systemic problems, including lack of available detox services, program rules or admission requirements, funding shortages, stigma related to a SUD d...
Reducing Biotechnological Risks

Publisher Summary Risk assessment is the science upon which environmental decisions are made. This chapter discusses the reduction of biotechnological risks. A convenient standard of biotechnological acceptability is that a risk from an operation, a product, or a system should be as low as reasonably practical (ALARP). An aspect of ALARP important to biotechnological systems is that a margin of safety should be sought. This margin is sought in risk reduction and management, since it must be both protective and reasonable. Reaching ALARP necessitates qualitative and/or quantitative measures of the amount of risk reduced and costs incurred with the design decisions. The principle is based on the assumption that it is possible to compare marginal improvements in safety with the marginal costs of the increases in reliability. Acceptable risk must be reconciled with the sound practice of bioengineering. One of the challenges of applying a utilitarian model to engineered systems involving living things is that financial costs and benefits are easier and more straightforward to calculate than other costs and benefits. Such benefits and costs in biological systems are often not seen right away. The concepts of biosystematic intervention, chemical indicators of biological agents, risk causes, and bioterrorism are also discussed.
HLA and HIV-1 Infection

Publisher Summary The pathogenesis of an infectious disease involves interactions between the infectious agent and the host's immunologic response to the challenge. In Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection; these interactions appear to have fundamental consequences for many different aspects of the disease. The central role that the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products play in cellular and humoral immunity suggests the possibility that one or more of the highly polymorphic MHC genes or gene products contribute to variability in pathogen-host interaction. The discovery of MHC gene products resulted from their properties as determinates of allograft rejection. Since tissue transplantation is not a natural process, investigators examined the possibility that HLA polymorphism might be related to disease processes. Indeed, most human diseases are tested for their association with HLA types and a number of associations are observed. Considering our present knowledge of the function of the MHC gene products as regulatory elements of the immune response, it is not surprising that these associations were with diseases commonly designated as having an autoimmune pathogenesis. However, the contribution that specific alleles play in a particular pathologic process remains to be determined for many of these diseases, despite the fact that some of these associations are observed for years.
Incidental ferumoxytol artifacts in clinical brain MR imaging

Ferumoxytol (Feraheme) is a parenteral therapy approved for treatment of iron deficiency anemia. The product insert for ferumoxytol states that it may affect the diagnostic ability of MRI for up to 3 months. However, the expected effects may not be commonly recognized among clinical neuroradiologists. Our purpose is to describe the artifacts we have seen at our institution during routine clinical practice. We reviewed the patients at our institution that had brain MRI performed within 90 days of receiving intravenous ferumoxytol. The imaging was reviewed for specific findings, including diffusion-weighted imaging vascular susceptibility artifact, gradient-echo echo-planar T2*-weighted vascular susceptibility artifact, SWI/SWAN vascular susceptibility artifact, hypointense vascular signal on T2-weighted images, pre-gadolinium contrast vascular enhancement on magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE) imaging, and effects on post-gadolinium contrast T1 imaging. Multiple artifacts were observed in patients having a brain MRI within 3 days of receiving intravenous ferumoxytol. These included susceptibility artifact on DWI, GRE, and SWAN/SWI imaging, pre-gadolinium contrast increased vascular signal on MPRAGE imaging, and decreased expected enhancement on post-gadolinium contrast T1-weighted imaging. Ferumoxytol can create imaging artifacts which complicate clinical interpretation when brain MRI is performed within 3 days of administration. Recognition of the constellation of artifacts produced by ferumoxytol is important in order to obviate additional unnecessary examinations and mitigate errors in interpretation.
Persecution in the Early Church. By Herbert B. Workman. (Bloomington, IN: Clearnote Press, 2014. Pp. 273. $17.99.)

First published in 1906, with two iterations in 1960 and 1980, this work has now been reissued with the original footnotes intact for the benefit of those who would like to examine the original sou...
Mitotic Gene Bookmarking: An Epigenetic Mechanism for Coordination of Lineage Commitment, Cell Identity and Cell Growth

Epigenetic control of gene expression contributes to dynamic responsiveness of cellular processes that include cell cycle, cell growth and differentiation. Mitotic gene bookmarking, retention of sequence-specific transcription factors at target gene loci, including the RUNX regulatory proteins, provide a novel dimension to epigenetic regulation that sustains cellular identity in progeny cells following cell division. Runx transcription factor retention during mitosis coordinates physiological control of cell growth and differentiation in a broad spectrum of biological conditions, and is associated with compromised gene expression in pathologies that include cancer.
Comparative analysis of A-to-I editing in human and non-human primate brains reveals conserved patterns and context-dependent regulation of RNA editing

A-to-I RNA editing is an important process for generating molecular diversity in the brain through modification of transcripts encoding several proteins important for neuronal signaling. We investigated the relationships between the extent of editing at multiple substrate transcripts (5HT2C, MGLUR4, CADPS, GLUR2, GLUR4, and GABRA3) in brain tissue obtained from adult humans and rhesus macaques. Several patterns emerged from these studies revealing conservation of editing across primate species. Additionally, variability in the human population allows us to make novel inferences about the co-regulation of editing at different editing sites and even across different brain regions.
Lower extremity joint coupling variability during gait in young adults with and without chronic ankle instability.

AbstractChronic ankle instability (CAI) is a condition resulting from a lateral ankle sprain. Shank-rearfoot joint-coupling variability differences have been found in CAI patients; however, joint-coupling variability (VCV) of the ankle and proximal joints has not been explored. Our purpose was to analyse VCV in adults with and without CAI during gait. Four joint-coupling pairs were analysed: knee sagittal-ankle sagittal, knee sagittal-ankle frontal, hip frontal-ankle sagittal and hip frontal-ankle frontal. Twenty-seven adults participated (CAI:n = 13, Control:n = 14). Lower extremity kinematics were collected during walking (4.83 km/h) and jogging (9.66 km/h). Vector-coding was used to assess the stride-to-stride variability of four coupling pairs. During walking, CAI patients exhibited higher VCV than healthy controls for knee sagittal-ankle frontal in latter parts of stance thru mid-swing. When jogging, CAI patients demonstrated lower VCV with specific differences occurring across various intervals of g...
Surgical Approaches for Cell Transplantation in Cell Replacement Therapy

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) transplantation holds great promise as a viable treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases. Transplantation of hESCs can replace dysfunctional cells or provide trophic factors to sustain degenerating cells. Ocular conditions, particularly retinal degenerative disorders, are especially suited to hESC transplantation due to ease of accessibility and lack of immunogenicity in the subretinal space. Recently, embryonic stem cell transplantation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been utilized in degenerative retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt’s disease, with promising results. This chapter will summarize important surgical approaches to hESC-RPE transplantation for age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt’s disease, as well discuss the future directions of cell therapy in degenerative retinal disease.
Sustaining Human Capital Value

This chapter examines a basic but essential premise underlying the value of the assembled workforce. That is, for the workforce to have an ongoing value, its value producing properties must be sustained. The ongoing value of the assembled workforce is dependent on how the human resources are developed, trained, and employed going forward to maintain, enhance, or deplete the aggregate human capital value. This chapter draws from a range of research literature to describe four areas in which employer investment in employees is shown to impact employee performance contributions over the long-term: regeneration of physical and mental health, regeneration of viable skills, and maintenance of motivation.
New technology in quality of life research: are all computer-assisted approaches created equal?

Objective: To compare alternate form reliability for two previously validated questionnaires using traditional and computer-assisted interfaces (CASI). Methods: The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) and the allergy-specific Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) instrument were combined and formatted for paper-and-pencil (P), computer touch screen (TS), or web-based (WB) administration. Employees at a large midwestern hospital in the US each completed two of three possible formats assigned randomly and in random order. Those completing one of three possible format pairs (P-TS, P-WB, and TS-WB) comprised three study groups. Item response consistency was assessed using Spearman correlations; individuals' test–retest scores were compared using paired t-tests with mean test–retest differences compared between groups using ANOVA. Results: Seventy five volunteers completed 150 questionnaires. Item response consistency varied by format pair with correlations ranging from 0.566 to 0.973. Although no differences were observed in paired RQLQ responses, participants completing the WB form reported generally higher WPAI scores compared with those from either the paper (p = 0.07) or TS (p = 0.001) format. ANOVA of mean RQLQ and WPAI scores demonstrated no between-group differences. Conclusions: Use of CASI, an increasingly popular method in survey research, may have important effects on instrument reliability. Studies examining this phenomenon more closely are needed to guide future use of CASI in this setting.
Calorimetric and Spectroscopic Studies of the Effects of the Cell Penetrating Peptide Pep-1 and the Antimicrobial Peptide Combi-2 on Vesicles Mimicking Escherichia coli Membrane

The objective of this study is to measure and compare the effects of the cell penetrating peptide (CPP) Pep-1 and the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) combi-2 on vesicles of membranes mimicking Escherichia coli (E. coli). To characterize the effects of Pep-1 and combi-2 on E. coli membrane vesicles, a combination of five biophysical techniques was employed: fluorescence, infrared, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Upon addition of E. coli membranes, tryptophan fluorescence intensity of Pep-1 showed a sudden blue-shift and decreased in a nonconcentration-dependent manner while the intensity of combi-2 decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, most significantly for a very low peptide-to-lipid ratio of 1:40. Complexes of Pep-1 and combi-2 with E. coli membrane mimicking vesicles having shown a significant blue-shift in fluorescence intensity were then prepared and studied in freeze-dried states. IR results indicate that Pep-1 and combi-2 adopt a major 310-helix structure in the presence of E. coli membrane mimicking vesicles at low peptide concentration. Pep-1 and combi-2 have a similar effect on E. coli membrane mimicking vesicles at low concentration even though combi-2 is in the interfacial region of the bilayer while Pep-1 is located between the interfacial region and the hydrophobic region. Combi-2 at low concentration acts as a CPP. TGA and DSC results reveal that combi-2 has a stabilizing effect on E. coli at any concentration while Pep-1 stabilizes the E. coli membrane only at high concentration. Both peptides show a preferential interaction with one of the anionic lipids leading to clustering in E. coli membrane. SEM images reveal that Pep-1 and combi-2 form superstructures including fibrils in the presence of E. coli membrane mimicking vesicles. Calorimetric and spectroscopic techniques may be used in a complementary way with imaging techniques to gain more insights into peptide-lipid interactions.
Authenticity and the Rhetoric of “Selling” on Social Media: A Role-writing Assignment Set

Rooted in a hybrid, themed, first-year writing course titled Please Like Us: Selling with Social Media and drawing on the disciplines of business, marketing, and writing studies, the two sequenced assignments explored here rely upon role-playing and “role-writing” for specific outside professional audiences. A semester-long blog project serves as a jumping off point for a researched, multi-disciplinary social media marketing proposal, providing students with the chance to examine social media in both rhetorical and professional terms. The accompanying article explores these assignments in the context of “authenticity” and with an eye toward not only principles of writing pedagogy, but also the transfer of knowledge and process between academic and professional writing.
Rare Event Simulation for Level Crossing and Queueing Models

For every integer n, let Z p,n be a random variable taking values in some complete separable metric space S n . Let P n be the probability measure induced by Z p,n on S n . Instead of directly simulating Z p,n , we choose to simulate with another S n -valued random variable Z q,n which in turn induces a probability measure on S n , Q n . Let f n be an R-valued measurable function on the space S n ; that is f n : S n → R.
Carbon fluxes in soil

Terrestrial ecosystems represent the second largest carbon reservoir, and the C balance in terrestrial ecosystems can be directly impacted by human activities such as agricultural management practices and land-use changes. This paper focuses on the C-sequestration in soil. Although many studies showed that the concentration of SOC is much higher in the shallow soils (0–30 cm), the deeper horizons represent a much greater mass of soil and represent a huge C-storage pool. The process of preferential retention of more strongly adsorbing components, along with competitive displacement of weakly binding components are the key processes that enhance the movement of organic carbon to deeper soil horizons. DOC represents the most dynamic part of organic carbon in soils, and thus can be used as a timely indicator of the short-term change of C-sequestration. Long-term experiments have demonstrated that higher SOC levels in shallow soils would lead to increased fluxes of DOC to deeper horizons, but more data on a wider range of soils and treatment strategies are needed to fully evaluate the linkages between changes in SOC in shallow soil, vertical fluxes of DOC to deeper soil horizons, and enhanced C-inventories in deeper, slow-turnover SOC pools.
Police discretion, organizational characteristics, and traffic stops: An analysis of racial disparity in illinois:

An important source of racial disparity in policing is traffic enforcement. The level of discretion afforded to officers for traffic enforcement is generally greater than it is for other policing d...