cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pelecypods as Stratigraphic Guides in the Appalachian Upper Devonian

A recent taxonomic revision of the prolific pelecypod faunas occurring in the type region of the Chemung Stage has provided basic data for biostratigraphic interpretations in Upper Devonian marine rocks of the Appalachian region. Application of the concepts of population systematics to the Chemung pelecypods has reduced by 70 per cent the number of species names formerly applied to the fauna. The taxonomic revision has therefore greatly simplified the practical problem of identifying pelecypod species in these rocks. Many species have restricted time ranges. More than one third of the species have been found in only a single stage, and more than two thirds are known from only one or two of the four stages of the Appalachian Upper Devonian. In addition, a quantitative comparison of species abundance within the Chemung Stage reveals significant differences in species distribution at different Stratigraphic horizons. The degree of Stratigraphic restriction of the Chemung pelecypods compares favorably with that found in other stratigraphically valuable fossil groups. This indicates that these abundant and widely distributed pelecypod faunas may prove useful in correlating Upper Devonian strata throughout the Appalachian region. Most Chemung pelecypod species show little or no evidence of evolutionary change throughout their range of occurrence in the Appalachian Devonian. This suggests that the Stratigraphic restriction observed in many species was ultimately caused by environmental variation and not by evolutionary modification. A comparison of the observed time ranges of the Chemung species with ranges reported for late Cenozoic pelecypods indicates that the Chemung Stage represented too short a time (approximately 5 m. y.) to encompass significant evolutionary change in the pelecypod faunas.
Glucocerebrosidase mutations among African-American patients with type 1 Gaucher disease

While the inherited deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (Gaucher disease) is panethnic in its distribution, there have not been studies of the mutations encountered in specific ethnic groups in the United States, other than those on Ashkenazi Jews. We present the clinical descriptions and genotypes of seven patients of African-American ancestry with type 1 Gaucher disease, and summarize the published literature regarding the genotypes encountered in this population. All seven of the patients had moderate-to-severe manifestations of the disease, and all developed symptoms by adolescence. Genotypic analyses revealed that no two probands shared the same genotype. The common mutations N370S, c.84-85insG, IVS2+1 G-->A, and R463C were not seen. Mutation L444P was present on one allele in each of the patients; but the same mutation was encountered as a single point mutation in three of the patients, and as part of a recombinant allele in four of the patients. Southern blot analyses revealed a glucocerebrosidase fusion allele in one patient, and a duplication resulting from recombination in the region downstream from the glucocerebrosidase gene in three of the patients. Five different point mutations (A90T, R48W, N117D, R170C, and V352L), one deletion mutation (c.222-224 delTAC), and one insertion mutation (c.153-154 insTACAGC) were encountered. Our results demonstrate that there is significant genotypic heterogeneity among African-American patients with type 1 Gaucher disease, and that recombinations in the glucocerebrosidase gene locus are particularly common in this patient group. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Scaling Fiber Lasers to Large Mode Area: An Investigation of Passive Mode-Locking Using a Multi-Mode Fiber

The mode-locking of dissipative soliton fiber lasers using large mode area fiber supporting multiple transverse modes is studied experimentally and theoretically. The averaged mode-locking dynamics in a multi-mode fiber are studied using a distributed model. The co-propagation of multiple transverse modes is governed by a system of coupled Ginzburg-Landau equations. Simulations show that stable and robust mode-locked pulses can be produced. However, the mode-locking can be destabilized by excessive higher-order mode content. Experiments using large core step-index fiber, photonic crystal fiber, and chirally-coupled core fiber show that mode-locking can be significantly disturbed in the presence of higher-order modes, resulting in lower maximum single-pulse energies. In practice, spatial mode content must be carefully controlled to achieve full pulse energy scaling. This paper demonstrates that mode-locking performance is very sensitive to the presence of multiple waveguide modes when compared to systems such as amplifiers and continuous-wave lasers.
Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence‐based Medicine (2nd edition) by Khalid Khan, Regina Kunz, Jos Kleijnen and Gerd Antes: A Review

In many scientific disciplines, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are increasingly indispensable as summaries of the evidence in relation to a particular phenomenon, making it ever more important for scientists to know how best to review evidence. Khan, Kunz, Kleijnen, and Antes's Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence-Based Medicine (2nd edition, 2011, CRC Press, ISBN-13: 9781853157943) provides a fine, brief introduction to the subject, in particular for those in medicine and public health fields. Our review details strengths of this book, such as its conciseness and clarity and its close match to current conventions in systematic reviewing. We also discuss nuances of the subject that might augment a future edition or lead readers to other resources. In doing so, these discussions also address how present practices in systematic reviewing might improve. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teacher Ratings of Externalizing Behavior at School Entry for Boys and Girls: Similar Early Predictors and Different Correlates

In a test of Patterson's Coercion Theory with young children, 156 children (82 boys and 74 girls) were studied to assess the extent to which parenting and child variables, assessed at 18 months, would predict teacher ratings of externalizing child behaviors at age 5. Child playgroup behavior, parent coercion during home observations, and marital status each emerged as predictors, whereas child temperament, attachment classification, and gender did not. At age 5, the correlates of externalizing behaviors differed for boys and girls. Boys rated higher on externalizing behaviors by the teachers presented many problems in the home and school, whereas externalizing girls did not. In fact, girls rated higher on externalizing behaviors performed better on an intelligence test, yet the girls perceived themselves as less competent.
A study of volume versus frequency for soft switching IGBT converters

Earlier references have described a new soft switched ZVS/ZCS (zero voltage switching, zero current switching) converter for IGBTs that allows operation above 20 kHz. Although frequencies above 20 kHz are now possible for IGBT converters, the optimum frequency for minimum volume may be below 20 kHz because of heat sink requirements. A comparative study considers the reactive component versus heat sink volume tradeoff for two 6 kW converters, one using ZVS/ZCS and the other using a more conventional circuit with hard switching. >
Finite Element Modeling of Branched Ruptures Including Off‐Fault Plasticity

Abstract Fault intersections are a geometric complexity that frequently occurs in nature. Here we focus on earthquake rupture behavior when a continuous planar main fault has a second fault branching off of it. We use the finite element (FE) method to examine which faults are activated and how the surrounding material responds for both elastic and elastic–plastic off‐fault descriptions. Compared to an elastic model, a noncohesive elastic–plastic material, intended to account for zones of damaged rock bordering maturely slipped faults, will inhibit rupture on compressional side branches and promote rupture of extensional side branches. Activation of extensional side branches can be delayed and is triggered by continued rupture propagation on the main fault. We examine the deformation near the branching junction and find that fault opening is common for elastic materials, especially for compressional side branches. An elastic–plastic material is more realistic because elevated stresses around the propagating rupture tip and at the branching junction should bring the surrounding material to failure. With an elastic–plastic material model, fault opening is inhibited for a range of realistic material parameters. For large cohesive strengths, opening can occur, but with material softening, a real feature of plastically deforming rocks, opening can be prevented. We also discuss algorithmic artifacts that may arise due to the presence of such a triple junction. When opening does not occur, the behavior at the triple junction is simplified and standard contact routines in FE programs are able to properly represent the physical situation.
Emergence of a New Swing Mode in the Western Power System

Low frequency synchronizing oscillations between the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest have long been a characteristic of the western power system. Recently new low frequency oscillations have been observed. Simulation results and an analytical model indicate these oscillations are due to a swing mode involving the whole western loop. System measurements show the mode can become poorly damped.
The Benefits of Selective Disclosure: Evidence from Private Firms

Private firms’ ability to communicate confidentially with selected investors implies that valuation disagreements between firms and investors are larger at public firms than at private ones. Consistent with the notion that misvaluation concerns lead public firms to hoard cash to be able to optimize the timing of their equity issues, I show that small and medium public firms hold substantially more cash than similar-sized private ones. This difference is driven by public firms with high misvaluation exposure, which use their cash to avoid raising equity when they are hit by a cash flow shock and their equity is likely undervalued.
Antitrust in two-sided markets: Is competition always desirable? The case of a satellite broadcasting network with mono- poly power

The main objective of antitrust interventions is to assure competition in markets to benefit consumers. This paper challenges this common ap- proach by examining the case of a satellite broadcasting network with monopoly power. First, Satellite TV is identified as a two-sided market. It is then analyzed in the framework of the canonical model for two- sided markets developed by Rochet & Tirole (2004). The main finding is that the satellite network maximizes his profits by choosing a price formation which maximizes the overall welfare of all market partici- pants. Even if the satellite network uses his monopoly power to intro- duce a fee to receive satellite TV, it would do so only until the semi- elasticity of the amount of consumers in regard to the per-interaction- price equals the one of the TV stations - exactly the point where wel- fare is maximized. It is therefore concluded that antitrust cases have to take a more in-depth look at two-sided markets before deciding that competition is best for consumers.
Do Febrile Seizures Lead to Temporal Lobe Epilepsy? Prospective and Epidemiological Studies

Publisher Summary Epidemiological studies do not support a causal association between febrile seizures and epilepsy in general and temporal lobe epilepsy in particular. Febrile seizures, particularly complex febrile seizures, are associated with an increased risk of epilepsy, though not necessarily of temporal lobe epilepsy. Although there is strong evidence supporting the occurrence of seizure-induced injury, epidemiological data do not support an association between less prolonged seizures—even if complex—and temporal lobe epilepsy. Retrospective studies from tertiary epilepsy centers report that many adults with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy have a history of prolonged febrile seizures in childhood. This chapter reviews data from epidemiological and prospective studies of febrile seizures and epilepsy regarding the association between febrile seizures, particularly prolonged febrile seizures, and subsequent temporal lobe epilepsy. The risk of developing epilepsy after a single simple febrile seizure is only mildly elevated over the risk in the general population. If febrile seizures are causally related to epilepsy, then preventing them should reduce the risk of subsequent epilepsy. The studies report a much higher risk of epilepsy following febrile status epilepticus.
Authentic Subjectivity and Genuine Objectivity

Genuine objectivity, says Bernard Lonergan, is the fruit of authentic subjectivity. Certainly, the two are closely linked. In this essay, I propose that authentic subjectivity consists, not in overcoming the particularities of one's subjective standpoint in order to embrace a hypothetical universal viewpoint shared in common with other individuals, but in getting more deeply in touch with the unique particularity of one's own perspective in order better to appreciate both the similarities with and the differences from the standpoints of other individuals. Genuine objectivity, then, consists in recognizing that there neither is nor ever will be a universal standpoint. All standpoints by definition are particular. This is not to deny, of course, that at any given moment there is an objective state of affairs, quite apart from any one's subjective perception of it, but only to affirm that no one (not even God) has a totally objective grasp of that same state of affairs.
Quantitative Empirical Methods and the Context-Conditionality of Classic and Modern Comparative Politics

Complex, context-conditional theoretical propositions are the hallmark of positive comparative politics, classical and contemporary. This paper discusses strategies for effective empirical analysis of such propositions, concluding that, especially given the limited data typically available in comparative politics, empirical comparativists must rely more heavily than is current practice on theoretical structure to specify more precisely the interactive and nonlinear empirical models that are capable of offering evidence on such context-conditionality.
Does Love Influence Athletic Performance? The Perspectives of Olympic Athletes

In this brief report, we provide an initial account of the association between love and athletic performance from the perspective of Olympic athletes. We posit that Romantic Passionate Love (RPL) and athletic performance may both involve the reward-motivation system of the brain. Based on this premise, we explored whether activation in one domain (love) might influence the other (sport). Our investigation was framed using Sternberg’s triangular theory of love. Twenty Olympic athletes representing different sports were interviewed at the Games. Most athletes (n = 15) reported that their performance was better while in love; however, qualitative responses suggested that the benefits were correlated with rather than resulting from RPL. Although the athletes were provided with a definition of RPL and affirmed that their relationship met the criteria, interview responses reflected companionate rather than passionate love, suggesting that RPL may be differentially conceptualized across cultures. The study provides preliminary data that may be used to inform and refine future work on this topic.
The Accidental Governor as Reformer

This is a speech assessing the work of Charles Evans Hughes as governor of the State of New York from 1907-1910.
Methyl Bromide Quarantine Fumigation for Strawberries Infested with Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

A fumigation schedule of 48 g/m3 methyl bromide for 3 h at 15°C, or above, and normal atmospheric pressure was shown to be an efficacious treatment for strawberries infested with Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) at the Probit 9 quarantine security level.
The role of melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) in the central chemoreflex: a knockdown study by siRNA in the lateral hypothalamus in rats

Melanin concentrating hormone (MCH), a neuropeptide produced mainly in neurons localized to the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), has been implicated in the regulation of food intake, energy balance, sleep state, and the cardiovascular system. Hypothalamic MCH neurons also have multisynaptic connections with diaphragmatic motoneurons and project to many central chemoreceptor sites. However, there are few studies of MCH involvement in central respiratory control. To test the hypothesis that MCH plays a role in the central chemoreflex, we induced a down regulation of MCH in the central nervous system by knocking down the MCH precursor (pMCH) mRNA in the LHA using a pool of small interfering RNA (siRNA), and measured the resultant changes in breathing, metabolic rate, body weight, and blood glucose levels in conscious rats. The injections of pMCH-siRNA into the LHA successfully produced a ∼ 62% reduction of pMCH mRNA expression in the LHA and a ∼ 43% decrease of MCH levels in the cerebrospinal fluid relative to scrambled-siRNA treatment (P = 0.006 and P = 0.02 respectively). Compared to the pretreatment baseline and the scrambled-siRNA treated control rats, knockdown of MCH resulted in: 1) an enhanced hypercapnic chemoreflex (∼ 42 & 47% respectively; P < 0.05) only in wakefulness; 2) a decrease in body weight and basal glucose levels; and 3) an unchanged metabolic rate. Our results indicate that MCH participates not only in the regulation of glucose and sleep-wake homeostasis but also the vigilance-state dependent regulation of the central hypercapnic chemoreflex and respiratory control.
Analysis of Position and Thickness Dependences of Delta Layer in InGaN-Delta-InN Quantum Wells Light-Emitting Diodes

The effects of position and thickness of the delta layer in InGaN-Delta-InN quantum wells were analyzed for light-emitting diodes, and both parameters have strong effects on its spontaneous emission rates.
Computational Analysis of Transposable Element Sequences

This chapter provides a simple guide for the computational analysis of transposable element (TE) sequences. Web links are provided for a number of sequence analysis applications, and their potential use in the analysis of TE sequences is briefly described. The level of detail provided is intended to be sufficient for a naive user to begin to analyze TE sequences in silico. The emphasis is placed on the identification, retrieval and manipulation of TE sequences. Information is also provided on the evolutionary study of TE sequences including the use phylogenetics programs.
Levels of EOS and ECP before and after Specific Immunotherapy for Children with Bronchial Asthma

Objective: To investigate the effect of dermatophagoides farinae drops immunotherapy on eosinophils(EOS) and the ecidophil cationic protein(ECP) children with asthma. Methods: 60 mild or moderate dust mite sensitivity children with asthma were divided into control group( conventional group) and treatment group(immunotherapy group). The control group only inhaled corticosteroids for therapy,treatment group inhaled corticosteroids combined with dermatophagoides farinae drops therapy. The levels of EOS and ECP were detected before and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results:(1) Comparison of same time EOS level between two groups exhibited no statistical significance before treatment(P 0. 05); EOS decreased obviously after 12 months of treatment(P 0. 05); comparison within groups before and after 12 months treatment,control group(P 0. 05) and treatment group(P 0. 01),comparing with data of after 6 months treatment,treatment group( P 0. 05);(2) Comparison of same time ECP level between two groups exhibited no statistical significance before treatment(P 0.05); ECP decreased obviously after 6 and 12 months of treatment(P 0.05)(P 0.01);comparison within groups before and after 12 months treatment,control group( P 0. 05) and treatment group(P 0. 01),comparing with data after 6 months treatment,treatment group(P 0. 01).Conclusions: Specific immune therapy can effectively decrease the patient's serum EOS and ECP levels,and ECP drop more obvious. This could suggest the effective mechanism of dermatophagoides farinae drops immunotherapy on bronchial asthma.
Glucose metabolism, not obesity, predicts mortality in critically ill surgical patients.

Our hypothesis was to determine if insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, rather than obesity, are predictive of mortality in the surgically critically ill. An observational study of an automated protocol in surgical and trauma intensive care units was performed. Two groups were created based on body mass index (BMI): Obese (OB) defined as BMI ≥ 30 (n = 338) and nonobese defined as BMI < 30 (n = 885). Euglycemia was maintained using an automated protocol using an adapting multiplier, which we used as our marker of stress insulin resistance. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. One thousand, two hundred and twenty-three patients met criteria with 73,225 glucose values. The OB group required more insulin (4.5 U/hr vs 3.2 U/hr, P ≤ 0.01) and had a higher mean multiplier (0.07 vs 0.06, P < 0.01) reflecting insulin resistance. There was no difference in mortality between OB and nonobese (11.6% vs 11.5%, P = 0.96). Logistic regression showed that insulin dose (odds ratio 0.864; 95% confidence interval 0.772-0.967, P = 0.01), and not BMI, was an independent predictor of survival in this population. Obesity is not an independent risk factor for mortality in the surgical critical care population. Insulin resistance and subsequent hyperglycemia are increased in obesity and are independent predictors of mortality.
A customized database on Scandinavian government

Description d'une bibliographie d'etudes politiques sur les pays scandinaves, en cours de realisation et d'automatisation dans une universite des Etats Unis. Presentation du logiciel PRO-CITE avec lequel elle est elaboree
Platelets and Lipoxygenases

Platelets are a cellular component of blood whose primary function is to maintain hemostasis in response to vessel insult. Beyond their traditional role in hemostasis, platelets are also known to regulate inflammation. These small anucleated cells express a single lipoxygenase, platelet 12(S)-LOX, which is capable of oxidizing a number of fatty acids. Depending on the fatty acid, the metabolite(s) produced by 12(S)-LOX have often been shown to impact platelet and vessel function in distinct ways and therefore are important regulators of platelet reactivity and inflammation. This chapter reviews the roles of 12(S)-LOX and its metabolites on platelet functions in thrombosis, hemostasis and inflammation.
Methotrexate Elimination When Coadministered With Levetiracetam.

Background: Delayed elimination of methotrexate was previously reported in 2 patients receiving concomitant levetiracetam. Objective: To explore the potential interaction between methotrexate and levetiracetam in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the records of 81 adults receiving 280 cycles of methotrexate to determine the effects of levetiracetam on methotrexate elimination. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Results: Levetiracetam was administered in 33 (12%) cycles of methotrexate. Patients receiving levetiracetam had significantly lower 24-hour methotrexate concentrations compared with those not receiving levetiracetam (2.91 vs 7.37 µmol/L, P = 0.005). Despite this difference, concentrations at 48 and 72 hours were similar between groups. Times to nontoxic methotrexate concentration (<0.1 µmol/L) were the same regardless of the presence of levetiracetam. The frequency of delayed elimination at 24, 48, and 72 hours was similar in both ...
Postcolonial Loss: Collective Grief in the Ruins of Militarized Terror

Whose deaths are publicly remembered and whose deaths are easily forgotten and erased from our collective memory? If remembering often entails forgetting of others, how might Christians practice an ethics of remembering grounded in justice? This chapter examines the intergenerational traumatic and haunting grief of the Korean War among Korean Americans and offers a possible way of working with and through postcolonial grief toward collective mourning.
Understanding the Self in Self-Transcendence

Based on the work of William James and Bernard Lonergan, this article proposes an understanding of the self as a duplex, dialectical, first-person reality constituted by consciousness and experienced as “I” and “me.”
Three-dimensional midwater camouflage from a novel two-component photonic structure in hatchetfish skin.

The largest habitat by volume on Earth is the oceanic midwater, which is also one of the least understood in terms of animal ecology. The organisms here exhibit a spectacular array of optical adapt...
Taxonomy of Scrappers and Metal Thieves

Scrappers and metal thieves have received little study. Consequently, little is known about what a scrapper is, how they operate, or even what the definition of scrapping is. This chapter defines scrapping as “the act of regularly collecting fragmented, damaged, or discarded metal items, which are no longer useful or have not maintained their original value, to recycle them for financial profit.” Next, four distinct taxonomies (or categories) of scrappers are established: Subsistence Scrappers, Scrapping Professionals, Professionals who Scrap, and Philanthropic Scrappers. Each taxonomy identifies broad characteristics, motivations, experiences, and relationships with other scrappers. Finally, an entirely separate category, metal thieves, is identified and described. This chapter distinguishes the differences between scrappers and metal thieves and discusses the four taxonomies of scrappers.
Continuous Intravenous Sub-Dissociative Dose Ketamine Infusion for Managing Pain in the Emergency Department.

Author(s): Motov, Sergey; Drapkin, Jefferson; Likourezos, Antonios; Beals, Tyler; Monfort, Ralph; Fromm, Christian; Marshall, John | Abstract: Introduction: Our objective was to describe dosing, duration, and pre- and post-infusion analgesic administration of continuous intravenous sub-dissociative dose ketamine (SDK) infusion for managing a variety of painful conditions in the emergency department (ED). Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients aged 18 and older presenting to the ED with acute and chronic painful conditions who received continuous SDK infusion in the ED for a period over six years (2010-2016). Primary data analyses included dosing and duration of infusion, rates of pre- and post-infusion analgesic administration, and final diagnoses. Secondary data included pre- and post-infusion pain scores and rates of side effects. Results: A total of 104 patients were enrolled in the study. Average dosing of SDK infusion was 11.26 mg/hr, and the mean duration of infusion was 135.87 minutes. There was a 38% increase in patients not requiring post-infusion analgesia. The average decrease in pain score was 5.04. There were 12 reported adverse effects, with nausea being the most prevalent. Conclusion: Continuous intravenous SDK infusion has a role in controlling pain of various etiologies in the ED with a potential to reduce the need for co-analgesics or rescue analgesic administration. There is a need for more robust, prospective, randomized trials that will further evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of this modality across a wide range of pain syndromes and different age groups in the ED.
The Compensatory ADHD Behaviors Scale (CABS): Development and Initial Validation.

Several measures are available that assess inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and executive functioning deficits. Treatments for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and...
Timing closure of clock enable signals on a 32 nm Intel Itanium processor

With modern high speed circuit design using state of the art automated place and route (APR) flows, synthesis of clock enable (CE) signals is becoming increasingly difficult in terms of timing closure. The size of APR blocks in digital physical design in microprocessor projects is expanding with every generation of microprocessors as the implementation tools become more capable of handling large designs with high quality results and fast turnaround times. However, larger APR blocks make CE synthesis progressively difficult as timing closure complexity on these signals increases dramatically. The main problem is due to a single CE register driving the signal to a relatively larger area of the design, and to a greater number of clock gating cells. In this paper, we present automated duplication of CE logic in the APR flow to achieve timing closure on a 32 nm Intel Itanium project. We show how timing convergence is achieved without any additional effort from the physical designers, and with no changes required in the RTL. Solutions to the CE problem with smaller degree of automation and more manual effort, which were used on our previous projects, are also discussed and compared, and the reasons they are deemed inadequate are explained.
Regional Inequality by Components of Income: United States, 1969-1986*

A decomposition by income component of the Theil informational measure of inequality is derived and applied to U.S. regional income data. Besides potentially alleviating some current problems of directly estimating total inequality, the application suggests that such decomposition can additionally provide insight into asymmetries of intertemporal change, differences in inequality at a point in time compared with changes in that inequality over time, and identification of regional contribution to inequality.
Effect of residence time and suspension density on crystal size distributions in continuous crystallization

A recently developed model relating crystal size distri­ bution, nucleation and growth kinetics and operating para­ meters was compared with experimental crystal size distribu­ tion data obtained from a continuous, mixed suspension, mixed effects of residence time (or production rate) and suspension density upon the resulting size distributions were extensively investigated for several crystal systems. The results demon­ strated that the nucleation rate can be related to crystal growth rate and suspension density as a simple power function over a wide range of levels of supersaturation. Steady state correlations were developed to explain observed phenomena relating nuclei population density, growth rate and nucleation rate to residence time and suspension density. It was observed that decreasing residence time resulted in a significant overall size distribution degra­ dation; whereas, suspension density had little or no effect on the overall size distributions. These observations indi­ cate that heterogeneous nucleation is a significant factor in new crystal formation. The model was used to simulate crystal size distribution dynamics for step changes in solute feed concentration and in residence time from initial steady state conditions. Quali­ tative agreement between theory and experimental observations
Spindle cell lipoma of the parotid: fine-needle aspiration and histologic findings.

○ A 47-year-old man presented to the otolaryngologist with a 7-year history of a mass of the cheek. Fine-needle aspiration revealed foci of spindled cells admixed with abundant fat and myxoid material. A diagnosis of spindle cell lipoma was rendered on the resected specimen. The cytologic findings of spindle cell lipoma of the parotid gland as seen by fine-needle aspiration are presented along with the histologic correlates.
Role of a Changing Membrane Potential (Em) and Matching Blood Flow with Neuronal Activity

It is crucial that blood flow is matched to metabolic activity in the brain. This matching of flow to metabolism is an absolute requirement for survival in that oxygen and glucose are the primary substrates for neuronal tissue; blood is the only source for these nutrients and matching of flow to metabolic activity dictates normal physiologic regulation of brain activity. Blood flow is regulated by changes in vascular diameter which is controlled by the activation state of vascular muscle. The activation of vascular muscle is under the control of membrane potential with fine adjustments made in response to metabolites of neuronal and astrocytic environmental influences. Astrocytes sense neuronal activity, and are intimately involved in the matching of flow by sensing changes in the metabolic state of neurons. This mechanism involves release of dilators at gap junctions of astrocytic foot processes. This chapter focuses on the mechanisms responsible for local control of cerebral blood flow via changes in membrane potential in astrocytes, neurons, and vascular muscle. These cell types form the neurovascular unit and are under the control of local environmental influences, such as H+, K+, oxygen, and CO2 and other factors defined within this chapter.
Efficacy of actaplanin fed on a twice-weekly basis to grazing stocker heifers.

Brahman (16), Brangus (32) and Simmental X Brahman (16) open heifers were assigned to four treatment levels and two body weight categories. The weight categories were light (250 kg) and heavy (306 kg). Treatment groups were 0, 600, 900 and 1,200 mg actaplanin.head-1.feeding-1 with feeding only on Monday and Friday. Heifers were group-fed .91 kg/head of supplement (95% soybean meal: 5% molasses) containing actaplanin. Heifers grazed eight Coastal bermudagrass pastures throughout the experiment (July 29 to November 15, 1982). After 75 d on experiment, an additional 1.36 kg of a commercial 14% crude protein supplement was fed on the days that actaplanin was not fed. All heifers were weighted and rotated among pastures at 14-d intervals (last weight period was 11 d) as an attempt to equalize forage availability among groups. Over the entire experiment (109 d), light-weight heifers that were fed actaplanin responded (P less than .01) with greater average daily gain (ADG; .37, .35, .21 kg/d; 600, 900, 1,200) compared with controls (0 mg; .18 kg/d). A trend in response (P less than .10) to actaplanin feeding occurred for heavy-weight heifers (.23, .38, .34 kg/d; 600, 900, 1,200 mg vs controls (.22 kg/d). For light-weight heifers, ADG decreased lineraly (P less than .01) as actaplanin increased from 600 to 1,200 mg, while ADG for heavy-weight heifers increased linearly (P less than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TEAM INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT AMONG NURSING STAFF IN LONG-TERM CARE

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will continue to increase as the U.S. population ages, exacerbating the need for long-term care in both home and residential care settings. Further, team-based approaches to care have become more apparent as part of the landscape in residential care facilities in an effort to improve staff performance and resident outcomes vis-a-vis empowering direct care staff. This purpose of this study was to characterize the perceptions of inclusion or the extent licensed and unlicensed nursing staff (N=95) felt included as a care team member by others, including co-workers, supervisors and non-nursing clinicians. Given the emphasis on inter-disciplinary teams, a secondary goal was to explore if greater internal and external inclusion was correlated with heightened empowerment and its related dimensions using the Perceptions of Empowerment Instrument (Roller, 1988). Further, regression analyses revealed that levels of total empowerment, autonomy, responsibility and participation vary according to how included team members felt and by whom. This information can influence how long-term care organizations structure team building activities among staff to create truly empowered workers. These findings shed light on the importance of tailoring staff training to target specific team members in order to increase a sense of empowerment that aligns with the specific dimension(s) associated with the targeted group. Increasing empowerment along all dimensions may have a positive influence on job outcomes which, in turn, can result in higher quality of care.
The comparison of 6-mercaptopurine with the combination of 6-mercaptopurine and azaserine in the treatment of acute leukemia in children: results of a cooperative study.

The results of the first study of the Leukemia Chemotherapy Cooperative Study Group A for the evaluation of two treatment programs in acute leukemia are reported. The cases were accumulated in a period of 15 months. One hundred and twenty-five of the 168 patients started on the study were considered adequately treated and suitable for analysis. The 43 cases excluded from evaluation consisted of patients whose therapy was changed to steroids, those expiring while on treatment, and those lost for follow-up or drug errors. In 125 cases of previously untreated acute leukemia in children, no significant difference was seen in the percentage of complete remissions obtained when 6-mercaptopurine was used alone or when 6-mercaptopurine and azaserine were used in combination. The duration of the remissions obtained with the combined therapy was not significantly longer than when 6-mercaptopurine was used alone.
Longitudinal growth in patients with single ventricle cardiac disease receiving tube-assisted feeds.

Objective Children with single ventricle cardiac disease (SVCD) have poor growth in early life. Tube-assisted feeding (TF) is used to improve weight gain, but its impact on long-term growth remains unknown. We sought to compare the longitudinal growth of SVCD patients receiving TF after initial cardiac surgery with those fed entirely by mouth. Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of SVCD patients who underwent initial surgical palliation between 1999 and 2009. We defined TF as the use of nasogastric, gastrostomy, or jejunostomy TF. We compared maximal attained growth z-scores for each year of life between TF and non-TF patients. A secondary analysis compared surgical and clinical factors between groups. Results A total of 134 patients were included; 64% were male and 68% underwent the Norwood operation. One third of patients (44) received TF. Adjusting for age, TF patients had an average of 0.56 lower weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) than non-TF patients (P = 0.007) through the age of 6 years. Longitudinal height was not affected by TF status (P = 0.15). In a subanalysis of Norwood patients, TF patients had lower WAZ at initial hospital discharge despite longer LOS. TF patients had diminished WAZ after adjusting for complications, interstage hospitalizations, and timing of subsequent operations. Conclusions In this single-center study, patients with SVCD requiring TF at discharge from initial surgical palliation had diminished WAZ at discharge and on long-term follow-up, despite controlling for other identifiable risk factors. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and to risk stratify infants who go home on TF.
Parental preconception and prenatal urinary bisphenol A and paraben concentrations and child behavior.

There is a growing body of research showing that exposure to some endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) is chronic across the lifespan and that potential health effects of EDCs may depend on the timing of exposure.1,2 Particular attention has been paid to the effect of these exposures during the gestational and childhood periods. However, evidence is emerging that the period before conception may also be a window of heightened susceptibility.3,4 EDCs may alter the epigenome of gametes, affecting sperm microRNAs, DNA methylation, histones, oocytes, or ovarian follicles, which in turn could influence offspring health,4 including neurodevelopmental disorders.3,5 Although a number of EDCs have been implicated in affecting early life development, of particular concern are bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens.1,6 BPA is used to manufacture some polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.7,8 Parabens are used as antimicrobial preservatives in some food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.9,10 Exposure to these nonpersistent chemicals can occur through dermal absorption, ingestion, and inhalation.8,9 BPA is routinely detected in urine of the US general population and exposure to parabens is also widespread, with some parabens being detected in over 99% of urine samples from the US general population.7,9 Both BPA and paraben exposure may influence the development and function of the central nervous system. In animals, both maternal and paternal preconception exposure to BPA were associated with increased anxiety behavior.11,12 Paternal preconception BPA exposure was also associated with impaired spatial memory in rats13 and maternal preconception BPA exposure increased depression behavior in male mice.14 Based on studies in both humans and animals, 2 systematic reviews concluded that prenatal BPA exposure could have an adverse effect on the neurobehavioral outcomes of children,15 including increased hyperactivity.16 In experimental studies of animals, some parabens impaired sexual17 and social18 behaviors. Using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Shiue19 reported that urinary paraben concentrations were associated with higher emotional support needs in adults. Both BPA and parabens may also affect the homeostasis of thyroid hormones essential for neurodevelopment.20–22 Because little is known about the neurodevelopmental effects of BPA and paraben exposures during the potentially sensitive preconception and prenatal periods, we evaluated the associations of maternal and paternal preconception and maternal prenatal urinary BPA and paraben concentrations with child behavior in a prospective cohort in Boston, MA.
The Acquisition of Pragmatically Appropriate Requests by Second Language Learners of Spanish Using an Input-Based Virtual Environment

This study explores the types of input-oriented instruction that best promote pragmatic development in a virtual environment (VE). VEs provide immersive environments containing contextual support and provide feedback responses where learners experience the results of their pragmatic choices immediately and meaningfully, factors found to be essential for developing pragmatic competence. Third-year university learners of Spanish explored a VE by approaching avatars and requesting objects or favors essential to solving a task. Results show that both treatment groups benefited, and that structured input seems to help learners process input most appropriately, especially with respect to incorporating a second language perspective and using the appropriate tense and impersonal forms of address—both of which seem to contribute to the overall acceptability of learners’ production of requests.
Changes in Diet Quality in Youth Living in South Carolina From Fifth to 11th Grade.

Abstract Objective To examine diet quality levels and changes in a diverse sample of youth from fifth to 11th grade, and interactions by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Design Transitions and Activity Changes in Kids prospective cohort study. Setting Elementary, middle, and high schools in South Carolina. Participants A sample of 260 fifth-graders (106 boys and 154 girls) with complete data at baseline and at least 1 time point each in middle school and in high school. Main Outcome Measure Dietary intake assessed with the Block Food Screener for Kids (last week). Diet quality was assessed using energy-adjusted intakes of 5 food groups. Analysis Descriptive statistics and growth curve models for the total group and by gender for diet quality from fifth to 11th grade (P Results Both boys and girls had low levels of diet quality, which continued to decline through 11th grade. Significant main effects by race and poverty as well as a race by poverty interaction were observed. Conclusions and Implications Programs and policies that support healthy dietary patterns in children transitioning from elementary to middle and high school are needed. Specific efforts that focus on nutrition disparities in children from low-income and minority backgrounds are warranted.
The role of vocabulary and decoding language skills in reading comprehension: a cross-linguistic perspective

The present study explored the role of vocabulary and decoding skills in predicting reading comprehension, utilizing data from 322 first- grade children from four elementary schools in Kenya. The c...
Cardiovascular risk scores in axial spondyloarthritis versus the general population: A cross-sectional study

Objective Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality are increased in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). We conducted a cross-sectional study evaluating the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in axSpA compared to the general US population. Methods We included 211 adults, 40–75 years old with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or nonradiographic axSpA from 2 sites, who had available data on comorbidities, medication use, blood pressure measures, and laboratory cholesterol values. General population comparators from the 2009–2014 National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles were matched 4:1 to subjects, on age, sex, and race. We estimated the prevalence ratio for a 10-year ASCVD risk score ≥ 7.5% comparing axSpA and matched NHANES comparators using conditional Poisson regression. Results Overall, subjects were 53.9 ± 11.2 years old, 69% were male, and 74% were White. The mean 10-year ASCVD risk score was 6.7 ± 6.9% for those with axSpA, and 9.0 ± 10.5% for NHANES comparators. Compared to those with axSpA, the prevalence of current smoking and diabetes was higher among NHANES comparators. The estimated prevalence ratio for a 10-year ASCVD risk score ≥ 7.5% comparing those with axSpA and their age-, sex-, and race-matched comparators was 0.96 (95% CI 0.74–1.24). Conclusion The prevalence of a 10-year ASCVD risk score ≥ 7.5% was not significantly different comparing axSpA patients and those drawn from the general population who were similar in terms of age, sex, and race. Future studies should focus on improved CV risk prediction in axSpA, because underestimation by a general population risk score may potentially explain these results.
Incidence, Clinical Features, and Outcomes of Late‐Onset Neutropenia From Rituximab for Autoimmune Disease

OBJECTIVE Late-onset neutropenia (LON) is an underrecognized complication of rituximab treatment. We undertook this study to describe its incidence, risk factors, clinical features, management, and recurrence. METHODS We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 738 adult patients with autoimmune disease who were treated with rituximab to induce continuous B cell depletion. The primary outcome measure was LON, defined as an unexplained absolute neutrophil count of <1,000 cells/µl during B cell depletion. Secondary outcome measures included incidental diagnosis, fever, sepsis, filgrastim use, and recurrent LON. We assessed predictors of LON using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. RESULTS We identified 107 episodes of LON in 71 patients. The cumulative incidence at 1 year of B cell depletion therapy was 6.6% (95% CI 5.0-8.7). The incidence rate during the first year was higher compared to thereafter (7.2 cases per 100 person-years [95% CI 5.4-9.6] versus 1.5 cases per 100 person-years [95% CI 1.0-2.3]). Systemic lupus erythematosus and combination therapy with cyclophosphamide were each independently associated with an increased risk of LON (adjusted HR 2.96 [95% CI 1.10-8.01] and 1.98 [95% CI 1.06-3.71], respectively). LON was not observed in minimal change disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The majority of episodes (59.4%) were asymptomatic. Fever and sepsis complicated 31.3% and 8.5% of episodes, respectively. Most patients (69%) were treated with filgrastim. Rituximab rechallenge occurred in 87% of patients, of whom 21% developed recurrent LON. CONCLUSION LON is common and often incidental. Most cases are reversible and respond well to filgrastim. However, LON can be associated with serious infections and thus warrants vigilant monitoring.