cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the readiness of nurse anesthetists in Ghana for a master’s degree completion program: An exploratory, observational study

Ghana is a developing country in West Africa with limited anesthesia providers impacting surgical access and anesthesia safety. There are only two anesthesia providers per 100,000 population, with the majority of providers being nurse anesthetists, most of whom hold only diplomas, and more recently, bachelor’s in anesthesia education. This paper reports an observational study exploring the prospects of an advanced degree at the master’s degree level for practicing nurse anesthetists in Ghana. Three focus groups and one semi-structured individual interview were conducted with a total of 69 participants. Four major themes emerged following data analysis: desire for improved clinical expertise; focus on research methods to improve patient outcomes; perceived inadequate physician support for graduate nurse anesthetists (NA) education and infrastructure; and desires for an advanced degree for career progression. Findings highlight the readiness of nurse anesthetists in Ghana for an advanced degree and the necessary infrastructure and needed areas of clinical anesthesia education and research that must be included in the curriculum development for a master’s level education.
Home Health Care Needs and Nursing Considerations

The home care nurse is an integral part of an interdisciplinary team and is uniquely positioned to act as liaison between care partners across the medical spectrum and across institutions. The neurogenic bladder (NGB) patient has unique psychosocial and physiological needs when managing urologic care. Home care nursing provides compassionate support, education, and care for the neurogenic bladder patient based on an individualized care plan that encompasses aspects of the patient’s spiritual, mental, and physical domains. Careful consideration and assessment of the patient’s home care needs and preventing and managing complications such as urinary tract infections and moisture-associated skin damage are of utmost importance. Identifying available patient supports as well as gaps in care while providing reassurance and obtaining patient resources are important aspects of home nursing care.
Age structure and recruitment of Trillium luteum (Trilliaceae) populations in secondary forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains1

Members of the genus Trillium are widely distributed in temperate hardwood forests. Due to shared life history traits, including long maturation, self-incompatibility, and limited seed dispersal, the genus is sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance, which reduces plant abundance and fecundity. In the southern Appalachian Mountains, Trillium species are widespread across a range of forest types, but are less common in secondary forests that originated following the abandonment of degraded agricultural land. One exception is Trillium luteum, which commonly occurs in floodplains formerly used as homesteads and farmland. We examined five populations of T. luteum in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to quantify population characteristics of this common, but rarely studied, species and relate these characteristics to historic disturbance. Plants within our sampled populations ranged in minimum age from 2 to 24 yr, with an overall mean age of 9.5 ± 0.4 yr. However, many plants may have been much older than our estimates due to rotting of the rhizome tip. We observed generally continuous recruitment across sites, but some sites displayed distinctly fewer young plants. Neither mean T. luteum density (plants 100 m–2) by life stage nor mean plant age were correlated with overstory density or stand age (P > 0.102). We found that 20% of single-leaf plants originated from sprouts on fragments of old rhizomes. This ability to reproduce vegetatively has been observed in other sessile Trillium species and may provide a reproductive advantage in floodplains and former agricultural lands exposed to regular substrate disturbance.
CD28-Dependent CTLA-4 Expression Fine-Tunes the Activation of Human Th17 Cells

Summary Previous work has demonstrated that Th17 memory cells but not Th1 cells are resistant to CD28/CTLA-4 blockade with CTLA-4 Ig, leading us to investigate the individual roles of the CD28 and CTLA-4 cosignaling pathways on Th1 versus Th17 cells. We found that selective CD28 blockade with a domain antibody (dAb) inhibited Th1 cells but surprisingly augmented Th17 responses. CD28 agonism resulted in a profound increase in CTLA-4 expression in Th17 cells as compared with Th1 cells. Consistent with these findings, inhibition of the CD28 signaling protein AKT revealed that CTLA-4 expression on Th17 cells was more significantly reduced by AKT inhibition relative to CTLA-4 expression on Th17 cells. Finally, we found that FOXO1 and FOXO3 overexpression restrained high expression of CTLA-4 on Th17 cells but not Th1 cells. This study demonstrates that the heterogeneity of the CD4+ T cell compartment has implications for the immunomodulation of pathologic T cell responses.
Associations Between Racial and Ethnic Groups and Foot Self-Inspection in People With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Daily foot self-inspection may permit earlier detection and treatment of a foot lesion, reducing the risk of infection and lower-limb amputation (LLA). Though race and ethnicity are strongly associated with LLA risk, with higher risk seen in African Americans (AA), American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NH/PI), associations between foot self-inspection and racial and ethnic groups are inconsistent. We aimed to assess differences in foot self-inspection among people with diabetes by race/ethnicity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using national, cross-sectional data from the 2015–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys and including 88,424 individuals with diabetes, we estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and associated 95% CIs of daily foot checking for sores or irritation by racial and ethnic groups using log-binomial linear regression models, after accounting for survey weights. RESULTS Compared with whites (who had a weighted prevalence [P] of daily foot self-inspection 57%), AA (P 67%, PR 1.18 [95% CI 1.14, 1.23]), AI/AN (P 66%, PR 1.15 [95% CI 1.07, 1.25]), and NH/PI (P 71%, PR 1.25 [95% CI 1.03, 1.52]) had higher prevalences of daily foot self-inspection. The prevalence of daily foot inspection was significantly lower among Asians (P 35%, PR 0.62 [95% CI 0.48, 0.81]) and Hispanics (P 53%, PR 0.93 [95% CI 0.88, 0.99]) compared with whites. Associations did not vary importantly by insulin use, years since diabetes diagnosis, or having received diabetes self-management education. CONCLUSIONS The higher frequency of foot self-inspection in racial and ethnic groups at elevated risk of diabetes-related LLA is not sufficient to eliminate LLA disparities; additional interventions are needed to achieve this aim.
REMARKS ON H*infin; CONTROLLER DESIGN FOR SISO PLANTS WITH TIME DELAYS 1

Abstract The skew Toeplitz approach is one of the well developed methods to design H*infin; controllers for infinite dimensional systems. In order to be able to use this method the plant needs to be factorized in some special manner. This paper investigates the largest class of SISO time delay systems for which the special factorizations required by the skew Toeplitz approach can be done. Reliable implementation of the optimal controller is also discussed. It is shown that the finite impulse response (FIR) block structure appears in these controllers not only for plants with I/O delays, but also for general time-delay plants.
The regional distribution and correlation on the content of organic chlorine compounds in soil and rice of Zhoushan area

有机氯化合物可通过食物链的生物富集作用放大,经皮肤、呼吸道和消化道进入体内,干扰正常分泌物的合成、释放、运转、代谢、结合等过程,激活或抑制内分泌系统功能,属于环境内分泌干扰物(endocrine disrupting chemicals),是多种恶性肿瘤的危险因素[1].该类物质在土壤和大米中的残留及其对人体毒性成为关注的焦点.为此对舟山海岛地区农田土壤中有机氯化合物区域分布状况及其含量进行相关性研究
The power of women: Flanley & Woodward and the woman’s angle in U.S. public relations

Abstract After working in corporate public relations during the 1930s, Mabel Flanley and Sally Woodward opened an all-woman agency in New York City in 1944. Their specialty was targeting women publics, and they drew on their experiences with home economics and women’s clubs to promote a variety of clients from agribusiness, heavy industry, and government and nonprofit organizations. They carved a path for other women, contributed to the development of professional standards, and influenced other practitioners to target women audiences, and their inclusion initiatives paralleled those of other groups based on diversity of race, ethnicity, and gender.
Lightweight, passive radiative cooling to enhance concentrating photovoltaics

Summary Radiative cooling can reject significantly more waste heat than convection and conduction at high temperatures by sending it directly into space. As a passive and compact cooling mechanism, radiative cooling is lightweight and does not consume energy. These qualities are promising for thermal management in outdoor systems generating low grade heat, such as concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) and thermophotovoltaics (TPV). In this work, we first simulate radiative cooling for a wide range of working conditions, including heat loads from 6 to 100 W with different CPV cooling designs. We then demonstrate a CPV system integrated with radiative coolers, achieving a 5°C to 36°C temperature drop and an 8% to 27% relative increase of open-circuit voltage for a GaSb solar cell, under a heat load of above 6 W with different cooling designs. We show that the temperature drops from radiative cooling may significantly improve CPV system lifetimes.
Association of First Primary Cancer With Risk of Subsequent Primary Cancer Among Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancers in the United States

Importance The number of cancer survivors who develop new cancers is projected to increase, but comprehensive data on the risk of subsequent primary cancers (SPCs) among survivors of adult-onset cancers are limited. Objective To quantify the overall and cancer type-specific risks of SPCs among adult-onset cancer survivors by first primary cancer (FPC) types and sex. Design, setting, and participants A retrospective cohort study from 12 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries in the United States, that included 1 537 101 persons aged 20 to 84 years diagnosed with FPCs from 1992-2011 (followed up until December 31, 2017) and who survived at least 5 years. Exposures First primary cancer. Main outcomes and measures Incidence and mortality of SPCs per 10 000 person-years; standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) compared with those expected in the general population. Results Among 1 537 101 survivors (mean age, 60.4 years; 48.8% women), 156 442 SPC cases and 88 818 SPC deaths occurred during 11 197 890 person-years of follow-up (mean, 7.3 years). Among men, the overall risk of developing any SPCs was statistically significantly higher for 18 of the 30 FPC types, and risk of dying from any SPCs was statistically significantly higher for 27 of 30 FPC types as compared with risks in the general population. Among women, the overall risk of developing any SPCs was statistically significantly higher for 21 of the 31 FPC types, and risk of dying from any SPCs was statistically significantly higher for 28 of 31 FPC types as compared with risks in the general population. The highest overall SIR and SMR were estimated among survivors of laryngeal cancer (SIR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.68-1.83]; incidence, 373 per 10 000 person-years) and gallbladder cancer (SMR, 3.82 [95% CI, 3.31-4.39]; mortality, 341 per 10 000 person-years) among men, and among survivors of laryngeal cancer (SIR, 2.48 [95% CI, 2.27-2.72]; incidence, 336 per 10 000 person-years; SMR, 4.56 [95% CI, 4.11-5.06]; mortality, 268 per 10 000 person-years) among women. Substantial variation existed in the associations of specific types of FPCs with specific types of SPC risk; however, only a few smoking- or obesity-associated SPCs, such as lung, urinary bladder, oral cavity/pharynx, colorectal, pancreatic, uterine corpus, and liver cancers constituted considerable proportions of the total incidence and mortality, with lung cancer alone accounting for 31% to 33% of mortality from all SPCs. Conclusions and relevance Among survivors of adult-onset cancers in the United States, several types of primary cancer were significantly associated with greater risk of developing and dying from an SPC, compared with the general population. Cancers associated with smoking or obesity comprised substantial proportions of overall SPC incidence and mortality among all survivors and highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance and efforts to prevent new cancers among survivors.
Automating Measurement of Trainee Work Hours.

BACKGROUND Medical training programs across the country are bound to a set of work hour regulations, generally monitored via self-report. OBJECTIVE We developed a computational method to automate measurement of intern and resident work hours, which we validated against self-report. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We included all electronic health record (EHR) access log data between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, for trainees enrolled in the internal medicine training program. We inferred the duration of continuous in-hospital work hours by linking EHR sessions that occurred within 5 hours as "on-campus" work and further accounted for "out-of-hospital" work which might be taking place at home. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We compared daily work hours estimated through the computational method with self-report and calculated the mean absolute error between the two groups. We used the computational method to estimate average weekly work hours across the rotation and the percentage of rotations where average work hours exceed the 80-hour workweek. RESULTS The mean absolute error between self-reported and EHR-derived daily work hours for first- (PGY-1), second- (PGY-2), and third- (PGY-3) year trainees were 1.27, 1.51, and 1.51 hours, respectively. Using this computational method, we estimated average (SD) weekly work hours of 57.0 (21.7), 69.9 (12.2), and 64.1 (16.3) for PGY-1, PGY-2, and PGY-3 residents. CONCLUSION EHR log data can be used to accurately approximate self-report of work hours, accounting for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital work. Automation will reduce trainees' clerical work, improve consistency and comparability of data, and provide more complete and timely data that training programs need.
Self-organized signaling in stem cell models of embryos.

Mammalian embryonic development is a complex process driven by self-organization. Understanding how a fertilized egg develops into an embryo composed of more than 200 cell types in precise spatial patterns remains one of the fundamental challenges in biology. Pluripotent stem cells have been used as in vitro models for investigating mammalian development, and represent promising building blocks for regenerative therapies. Recently, sophisticated stem cell-based models that recapitulate early embryonic fate patterning and morphogenesis have been developed. In this article, we review recent advances in stem cell models of embryos in particular focusing on signaling activities underpinning cell fate decisions in space and time.
Abstract 2413: POLE gene mutations in African Americans colorectal cancer

Background: Most focus in genetic instability in colon carcinogenic transformation was on DNA Mismatch Repair (MMR) genes alterations as they relate to the microsatellite instability phenotype. However, POLE gene mutations can also be instrumental in triggering genetic instability, at even higher magnitude of genome mutation rate. Aim: To assess POLE gene mutations in African Americans with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Data from Whole exome sequencing of 12 CRC African American tumors was searched to scan POLE gene mutations. All detected mutations were checked in tumors and matched normal. The detected mutations were validated in a second set of samples that were sequenced using POLE gene targeted sequencing. Detected and validated mutations were checked in available databases such as COSMIC and dbSNP to determine novel mutations in our population that is at high risk of aggressive CRC. Results: Six out of 12 patients (50%) displayed mutations in POLE gene. There were 41 detected mutations, 11 are novel mutations and 15 are amino-acid changing. Nine of these were non-synonymous and predicted to have deleterious effects. All these mutations were validated using targeted sequencing. In comparison to DNA MMR, POLE gene has four folds more mutations than MSH2gne (10 mutations and MSH6 (11 mutations and two fold more than MSH3 gene (20 mutations) in the same set of 12 cancer/matched normals. The POLE mutations heterozygous/homozygous status was overall similar in normal and matched normal. However, most of the mutations were homozygous. Conclusion: POLE gene mutations are increasingly recognized as another important element in genetic instability. Our data shows that mutations affecting this gene are likely more significant than those affecting DNA MMR genes. Moreover, POLE mutations might be more consequential, especially those affecting its exonuclease domain of polymerase epsilon, proofreading catalytic subunit. Microsatellite-stable, hypermutated CRCs might need to be explored for POLE gene mutations to track the origin of high mutation rates. Citation Format: Hassan Brim, Babak Shokrani, Hamed Azimi, Sudhir Varma, Edward Lee, Hassan Ashktorab. POLE gene mutations in African Americans colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2413.
A Random Forest Regression Model for Predicting the Movement of Horseshoe Crabs in Long Island Sound

Developing models to predict animal movement patterns is an important area of study in ecology and wildlife management. Project Limulus, a community research program, has been tracking the movement of tagged American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) in Long Island Sound since 1998. During the spawning season, horseshoe crabs are captured by hand, tagged and then released. Recaptured horseshoe crabs give valuable information about their behavior and movement patterns. In this paper, we tested various models to find the best predictor for the movement of horseshoe crabs based on the observed movement activity in previous years. We experimented with three different models: Linear Regression, Decision Tree, and Random Forest Regression models. We used the data for 2018 as our test set and the data of all previous 19 years as our training set (19,219 records). The Random Forest Regression model proved to be the best predictive model and resulted in the smallest RMSE and MAE, as well as the smallest maximum error in prediction. The predicted horseshoe crab locations can be targeted in the next season for recapturing tagged horseshoe crabs. It also concentrates the scientists’ effort and time to find the maximum number of horseshoe crabs.
From soft power to reputational security: rethinking public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy for a dangerous age

This paper identifies four rhetorical strategies used during the COVID 19 pandemic by communicators associated with nation states to either enhance their own security through protecting or improving their reputation or to diminish that of a competitor or rival. These strategies are: praising the self; criticizing the other; engaging others through gifts and a strategy of multilateral cooperation. The examples cited come chiefly from March and April 2020 revealing how early the key communication strategies solidified. The piece notes preliminary evidence of reputational impact with slippage in the standing of the USA and a major drop in the standing of China visible in the Nation Brands Index and other polls. It concludes with an endorsement of cooperation/collaboration as the optimal strategy to use not only against COVID but in the face of other transnational challenges too.
Non-Overlapping, Overlapping, Post, and Adaptive Cluster Sampling

In survey sampling the basic assumption is that the population consists of a finite number of distinct and identifiable units. A group of such units is called a cluster. If, instead of randomly selecting a unit for sample, a group of units is selected as a single unit in the sample, it is called cluster sampling. If the entire area containing the population under study is divided into smaller segments, and if each unit of the population belongs to only one segment, the procedure is called area sampling or non-overlapping cluster sampling. If one or a few units appears in more than one segment or cluster, then such a procedure is called overlapping cluster sampling. The main purpose of cluster sampling is to divide the population into small groups with each group serving as a sample unit. Clusters are generally made up of neighbouring elements; therefore the elements within a cluster tend to be homogeneous. However at some stage in the research we become interested in heterogeneous clusters rather than homogeneous. More broadly, the concept of forming strata in the previous chapter was to form homogeneous groups, whereas in this chapter the concept of forming clusters will be to form groups of a heterogeneous nature. After dividing the population into clusters the sample of clusters can be selected with either equal or unequal probability. The concept of unequal probability may be based on the size of the cluster; that is, the larger the cluster, the larger the probability of its being selected in the sample. All the units in the selected cluster will be enumerated. As a simple rule the number of units in a cluster should be small and the number of clusters should be large.
The Border Thickens: In-Securing Communities after IRCA

This article analyses a certain ‘thickening of the border,’ a term I coin to underscore a certain blurring of the insides and the outsides of the United States with respect to Latin American, primarily Mexican, immigration. In making this intervention, the article underscores the linkages among a dark legacy of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), the militarization of Border Patrol policing practices in the southwestern United States, and “Secure Communities,” a mammoth immigration policing program across much of the United States.
Facial Comparisons by Subject Matter Experts: Their Role in Biometrics and Their Training

The fingerprint biometrics community has accepted the involvement of human examiners as the ultimate verifiers of the output of automated systems, especially in latent fingerprint cases. Likewise, the facial biometrics community should recognize the importance of human experts working in association with the automated process, particularly when analyzing uncontrolled images. As facial biometric systems become more common, more facial image examiners will need to be trained. Currently there are no systematic training programs in place for these examiners. This paper outlines the knowledge needed to conduct facial examinations, and thus should be taught in a successful training program. A facial image comparison expert must be versed in many subjects including: comparative science, image science and processing, bones of the head, muscles of the face, properties of the skin, aging and alteration, legal issues and case law, and the history of facial identifications and photographic comparisons.
Streptococcal M Protein Antibodies Acquired at Birth

The results indicate that type-specific M protein antibodies were present in cord blood of seven of nine infants for the same serologic types and in similar titers to those in the mother9s serum. These type-specific antibodies disappeared from the serum by the fifth postnatal month in those infants it was possible to follow.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy for Late-Stage Rasmussen’s Encephalitis: Long-Term Seizure Freedom (P6.344)

OBJECTIVE To present a case of Rasmussen’s Encephalitis with 20 year history of seizures who has been seizure free for over 2 years on intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg). BACKGROUND Rasmussen’s Encephalitis is typically a pediatric-onset intractable focal epilepsy syndrome associated with cerebral hemiatrophy. The etiolology is believed to be due to immune dysregulation, but specific autoantibodies have not been identified. Surgical approaches such as hemispherectomy may be an unsatisfactory option in older patients with dominant hemisphere involvement. Recently, there has been increasing interest in immunomodulatory therapies for treatment of Rasmussen9s, including tacrolimus, rituximab, natalizumab and IVIg. Here, we report successful treatment of late-stage Rasmussen9s Encephalitis with IVIg. DESIGN Case report RESULTS A 27 year old right-handed man had history of epilepsy since 8 years of age characterized by right-sided clonic movements. Over the next few years, he developed intractable epilepsy and, in 2010, presented with epilepsy partialis continua (EPC). Temporary seizure arrest was achieved with pentobarbital coma. On barbiturate withdrawal, however, he remained in status epilepticus despite 7 concurrent anti-epileptic medications. EEG confirmed a unilateral seizure focus. MRI revealed left sided cerebral atrophy and left motor cortex FLAIR signal. These findings confirm the diagnosis of Rasmussen’s Encephalitis. Evaluation for infectious, paraneoplastic and autoimmune etiologies was negative. Given his age and dominant lobe involvement, surgery was not considered to be a feasible option. IVIg was empirically given, and one dose resulted in dramatic improvement in seizure frequency. He has now been seizure-free for over 2 years on monthly IVIg with gradual improvement in motor and cognitive function. Withdrawal of IVIg leads to seizure recurrence. CONCLUSIONS This is the first successful treatment for late-stage Rasmussen Encephalitis using immunomodulatory therapy. Study supported by: not applicable Disclosure: Dr. Dave has nothing to disclose. Dr. Serrano has nothing to disclose.
"Kick 'Em When They're Down": Explanations of the Relationship Between Stress and Interpersonal Aggression and Violence

The latest version of the frustration-aggression hypothesis (here, FA) posits that any form of negative affect or distress is likely to increase the likelihood of aggression. Stressful life events ...
Making the City and Shaping Legal Landscapes

With the onset of colonialism in Africa, colonial officials brought with them not only ideas about how Africans could be ruled, but even practices of how African spaces were to be planned and managed. In “Making the City and Shaping Legal Landscapes,” I examine the establishment and maintenance of multiple and often competing legal terrains and judicial traditions in the colonial city of Bathurst (Banjul). In using primary and secondary sources, I chart the broader transformations and developments in the early formation of Bathurst as a colonial city. I show how the introduction of British legal systems and the creation of the Muslim court brought into focus not only the sharp contrast between the dual legal structures (Muslim and European) but the tension that existed between individuals, community groups, and the colonial courts in the Gambia in the early 20th century.
The role of luteinizing hormone in human follicular maturation and function.

Abstract In an attempt to elucidate the role of luteinzing hormone (LH) in the normal menstrual cycle and in gonadotropin therapy, the effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with and without LH on the same amenorrheic patient were compared. The first treatment cycle consisted of FSH alone and was ineffective in producing either an estrogen response or ovulation despite high peripheral levels of FSH. When FSH together with LH was administered in the second cycle, one third as much FSH and lower peripheral FSH levels were effective in producing a marked increase in urinary estrogens and apprent ovulation, indicating that LH is necessary to induce maturation of the ovarian follicle in human beings.
The subspecialty of rhinology: a survey of otolaryngology chairmen

Background The past decade has witnessed the emergence of rhinology as a distinct subspecialty within otolaryngology. A critical evaluation of this process is necessary to define the field and to determine the impact of subspecialization on residency education. Methods An Internet-based survey of otolaryngology residency chairmen was performed to query attitudes about the importance of various aspects of rhinologic education including didactics, presence of rhinology faculty, exposure to research, office-based rhinology, and various surgical procedures. A 7-point Likert scale was used to rate responses. Results A 30.2% response rate was noted for the chairmen survey. From the chairmen's perspective, overall high levels of importance were ascribed to rhinology education and surgical training in otolaryngology residency. Lower scores for importance were noted for basic science research, exposure to office-based allergy care, and advanced surgical procedures. High scores were noted for the importance of fellowship training in the professional development of a resident interested in pursuing a career in rhinology. Conclusion Overall high levels of importance were ascribed by the participating chairmen to the importance of rhinology education in residency. As the subspecialty of rhinology continues to develop, the role of the various educational, research and clinical activities will require continued evaluation.
Evaluating Public Commentary and Scientific Evidence Submitted in the Development of a Risk Assessment

Risk assessments form the methodological basis for many public policies. A key component of the risk assessment process is the public commentary period. We conducted a case study of the California environmental tobacco smoke risk assessment to describe the contribution of the commentary to the risk assessment process. We used content analysis to examine the sources, quantity, and quality of public commentary, as well as the agency's response to the commentary. We examined the type and quality of publications cited in the commentary. Most of the comments were from critics of the risk assessment (36/44, 80%), especially tobacco industry affiliates (30/36, 83%). Critics were more likely to evoke the science evaluation criteria of study quality, reliability, and validity than were supporters. More than half the critics argued that appropriate procedures were not followed (13/23, 57%). Of the 29 commentaries on the respiratory, carcinogenic, and cardiovascular chapters, four resulted in changes to the risk assessment, such as the addition of new references or reanalysis of data. Journal articles were the most frequently cited type of reference, cited by critics (1,022/1,526 of references, 67%) and supporters (39/60, 65%). However, journal articles submitted by critics had lower impact factors than those cited by supporters (2.6 vs. 3.6, p=0.03). Participation in the public input process was not balanced among all interested parties, although this may reflect different opportunities for stakeholders to participate in stages of the process. Critics and supporters of the risk assessment used different criteria to evaluate the scientific evidence, suggesting that they were socially constructing the evidence to support their positions.
Use of Intravenous Heparin by North American Neurologists Do the Data Matter

Background and Purpose— Our aim was to determine current usage patterns of intravenous heparin for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods— A survey was undertaken of 280 neurologists from the United States and 270 neurologists from Canada. Brief vignettes were presented for the following 5 scenarios: stroke in evolution, atrial fibrillation-related stroke (A FIB), vertebrobasilar stroke, carotid territory stroke, and multiple transient ischemic attacks. The effect of medicolegal factors was also ascertained. Statistical comparisons were done with chi-squared testing. Results— US neurologists were significantly more likely than Canadian neurologists to use intravenous heparin for patients with stroke in evolution (51% versus 33%, P<0.001), vertebrobasilar stroke (30% versus 8%, P<0.001), carotid territory stroke (31% versus 4%, P<0.001), and multiple transient ischemic attacks (47% versus 9%, P<0.001). The vast majority of US and Canadian neurologists would use intravenous heparin for acute stroke pa...
Average sizes of suffix trees and dawgs

Abstract Suffix trees, directed acyclic word graphs (DAWGs) and related data structures are useful for text retrieval and analysis. Linear upper and lower bounds on their sizes are known. Constructing these data structures for random strings, one observes that the size does not increase smoothly, but oscillates between these bounds. We use Mellin transforms to obtain size estimates as integrals of meromorphic functions. Poles on the real axis lead to exact formulae for the average sizes, while poles with nonzero imaginary part lead to very good estimates of the oscillations.
Combustion Processes in Supersonic Flow

Three general classes of models that describe the processes occurring in diabatic flow in ducts having supersonic entry conditions are discussed. They are: integral techniques, finite-difference methods, and exact two-dimensional planar flame models formulated on the basis of instantaneous heat release. All three methods rigorously satisfy the conservation equations. The first two methods provide a basis for predicting and analyzing supersonic combustor performance. The careful interpretation and judicious use of experimental observations are crucial for the successful application of these methods. Comparisons of analytical and experimental results are presented, and generalized parametric studies are included. The third method is based on an idealized mixing and combustion model that may not be achievable, but nonetheless serves as a valuable analytical tool for explaining complex processes involving shock waves and heat addition. Results from four types of flow structures are discussed. Nomenclature A = cross-sectional area Af = projected area of inlet Aw = wall area
Annealing effects in low temperature reactor irradiated crystalline cobaltic trisethylenediamine nitrate

Abstract Both isothermal and linear tempering annealing of cobaltic trisethylenediamine nitrate, irradiated at liquid nitrogen temperature in a reactor, have been studied. More precise isotherms confirm the previously reported oscillation in the isotherms. These maxima and minima are more pronounced than those of samples irradiated at ambient temperature. Corresponding maxima and minima appear sooner at higher temperatures of annealing; this effect is more noticable after low temperature irradiation. Linear tempering thermal annealing of low temperature irradiated material also gives curves containing maxima and minima.
On convergence of least-squares identifiers of autoregressive models having stable and unstable roots

A proof is presented for establishing the convergence of least-squares (LS) identification algorithms when applied to autoregressive (AR) time-series models where some or all poles my be unstable, i.e., outside the unit circle in the complex z -plane. The only assumption on the time-series model is that its residual or driving sequence is a zero-mean uncorrelated (white noise) sequence with finite second moment which is second-moment-ergodic (SME). In cases where the SME condition cannot be established, the resulting identified parameters will relate to a model driven by an SME process which is the LS approximation to the actual process whose identification was sought.
Atmospheric chemometrics for identification of trace element sources in precipitation

Abstract This paper demonstrates solutions to some of the problems normally encountered in the analysis of atmospheric chemical data sets. Multivariate data analysis techniques were applied to a unique chemical data set consisting of rainwater trace element concentrations determined via instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Experimental uncertainties, principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component classification were used to categorize sources of variability in the data while partial-least-squares regression (PLS) was used to compare the rainwater data to crustal, sea salt, and smelter “signatures” of the same trace elements. These three source contributions to the rainwater trace element data were calculated and four other contributions from derived sources were interpreted based upon their chemical composition, geographical distribution, and temporal variation.
Senescent synapses and hippocampal circuit dynamics

Excitatory synaptic transmission is altered during aging in hippocampal granule cells, and in CA3 and CA1 pyramidal cells. These functional changes contribute to age-associated impairments in experimentally-induced plasticity in each of these primary hippocampal subregions. In CA1, plasticity evoked by stimulation shares common mechanisms with the synaptic modification observed following natural behavior. Aging results in deficits in both artificially- and behaviorally-induced plasticity, and this could in part reflect age-related changes in Ca 2+ homeostasis. Other observations, however, suggest that increased intracellular Ca 2+ levels are beneficial under some circumstances. This review focuses on age-associated changes in synaptic function, how these alterations might contribute to cognitive decline, and the extent to which altered hippocampal circuit properties are detrimental or reflect compensatory processes.
Performance capabilities of the 8-cm mercury ion thruster

A preliminary characterization of the performance capabilities of the 8-cm thruster in order to initiate an evaluation of its application to LSS propulsion requirements is presented. With minor thruster modifications, the thrust was increased by about a factor of four while the discharge voltage was reduced from 39 to 22 volts. The thruster was operated over a range of specific impulse of 1950 to 3040 seconds and a maximum total efficiency of about 54 percent was attained. Preliminary analysis of component lifetimes, as determined by temperature and spectroscopic line intensity measurements, indicated acceptable thruster lifetimes are anticipated at the high power level operation.
Theory of the Use of More Than Two Successive X-Ray Crystal Reflections to Obtain Increased Resolving Power

If an x-ray beam is selectively reflected from more than two crystal surfaces in succession it is shown in this paper by a simple method of graphical analysis that it should be possible to obtain resolving power considerably superior to the best obtainable with present two crystal x-ray spectrometers. This extension and generalization of the two crystal spectrometer principle in one of its forms (the three crystal spectrometer) should permit the study of the asymmetric diffraction patterns predicted by the theory of Prins but heretofore considered to be completely beyond experimental investigation. In another form (the four crystal spectrometer) a distinct improvement in spectral resolving power is anticipated. The new method of graphical analysis invented for the purpose of discussing these more complicated cases of polycrystalline x-ray reflection is conspicuously useful and clear as a help to understanding the two crystal spectrometer also. An experimental test of these new methods is now in progress.
Correlation of somatic, biochemical, perceptual, and Rorschach data on 40 healthy male subjects.

Canonical correlation was used to investigate the interrelationships between somatic, biochemical, and psychological variables in 40 healthy male subjects. Four roots (or factors) were extracted which demonstrated overlap in four sets of variables: 1) Somatic (height, weight, body volume, body surface area); 2) Biochemical (adrenal steroids, pepsinogen, creatinine, urine volume); 3) Perceptual (Embedded Faces, Stroop Test, Time Estimation, Flicker Fusion); and 4) Rorschach indices. The first root linked style of spatial orientation with height. The second factor extracted major loadings for all sets of variables and was dominated by big body size, high and variable biochemical values, and low perceptual control. The final factors were less well defined. Genetic or constitutional forces could be inferred and the interaction of personality, biochemical, and somatic variables was clearly demonstrated.
The Dark Side of Regulatory T Cells in Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a hereditary disease elicited by chronic activation of cutaneous T cells. Delineating the mechanistic interplay of the cell subsets involved is key to developing the next generation of effective treatments. In this issue, Bovenschen et al. report that regulatory T cells maintain a fine balance between the transcription factors Foxp3 and RORγt. In patients with psoriasis, Tregs readily turn into IL-17-expressing cells, thus potentially perpetuating the inflammatory process that characterizes the disease. Results demonstrating that the histone/protein deacetylation inhibitor trichostatin A can block this conversion suggest that an epigenetic modification may underlie regulatory T-cell plasticity.
Measuring the usability and capability of App inventor to create mobile Applications

MIT App Inventor is a web service that enables users with little to no previous programming experience to create mobile applications using a visual blocks language. We analyze a sample of 5,228 random projects from the corpus of 9.7 million and group projects by functionality. We then use the number of unique blocks in projects as a metric to better understand the usability and realized capability of using App Inventor to implement specific functionalities. We introduce the notion of a usability score and our results indicate that introductory tutorials heavily influence the usability of App Inventor to implement particular functionalities. Our findings suggest that the sequential nature of App Inventor's learning resources results in users realizing only a portion of App Inventor's capabilities and propose improvements to these learning resources that are transferable to other programming environments and tools.
Lithium treatment in adults with acute myeloid leukemia receiving chemotherapy

To determine whether lithium can shorten chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, 35 adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia undergoing initial chemotherapy were randomized either to receive oral lithium started at the time of biopsy-proven hypoplasia or to receive no lithium. This study failed to show statistically significant shortening of the duration of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in the lithium treatment group.
Effect of Isocarbon-4 and Isocarbon-5 Volatile Fatty Acids on Microbial Protein Synthesis and Dry Matter Digestibility In Vitro

Abstract We evaluated the effect of a mixture of ammonium salts of isocarbon-4 (31.5%) and isocarbon-5 on microbial nitrogen incorporation and in vitro dry matter digestibility of addition acids (68.5%) on a dry matter basis to batch-culture fermentation systems receiving corn silagebased diets, Isocarbon-4 and isocarbon-5 salts at 1% of dry matter in the diet of 13 to 16% crude protein supplemented with cottonseed or corn gluten meal and urea incubated for 18, 24, or 48h increased microbial nitrogen incorporation and dry matter digestion at 24-h incubation time. Addition of isocarbon-4 and isocarbon-5 salts at .5, .75, 1.0, and 1.25% of dry matter increased microbial nitrogen incorporation with the corn gluten meal diet and increased dry matter digestion with the corn gluten and cottonseed meal diets, Isocarbon-4 and isocarbon-5 salts at 1% of dry matter in 16% crude protein cottonseed meal, corn gluten meal and urea, soybean meal, or alfalfa haylage and soybean meal diets increased microbial nitrogen incorporation for the alfalfa haylage and corn gluten meal diets. Interaction of crude protein and treatment was not consistent. Addition of isocarbon-4 and isocarbon-5 salts increased dry matter digestion and microbial growth in vitro.
A Comparison of Radar Reflectivity Estimates of Rainfall from Collocated Radars

Abstract Radar reflectivity–based rainfall estimates from collocated radars are examined. The usual large storm-to-storm variations in radar bias and high correlation between radar estimates and rain gauge observations are found. For three storms in Colorado, the radar bias factor (the ratio between gauge observations and radar estimates) with the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s S-band, dual-polarization radar (S-Pol) varied from 0.78 (an overestimate with radar) to 1.88. The correlation coefficient between gauge and radar amounts varied from 0.78 to 0.90. For a collocated Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D), the bias factor varied from 0.56 to 1.49, and the correlation between gauge and radar amounts ranged from 0.77 to 0.87. In Kansas, bias factors varied from 0.86 to 1.41 for S-Pol (10 storms) and 0.82 to 1.71 for a paired WSR-88D (9 storms). The spread in correlation coefficients was 0.82–0.95 for S-Pol and 0.87–0.95 for the WSR-88D. Correspondence between the radar-derived ra...
The early institutionalists on industrial democracy and union democracy

Today the term “industrial democracy” has a rather quaint sound, at least in the U.S., and is seldom encountered in either academic or practitioner industrial relations. Likewise, the work of the early institutional economists is infrequently cited by modern IR scholars and even less often read. So, one may ask, why re-plow this intellectual ground when it has so long lain fallow?
Fluid dynamics in group T-3 Los Alamos national laboratory

The development of computer fluid dynamics has been closely associated with the evolution of large high-speed computers. At first the principal incentive was to produce numerical techniques for solving problems related to national defense. Soon, however, it was recognized that numerous additional scientific and engineering applications could be accomplished by means of modified techniques that extended considerably the capabilities of the early procedures. This paper describes some of this work at The Los Alamos National Laboratory, where many types of problems were solved for the first time with the newly emerging sequence of numerical capabilities. The discussions focus principally on those with which the author has been directly involved.
Is Physician Anesthesia Cost-Effective?

One of the most controversial issues in anesthesia is whether nonmedically directed nurse anesthetists are relatively more cost-effective than anesthesiologists in the provision of anesthesia care. We electronically surveyed anesthesia practices throughout the United States to estimate the range in anesthesia professional costs from the payer perspective. Using this survey data on anesthesia reimbursement and published outcomes studies, we developed an ad hoc model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of physician-directed anesthesia relative to a nonmedically directed nurse anesthetist model of care from the payer perspective. Costeffectiveness ratios were defined as the ratio of incremental costs associated with physician anesthesia relative to the estimated incremental life expectancy gains with this model of care (i.e., dollars per year of life saved [$/YLS]). Reference case results suggest that physician anesthesia is cost saving with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $2,601/YLS for a younger privately insured patient and an estimated costeffectiveness ratio of$4,410/YLS for an elderly Medicare insured patient. Cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from $4,410 to $38,778/YLS in univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses across payer types. Results were most sensitive to assumed differences in reimbursement (commercial conversion factors) and to mortality rate assumptions by provider type. This analysis offers economic evidence in support of the physician anesthesia model of care. (Anesth Analg 2004;98:750 –7)