cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The IntegratedEthicsTM Facility Workbook: An Evaluation Tool to Support Health Care Ethics Program Implementation and Quality Management

Background: IntegratedEthicsTM (IE) establishes a new model for ethics programs, with the goal of continuously improving “ethics quality” in health care. This article describes the IntegratedEthics Facility Workbook (IEFW), an evaluation tool developed by the National Center for Ethics in Health Care (NCEHC) to help health care facilities improve ethics quality in their organization. The workbook helps facilities to evaluate their local ethics programs relative to specific quality standards established for the IE model. This article describes the origins of the quality standards established for the IE model, explains IEFW conceptual underpinnings and tool development, illustrates how ethics programs use the tool to drive local program quality improvement, and provides longitudinal IEFW national results (2008–2011) for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) IE programs. Methods: The project uses descriptive analysis of IEFW data submitted by VA facilities from 2008 through 2011. Results: In VA, longitudinal I...
Development and validation of Aviation Causal Contributors for Error Reporting Systems (ACCERS).

Objective: This investigation sought to develop a reliable and valid classification system for identifying and classifying the underlying causes of pilot errors reported under the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). Background: ASAP is a voluntary safety program that air carriers may establish to study pilot and crew performance on the line. InASAP programs, similar to the Aviation Safety Reporting System, pilots self-report incidents by filing a short text description of the event. The identification of contributors to errors is critical if organizations are to improve human performance, yet it is difficult for analysts to extract this information from text narratives. A taxonomy was needed that could be used by pilots to classify the causes of errors. Method: After completing a thorough literature review, pilot interviews and a card-sorting task were conducted in Studies 1 and 2 to develop the initial structure of the Aviation Causal Contributors for Event Reporting Systems (ACCERS) taxonomy. The rel...
Synthesis of Furfural from Xylose by Heterogeneous and Reusable Nafion Catalysts

Nafion 117 has been proven as a robust and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the dehydration of 9.1 % (w/w) xylose in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to yield 60 % furfural in 2 h at 150 °C. The catalytic high activity promoted shorter reaction times to limit the formation of side-products which otherwise would lead to decreased yields. Within the allowable operating temperature range of Nafion (125 to 175 °C), the reaction was kinetically controlled. In corroboration with AFM and SEM imaging, ATR-FTIR confirmed that the Nafion catalytic activity remained unchanged after 15 repeated uses. With excellent chemical and thermal stability under the conditions for xylose dehydration compared to existing solid acid catalysts, this reusable Nafion system could be a step towards the more economical production of furfural from renewable biomass, an intermediate chemical for the preparation of value-added chemicals.
Offsetting behavior in reducing high cholesterol: Substitution of medication for diet and lifestyle changes

Abstract Being diagnosed with a diet-related health condition like high blood cholesterol might compel an individual to choose a healthier diet, thereby reducing disease risks. Adding the option of medication, like statins, makes the direction of diet-quality choices theoretically ambiguous. This study estimates how dietary quality correlates with high cholesterol diagnoses and medicine use. Results indicate that individuals diagnosed with high cholesterol consume less cholesterol, fat, and saturated fat, and smoke less. However, using cholesterol-lowering drugs is correlated with increased fat and saturated fat intake, and larger waist size, after accounting for the endogeneity of choosing to use medicine. Findings highlight the inelasticity of diet choices.
Abstract 408: Hematogenous metastasis in ovarian cancer: Importance of the ErbB3/NRG axis.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Background: Ovarian cancer is predominantly thought to metastasize by intraperitoneal spread. Here, we report unexpected findings related to hematogenous ovarian cancer metastasis with strong tropism for the omentum. Study methods and results: To investigate the potential patterns of metastasis from circulating ovarian cancer cells, we established a novel parabiosis model, where 2 mice are surgically fused to allow a common circulation. Using this model, we found that ovarian cancer cells can indeed metastasize hematogenously and predominantly localize to the omentum. Cells propagated from this model are called SKOV3-OM3. To understand potential mechanisms, we carried out integrated genomic and human Phospho RTK arrays, which pointed to ErbB3/NRG1 as a dominant activated pathway. NRG1 stimulated migration (40%) and invasion (60%) of SKOV3-OM3 cells. NRG1 stimulation consistently induced downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K-AKT axis and Src activation in the cells with predilection for omental metastasis. We also showed that EMT modulating genes (eg. Vimentin and E-cadherin) are regulated by ErbB3 and PI3K in SKOV3-OM3 cells. In parallel approaches to determine the requirement of the ErbB3/NRG1 pathway for hematogenous metastasis of ovarian cancer to the omentum, both immune-deficient and immune-competent models were used. Upon intracardiac (IC) injection of SKOV3-OM3 cells (nude mice) and IG10-OM2 cells (C57BL/6 mice), tumor development and metastasis was followed by weekly luciferase imaging; tumors were harvested for histopathology and downstream molecular analyses. ErbB3 silencing using siRNA incorporated in DOPC nanoliposomes resulted in substantially decreased tumor growth and metastasis compared with control siRNA in both models (P <0.001). ErbB3 silencing resulted in significant reduction of proliferation and increase in apoptosis for both experiments. These data indicate that ErbB3 plays a functionally significant role in omental metastasis. Conclusion: This study provides a new paradigm regarding ovarian cancer metastasis in that ovarian cancer cells have a parallel path of spread to the omentum hematogenously. As such, these findings have significant clinical implications. Citation Format: Sunila Pradeep, Kim Wook, Masato Nishimura, Pradeep Raghavan, Chad Pecot, Gabriel Lopez, Isaiah Fidler, Anil Sood. Hematogenous metastasis in ovarian cancer: Importance of the ErbB3/NRG axis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 408. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-408
Living Mitteleuropa in the 1980s: a network of Hungarian and West German Intellectuals

This paper investigates the parallels between intellectual biographies and the conceptual re-emergence of Central Europe in the 1980s. It contextualises the origins of a distinct vision of the region within the life experiences of non-conformist intellectuals in East and West Europe. By the 1980s, these intellectuals had developed a transnational informal network which facilitated the flow of ideas across a porous Iron Curtain. A closer look at the biographies of Gyorgy Konrad and Gyorgy Dalos as well as Hans Magnus Enzensberger and Karl Schlogel makes this network, its specific understanding of Mitteleuropa in the 1980s, and the ideas subsumed under this umbrella term apparent. Subordinated to a later narrative of European Union integration, the concept has lost its original character as a possible alternative to the bipolar world – that is, Western capitalism and Eastern socialism. This paper re-constructs Mitteleuropa through the biographies of its creators, and recalls moments of mutual influence. Add...
Proteoglycan core protein syndecan in bladder biopsies

The etiology of interstitial cystitis (IC) may be related to a dysfunctional epithelium caused by an abnormal permeability barrier. The presence of deleterious urinary substances (quaternary amines) that alter an otherwise normal epithelium may also be contributory. IC disease could reflect an inability of the bladder to repair its protective surface-coat material (glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans), which is constantly exposed to a toxic urine environment. Bladder biopsy tissue from IC patients and derived explant cells were investigated to determine if mRNA for a proteoglycan core protein could be extracted and evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Syndecan was chosen for this investigation because the available sequence information permitted PCR primers to be synthesized. The results indicated that biopsy tissue and explant cells could be utilized for the isolation of syndecan core protein mRNA. This proteoglycan was also demonstrated in mouse bladders by immunostaining and immunoblotting (but not in human tissues) using a syndecan-specific monoclonal antibody (281-2). Quantitative differences in IC tissues versus normal bladder tissue with respect to gene expression for this proteoglycan core protein can now be determined.
Exploring the forgotten restorative dimension of occupation: Quilting and quilt use

Restorative, or restful, occupations serve to renew depleted energy resources and result in an improved physical and mental state, with feelings of regeneration during and after participation. Restorative occupations include sleep and quiet focus activities such as quilting. Historically, the concept of restoration has been a neglected dimension of occupation within the fields of occupational therapy and occupational science. The process of quilting is used in this article as an example of a restorative occupation. Restoration from quilting may be gained through the experiences of meaning, tradition, ritual, and rite of passage that quilting provides. Quilt use may be restorative as well, through associations with sleep, meaning, and the sensory qualities of quilts. Both quilting and quilt use have therapeutic benefits that promote restoration.
Beam steering with photonic crystal horn radiators

A photonic crystal (PhC) horn is presented. Using the finite- difference time-domain method with the perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition (ABC) in inhomogeneous media, we opti- mize the mismatch factor between a PhC horn and waveguide to achieve high radiation efficiency. The optimized PhC horn is then used to construct an horn array of 25 elements, whose element weights and element positions are optimized using simulated annealing (SA) to acheive continuous beam steering in the range between 215 and 15 deg with the maximum side lobe of less than 210 dB. © 2004 Society of Photo-
Chaos in a simple two-phase reactor

Abstract The autocatalytic reaction of Gray and Scott (A + 2B→3B, B→C is studied in a reactor with two uniform phases. These may be thought of as a reactor communicating with a reservoir and two models are considered corresponding to feeding A or B, respectively, to the reservoir. Both models exhibit chaos reached by the period-doubling route, but the second also shows intermittency.
Immunotherapeutic Advancements for Glioblastoma

Immunotherapy seeks to improve the body’s immune response to a tumor. Currently, the principal mechanisms employed are: 1) to improve an aspect of the immune response (e.g. T cell activation) and 2) to encourage the targeting of particular antigens. The latter is typically achieved by exposing the immune system to the antigen in question, in vivo, or in vitro followed by re-introduction of the primed cells to the body. The clinical relevance of these approaches has already been demonstrated for solid tumors such as melanoma and prostate cancer. The central nervous system was previously thought to be immune privileged. However we know now that the immune system is highly active in the brain and interacts with brain tumors. Thus, harnessing and exploiting this interaction represents an important approach for treating malignant brain tumors. We present a summary of progress in this area, focusing particularly on immune checkpoint inhibition, vaccines and T cell engineering.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF RECYCLED TIRE SHREDS FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTION

The purpose of this study was to determine the physical and chemical properties of tire shreds for use in engineering construction as a replacement for aggregates in embankments or as backfill. In general, test results revealed that tire shreds can be utilized in construction applications. As the size of tire shreds increases, physical properties such as specific gravity remained constant at 1.06–1.1. Gradation of tire shreds was also tested, and the results were comparable to other researchers (i.e., ranging from 50 to 300 mm). As the tire shred size increased, the hydraulic conductivity increased from 0.2 to 0.85 cm/s. Increasing the compaction energy had little effect on the final compaction density. The angle of friction and cohesion ranged from 15 to 32° and 349 to 394 N/m², respectively. As the particle size (from 50 to 300 mm) of the tire shreds increased, the shear strength of the scrap tire increased. Moreover, as the tire shred size increased, compressibility increased. Chemical analysis of tire shreds was conducted to illustrate how properties such as total organic carbon (TOC), pH, and turbidity change with tire size. As tire shred size increases, the results illustrated a decrease in TOC (from 22.7 to 3.1 ppm) and turbidity (from 254 to 99 NTU). Continuous flow column tests were conducted on tire shreds and showed improved water quality (TOC, turbidity, and iron) with time. However, pause flow column tests showed reduced water quality, which implies that placement of a tire embankment below the water table where ponding can occur may reduced water quality. TGA tests were also conducted to determine the thermal stability of tire shreds. In general, tire shreds are stable up to temperatures of 200°C. This indicates that other mechanisms may be attributed to the exothermic reactions, which occurred in tire fills.
Biochemical and toxicologic studies of Rhodamine B and 3,6-Diaminofluoran

Abstract 3,6-Diaminofluoran, the ultimate metabolite of Rhodamine B (tetraethyl-3,6-diaminofluoran) exerted fewer toxic effects in rats than Rhodamine B. The LD50 (intravenous) for Rhodamine B was 89.5 mg/kg compared to and LD50 of 140.0 mg/kg for 3,6-diaminofluoran by the same route. The growth of rats fed 1% Rhodamine B for 90 days was inhibited to a greater extent than that of rats fed 3,6-diaminofluoran at the same dietary level over the same period of time. Liver enlargement, the most significant abnormality at autopsy, occurred to a greater extent in the rats fed Rhodamine B. In vitro incubation studies showed that the metabolism of Rhodamine B occurred in the microsomes of liver cells and duplicated the stepwise de-ethylation process previously observed in the intact animal. Substantially all the orally ingested 3,6-diaminofluoran could be accounted for in the excreta. This indicates that the rat is unable to degrade this metabolite of Rhodamine B.
Stress intensity factors for three-dimensional cracks in functionally graded materials using enriched finite elements

A three-dimensional enriched finite-element methodology is presented to compute stress intensity factors for three-dimensional cracks contained in functionally graded materials (FGMs). A general-purpose 3D finite-element based fracture analysis program, FRAC3D, is enhanced to include this capability. First, using available solutions from the literature, comparisons have been made in terms of stresses under different loading conditions, such as uniform tensile, bending and thermal loads. Mesh refinement studies are also performed. The fracture solutions are obtained for edge cracks in an FGM strip and surface cracks in a finite-thickness FGM plate and compared with existing solutions in the literature. Further analyses are performed to study the behavior of stress intensity factor near the free surface where crack front terminates. It is shown that three-dimensional enriched finite elements provide accurate and efficient fracture solutions for three-dimensional cracks contained in functionally graded materials.
Rates of protein synthesis in explanted embryonic chick lens epithelia: Differential stimulation of δ-crystallin synthesis

Abstract Cells in the central region of 6-day-old embryonic chick lens epithelia display morphological and biochemical changes, when cultured in medium supplemented with fetal calf serum, comparable to those of lens fiber cells differentiating in vivo . In the present study the rates of synthesis of total protein and of δ-crystallin were quantitated during the first day of culture by measuring (1) 3 H-valine incorporation into bulk proteins and into δ-crystallin (isolated by quantitative immunoprecipitation), (2) the specific radioactivity of picomolar amounts of intracellular valine (determined by analysis of the 14 C-dansyl-derivative of 3 H-valine), (3) the amount of protein degradation occurring during the labeling period (estimated by “pulse-chase” experiments with cycloheximide), and (4) the number of cells in the explants (counted following dispersal with trypsin-EDTA). The results showed that total protein synthesis increased 1.7-fold per cell during the first 24 hrs in vitro . In contrast, δ-crystallin synthesis increased 2.8-fold per cell during this time. These experiments establish that δ-crystallin synthesis is differentially stimulated in epithelia cultured in serum-supplemented medium, and provide the basis for quantitative analysis of the mechanism controlling differential protein synthesis during lens fiber differentiation in vitro .
Neuropeptide Y- and peptide YY-containing colonic cells increase with ageing in male rats.

Abstract Colonic mucosal cells are known to contain several neuropeptides. The distribution of various peptidecontaining cells in the colon and their possible modulation by aging and diet are unknown. We quantitated various peptide-containing cells from male Lobund-Wistar rat colon at 2, 22, 28, 30 and 33 months of age using indirect immunohistochemical techniques for several peptides including: neuropeptide Y, peptide YY, somatostatin, and chromogranin A. Four diets, varying in total calories and fat content, were examined. Serum gastrin was quantified by RIA at 2 and 33 months. Only NPY-, PYY- and SOM-positive cells were found in the colon. The number per crypt of neuropeptide Y-positive (0.55 ± 0.04 at 2 months vs 0.80 ± 0.22 at 33 months, P = 0.015) and peptide YY-positive cells increased with age. Staining for somatostatin and chromogranin, a marker for all enterochromaffin (EC) cells, revealed no change with aging. Diet did not influence the numbers of any peptide-containing cell. Serum gastrin was not different between the groups. A specific increase in NPY- and PYY-positive cells occurs in the aged rat colon. The extent to which this change may be related to age-related colonic dysmotility seen in elderly humans is worthy of exploration.
Refractive Indices and Surface Tensions of Binary Mixtures of Isoamyl Acetate, Ethyl Caproate, Ethyl Benzoate, Isoamyl Butyrate, Ethyl Phenylacetate, and Ethyl Caprylate with Ethanol at (288.15, 298.15, 308.15, and 318.15) K

Refractive indices and surface tensions for six binary mixtures formed by the flavor esters (isoamyl acetate, ethyl caproate, ethyl benzoate, isoamyl butyrate, ethyl phenylacetate, and ethyl caprylate) with ethanol over the whole composition range were measured at four different temperatures (288.15, 298.15, 308.15, and 318.15) K and atmospheric pressure. Refractive indices were measured using a digital Abbe-type refractometer. Surface tensions were determined using the Wilhelmy-plate method. From experimental data, deviations in the refractive index Δn were calculated both on a mole fraction basis and on a volume fraction basis. The deviations in the molar refraction ΔR and the deviations in the surface tension Δσ were calculated on a mole fraction basis. The binary data of these deviations were correlated as a function of the mole fraction using the Redlich−Kister equation.
Immigration, poverty and socioeconomic inequality

How does immigration affect poverty trends and socioeconomic inequality? How are the children of immigrants integrated into American society? What role do public policies play in shaping the experi...
Photoproduction search for dipion resonances in the mass range from 1360 to 1780 MeV

Abstract A search was conducted for dipion resonances in the mass range 1360–1780 MeV photoproduced in the forward direction from a carbon target. No evidence for dipion resonances was found.
GH/GHRH axis in HIV lipodystrophy

Approximately half of patients with HIV-infection develop abnormal body fat distribution, characterized by increased abdominal, breast, and dorsocervical adiposity and decreased fat in the limbs and face in association with antiretroviral therapy. Changes in fat distribution are associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and increased cardiovascular risk in patients with HIV lipodystrophy. Growth hormone secretion is reduced and responses to standardized stimulation testing altered, suggesting relative growth hormone deficiency in this population. Growth hormone secretion is characterized by normal pulse frequency, but decreased pulse amplitude, pulse width, and trough GH levels compared to weight matched, non-HIV-infected patients. Abnormalities in GH secretion are strongly associated with body composition and metabolic abnormalities in patients with HIV lipodystrophy, particularly with increased visceral fat and elevated free fatty acids. Increased somatostatin tone and decreased ghrelin concentrations may also contribute to reduced GH levels. Administration of exogenous GH or growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) to normalize growth hormone concentrations is effective to reduce visceral fat and improve lipid parameters in HIV-infected patients. Treatment with supraphysiologic GH is limited by side effects and exacerbation of insulin resistance, whereas administration of physiologic doses of GH demonstrates more modest treatment effects but fewer adverse effects. Initial studies of GHRH also show significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with potentially fewer adverse effects. GHRH may be particularly useful to normalize GH dynamics in patients with HIV lipodystrophy by increasing endogenous GH pulse height, GH pulse width, and trough GH levels, while preserving the negative feedback of IGF-I on pituitary GH secretion.
The effect of a transverse shear acting on the edge of a circular cutout in a simply supported circular cylindrical shell

First, the solution to the problem of a simply supported circular cylindrical shell (without a cutout) subjected to a circumferential segmental line load at the middle of the shell is derived. Next, the negatives of the stress resultants and stress couples at a given radius ϱ0, obtained from this solution, are combined with a transverse shear force to form the edge conditions for a circular cylindrical shell containing a circular cutout with radius ϱ0. The desired solution is finally obtained by superposing the above two solutions. The convergence of the series, obtained in the first part, is improved for the complete region near and on the segmental line load. Numerical results are presented.
Prediction of Failures of Low-Pressure Steam Turbine Disks

Localized corrosion phenomena, including pitting corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and corrosion fatigue, are the principal causes of corrosion-induced damage in electric power-generating facilities and typically result in more than 50% of the unscheduled outages. In this paper, the authors describe a deterministic method for predicting localized corrosion damage in low-pressure steam turbine disks downstream of the Wilson line, where a condensed, thin electrolyte layer exists on the steel disk surfaces. The calculations show that the initiation and propagation of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is not very sensitive to the oxygen content of the steam, but is sensitive to the conductivity of the condensed liquid layer and the stresses (residual and operational) that the disk experiences in service.
Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics by Matthew Wilhelm Kapell and John Shelton Lawrence, Editors: Book Reviews

Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics Matthew Wilhelm Kapell and John Shelton Lawrence, Editors. New York: Peter Lang, 2006. Volume 14 in the Popular Culture & Everyday Life Series. With a new scholarly history of ''writer-director-producer'' George Lucas's cinematic space empire long overdue, Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics promises at last to get to the bottom of the most profitable American storytelling business of the last thirty years. On its face, little about the Star Wars realm is familiar, but the film, television, and print works in its "expanded universe" have proven remarkably successful at stroking the egos of Earthlings, for whom Lucas's galaxy "far, far away," stewarded by a benevolent sect of monastic "Jedi Knights," often seems preferable to our own. The title of this new, irresistible anthology, though, suggests slightly more business history than editors Matthew Kapell and John Lawrence are prepared to provide; short, autobiographical chapters on toy merchandising punctuate extended literary criticism of the six Star Wars films and their popular reception. This reception, of course, has been mammoth. Steeped in the mythic archetypes of Joseph Campbell and borrowing images from various popular entertainments, the original Star Wars film trilogy of 1977-1983 enflamed imaginations with stories of individual empowerment, "redemptive violence," and what (according to Homer Simpson) really brings Americans into movie theaters: revenge fantasies. (The second "prequel" trilogy of 1999-2005 made piles of cash but attracted fewer converts.) This collection of seventeen essays examines both eras, but leans heavily on the most recent additions to Lucas's "sacred canon," bringing traditional analytical modes up to date. A collective fantasy none treat as real but many respect, the six Star Wars films are amenable to the kind of laborious textual analysis customarily reserved for religious texts. The first trilogy's story of a bored teenager goaded into political rebellion by a telepathic space hippie struck multiple chords in 1970s America; a less inspiring story of an interstellar democracy's descent into despotism enriched (or muddied) the later films. Of course, the Devil can cite Scripture to suit his own purposes, and so rich is the Star Wars galaxy in familiar mythologies, evocative visuals, and bombastic poetry that even the most improbable interpretations ring at least partly true. As with any creed, this new anthology reminds the reader, acolytes have selectively reinterpreted Star Wars to suit their own personal beliefs. …
EFFECTIVENESS OF PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY AND STENTING AS A PRIMARY TREATMENT OPTION TO MANAGE TRANSPLANT RENAL ARTERY STENOSIS: A SINGLE–CENTER EXPERIENCE

Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a significant risk for renal transplantation that can lead to uncontrolled hypertension and/or renal dysfunction with possible allograft loss. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTA) is the primary treatment in patients (pts) with TRAS. The
Low birth weight as a determinant of infectious disease mortality: a methodological evaluation

Low birthweight (LBW) is cited as an important determinant of infectious disease mortality during infancy, both in developed and developing countries. We applied methodological standards to evaluate the scientific validity and clinical applicability of epidemiological studies of this relationship. Three published studies, all reporting an elevation of the risk of infectious disease mortality in infants born with LBW, were identified. Noteworthy methodological deficiencies found in one or more studies included failure to obtain objective data about birthweight and gestational age for a high proportion of study subjects, lack of explicit criteria for assigning causes of death, failure to safeguard against biases in assessment of cause of death and inadequate control for potential confounding variables. In addition, clinical application of the results of these studies was limited by lack of exploration of the roles of preterm birth vs. small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth, as well as by inattention to the role of congenital anomalies, in explaining the elevated risk. Although our evaluation does not necessarily negate the results of these studies, the failure of any of the studies to comply with all of the standards highlights the need for further research to provide credible evidence regarding the presence and strength of a relationship between LBW and infectious disease mortality in both developed and developing countries.
Expedited computed tomography perfusion and angiography in acute ischemic stroke: a feasibility study.

Abstract Background Acute ischemic stroke diagnosis and treatment are among the most challenging in Emergency Medicine. Perfusion computed tomography (CTP) can increase the sensitivity for detecting ischemic stroke and, especially with the addition of CT angiography (CTA), improve decision-making regarding thrombolytic therapy compared to non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) alone. However, because acute stroke protocols do not generally include procedures for multimodal imaging, they are not commonly performed. In addition, there is concern that additional studies could delay or preclude therapy in patients otherwise eligible for thrombolytic therapy. Objectives To demonstrate the feasibility of perfusion CTP and CTA in addition to NCCT of the brain in the emergency assessment of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Starting January 2008, multimodal (CTP and CTA) imaging was added to NCCT in the Emergency Department (ED) initial assessment of patients with stroke of ≤ 5 h duration. Over the subsequent 9 months, we measured the time from ED arrival to imaging and to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment and compared these times to patients evaluated with CT alone. Results From January to October 2008, 95 patients had CTP and CTA studies in addition to NCCT for acute ischemic stroke. There were no differences between the average time to CT study or to rt-PA treatment between patients evaluated with multimodal CT imaging and patients assessed with NCCT alone. Conclusions Combining CTP and CTA with NCCT is feasible and does not adversely increase the time to CT imaging or rt-PA treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Improving CO2 selectivity in polymerized room-temperature ionic liquid gas separation membranes through incorporation of polar substituents

Abstract Solid, polymer membranes fabricated from room-temperature ionic liquid monomers containing oligo(ethylene glycol) or nitrile-terminated alkyl substituents tethered to imidazolium cations were found to exhibit ideal CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separation factors significantly greater than those with comparable length n-alkyl substituents, with similar CO2 permeability. Polymers containing these functional groups exhibited CO2/N2 gas separation performance exceeding the “upper bound” of a “Robeson Plot”.
A comparison of peripheral blood stem cell apheresis using the Fenwal CS3000 Plus and COBE Spectra.

We have compared the leukapheresis products collected on the Fenwal CS3000 Plus and COBE Spectra in a well-controlled patient population. While statistically significant differences were found, i.e. in product hematocrit, volume, number of granulocytes and platelets collected, these are not felt to be physiologically important. Similar efficiency in collecting mononuclear cells and colony forming unit assay results indicate that each instrument is capable of harvesting hematopoietic progenitor cells from peripheral blood.
Outside the World of Tomorrow New York Labor and the Public Sphere in the 1939–1940 New York World’s Fair

This paper analyzes the 1939–1940 New York World’s Fair as a conflicted site of public-sphere formation, and the repercussions of these conflicts on organized labor in New York. Conceived within th...
Electron optics of an electron-beam lithographic system

This paper describes the electron optics of a practical scanning electron-beam lithographic system (EL1) that provides high-volume direct wafer exposure. The throughput limitation inherent in serial exposure is greatly reduced by exposing entire pattern segments with a shaped beam. The shaped-beam concept represents a combination of scanning and projection methods. Twenty-five image points are exposed simultaneously to increase the spot current accordingly over that of a Gaussian round-beam system that exposes one image point at a time. The higher total current could lead to intensified Coulomb interaction between beam electrons, causing excessive Boersch effect and additional aberrations. However, tbe imaging and deflection methods described here are shown, by theoretical and experimental means, to reduce both the effects of Coulomb interaction and the total aberration of the system. This results in improvement of the beam current and field coverage compared with those found in conventional systems.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Risk of Incident Stroke in Community-Living Adults

Background and Purpose—Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a hormone that regulates phosphorus and vitamin D metabolism. Elevated FGF23 concentrations are associated with excess risk of cardiovascular disease. Associations of FGF23 with stroke outcomes are less clear. Methods—Using a case–cohort study design, we examined the association of baseline plasma FGF23 concentrations with incident stroke in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a cohort of black and white adults aged ≥45 years. FGF23 was measured in 615 participants who developed incident stroke (cases) and in 936 participants randomly selected from the REGARDS cohort (comparison subcohort). Results—In multivariable-adjusted models, higher calcium and phosphorus concentrations, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and higher urine albumin excretion were independently associated with higher FGF23. There was no statistically significant association of FGF23 with risk of all-cause stroke in Cox models ...
Family selection and child care experiences: implications for studies of child outcomes

Studies of the impact of child care experiences on child outcomes must consider family selection factors because children from more advantaged families tend to attend higher quality child care and are more likely to be in center care than children from less advantaged families. Although this issue is widely recognized, developmentalists and economists have used different statistical methods when testing whether child care experiences are related to child outcomes and have drawn different conclusions from their analyses. This paper discusses some of the family selection issues that should be considered in child care research and provides empirical evidence demonstrating why each issue should be considered. These issues include whether causal inferences can be made from observational studies and the impact on conclusions from regression analyses that include highly correlated measures of child care experiences, nonrepresentative samples, and family covariates with bi-directional effects on child care quality.
The role of ciliated protozoa in pelagic freshwater ecosystems.

The abundance and biomass of ciliates are both strongly related to lake trophic status as measured by chlorophylla concentrations. Taxonomic replacements occur with increasing eutrophication such that large-bodied forms (predominantly oligotrichs) are progressively replaced by smaller-bodied ciliates (mainly scuticociliates). Highly acidic lakes display a more pronounced dominance of large-bodied forms when contrasted with less acidic lakes of comparable trophy. Community structure of ciliate populations is determined largely by lake trophy with acidic oligotrophic systems being characterized by reduced diversity and species richness compared with hypereutrophic systems. The temporal and spatial distribution of small ( 100μm) meroplanktonic ciliates enter the water column during midsummer after the development of thermal stratification and associated profundal deoxygenation. Laboratory studies indicate that large zooplankton (crustaceans) are capable of utilizing ciliates as a food source, but there is little direct evidence from field studies documenting this trophic link. Ciliates can be voracious grazers of both bacterioplankton and phytoplankton, and each species has a distinct range of preferred particle size which is a function of both mouth size and morphology. Myxotrophic ciliates may be important components in some plankton communities, particularly during periods of nutrient limitation or after their displacement from the benthos of eutrophic lakes. Evidence regarding the importance of planktonic ciliated protozoa in nutrient regeneration and as intermediaries in energy flow is discussed.
MBA Students’ Workplace Writing: Implications for Business Writing Pedagogy and Workplace Practice

Employers frequently complain about the state of their employees’ writing skills. Much of the current research on this subject explores workplace writing skills from the employer’s perspective. How...
Analysis of Idaho fire service education

Becoming a career fire fighter in the state of Idaho requires specialized knowledge and training. Fire science education at Idaho colleges and universities is available only to people who are affiliated with a fire department. Law enforcement curriculum, on the other hand, is available to any interested persons. A student in law enforcement can attend the Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) academy or participate in classes in one of Idaho's institutions for higher education. There are no fire academies in Idaho. Applicants wanting to become professional fire fighters in Idaho are required to compete with applicants from other states; many of whom have had prior fire education and training. Resident Idaho fire fighter applicants are at a disadvantage when applying for Idaho fire fighting positions. Because of this apparent need, I surveyed the Idaho fire chiefs, using a research instrument I developed in a graduate field research class. I wrote the research instrument to determine the educational needs of the Idaho fire service. The College of Southern Idaho (CSI) and the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) were the recipients of this survey. This report, Analysis of Idaho Fire Service Education, describes that research process from beginning to end.
The geography of an interminable election: Bush v. Gore, 2000

Abstract Republican Bush trailed Democrat Gore by over 500,000 popular votes in the 2000 presidential election. But Bush narrowly edged Gore in the Electoral College to win the U.S. presidency. Several states, including Florida, were decided by less than 2.5% of popular votes. Maps of popular votes at county level and electoral votes at state level show greater support for Bush in the South and West, and greater support for Gore in metropolitan centres.
Rate of absorption of amino acids from the small intestine in man.

Summary(1) By means of intestinal intubation in man the absorption rate of hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed protein from the jejunum has been estimated. (2) Most of the nitrogen of a 4 to 5% solution of casein and gelatin is absorbed 40 to 50 minutes after its introduction directly into the small intestine. (3) The nitrogen of an amino acid mixture (hydrolyzed casein) of similar concentration is fairly completely absorbed 15 to 25 minutes after its administration in the same manner.
Hydrodynamic cleaning of a viscous film from the inside of a long tube

A simple fluid dynamic model is developed which predicts the thinning rate of a viscous film of liquid, in contact with the smooth interior surface of a long cylindrical tube, due to the shearing action of a turbulent flow of an immiscible fluid through the tube. Experiments indicate the degree to which the model provides an accurate means of predicting viscous film removal from the tube. Similar experiments performed with electrochemically roughened tubes elucidate the limitation of this cleaning process due to surface roughness. The observed limitation is consistent with an analysis based on numerical solutions of the equations for shear flow over a rough surface.
Substitutionsreaktionen über Radikalanionen

In diesem Aufsatz wird ein neuartiger Substitutionsprozes am gesattigten Kohlenstoffatom beschrieben. Diese Substitutionen, die als Kettenreaktionen uber Radikalanionen und Radikale als Zwischenstufen ablaufen, bieten sich als bemerkenswerte praparative Methode an: Sie finden unter milden Bedingungen statt, ergeben reine Produkte in ausgezeichneten Ausbeuten und sind, im Gegensatz zu SN2-Reaktionen, recht unempfindlich gegenuber sterischer Hinderung. Solche uber Radikalanionen verlaufende Prozesse eignen sich daher besonders gut zur Darstellung hochverzweigter Verbindungen. Viele anorganische und organische Anionen und sogar Amine gehen diese Substitutionsreaktionen ein. Benzyl- und Cumyl-Derivate sowie rein aliphatische und heterocyclische Verbindungen gehoren zu den Systemen, die nach diesem Elektronen-Ubertragungsmechanismus substitutiert werden konnen. Es ist interessant, das z.B. Nitro-, Azid-, Sulfon- und Aryloxy-Gruppen, die bei SN2-Reaktionen nicht abgangsfahig sind, nach dem Radikalanion-Radikal-Mechanismus schon bei Raumtemperatur leicht vom gesattigten Kohlenstoffatom verdrangt werden.
The preparation of some dialkylcyanoacetamides

A general procedure for the synthesis of dialkylcyanoacetamides and methods for the preparation and characterization of eight cyanoacetamides are described.
The development of focusing optics for the hard-X-ray region

Abstract Grazing-incidence optics has revolutionized soft-X-ray astronomy yet the scientifically important hard-X-ray region has gone relatively unexplored at high sensitivity and fine angular scales. This situation is now changing with several flight-ready balloon-borne focusing telescopes and planned satellite-borne observatories. This review discusses some of the developments in mirror and focal plane technologies that are making these payloads possible.
Hemophilus influenzae septic arthritis in adults

Hemophilus influenzae is an important but uncommon cause of adult septic arthritis. We report two cases and review 23 previously published cases. Two-thirds of the patients had systemic diseases, local factors, or both which predisposed them to septic arthritis. The acute disease was monarticular in 48%, polyarticular in 24%, and accompanied by tenosynovitis and/or bursitis in 28% of cases. Extraarticular sites of H. influenzae infection were found in 60% of cases. These sites represented either likely portals of bacterial entry or foci of infection resulting from hematogenous dissemination of H. influenzae. The most characteristic synovial fluid finding was the presence of Gram-negative pleomorphic microorganism. However, misinterpretation of the Gram-stained smear was common and led to an erroneous initial diagnosis in several instances. Prompt sterilization of the infected synovial fluid was the rule once an appropriate antimicrobial agent was administered. A favorable outcome was reported in 88% of cases.
(THFMgNPh)6 as an imide transfer agent: synthesis of titanium and zirconium imido complexes

Reaction of the magnesium imide (THFMgNPh)6 (1) with either (η5-C5H5)2TiCl2 or (η5H5TiCl3 affords the μ-imido complexes (η5-C5H5(Cl)Ti(μ-NPh)2Ti(η5-C5H5)2 (2) or [(η5-C5H5)(Cl)Ti(μ-NPh)]2 (3) in good yield. In constrast, the reaction of (η5-C5H52ZrCl2 with 1 exclusively leads to [(η5-C5H5)2Zr(μ-NPh)]2 (4). The amido complex (η5H5)2Zr(Cl)NHPh·0.5 toluene (5) was also isolated from this latter reaction in low yield. The crystal structures of 2, 3 and 5 were determined. These results demonstrate that 1 is an effective and useful transfer agent for the [NPh]2− moiety. Crytallography data with Cu K α radiation (λ = 1.554178 A) for 2, and Mo K α radiation (λ = 0.771073 A) for 3 and 5, at 130 K: 2, a = 7.986(6) A;, b = 16.576(2) A, c = 17.184(2) A;, Z = 4, orthorhombic, space group P212111;3, a = 8.677(4) A, b = 17.032(10) A, Z = 4, orthorhombic, space group Pbca; 5, a=6.564(3) A, b = 19.869(9) A, c = 13.440(4) A, β = 101.12(3)°, Z = 4, monoclinic, space group P21/n.
Action of DCCD on the H+/O stoichiometry of mitoplast cytochrome c oxidase.

Abstract The mechanistic H + O ejection stoichiometry of the cytochrome c oxidase reaction in rat liver miloplasts is close to 4 at level flow when the reduced oxidase is pulsed with O 2 . Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) up to 30 nmol mg protein fails to influence the rate of electron flow through the mitoplast oxidase, but inhibits H + ejection. The inhibition of H + ejection appears to be biphasic; ejection of 2–3 H + per O is completely inhibited by very low DCCD, whereas inhibition of the remaining H + ejection requires very much higher concentrations of DCCD. This effect suggests the occurrence of two types of H + pumps in the native cytochrome oxidase of mitoplasts.
Myers' theorem with density

We provide generalizations of theorems of Myers and others to Riemannian manifolds with density and provide a minor correction to Morgan [8].
Giant Cell Tumor of Bone: Risk Factors for Recurrence

Background Many surgeons treat giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) with intralesional curettage. Wide resection is reserved for extensive bone destruction where joint preservation is impossible or when expendable sites (eg, fibular head) are affected. Adjuvants such as polymethylmethacrylate and phenol have been recommended to reduce the risk of local recurrence after intralesional surgery. However, the best treatment of these tumors and risk factors for recurrence remain controversial.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is associated with an increased exposure to ionizing radiation

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery provides for a reliable and sustainable solution to the obesity epidemic. The gold standard bariatric surgical procedure is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Assessment of this population preoperatively and work-up of postoperative complications often includes radiographic evaluation. Repeated exposure to radiation is not without complication. Objective Assess the association between the RYGB and exposure to ionizing radiation. Setting Academic medical center. Methods Patients were identified by their ICD-9 code as having had a RYGB at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) from 2002 to 2012. The number of abdominal and pelvis (A/P) computed tomography (CT) scans performed was determined and converted into an effective dose (ED) and expressed as milliSeiverts (mSv) to illustrate the biologic effects of radiation. Results From 2002 to 2012, 1789 primary laparoscopic RYGBs were completed. Fifty-five revisional operations were completed on 51 patients. Of these, 38 had both their index and second operation at the MGH. A total of 1065 A/P CTs were completed in the laparoscopic RYGB population (mean = .6), and 106 A/P CTs were done in the revisional surgery cohort (mean = 2.8). The mean ED of radiation was 56.1 mSv and 19.5 mSv for the index and revisional populations, respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrated the significant cumulative radiation exposure attributable to A/P CTs. This exposes the patient to a potential increased risk of malignancy as well as imposing a financial burden on the healthcare system. The findings of this study raise the awareness of an increased risk of radiation exposure for this population and the necessity of creation of a dedicated algorithm for the mindful utilization of CT imaging.