cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of opioid users undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse

Understanding demographic and opioid utilization patterns of preoperative opioid users compared with opioid-naive patients undergoing surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) better informs opioid prescribing. A cohort of preoperative opioid users undergoing surgery for POP from 1 January 2012 through 30 May 2017 was identified. Electronic medical records were utilized to obtain pain scores and prescription data. The cohort was organized by surgical approach, number of concomitant procedures, and patient age. These factors were then matched to pain scores, opioid quantity prescribed at discharge, and subsequent refills. Pain scores and opioid use were evaluated for correlation. Results were then compared with similar data previously published for opioid-naive patients undergoing surgical treatment of POP. Preoperative opioid users were younger (55.5 [14.7] vs 59.5 [12.7]; p = 0.002), of higher body mass index (BMI; 29.2 [5.4] vs 28.6 [10.3]; p = 0.04), and less likely Caucasian (90.3% vs 95.9%; p = 0.002) than opioid-naive patients. After matching for these differences, opioid users reported higher pain scores (3.5 [2.2] vs 2.6 [1.8]; p = <0.0001), but received similar opioid quantities (324.4 [395] vs 296 [158] oral morphine equivalents [OME]; p = 0.27; 16.8% vs 10.4% refill rates; p = 0.07). In preoperative opioid users, neither surgical approach nor the number of concomitant procedures influenced pain scores. Increasing mean pain scores (1.8 [2.0] to 4.2 [2.4]; p < 0.002) and OME prescribed (226 [170.2] to 541 [902.5] p = 0.056; 0% to 22.2% refill rates; p = 0.02), were seen with decreasing patient age. Pain scores correlated directly with the opioid amount prescribed. Patient age and preoperative opioid utilization should be factored into urogynecological postoperative opioid-prescribing protocols.
Toward Nuclear Minimalism? Minimum Deterrence and Its Alternatives

In this chapter, we ask whether the United States might prefer a strategic posture of nuclear minimalism. Nuclear minimalism offers a middle way, between nuclear abstinence and nuclear plenty. Nuclear minimalism would essentially accept the current New START-compliant US and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals as points of reference going forward. In a best case, these limits would be extended to 2026 by mutual agreement and perhaps further into the future. A stabilized Russian-American strategic nuclear relationship at New START or lower levels is the necessary condition for other nuclear power cooperation on arms limitation, nonproliferation and nuclear risk reduction. The possibility of moving from the current US-Russian plateau of mutual assured destruction as the basis for their nuclear relationship, toward minimum deterrence or some other alternative, is very low indeed in the current (2019) poisoned climate of political relations between Washington and Moscow. Nevertheless, an exploratory discussion of nuclear-strategic stability based on lower numbers of weapons is important, not only in case political relations take a more permissive turn, but also because the idea of minimum deterrence might be extended to include other nuclear weapons states.
Chapter 9 – Complex Modulation and Demodulation

Publisher Summary This chapter shows the techniques of complex modulation and demodulation through the mathematical equations. Modulation as a process is then defined which are later mapped with the symbols. The use of modulation constellations leads to us to explore the data rates, in a given bandwidth and understand the noise level, and the errors in them. The attempt to understand the signals with respect to time have also been plotted which lead to issue of spectrum. It tries to check the frequency spectrum which depends on symbol rate and impulse response. The raised cosine filter is discussed which have been plotted on roll-off factors. The transmitter and receiver aspect of digital communications are probed and how the presence of noise affects are critically analyzed.
New progress in the treatment of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in infants and children, which is very easy to metastasis and its malignant degree is very high.Because of its clinical differences, so far treatment of neuroblastoma is still difficult.Currently comprehensive therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplantation, 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy, biological therapy and immune therapy as well as target therapy dominant the treatment of this disease, and introduce the some of the treatment protocols for this disease. Key words: Neuroblastoma; Surgery; Chemotherapy; Infant
Sphere decompositions of hypercubes

For d ≡ 1 or 3 (mod 6), the 2-skeleton of the d-dimensional hypercube is decomposed into the union of pairwise face-disjoint isomorphic 2-complexes, each a topological sphere. If d = 5n, then such a decomposition can be achieved, but with non-isomorphic spheres.
Coordinated Community Responses to Domestic Violence: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Coordinated community responses (CCRs) are a commonly used intervention in the field of domestic violence (DV), yet research findings on CCRs to DV have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was...
Laminated magnetic film for micro magnetic flux concentrators

The effect of a laminated structure on Conetic films made with sputtering deposition is investigated for application in micro magnetic flux concentrators. It is demonstrated that even with the total magnetic thickness being several micrometers, laminated magnetic films can exhibit significantly reduced coercivity and saturation field compared to single-layer films with the same total magnetic thickness. On the micrometer level, reduction of stress and magnetostriction should be the major reason for significantly improved softness of laminated Conetic films, while cross-layer magnetostatic coupling is also helpful. The improved softness is available not only at room temperature but also at low temperatures. Therefore, with laminated micro magnetic flux concentrators applied in magnetic sensors, the improved softness due to the laminated structure should yield improved reversibility and sensitivity of magnetic sensors at room temperature or low temperatures.
Primary Cleft Palate Repair Among Older-Age Children and Adolescents in the United States.

Purpose Older age cleft palate (CP) repair in international settings has been associated with increased surgical morbidity. This study assesses the prevalence and risks associated with late-age CP repair (age > 5 years) in the United States. Methods Primary CP repair patients less than the age of 18 years were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement pediatric database from 2012 to 2018. Total postoperative complications, readmissions, reoperations, duration of surgery, and length of stay were recorded. T-tests and χ2 analyses were used to compare variables between age groups 0-5, 6-10, and 11-17. Results A total of 10,022 primary CP procedures were identified from 2012 to 2018, of which 868 (8.6%) received repair at age > 5 years. Hispanic patients constituted a larger proportion of CP repair from ages 11 to 17 years than repair at other ages (P Conclusions Many children in the United States received primary CP repair after the age of 5 years likely due to late treatment of submucosal clefts or delayed care among international immigrants/adoptees. Old age procedures were not associated with increased short-term surgical morbidity in comparison with surgery at earlier time points. The causes and implications of older age primary surgery warrant further study.
Mesenchymal stromal cell-secreted CCL2 promotes antibacterial defense mechanisms through increased antimicrobial peptide expression in keratinocytes.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from both humans and horses, which represent a clinically relevant translation animal model for human cutaneous wound healing, were recently found to possess antimicrobial properties against planktonic bacteria, and in the case of equine MSCs, also against biofilms. This, together with previous findings that human and equine MSCs promote angiogenesis and wound healing, makes these cells an attractive approach to treat infected cutaneous wounds in both species. The anti-biofilm activities of equine MSC, via secretion of cysteine proteases, have only been demonstrated in vitro, thus lacking information about in vivo relevance. Moreover, the effects of the equine MSC secretome on resident skin cells have not yet been explored. The goals of this study were to (a) test the efficacy of the MSC secretome in a physiologically relevant ex vivo equine skin biofilm explant model and (b) explore the impact of the MSC secretome on the antimicrobial defense mechanisms of resident skin cells. Our salient findings were that secreted factors from equine MSCs significantly decreased viability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in mature biofilms in this novel skin biofilm explant model. Moreover, we demonstrated that equine MSCs secrete CCL2 that increases the antimicrobial activity of equine keratinocytes by stimulating expression of antimicrobial peptides. Collectively, these data contribute to our understanding of the MSC secretome's antimicrobial properties, both directly by killing bacteria and indirectly by stimulating immune responses of surrounding resident skin cells, thus further supporting the value of MSC secretome-based treatments for infected wounds.
GEM: An Efficient Entity Matching Framework for Geospatial Data

Identifying various mentions of the same real-world locations is known as spatial entity matching. GEM is an end-to-end Geospatial EM framework that matches polygon geometry entities in addition to point geometry type. Blocking, feature vector creation, and classification are the core steps of our system. GEM comprises of an efficient and lightweight blocking technique, GeoPrune, that uses the geohash encoding mechanism. We re-purpose the spatial proximality operators from Apache Sedona to create semantically rich spatial feature vectors. The classification step in GEM is a pluggable component, which consumes a unique feature vector and determines whether the geolocations match or not. We conduct experiments with three classifiers upon multiple large-scale geospatial datasets consisting of both spatial and relational attributes. GEM achieves an F-measure of 1.0 for a point x point dataset with 176k total pairs, which is 42% higher than a state-of-the-art spatial EM baseline. It achieves F-measures of 0.966 and 0.993 for the point x polygon dataset with 302M total pairs, and the polygon x polygon dataset with 16M total pairs respectively.
Child and state factors in positive permanency: a multi-level survival analysis

Positive permanency, or leaving foster care to a permanent family setting, is a priority for children in care. Yet, there are barriers to achieving permanency, particularly among children of color....
Prostaglandins and Related Eicosanoids in Insects

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a historical and comprehensive review of the understanding of arachidonic acid and its oxygenated metabolites in insects and other arthropods. This chapter discusses prostaglandis and eicosanoids in insects. Eicosanoid is an umbrella term for all of the biologically active metabolites of arachidonic and two other C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Certain PUFAs are transformed into eicosanoids, which mediate a bewildering array of biological activities, many of which centre around signalling or regulating events within cells. The chapter discusses models of eicosanoid action. An appreciation of the roles of eicosanoids, such as prostaglandins (PGs) and related compounds, in various animal groups entails a broadly comparative physiology. Lying amid nutrition and physiology, arachidonic acid oxygenation involves three major biochemical pathways. The products of each major pathway are often themselves substrates of other pathways. The result is a plethora of oxygenated metabolites, each with a singular potential to exert a potent biological effect on cell function.
Rocket Engine Heat Transfer and Material Technology for Commercial Applications

Liquid fueled rocket engine combustion, heat transfer, and material technology have been utilized in the design and development of compact combustion and heat exchange equipment intended for application in the commercial field. An initial application of the concepts to the design of a compact steam generator to be utilized by electrical utilities for the production of peaking power is described.
Experimental comparison of adaptive vs. static thumbnail displays

Keyword search is a very important method to find information on Web sites along with link-based browsing. How an information retrieval system displays search results is very important because users spend most of their time in finding, reading and understanding retrieved information. As an application of information retrieval systems, a self-help print quality troubleshooting system was introduced. As a method to show search results, displaying thumbnails is very useful in print defect diagnosis because users don't have to read and understand complex information in text. This study compared static thumbnail(s) and adaptive thumbnails to display search results to diagnose print defects. Results showed that the one thumbnail static display was worse in terms of user performance and preference. However there was no significant difference between the three thumbnails static display and the adaptive display although the three thumbnails static display was better than the adaptive display on average.
Frost flower influence on springtime boundary-layer ozone depletion events and atmospheric bromine levels

[1] Springtime boundary layer ozone depletion events have been observed in both the Arctic and Antarctic. It has been suggested that these bromine-catalyzed depletion events may be caused by bromine released from frost flowers. We have measured the pH and ion concentrations of snow and frost flowers in the Ross Island, Antarctica area and find that if these are representative, frost flowers are unlikely to be a direct source of atmospheric bromine. The pH of the sampled frost flowers is too alkaline to support the release of molecular bromine resulting from the heterogeneous reaction of HOBr with Br ions. It is more likely that frost flowers are a source of aerosol bromine from which gas-phase bromine can be released through subsequent reactions in aerosol form or on the snow pack.
A flexibility aware budgeting for hierarchical flow timing closure

We present a new block budgeting algorithm which speeds up timing closure in timing driven hierarchical flows. After a brief description of the addressed flow, block budgeting challenges are detailed. Then, we explain why existing budgeting approaches are not adapted to fulfil these challenges. A new block budgeting algorithm is proposed. In order to derive relevant block constraints, this algorithm analyzes the design flexibility. This flexibility aware budgeting (FAB) approach is then compared to some previous ones. Experiments based on commercial EDA tools and real designs show up to 55 % reduction in hierarchical flow run time and lead to a good flow timing closure.
On modifying the weights in a modular recurrent connectionist system

A modular recurrent connectionist architecture is proposed to classify binary and continuous patterns. This system consists of three networks: one feedforward backpropagation (BP) network and two self-organization map (SOM) networks. The feedforward (basic) network is trained until a saturation error level occurs. Simultaneously, the first SOM (input control) network and the last SOM (output control) define the mapping features for the given input/output patterns. The resultant features are used by a Gaussian potential function to adjust the weights of the basic network and to classify the given patterns. >
Weibull Effective Area for Hertzian Ring Crack Initiation

Spherical or Hertzian indentation is used to characterize and guide the development of engineered ceramics under consideration for diverse applications involving contact, wear, rolling fatigue, and impact. Ring crack initiation can be one important damage mechanism of Hertzian indentation. It is caused by surface-located, radial tensile stresses in an annular ring located adjacent to and outside the Hertzian contact circle. While the maximum radial tensile stress is known to be dependent on the elastic properties of the sphere and target, diameter of the sphere, applied compressive force, and coefficient of friction, the Weibull effective area too will be affected by these parameters. However, estimations of a maximum radial tensile stress and Weibull effective area are difficult to obtain because the coefficient of friction during indentation is not known a priori. Circumventing this, the Weibull effective area expressions are derived here for the two extremes that bracket all coefficients of friction; namely (1) the classical, pure-slip frictionless case and (2) the case of an infinite coefficient of friction or pure stick.
Individuals lower in working memory capacity are particularly vulnerable to anxiety's disruptive effect on performance

Anxiety has a disruptive effect on performance in a number of domains. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individual differences in working memory (WM) capacity are related to an individual's susceptibility to anxiety's detrimental effect on performance. Fifty undergraduate students (28 females) were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, & Jacobs, 1983) to measure trait anxiety and the automated operation span task to measure WM capacity (Unsworth, Heitz, Schrock, & Engle, 2005). Then, they performed a highly demanding dual-task that consisted of a primary short-term memory task and a secondary tone-discrimination task that served as a measure of spare capacity. Anxiety and WM capacity interacted to affect performance on the auditory task so that those low in WM capacity were particularly vulnerable to anxiety's disruptive effect, whereas those high in WM capacity were buffered against anxiety's effect. These findings suggest that WM capacity may be an important factor in determining which individuals underperform on anxiety-provoking tests such as scholastic achievement tests.
FORMAL EXECUTIVE POWER: THE CONTEMPORARY PRESIDENCY

This essay examines some of the challenges to the doctrine of separation of powers posed by two facets of presidential power: the executive order and the presidential signing statement. Unilateral presidential action through executive orders calls into question the distinction between legislative and executive functions as provided in the U.S. Constitution. The innovative use of the presidential signing statement as an opportunity for the executive to declare portions of legislation to be unconstitutional also blurs the distinction between these separate branches of government. Contemporary exercise of executive power poses challenges to the Madisonian model of government and to concomitant democratic norms.
Rates of cesarean section and perinatal outcome: stillbirths

Based on their yearly clinical statistics for 1983-1989, the cesarean section and stillbirth rates at National Maternity Hospital (Dublin), where the patients are generally white, and University Hospital (Newark), where the patients are predominantly black, were compared. After adjusting for confounding factors, such as unregistered mothers admitted subsequent to fetal demise, differing rates of 2500 g group, where the respective rate at National Maternity Hospital exceeded that of University Hospital more than twice. The latter result largely derived from an almost 7-fold higher rate of intrapartum deaths in the > 2500 g weight group at National Maternity Hospital as compared to University Hospital. When projected against prevailing American statistics, which reflect a stillbirth rate about twice as high among blacks than among whites, the results suggest that the management patterns favored in Newark, including a relatively liberal cesarean section rate (17.5% versus 5.8%), affected the rate of in utero losses favorably.
Responses of consumers and food resources to a high magnitude, unpredicted flood in the upper Mississippi River basin

The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers experienced flooding in 1993 that fell outside the annual predictable flood period of spring and early summer. Flooding began in late June, peaked in late July (25 232 m3/s on the upper Mississippi and 21 240 m3/s on the Missouri) and remained at or near flood stage into October 1993. This study was performed to determine if disturbance by an unpredicted flood event would alter trophic dynamics of river–floodplain systems by creating shifts in the composition of organic matter available to consumers. The Ohio River, which did not flood during the same period, was examined for comparison. Stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen from samples collected in 1993 and 1994 were used to characterize potential food sources and determine linkages between food sources and invertebrate and fish consumers. Pairwise contrasts, performed separately for each river, indicated there were few interannual differences in δ13C and δ15N of organic matter sources and consumers. Between sample period (flood year versus normal water year) trends in both flooded rivers were similar to between-year trends observed for the Ohio River. Trophic structure of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers was similar in both years, with fine and ultra-fine transported organic matter and dissolved organic matter representing the major sources of organic matter. Overlapping isotopic signatures in the Missouri River made tracking of sources through the consumers difficult, but similarities in δ13C and δ15N between years indicated trophic structure did not change in response to the flood. The results suggest that consumers continued to rely on sources of organic matter that would be used in the absence of the unpredicted 1993 flood. It is proposed that trophic structure did not change in response to flooding in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers because both rivers exhibited the same trends observed in the Ohio River. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A ray‐propagation fast multipole algorithm

A new technique is presented for accelerating the fast multipole method, allowing rapid solution of surface integral equations for wave-scattering problems. A nonnested, ray-propagation approach is used to compute a matrix-vector multiply in O(N4/3) operations, where N is the number of unknowns in the discretized integral equation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cross-linked polyfluorene polymer precursors: Electrodeposition, PLED device characterization, and two-site co-deposition with poly(vinylcarbazole)

Electropolymerization of π-conjugated polymers is considered as an alternative method for depositing and patterning charge injection, transport, and luminescent layers in organic electronic devices. In this study, a series of novel poly(fluoren-9,9-diyl-alt-alkan-α,ω-diyl) polymers with increasing alkyl spacer lengths were synthesized and used as precursors for the deposition of conjugated polymers formed by the oxidative coupling of the fluorene units. The precursor polymers and their conjugated polymer network were characterized in solution and in film form, and their charge-transport characteristics were investigated by fabricating electroluminescent polymer light emitting diode (PLED) devices. Interesting charge carrier transport properties based on thickness and co-deposition with another precursor polymer gives the potential for optimized solid-state device performance and film processing conditions. Finally, a “two-pixel” prototype PLED was demonstrated using a sequential electrochemical co-deposit...
Electroencephalographic and Neurological Correlates of Deep Hypothermia and Circulatory Arrest in Infants

At present there is much interest in the use of surface-induced deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest in infants undergoing an open-heart procedure for repair of congenital defects. This paper presents our experience with infants who have been monitored by preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative electroencephalograms as well as by preoperative and postoperative neurological assessments. Our results indicate that young infants tolerate deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest quite well, and we therefore continue to advocate use of this procedure in operations for congenital cardiac disease.
Biochemical polymorphism in Parascaris equorum, Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati.

Abstract Vertical starch gel electrophoresis was used to resolve proteins encoded by 18 gene loci in ascaridoid nematodes. Estimates of genetic variability were made from population samples of the dog ascarid ( Toxocara canis ), cat ascarid ( Toxocara cati ), and the horse ascarid ( Parascaris equorum ). Levels of polymorphism and mean heterozygosity were high, which is not consistent with the hypothesis that the intestinal environment selects for monomorphism among endoparasites. Most observed allele frequencies conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations as tested by χ 2 goodness-of-fit, suggesting that the proteins evaluated are inherited in a Mendelian fashion and that these nematodes are mating at random. Subunit structures of the following enzymes, deduced from electrophoretic phenotypes of heterozygotes, corresponded to those of vertebrates: lactate dehydrogenase; malate dehydrogenase; 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase; phosphoglucomutase; esterase D; peptidase B; peptidase D; and mannose-6-phosphate isomerase. This observation substantiates the conservative nature of polypeptide subunit number across phylogenetically diverse groups of organisms.
Cortical processing of tactile stimuli applied in quick succession across the fingertips: temporal evolution of dipole sources revealed by magnetoencephalography.

We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) in 10 healthy human subjects to study cortical responses to tactile stimuli applied to the fingertips of digits 2–5 of the right hand. Each stimulus lasted 50 ms and was produced by air-driven elastic membranes. Four-hundred stimuli were delivered on each finger in three temporal patterns (conditions). In the “Discrete” condition, stimuli were applied to each finger repetitively with an interstimulus interval (ISI) of 1–2 s. In the “Continuous” condition, stimuli were applied to the fingers sequentially as four-stimulus trains with zero ISI and 1–2 s intervening between trains. Finally, in the “Gap” condition, stimuli were applied as in the Continuous condition but with an ISI of 50 ms. A sensation of tactile motion across fingers (digit 2 → digit 5) was reported by all subjects in the Continuous and Gap conditions. Cortical responses were extracted as single equivalent current dipoles over a period of 1 s following stimulus onset. In all three conditions, initial responses in left primary somatosensory cortex (SI) were observed ~20 to 50 ms after stimulus onset and were followed by additional left SI responses and bilateral responses in the secondary somatosensory cortex (SII). In addition, in the Continuous and Gap conditions, there was an activation of the precentral gyrus, the temporal aspects of which depended on the temporal relation of the administered stimuli, as follows. An ISI of 0 ms led to activation of the precentral gyrus shortly after the second stimulation, whereas an ISI of 50 ms led to activation of the precentral gyrus after the third stimulation. The current findings support results from previous studies on temporal activity patterns in SI and SII, verify the participation of the precentral gyrus during tactile motion perception and, in addition, reveal aspects of integration of sequential sensory stimulations over nonadjacent areas as well as temporal activity patterns in the postcentral and precentral gyri.
A new modality for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

The potential application of coagulative heating as a new modality for transurethral treatment of prostate hyperplasia is examined theoretically and experimentally. A theoretical model is developed for predicting the tissue response and the extent of thermal injury under different heating modalities such as conductive heating and direct heating using electromagnetic radiation. The theoretical model suggests that laser heating of the prostate is superior to other modalities in producing large coagulated zones of injury. The preliminary animal study using Nd:YAG laser radiation to coagulate canine prostate supports our hypothesis. The animal study results shows that deep coagulation necrosis of the prostate can be achieved by optimizing the exposure parameters.
Methylprednisolone effects upon cytochrome oxidase activity during gingival wound healing in rats.

Methylprednisolone injected intraperitoneally in rats (pharmacological doses) during a short time (1–2 days) interval activated gingival cytochrome oxidase activity at drug treated sham, and drug treated wound and distal (contralateral) non-injured sites. Gingival cytochrome oxidase was activated in drug treated sham and injured gingiva between the 5th and 7th days after drug (2 doses) initiation. Enzymatic activities in both groups declined between the 7th and 10th days toward control levels. An increase in enzymatic activity occurred within 1 day at the distal (non-injured) contralateral site in animals which received only one dose of methylprednisolone. The enzymatic activity declined between the 1st and 2nd day to control values and remained at that level for the duration of the experiment.
Health consequences of easier access to alcohol: New Zealand evidence.

Abstract We evaluate the health effects of a reduction in New Zealand's minimum legal purchase age for alcohol. Difference-in-differences (DD) estimates show a substantial increase in alcohol-related hospitalizations among those newly eligible to purchase liquor, around 24.6% (s.e. = 5.5%) for males and 22% (s.e. = 8.1%) for females. There is less evidence of an effect among ineligible younger cohorts. There is little evidence of alcohol either complementing or substituting for drugs. We do not find evidence that earlier access to alcohol is associated with learning from experience. We also present regression discontinuity estimates, but emphasize DD estimates since in a simulation of a rational addiction model DD estimates are closer than regression discontinuity estimates to the policy's true effect.
Evaluation of melanoma/skin cancer screening in Massachusetts. Preliminary results

Although screening for melanoma/skin cancer is theoretically of value, few data are available to evaluate its effectiveness or the value of a visual exam by a dermatologist as a cancer screening tool. From the 2560 persons screened for melanoma/skin cancer in Massachusetts in 1986 and 1987, the authors followed the positive screenees to determine their final diagnosis. The authors obtained information on 85% of these persons, and found nine malignant melanomas, 91 non-melanoma skin cancers, 39 dysplastic nevi, and three congenital nevi. The sensitivity of the visual exam by a dermatologist was 89% to 97% and the predictive value positive was 35% to 75% for skin cancer. The authors conclude that the yield of screening is equivalent to that of other major cancer screening efforts and that the sensitivity and predictive value of the visual examination by the dermatologist is appropriate for a cancer screening tool.
The Impact of Energy-Efficient Office Lighting Strategies on Employee Satisfaction and Productivity:

This project was designed to investigate the productivity, preferences, and affective impact of energy-efficient office lighting systems. Twenty four office employees were rotated in a counterbalan...
The “A, B and C” of Her-2 DNA vaccine development

Introduction The development of Her-2 DNA vaccine has progressed through three phases that can be categorized as phase “A”: the pursuit of Her-2 as a tumor-associated “antigen”, phase “B”: tilting the “balance” between tumor immunity and autoimmunity and phase “C”: the on-going “clinical trials”.
Assessment of the Relationship Between Perceived Safety At a Vacation Site and Destination Choice Decisions: Extending the Behavioral Decision-Making Model

This study examined the effect of perceived safety at a potential vacation destination on the reported likelihood of travel to that destination for potential travelers. Data were collected from a sample of college students and analyzed to determine if site choice was influenced by varying levels of perceived safety of the site. According to the results of the study, it appears that destination marketers, travel agencies, and the hospitality industry should be concerned with improving their images when those images are negative with regards to safety, but otherwise are unlikely to greatly alter an individual's likelihood of traveling to that destination by stressing high safety levels. Some marketing and policy strategies are suggested.
Concordance of population-based estimates of mammography screening.

Objective Estimates of adherence to mammography screening guidelines vary, in part, due to lack of consensus on defining adherence. This study estimated adherence to repeat (two successive on-time screenings) and regular screening (three or more successive screenings) and evaluated the impact of varying operational definitions and evaluation periods.
The NASA balloon program: Conventional and long duration

Abstract The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Balloon Program has continued to maintain its highly successful performance record in support of scientific ballooning. The Program has broadened its support for the ballooning community through the enhancement of current capabilities and the development of new capabilities. The long duration balloon project has continued to mature; the Antarctic long duration capability has been declared operational, and the successful conclusion of the development effort will be realized in the very near future with the completion of mid-latitude long duration capability. Recent years have seen increases in the number and complexity of remote campaigns requirements. New ground station support equipment has been implemented, the new mobile launch vehicle has became operational, and new systems have been developed to meet the increasing demands. The comprehensive research and development (R&D) effort has continued with advances being made across the spectrum of balloon related disciplines. An overview of the various aspects of the NASA Balloon Program, their progress, status, and future plans will be presented.
Spin-label studies of combining sties in antibodies to charged haptens

Abstract The spin labels of spin labeled benzoate and phenyltrimethylammonium haptens have been shownby electron spin resonance spectroscopy to immobilized by the rabbit antibodies to teh p -azobenzoate and p -azophenyltrimethylammonium groups respectively. Antibodies from individual animals showed different degrees of immobilization in the benzoate system. The anti-phenyltrimethylammonium antibodeis immobilized the spin label of the trimethylphenylammonium hapten to a lesser extent than antibenzoate antibodies immobilized the spin label of the benzoate hapten. The degree of immobilization does not necessarity parallel binding constant.
Input-to-state stabilization of linear systems with positive outputs

This paper considers the problem of stabilization of linear systems for which only the magnitudes of outputs are measured. It is shown that, if a system is controllable and observable, then one can find a stabilizing controller, which is robust with respect to observation noise (in the ISS sense).
Induction of Cyp1A in Japanese medaka exposed to carbonaceous pitches via water

Abstract The objective of these studies was to characterize hepatic Cyp1A induction by complex carbonaceous pitches both in Japanese medaka exposed via aquarium water and in cultured fish liver cells. Carbonaceous pitches were extracted with DMSO and added to aquaria water of medaka or to cultured medaka or trout liver cells, and CyplA induction was assessed by EROD assay. When medaka were exposed to different carbonaceous pitches, EROD activity was induced to different extents, and increased EROD induction was associated with increasing temperature of hydrogenation. EROD induction in cultured fish liver cells was somewhat less sensitive than that observed in vivo. These studies indicate CyplA induction in medaka can be used to detect compounds, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons, in complex samples and could be used as a biomarker for the presence of these compounds in the environment.
Antagonism of nitrous oxide antinociception in mice by intrathecally administered antisera to endogenous opioid peptides.

Previously it was demonstrated that nitrous oxide antinociception in the mouse abdominal constriction test is mediated by κ-opioid receptors. Since nitrous oxide is thought to cause the neuronal release of endogenous opioid peptide to stimulate opioid receptors, this study was designed to identify the opioid peptides involved, especially in the spinal cord, by determining whether nitrous oxide antinociception can be differentially inhibited by intrathecally (i.t.) administered antisera to different opioid peptides. Male NIH Swiss mice were pretreated i.t. with rabbit antisera to opioid peptides then exposed 24 h later to one of three different concentrations of nitrous oxide in oxygen. Dose-response curves constructed from the data indicated that the antinociceptive effect of nitrous oxide was significantly antagonized by antisera to various dynorphins (DYNs) and methionine-enkephalin (ME), but not by antiserum to β-endorphin (β-EP). The AD50 values for nitrous oxide antinociception were significantly elevated by antisera to DYNs and ME but not β-EP. These findings of this study support the hypothesis that nitrous oxide antinociception in the mouse abdominal constriction test involves the neuronal release of DYN and ME in the spinal cord.
Black milwaukee's challenge to the cycle of urban miseducation: Milwaukee's African American Immersion schools

Milwaukee’s two African American Immersion schools—public schools that infused African and African American themes into the state’s prescribed curriculum—officially opened in 1990 and 1991. Inner-c...
A deubiquitinating enzyme that disassembles free polyubiquitin chains is required for development but not growth in Dictyostelium.

Abstract Although cell differentiation usually involves synthesis of new proteins, little is known about the role of protein degradation. In eukaryotes, conjugation to ubiquitin polymers often targets a protein for destruction. This process is regulated by deubiquitinating enzymes, which can disassemble ubiquitin polymers or ubiquitin-substrate conjugates. We find that a deubiquitinating enzyme, UbpA, is required for Dictyostelium development.ubpA cells have normal protein profiles on gels, grow normally, and show normal responses to starvation such as differentiation and secretion of conditioned medium factor. However,ubpA cells have defective aggregation, chemotaxis, cAMP relay, and cell adhesion. These defects result from low expression of cAMP pulse-induced genes such as those encoding the cAR1 cAMP receptor, phosphodiesterase, and the gp80 adhesion protein. Treatment ofubpA cells with pulses of exogenous cAMP allows them to aggregate and express these genes like wild-type cells, but they still fail to develop fruiting bodies. Unlike wild type, ubpAcells accumulate ubiquitin-containing species that comigrate with ubiquitin polymers, suggesting a defect in polyubiquitin metabolism. UbpA has sequence similarity with yeast Ubp14, which disassembles free ubiquitin chains. Yeast ubp14 cells have a defect in proteolysis, due to excess ubiquitin chains competing for substrate binding to proteasomes. Cross-species complementation and enzyme specificity assays indicate that UbpA and Ubp14 are functional homologs. We suggest that specific developmental transitions inDictyostelium require the degradation of specific proteins and that this process in turn requires the disassembly of polyubiquitin chains by UbpA.
Nursing research at Mayo Clinic

Abstract Professional nursing practice at Mayo Clinic emphasises nursing research as integral to professional practice and development. A commitment to nursing research at the clinic has evolved over the past 20 years with expanded resources, the implementation of a research training scholarship programme and the development of an ambitious strategic plan. Four primary goals are outlined in the strategic plan: advancing the scientific foundation of nursing knowledge and practice; providing consultation and leadership for departmental initiatives such as evidence-based practice; providing research consultation to nursing staff; and ensuring an infrastructure to build research capacity. Each of these goals and how they are being achieved and expanded is discussed. One of the independent programmes of investigation under development regards child and parent health and wellness. This programme is discussed in relation to the priority goal of advancing nursing science. The article concludes with recommendations for developing a clinically based nursing research division.
Fossil remains of the mycorrhizal fungal Glomus fasciculatum complex in postglacial lake sediments from Maine

Specimens of the vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal Glomus fasciculatum complex have been identified from lake sediment cores from Gould Pond (central Maine) and Upper South Branch Pond (north central Maine). The fungus became established with tundra vegetation on newly developing soils soon after the melting of Wisconsin ice. This is the first record of such an occurrence for North America. The earliest specimens from Gould Pond were deposited in sediment dated at about 13 000 years old and those at Upper South Branch Pond between about 12 500 and 11 000 years old. This is at least 1000 years prior to the arrival of trees in those areas. Sedimentologic and biologic evidence indicates soil instability and relatively high soil erosion rates from the watersheds during the late-glacial period. Thus erosion probably accounts for the abundance of Glomus in late-glacial sediments. The reduced abundance of the fungus in Holocene sediments is attributed to a decrease in the rate of soil erosion after the est...
The distribution of aluminum into and out of the brain

The extent, rate and possible mechanism(s) by which aluminum enters and is removed from the brain are presented. Introduction of Al into systemic circulation as Al.transferrin, the predominant Al species in plasma, resulted in about 7 x 10(-5) of the dose in the brain 1 day after injection. This brain Al entry could be mediated by transferrin-receptor-mediated endocytosis (TfR-ME). When Al.citrate, the predominant small molecular weight Al species in blood plasma, is introduced systemically, Al rapidly enters the brain. The rate of Al.citrate brain influx suggests a more rapid process than mediated by diffusion or TfR-ME. The question has been raised: "Is the brain a 'one-way sink' for aluminum?". Clinical observations are a basis for this suggestion. Rat brain 26Al concentrations decreased only slightly from 1 to 35 days after systemic 26Al injection, in the absence or presence of the aluminum chelator desferrioxamine, suggesting prolonged brain Al retention. However, studies of brain and blood extracellular Al at steady state, using microdialysis, suggest brain Al efflux exceeds influx, suggesting carrier-mediated brain Al efflux. The predominant brain extracellular fluid Al species is probably Al.citrate. The hypothesis that brain Al efflux, presumably of Al.citrate, is mediated by the monocarboxylate transporter was tested and supported. Although some Al that enters the brain is rapidly effluxed, it is suggested that a fraction enters brain compartments within 24 h from which it is only very slowly eliminated.
Coordination and adoption of item-level RFID with vendor managed inventory

We study the affect on manufacturers and retailers of attaching radio frequency identification (RFID) tags at the item level in a vendor managed inventory (VMI) system. Our model has one manufacturer and one retailer. We first study the demand processes between an RFID system which uses continuous review and a non-RFID system which uses periodic review when shelf-space is limited. We then determine the optimal inventory policies in a centralized system and establish conditions under which the RFID system is preferable to the system without RFID. Finally, we study the decentralized system and show how the sharing of the tag price can be used to coordinate the supply chain and how it can be exploited in manufacturer and retailer dominated systems.
Interparticle Potential and Sedimentation Behavior of Cement Suspensions: Effects of Admixtures

Abstract DLVO theory has been applied to cement suspensions containing admixtures. Two different batches of the same cement, different only in storage history, are compared. It is found that, although their general sedimentation behavior is similar, differences exist in the zeta potential and basic chemistry. Both the superplasticizer and water-reducing admixture result in all cases in a stable dispersion, contrary to the theoretical prediction that only a coagulated suspension should exist. This finding suggests that steric hindrance plays a larger role compared to electric repulsion in the deflocculation of cement pastes than previously believed. Zeta potential and sedimentation data for CaCl2 and sugar are also presented.
Determinants of Exhibition Service Quality as Perceived by Attendees

Abstract This study attempted to identify comprehensive determinants (or dimensions) of exhibition service quality as perceived by attendees. Dimensions of exhibition service quality were constructed and identified, which are relevant for attendees to accomplish their objectives in an exhibition. The empirical results produced six dimensions of exhibition service quality: booth management, contents, registration, access, booth layout and function, exhibition and booth attractiveness. Contents turned out to be the most important dimension of exhibition service quality. Attendees were most concerned with number of participating exhibitors; quality of products or service exhibited; and conferences, seminars and events organized at the exhibition. We also confirmed the positive impacts of service quality on overall satisfaction and behavioral intention.