cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Footwear Influence Countermovement Jump Parameters Used to Assess Performance in Collegiate Basketball Players

Background: The countermovement jump (CMJ) is used to monitor short- and long-term changes in neuromuscular performance, where practically relevant alteration may be subtle, requiring detailed and consistent testing protocols to limit error and allow detection of meaningful change. Collegiate basketball players often wear different types of footwear depending upon the training activity, potentially influencing CMJ performance outcomes. Objective: This study evaluated the influence of footwear on key CMJ variables used for routine performance assessments in a cohort of 11 NCAA women’s collegiate basketball players. Method: In a cross-over repeated measures study design, players performed three CMJs in Basketball-, Training-(Trainers), and Olympic Weightlifting (WL) shoes, in a randomized order during one testing session. One-way repeated measures analyses of variance (p ≤ .05) and effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were used to discern differences in CMJ variables among shoe conditions. Results: WL demonstrated greater Eccentric Mean Force (p ≤ .014, d ≥ 0.03) and lower Flight Time:Contraction Time (p ≤ .029, d ≥ 0.31), Jump Height (p ≤ .040, d ≥ 0.32), and Reactive Strength Index-Modified (p ≤ .032, d ≥ 0.40) than both Basketball and Trainers. Additionally, WL exhibited lower Concentric Mean Force (p = .018, d = 0.19), Concentric Mean Power (p = .008, d = 0.29), Eccentric Peak Force (p = .050, d = 0.19), and Flight Time (p = .036, d = 0.31) compared to Trainer. No significant differences and only trivial effects appeared between Basketball and Trainers (p > 0.05, d < 0.1). Conclusion: These findings suggest footwear significantly influences CMJ performance. WL shoes appear to negatively impact CMJ performance; however, Basketball and Trainers appear to exert negligible effects that should allow clinicians and practitioners to feel confident about measurement and data quality when performing short- and long-term CMJ measurements in either Basketball or Trainers.
Association between post-hospital clinic and telephone follow-up provider visits with 30-day readmission risk in an integrated health system.

BACKGROUND: Follow-up visits with clinic providers after hospital discharge may not be feasible for some patients due to functional limitations, transportation challenges, need for physical distancing, or fear of exposure especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of post-hospital clinic (POSH) and telephone (TPOSH) follow-up provider visits versus no visit on 30-day readmission. We used a retrospective cohort design based on data from 1/1/2017 to 12/31/2019 on adult patients (n = 213,513) discharged home from 15 Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals. Completion of POSH or TPOSH provider visits within 7 days of discharge was the exposure and all-cause 30-day inpatient and observation stay readmission was the primary outcome. We used matching weights to balance the groups and Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model to assess for readmission risk. RESULTS: Unweighted all-cause 30-day readmission rate was highest for patients who completed a TPOSH (17.3%) followed by no visit (14.2%), non-POSH (evaluation and management visits that were not focused on the hospitalization: 13.6%) and POSH (12.6%) visits. The matching weighted models showed that the effects of POSH and TPOSH visits varied across patient subgroups. For high risk (LACE 11+) medicine patients, both POSH (HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.85, P < .001) and TPOSH (HR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.99, P = .03) were associated with 23 and 9% lower risk of 30-day readmission, respectively, compared to no visit. For medium to low risk medicine patients (LACE< 11) and all surgical patients regardless of LACE score or age, there were no significant associations for either visit type with risk of 30-day readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Post-hospital telephone follow-up provider visits had only modest effects on 30-day readmission in high-risk medicine patients compared to clinic visits. It remains to be determined if greater use and comfort with virtual visits by providers and patients as a result of the pandemic might improve the effectiveness of these encounters.
Effects of chamber pressure on the kinematic characteristics of spray flows exhausted from an airblast atomizer

Abstract An experimental investigation was conducted to examine the air–liquid interactions in the spray flows exhausted from an airblast atomizer at different ambient pressures. The experimental study was conducted in a specially designed high-pressure spray test rig available at Iowa State University. During the experiments, while the pressure drop ratio across the airblast atomizer was fixed at a pre-selected value, the pressure in the test chamber was increased from 0.10 MPa (i.e., at ~1.0 bar) up to 0.72 MPa (i.e., at 7.2 bar) to simulate the scenario in the combustion chambers of small turboprop engines. A high-resolution stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) system was used to measure the velocity fields of the airflow and spray droplets separately. While the airflow characteristics were found to be almost insensitive to the chamber pressure, the kinematic characteristics of the spray droplets were found to change significantly as the chamber pressure increases. A cross-correlation operation was performed to characterize the effects of the chamber pressure on the kinematic similarity of the spray droplets to the airflow. An improved formula was derived to estimate the corresponding Stokes number values of the spray droplets at different chamber pressures. It was revealed clearly that, a higher chamber pressure would lead to greater aerodynamic forces acting on the spray droplets to intensify the air–liquid interactions and promote the breakup of large droplets into finer droplets. As a result, while the average size of spray droplets exhausted from the same airblast atomizer was found to decrease substantially with the increasing chamber pressure, the finer droplets with smaller Stokes number values would follow the local airflow more faithfully, resulting in a higher kinematic similarity between the spray droplets and airflow at higher chamber pressures.
Serum albumin level as a predictor of geriatric stroke rehabilitation outcome.

This study examined the value of serum albumin level as a predictor of medical complications and functional outcomes in 79 patients, age 65 years or older, who underwent comprehensive inpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation for a first-time, unilateral, thromboembolic stroke. We recorded serum albumin levels at the time of admission to an inpatient rehabilitation unit, reports of the medical complications during rehabilitation, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) Scores on admission and discharge. The mean (+/- SD) serum albumin level for all patients was 3.3 +/- 0.4g/dL. Forty-two patients (53%) had a total of 69 medical complications during rehabilitation. Mean serum albumin levels were 3.2 +/- 0.4g/dL for the group with complications and 3.5 +/- 0.3g/dL for the group without complications (t = -4.34, p or = 3.5g/dL, only 32% had complications; of the 28 patients with levels from 3.0 to 3.4g/dL, 68% had complications; of the 14 patients with levels < or = 2.9g/dL, 79% experienced complications (chi 2 = 12.4, p = 0.002). There were positive correlations between serum albumin levels and the discharge MBI Self-Care Subscores, Mobility Subscores, and Total Scores (p < 0.001). There were also correlations between serum albumin levels and the Mobility and Total MBI Improvement Scores (p = 0.002 and p = 0.008, respectively). The relationship between serum albumin levels discharge destination approached statistical significance. Neither age nor side of lesion were related to serum albumin level, medical complication rate, or functional outcomes. Serum albumin levels appear to be related to medical complication rate and functional outcome in geriatric stroke patients. This suggests that older stroke patients with hypoalbuminemia may warrant closer medical attention or therapeutic intervention before and during rehabilitation.
Premature Deaths in Persons with Seizure Disorders—Subtherapeutic Levels of Anticonvulsant Drugs in Postmortem Blood Specimens

The purpose of this paper is to point out the possibility of death occurring prematurely in epileptics from apparently inadequate anticonvulsant therapy. Moreover, the information may be useful to the forensic pathologist faced with the “difficult autopsy” [1] where no definite cause of death is found. Toxicology is most useful in demonstrating deaths resulting from overdoses. However, subtherapeutic or negative anticonvulsant drug levels in a known epileptic may have equal usefulness in establishing a probable cause of death. The potential problem for the pathologist may be emphasized if he realizes there are approximately 1.7 million epileptics living in the United States today [2]. Rarely does the death of an epileptic make headlines in a major newspaper.
Indo-Fijian Children's BMI : In the Context of Urbanization, Embodied Capital, and Food Choice Trade-offs.

Health research has shown that overweight and obesity in children and adults are becoming significant public health problems in the developing world. Evidence suggests that this phenomenon is more marked in urban than rural areas and may be associated with modernization. However, the underlying reasons for this nutrition transition remain unclear. Dietary shifts, often in conjunction with income and time constraints in urban environments, may entail a greater reliance on more convenient sugar and fat-dense food. Also, the necessity of labor-intensive agricultural work to meet rural subsistence needs is supplanted in urban environments by sedentary work. This paper extends the application of human behavioral ecology theory into the realm of international development and policy by applying Kaplan’s embodied capital theory to explore differences in food habits and nutritional status of Indo-Fijian children within the context of urbanization. Urban high-embodied-capital women demonstrate higher rates of wage-earning employment than urban low-embodied-capital or rural women. Findings indicate that urban high-embodied-capital households spend significantly more on food purchases, purchase a greater proportion of processed foods, and have children with higher body mass indexes (BMI) than do urban low-embodied-capital or rural households. This suggests that urban high-embodied-capital mothers, who tend to be employed, may be making trade-offs between income and food choices.
OP10.08: Postnatal functional echocardiography (fECHO) in neonates with abnormal fetal umbilical artery Doppler (UAD)

which in turn may cause less of a rise in heart rate (HR). Uterine artery Doppler (UtAD) provides a method of assessing risk for the development of pre-eclampsia. We examined the relationship between second trimester UtAD pulsatility index (PI), HR and birth weight. Methods: 99 women were recruited from the high-risk obstetric ultrasound clinic in the second trimester; median (± IQR) age and gestation were 33 (29–37) years and 23+6 (23+3–24+4) weeks respectively. Mean values of UtAD PI were recorded. Cardiovascular measurements including HR were performed at a later date (26+5 (25+6–28+0) weeks gestation). Gender specific z-scores were calculated from the unit’s previous 5 years’ births. Results: We found a significant positive correlation between HR and birth weight z-score, r = 0.22 (P = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.02–0.40). This correlation remained when 4 patients taking β-blockers were excluded, r = 0.21 (P = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01–0.40). An inverse association was found between UtAD PI and HR r = −0.43 (P = 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.01–0.40). Conclusions: The novel finding is that lower second trimester HR is associated with lower birth weight; we hypothesize that this reflects inadequate cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy. We confirm the previously described effect of HR on UtAD PI. However, it is not possible to determine whether this was a direct effect of HR on UtAD PI, or whether women with abnormal placentation are more likely to have a slower HR. This has obvious implications for predictive models using both UtAD and HR.
Improving Health Benefits of Beef and Milk:A Field Study

A study was conducted to assess the concentration of conjugated linoleic acid in beef and milk from various farms in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin that represent a broad range of management systems.Intensively pastured cows produced milk with CLA concentrations that were about 3- to 4-fold greater than the initial concentration. Ribeye steaks from cattle finished on a combination of pasture and concentrates were higher in CLA content than steaks from cattle finished on conserved forages plus concentrates.Therefore, pasture grazing is an effective method to improve the healthfulness of milk and beef.
Fat metabolism in higher plants: Properties of the palmityl acyl carrier protein: Stearyl acyl carrier protein elongation system in maturing safflower seed extracts

Abstract Palmityl acyl carrier protein is elongated specifically to stearyl acyl carrier protein by a system which required palmityl acyl carrier protein, malonyl CoA, and NADPH. Extracts from maturing safflower seeds, avocado mesocarp, and stroma from spinach chloroplasts contain the elongation system. The system differs from the de novo fatty acid synthetase system in that (1) it is inactivated at 37 °C whereas the de novo system remains fully active, (2) the pH optimum of the elongation system is 7.8–8.6 whereas the de novo system has a narrow pH optimum at 7.0, (3) NADPH is specifically required whereas the de novo system requires both NADPH and NADH, and (4) the elongation system is relatively insensitive to cerulenin whereas the de novo system is highly sensitive. Acetyl CoA does not serve as a C 2 donor. Stearyl acyl carrier protein, lauryl CoA, myristyl CoA, and palmityl CoA are inactive.
Laser Cordectomy for T1 Glottic Carcinoma: A 10-Year Experience and Videostroboscopic Findings:

Fifty-three patients underwent laser cordectomy for T1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma between January 1980 and December 1989--sixteen after having undergone unsuccessful radiation and thirty-seven who had no previous treatment. There was a 51% five-year cure rate in the irradiated group vs. 62% in the nonirradiated group. Extension of tumor to the anterior commissure resulted in a higher failure rate. Patients experienced an overall 5-year cure rate of 98% after surgical or radiation salvage of unsuccessful laser cordectomies. Six patients had preoperative and postoperative videostrobolaryngoscopy. The most common postoperative problem with voice was a breathiness that did not resolve in any of the patients. All patients had absent or moderately reduced amplitude and mucosal wave patterns and imcomplete glottic closure proportional to the amount of cordal tissue removed. Despite it seemingly poor results in carefully selected patients, laser cordectomy is still indicated without compromising the ultimate oncologic results. Advantages over radiation therapy or conservation laryngeal surgery include a short treatment time, requiring only an outpatient surgical procedure at the time of the initial diagnostic and/or staging laryngoscopy, and the avoidance of potential radiation side effects or surgical complications. However, patients should be advised the possibility of persistent postoperative breathy dysphonia, in addition to the possibility of further treatment to effect a long-term cure.
Homeostasis as the Mechanism of Evolution

Homeostasis is conventionally thought of merely as a synchronic (same time) servo-mechanism that maintains the status quo for organismal physiology. However, when seen from the perspective of developmental physiology, homeostasis is a robust, dynamic, intergenerational, diachronic (across-time) mechanism for the maintenance, perpetuation and modification of physiologic structure and function. The integral relationships generated by cell-cell signaling for the mechanisms of embryogenesis, physiology and repair provide the needed insight to the scale-free universality of the homeostatic principle, offering a novel opportunity for a Systems approach to Biology. Starting with the inception of life itself, with the advent of reproduction during meiosis and mitosis, moving forward both ontogenetically and phylogenetically through the evolutionary steps involved in adaptation to an ever-changing environment, Biology and Evolution Theory need no longer default to teleology.
India Ink Pinprick Assessment of Age-Related Changes in the Cricoarytenoid Joint (CAJ) Articular Surfaces

Age-related changes in the articular surfaces of the cricoarytenoid joints (CAJ) of 12 human Caucasian male larynges (6 age 19 to 30 years; 6 age 50 to 80 years) were investigated. Differences in c...
Relationship between particle scale capillary forces and bulk unconfined yield strength

One of the main problems in industrial applications is the handling of fine cohesive materials. This cohesion can cause hang-ups in process equipment and stop or slow down processing. Conversely, just a small quantity of cohesion in a bulk powder can prevent particle size segregation. It is obvious that understanding cohesion from a fundamental point of view is useful in describing process flow behavior. Capillary force between particles is one source of cohesion between particles. This paper presents a theory that can be used to model the cohesive behavior of bulk materials based on capillary forces between particles.
Affect and Impression Formation: Influence of Mood on Person Memory

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of mood on person memory. Subjects in a happy, sad, or neutral mood read impression congruent, incongruent, and irrelevant behavioral information about a target person and were later asked to recall as many of the behaviors as they could. In both experiments, only Ss in a neutral mood recalled impression-incongruent information at a higher probability than congruent information, replicating previous person memory research. However, neither happy nor sad subjects showed a recall advantage for incongruent information. These results suggest that induced affect apparently disrupted the type of elaborative processing necessary to produce the incongruency effect.
A Review of Empirical Evidence of Somatic Treatment Options for the MI/DD Population

This article reviews recent evidence in the literature for the use of psychotropic and other somatic treatments in the management of patients with mental retardation (MR). The search methodology included peer-reviewed English language publications in PubMed and PsychINFO with the words Mental Retardation, Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disability and Mental Disorders/Drug Therapy or Antipsychotic medications, Psychiatric Somatic therapies, Neuroleptic Drugs, Antidepressants and Electroconvulsive Therapy from 1998 to 2008. The review revealed few randomized controlled trials on the medications frequently prescribed for patients with MR. Three RCTs of Risperidone in children, one combining adults and children and one with adults only are discussed. There was one RCT involving Quetiapine and one on Citalopram. There is little evidence to support the scope of psychotropic medication use in the MR population though the field is advancing. The contribution of psychiatric illness to challenging behaviors is not systematically addressed in the literature.
Synchrophasor Measurement-Based Wind Plant Inertia Estimation

The total inertia stored in all rotating masses that are connected to a power system, such as synchronous generators and induction motors, is an essential force that keeps the system stable during and after disturbances. Typically, inertias respond to disturbances voluntarily, without any control actions; however, several types of renewable generation, particularly those with power electronic interfaces, have an inertial response governed by a control function. To ensure bulk power system stability, there is a need to estimate the equivalent inertia available from a renewable generation plant. An equivalent voluntary inertia constant analogous to that of conventional rotating machines can be used to provide a readily understandable metric.
Methodological challenges in cross-language qualitative research: A research review

Abstract Objectives Cross-language qualitative research occurs when a language barrier is present between researchers and participants. The language barrier is frequently mediated through the use of a translator or interpreter. The purpose of this analysis of cross-language qualitative research was threefold: (1) review the methods literature addressing cross-language research; (2) synthesize the methodological recommendations from the literature into a list of criteria that could evaluate how researchers methodologically managed translators and interpreters in their qualitative studies; (3) test these criteria on published cross-language qualitative studies. Data sources A group of 40 purposively selected cross-language qualitative studies found in nursing and health sciences journals. Review methods The synthesis of the cross-language methods literature produced 14 criteria to evaluate how qualitative researchers managed the language barrier between themselves and their study participants. To test the criteria, the researcher conducted a summative content analysis framed by discourse analysis techniques of the 40 cross-language studies. Results The evaluation showed that only 6 out of 40 studies met all the criteria recommended by the cross-language methods literature for the production of trustworthy results in cross-language qualitative studies. Multiple inconsistencies, reflecting disadvantageous methodological choices by cross-language researchers, appeared in the remaining 33 studies. To name a few, these included rendering the translator or interpreter as an invisible part of the research process, failure to pilot test interview questions in the participant's language, no description of translator or interpreter credentials, failure to acknowledge translation as a limitation of the study, and inappropriate methodological frameworks for cross-language research. Conclusions The finding about researchers making the role of the translator or interpreter invisible during the research process supports studies completed by other authors examining this issue. The analysis demonstrated that the criteria produced by this study may provide useful guidelines for evaluating cross-language research and for novice cross-language researchers designing their first studies. Finally, the study also indicates that researchers attempting cross-language studies need to address the methodological issues surrounding language barriers between researchers and participants more systematically.
PS2-26: Coordinating Heterogeneous Data and Mixed Collection Methods to Support Population-Based Cancer Screening Research

Background/Aims The central goal of Population-Based Research Optimizing Screening through Personalized Regimens (PROSPR), a recently-funded NCI initiative, is to develop multi-site, transdisciplinary research to improve the screening process for breast, colon, and cervical cancer. To support this goal, we aim to collect, document, and manage data for the entire colorectal cancer (CRC) screening process at Group Health (GH), an integrated health system and PROSPR Research Center. We describe the data sources, types, and collection methods being used to assemble the breadth of relevant information on patients, providers, tests, pathology, treatment, and outcomes this effort requires.
Microsatellite loci for the critically endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) and other Ambystoma taxa

The imperiled Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) is a geographically isolated lineage of the long-toed salamander species complex. Recovery of this taxon requires understanding its population genetic structure, which is necessary to identify critical habitat. To assess the population structure of A. m. croceum, I developed primers for 17 microsatellite loci and evaluated their performance. Polymorphism ranged from 3 to 10 alleles per locus, with an average of 6.3 per locus. Mean observed and expected heterozygosity were similar (H O = 0.678; H E = 0.708), with one locus demonstrating heterozygote deficiency. The performance of these and previously identified microsatellite loci were also characterized for two other long-toed salamander lineages, as well as two other species of Ambystoma. The utility of these markers has similar and overlapping applications for conservation and population genetics studies of other Ambystoma taxa, and will provide a basis for revising the recovery plan for A. m. croceum, particularly for designating corridors among interacting breeding populations and upland areas, and identifying areas where gene flow should be restored.
Effect of pH, substrate, and temperature on tryptic activity of duodenal samples.

Many tests of pancreatic exocrine function are based on the estimation of tryptic activity in duodenal juice. However, tryptic activity may be influenced by substrate, pH, and temperature. We studied the effect of substrate, pH, and temperature on tryptic activity of duodenal juicein vitro andin vivo. TAME yielded higher tryptic activityin vitro (11.25 times) andin vivo (4.54 times) compared to BAEE and BAME. Ourin vitro studies also indicated that trypsin was denatured slowly between pH 6 and 4.25 and rapidly between 4.25 and 3.75. The rate of denaturation was faster at room temperature and slower in ice over a broad range of pHs. In ourin vivo studies, hypersecretors showed tryptic activities consistently lower than normosecretors. The duodenal pHs of the hypersecretors were consistently lower than those of normosecretors, suggesting that the low tryptic activities were secondary to denaturation by acid. These studies indicate that the activity of trypsin in duodenal juice varies significantly with substrate, pH, and temperature. These factors must, therefore, be considered in the analysis and interpretation of trypsin.
Nearby molecular clouds. I - Ophiuchus-Sagittarius, b greater than 10 deg

Observations of a 370-sq-deg area at b = 10-24 deg in the Oph-Sag region at the 115-GHz 1-0 transition of CO, obtained with a 256-channel spectrometer on the 1.2-m mm-wave telescope at Columbia University during winter 1980-1981 are reported. Observing parameters include full beamwidth at half power 8 arcmin, resolution 1 or 0.5 deg, velocity resolution 0.65 km/s, and frequency-shifting-mode shift 5 MHz; the data-processing scheme is described in detail. The results are presented in a map and a diagram and discussed with regard to other observations. An extended complex of molecular clouds near the sun and probably connected with the Aquila Rift, the Rho Oph Cloud, and the Gould Belt is detected. A correlation is found between the CO line intensity and the H I deficiency observed in the region, suggesting H2 formation with H2 column densities up to 1 x 10 to the 21st/sq cm.
Thermoelectric effects in a strongly correlated model for Na x Co O 2

Thermal response functions of strongly correlated electron systems are of appreciable interest to the larger scientific community both theoretically and technologically. Here, we focus on the infinitely correlated $t\text{\ensuremath{-}}J$ model on a geometrically frustrated two-dimensional triangular lattice. Using exact diagonalization on a finite sized system, we calculate the dynamical thermal response functions in order to determine the thermopower, Lorenz number, and dimensionless figure of merit. The dynamical thermal response functions are compared to the infinite frequency limit and shown to be very weak functions of frequency, hence, establishing the validity of the high frequency formalism recently proposed by Shastry [Phys. Rev. B 73, 085117 (2006)] for the thermopower, Lorenz number, and the dimensionless figure of merit. Further, the thermopower is demonstrated to have a low to intermediate temperature enhancement when the sign of the hopping parameter $t$ is switched from positive to negative for the geometrically frustrated lattice [A. P. Ramirez, in More Is Different, edited by N. P. Org and R. N. Bhatt (Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 2001), p. 255] considered.
Capture and inelastic scattering of protons by silicon-30

The reactions Si/sup 30/(p, gamma )P/sup 31/ and Si/sup 30/(p, p gamma )Si/sup 3/ s were studied in the range of incident proton energies from 1.0 to 4.25 Mev. Some measurements with Si/sup 28/ were made. At E/sub p/ = 3.88 Mev, the yield curves suggest that the weak resonance seen with natural silicon targets is caused by Si/sup 30/, and not by Si/sup 28/. The capture reaction did not give useful information about spins and parities of P/sup 31/ states, but the angular distributions of the gamma rays following inelastic scattering led to assignments for 10 of these states. (auth)
Thoracic tuberculosis: laboratory aspects.

L ABORATORY SUPPORT is essential to the physician managing patients with tuberculosis. Patients on treatment may require laboratory monitoring-eg, with liver function tests-but the most important laboratory aspect to tuberculosis management is microbiologic. The mycobacteriology laboratory has four basic functions: (1) detection and isolation of mycobacteria, (2) identification of the species isolated, (3) drug-susceptibility testing, and (4) measurement of bacteriologic response to treatment.’ The diagnosis of tuberculosis should be confirmed bacteriologically whenever possible by demonstrating Mycobacterium tuberculosis on smear and culture. The techniques required to culture this organism are more demanding than those required to demonstrate the organism on smear. Growing the organism on culture has the advantage of allowing determination of the species, most important in regions where mycobacteria other 4 than M. tuberculosis are common. Culture of the organism is also a prerequisite for drug-susceptibility testing. It has been suggested that three levels of laboratory services should be available.’ Laboratories of level 1 are primarily concerned in collecting clinical specimens and transporting them to more specialized laboratories for further processing. They may also conduct smear examinations, interpret these, and provide the rapid information that this makes available to the clinician. Laboratories of the second level are equipped to set up specimens for culture, incubate these on appropriate media, and characterize any organisms that grow in terms of species, response to simple biochemical tests, and drug susceptibility to some of the antibiotics used in the treatment of tuberculosis. The third level of laboratory includes reference laboratories capa-
Tunable physiologic interactions of adhesion molecules for inflamed cell-selective drug delivery

Dysregulated inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases. Therapeutic efficacy of anti-inflammatory agents, however, falls short against resilient inflammatory responses, whereas long-term and high-dose systemic administration can cause adverse side effects. Site-directed drug delivery systems would thus render more effective and safer treatments by increasing local dosage and minimizing toxicity. Nonetheless, achieving clinically effective targeted delivery to inflammatory sites has been difficult due to diverse cellular players involved in immunity and endogenous targets being expressed at basal levels. Here we exploit a physiological molecular interaction between intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and lymphocyte function associated antigen (LFA)-1 to deliver a potent anti-inflammatory drug, celastrol, specifically and comprehensively to inflamed cells. We found that affinity and avidity adjusted inserted (I) domain, the major binding site of LFA-1, on liposome surface enhanced the specificity toward lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-treated or inflamed endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and monocytes (THP-1) via ICAM-1 overexpression, reflecting inherent affinity and avidity modulation of these molecules in physiology. Targeted delivery of celastrol protected cells from recurring LPS challenges, suppressing pro-inflammatory responses and inflammation-induced cell proliferation. Targeted delivery also blocked THP-1 adhesion to inflamed HMEC-1, forming barriers to immune cell accumulation and to aggravating inflammatory signals. Our results demonstrate affinity and avidity of targeting moieties on nanoparticles as important design parameters to ensure specificity and avoid toxicities. We anticipate that such tunable physiologic interactions could be used for designing effective drug carriers for in vivo applications and contribute to treating a range of immune and inflammatory diseases.
Use of antibiotics in the initial management of soft tissue hand wounds.

A prospective, randomized study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in the treatment of various types of soft tissue hand wounds. A total of 394 patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, those receiving cephalexin (250 mg orally q.i.d. x 5 days), and the control group receiving no antibiotic. Patients were followed closely during the healing phase of their wounds. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of infection in the two groups.
Treatment of heart failure with preserved systolic function in the elderly

Heart failure with preserved systolic function (HF-PSF) may account for 50% or more of patients with heart failure, occurring more commonly in the elderly with comorbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and coronary artery disease. HF-PSF is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A recent study demonstrated that, although survival improved significantly over time among heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, there was no such trend toward improvement among patients with HF-PSF. There exists an urgent need to develop effective treatment strategies, specifically for patients with HF-PSF. Current therapeutic recommendations for HF-PSF are aimed at the symptomatic management as well as the treatment of concomitant comorbidities, including hypertension, atrial fibrillation and myocardial ischemia. In spite of two large, recent studies evaluating therapies for HF-PSF, no specific strategies have been proven to substantially benefit outcomes in patients with HF-PSF. This re...
The Caucasus: Ten Years after Independence

The record since 1991 has been mixed. On the one hand, conflicts are inactive and countries are more independent. On the other, internal and economic problems persist. These problems must be addres...
Where Does the Current Flow in Two-Dimensional Layered Systems?

In this Letter, we map for the first time the current distribution among the individual layers of multilayer two-dimensional systems. Our findings suggest that in a multilayer MoS2 field-effect transistor the “HOT-SPOT” of the current flow migrates dynamically between the layers as a function of the applied back gate bias and manifests itself in a rather unusual “contact resistance” that cannot be explained using the conventional models for metal-to-semiconductor contacts. To interpret this unique contact resistance, extracted from a channel length scaling study, we employed a resistor network model based on Thomas–Fermi charge screening and interlayer coupling. By modeling our experimental data we have found that the charge screening length for MoS2 is rather large (λMoS2 = 7 nm) and translates into a current distribution in multilayer MoS2 systems, which is distinctly different from the current distribution in multilayer graphene (λgraphene = 0.6 nm). In particular, our experimental results allow us to ...
INTERSTITIAL DISLOCATION LOOPS IN BERYLLIUM OXIDE IRRADIATED AT HIGH TEMPERATURES

THE presence of large numbers of prismatic dislocation loops parallel to the hexagonal {0001} basal planes of beryllium oxide after neutron irradiation at high temperatures (greater than 700° C) has been well established by transmission electron microscopy1–3. In addition, relatively low concentrations of loops lying on {11&2macr;0} prism planes have also been observed3. However, the nature of the defects comprising these loops has not previously been determined, primarily for two reasons: (a) Beryllium oxide does not lend itself to controlled chemical thinning, and specimens have therefore been prepared by crushing or fracture techniques. Prominent {10&1macr;0} cleavage in beryllium oxide causes nearly all chips suitable for study to be cleavage fragments perpendicular to the basal plane, and the abundant basal loops are therefore usually viewed edge-on and appear as lines perpendicular to the c-axis. (b) Most specimens so far available for investigation have received rather high neutron dosages (∼1021 nvt, En ≥ 1 MeV), and have usually contained such high densities of basal loops that overlap prevented the investigation of individual images.
The proposed government health insurance company--no substitute for real reform.

The idea of a government health insurance company to compete with for-profit and not-for-profit private companies is gaining political momentum. Victor Fuchs writes that a close look at how the present health care system functions suggests that this new idea is not the answer.
Rate of Transovarial Passage of Sowthistle Yellow Vein Virus in Selected Subclones of the Aphid Hyperomyzus lactucae

Three successive selections of subclones of an aphid Hyperomyzus lactucae (L.) in each of which transovarial passage of sowthistle yellow vein virus (SYVV) occurred, failed to affect the rate of transovarial passage of the virus. Neither the number of apterae transovarially passing SYVV nor the number of infective progeny was altered.
Complications of laser in situ keratomileusis for the correction of myopia

Abstract Objective To determine the incidence and severity of complications from laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia by experienced and inexperienced surgeons. Design Prospective, observational clinical study. Participants Fourteen surgeons and 1062 eyes of 574 myopic patients who desired surgical correction of myopia ranging from −2.00 to −22.50 diopters (D; mean, −7.57 D) and astigmatism no greater than 4.00 D participated in this study. Intervention Myopia was corrected with LASIK. Astigmatism was corrected with arcuate keratotomy at the same time as the initial procedure or subsequently. Main outcome measures Primary outcome measures were change in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and the incidence of complications. Results Eyes were followed for a mean of 9.5 months after their last surgical procedure (range, 2 weeks–21 months). Three hundred eighty-one eyes (36%) underwent 468 enhancement procedures 3 months or more after the initial treatment. There were 27 (2.1%) intraoperative and 40 (3.1%) postoperative complications. Laser ablation was not performed during the initial treatment of 17 (1.6%) eyes because of intraoperative complications. Seventy-four eyes gained 2 or more lines of BSCVA, while 50 eyes lost 2 or more lines of BSCVA. Only three eyes lost two or more lines of BSCVA to a level worse than 20/40. One eye with a flap buttonhole (BSCVA 20/50) also had an epiretinal membrane. The second eye (BSCVA 20/60) had a flap buttonhole that may have been related to a previous corneal transplant. The third eye (−22.50 D before surgery) had a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment develop, reducing BSCVA from 20/60 to 20/200. The incidence of intraoperative complications decreased from 3.1% during the first 3 months to 0.7% during the last 9 months of the study ( P = 0.02). Conclusions LASIK is acceptably safe for the correction of myopia. Although complications occur in approximately 5% of cases, these rarely lead to visual loss of more than two Snellen lines and postoperative acuity below 20/40. Flap buttonholes were more likely to cause loss of BSCVA than free or incomplete flaps ( P = 0.02); flap buttonholes may be more likely in eyes that have undergone previous surgery. Complication rates can be reduced as the surgical team gains experience.
Workers Are More Productive in Large Firms

Wages are positively related to firm size. This relation was discovered by Henry L. Moore (1911) and later confirmed by, among others, Charles Brown and James Medoff (1989). The wage premium associated with working at a larger firm or plant is ubiquitous, but its magnitude varies across countries and over time. The reason for a size-related wage premium is harder to pin down. Paying supernormal wages to deter shirking, thereby saving monitoring costs, seems plausible, but a closer examination has led us to reject this explanation (Oi and Idson, 1999). At a big firm, the workplace is safer, and fringes are superior, so that these factors cannot be the source of a positive premium. It must be something else such as work effort. The theory that we advance is that employees at larger firms are more productive and hence command higher wages in a competitive labor market. The shape of the size–wage relation depends on technology, worker preferences, and working conditions other than size. It will change over time and across occupations.
Magnetic fingerprints of sub- 100 nm Fe dots

Sub-$100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ nanomagnets not only are technologically important, but also exhibit complex magnetization reversal behaviors as their dimensions are comparable to typical magnetic domain wall widths. Here we capture magnetic ``fingerprints'' of ${10}^{9}$ Fe nanodots as they undergo a single domain to vortex state transition, using a first-order reversal curve (FORC) method. As the nanodot size increases from $52\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}67\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$, the FORC diagrams reveal striking differences, despite only subtle changes in their major hysteresis loops. The $52\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ nanodots exhibit single domain behavior and the coercivity distribution extracted from the FORC distribution agrees well with a calculation based on the measured nanodot size distribution. The 58 and $67\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ nanodots exhibit vortex states, where the nucleation and annihilation of the vortices are manifested as butterflylike features in the FORC distribution and confirmed by micromagnetic simulations. Furthermore, the FORC method gives quantitative measures of the magnetic phase fractions, and vortex nucleation and annihilation fields.
Detection of tool breakage in milling operations—II. The neural network approach

Abstract In this study, supervised and unsupervised neural network systems were used to detect tool breakage in milling operations. The restricted Coulomb energy (RCE)-type neural network was used for supervised learning. The effectiveness of the encoding method was tested using the RCE network on both simulated and experimental cutting force signals. The RCE network correctly categorized more than 98% of the presented data sets after training, which included simulated and experimental cutting force data. An unsupervised neural network was prepared based on the adaptive resonance theory (ART2). The ART2 network was initially trained using simulated signals. The ART2 network was then used to monitor tool breakage while continuously updating learned recognition codes and establishing new categories as needed. 3he accuracy of ART2 networks on tool breakage detection and proper vigilance factor selection for minimum node assignment issues are discussed. The ART2 network correctly categorized 97.2% of the presented experimental data sets after initial learning on simulated cases.
Genetically engineered plants: greener than you think.

Healthy, productive farmland separates humans from famine, making wise agricultural practices crucial to everyone. Plant scientists at universities and companies throughout the world endeavour to improve the quality, quantity, safety and sustainability of agricultural production, and their efforts have proven highly successful. Despite the remarkable success of a number of genetically engineered crop plants that have been grown and consumed – without incident – in large quantities since 1996, this technology faces increasing opposition in the United States and Europe. This article will discuss the major crops currently cultivated and provide information necessary to make informed decisions about plant biotechnology. Each new genetically engineered plant variety raises unique issues that must be considered on a case‐by‐case basis. Rejection or acceptance of all genetically engineered plants is unreasonable and will likely harm both the environment and the human condition.
Safety of Japanese encephalitis live attenuated vaccination in post-marketing surveillance in Guangdong, China, 2005-2012.

We reviewed the adverse events following immunization of live attenuated Japanese encephalitis vaccine in Guangdong Province, China. During the period of 2005–2012, 23 million doses of live attenuated Japanese encephalitis vaccine were used and 1426 adverse events were reported (61.24 per million doses); of which, 570 (40%) were classified as allergic reactions (24.48 per million doses), 31 (2%) were neurologic events (1.33 per million doses), and 36 (2.5%) were diagnosed as serious adverse events (1.55 per million doses). This study suggests that the JEV-L has a reasonable safety profile, most adverse events are relatively mild, with relatively rare neurologic events being observed.
Amine catalyzed condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate

The catalysis of the condensation of hydrolyzed metal alkoxides by amines has been mentioned in the literature, but there has been no systematic study of their influence on the rate of the condensation reaction of the alkoxide and the microstructure of the resultant gel.
Spontaneous haemothorax: an uncommon presentation of Glanzmann thrombasthenia

UNLABELLED Glanzmann thrombasthenia is a rare hereditary qualitative platelet disorder characterized by a lifelong bleeding tendency due to quantitative and qualitative abnormalities of the platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta3. Common clinical manifestations include purpuric type skin bleeding, prolonged bleeding from minor cuts, epistaxis, gingival bleeding and menorrhagia. Less frequently, gastrointestinal system bleeding may occur. Haemarthrosis, haematuria, intracranial and visceral haemorrhage are very rare symptoms. This study reports a 3-y-old girl with Glanzmann thrombasthenia who presented with life-threatening haemothorax. There was no history of recent trauma or drug usage and no vascular or parenchymal abnormalities to explain the development of haemothorax. CONCLUSION To the authors' knowledge this is the first case of Glanzmann thrombasthenia complicated by spontaneous haemothorax.
Variable facial plumage in juvenile Cliff Swallows: A potential offspring recognition cue?

ABSTRACT Although the ability to recognize related offspring is essential in the evolution of social behavior, the cues that birds use to identify their own offspring are not fully understood. The Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) is a highly social species that nests in large colonies and exhibits a high incidence of both conspecific brood parasitism and extrapair fertilization, behaviors that can potentially lead to parents investing energy and resources in unrelated offspring, which reduces the parents' genetic fitness. Because parents continue to feed offspring after they leave the nest, parents also risk investing in unrelated offspring by misidentifying their own young after mobile, postfledging juveniles form creches. Cliff Swallows possess a unique system of variable juvenile facial patterns, ranging from almost entirely black to almost entirely white. Interestingly, although these patterns are highly variable and distinctive in juveniles, they disappear upon maturation. We used image analy...