cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and injuries in third space endoscopists: an international multicenter survey.

Background and study aims Third space endoscopy (TSE), including per-oral endoscopic myotomy and endoscopic submucosal dissection, is technically challenging and physically demanding. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and types of musculoskeletal symptoms and injuries (MSI) in third space endoscopists and its impact on clinical practice. Materials, Patients and methods A 22-item survey measuring endoscopist characteristics, procedure volumes, MSI, and its effect on clinical practice was distributed to endoscopists practicing TSE. Descriptive statistics were used to depict MSI. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors for MSI related to TSE. Results The survey was completed by 45 of 110 endoscopists (40.9 %) who received the survey, representing 10 countries across four continents. Thirty-one (69 %) endoscopists reported current MSI with 71 % (n = 22/31) believing these began after starting TSE, and 48.9 % (22/45) reporting more symptoms after TSE compared to endoscopic ultrasound/endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Common MSI included the shoulders (42.2 %), back (37.8 %), neck (33.3 %), and wrist (24.4 %). Lower extremity MSI were also reported with foot symptoms (11.1 %) being most common. A minority required disability (2.2 %), change in endoscopy scheduling (6.7 %) or surgery (2.2 %). Only 15.6 % of endoscopists had received prior ergonomics training. Logistic regression revealed no significant predictors for MSI. Conclusions Over two-thirds of endoscopists performing TSE suffer from MSI, with many reporting onset of their symptoms after starting TSE in their practice. Further studies are needed to understand and reduce the risk of MSI in TSE given the growing demand for these procedures and the potential long-term impact of this occupational hazard.
Sustainable and Just Energy Strategies

This conclusion offers an opportunity to synthesize the key features of sustainable energy transitions. Case studies of various elements of the energy transition can inform how we think about and plan for society’s future energy infrastructures and resource base. Of critical importance is understanding the technical and biophysical dimensions of energy transitions, while emphasizing how problems from energy systems are ultimately social problems with a technical dimension by familiarizing students with approaches used across the social sciences.
The Seriousness of Play: Johan Huizinga and Carl Schmitt on Play and the Political:

This article addresses the political dimensions of Johan Huizinga’s seminal work Homo Ludens: A study of the play element in culture (1938). More than just a foundational text in academic ludology,...
Thermoelectric transport in coupled double layers with interlayer excitons and exciton condensation

Quantum Boltzmann formalism is employed to study the transport properties of strongly-coupled double layer systems that enable the formation of interlayer excitons and exciton condensation. The importance of exciton formation, dissociation, and condensation is highlighted in the context of thermoelectric power generation, and this mathematical inquiry provides an alternative methodology to calculate the thermoelectric efficiency given the conditions of exciton formation. The Onsager relation for the Coulomb drag resistivity is shown to be valid even when exciton condensation is present. In addition, it is found that the traditional thermoelectric figure of merit is no longer sufficient to predict the efficiency of thermoelectric power generation in the presented situations. This inquiry offers insights for designing double layer systems, including their interlayer interactions, with enhanced thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency.
Unpolarized Structure Functions

Over the past decade measurements of unpoiarized structure functions with unprecedented precision have significantly advanced our knowledge of nucleon structure. These have for the first time allowed quantitative tests of the phenomenon of quark-hadron duality, and provided a deeper understanding of the transition from hadron to quark degrees of freedom in inclusive scattering. Dedicated Rosenbluth-separation experiments have yielded high-precision transverse and longitudinal structure functions in regions previously unexplored, and new techniques have enabled the first glimpses of the structure of the free neutron, without contamination from nuclear effects.
Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) susceptibility to acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND)

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is an OIE-listed enteric disease that has continued to plague the shrimp aquaculture industry since its first discovery in 2009. AHPND is one of the biggest disease threats to the shrimp aquaculture industry along with white spot disease (WSD) which has severely impacted both crayfish and shrimp aquaculture. AHPND is caused by specific marine Vibrio spp. which carry plasmid-borne binary toxins PirAVp and PirBVp. This research investigated if crayfish are susceptible to AHPND-causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VpAHPND) to discern the potential risk that AHPND may pose to the crayfish aquaculture industry. Susceptibility was investigated by challenging Cherax quadricarinatus (Australian red claw crayfish) and Penaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) with VpAHPND in a cohabitation immersion bioassay. Upon termination of the bioassay, crayfish survival was significantly higher than shrimp survival (87% vs. 33%). Hepatopancreas dissected from experimentally challenged animals were screened for the binary toxin genes pirAVp and pirBVp by real-time and duplex conventional PCR assays, and also were examined by H&E histology for the detection of characteristic AHPND pathology. Although AHPND toxin genes pirAVp and pirBVp were detected in a subset of crayfish samples, histopathology did not reveal any pathognomonic lesions that are characteristic of AHPND in any crayfish samples examined. These findings suggest that crayfish are likely resistant to AHPND.
Adverse events associated with Bonebridge and Osia bone conduction implant devices.

Abstract Purpose Active transcutaneous Bone Conduction Implants (BCIs) are relatively new to the market and may offer improved outcomes while reducing skin-related complications associated with previous models. The purpose of this study is to examine medical device reports (MDRs) submitted to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Manufacturer and User Device Facility Experience (MAUDE) database to identify adverse events with the active, transcutaneous BCIs, Bonebridge and Osia. Methods A search of the FDA MAUDE database was conducted using product code “PFO” (for Active Implantable Bone Conduction Hearing System), brand names “Bonebridge” and “Osia.” Data was collected on device malfunction, patient injury, inciting events, and subsequent interventions between July 1, 2018 and November 1, 2020. Results The search query yielded 83 reports that met inclusion criteria, 56 regarding Bonebridge and 27 regarding Osia. A total of 91 adverse events were reported, including 45 device malfunctions and 46 patient injuries. Of all adverse events reported for Bonebridge, 15 (26.3%, 15/57) documented patient injuries, while the majority (73.7%, 42/57) documented device malfunctions. Of all adverse events reported for Osia, 3 (8.8%, 3/34) were reported concerning malfunctions, while 31 (91.2%, 31/34) were reported for patient injuries. The most commonly reported adverse events included lack of conduction or hearing (n = 26, 28.6%), infection (n = 14, 15.4%), and intermittent or reduced conduction or hearing (n = 12, 13.2%). From the MAUDE database reported adverse events and the total number of Osia implants given to us from Cochlear over this 28 month period, we estimate patient injuries to occur in roughly 2.1% of patients. Conclusion There are limitations to the database which make systemic analysis challenging. This study suggests that patients with transcutaneous, active BCIs may be experiencing fewer soft tissue injuries, but similar device malfunctions as those with previous models.
Columbia University Master of Public Health Core Curriculum: Implementation, Student Experience, and Learning Outcomes, 2013-2018

ObjectivesPublic health education must respond to 21st-century public health challenges in an ever-evolving landscape. We describe implementation and educational outcomes of the Columbia University...
The First Cataract Surgeons in the British Isles.

Purpose To describe the entry of cataract surgery into the British Isles. Methods Handbills, books, and other historical sources were reviewed to determine when cataract surgery was first performed in the region. Results Roman artifacts suggest that couching was performed in the British Isles in antiquity. Seemingly miraculous cures of blindness during the early Middle Ages might be consistent with couching. However, there is no strong evidence of medieval cataract surgery in the region. Cataract couching probably arrived in England by the 1560s, in Scotland by 1595, in Ireland by 1684, and in Anglo-America by 1751. Before the 18th century, cataract surgery was taught within families, apprenticeships, and mountebank troupes. Beginning in the 17th century, congenital cataract surgery permitted surgeons to tout their skills and to explore visual perception. However, in some cases, such as the couching of the 13-year-old Daniel Dolins by surgeon William Cheselden in 1727, whether the cataracts were truly congenital, and whether vision improved in any way, remain in doubt. Beginning in the 1720s, cataract surgery began to be performed by traditional surgeons in hospitals. However, for most of the century, the highest-volume cataract surgeons continued to be itinerant oculists, including those who performed cataract extraction in the latter half of the century. Conclusions Cataract surgery might have been performed in Roman Britain. Specific evidence of cataract surgery emerges in the region in the Elizabethan era. Cataract extraction was performed in the British Isles by 1753, but couching remained popular throughout the 18th century.
Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) mediated signaling pathway shows hypersensitivity to oxidative stress

Abstract Scaffold proteins regulate cellular mechanisms and phenotypic patterns through protein-to-protein interactions. Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1 (RACK1) is a highly conserved protein containing 40 amino acid repeats of tryptophan-aspartic acid dipeptides (WD-repeat). RACK1 regulates environmental stress signaling pathways in plants and has important implications for human diseases (e.g., viral infections, cancer) and organ function (e.g., brain, heart, liver). Three isoforms (RACK1A, RACK1B and RACK1C) in plants are associated with drought, salt uptake, UV and oxidative stress. We characterized the regulatory role of RACK1 in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa using gain of function mutants by T-DNA insertion. Wild type A. thaliana normally displays RACK1 promoter activity (GUS staining) only in leaf tips, but GUS staining after oxidative stress (methyl viologen) was dispersed throughout the leaf and elevated in stomata. Overexpression of RACK1 causes a stressed phenotype and retarded growth in heterozygous O. sativa mutants, while a severely stressed phenotype and failure to thrive (within two weeks of germination) was observed in homozygous mutants. Methyl viologen exposure of leaves in RACK1 gain of function O. sativa decreased chlorophyll content and increased reactive oxygen species. Our findings support previous studies indicating that RACK1 regulates ROS production in O. sativa seedlings. Our results provide important baseline data for future fine-scale characterizations of important developmental regulators imposed by the modulation of RACK1 (and other isoforms). Understanding plant-based food security and human disease pathologies (including viral infections) will inform strategies that aim to reduce the negative impacts of each process to sustain society worldwide.
Asynchronous Acoustic Echo Cancellation Over Wireless Channels

We introduce a novel acoustic echo cancellation framework for systems where the loudspeaker and the microphone array are not synchronized. We consider the problem in the most general form where the loss of synchronization is time-varying. The proposed system is linear and it utilizes microphone array beamforming for echo cancellation. It is shown to provide significant improvement over standard echo cancellation and noise suppression techniques in both noise suppression and speech recognition.
Biochar-supported polyaniline hybrid for aqueous chromium and nitrate adsorption.

Abstract Biochar adsorbents can remove environmental pollutants and the remediation of Cr(VI) and nitrate are considered. Cr(VI) is a proven carcinogen causing serious health issues in humans and nitrate induced eutrophication causes negative effect on aquatic systems around the world. Douglas fir biochar (DFBC), synthesized by fast pyrolysis during syn gas production, was treated with aniline. Then, a polyaniline biochar (PANIBC) composite containing 47 wt% PANI was prepared by precipitating PANI on DFBC surfaces by oxidative chemical polymerization of aniline in 2M HCl. PANIBC exhibited a point of zero charge (PZC) of 3.0 and 8.2 m2/g BET (N2) surface area. This modified biochar was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphology and surface elements, and oxidation states by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). PANIBC exhibited positive surface charge below pH 3, making it an outstanding adsorbent, for Cr(VI) removal. Cr(VI) and nitrate removal mechanisms are presented based on XPS analysis. DFBC and PANIBC Cr(VI) and nitrate adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models with maximum Langmuir adsorption capacities of 150 mg/g and 72 mg/g, respectively. Cr(VI) and nitrate removal at pH 2 and 6 were evaluated by reducing the amount of PANI (9 wt%) dispersed on to DFBC. Adsorption capacities verses temperature studies revealed that both Cr(VI) and nitrate adsorption are endothermic and thermodynamically favored. Regeneration studies were conducted on both DFBC and PANIBC using 0.1M NaOH and PANIBC exhibited excellent sorption capacities for Cr(VI) and nitrate in lake water samples and in the presence of competitive ions.
The effect of intense pulsed light on the sensory properties of nonfat dry milk

Our objectives were to examine (1) how intense pulsed light (IPL) processing parameters (exposure time and initial temperature) affected aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel of nonfat dry milk, (2) which levels of each parameter produced aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel changes from an untreated control sample, and (3) whether minimal or intense processing conditions produced a noticeable appearance change from the control. Four exposure times (1, 2, 3, and 4 passes through the IPL chamber) and three initial temperatures (25, 30, and 35℃) were studied with untreated milk powder as the control. The samples were prepared as both milk powder and reconstituted milk for sensory evaluation. Using standard evaluating protocols, trained descriptive analysis panelists rated the aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel of these samples. Panelists compared the appearance of the IPL-treated samples that underwent a minimal or intense processing condition to the control by using a two-out-of-five difference test. Increasing the exposure time led to increased intensities of overall flavor, burnt flavor, and umami taste in both milk powder and reconstituted milk, while increasing temperature increased animal and sulfur aromas in reconstituted milk only. Compared to the control, all levels of exposure time at any initial temperature resulted in increased aroma and flavor including cardboard aroma, sulfur aroma, and brothy flavor in both milk powder and reconstituted milk. Only the 4-pass exposure at the initial temperature of 25℃ changed the appearance of milk powder. However, the appearance change was not noticeable in reconstituted milk. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The standard evaluation protocols and lexicons provide useful tools for research on milk powder. Additionally, the understanding of critical factors impacting sensory properties will contribute to a better implementation of this decontamination technology.
A Comprehensive Strategic Model for the Commercialization of New Product Development Technologies

A significant amount of time, money and resources can be invested into a new product development effort. In this era of “open innovation,” organizations have additional external commercialization options to consider compared to development of technology internally. An effective strategic model utilizing open innovation development options is required to exploit market opportunities for commercialization of technologies. These decisions need to be made in the early stages of development to optimize project selection and investment. This paper provides a model to aid the decision maker(s) in identifying the optimal product development approach based upon a methodology grounded in accredited literature and the input of new product development experts. The effectiveness of this model is validated using case studies and interviews of past product development efforts.
MITIGATING SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN MICROLENDING: A CASE STUDY OF WISDOM MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION IN ETHIOPIA

This article presents a case study of Wisdom Microfinance Institution (WISDOM) and examines how community workers were used to mitigate the exclusion of groups vulnerable to marginalization. By taking advantage of its relationship with World Vision Ethiopia (WVE) and collaborating in its lending processes, WISDOM was able to make itself more accessible to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) caregivers in two major ways. First, the involvement of WVE community workers in forming community banks for WISDOM served to include more OVC caregivers than anyone had realized at the time. Second, collaborating with WVE community workers in monitoring clients helped WISDOM to gain vital information that led to more effective monitoring. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SP2 Architecture and Performance

On April 6, 1994 IBM launched the second member of the family of Scalable POWERparallel Systems, the IBM 9076 SP2. It incorporates the enhanced version of IBM's RISC architecture called POWER2. Additional hardware improvements include new High Performance Switch Adapters that bring substantial improvements in bandwidth. Software for systems management is also enhanced. A long list of parallelized applications will contribute to make the system attractive also in industrial research and development. Some early benchmark results are also reported.
Reforming Banks Without Destroying Their Productivity and Value

Government-protected banking systems tend to blow up, imposing huge losses on taxpayers. In a recent much-publicized book, The Bankers' New Clothes, Anat Admati and Martin Hellwig propose to fix this problem by forcing banks to maintain 25% of their assets in the form of equity rather than debt. But this author argues, the book overstates the benefits and understates the costs of the proposed reform, while also failing to identify additional necessary reforms. Because bank equity is not true equity, and equity must be evaluated only in relation to risk, increasing required book equity ratios will not necessarily reduce the risk of bank failure significantly. Raising equity requirements is also socially costly because it reduces banks' willingness to lend. When banks need to raise their equity-to-asset ratios, they often choose to do so by cutting back on new loans, rather than paying the high costs of raising new equity. The reduction in loan supply that comes from raising equity ratios can be substantial, and is not just a one-time cost. Balancing the costs and benefits of higher equity implies a much lower required equity ratio than the 25% posited in The Bankers' New Clothes. Finally, because equity ratios relative to risk should be the focus of prudential regulation, additional regulatory policy reforms that strengthen incentives for more effective risk management are needed in addition to higher capital ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Renal Function and Methotrexate Clearance in Children With Newly Diagnosed Leukemia

Study Objectives. To determine whether glomerular filtration rate (GFR) changes during induction chemotherapy in children with leukemia, and to examine GFR as a determinant of pharmacokinetic variability of methotrexate clearance. Design. Prospective, unblinded observational study in consecutive patients. Setting. A research hospital. Patients. Thirty-eight children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Interventions. The patients received either high-dose methotrexate 1 g/m2 intravenously over 24 hours or low-dose methotrexate 30 mg/m2 orally every 6 hours for six doses; both regimens were followed by an intensive six-drug chemotherapy regimen given over 6 weeks. Glomerular filtration rate was determined in each subject before and at the conclusion of induction therapy. Measurements and Main Results. The GFR was determined from 99mTc-DTPA serum clearance in all patients, and methotrexate clearance was estimated from serial serum concentrations in 18 of these children who received high-dose methotrexate. Median values for GFR at diagnosis (131 ml/min/1.73 m2) and after induction therapy (120 ml/min/1.73 m2) were not significantly different (p=0.26) but were highly variable (range 49–274 ml/min/1.73 m2). Body size, age, and serum creatinine were correlated significantly with GFR at diagnosis. Amphotericin B therapy (6 patients) significantly decreased GFR (p=0.046) without a corresponding increase in serum creatinine. Methotrexate clearance (58–155 ml/min/m2) was significantly (p=0.007) correlated with GFR, but GFR accounted for only 37% of the variability of methotrexate clearance. Conclusions. The GFR was normal but highly variable in these children with leukemia and was significantly altered by amphotericin. Our results explain little of the intersubject variability in methotrexate clearance.
Fecal flora in different populations, with special reference to diet

Although potent antimicrobial agents may effect rapid and significant changes in fecal microflora, changes in diet or dietary supplements usually produce modest changes by comparison. It may be, however, that even such minor changes may result in significant changes in metabolic activity, particularly in terms of production of possible carcinogens or cocarcinogens. It is clear that significant changes may occur in metabolic activity without major qualitative or quantitative changes in the fecal microflora. Other research that might help explain the epidemiological observations of the association between diet and colon cancer would be studies of the flora at different levels of the gastrointestinal tract (particularly the cecum and small bowel), studies of the mucosa-associated flora at different levels, and long-term dietary studies.
Isolation and characterization of the Bacillus subtilis sigma 28 factor.

RNA polymerase preparations isolated from vegetatively growing Bacillus subtilis cells contain the core subunits beta, beta9, and alpha, together with multiple sigma factors and other core-associated polypeptides such as delta, omega 1, and omega 2. We have developed an improved, large-scale purification procedure that yields RNA polymerase fractions enriched in both the sigma 28 and delta proteins. These fractions have been used to isolate sigma 28 protein for biochemical characterization and for preparation of highly specific anti-sigma 28 antisera. The amino acid composition of purified sigma 28 protein and the amino acid sequences of tryptic peptide fragments have been determined. Anti-sigma 28 antisera specifically inhibit transcription by the purified sigma 28 -dependent RNA polymerase, yet do not affect transcription by sigma 43 -dependent RNA polymerase. Immunochemical analysis confirms that the sigma 28 protein copurifies with total RNA polymerase activity through the majority of the purification procedure and allows the steps when sigma 28 protein is lost to be identified and optimized. Immunochemical techniques have also been used to monitor the structure and abundance of the sigma 28 protein in vivo. A single form of antibody-reactive protein was detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis-isoelectric focusing. Its abundance corresponds to a maximal content of 220 molecules of sigma 28 per B. subtilis cell during late-logarithmic-phase growth. Images
Dietary (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Suppress Murine Lymphoproliferation, Interleukin-2 Secretion, and the Formation of Diacylglycerol and Ceramide

Elucidation of the mechanism(s) by which dietary fish oil, enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5(n-3)] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA, 22:6(n-3)], suppresses the inflammatory process is essential in maximizing this potentially therapeutic effect. Murine T-lymphocyte function and signal transduction were examined in response to a low fat, short term diet enriched in highly purified EPA or DHA ethyl esters. For 10 d, mice were fed comparable diets containing either 3% safflower oil ethyl esters (SAF), 2% SAF + 1% arachidonic acid triglyceride (AA), 2% SAF + 1% EPA, or 2% SAF + 1% DHA. Concanavalin A-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation in splenocyte cultures was significantly suppressed by dietary EPA and DHA while AA had no effect relative to the SAF control. The suppressed proliferative response in EPA- and DHA-fed mice was preceded temporally by a significant reduction in IL-2 secretion. Kinetics of mitogen-induced diacyl-sn-glycerol (DAG) and ceramide production did not differ significantly between SAF and AA diet groups. In contrast, DAG production was significantly suppressed in EP- and DHA-fed mice relative to the SAF and AA groups. The reduced DAG mass was paralleled by reduced ceramide mass following EPA and DHA feeding compared to the SAF and AA groups. Thus, low dose, short term dietary exposure to highly purified EPA or DHA appears to suppress mitogen-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation by inhibiting IL-2 secretion, and these events are accompanied by reductions in the production of essential lipid second messengers, DAG and ceramide.
Optical measurement of the evaporation of sulfuric acid droplets.

Single micron-size sulfuric acid droplets are levitated in vacuum in a quadrupole trap through which passes the beam from a He–Ne laser. Scattered light is monitored by a fixed detector as cavity resonances are excited in the evaporating droplet. Mie-Debye theory is used to determine particle size, which, with kinetic theory, yields vapor pressure. Over the temperature range studied, −10 to +30°C, the vapor pressure of pure sulfuric acid is lnp(Torr) = (20.70 ± 1.74) − (9360 ± 499)/T(K).
Development of a heteroduplex mobility assay to identify field isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus with nucleotide sequences closely related to those of modified live-attenuated vaccines.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome has been devastating the swine industry since the late 1980s. The disease has been controlled, to some extent, through the use of modified live-attenuated (MLV) vaccines once available. However, such a practice periodically resulted in isolation or detection of vaccine-like viruses from pigs as determined by a partial genomic sequencing. In this study, we developed a heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) for quickly identifying porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates with significant nucleotide sequence identities (≥98%) with the modified live-attenuated vaccines. The major envelope gene (ORF5) of 51 PRRSV field isolates recovered before and after the introduction of the vaccines was amplified, denatured, and reannealed with the HMA reference vaccine strains Ingelvac PRRS MLV and Ingelvac PRRS ATP, respectively. Nine of the 51 field isolates and the VR2332 parent virus of Ingelvac PRRS MLV, which were all highly related to Ingelvac PRRS MLV with ≤2% nucleotide sequence divergence as determined by sequence analysis, were all identified by the HMA to form homoduplexes with the reference Ingelvac PRRS MLV. No homoduplex-forming field isolate was identified when Ingelvac PRRS ATP was used as the HMA reference except for its parent virus JA142. Other field isolates with more than 2% nucleotide sequence divergence with the respective reference vaccine strain resulted in the formation of heteroduplexes with reduced mobility in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The HMA results also correlated well with the results of phylogenetic analyses. The data indicated that the HMA developed in the study may be a rapid and efficient method for large-scale screening of potential vaccine-like PRRSV field isolates for further genetic characterization.
Prognostic factors in allogeneic transplantation for patients with high-risk multiple myeloma after reduced intensity conditioning

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors for outcome of high-risk patients with multiple myeloma after allogeneic transplantation prepared by reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). Materials and Methods Data from 45 consecutive patients (median age 52 years, range 38–68), who received grafts from a sibling (n = 34) or unrelated donor (n = 11) were analyzed. Fourteen patients received an RIC allotransplant while chemosensitive (≥partial remission [PR]), whereas 31 chemoresistant patients ( Results Twenty-nine (64%) were in a complete remission (CR) or near CR, 5 were in PR, and 5 had progressive disease. Twenty-five patients died, 17 of transplant-related complications, 7 of progressive disease, and 1 of a nontransplant-related cause. With a median follow-up of 15 months, the following factors were significantly associated with a better event-free survival (EFS) probability at 3 years: chemosensitive disease (64% vs 12%), pretransplant performance score (PS, Zubrod) ≤2 (36% vs 0%), CR + near CR post transplant (36% vs 0%), and presence of chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD; 29% vs 0%). The same factors and absence of grade III to IV acute GVHD (52% vs 0%) were significant for a better overall survival (OS). On multivariate analysis including only pretransplant factors, both chemosensitive response and PS ≤2 were significant for overall survival and event-free survival ( p p Conclusion Our data suggest that although RIC allotransplant induces high rates of CR and near CR, even in refractory disease, it appears to result in a durable response only if it is applied early in the disease in high-risk patients, when they still are chemosensitive and have an adequate PS.
Immunologic evidence for structural homology between the release factors of Escherichia coli.

Abstract Immune sera of high antibody titer were raised against the release factors RF1 and RF2, which are required for codon-directed termination of protein biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. The antigens were of high purity and contained no detectable crosscontamination. Each serum inhibited both RF1 and RF2 activity, but exhibited greater recognition for the specific release factor used for immunization. RF2 neutralized the inhibition of RF1 by anti-RF2 and blocked the binding of RF1 to anti-RF2-Sepharose columns. Therefore, we conclude that RF1 and RF2 share antigenic determinants, thus indicating structural homology between the release factors. Partially purified preparations of RF1 and RF2 were purified extensively by immunoaffinity chromatography. Each was eluted from anti-RF2-Sepharose columns with 6 m guanidine-HCl. Following dialysis, 30–50% of the initial release factor activity was recovered. Molecular weight values of 49,000 for RF1 and 50,000 for RF2 have been calculated from multiple sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies.
The Negative Sestamibi Scan: Is a Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy Still Possible?

Background Tc-99-sestamibi scanning is utilized to determine whether patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) are candidates for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP). However, if the result of this scan is negative, many surgeons recommend bilateral parathyroid exploration because of possible multi-gland disease. The objectives of this study were to determine whether patients with primary HPT and negative sestamibi scans can benefit from additional imaging studies and are still potential candidates for MIP.
Soft tissue reconstruction following tumor resection in the hand

With advances in diagnosis, staging, imaging, and adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy,upper limb salvage surgery has become a realistic option for upper limb malignancies. Following an adequate and complete resection, reconstruction of ensuing defects consequently has become an area of increasing importance. Many options are available,including primary closure, skin grafting, local soft tissue flaps, regional pedicle and island flaps, free tissue transfer, composite free tissue transfer, allografts, endoprostheses,and tendon, nerve, or arterial grafting. Form, function, and cosmetic outcome influence surgical decision making, as do characteristics of the patient, tumor, and involved site.
The emergence of hope: implicit spirituality in treatment and the occurrence of psychoanalytic luck.

Western culture has tended to separate the spiritual and the secular, and psychoanalysis as part of this tradition has done this as well. This article is a reconsideration of this dichotomy by articulating the implicit spirituality in the psychoanalytic situation and how this facilitates change, an aspect of which I am calling “psychoanalytic luck.” This is defined as a blend of unconscious freedom and lucky circumstance. The thesis is that the implicit spirituality—the meditative quality and deep faith that develops between patient and analyst—is a key factor in allowing the openness and unconscious freedom that facilitates change. This atmosphere provides the space in which psychoanalytic luck can happen to either analyst or patient, or both, at various moments. Frequently, the implicit spirituality allows the analyst the play space in which to associate, to capture the fleeting thought or image that may hold the clue to uncovering the problem. The analyst serves as a guide, both by revealing new connections to the patient, like making new roads on an old map, and by serving a modeling function as well as a source of inspiration. Then the patient, who is also in this play space, gains the openness and courage to experience and take advantage of the opportunity and dare to change. This occurs both from identification with the analyst and from the result of the analyst’s interpretations.
Morbidity after crush injuries to the foot

By retrospective review of hospital records and by follow-up clinical examinations, we evaluated 58 patients with crush injuries to the foot treated at our institution between 1986 and 1990. All patients had received initial treatment according to a standardized protocol determined by the type and magnitude of the injury. Patients were examined at a mean interval of 3.3 years (range 2-4) after injury, and the functional outcome was determined according to a foot trauma rating scale. Based on this scoring system, 46% of the patients had good functional outcome, 29% had fair results, and 25% had poor results. There was a significant correlation between a good functional outcome and careful adherence to the treatment protocol; however, some patients fared poorly regardless of treatment. Poor results occurred if treatment was not immediately initiated, if soft-tissue coverage was delayed (in those who experienced severe, mangling-type injuries necessitating partial foot amputation), if patients subsequently had neuritis or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or if patients were involved in ongoing workers' compensation and litigation. We conclude that because crush injuries of the foot may be associated with prolonged morbidity, initial management should be directed toward recognition and treatment of compartment syndromes, early soft-tissue coverage, and rigid skeletal stabilization to enhance soft-tissue healing.
Usefulness of Coronary and Carotid Imaging Rather than Traditional Atherosclerotic Risk Factors to Identify Firefighters at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 45% of deaths in on-duty firefighters, in contrast to 15% of all deaths occurring on conventional jobs. Therefore, with the goal of developing a tailored prevention program, we assessed CVD risk in a cohort of 50 firefighters using imaging and traditional risk factors. Participants were aged ≥40 years without a history of CVD or diabetes. CVD risk was assessed by way of history, physical examination, blood tests, risk scores, coronary artery calcium (CAC), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Median age was 46 years; 90% of subjects were men, 92% were white, and 30% were former smokers. Only 4% of subjects were hypertensive but 48% were prehypertensive. Only 14% of subjects had a normal body mass index; 38% were overweight, 48% were obese, and 46% had a high waist circumference. Based on fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dl or hemoglobin A 1c ≥5.6%, 50% of subjects had prediabetes and 2% had diabetes. Median total cholesterol was 196 mg/dl; median high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was 1.0 mg/L. CAC was detected in 22% of subjects and carotid plaque was detected in 36%. Using standard reference databases, 54% of subjects had cIMT greater than the seventy-fifth percentile; 66% had carotid plaque and/or cIMT greater than the seventy-fifth percentile. Atherogenic lipoprotein markers and risk scores did not differ between firefighters who had subclinical atherosclerosis and those who did not. Traditional CVD risk assessment does not adequately identify at-risk firefighters. In contrast, CAC and cIMT were useful for identifying increased risk and implementing primary prevention. In conclusion, early detection and integration of imaging with traditional risk assessment will be important in preventing premature death and disability among firefighters.
Clinical outcomes in fulminant myocarditis requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a weighted meta-analysis of 170 patients.

Abstract Background Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is often a self-resolving entity if the patient survives the acute illness. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used successfully for treatment of cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest due to FM. However, clinical outcomes are not well understood, in part because of small study sizes. In the absence of large clinical trials, performance of pooled analysis represents the best method for ascertaining survival rates for ECMO. Methods A systematic Medline search was conducted on ECMO for the treatment of FM, updated up to November 2012. Studies with n ≥10 published in the year 2000 or later that reported survival to hospital discharge for FM requiring ECMO were included. Studies that reported only on pediatric patients were excluded. The smaller of studies with overlapping patients were excluded. Cochran Q and I 2 were calculated and reported. Results Six studies were included in the analysis, encompassing 170 patients. The minimum and maximum reported rates of survival to hospital discharge were 60.0% and 87.5%, respectively. The cumulative rate was 115/170. The calculated Cochran Q value was 3.63, which was not significant for heterogeneity. The I 2 value was 0%. The pooled estimate rate was 66.9% with a 95% confidence interval of 59.4%–73.7%. Conclusion More than two-thirds of patients with FM and either cardiogenic shock and/or cardiac arrest survive to hospital discharge with ECMO. These findings could be used in the risk-benefit analysis when initiation of a cardiopulmonary bypass system is being considered for FM.
Minority Students' Perceptions of Their Doctoral Programs in Special Education:

Education, as in other areas, has a chronic shortage of minority faculty. Arguably, special education has one of the greatest needs for minority doctoral students within the field of education. However, past research has indicated that the graduate school socialization process may hinder the progress of many minority doctoral students. This study reports the perceptions of minority doctoral students about their programs in special education. These students (n = 164) were participants in a larger satisfaction survey involving 619 doctoral students. Results indicate that although Latino/Latina students felt most satisfied with their programs overall, Asian and African American students reported more feelings of dissatisfaction. Implications for students, faculty, and program administrators are presented.
Market linkage and information spillover: Evidence from pre-crisis, crisis, and recovery periods

Abstract We examine market linkage and information spillover across the U.S. stock, corporate bond, and credit derivatives markets in the pre-crisis, crisis, and recovery periods. Our results suggest that information spills over across markets in a timely manner. We find that the market linkage becomes stronger in the crisis period, which could be explained by the increasing volatility and deteriorating funding liquidity. In particular, volatility plays a dominant role in the information transmission, which absorbs the liquidity effect when both volatility and liquidity are included as exogenous factors in a vector autoregressive model.
Shadows of the planck scale: scale dependence of compactification geometry.

By studying the effects of the shape moduli associated with toroidal compactifications, we demonstrate that Planck-sized extra dimensions can cast significant “shadows” over low-energy physics. These shadows can greatly distort our perceptions of the compactification geometry associated with large extra dimensions, and place a fundamental limit on our ability to probe the geometry of compactification simply by measuring Kaluza-Klein states. We also discuss the interpretation of compactification radii and hierarchies in the context of geometries with non-trivial shape moduli. One of the main results of this paper is that compactification geometry is effectively renormalized as a function of energy scale, with “renormalization group equations” describing the “flow” of geometric parameters such as compactification radii and shape angles as functions of energy.
On the chemistry of pyrrole in room-temperature chloroaluminate melts

Abstract The chemistry of pyrrole in room-temperature molten salts composed of mixtures of AlCl 3 with 1-methyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride has been studied by 1 H- and 13 C-NMR spectroscopy. The spectra indicate that an adduct is formed between pyrrole and AlCl 3 in melts containing an excess of AlCl 3 ; no adduct formation occurs in melts containing excess organic chloride. The structure of the adduct is deduced and used to explain the previously observed inability to polymerize pyrrole electrochemically in acidic melts.
Effect of Soil Salinity on Internal Browning of Potato Tuber Tissue in Two Soil Types

A study was carried out with potato (Solanum tuberosum; cv. Atlantic) during 2001 and 2002 to determine the effect of soil salinity on internal tuber browning. The effect of varying levels of soil salinity on proline content, polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity, and chlorogenic acid content in potato leaves and tubers was examined. NaCl treatments (2.1, 4.25, 6.38, 8.5 g NaCl L−1) were applied to the pots, the first 46 days after planting, and four additional treatments were applied, each about 7 days apart. Increasing NaCl concentrations resulted in an increase in browning of tuber tissue and proline content in the tubers. Chlorogenic acid content in the leaves increased up to 6.4 g NaCl L−1, but then decreased at 8.5 g NaCl L−1 and in tubers tended to be maximal at the highest saline concentration tested (8.5 g NaCl L−1). Increasing NaCl concentration resulted in a reduction in yield per plant and average tuber weight, and also increased tuber number. There were major differences in the impact of salinity over the 2-year period, which was probably due to the impact of the growing media; a low organic matter (about 1% OM) silty loam soil and a high organic content (about 90% OM) Muck soil were used in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Tuber browning increased linearly with salinity in 2002, but only markedly increased at 8.5 g NaCl L−1 in 2001. Sodium and chloride ion concentration was always greater (about two times) at equivalent application rates in the 2002 trial. The high organic matter content soil retained sodium and chloride ions more effectively than the silty loam soil and enhanced the impact of increased salinity concentration on physiological properties of potato plants and particularly on tuber tissue browning and proline accumulation.
Quantitative guidelines for urban sustainability

Abstract The transition from today's largely unsustainable use of resources of all kinds to a world that is becoming increasingly sustainable will be won or lost in the next few decades, and in the planet's urban areas. In order to approach the challenges associated with this transition, it is necessary to quantify the sustainable requirements for a satisfactory urban life—energy, water, food, non-renewable resources, transportation, housing, and waste management (among a number of other possibilities). We have reviewed levels of current resource use in cities in the more developed and less developed worlds, and levels that would seem adequate for the urban populations of the future, and propose quantitative ‘sustainability requirements’ for consideration. We suggest that these levels, or something like them, provide a basis for planning, initiating implementation, and monitoring progress toward sustainable cities in the 21st century.
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque 1818, tetraspanin membrane protein family: characterization and expression analysis of CD81 cDNA.

Abstract CD81, also known as the target of an antiproliferative antibody 1 (TAPA-1) in human, is a member of tetraspanin integral membrane protein family. This protein plays many important roles in immune and other physiological functions. In this report, we characterized and analyzed expression of the channel catfish CD81 transcript. The full-length of channel catfish CD81 cDNA comprised of 1130 nucleotides, including an open reading frame which appears to encode a putative peptide of 234 amino acid residues. By comparison with the human counterpart, the channel catfish CD81 peptide could be divided into domains, including four transmembrane domains, three intracellular domains, and one of each small and large extracellular loops. The degree of conservation of the channel catfish CD81 amino acid sequence to that of mammalian counterparts ranged from 65% to 67%. The large extracellular domain shows the least conservation between fish and mammals. However, the characteristic Cys 159 -Cys 160 -Gly 161 motif and Cys 176/188 in this domain were conserved. The channel catfish CD81 transcript was detected by RT-PCR in spleen, head kidney, liver, intestine, skin and gill. This result provides important information for further elucidating CD81 functions in channel catfish.
Relationship Advice in the Top Selling Women's Magazine, Cosmopolitan: A Content Analysis

ABSTRACT Throughout the 1970s and the 1980s, Cosmopolitan has represented women's rapidly changing lives, and today it is the largest selling young women's magazine in the world. Since its founding in 1886, Cosmopolitan has been a resource for millions of readers, providing information/advice on contemporary male/female relationships and sexuality. The purpose of this study is to analyze and interpret the content of contemporary intimate couple relationship advice in women's Cosmopolitan magazine over a one-year period. Findings indicate that women are consistently receiving stereotypic messages about relationships. One of the main messages women received about relationships was that they were responsible for changing men and themselves in order to improve and maintain couple relationships. Other messages were related to women's responsibility for decision-making and the couple's responsibility in maintaining and improving the relationship.