cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emotional well-being predicts subsequent functional independence and survival.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether positive affect has an independent effect on functional status, mobility, and survival in an older Mexican American sample. DESIGN: A 2-year prospective cohort study. SETTING: Five Southwestern states: Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. PARTICPANTS: A population-based sample of 2282 Mexican Americans aged 65 to 99 who reported no functional limitations at baseline interview. MEASUREMENTS: In-home interviews in 1993–1994 and again in 1995–1996 assessed demographic variables, health conditions, activities of daily living, performance-based mobility, survival, and a rating of positive and negative affect. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, there was a direct relationship between positive affect scores at baseline and mobility, functional status, and survival 2 years later, controlling for functional status, sociodemographic variables, major chronic conditions, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, drinking status, and negative affect at baseline. Subjects with high positive affect were half as likely (odds ratio (OR) = 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29, 0.93) to become disabled in activities of daily living (ADLs), two-thirds as likely (OR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.51, 0.79) to have a slow walking speed, and half as likely (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.30, 0.93) to have died during the 2-year follow-up compared to those with lower positive affect scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the concept that positive affect, or emotional well-being, is different from the absence of depression or negative affect. Positive affect seems to protect individuals against physical declines in old age. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 473–478, 2000.
Salmonellae and Salmonellosis Associated with Milk and Milk Products. A Review

Abstract There has been a renewed interest in the occurrence of salmonellae in food products, prompted mainly by recent disclosures that the organisms were recovered from a wide variety of foods. The 1,200 or more serotypes of these Gram-negative, facultative, asporogenous, rod-shaped bacteria are all considered to be human pathogens. In man they can cause enteric fevers (i.e., typhoid fever and related ailments), gastroenteritis, and septicemias. Treatment of salmonellosis is often difficult, and a limited number of patients continue to shed the organisms for extended periods even though they appear to be recovered. During 1966 there were approximately 17,000 reported cases of salmonellosis in the United States. This is an increase from 6,693 in 1957. Cases of typhoid fever decreased by nearly 75% during this same period. It is believed by some that the number of reported salmonellosis cases represents from 1 to 5% of the actual cases in the United States. Reported deaths in the United States from all types of salmonellosis averaged slightly less than 100 annually during the 1957–1966 period. Although most outbreaks of human salmonellosis are attributable to such animal products as eggs and meat (mainly poulry), dairy products, on occasion, have been reported as vehicles for the spread of this ailment. Salmonellae grow at temperatures of 5.5 to 45C, at α w values of 0.945 to 0.999, are retarded by acids and are inactivated if the pH is low enough, are destroyed by conventional pasteurization treatments, are easily destroyed by chlorine and quaternary ammonium compounds, can survive but not grow in media with 15 to 30% sodium chloride, and may be inhibited by sorbic acid. Salmonellae are known to occur in raw milk, but the frequency and level are unknown. Consumption of contaminated raw milk has led to outbreaks of salmonellosis. Pasteurized milk, too, has been responsible for disseminating these organisms which occurred in the product through contamination after heating. Occurrence of salmonellae in certain dairy products has been demonstrated in the United States and elsewhere. This review of the literature further discusses the circumstances under which these organisms may occur in dairy products or ingredients used in combination with dairy products in the preparation of various foods.
Noradrenergic reuptake inhibition in the treatment of pain.

Introduction: Noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors can be effective analgesics, finding application in a wide variety of clinical pain settings. Due to a shift toward noradrenergic-mediated pain pathways following nerve injury, they are particularly well suited to the treatment of neuropathic pain. This phenotypic shift makes neuropathic pain difficult to control with opioids alone; some noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors have demonstrated synergy with opioids. Agents currently in early clinical trials are discussed and include both novel delivery of old drugs and the development of new drugs. Areas covered: This review was limited to noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors and analgesia. Literature search included the terms adrenergic, noradrenergic, reuptake, inhibitors, analgesia, NET, norepinephrine transporter, and pain using Medline, Google scholar, Web of Knowledge, www.clinicaltrials.gov, and Pharmaprojects (Informa UK Ltd. 2012). Expert opinion: Topical drug delivery and the use of combinations of agents b...
Gaining perspective on the risks of ionizing radiation for cardiac imaging.

Three patients consult with their primary care physician because of chest pain. After taking careful histories and doing physical examinations, the physician is concerned about the possibility of cardiac causes for the chest pain, but the level of concern is different in each case. After performing
The GM High-Performance Induction Motor Drive System

The recent advances in the power handling capacity of semiconductor devices make it possible to replace dc and ac commutator machines for variable-speed applications by high-speed, lightweight, squirrel-cage induction motors. This paper describes a controlled slip-frequency system which eliminates the low-starting torque, low-power factor, and the low efficiency at lower speeds, normally associated with induction motors. The development program at the General Motors Research Laboratories that resulted in fabrication of the experimental electric vehicles, GM Electrovair and Electrovan (exhibited in October 1966), is described chronologically.
Frame synchronization for optical multi-pulse pulse position modulation

We investigate frame synchronization algorithms for direct detection multi-pulse pulse position modulation (MPPM) optical communication systems. The optimal rules (in a maximum likelihood sense) are derived, approximations to them that are computationally easier to implement are identified, and upper bounds on the synchronization probability are obtained. It is seen that the high SNR rules have a performance nearly equal to that of the ML rules, but provide a significant performance improvement over the simple correlation rules and are virtually as simple to implement for a wide range of signal energies. We also address the problem of designing periodic MPPM synchronization sequences with good autocorrelation properties, based on a maximum, worst case, peak-to-sidelobe distance criterion. Upper bounds on the peak-to-sidelobe distance for such sequences are derived, and a few sequences, generated by computer simulations, for different synchronization sequence lengths are given. >
Effect of sleep on gastroesophageal physiology and airway protective mechanisms

The sleeping state is accompanied by many changes in gastroesophageal function that may be of importance in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). At nighttime, gastric acid production is increased, gastric emptying is delayed, esophageal clearance is markedly delayed, and upper esophageal sphincter pressure diminishes significantly. Further, unlike daytime esophageal acid exposure, which appears more easily controlled with medical treatment, nocturnal gastric acid production appears difficult to suppress pharmacologically. Nighttime reflux may be associated with a greater prevalence of supraesophageal reflux symptoms as well. At the same time, protective airway reflexes may limit esophageal reflux in some patients. Derangements in the protective mechanisms should be elucidated, as these might account for susceptibility to GERD in patients with nighttime reflux.
Reproducing the North-South Divide: The Role of Trade Deficits and Capital Flows'

The North–South divide can be conceived in several different ways and demarcated along many different dimensions. This essay emphasizes two interrelated aspects of the divide: (1) the gap in economic performance between rich and poor nations and (2) the dependency induced by the transactions that link them. It explores the intertemporal flows and asymmetric exchanges surrounding trade imbalances as a key mechanism that perpetuates both. The yawning income gap between the richest and poorest nations is the most dramatic and visible dimension of the North–South divide and one that has marked the global political economy for at least two centuries (e.g., Maddison 1995, 2001; Pritchett 1997; O'Rourke 2001; Mayer-Foulkes 2002). That it has persisted—and, indeed, widened—during the globalization era is a major challenge to several strands of contemporary theory that predict its demise. As the top line in Figure 1 shows, the GDP per capita of the OECD countries was about 45 times that of the low-income countries in the early 1960s (read on the right-hand axis in the figure).2 That ratio grew to about 73:1 in the early 1990s and has declined only to the high 60s early in the twenty-first century.3 The gap between middle- and low-income countries, portrayed in the bottom line and calibrated on the left-hand axis, traced a similar path, widening from 3.2 to 4.6 over this era. The income ratio between the OECD and middle-income countries has barely budged for nearly half a century: Beginning at about 14.1, it grew as high as 16.3, before declining to a level almost identical to where it began by 2005.4 1 Income Ratios between Country Categories At the heart of the mechanisms that affect this divide are the complex of transactions that constitute the bridge across it—international trade and the various …
Human basal body basics

In human cells, the basal body (BB) core comprises a ninefold microtubule-triplet cylindrical structure. Distal and subdistal appendages are located at the distal end of BB, where they play indispensable roles in cilium formation and function. Most cells that arrest in the G0 stage of the cell cycle initiate BB docking at the plasma membrane followed by BB-mediated growth of a solitary primary cilium, a structure required for sensing the extracellular environment and cell signaling. In addition to the primary cilium, motile cilia are present in specialized cells, such as sperm and airway epithelium. Mutations that affect BB function result in cilia dysfunction. This can generate syndromic disorders, collectively called ciliopathies, for which there are no effective treatments. In this review, we focus on the features and functions of BBs and centrosomes in Homo sapiens.
Decision Support Systems Application Development Trends 2002-2012

This survey provides newly reported approaches to the design and development of DSSs published in peer reviewed journals. DSS applications were searched using the online database ABI/INFORM complete, which is available on the web through ProQuest. The collected 80 specific DSS applications, where were published in 41 journals, are analyzed to examine the development pattern of DSS in the time period of 2002-2012. This paper summarizes the survey results according to 1 the area of application, 2 the year of publication in each area of application, 3 the distribution of underlying decision support tools in DSSs, 4 a classification based on Alter's taxonomy, and 5 the management level operational, tactical, or strategic for which the DSS was designed.
Strength Training for Children and Adolescents: What Can Physicians Recommend?

Primary care physicians who see young patients are often asked about strength training programs for children. Some parents are seeking ways to give their child a competitive edge in sports. Many parents of overweight children seek guidance about which activities are effective for weight loss. Musculoskeletal injuries and epiphyseal fractures are also a concern. Informed clinicians can reassure parents that, with adult supervision, proper equipment, and realistic expectations, strength training programs designed for children and adolescents are safe and effective.
Parental beliefs and practices around early self-regulation: The impact of culture and immigration.

Birth marks the beginning of the transition from external to internal self-regulation for infants. Acquiring regular sleep patterns, regulating crying and later, emotions are universal developmental tasks. Nevertheless, the values, beliefs, and parenting practices prevalent in different cultures bot
Psychiatric Comorbidity and Hoarding Symptoms in African Americans With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:

This study investigated comorbidity and hoarding symptoms in a sample of African American adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (N = 75). For lifetime disorders, 87.9% of participants had at le...
Renal Mass Biopsy

Several factors have led to renewed interest in percutaneous renal mass biopsy, including an increase in incidental detection of small renal masses on routine cross-sectional imaging studies, the availability of conservative and minimally invasive treatment options for selected patients with renal cell carcinoma, and advances in molecular targeted therapy for patients with advanced renal cancer. Percutaneous renal mass biopsy is a safe procedure with low complication rates. Previously feared potential complications such as severe hemorrhage and needle tract seeding have not been encountered in the largest contemporary series published. Advances in cross-sectional imaging technologies, including ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, have enabled greater precision in localizing and targeting renal tumors for biopsy. Fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy is performed through a guiding cannula in a coaxial fashion, allowing the operator to obtain multiple tissue samples without reinserting the needle through the entire tract. Core needle biopsy has a diagnostic accuracy of greater than 90 %; thus, percutaneous biopsy can in many instances have a significant impact on the clinical management of a patient with a renal mass.
Functional connectivity during masked and unmasked face emotion processing in bipolar disorder

Little is known regarding the neural connectivity and correlates during automatic, unconscious face emotion processing in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). In this study, 14 adults with BD and 14 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent fMRI scanning while completing an affective priming task with unconsciously perceived and consciously perceived faces (angry, happy, neutral, blank oval). We found that, regardless of awareness level and emotion types, BD patients exhibited diminished functional connectivity between amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) compared to HV. This connectivity finding is present in the absence of activation differences in amygdala. In addition, in medial frontal gyrus, BD patients displayed greater activation while HV displayed less activation to angry and neutral faces compared to blank ovals. These results suggest that aberrant amygdala-vmPFC connectivity and neural dysfunction in areas implicated in appraisal and expression of emotions (medial frontal gyrus) may be the pathophysiological correlates of emotional processing in BD regardless of awareness level.
Keap1 hypomorphism protects against ischemic and obstructive kidney disease

The Keap1/Nrf2 pathway is a master regulator of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other cytoprotective mechanisms important in protection from kidney disease. For the first time in kidney disease, we describe the use of Keap1 hypomorphic mice, which possess Nrf2 hyperactivation. We exposed these mice and wild type controls to ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). The initial tubular injury at 24 hours post-IRI appeared to be unaffected, with the only observed difference being a decrease in inflammatory cytokine expression in the hypomorphs. However, we noted significant improvement in serum creatinine in the hypomorphs at 3 and 10 days after injury, and renal fibrosis was dramatically attenuated at the late timepoint. Assessment of Nrf2-regulated targets (GSTM1, GSTP1, NQO1) revealed higher expression in the hypomorphs at baseline. While injury tended to suppress these genes in wild-type mice, the suppression was attenuated or reversed in Keap1 hypomorphs, suggesting that protection in these mice was mediated by increased Nrf2 transcriptional activity. To assess the generalizability of our findings, we subjected the hypomorphs to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and again found significant protection and increased expression of Nrf2 targets. Overall, these results support the conclusion that the Nrf2 pathway is protective in a variety of kidney diseases.
The Phospholamban Journey 4 Decades After Setting Out for Ithaka.

> “ As you set out for Ithaka, hope your voyage is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery….. Keep Ithaka always in your mind. Arriving there is what you are destined for. But do not hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years……Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. Without her you would not have set out. ” The quote above from the poem Ithaka by K. Kavafis is based on Homer’s Odyssey (8th century BC) and focuses on Odysseus’ journey to return to his kingdom in Ithaka (Greek: Ιθάκη, Ithaki) after the Troy war. Odysseus encounters numerous challenges, hardships, setbacks, but also beautiful new experiences, knowledge, and wisdom during this long voyage. Kavafis describes a journey that is both Odysseus’ and ours as we set out on a discovery voyage in our scientific careers. The poet urges us to live for the journey rather than the expected end point. It is the accumulated knowledge and wisdom through the years of scientific wandering and discovery that make our journey fun and enjoyable. Consistent with the poem’s theme, a journey to understand the functional role of phospholamban started over 40 years ago, on its identification in the heart. In this viewpoint, we present the lessons, challenges, shifting paradigms, controversies, and limitations of the phospholamban journey, which has been full of adventure and full of discovery! In the early 1970s, investigators were trying to determine whether the relaxation-promoting effects of catecholamines in the heart may also involve the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function. Indeed, addition of cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) or PKA (protein kinase A) to crude microsomal vesicles increased calcium (Ca)-transport activity. Surprisingly, P32 labeling indicated that SERCA (sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 1) was not phosphorylated but another small protein of ≈22 000 Da.1 The identity …
Modular use of human body models of varying levels of complexity: Validation of head kinematics.

ABSTRACTObjective: The significant computational resources required to execute detailed human body finite-element models has motivated the development of faster running, simplified models (e.g., GHBMC M50-OS). Previous studies have demonstrated the ability to modularly incorporate the validated GHBMC M50-O brain model into the simplified model (GHBMC M50-OS+B), which allows for localized analysis of the brain in a fraction of the computation time required for the detailed model. The objective of this study is to validate the head and neck kinematics of the GHBMC M50-O and M50-OS (detailed and simplified versions of the same model) against human volunteer test data in frontal and lateral loading. Furthermore, the effect of modular insertion of the detailed brain model into the M50-OS is quantified.Methods: Data from the Navy Biodynamics Laboratory (NBDL) human volunteer studies, including a 15g frontal, 8g frontal, and 7g lateral impact, were reconstructed and simulated using LS-DYNA. A five-point restrain...
Criticising Surveillance and Surveillance Critique: Why privacy and humanism are necessary but insufficient

The current debate on surveillance, both academic and public, is constantly tempted towards a ‘negative’ criticism of present surveillance systems. In contrast, a ‘positive’ critique would be one which seeks to present alternative ways of thinking, evaluating, and even undertaking surveillance. Surveillance discourse today propagates a host of normative claims about what is admissible as ‘true’, ‘probable’, ‘efficient’ – based upon which it cannot fail to justify itself. A positive critique questions and subverts this epistemological foundation. It believes that surveillance must be held accountable by terms other than those of its own making. The objective is an open debate not only about ‘surveillance or not’, but the possibility of ‘another surveillance’. To demonstrate the necessity of this shift, I first examine two existing frames of criticism. Privacy and humanism (appeal to human rights, freedoms and decency) are necessary but insufficient tools for positive critique. They implicitly accept surveillance’s bargain of trade-offs: the benefit of security ‘measured’ against the cost of rights. To demonstrate paths towards positive critique, I analyse risk and security : two ‘load-bearing’ concepts that ground existing rationalisations of surveillance – and thus are ‘openings’ for reforming those evaluative paradigms and rigged bargains on offer today.
Surgeon Variation in Complications With Minimally Invasive and Open Colectomy: Results From the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative.

Importance Minimally invasive colectomy (MIC) is an increasingly common surgical procedure. Although case series and controlled prospective trials have found the procedure to be safe, it is unclear whether safe adaptation of this approach from open colectomy (OC) is occurring among surgeons. Objective To assess rates of complications for MIC compared with OC among surgeons. Design, Setting, and Participants We analyzed 5196 patients who underwent MIC or OC from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2015, by 97 surgeons in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, with each surgeon performing at least 10 OCs and 10 MICs. Hierarchical regression was used to assess surgeon variation in adjusted rates of complications and the association of these outcomes across approaches. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary study outcome measurements included overall 30-day complication rates, variation in complication rates among surgeons, and surgeon rank by complication rate for MIC vs OC. Results Of the 5196 patients (mean [SD] age, 62.9 [14.4] years; 2842 [54.7%] female; 4429 [85.2%] white), 3118 (60.0%) underwent MIC and 2078 (40.0%) underwent OC. Overall, 1149 patients (22.1%) experienced complications (702 [33.8%] in the OC group vs 447 [14.3%] in the MIC group; P Conclusions and Relevance Surgeon-level variation in complications was nearly twice as great for MIC than for OC among surgeons enrolled in a statewide quality collaborative. Moreover, surgeon rankings for OC outcomes differed substantially from outcomes for those same surgeons performing MIC. This finding implies a need for improved training in adoption of MIC techniques among some surgeons.
Reflections on Asia: Borrowing Lessons from the Humanities in Social Science Coursework

What lessons can political science classes borrow from the humanities? This paper presents the results of a multi-year study on teaching about Asia as part of a general education program. Given the challenges of meeting common learning outcomes while also teaching discipline-specific lessons, political science courses often underperformed in assessments when compared to benchmark expectations. While our initial conclusion—that a greater focus on multimodal assignments would promote deeper learning and reflection—proved unfounded, explicitly emphasizing students’ reflection on their own process of democratic engagement, in comparison to that of their counterparts in Asia, did seem to address the shortcomings of the previous approaches by giving students context and guidance in their understanding of how democracy works at home and abroad. Data from reflective essays, collected over two years, provide evidence for this finding.
FINANCIAL LITERACY AMONG RURAL PEOPLE - A STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO KOLLAM DISTRICT

Financial literacy is the ability to learn, monitor and effectively use financial resources to improve the well-being and economic security of an individual. It will help the people to make informed and confident in their financial decisions process regarding the savings and wise application of that savings. Financial literacy has become an increasingly important requirement for functioning in modern society. The study was intended to find out the financial literacy among the rural investors.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a novel, innovative noninvasive imaging technique used to estimate the stiffness of soft tissues. It has been shown that MRE can be used as a research tool to diagnose different disease states in the heart, liver, brain, pancreas, breast, aorta etc. Currently, liver MRE is a clinical tool to stage liver fibrosis. This chapter describes the principle of MRE, the motivation for use of MRE for cardiac applications, and the current state-of-the-art in the development of cardiac MRE, which includes the requirement of hardware, pulse sequences and analysis. Finally, cardiac MRE applications and future directions are also discussed/presented.
The Syntax of Galileo: Reply to Ray Jackendoff

In the opening paragraph of his response, Professor Jackendoff describes some ‘common’ responses to his theory as a series of ‘misunderstandings’. In the next paragraph, however, he acknowledges the most conspicuous misunderstanding in his book: “One distinction that was erroneously omitted from PiM concerns two senses of the term “syntax”. He then discusses broad and narrow definitions of the term. To my mind this tack of admitting, in the passive voice, a major deficiency also admits tacitly the main point of my review: If one allows the ‘broad’ definition of syntax as a common principle of orderly patterning in physical bodies, then one doesn’t need to posit a Universal Grammar. That at least was my thesis about a syntax based upon physical entities. In what follows, I shall follow his numbered headings in order to try to fix these misunderstandings.
Vinyl Addition Copolymers of Norbornylnorbornene and Hydroxyhexafluoroisopropylnorbornene for Efficient Recovery of n-Butanol from Dilute Aqueous Solution via Pervaporation

The high energy cost to recover heavier alcohols, such as n-butanol, from dilute aqueous solution is a significant practical barrier to their large-scale bioproduction. Membrane pervaporation offers an energy-efficient alternative, provided membrane materials can be developed which provide both good alcohol selectivity and high flux. Previous work has revealed that vinyl addition polynorbornenes bearing substituents—especially hydroxyhexafluoroisopropyl—with an affinity for n-butanol have potential in this application, as their high glass transition temperature allows the formation of thin but mechanically robust selective layers in thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. In the present work, we synthesize both microphase-separated gradient copolymers, and homogeneous random copolymers, of hydroxyhexafluoroisopropylnorbornene (HFANB) with norbornylnorbornene (NBANB) and evaluate their n-butanol/water pervaporation performance. Compared with analogous copolymers of HFANB and n-butylnorbornene (BuNB), the grea...
12 HRM and Distributed Work: Managing People Across Distances

The phenomenon of managing work that is distributed over geographical distance is not new but is increasing in both frequency and intentionality as a function of globalization and knowledge-centric strategies. I review the literature on geographically distributed work, both that which highlights liabilities of loss of proximity and more recent research that emphasizes “virtual teams” as an intentional organizing device. I explore the adaptations, remedies, and countervailing strategies deployed to support such teams, contrasting those that minimize distance with those that increase individual and group capacity for coping with distance. I also emphasize that other dimensions of distance—cultural, administrative, and economic—affect the organization of work, the experiences of those doing the work, and individual and organizational outcomes. Here I highlight the “blended workforce” in which standard (traditional employees) and nonstandard (temporary and contract) workers are organized to accomplis...
Inhibition of Noncanonical Murine Double Minute 2 Homolog Abrogates Ocular Inflammation through NF-κB Suppression.

Uveitis is estimated to account for 10% of all cases of blindness in the United States, including 30,000 new cases of legal blindness each year. Intraocular and oral corticosteroids are the effective mainstay treatment, but they carry the risk of serious long-term ocular and systemic morbidity. New noncorticosteroid therapies with a favorable side effect profile are necessary for the treatment of chronic uveitis, given the paucity of existing treatment choices. We have previously demonstrated that Nutlin-3, a small-molecule inhibitor of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) homolog, suppresses pathologic retinal angiogenesis through a p53-dependent mechanism, but the noncanonical p53-independent functions have not been adequately elucidated. Herein, we demonstrate an unanticipated function of MDM2 inhibition, where Nutlin-3 potently abrogates lipopolysaccharide-induced ocular inflammation. Furthermore, we identified a mechanism by which transcription and translation of NF-κB is mediated by MDM2, independent of p53, in ocular inflammation. Small-molecule MDM2 inhibition is a novel noncorticosteroid strategy for inhibiting ocular inflammation, which may potentially benefit patients with chronic uveitis.
The impact of a respiratory therapy consult service on house officers' knowledge of respiratory care ordering.

BACKGROUND Although available studies show that implementation of respiratory care protocols by respiratory therapists can enhance the allocation of respiratory care services, concern has been expressed that respiratory therapists' involvement in assessing patients and in determining treatment plans may detract from medical trainees' education and experience in ordering respiratory care services. OBJECTIVE Compare the rates of correct responses to case-based questions about respiratory care ordering in two groups of internal medicine house officers at academic medical centers: one group training at an institution using respiratory care protocols (The Cleveland Clinic Foundation) and the other group training in an institution at which respiratory care protocols have not been used (University of Nebraska). DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Two academic medical centers, one using respiratory protocols and the other not using respiratory care protocols. MEASUREMENTS Percent of correct responses to questions regarding respiratory care management posed in 5 case studies administered to both groups. RESULTS Responses were available from 41 and 17 internal medicine house officers at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and University of Nebraska, respectively. Respondents represented postgraduate years one, two, and three, and constituted a similar percentage of all internal medicine house officers at each institution (33%). The rate of correct responses to the 20 questions posed in the 5 case studies was high overall (76.8%) and similar in the two house staff groups (77.2 +/- 11.6% at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and 75.8 +/- 12.0% at University of Nebraska, p = 0.69). The 95% confidence interval for the difference straddled zero (-5.4%, 8.1%), making it very unlikely that any important difference exists between the two groups in rate of correct responses. Analysis of covariance also showed no difference between groups, suggesting that postgraduate training level did not affect this conclusion. In one of the 5 case studies, the percent of correct responses was higher among trainees where respiratory care protocols were in use (86.8 +/- 18% at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation vs 69.1 +/- 14% at University of Nebraska, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS In this comparison of internal medicine house officers' knowledge regarding respiratory care ordering at institutions using versus not using respiratory care protocols, the rates of correct responses by both groups were similar and unlikely to differ significantly. For one of the 5 case studies, respondents from the institution using respiratory care protocols scored significantly higher. Taken together, these results suggest that use of respiratory care protocols implemented by respiratory therapists does not detract from internal medicine trainees' expertise in respiratory care management. Whether these results generalize to other institutions or reflect expertise in actual practice remains uncertain.
Quantitation And Modification Of Catalytic Sites In Zsm-5

Elemental analysis, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPDA), and 27 Al magic angle sample spinning (MAS) NMR were combined to quantitate the amount of framework tetrahedral aluminum in ZSM-5 zeolites, either pretreated in controlled conditions to avoid alteration of structural aluminum or modified by exposure to boron trichloride to intentionally vary the aluminum content. The cracking of n-hexane at 811 K (alpha test) was used to evaluate the relative acid catalytic activity of these materials. In both cases, activity is governed by the framework tetrahedral aluminum content. Some of the critical variables for 27 AI MAS-NMR quantitation are delineated. 11 B MAS-NMR was used as a complementary technique to confirm the substitution of aluminum by boron in the zeolite framework. The ion-exchange capacity stays nearly constant as a result of such an atom interchange. A mechanism is proposed.
SELECTIVE TRANSCRIPTION OF THE EUGLENA GRACILIS CHLOROPLAST CHROMOSOME IN VITRO

ABSTRACT The in vitro transcript of a purified, transcriptionally active chromosome isolated from chloroplasts of Euglena gracilis has been characterized as to base composition, fraction of the chromosome transcribed, kinetic complexity, and RNA sequence content in comparison to in vivo transcribed chloroplast RNA. The data are consistent with the interpretation that the sequences present in in vitro synthesized RNA are the same as those present in vivo in purified chloroplasts.
Power Series Expansions

Power series expansions are old friends of all workers in the mathematical sciences [4, 5, 10]. This chapter emphasizes special techniques for handling and generating the power series encountered in computational statistics. Most expansions can be phrased in terms of recurrence relations. Logarithmic differentiation is one powerful device for developing recurrences. Our applications of logarithmic differentiation to problems such as the conversion between moments and cumulants illustrate some of the interesting possibilities.
Post-extubation Dysphagia: Does Timing of Evaluation Matter?

Swallowing evaluations are often delayed at least 24 h following extubation with the assumption that swallow function improves over time. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to determine if dysphagia, as measured by aspiration and need for diet modification, declines over the first 24-h post-extubation, whereby providing evidence-based evaluation guidelines for this population. Forty-nine patients completed FEES at 2–4 h post-extubation and 24–26 h post-extubation. We compared Penetration–Aspiration Scale scores and diet recommendation between time points. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to investigate associations between age, reason for admission, reason for intubation, and a history of COPD and outcomes of aspiration or silent aspiration at either FEES exam. Sixty-nine percent of participants safely swallowed at least one texture without aspiration at 2–4 h post-extubation. Within participants, there was a significant decrease in penetration/aspiration at 24 h and 79% showed improvement in airway protection on at least one bolus type, suggesting an improvement in swallow function over the first day following extubation. These findings suggest that although patients may be safe to begin a modified diet soon after extubation, delaying evaluation until 24-h post-extubation may allow for a less restricted diet.
A spectrum of type soundness and performance

The literature on gradual typing presents three fundamentally different ways of thinking about the integrity of programs that combine statically typed and dynamically typed code. This paper presents a uniform semantic framework that explains all three approaches, illustrates how each approach affects a developer's work, and adds a systematic performance comparison for a single implementation platform.
Dynamic fracture and frictional heating due to periodic excitation in energetic materials

Mechanical stimulus may lead to localized temperature increase due to the concentration of energy dissipation at microstructural features. Mechanically induced heating occurs, for example, when materials are subjected to periodic excitation. This is a particular concern in energetic materials where ignition may start a deflagration. In this study, finite element simulations are performed on a single β-HMX particle in a polymer matrix subjected to mechanical periodic excitation. Different initial defects, such as cracks and interface debonding, are included to control the location of hot-spots nucleation. The model accounts for damage evolution and heat generation due to friction at cracks. The results indicate that hot-spots nucleate preferentially at the particle/binder interface, and therefore, the temperature rate is higher when the particle is initially debonded than when it is perfectly attached to the polymer.
Real-time particle monitoring of pesticide drift from an axial fan airblast orchard sprayer

In Washington State, a majority of reported pesticide-related illnesses and application-related complaints involve drift. We employed real-time particle monitors (Dylos) during a series of experimental spray events investigating drift. Sections of an orchard block were randomly sprayed by an axial fan airblast sprayer, while monitors sampled particulate matter above and below the canopy at various downwind locations. We found elevated particle mass concentrations (PMC) at all distances (16–74 m). The 75th percentile PMC while spraying was significantly greater than the control periods by 107 (95% CI 94–121) μg/m3, after adjusting for sampler height and wind speed. The 75th percentile PMC below the canopy was significantly greater than above the canopy by 9.4 (95% CI 5.2–12) μg/m3, after adjusting for spraying and wind speed. In a restricted analysis of the spray events, the 75th percentile PMC significantly decreased by 2.6 (95% CI −3.2 to −1.7) μg/m3 for every additional meter away from the edge of the spray quadrant, after adjusting for canopy height and wind speed. Our results were consistent with a larger study that performed passive sampling during the same spray events, suggesting that real-time monitoring can be used as a screening tool for pesticide drift. Compared with traditional methods of drift sampling, real-time monitoring is overall an easily employed, affordable sampling technique, and it can provide minute-by-minute measurements that can be coupled with meteorological measurements to better understand how changes in wind speed and direction affect drift.
Regulating behavior with the flip of a translational switch.

From the pioneering discovery of the first single-gene mutants that controlled circadian behavior by Konopka and Benzer (1), the quest to probe the fundamentally important relationship between gene expression and behavior has been ongoing. The ability to control cellular function and behavior with exquisite precision in vivo through genetic, optogenetic, and pharmacological manipulation already exists, but the search is still afoot for approaches to rapidly and reversibly control gene expression. Genetic code expansion (GCE) has proved to be a powerful tool to control protein function in vitro and inside the cellular milieu (2) and, more recently, in a wide array of vertebrates in vivo (3). In PNAS, Maywood et al. (4) use GCE to create a fast, conditional, and reversible translational switch to reconstitute the molecular circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and circadian behavior in arrhythmic mice. The rapid kinetics with which protein expression is controlled with this translational switch provides unprecedented temporal control over neuronal function in vivo, restoring complex behavioral responses reversibly on the timescale of about a day. This pioneering approach should be broadly applicable to many other systems, from neurobiology to the periphery, opening the door to a new era of genetic control and biological insight. In mammals, the SCN acts as the master circadian pacemaker that provides temporal control over nearly every biological process, from the secretion of melatonin to body temperature (5). From its position in the hypothalamus, the SCN receives retinal input that is used to entrain clocks to the environmental light–dark cycle. It also provides molecular cues to synchronize … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: cpartch{at}ucsc.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
A Systematic Review of Social Service Programs Serving Refugees

Purpose:The global forced migration crisis calls for responsive, research-supported social services. This systematic review examines available research on social service programs implemented with r...
Towards cell therapy of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): human mesenchymal stem cells secretome inhibits androgen production by pcos theca cells

Background & Aim Background Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic disorder characterized by inflammation, infertility and excess ovarian androgen production by theca cells. Though its etiology is not fully understood. Women with PCOS exhibit increased expression of CYP17A1, and CYP11A1 genes involved in androgen production. Due to the robust anti-inflammatory ability of human bone marrow Mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), we evaluated its utility as a novel cell-therapy by injecting hMSCs directly into the ovaries of PCOS mouse model. It showed a significant improvement in hyperandrogenemia. hMSCs also secrete various factors in media, known as secretome. The literature shows that the secretome of hMSCs has the same regenerative and reparative function likes hMSCs. Hypothesis We hypothesize that hMSCs secretome contains the factors that are able to inhibit the androgen biosynthesis in PCOS theca cells. Methods, Results & Conclusion Material and Methods Theca cells, collected from normal cycling and PCOS patient underwent ovariectomy, were seeded on culture dishes pre-coated with the extracellular matrix at a density of 6 × 104 cells/ml and cultured for 24 hours. Cells were then treated with either 3T3 conditioned media as a control (C) or Mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media (CM). The C and CM were prepared through collecting the serum-free supernatant of 3T3 and hMSCs at an optimal confluence, 48 hours later. The mRNA and protein expression of CYP17A1, CYP11A1, and DENND1A.V2 were quantified by RT-PCR and Western blot, while testosterone level in media was measured by RIA assay. Results Human PCOS theca cells treated with hMSCs CM for 48 hours secreted significantly lower level of testosterone (146 ± 13.6 ng/dl) compared to control C (215 ± 11.3 ng/dl) (P Conclusion The therapeutic capabilities of hMSCs in PCOS are partially mediated by its secretome which contains various growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines both free and within extracellular vesicles. Stem cell therapy, either by cell implantation or via secretome injection might potentially be a novel approach for effective treatment of PCOS patients.
Technology and TBI: Perspectives of persons with TBI and their family caregivers on technology solutions to address health, wellness, and safety concerns

Assistive technologies that are tailored to individuals' health, wellness, and safety concerns can help people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their family caregivers meet their goals. The purpose of this study was to investigate views of technology in the context of managing one's everyday life from the perspectives of persons with TBI and their family caregivers. We conducted 27 in-person, semi-structured interviews with persons with TBI (n = 15) and family caregivers (n = 12) and used conventional content analysis to analyze our data. The major themes that emerged were: 1) views of technology, 2) influence of technology on daily life, 3) desired technology solutions to address health, wellness, and safety concerns, and 4) barriers to adopting technology solutions. To address ongoing concerns, persons with TBI and family caregivers expressed a desire to have a patient portal to share information and communicate with providers, motion sensing devices to provide guidance for mobility, on-demand access to in-home rehabilitation therapy, access to a "social gym" where the persons with TBI could virtually exercise and interact with others, and technologies that help with sleep and facilitate peer support. These findings provide direction for implementation, design, or adaptation of technologies to address the concerns of this population.
Rapid, Efficient Crowdsourcing Using Social Media for the Surgical Management of Nephrolithiasis.

Abstract Introduction: The surgical management of nephrolithiasis can be challenging due to multiple appropriate and feasible approaches. One advantage of urologists' increasing social media use is...
Comparison of In-Hospital Outcomes When Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot Is in the Neonatal Period Versus in the Post-Neonatal Period.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) and optimal timing for total repair of TOF is controversial. We hypothesize that TOF repair in the neonatal period is associated with worse outcomes compared with those who undergo repair later in infancy. We analyzed data using the Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) from 2003 to 2012. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to compare the in-hospital outcomes between those who underwent total repair of TOF during the neonatal period vs the postneonatal period. There were 6,856 cases of TOF and 7.83% (n = 537) of those underwent repair during the neonatal period. The average mortality in all TOF repair was 2.1% (n = 147). In multiple regression model, compared with repair in postneonatal period, neonatal repair was associated with increased mortality, with adjusted odds ratio of 2.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 4.3, p = 0.023). Regarding complications, the neonatal group was associated with higher risk of acute renal failure (8.9% vs 2.3%, p