cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intravenous Hemin as Prophylaxis of Allograft Function Following Second Liver Transplant for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria.

Abstract Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare disorder of heme biosynthesis caused by an inherited deficiency of mitochondrial ferrochelatase. This deficiency results in accumulation of protoporphyrin, a heme precursor, in bone marrow, skin, nervous system, and liver. In some patients, toxic levels of protoporphyrins in the liver cause chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatic failure. Liver transplantation is the only treatment available; however, the risk of allograft dysfunction is high as a result of continued, excessive protoporphyrin production due to the underlying systemic enzyme deficiency. We present the case of a 40 year-old man with EPP, diagnosed at age 6, who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) at age 25. By age 31, biopsy-proven recurrent EPP with liver dysfunction was identified in the allograft with subsequent hepatic failure seven years later at age 38. A second liver transplant was complicated by a biliary anastomotic leak requiring further surgery and prolonged hospitalization. Six months prior to a second liver transplant, the patient was started on 4 mg/kg hemin infusions every week; following second liver transplant, the frequency was increased to twice weekly to maintain graft function. Infusions have been well tolerated and administered at home through a central venous catheter and there has been no evidence of iron overload. Three months following second transplant, blood alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST, and bilirubin were 1009, 53, 64, and 11.5, respectively. Fourteen months after the second allograft, these levels are 234, 65, 65, and 1.2, respectively. Prior to hemin therapy, erythrocyte protoporphyrin level was 6600 mg/dl and was 5573 mg/dl immediately before second allograft. With twice weekly hemin, erythrocyte protoporphyrin level fourteen months after transplantation is 1240 mg/dl - greatly reduced but still elevated above the normal range. A liver biopsy three months after the second allograft showed cholestasis and biliary obstruction consistent with recurrent porphyria, but no subsequent biopsy has been performed yet despite improvement in alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and transaminase levels. This case study confirms an earlier report of clinical graft stabilization with hemin infusions after orthotopic liver transplantation for erythropoietic protoporphyria (Dellon et al., Transplantation 2002; 73:911–5) and to our knowledge is the first case of long-term hemin use to maintain the integrity of a second liver allograft. Further follow-up and biopsy will be needed to determine the impact of this strategy on preserving graft function.
Quantification of SiO_2 sintering additive in YAG transparent ceramics by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

Transparent ceramics are important optical materials with applications in street lighting, high-strength windows, electro- and magneto-optical isolators, high-power laser gain media and radiation detectors. Their fabrication most often relies on powder densification techniques carried out at high temperatures, sometimes promoted by sintering additives. Here, we describe the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for following the concentration levels of silica used as a sintering agent in the fabrication of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) transparent ceramics. The sensitivity limit of our protocol reaches a few tens of ppm of silica in YAG ceramic samples, showing that LIBS can be implemented reliably for the rapid assessment of sintering additives in advanced ceramic processing.
An Examination of Adolescent Athletes and Nonathletes on Baseline Neuropsychological Test Scores.

Context: An estimated 15.3 million adolescent students are enrolled in US high schools, with approximately 7.8 million participating in athletics. Researchers have examined various demographics in...
Understanding the Relation Between Neighborhoods and Intimate Partner Violence: An Integrative Review:

Stemming in part from the lack of theory, predictors of the relationship between neighborhoods and intimate partner violence (IPV) are underidentified. Furthermore, few mediation studies exist that inductively build and deductively confirm theoretical frameworks. This article provides an integrative review of the literature, aiming to enhance the field's understanding of predictors and potential mechanisms that drive this relationship, using a combined theoretical model to guide the analysis. The integrative review was conducted using Whittemore and Knafl's systematic method for integrative reviews with articles published between 1995 and 2015. Findings indicate that macro-, exo-, and mesolevel predictors and mediators in the proposed model have modest empirical support; however, a number of concepts at each ecological level have yet to be fully researched. Results of this review suggest that a well-defined and integrative theoretical framework will enhance the current understanding of ecological research into IPV. Additionally, a comprehensive ecological approach to IPV intervention is likely to be more effective than employing solely an individual-level approach. Intervention implications are discussed.
Optical Techniques That Measure Displacements: A Review of the Basic Principles

There are a number of optical techniques that can be used to measure displacements on surfaces utilizing electromagnetic radiation. Moire, holography, speckle interferometry speckle photography, developed separately in the range of visible light. These techniques make it feasible is to find displacements fields and through displacements get the necessary information to compute strain tensors. Concurrently all the above mentioned optical techniques are used to perform metrological measurements on surfaces both on light reflecting and light diffusing conditions, and slopes on reflecting surfaces. In this paper taking a very general approach, these techniques are presented as a body of scientific and technological knowledge that has basic components that are common to all of them.
Vulnerable Parkin Loss-of-Function Drosophila Dopaminergic Neurons Have Advanced Mitochondrial Aging, Mitochondrial Network Loss and Transiently Reduced Autophagosome Recruitment.

Selective degeneration of substantia nigra dopaminergic (DA) neurons is a hallmark pathology of familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). While the mechanism of degeneration is elusive, abnormalities in mitochondrial function and turnover are strongly implicated. An Autosomal Recessive-Juvenile Parkinsonism (AR-JP) Drosophila melanogaster model exhibits DA neurodegeneration as well as aberrant mitochondrial dynamics and function. Disruptions in mitophagy have been observed in parkin loss-of-function models, and changes in mitochondrial respiration have been reported in patient fibroblasts. Whether loss of parkin causes selective DA neurodegeneration in vivo as a result of lost or decreased mitophagy is unknown. This study employs the use of fluorescent constructs expressed in Drosophila DA neurons that are functionally homologous to those of the mammalian substantia nigra. We provide evidence that degenerating DA neurons in parkin loss-of-function mutant flies have advanced mitochondrial aging, and that mitochondrial networks are fragmented and contain swollen organelles. We also found that mitophagy initiation is decreased in park (Drosophila parkin/PARK2 ortholog) homozygous mutants, but autophagosome formation is unaffected, and mitochondrial network volumes are decreased. As the fly ages, autophagosome recruitment becomes similar to control, while mitochondria continue to show signs of damage, and climbing deficits persist. Interestingly, aberrant mitochondrial morphology, aging and mitophagy initiation were not observed in DA neurons that do not degenerate. Our results suggest that parkin is important for mitochondrial homeostasis in vulnerable Drosophila DA neurons, and that loss of parkin-mediated mitophagy may play a role in degeneration of relevant DA neurons or motor deficits in this model.
The Effect of Psychosocial Interventions on Outcomes for Caregivers of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Patients

Hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients are required to have a caregiver present for up to 100 days post-transplant. Caregivers provide essential support during HCT but experience immense stress and burden. Increasing research has developed interventions for HCT caregivers. This review systematically evaluates psychosocial interventions for caregivers of HCT patients. The search yielded 12 studies (7 efficacy and 5 feasibility studies) enrolling 931 caregivers. Interventions were feasible and acceptable as evidenced by high rates of completion (70–100%) with attrition due to patient morbidity or mortality. Feasibility was augmented by flexible delivery (in-person, teleconference, smartphones, or Web-based platforms). Acceptability was demonstrated by objective measures of satisfaction. Effectiveness was found for fatigue and mental health service use, but not for burden, sleep-quality, and inconsistently for caregiver depression, anxiety, coping, and quality of life. Psychosocial interventions are feasible, acceptable, and show mixed effects on HCT caregiver outcomes.
Evolution Education Around the Globe: Conclusions and Future Directions

The twenty-two chapter contributions in this book paint a portrait of evolution education across six continents. The range of religions, geography, relationship to evolutionary theory, education systems, and teacher education systems is broad, and yet some consistent issues and opportunities unite evolution education efforts across these diverse regions. This concluding chapter is organized around the six requested elements by directly comparing and contrasting the information presented in each chapter. We conclude this chapter with some general comments about the place of evolution education within the broader discourse of these countries and offer some future directions for the evolution education community.
A sound-filmed psychiatric interview: number 2, the “Temple University” interview

One of the original conceptions of this book, when Albert Scherten1 was first working on the idea of compiling the material, was that it would be comprised of a collection of papers each illustrating a research method applied to the same sound-filmed psychiatric interview. That organization of the book was not adopted because the editors decided it might limit the types of significant contributions to research methods in psychotherapy that could appropriately fit in this book. A number of groups of research workers in psychotherapy across the nation, however, had access to transcripts or films of this sound-filmed interview, recorded under the direction of Dr. Scheiten at Temple University Medical Center. Of these researchers, several did, in fact, use this recorded interview to illustrate their methodological approach. Four chapters in this book (those by Erika Chance, Louis A. Gottschalk, et al., Philip F. D. Seitz, and Albert E. Scherten) made use of what we will call the “Temple University” interview.
Abstract WP15: Safety of Dual Antiplatelet Treatment in Emergent Large Vessel Occlusion (ELVO) Patients Treated With Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT) and Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Stenting

Introduction: Extracranial Internal carotid artery (ExICA) stenting may be required during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for anterior circulation large vessel occlusions (ACLVO) with coexisting ExIC...
Partisan News, the Myth of Objectivity, and the Standards of Responsible Journalism

Objective reporting was once among the foundational norms of U.S. journalism. The emergence of alternative and economically successful partisan models exemplified by Fox News, talk radio, and a ran...
Discriminative Candidate Generation for Medical Concept Linking

Linking mentions of medical concepts in a clinical note to a concept in an ontology enables a variety of tasks that rely on understanding the content of a medical record, such as identifying patient populations and decision support. Medical concept linking can be formulated as a two-step task; 1) candidate generator, which selects likely candidates from the ontology for the given mention, and 2) a ranker, which orders the candidates based on a set of features to find the best one.In this paper, we propose a candidate generation system based on the DiscK framework [Chen andVan Durme, 2017]. Our system produces a candidate list with both high coverage and a rankingthat is a useful starting point for the second step of the linking process. we integrate our candidate selection process into a current linking system, DNorm [Leaman et al., 2013]. The resulting system achieves similar accuracy paired with with a gain in efficiency due to a large reduction in the number of potential candidates considered.
The future of individualized health maintenance

Multi-omics longitudinal profiling of individuals can detect subtle changes in health status at the earliest possible time point, allowing preemptive initiation of mechanism-appropriate disease-prevention strategies.
Preparing early childhood teachers for real-time and postdisaster classrooms: invisible capes and specialized planning

This essay addresses two types of disasters that can affect early childhood classrooms, which deserve more attention during teacher preparation. The first includes such natural phenomena as earthqu...
Concentration of Physician Services Across Insurers and Effects on Quality: Early Evidence From Medicare Advantage.

Author(s): Welch, W Pete; Sen, Aditi P; Bindman, Andrew B | Abstract: BackgroundA growing proportion of Medicare beneficiaries is covered by private insurers through Medicare Advantage, yet little is known about how these plans are structured in terms of relationships with physicians and implications for quality of care.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess whether greater physician concentration of services across insurers was associated with higher quality in Medicare Advantage (MA), overall and particularly among MA insurers serving a high proportion of vulnerable enrollees.Research designA retrospective cohort design with regression analysis.Data sourcesThe primary dataset was 2014 MA encounter records submitted by insurers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, covering 600,329 physicians across 119 insurers. These data were merged with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data on MA contract quality rating as well as physician characteristics in the Medicare Data on Provider Practice and Specialty file.MeasuresTwo measures were generated to capture the concentration of physician services across insurers: the percentage of a physician's Medicare services which was through MA (MA penetration); and the percentage of a physician's MA services with a specific insurer (insurer share of MA services).ResultsGreater MA penetration and insurer share of MA services were each associated with higher MA plan quality. The relationship between insurer share and quality was stronger in contracts with a relatively high percentage of disabled enrollees.ConclusionGreater physician concentration of services across MA insurers was associated with a higher quality of care overall and especially among vulnerable enrollees.
Designing Quantitative Research Studies

There are variety of quantitative research designs that are amenable to use in educational scholarship. The design complexity will depend on available resources and the question(s) being investigated. A simulation-based medical education (SBME) quantitative study can range from an observational study to a complex, multiple group effort with or without randomization. Ensuring adequate number of participants are enrolled to have sufficient power to detect important differences is key; most educational research is underpowered. Certain designs (e.g., mastery learning) have grown in use.
Evolution of Equations for Estimating Renal Function and Their Application to the Dosing of New Antimicrobials

Objective: To address the background and rationale for the recent introduction of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation for renal dose adjustment of antimicrobials and to provide recommendations for pharmacists dosing new antimicrobial agents. Data Sources: Comprehensive MEDLINE and EMBASE literature searches (from August 2018 to October 2019) were performed. Search terms included creatinine clearance, Cockcroft-Gault, MDRD, and glomerular filtration rate and a subsequent search included the preceding terms AND antimicrobials OR antibiotics. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Available English-language studies on the derivation and/or use of the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and MDRD study equation were evaluated as well as those that specifically discussed their use for dosing antimicrobial agents. Data Synthesis: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of delafloxacin and meropenem-vaborbactam in 2017 ushered in a new era in renal dosing of antibiotics, in that both agents are recommended to be dosed by the MDRD equation. Studies demonstrate that the CG and MDRD equations can result in discrepant dosing recommendations. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: The renal estimation equation recommended in a new antibiotic label should dictate the dosing of that medication. It is noteworthy that these equations are not interchangeable. Conclusion: Recently approved antimicrobials utilizing the MDRD equation for renal dose adjustment will be interspersed with old and new antimicrobials utilizing the CG equation because of lack of singular guidance by the FDA. This requires pharmacists to be vigilant in evaluating drug labels to determine which equation is recommended and to understand the differences, strengths, and limitations of each equation.
In-Tank Sensor Error Prediction and Modeling

Internal inspection of the floors of large storage tanks presents significant localization challenges. Standard localization techniques such as GPS are not viable due to the steel walls. Navigation using internal beacons is feasible, but requires an initial survey and significant effort to set up. Consequently, an autonomous stand-alone navigation approach is desirable. In previous work, we studied the localization of an in-tank inspection robot using angular and range sensors and performed a Monte Carlo study to determine optimal sensor orientation. Improved in-tank localization can be achieved using optimal estimators which require error models for individual sensors. In this work, we numerically model the range sensor error magnitude as a function of sensor angular orientation to permit online relative error estimation.
Drivers' Spatio-Temporal Attentional Distributions Are Influenced by Vehicle Dynamics and Displayed Point of View.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to measure drivers' attention to preview and their velocity and acceleration tracking error to evaluate two- and three-dimensional displays for following a winding roadway. BACKGROUND Display perturbation techniques and Fourier analysis of steering movements can be used to infer drivers' spatio-temporal distribution of attention to preview. Fourier analysis of tracking error time histories provides measures of position, velocity, and acceleration error. METHOD Participants tracked a winding roadway with 1 s of preview in low-fidelity driving simulations. Position and rate-aided vehicle dynamics were paired with top-down and windshield displays of the roadway. RESULTS For both vehicle dynamics, tracking was smoother with the windshield display. This display emphasizes nearer preview positions and has a closer correspondence to the control-theoretic optimal attentional distributions for these tasks than the top-down display. This correspondence is interpreted as a form of stimulus-response compatibility. The position error and attentional signal-to-noise ratios did not differ between the two displays with position control, but with more complex rate-aided control much higher position error and much lower attentional signal-to-noise ratios occurred with the top-down display. CONCLUSION Display-driven influences on the distribution of attention may facilitate tracking with preview when they are similar to optimal attentional distributions derived from control theory. APPLICATION Display perturbation techniques can be used to assess spatially distributed attention to evaluate displays and secondary tasks in the context of driving. This methodology can supplement eye movement measurements to determine what information is guiding drivers' actions.
Manufacturing Process of Electrode Films

Rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiments form a key experimental characterization technique for measuring electrocatalyst performance and durability. While standard RDE testing protocols have been documented, it has been noted that catalyst film quality can skew measurements. The impact of relative humidity on drying is studied in an effort to produce consistent, high quality catalyst films for RDE experiments, which shows that high quality catalyst films can be manufactured repeatedly in a controlled environment, such as inside an environmental chamber as described.
Parameter Identification for Multiple-Machine Bernoulli Lines using Statistical Learning Methods

A manufacturing process is typically modeled as a stochastic process in production systems research. A challenge commonly met in practical applications is the identification of the parameters for such stochastic process models. The conventional approach focuses on collecting data from each individual work-station’s operation and relies on the modeler’s training and experience to convert the raw data into model parameters. A new modeling approach has recently been proposed that uses system performance metrics (e.g., throughput, work-in-process) as inputs to reversely calculate the model parameters. In this paper, we investigate the efficacy of statistical learning methods in solving the problem of production system model parameter identification. Specifically, three commonly used methods, multivariate regression, random forest, and artificial neural network, are applied to parameter identification in Bernoulli serial line models. Numerical experiments demonstrate the performance of these methods and show that the machine parameters can be identified with high accuracy.
Estimating Shape Parameters of Piecewise Linear-Quadratic Problems

Piecewise Linear-Quadratic (PLQ) penalties are widely used to develop models in statistical inference, signal processing, and machine learning. Common examples of PLQ penalties include least squares, Huber, Vapnik, 1-norm, and their asymmetric generalizations. Properties of these estimators depend on the choice of penalty and its shape parameters, such as degree of asymmetry for the quantile loss, and transition point between linear and quadratic pieces for the Huber function. In this paper, we develop a statistical framework that can help the modeler to automatically tune shape parameters once the shape of the penalty has been chosen. The choice of the parameter is informed by the basic notion that each QS penalty should correspond to a true statistical density. The normalization constant inherent in this requirement helps to inform the optimization over shape parameters, giving a joint optimization problem over these as well as primary parameters of interest. A second contribution is to consider optimization methods for these joint problems. We show that basic first-order methods can be immediately brought to bear, and design specialized extensions of interior point (IP) methods for PLQ problems that can quickly and efficiently solve the joint problem. Synthetic problems and larger-scale practical examples illustrate the potential of the approach.
Integrating formative assessment and feedback into scientific theory-building practices and instruction

The importance of engaging students in disciplinary practices of science is widely acknowledged and well researched. What is less understood is how to assess students’ development of these practice...
Excess insider control and corporate social responsibility: Evidence from dual-class firms

Abstract We investigate the corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance of firms with a dual-class share structure. Dual-class firms, which represent a fast-growing segment of the U.S. capital market, violate the "one share, one vote" principle by giving corporate insiders control in excess of their economic interest in the firm. We observe a negative association of excess insider control and firms’ CSR performance, primarily with respect to the community- and employee-related dimensions of CSR. Extended analyses reveal that this negative association is mitigated by high financial resource availability. Consistent with a trade-off between corporate spending on CSR or on benefits for insiders, we also observe a negative association between CSR performance and executive pay in dual-class firms. Taken together, these extended analyses are consistent with self-interested behavior of entrenched insiders who, unless resources are abundant, appear to reduce CSR activities to maintain resources available for their personal benefit. While the exposure to risks engendered by a dual-class equity structure may be reflected in the share price, our findings draw attention to an externality: diminished CSR performance affects not just shareholders, but all stakeholders.
The subjective interpretation of negative trial results during oral plenary presentations

Objectives: Oral presentations of phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) at oncology meetings often do not undergo peer review; this may lead to conclusions that do not reflect the primary results of the study. For example, the presentation may include a positive conclusion despite a negative trial result. Presentations at medical society meetings may have significant impact on the oncology community. The purpose of this study is to quantify and categorize not-negative conclusions made in oral plenary presentations of phase 3 RCTs for gynecologic malignancies. Methods: Abstracts related to oral presentations of phase 3 RCTs at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology's Annual Meetings on Women's Cancer between 2005-2020 were reviewed. Studies with a primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) or progression free survival (PFS) and with a formally negative primary endpoint were included. Abstract conclusion sentences were classified as negative or not-negative. Trials with formally negative results were categorized based on the type of not-negative conclusions: 1) positive subgroup emphasis, 2) positive secondary endpoint emphasis, 3) emphasis on better numerical outcome despite nonsignificant p-value, 4) noninferiority interpretation of negative superiority trial. Studies with negative results and not-negative conclusions were compared to respective published manuscripts if available. The results and conclusion from the manuscript were compared to quantify and categorize not-negative conclusions. Results: Oral presentations of 61 phase 3 RCTs met inclusion criteria. Of these, 22 had a formally negative primary PFS or OS endpoint, of which 6/22 (27%) presented a not-negative conclusion. There was a higher proportion of not-negative conclusions among negative trials in more recent years, with 50% (5/10) of abstracts from 2015-2020 including not-negative conclusions, vs just 8.3% (1/12) in studies from the preceding decade 2005-2014 (p=0.03; Figure 1). Authors emphasized a positive subgroup in 4/6 studies and a positive secondary endpoint in 1/6 studies. A numerically better outcome in the experimental arm was highlighted in 2/6 studies despite a nonsignificant p-value, and 1/6 studies made a non-inferiority interpretation of a negative superiority trial. Of 21 studies with formally negative results, 56% (5/9) for-profit studies had not-negative conclusions, whereas 8.3% (1/12) non-profit studies had not negative conclusions (p=0.02). Published manuscripts were available for 3/6 not-negative studies, all similarly incorporating not-negative conclusions despite negative results. Download : Download high-res image (76KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: Since 2005, 27% of RCTs presented at SGO made not-negative conclusions despite formally negative results, with a majority emphasizing a positive subgroup and funded by for-profit organizations. These results further emphasize the importance of presenters’ accurate portrayal of results and attendees’ attention to bias during presentations.
Gehen am Rollator entspricht einer Vollbelastung

Das Gehen am Rollator ist eine in der orthopadischen Rehabilitation haufig angeordnete Belastungsform bei Patienten, die eine Vollbelastung der erkrankten Extremitat vermeiden sollen, aber aus unterschiedlichen Grunden wie mangelnder Armkraft, Koordinations- oder Gleichgewichtsstorungen an zwei Unterarmgehstutzen nicht gehen konnen. Es ist jedoch fraglich, ob und wie stark das betroffene Bein durch einen Rollator wirklich entlastet werden kann. In der Literatur finden sich hierzu bisher keine aussagekraftigen Angaben. Die vorliegende Studie sollte daher die Belastung beim Gehen am Rollator analysieren.
Technical Tips: Calculating Frequency and Duration in Digital EEG

(2009). Technical Tips: Calculating Frequency and Duration in Digital EEG. American Journal of Electroneurodiagnostic Technology: Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 105-107.
Estimating the effects of potential climate and land use changes on hydrologic processes of a large agriculture dominated watershed

Land use and climate are two major components that directly influence catchment hydrologic processes, and therefore better understanding of their effects is crucial for future land use planning and water resources management. We applied Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to assess the effects of potential land use change and climate variability on hydrologic processes of large agriculture dominated Big Sioux River (BSR) watershed located in North Central region of USA. Future climate change scenarios were simulated using average output of temperature and precipitation data derived from Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) (B1, A1B, and A2) for end-21st century. Land use change was modeled spatially based on historic long-term pattern of agricultural transformation in the basin, and included the expansion of corn (Zea mays L.) cultivation by 2, 5, and 10%. We estimated higher surface runoff in all land use scenarios with maximum increase of 4% while expanding 10% corn cultivation in the basin. Annual stream discharge was estimated higher with maximum increase of 72% in SRES-B1 attributed from higher groundwater contribution of 152% in the same scenario. We assessed increased precipitation during spring season but the summer precipitation decreased substantially in all climate change scenarios. Similar to decreased summer precipitation, discharge of the BSR also decreased potentially affecting agricultural production due to reduced future water availability during crop growing season in the basin. However, combined effects of potential land use change with climate variability enhanced for higher annual discharge of the BSR. Therefore, these estimations can be crucial for implications of future land use planning and water resources management of the basin.
Chemical determination of pregnancy by the Visscher-Bowman technique

I N 1934, Visscher and Bowman reported a ohemical test made on urine for the diagnosis of pregnancy. In a series of 317 cases, their test was 93.05 per cent accurate. That same year, J. G. Menken applied this test to 23 cases, with a correct result in 95.65 per cent. C. Dolff in 1935, studied 83 patients and found the test accurate in 92.77 per cent. Up to that time it seemed that it compared in efficiency quite favorably with the still more accurate Aschheim-Zondek test. We undertook an investigation of the reliability of t,his test by examining every day the urine of normal, nonpregnant women over a period of two consecutive menstrual cycles. We began our work in February, 1936, and followed the Visscher-Bowman technique, Method A.
Coercing Cooperation from Offshore Financial Centers: Identity and Coincidence of International Obligations Against Money Laundering and Harmful Tax Competition

International Hlltlatives concerning the global financial system traditionally have been implemented through the building of consensus among affected states to identify problems and then set forth the means to deal with those problems. Recently, however, under the title Actions Against Abuse of the Global Financial System, the G7 nations began a campaign that uses the threat of sanctions to coerce cooperation from offshore financial centers in the areas of money laundering and tax competition. The use of sanctions to force compliance is problematic because, although sanctions would be available to remedy a violation of an international obligation, there has been no attempt to identify any such obligation for the Object States. Instead the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in accordance with the agenda of the G7, have set forth self-referential criteria that assess compliance of the offshore financial centers with presumed international "standards" against money laundering and harmful tax competition. The legal enforceability of the sanctions threatened for non-compliance, however, depends upon the existence of legal bases for both sets of criteria. This Article attempts to determine whether such bases exist. * Bel~amin R. Hartman was graduated from the University of Texas (B.A., 1996; J.D., 2000) and the University of Edinburgh (LL.M., with distinction, 2000). He is currently an associate in the New York office of Salans Hertzfeld & Heilbronn where he concentrates in taxation and commercial litigation. He extends his gratitude to Professor Bill Gilmore at the University of Edinburgh, whose guidance and expel,tise in the field made this piece possible. He also extends his thanks to Professor H.W. Perry at the University of Texas without whose inspiration he never would have developed his interest in the law.
Relaxation oscillation simulations and dilute magnetic semiconductor RTDs

A robust transient Wigner distribution function simulation procedure implemented for studying relaxation oscillations in resonant tunneling structures is applied to structures in which the barriers and/or quantum well is designed with dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS). The function of the DMS layers is to provide a means, in the presence of an external magnetic field, to change the relative population of spin-up and spin-down carriers. This population dependence means that a magnetic field can control the current voltage peak-to-valley ratio and consequently the maximum frequency of self-excited oscillations. These simulations permit the exploration of design principles for DMS relaxation oscillators. In the present study they are used to explore the magnetic field dependence of the spin-up and spin-down charge distributions as a function of bias.
Subsolidus phase equilibria and properties in the system Bi2O3:Mn2O3±x:Nb2O5

Subsolidus phase relations have been determined for the Bi-Mn-Nb-O system in air (750-900deg. C). Phases containing Mn{sup 2+}, Mn{sup 3+}, and Mn{sup 4+} were all observed. Ternary compound formation was limited to pyrochlore (A{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 6}O'), which formed a substantial solid solution region at Bi-deficient stoichiometries (relative to Bi{sub 2}(Mn,Nb){sub 2}O{sub 7}) suggesting that {approx}14-30% of the A-sites are occupied by Mn (likely Mn{sup 2+}). X-ray powder diffraction data confirmed that all Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores form with structural displacements, as found for the analogous pyrochlores with Mn replaced by Zn, Fe, or Co. A structural refinement of the pyrochlore 0.4000:0.3000:0.3000 Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}:Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3+}/-{sub x}:Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} using neutron powder diffraction data is reported with the A and O' atoms displaced (0.36 and 0.33A, respectively) from ideal positions to 96g sites, and with Mn{sup 2+} on A-sites and Mn{sup 3+} on B-sites (Bi{sub 1.6}Mn{sup 2+}{sub 0.4}(Mn{sup 3+}{sub 0.8}Nb{sub 1.2})O{sub 7}, Fd3-bar m (-bar 227), a=10.478(1)A); evidence of A or O' vacancies was not found. The displacive disorder is crystallographically analogous to that reported for Bi{sub 1.5}Zn{sub 0.92}Nb{sub 1.5}O{sub 6.92}, which has a similar concentration of small B-type ions on the A-sites. EELS spectra for this pyrochlore were consistent withmore » an Mn oxidation between 2+ and 3+. Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores exhibited overall paramagnetic behavior with negative Curie-Weiss temperature intercepts, slight superparamagnetic effects, and depressed observed moments compared to high-spin, spin-only values. At 300K and 1MHz the relative dielectric permittivity of Bi{sub 1.600}Mn{sub 1.200}Nb{sub 1.200}O{sub 7} was {approx}128 with tan {delta}=0.05; however, at lower frequencies the sample was conductive which is consistent with the presence of mixed-valent Mn. Low-temperature dielectric relaxation such as that observed for Bi{sub 1.5}Zn{sub 0.92}Nb{sub 1.5}O{sub 6.92} and other bismuth-based pyrochlores was not observed. Bi-Mn-Nb-O pyrochlores were readily obtained as single crystals and also as textured thin films using pulsed laser deposition.« less
Evaluation of a p21e-spiked western blot (immunoblot) in confirming human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or II infection in volunteer blood donors. The Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study Group.

Abstract Current algorithms for the serologic confirmation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I and II (HTLV-I/II) antibody reactivity are complicated. We evaluated the performance of an HTLV-I Western blot (immunoblot) spiked with recombinant p21e protein (p21e WB) as an alternative to current confirmatory methods. These methods include the HTLV-I viral lysate Western blot and either a radioimmunoprecipitation assay or a p21e enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Five hundred fifty nine blood donations obtained from five U.S. blood centers and classified as HTLV-I/II seropositive (n = 149) or seroindeterminate (n = 410) by routine testing methods were further evaluated by PCR for proviral DNA and by the p21e WB. On the basis of serologic and PCR testing, 155 donations were classified as HTLV-I/II infected. The sensitivity of the p21e WB was 97.4%, slightly exceeding that of routine confirmatory testing. The specificity of the p21e WB was 97.5%, as determined by testing of 404 seroindeterminate samples that were negative in the PCR. The positive predictive value of the p21e WB was 94%. In contrast, the specificity and positive predictive value of routine confirmatory testing were both 100%. Follow-up sampling of presumptive p21e WB false-positive donors substantiated the absence of HTLV-I/II infection. Although the p21e WB used in this study has high sensitivity and may be useful as a confirmatory assay in epidemiologic research studies, it may not be ideal as a confirmatory test for the notification of blood donors.
Effect of nuclear deformation on J/Psi suppression in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions

Using a hadron-string cascade model, JPCIAE, we study the effect of nuclear deformation on J/Psi suppression in the collision of uranium nuclei at 200A GeV/c. We find that the J/Psi survival probability is much smaller if the major axes of both deformed nuclei are along the beam direction than if they are perpendicular to the beam direction.
Leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma of the orbit.

Abstract Comparison of the clinical and pathologic features of two orbital leiomyomas, two leiomysarcomas, and one embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma showed the leiomyomas occurred in young individuals and the leiomyosarcomas in older patients. The histopathologic diagnosis rested on the intense cytoplasmic eosinophilia and nostriated longitudinal cytoplasmic filaments demonstrated by means of the trichrome stain. The leiomyosarcomas disseminated 15 months and seven years after their orbital presentations. The treatment of both leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma is surgical. Leiomyomas are encapsulated growths that may have small satellite nodules projecting from the main tumor mass; thus, a margin of normal tissue should also be excised, lest a small lobulation be left behind to serve as the seed for a late recurrence. Once the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma has been made, and no evidence of metastasis has been found after a thorough systemic evaluation, the orbit should be exenterated, because the tumor is unencapsulated and liable to widespread dissemination. Rhabdomyosarcoma has a much more fulminant course than leiomyosarcoma, and especially more so than that of leiomyoma of childhood. The histopathologic diagnosis of a malignant smooth muscle tumor in a child should always be questioned, since embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is a much more likely diagnosis.
High-resolution computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction for assessment of chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease.

This 60-year-old man developed progressive dyspnea on exertion and was found to have pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography (estimated right ventricular pressure 91 mmHg).Pulmonarythromboembolicdiseasewasdiagnosed by computed tomography (CT) as shown inFigure 1. Hematologic evaluation revealed essential thrombocytopenia and JAK2 V617F mutation positivity. The patient was referred forpulmonarythromboendarterectomy,whichheunderwent successfully (Figure 2). Preoperative pulmonary arterial pressures with the patient under general anesthesia were 63 mm Hg systolic and 23 mm Hg diastolic, mean 37 mm Hg, with a cardiac output of 5.8L/min. Postoperative pulmonary arterial pressures were 42 mm systolic and16 mm Hg diastolic, mean 26 mm Hg, at a cardiac output of 6.1 L/min. With advances in high-resolution CT scanning, we have migrated away from pulmonary arteriography in the preoperative evaluation of patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease. High-resolution CT also provides a simple means of evaluating the operative result beforedischargefrom thehospital (Figure 3). Scans are performed with electrocardiographic gating with a dual-source 128-rowscanner(SiemensAGHealthcareSector,Erlangen,
Self-defeating behavior, depression, and suicidal preoccupation.

Summary.-Scores on a measure of selE-defeating personality were associated with depression and suicidal preoccupation in a sample of 58 college students. To explore whether scores on a measure of self-defeating personality (Schill, 1990) were related to depression and suicidal preoccupation, a questionnaire was administered anonymously to 24 male and 34 female college students aged 18 to 23 years (Mage = 20.1 yr., SD = 1.8) and enrolled in social science courses. The questionnaire contained Schill's measure, the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961), and a question asking whether the respondent had ever thought about suicide. Mean scores were 19.1 (SD = 7.0) on the measure of self-defeating personality and 8.1 (SD = 7.1) on depression. Self-defeating personality scores were correlated with depression scores (Pearson r = 0.55, one-tailed p < .001), current suicidal ideation (r = 0.581, and to ever having thoughts about suicide (r = 0.53). Using partial correlation coefficients to control for depression, sex, and age, self-defeating person&ty scores were still associated with current and prior suicidal ideation (rs = 0.43 and 0.33). Self-defeating personality appears to be associated with both depression and suicidal preoccupation, a result consistent with an earlier study showing an association between a measure of self-destructiveness (Kelley, Byrne, Przybyla, Eberly, Eberly, Greenlinger, Wan, & Gorsky, 1985) and depression and suicidal ideation (Lester & Gatto, 1989). Together these studies suggest that depression and suicidal ideation are associated with a general tendency to neglect the care of oneself.
Judicial Process Texts and Readers

Baum, Lawrence. 2001. American Courts: Process and Policy (5th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0618122893 Bonsignore, John J., Ethan Katsh, Peter d'Errico, Ronald M. Pipkin, Stephen Arons, an...
Differential effects of opioid and adrenergic agonists on proliferation in a cultured cell line

A novel clonal cell line transfected with the delta-opioid receptor (delta-OR) encoding gene was used to study agonist-activated regulation of cell proliferation. In this cell line, endogenous beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2-ARs) are coexpressed with the exogenous delta-ORs. Upon individual acute treatments with morphine and procaterol (a selective beta2-AR agonist), both the delta-OR and beta2-AR are coupled to differential modulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in accord with the classical second messenger response patterns to these agonists in the normal cellular settings of the receptors. But chronic morphine activation of the delta-OR inhibits cellular proliferation, while chronic procaterol activation of the beta2-AR stimulates it. Chronic treatment with the individual agonists is accompanied by differential activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) isozymes, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The findings suggest that chronic beta2-AR activation stimulates proliferation by interacting with the ERK signalling cascade independent of a cAMP-mediated pathway. In contrast to treatment with individual agonists, chronic dual agonist treatment suppresses procaterol-induced stimulation of ERK activity and stimulation of proliferation indicating that a cross-regulatory interaction occurs between the delta-OR and beta2-AR signalling systems in the cells under these conditions.
A comparative climate analysis of heat-related emergency 911 dispatches: Chicago, Illinois and Phoenix, Arizona USA 2003 to 2006.

Research into the health impacts of heat has proliferated since 2000. Temperature increases could exacerbate the increased heat already experienced by urban populations due to urbanization. Heat-related mortality studies have found that hot southern cities in North America have not experienced the summer increases in mortality found in their more northern counterparts. Heat-related morbidity studies have not assessed this possible regional difference. This comparison study uses data from emergency 911 dispatches [referred to as heat-related dispatches (HRD)] identified by responders as heat-related for two United States cities located in different regions with very different climates: Chicago, Illinois in the upper midwest and Phoenix, Arizona in the southwest. Phoenix’s climate is hot and arid. Chicago’s climate is more temperate, but can also experience days with unusually high temperatures combined with high humidity. This study examines the relationships between rising HRD and daily temperatures: maximum (Tmax); apparent (ATmax): minimum (Tmin) and two energy balance indices (PET and UTCI). Phoenix had more HRD cumulatively, over a longer warm weather season, but did not experience the large spikes in HRD that occurred in Chicago, even though it was routinely subjected to much hotter weather conditions. Statistical analyses showed the strongest relationships to daily ATmax for both cities. Phoenix’s lack of HRD spikes, similar to the summer mortality patterns for southern cities, suggests an avenue for future research to better understand the dynamics of possible physiological or behavioral adaption that seems to reduce residents’ vulnerability to heat.