cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Vector Analyzing Power in the 2H(\(\overrightarrow d \) ,p)3H Reaction between 15 and 25 MeV

The charge-symmetric reactions 2H(d,p)3H and 2H(d,n)3He have been studied in considerable detail at energies up to 15 MeV1,2). Differential cross sections, nucleon polarizations, and deuteron vector and tensor analyzing powers have been measured, and differences in these observables for the two reactions have been examined for evidence of a possible deviation from the charge symmetry of the nuclear interactions. The more recent comparisons and calculations3) have been able to explain the observed differences between the two reactions in terms of the Coulomb effect, including the Q-value difference.
Forgetting as the friend of learning: implications for teaching and self-regulated learning

One of the “important peculiarities” of human learning (Bjork RA and Bjork EL. From Learning Processes to Cognitive Processes: Essays in Honor of William K. Estes, 1992, p. 35–67) is that certain c...
In the Real World: Infections Associated with Biologic and Small Molecule Therapies in Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis

To summarize our most current understanding of the real world risk of infections associated with biologic and small molecule therapies in the setting of psoriatic disease. Patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis are at increased risk for infection from both their disease and some of their therapies. There is little real world data for biologic and small molecule therapies; however, ustekinumab and biologics inhibiting IL-17 or IL-23 appear to have reduced risk estimates compared to anti-TNF therapies. Apremilast seems to have little infectious signal with limited real world data, and for JAK inhibitors, limited real world data suggest a higher risk of herpes zoster. Recently approved targeted and small molecule therapies for psoriasis carry infectious risks for patients, although they appear to vary across mechanism of action. As these treatments become more widespread, and additional therapies are approved, it will be imperative to evaluate their safety in the context of real world data.
Generalised Navier boundary condition for a volume of fluid approach using a finite-volume method

In this work, an analytical volume of fluid implementation of the generalised Navier boundary condition is presented based on the Brackbill surface tension model. The model is validated by simulations of droplets on a smooth surface in a planar geometry. Looking at the static behavior of the droplets, it is found that there is a good match between the droplet shape resolved in the simulations and the theoretically predicted shape for various values of the Young’s angle. Evaluating the spreading of a droplet on a completely wetting surface, the Voinov-Tanner-Cox law (θ ∝ Ca1/3) can be observed. In addition, the scaling of the droplet radius as a function of time follows r ∝ t1/2, suggesting that spreading is limited by inertia. These observations are made without any fitting parameters except the slip length.In this work, an analytical volume of fluid implementation of the generalised Navier boundary condition is presented based on the Brackbill surface tension model. The model is validated by simulations of droplets on a smooth surface in a planar geometry. Looking at the static behavior of the droplets, it is found that there is a good match between the droplet shape resolved in the simulations and the theoretically predicted shape for various values of the Young’s angle. Evaluating the spreading of a droplet on a completely wetting surface, the Voinov-Tanner-Cox law (θ ∝ Ca1/3) can be observed. In addition, the scaling of the droplet radius as a function of time follows r ∝ t1/2, suggesting that spreading is limited by inertia. These observations are made without any fitting parameters except the slip length.
Shaking It Up in the Classroom: Coupling Biotremology and Active Learning Pedagogy to Promote Authentic Discovery

Active learning methods are instructional techniques that create an environment for increased student engagement in the process of learning. Whether employed in the lecture hall or in the teaching laboratory, these pedagogical methods have been shown to improve content learning, increase process skills, and positively affect psychosocial factors associated with the learning process. Additionally, because active learning environments have been shown to increase academic performance and lead to greater retention among students from underrepresented groups, they hold the promise of harnessing untapped talent in STEM fields like biotremology. When implementing active learning pedagogies, educators can align student learning outcomes with Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Domains to integrate both lower-order and/or higher-order cognitive skills development into the learning activities of the course. When teaching STEM courses, especially those seeking to integrate principles in biotremology, implementing research or inquiry-based active learning methods can ensure students have access to an authentic and inclusive research experience; this more accurately represents the process of science and leads to higher-order critical thinking skills. Research-based active learning methods such as project-based learning and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are presented in three case studies that include a biotremology dimension. Each case study includes student learning outcomes, a guide for instructional implementation, tips for evaluating student learning, and considerations for pedagogical practicalities and plausible alternatives.
Chapter Three – The Role of Metabolomics in the Study of Kidney Diseases and in the Development of Diagnostic Tools

Metabolomics, or biochemical profiling, is closely integrated with genomics and proteomics. The metabonome is the complete collection of small molecule metabolites or chemicals (<1500 Da) that can be found at any given moment within a cell, organ, or organism. The metabonome is dynamic, constantly changing. Processes, such as diseases or drug effects, can affect cell biochemistry in a variety of ways. Alterations in the metabolome will precede the histopathological and pathophysiological changes that result from these altered states. Renal cells in particular are known to have a widely fluctuating process of metabolism, and renal disease in particular seems amenable to elucidation via metabolomics. Tubular cells and cells of the collecting ducts for instance, are known to function differently and display altered cell metabolism in response to factors, such as renal osmolarity and oxygen gradients. As the cell is constantly exchanging metabolites with the various fluid compartments of the body, changes in cell metabolism are often reflected by changes of the metabolite patterns in bodily fluids, such as plasma and urine. The analysis of metabolite patterns in urine and plasma is an attractive concept as these fluids are easily accessible, and could allow for the detection and monitoring of a disease or drug effect with high sensitivity and specificity. It is felt that with the more detailed information provided by metabolomics, the location of the injury also could be gleaned through analysis of the altered metabolic profile. Although there is no doubt that metabolomics has great potential to advance our understanding of kidney diseases and drug effects, to advance clinical diagnostics, and to be an important tool in the individualization of treatment, as of today the impact of metabolomics on clinical practice has been relatively small. Reasons include the complexity of developing molecular markers into diagnostic tools ranging from discovery, mechanistic, and clinical qualification to regulatory approval.
Case of Esophageal Perforation and Repair with a Supraclavicular Artery Island Fascial Flap 15 Years After Anterior Spine Surgery.

Background Esophageal perforation represents a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of an anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF). Delayed presentations of esophageal perforation more than 10 years following surgery are exceedingly rare and difficult to diagnose. Here, we discuss the case of an 80-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with progressive dysphagia 15 years after his ACDF. Case Description While prior outpatient workup was suggestive of a diverticulum, there was no evidence of esophageal perforation. Progressive symptoms and repeat imaging on admission were suggestive of retropharyngeal phlegmon. Operative esophagoscopy revealed that the spinal hardware had eroded through the posterior wall of the esophagus, creating a traction diverticulum. The hardware was removed, and the esophageal perforation was closed primarily and buttressed with vascularized tissue from a supraclavicular artery island fascial flap. Conclusions This case emphasizes the importance of considering an esophageal perforation in patients who present with dysphagia at any interval following an ACDF, even in the extremely delayed setting. Furthermore, this is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, using a supraclavicular artery island fascial flap to reconstruct an esophageal perforation following an ACDF, and we introduce a novel strategy for managing these complicated injuries.
Temporal Assessment of Prognostic Factors in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Neoadjuvant Treatment and Resection.

Abstract Background The clinicopathologic factors associated with the survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) during the different phases of neoadjuvant treatment (NT)—at diagnosis, restaging, or postoperatively—remain unclear. Methods Data of patients with PDAC who underwent pancreatic resection after NT between 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively collected. Clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes were compared stratified by resection margin status. Three multivariable regression models (at diagnosis, restaging, and postoperatively) were constructed to assess the temporal impact of different prognostic factors on all-cause survival (ACS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results All patients were diagnosed with a nonmetastatic PDAC and were appropriate candidates for NT according to the current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. From a total of 83 patients, 57 (68.7%) had a negative resection margin >1 mm (R0), whereas 26 patients (31.3%) had a positive resection margin (R1). At diagnosis, planned procedure (P = 0.017) and CA19-9 >100 U/mL (P = 0.047) were independent prognostic factors of decreased ACS. At restaging, planned procedure (P = 0.017), FOLFIRINOX (P = 0.026), and tumor size >30 mm (P = 0.030) were independent prognostic factors for increased and decreased ACS, respectively. Postoperatively, R0 was an independent prognostic factor for improved ACS (P = 0.005) and DFS (P = 0.002), whereas adjuvant therapy (P = 0.006) was associated with increased ACS. Lymph node involvement (P = 0.019) was associated with decreased DFS. Conclusions At diagnosis, restaging, and postoperatively, different, relevant clinicopathologic factors significantly impact the survival of patients with nonmetastatic PDAC undergoing NT. An R0 resection remains the most important prognostic factor and therefore should be the primary goal of surgical treatment in the neoadjuvant setting.
The Effect of Hypogastric Artery Revascularization on Ischemic Colitis in Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Abstract Background The objective of the study was to examine the effect of hypogastric revascularization maneuvers on the rate of postoperative ischemic colitis among patients undergoing endovascular aortoiliac aneurysm repair. Methods Using the 2011-2018 Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Procedure-Targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Files, we analyzed patients undergoing elective endovascular infrarenal aortoiliac aneurysm repairs. Using multivariable modeling techniques, a cohort of patients at high risk for postoperative ischemic colitis was identified. The outcomes of this group were then compared using Pearson's chi-square testing in accordance with whether or not they underwent hypogastric revascularization. Results Of 4753 patients undergoing endovascular aortoiliac aneurysm repair in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program cohort, 1161 had concomitant hypogastric revascularization procedures. High-risk predictors of ischemic colitis included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and concurrent renal artery or external iliac artery stenting. There was not a significant association between pelvic revascularization and postoperative ischemic colitis [1.0% with versus 0.5% without pelvic revascularization; adjusted odds ratio of ischemic colitis with revascularization 2.07 (0.96, 4.46); P = 0.06] after adjustment for patient- and procedure-related factors. In a subgroup analysis of patients with a distal aneurysm extent beyond the common iliac artery, the incidence of ischemic colitis was significantly lower in patients without pelvic revascularization (0.1% versus 1.6%, P = 0.004). Conclusions Our analysis of patients undergoing elective endovascular repair of infrarenal aortoiliac aneurysmal disease did not find a reduced incidence of postoperative ischemic colitis in patients who received a concomitant pelvic revascularization procedure, suggesting instead that such procedural adjuncts may actually increase risk for this complication.
Changing Health Practices Through Research to Practice Collaboration: The Farm Dinner Theater Experience

Production agriculture ranks as one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States, with older producers suffering 3.5 times the fatalities compared with their younger counterparts. Previous interventions have not significantly improved the health or work behaviors of farmers. Through careful collaboration among academics and Cooperative Extension agents, we developed, tested, and expanded a unique educational experience, Farm Dinner Theater (FDT), for farmers aged 45 years and more and their families across three states (n = 8 communities, 573 participants). More than 50% of the participants made health or safety changes following the theater. Communities requested more theater events, noting the realism and applicability of the content and the engaging atmosphere for discussion. Participants remarked that the theater should be used across all age-groups. The FDT project created a community of "champions" that synergized the initial research project and fostered expansion and sustainability of the intervention. Process evaluation guided refinement of the theater intervention and built trust, respect, and further cooperative work among all collaborators. Members of the FDT partnership have received national recognition and funding to upscale the concept. The number of FDTs has expanded under local leadership. A toolkit that resulted from the project is available to the public and is constantly updated as more adopters contribute insight and scripts. This article describes the collaborative theater concept and demonstrates how sustained translation from research to practice can be accomplished through continued community engagement, collaboration, and outreach.
Comparing skill enhanced and standard cognitive behavioral therapy for depression: a protocol for a randomized trial

Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) features prominently among the first-line treatments for depression. The development of CBT skills is associated with both symptom reductions and reduced risk for relapse, suggesting that improvements in CBT skills might be important to the benefits of CBT. Nonetheless, standard CBT places modest emphasis on the development of these skills. Methods: In this paper, we describe a randomized clinical trial testing the benefits of a variation of CBT that places greater emphasis on teaching patients CBT skills and makes patients' independent use of these skills a central therapeutic goal. Patients in this study (75 per condition) are being randomized to 12 weeks of standard or skill enhanced CBT for depression. The primary outcomes are change in symptoms and change in CBT skills. We will also evaluate the process of change in the treatments. Conclusions: This study has the potential to suggest an approach to enhancing CBT outcomes through greater focus on patients developing and independently using CBT skills. It will also provide an important context for understanding the role that CBT skills play in the therapeutic outcomes of CBT. Trial registration: The trial has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration number: NCT04673513; registered on 17 December 2020.
Attention Cascades and Delegated Portfolio Management

This paper studies “attention cascade” in a delegated portfolio management setting. Empirically, “attention cascades” refer to two types of (related) cascade. First, investors would pay more attention to the mutual funds that hold more stocks which have grabbed the investors’ attention. Second, mutual fund managers would pay more attention to the stocks that investors have paid attention to. Using the Google search volume index of stock tickers, I construct a fund-level measure of attention. I use fund-level, holding-level, and stock-level analyses to study the implications of cascades on fund flow, performance, managers’ skill, trading, and stock prices. I find that both types of cascade exist, but neither facilitates efficient capital allocation.Theoretically, “attention cascade” refers to the fund manager’s incentive to pay attention to whatever the investor has paid attention to. It gives a unified framework in which the theoretical attention cascade implies both types of empirical cascade. The model also gives implications on fund flow, performance, and trading to illustrate the capital allocation inefficiency found in the empirical analyses. Finally, the model illustrates that the inefficiency of information acquisition is the fundamental problem for the attention cascade.
Text mixing shapes the anatomy of rank-frequency distributions

Natural languages are full of rules and exceptions. One of the most famous quantitative rules is Zipf's law, which states that the frequency of occurrence of a word is approximately inversely proportional to its rank. Though this ``law'' of ranks has been found to hold across disparate texts and forms of data, analyses of increasingly large corpora since the late 1990s have revealed the existence of two scaling regimes. These regimes have thus far been explained by a hypothesis suggesting a separability of languages into core and noncore lexica. Here we present and defend an alternative hypothesis that the two scaling regimes result from the act of aggregating texts. We observe that text mixing leads to an effective decay of word introduction, which we show provides accurate predictions of the location and severity of breaks in scaling. Upon examining large corpora from 10 languages in the Project Gutenberg eBooks collection, we find emphatic empirical support for the universality of our claim.
Figurative language comprehension : social and cultural influences

Contents: A.N. Katz, Preface. H.L. Colston, On Sociocultural and Nonliteral: A Synopsis and a Prophesy. Part I: Sociocultural Knowledge Influences. D.J. Barr, B. Keysar, Making Sense of How We Make Sense: The Paradox of Egocentrism in Language Use. R.J. Gerrig, W.S. Horton, Contextual Expressions and Common Ground. Part II: Sociocultural Phenomenological Influences. T. Holtgraves, Context and the Comprehension of Nonliteral Meanings. H.L. Colston, Social and Cultural Influences on Figurative and Indirect Language. R.W. Gibbs, Jr., C.D. Izett, Irony as Persuasive Communication. K.E. Link, R.J. Kreuz, Do Men and Women Differ in Their Use of Nonliteral Language When They Talk About Emotions? Part III: Sociocultural Processing Influences. A.N. Katz, Discourse and Social-Cultural Factors in Understanding Nonliteral Language. P.M. Pexman, Social Factors in the Interpretation of Verbal Irony: The Roles of Speaker and Listener Characteristics. R. Giora, N. Balaban, O. Fein, I. Alkabets, Explicit Negation as Positivity in Disguise. Part IV: New Sociocultural Influences. T.L. Blumentritt, R.R. Heredia, Stereotype Processing and Nonliteral Language. C. Curco, On Mosquitoes and Camels: Some Notes on the Interpretation of Metaphorically Transparent Popular Sayings. M. Marschark, Metaphors in Sign Language and Sign Language Users: A Window Into Relations of Language and Thought.
Kagomé lattice: A molecular toolkit for magnetism.

Kagome lattices are the most geometrically frustrated magnetic systems. But their magnetic properties remain poorly characterized because they are difficult to synthesize. A new versatile synthetic route to Kagome lattices yields a spin-frustrated material from paramagnetic building blocks.
Efficient Processing of Large Spatial Queries Using Interior Approximations

Spatial data in CAD/CAM and geographic information systems involve arbitrarily-shaped 2- and 3-dimensional geometries. Queries on such complex geometry data involve identification of data geometries that interact with a specified query geometry. Since geometry-geometry comparisons are expensive due to the large sizes of the data geometries, spatial engines avoid unnecessary comparisons by first comparing the MBRs and filtering out irrelevant geometries. If the query geometry is large compared to the data geometries, this filtering technique may not be effective in improving the performance. In this paper, we describe how to reduce geometry-geometry comparisons by first filtering using the interior approximations of geometries (in addition to and after comparing the exteriors, i.e., the MBRs). We implemented this technique as part of the R-tree indexes in Oracle Spatial and observed that the query performance improves by more than 50% (or a factor of 2) for most queries on real spatial datasets.
Outcomes of malignant tumors of the lacrimal apparatus: the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center experience.

BACKGROUND: Malignant epithelial neoplasms of the lacrimal apparatus are rare and are typically treated with surgery and occasionally adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). The purpose of this study was to assess treatment outcomes by type of surgery (orbital exenteration vs eye-sparing surgery) and clarify the role of adjuvant RT for this rare disease. METHODS: Forty-six patients with malignant epithelial neoplasms of the lacrimal apparatus were treated at a single institution from 1945 through 2008. Twenty-seven patients (59%) were treated with orbital exenteration and 19 (41%) with eye-sparing surgery; 64% of the orbital exenteration group and 83% of the eye-sparing surgery group also received adjuvant RT (median dose, 60 grays). Median follow-up time for all patients was 38 months (range, 3-460 months). RESULTS: For the orbital exenteration and eye-sparing surgery groups, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 59% and 62%, and the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 49% and 39%, respectively (P = .56, P = .35). Tumor status (T1-2 vs T3-4) was associated with OS (P = .02), and tumor size ( 3.5 cm) with DFS (P = .015). Median time to locoregional recurrence was 85 months for orbital exenteration, and 123 months for eye-sparing surgery. All patients who did not receive RT experienced local recurrence, and RT extended time to locoregional recurrence (median 460 vs 30 months, P = .009). Seven grade ≥3 complications were experienced after adjuvant RT. CONCLUSIONS: For appropriately selected patients, an eye-sparing surgery for lacrimal apparatus tumors can achieve similar survival outcomes to those in patients treated with an orbital exenteration. Adjuvant RT should be considered for all patients presenting with these rare tumors. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Opine: an optimization based inference engine

Describes the inference engine Opine, which uses results from zero-one integer programming techniques. The rules and data are handled at several levels. At the highest level, the level of the user interface, rules, and data are handled using propositional calculus. At a lower level, these are handled as linear inequalities, and at this level the problem is treated as an integer programming problem. The author describes the basic transformations used by Opine in translating rules and data to the set of linear inequalities and the algorithm used to search for a solution. >
Type C Viruses of Wild Mice: Characterization and Natural History of Amphotropic, Ecotropic, and Xenotropic MuLV

Following the discovery by Gross in 1950 of type C murine leukemia virus (MuLV) (Gross, 1951), considerable knowledge about these viruses in laboratory strains of mice has accumulated (for review, see Sarma and Gazdar, 1974). Only in the last few years, however, has information been obtained about type C viruses in outbred, feral-living Mus musculus, the progenitor of the laboratory mouse. An understanding of the natural history of these viruses in wild mice is important because in laboratory mice they could represent to some extent an artifact of inbreeding and laboratory selection. The wild mouse might also prove a useful model for humans, an outbred species in which some involvement with RNA tumor virus genomes is suspected (for review, see Hehlman, 1976). The first indication that these viruses were present in wild mice was the detection of virus group specific antigen in the tissues of Maryland wild mice bred in captivity (Huebner et al., 1970). Type C viruses were subsequently found in multiple populations of wild mice in southern California and were shown to be lymphomagenic under natural and experimental conditions. Completely unanticipated, however, was the discovery of an independent etiologic involvement of these agents with a naturally occurring neurogenic hind leg paralytic disease of wild mice, which in several aspects is similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in humans. In retrospect, however, a similar type C virus induced paralytic disease may have been observed in the early 1960s in Balb/c mice bearing Moloney leukemia virus-induced lymphoma transplants (Stansly, 1965).
The Law of 'Not Now'

Administrative agencies frequently say “not now.” They defer decisions about rulemaking or adjudication, or decide not to decide. When is it lawful for them to do so? A substantial degree of agency autonomy is guaranteed by a recognition of resource constraints, which require agencies to set priorities, often with reference to their independent assessments of the relative importance of legislative policies. Unless a fair reading of congressional instructions suggests otherwise, agencies may also defer decisions because of their own policy judgments about appropriate timing. At the same time, agencies may not defer decisions, or decide not to decide, if Congress has imposed a statutory deadline, or if their failure to act amounts to a circumvention of express or implied statutory requirements, or amounts to an abdication of the agency’s basic responsibility to promote and enforce policies established by Congress.
Analysis of the von Karman equations by group methods

Abstract One of the systems of equations approximating the large deflection of plates consists of two coupled non-linear fourth order partial differential equations, known as the von Karman equations. The full symmetry group for the steady equations is a finitely generated Lie group with ten parameters. For the time-dependent system the full symmetry group is an infinite parameter Lie group. Several subgroups of the full group are used to generate exact solutions of the time-independent and the time-dependent systems. These include the dilatation group (similar solutions), rotation group, screw group and others. Physical implications and applications are discussed.
Intussusception secondary to squamous carcinoma of the lung

This report describes unusual radiologic and pathologic findings in a patient with multiple small bowel metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The diagnostic work-up revealed a large, pleural-based, right lung mass, a large left adrenal mass, two ulcerated small bowel masses, and a unique giant peduncular mass that caused intermittent intussusception. A pertinent review of the literature is presented.
Effect of heart rate on QT interval in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of sympathetic stimulation and increase in heart rate on the QT and QTc intervals. DESIGN: Prospective non-randomised study of eight consecutive patients. SETTING: Electrophysiology laboratory at a tertiary centre. PATIENTS: Eight patients aged 10-20 years (median 12.5) undergoing repeat electrophysiological study after previously successful catheter ablation (n = 6) or presumed supraventricular tachycardia (n = 2) with negative studies. INTERVENTIONS: Electrocardiograms were obtained (a) at baseline, (b) during atrial pacing at 450 ms cycle length, (c) during isoprenaline infusion at 0.025 microgram/kg/min, (d) adding atrial pacing (450 ms cycle length) to isoprenaline at 0.025 microgram/kg/min, and (e) isoprenaline at 0.05 microgram/kg/min. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: QT and QTc intervals at each of the above mentioned stages. RESULTS: The QT interval was reduced from a mean value of 350 ms to around 315-325 ms by each of the above manoeuvres. Correspondingly, the QTc increased from a mean of 407 ms to around 445-470 ms. Pacing was as effective as isoprenaline in shortening the QT interval and prolonging the QTc intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Heart rate directly influences QT and QTc intervals in children and adolescents. The QT is shortened, but QTc is prolonged. Hence, reliance on the QTc alone could lead to mistaken diagnosis of long QT syndrome.
Consolation on Golgotha: Comforters and Sustainers of Dying Priests in England, 1580–1625

The act of comforting soon-to-be executed martyrs was a collective and participatory affair in early modern England, but it was Catholics’ consolation of dying priests that resonated with a sacramental and doctrinal meaning all its own. This article seeks to highlight the late medieval traditions as well as contemporary Tridentine practices that infused such acts of comfort, particularly as they were negotiated in a time of Catholic persecution and upheaval. Of prime importance in instructing consolers, however, was Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual exercises, which, as this essay argues, provided a guidebook for behaviour and an answer to suffering for priests and followers alike.
Hemoglobin A1c levels in non-diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving hemodialysis.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level represents an established tool to monitor glycemic control in diabetic patients, but the previous commonly used tests of HbA1c in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may not be reliable because of the presence of anemia, assay interference from uremia, and decreased red blood cell (RBC) life span. HbA1c level measured by turbidimetric immunoassay method is not affected by the above factors. We enrolled 40 non-diabetic ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis and 55 non-diabetic patients without ESRD for this study. HbA1c was analyzed by turbidimetric immunoassays with Synchron CX system. We found that the average HbA1c level in non-diabetic ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis was 5.99% and in the control group was 5.45% (p 0.05). Our limited data indicate that HbA1c levels are elevated in nondiabetic ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis. We propose that the elevated HbA1c level may be due to the repetitive exposure of patients’ RBCs to the high glucose level in dialysate (200 mg/dl) or may reflect true glucose intolerance in non-diabetic patients with ESRD.
Patient satisfaction and outcome after septic versus aseptic revision total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract A consecutive series of revision total knee arthroplasties performed at 3 university-affiliated centers by 3 surgeons was prospectively studied. The same implant was used in all cases. The evaluation included a Knee Society clinical score (KSCS); SF-36; satisfaction survey; and radiographs preoperatively, at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and annually thereafter. Follow-up averaging 36 months (range, 24-60 months) was obtained in 125 of 138 knees (91%). Twenty-eight knees were infected, and 26 of 28 knees were treated successfully with 2-stage exchange with an interval of 4 to 6 weeks using an antibiotic-impregnated spacer block and intravenous antibiotics. The remaining 99 knees were revised for reasons other than infection, including aseptic component loosening, progressive osteolysis, and component instability. Preoperatively, patients with infection had a significantly decreased arc of motion compared with patients without infection (79° vs 92°; P P =.11). Postoperatively, patients with infection continued to have a significantly decreased range of motion (89° vs 99°; P =.05). The postoperative KSCS was markedly lower in the septic versus aseptic revisions (115 vs 135; P =.02). Patients with infection had a significantly lower function score (44 vs 57; P =.03). A significantly higher percentage of patients stated that they were unable to return to normal activities of daily living after septic versus aseptic revision total knee arthroplasty (24% vs 7%; P
Immunoglobulin E antibodies enhance pulmonary inflammation induced by inhalation of a chemical hapten.

Background Occupational exposure to chemicals is an important cause of asthma. Recent studies indicate that IgE antibodies enhance sensitization to chemicals in the skin. Objective We investigated whether IgE might similarly promote the development of airway inflammation following inhalation of a contact sensitizer. Methods A model of chemical-induced asthma is described in which introduction of the low-molecular-weight compound, trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS), via the respiratory tract was used for both sensitization and challenge. The role of IgE antibodies in the immune response to inhaled TNBS in this model was assessed by comparing the responses of wild-type (WT) and IgE-deficient (IgE(-/-)) mice on the BALB/c background. Reconstitution of circulating IgE levels by intravenous injection of IgE antibodies into IgE(-/-) mice before sensitization was performed to confirm the role of IgE in any differences observed between the responses of WT and IgE(-/-) mice. Results Intranasal challenge of TNBS-sensitized (but not sham-sensitized control mice) induced intense pulmonary inflammation. Macrophages, eosinophils and lymphocytes, including T, B, natural killer and natural killer T cells, were recruited to the airway and the animals displayed bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine. Serum levels of murine mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) were elevated suggesting mast cell activation. In contrast, the development of airway inflammation, recruitment of lymphocytes, induction of BHR and production of mMCP-1 were all significantly attenuated in IgE-deficient mice. Reconstitution of IgE(-/-) mice with IgE (of unrelated antigen specificity) before sensitization partially restored these features of asthma. Conclusion Our data indicate that IgE antibodies non-specifically enhance the development of airway inflammation induced by exposure to chemical antigens.
Septic Number Fields Which are Ramified Only at One Small Prime

We find all number fields which can be generated from a degree 7 polynomial satisfying the conditions that only one prime, p, ramifies and p< 11.
Elevation of fetal dopamine following exposure to methamphetamine in utero

Abstract The effect of methamphetamine on fetal dopaminergic function was examined following treatment of pregnant mice twice daily with 40 mg/kg methamphetamine from either gestational day (GD) 7–13 or from GD 7–15. Dopamine levels were elevated in fetal GD 16 corpus striatum and rostral mesencephalon following both treatment regimens. This increase in fetal dopamine is consistent with our findings that exposure to methamphetamine in utero results in adult dopaminergic neurons which are more responsive in terms of methamphetamine induced release of the neurotransmitter and more sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of the drug.
Elucidation of Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis in Tetrahymena Reveals an Evolutionarily Convergent Recruitment of Dynamin

Ciliates, although single-celled organisms, contain numerous subcellular structures and pathways usually associated with metazoans. How this cell biological complexity relates to the evolution of molecular elements is unclear, because features in these cells have been defined mainly at the morphological level. Among these ciliate features are structures resembling clathrin-coated, endocytic pits associated with plasma membrane invaginations called parasomal sacs. The combination of genome-wide sequencing in Tetrahymena thermophila with tools for gene expression and replacement has allowed us to examine this pathway in detail. Here we demonstrate that parasomal sacs are sites of clathrin-dependent endocytosis and that AP-2 localizes to these sites. Unexpectedly, endocytosis in Tetrahymena also involves a protein in the dynamin family, Drp1p (Dynamin-related protein 1). While phylogenetic analysis of AP subunits indicates a primitive origin for clathrin-mediated endocytosis, similar analysis of dynamin-related proteins suggests, strikingly, that the recruitment of dynamin-family proteins to the endocytic pathway occurred independently during the course of the ciliate and metazoan radiations. Consistent with this, our functional analysis suggests that the precise roles of dynamins in endocytosis, as well as the mechanisms of targeting, differ in metazoans and ciliates.
COMMUNITY CONTEXT AND THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY MINORITY PATIENTS

An organization applying the principles of "community context" had 20 dropouts among 111 African American and Hispanic patients in its mental health services. Its sister organization applying conventional psychiatric service approaches had 114 dropouts among 167 African American and Hispanic patients.
Dosimetric Impact of Patient Rotational Setup Errors with Frameless Single-Isocenter, Multi-Target Volumetric Modulated Arc Radiosurgery for Multiple Brain Metastases

Conclusions: Significant image contrast was observed for concentrations 4 mg/ml and higher. Previous pre-clinical work has shown that average concentrations of 7 mg/ml may be delivered in vivo. Based on the results of this study, it may be possible to use gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent for image-guided therapy targeting or for image-based kinetic studies of tumor uptake. Future work will include in vivo targeting studies with gold nanoparticles in tumor-bearing mice. Author Disclosure: H. Korideck: None. W. Ngwa: None. M. Makrigiorgos: None. R.I. Barbeco: None.
Commitment and Satisfaction among Parochial School Teachers: Findings from Catholic Education

Within the past thirty years, major shifts have occurred within Catholic schools toward a dramatic increase in lay faculty and a greater diversity of students. These changes have prompted an extensive examination as to the commitment level of teachers to the core mission of the school and how this commitment relates to job satisfaction. Findings suggest the importance of teacher ideology both to teacher satisfaction and organizational integrity.
A sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay for measurement of picogram quantities of murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells of the neutrophil lineage. Measurement of murine G-CSF levels will allow examination of its role in host defense using murine models. Therefore, we developed a sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for murine G-CSF. A polyclonal antibody to recombinant murine G-CSF was produced in rabbits and isolated using a protein A column. This purified native IgG served as the capture antibody and a portion of the IgG was biotinylated to serve as the developing antibody. Specificity was verified by lack of reactivity to GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-3, prolactin, and growth hormone. The lower limit of sensitivity routinely extended to 16 pg/ml in multiple ELISAs. Intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 3.4 to 21.5% across the detection limits of the assay, with the greatest variance occurring near the standard curve maximum. Interassay CV ranged from 11.5 to 23.3%. The ability of the ELISA to detect G-CSF in different sample preparations was examined in RPMI 1640 with 10% FCS, Hanks balanced salt solution, PBS/Tween-20/2% FCS, and the dilution media for ELISA (10% BLOTTO/PBS/0.05% Tween-20). Average recovery in these media ranged from 98 to 107%. Heparin anti-coagulated normal mouse plasma had a suppressive effect on the ELISA that varied between individual mice. Recovery was also determined from liver, spleen, and lung homogenate suspensions at dilutions of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:20 in dilution buffer. Recovery from liver was optimal at the 1:10 and 1:20 dilutions at 105%, with that of the 1:5 dilution at 135%. Recovery from spleen ranged from 94 to 96%. Lung homogenate displayed enhanced recovery (139% or greater) across all dilutions. The ability of the assay to detect G-CSF was explored by measurement of G-CSF levels in peritoneal lavage following polymicrobial intra-abdominal infection. Peak levels of G-CSF production occurred at 16 h after cecal ligation and puncture surgery with 18- and 21-guage needles (75.7 ng/ml and 111.4 ng/ml, respectively) as compared to the sham animals (0.61 ng/ml). The assay was found to be specific, sensitive, and accurate for measurement of murine G-CSF in a variety of sample types.
Political business cycles in the parliamentary system

Abstract In the parliamentary system, the cabinet may call a general election before the term of the House members matures, if the timing is judged favorable. Econometric tests to differentiate the following two hypotheses are proposed and applied to the Japanese data. Under the manipulative cabinet hypothesis, the cabinet decides the timing of the election by political reasons and manipulates an economy to have a boom in time, i.e., elections cause booms, similar to the presidential system; while the opportunistic cabinet hypothesis states that the cabinet does not manipulate the economy, but calls an election, when positive private-sector shocks cause high growth and low inflation, i.e., booms trigger elections. Findings indicate that the Japanese cabinet has acted opportunistically rather that manipulatively.
On the kinetics of the isomerization of glucose to fructose using Sn-Beta

Abstract Process design and techno-economic evaluation of glucose isomerization on Sn-Beta require reliable catalytic reaction rate expressions and kinetic constants. Here, the isomerization of sugars (glucose, fructose and mannose) in water using Sn-Beta is investigated at various temperatures ranging from 70 to 130 °C. It is shown that the catalyst deactivates during the course of the reaction. A phenomenological model that describes the isomerization reaction in the presence of deactivation is developed and the corresponding kinetic constants are estimated from experimental data.
A normative calculation technique for determining opal in deep-sea sediments

Abstract The opal content of deep-sea sediment can be estimated by subtracting non-biogenic silica, calculated from the aluminum and magnesium concentrations in the sediment, from the total silica content of the samples. Unlike most previously described methods, this calculation is capable of yielding reliable estimates of opal in pre-Pleistocene sediments because it is unaffected by structural changes that take place in opal as it ages.
The time-course of lipid biosynthesis in horse skin

Abstract To observe the time-course of formation of sebaceous lipids in the horse, skin was pulse-labelled in vivo by intradermal injection of [l- 14 C]acetate and the injection sites were harvested at intervals for up to 12 days by skin punch biopsy. The distribution of radioactivity among the major neutral lipid classes and the phospholipids from these biopsies showed that, soon after pulse-labelling, the phospholipids were highly labelled followed by a long-term decrease in radioactivity. Over the same period, the low initial labelling of the dominant component, the equolides (giant ring ω-lactones, C 32 –C 36 ), was followed by a long-term increase in radioactivity. This suggests a post-pulse transferance of radioactivity from the phospholipids to the equolides, presumably in the fatty acids. Of the phospholipid fatty acids from horse dermis, including sebaceous glands, 33% were found to contain iso-branched structures unique to horse sebaceous lipids. Of the iso-branched fatty acids, 40% were Δ9-18:1 and Δ9- and Δ11-20:1 acids, which are structurally appropriate to be precursors for the monounsaturated equolides. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that the sebaceous phospholipids of horse skin serve as long-term lipid intermediates in the biosynthesis of the equolides during sebaceous cell development.
Comparative neurotoxic potential of glutamate, endothelins, and plateletactivating factor in cerebral cortical cultures

The excitatory amino acid glutamate, the peptides endothelin-1 and -3, and the phospholipid platelet-activating factor have been implicated in ischemic injury to the nervous system. To determine if, like glutamate, endothelins and platelet-activating factor are directly toxic to neurons, we examined their effects on lactate dehydrogenase release and trypan blue dye exclusion in rat cerebral cortical cultures. Glutamate (1 mM) increased lactate dehydrogenase release by approximately 75% and reduced the number of cells excluding trypan blue dye by approximately 50%. In contrast, endothelins (0.5 and 100 nM) and platelet-activating factor (0.1 and 10 microM) had no effect on these indices of cell injury. Endothelins and platelet-activating factor appear more likely to act on blood vessels than on neurons or glia as mediators of ischemic injury.
Area and Thickness Scaling of Forming Voltage of Resistive Switching Memories

Based on probability analysis, this letter presents a simplified analytical model for the area and thickness scaling of forming voltage of resistive switching memories. The model is validated by experimental data and enables forming voltage projection. A switching resistor network model is employed to simulate the statistical distributions of forming voltage, which also confirms the analytical model. The increase of forming voltage at decreasing device area is undesirable for memory scalability. Local field enhancement may help to reduce both the magnitude of forming voltage and its area dependence.