cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spinal-Cord-Injured Women

Women, whether married or single, physically sound or disabled, believe that having a child completes the family unit. With the improvement of acute care and effective post-cord-trauma rehabilitation, pregnancy and delivery in spinal-cord-injured women will occur more frequently. Our staff from the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation Unit felt fortunate when we had two tetraplegic patients who were pregnant. Staff members were involved in both the prenatal and the postnatal care of these women. This chapter presents our personal experiences, along with mail and literature survey results, on pregnancy, delivery, and sexual behaviors during the pre- and post-partum stages.
Clinical Implications of PACS

Accurate diagnosis, rapid throughput, immediate reporting, and efficient retrieval of both images and reports are the goals of all radiology departments. In most large institutions reports reach the charts of referring physicians 24 to 72 hours after the examination. In many institutions the telephone report has replaced the written report as the instrument affecting decision making. Therefore, for reporting, accessing and storing images, the implementation of an electronic digital picture archival and communications system (PACS) should be efficient, and most people now consider it inevitable in the near future.
ABCA1 haplodeficiency affects the brain transcriptome following traumatic brain injury in mice expressing human APOE isoforms

Expression of human Apolipoprotein E (APOE) modulates the inflammatory response in an isoform specific manner, with APOE4 isoform eliciting a stronger pro-inflammatory response, suggesting a possible mechanism for worse outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI). APOE lipidation and stability is modulated by ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a transmembrane protein that transports lipids and cholesterol onto APOE. We examined the impact of Abca1 deficiency and APOE isoform expression on the response to TBI using 3-months-old, human APOE3+/+ (E3/Abca1+/+) and APOE4+/+ (E4/Abca1+/+) targeted replacement mice, and APOE3+/+ and APOE4+/+ mice with only one functional copy of the Abca1 gene (E3/Abca1+/−; E4/Abca1+/−). TBI-treated mice received a craniotomy followed by a controlled cortical impact (CCI) brain injury in the left hemisphere; sham-treated mice received the same surgical procedure without the impact. We performed RNA-seq using samples from cortices and hippocampi followed by genome-wide differential gene expression analysis. We found that TBI significantly impacted unique transcripts within each group, however, the proportion of unique transcripts was highest in E4/Abca1+/− mice. Additionally, we found that Abca1 haplodeficiency increased the expression of microglia sensome genes among only APOE4 injured mice, a response not seen in injured APOE3 mice, nor in either group of sham-treated mice. To identify gene networks, or modules, correlated to TBI, APOE isoform and Abca1 haplodeficiency, we used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The module that positively correlated to TBI groups was associated with immune response and featured hub genes that were microglia-specific, including Trem2, Tyrobp, Cd68 and Hexb. The modules positively correlated with APOE4 isoform and negatively to Abca1 haplodeficient mice represented “protein translation” and “oxidation-reduction process”, respectively. Our results reveal E4/Abca1+/− TBI mice have a distinct response to injury, and unique gene networks are associated with APOE isoform, Abca1 insufficiency and injury.
Impact of glacier loss on annual basin water yields

Abstract. We couple a glacier flow model to a simplified landscape model to investigate the effects of glacier dynamics, climate, and vegetation succession on annual basin runoff during glacier retreat. Basin runoff initially increases as water is released from glacier storage but eventually decreases to below preretreat levels due to increases in evapotranspiration and altitudinal losses in precipitation. Peak basin runoff and the time to peak basin runoff are primarily determined by glacier dynamics, with shallow sloping continental glaciers experiencing the largest increases in basin runoff (up to 62 %) and longest time until peak basin runoff (up to 142 years), compared to 14 % and 54 years for steep maritime glaciers subjected to the same rate of climate change. These differences in peak basin runoff and time to peak basin runoff can be characterized by the glacier response time: glaciers with long response times are pushed farther out of equilibrium for a given climate forcing and produce larger variations in basin runoff than glaciers with short response times. After peak basin runoff is reached, vegetation plays an increasingly important role, with basin runoff decreasing considerably faster for heavily vegetated landscapes than for rocky landscapes and ultimately reaching values that are over 50 % lower than preretreat levels. Our results demonstrate that glacier dynamics and landscape evolution should receive roughly equal attention when assessing the impacts of glacier mass loss on water resources.
Situating dissemination and implementation sciences within and across the translational research spectrum - ADDENDUM.

The efficient and effective movement of research into practice is acknowledged as crucial to improving population health and assuring return on investment in healthcare research. The National Center for Advancing Translational Science which sponsors Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) recognizes that dissemination and implementation (D&I) sciences have matured over the last 15 years and are central to its goals to shift academic health institutions to better align with this reality. In 2016, the CTSA Collaboration and Engagement Domain Task Force chartered a D&I Science Workgroup to explore the role of D&I sciences across the translational research spectrum. This special communication discusses the conceptual distinctions and purposes of dissemination, implementation, and translational sciences. We propose an integrated framework and provide real-world examples for articulating the role of D&I sciences within and across all of the translational research spectrum. The framework’s major proposition is that it situates D&I sciences as targeted “sub-sciences” of translational science to be used by CTSAs, and others, to identify and investigate coherent strategies for more routinely and proactively accelerating research translation. The framework highlights the importance of D&I thought leaders in extending D&I principles to all research stages.
In-office Transperineal Prostate Biopsy Using Biplanar Ultrasound Guidance: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Objective To provide a step-by-step guide for performing in-office transperineal prostate biopsy using biplanar ultrasound guidance. Patients and Methods Biopsies are performed using a freehand technique with the PrecisionPoint Transperineal Access System (Perineologic, Cumberland, MD). This disposable needle guide includes 3 components: a rail/clamp subassembly, a needle carriage with 5 aperture holes, and a 15 gauge access needle. The device is clamped to a side-fire biplanar ultrasound probe, ensuring alignment of the biopsy needle with the probe's ultrasound arrays. Once the patient is sufficiently anesthetized using 1% lidocaine, the access needle is engaged into the perineal skin. This allows for multiple passes of the biopsy needle through a common puncture site. A separate puncture is made for each side of the prostate and the aperture hole is chosen based on the overall height of the prostate. Biopsies are taken using a disposable 18 gauge biopsy gun. Results The presented video details our approach for performing transperineal prostate biopsy under local anesthesia. Biopsies are performed in the office setting without the need for periprocedural antibiotics. The PrecisionPoint Transperineal Access System ensures proper alignment of the biopsy needle with the ultrasound probe, while minimizing the number of individual needle sticks to the perineal skin. The use of biplanar ultrasound makes it possible to guide the biopsy needle with excellent precision to virtually any area of the prostate. The descried technique can be used for systematic biopsies as well as for targeted biopsies using cognitive fusion with magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion We provide a step-by-step guide for performing in-office transperineal prostate biopsy. The presented technique minimizes the risk of infectious complications by eliminating the need for biopsy needles to pass through the rectal mucosa. Biopsies are performed without the need for periprocedural antibiotics, thus furthering the goals of antibiotic stewardship.
The impact of obstructive sleep apnea and PAP therapy on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality based on age and gender - a literature review.

Abstract Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder which negatively impacts different body systems, especially the cardiovascular system. The correlation between sleep related breathing disorders and cardiovascular diseases has been well studied. However, the impact of OSA on cardiovascular related mortality and the role of positive airway pressure therapy in decreasing mortality is unclear. We reviewed studies investigating the impact of OSA on all-cause and cardiovascular related mortality in both genders, and in different age groups. Methods A literature search (PubMed) using two phrases “obstructive sleep apnea and co-morbidities in males and females” and “obstructive sleep apnea and co-morbidities by age” yielded a total of 214 articles. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Results The studies reviewed showed conflicting results. Some showed that OSA increases all cause and cardiovascular related mortality predominantly in the middle-aged group (40–65) followed by a plateau or a reduction in mortality. Other studies showed a positive linear correlation between OSA and mortality up to the age of 80. The same controversy was noted for gender; some studies did not observe an increase in mortality in females with OSA, while others observed a trend for an increase in mortality in females. Conclusion There is a debate in the literature regarding the impact of OSA on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in both genders and in different age groups. However, the variation in results might be related to different study designs and significant epidemiological prevalence of OSA in males and females.
Characterization of Thermomechanically Processed High-Temperature Ni-Lean NiTi–20 at.% Hf Shape Memory Wires

The thermomechanical processability of Ti(Hf)-rich Ni49.8Ti30.2Hf20 (at.%) high-temperature shape memory alloy (HTSMA) wires was examined. Hot-extruded rods with an initial diameter of 6.35 mm were hot-rolled and cold-drawn into a final diameter of 260 µm. For all samples, processing was performed in open air without extrusion canning. The HTSMA rods were processed to an area reduction of 99.83%. Experimental results showed that hot-rolling at 800 °C decreased the grain size and introduced a small amount of retained austenite, while breaking up the Ti4Ni2Ox intermetallic oxide phase, resulting in a 10 °C decrease of the austenite start temperature (As). While both hot-rolling and cold-drawing exhibited clear effects on the thermomechanical properties, neither the number of hot-rolling passes nor the number of cold-drawing passes affected the transformation temperatures of the material. Additionally, the NiTiHf HTSMA showed similar thermomechanical responses after the 5th and 25th hot pass when subjected to room temperature loading to 500 MPa (uniaxial tension) and thermally induced shape recovery.
Influence of work organization and work environment on missed work, productivity, and use of pain medications among construction apprentices.

Background Construction is among the most dangerous industries. In addition to traditional hazards for workplace injury and illness, other threats to health and well-being may occur from work organization and work environment factors, including irregular employment, long commutes, long work hours, and employer policies regarding health and safety. These nontraditional hazards may affect work and health outcomes directly, or through effects on health behaviors. The cumulative impacts of both traditional and nontraditional hazards on health-related outcomes among construction workers are largely unknown. Methods We conducted a survey among apprentice construction workers to identify relationships between work organization and environmental factors with five outcomes of economic relevance to employers: missed work due to work-related injury, missed work due to any pain or injury, self-reported workability, health-related productivity, and use of prescription medications for pain. Results A total of 963 surveys were completed (response rate 90%) in this young (mean age 28) working cohort. Multivariate Poisson regression models found associations between the outcomes of interest and multiple work factors, including job strain, safety behaviors of coworkers, and mandatory overtime. Univariate analysis showed additional associations, including precarious work, and supervisor support for safety. Conclusions Findings from this cross-sectional study suggest that work organization and environment factors influence health and work outcomes among young construction trade workers. Future work with longitudinal data will examine the hypothesized paths between work factors, health behaviors, health outcomes, and work outcomes.
Differences in Flexible and Rigid Bronchoscopy for Assessment of Tracheomalacia.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Both flexible and rigid bronchoscopy can be used to assess tracheomalacia; however, there is limited evidence comparing the two techniques. The objective of this study was to compare flexible and rigid bronchoscopy for evaluating the location and severity of tracheomalacia in children. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS This was a retrospective study of children with both flexible and rigid bronchoscopy under the same sedation. All bronchoscopies were reviewed by three bronchoscopists for the location and severity of tracheomalacia. The location of collapse was defined as upper, middle, or lower trachea, and the severity of collapse was defined as none (0%-25% collapse), mild/moderate (26%-75% collapse), and severe (>75% collapse). RESULTS Twenty-one patients were recruited for this study with a variety of neonatal respiratory diseases. There was 94% agreement (κ = 0.64) for assessment of tracheomalacia in the upper trachea. However, agreement was only 75% (κ = 0.50) in the middle trachea and 76% (κ = 0.52) in the lower trachea. In the subset of patients without tracheostomy, agreement improved to 100%, 88%, and 82% for the upper, middle, and lower trachea, respectively. There was poor correlation for tracheomalacia severity in the middle trachea (ρ = 0.30, P = .2) and moderate in the lower trachea (ρ = 0.63, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS Although there is moderate agreement between flexible and rigid bronchoscopy for evaluating the presence of tracheomalacia, there can be differences in the two techniques, particularly when assessing severity of airway collapse. Future studies will be needed to understand factors that result in the discordance of flexible and rigid bronchoscopy for assessing airway dynamics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:201-204, 2021.
The evolving role of coronary artery calcium in preventive cardiology 30 years after the Agatston score.

Purpose of review On the brink of the 30th anniversary of the Agatston score we summarize the epidemiological data that shaped the recommendations relevant to coronary artery calcium (CAC) included in the 2018/2019 US and European guidelines for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We also discuss the implications of novel CAC research conducted in asymptomatic populations within the past 2 years. Recent findings Based on a wealth of observational evidence, CAC has emerged as a mainstay in personalized risk assessment and is now endorsed as a class IIa tool in both US and European guidelines. In the past 2 years, data supporting the prognostic power of CAC has kept mounting, with longer term follow-up data now available. CAC has been evaluated in a variety of patient populations including individuals with severe hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus and younger adults with family history of ASCVD, in all of whom it may be able to inform a more personalized management. Novel CAC scoring approaches are also discussed. Summary Despite a strong endorsement in recent guidelines, active research in the last 2 years has provided further insights on the potential utility of CAC in informing a more individualized preventive management in broader populations.
Freeform fabrication of fiber-reinforced hydrogels using direct-write far-field electrospinning

Abstract Fiber-reinforced hydrogels are a class of soft composites that are seeing increased use in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and bio-printing. These hydrogels exhibit mechanical and biological properties that are similar to those found in living tissues. While advancements are being made on the biological feasibility of fiber-reinforced hydrogels, there are limits to the geometries realized using electrospinning techniques. To this end, the objective of this paper is to develop a freeform fabrication process that addresses two key limitations of existing fiber-reinforced hydrogel manufacturing processes, viz., their inability to manufacture (i) tall structures in the tens of millimeters height range; and (ii) structures with external overhangs. The freeform fabrication process involves the use of a direct-write far-field electrospinning print-head that enables the printing of specific electrospun fiber layers based on the cross-sectional geometry of the part. These fiber layers are then stacked to create a three-dimensional fiber pre-form. Finally, the fiber pre-form is submerged in specific hydrogel and cross-linking solutions to realize the fiber-reinforced hydrogel part of interest. In order to create an external overhang, a sacrificial support material is incorporated using hydrophobic fiber pre-forms to resist the infiltration of the hydrogel solution during the submersion step. The process has been successfully demonstrated both for thin parts with contours, and vasculature-mimicking tubular structures. Mechanical testing of the ∼1.6 wt. % fiber-reinforced hydrogels shows an order of magnitude improvement in the tensile properties when compared to published results for pure hydrogel.
Evaluation of an active population‐based surveillance system for major birth defects in South Carolina

Introduction Birth defects are common, costly, and contribute substantially to infant mortality. The South Carolina Birth Defects Program (SCBDP) employs active population-based surveillance to monitor major birth defects statewide. We evaluated SCBDP's system attributes using published CDC guidelines. Methods To determine timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of birth defects information, we examined SCBDP's reports, program and education materials, advisory group meeting minutes, and strategic plan. We also met with program staff and stakeholders (n = 10) to discuss program goals and data utilization. We calculated the percentage of birth defects cases found 6 months after a birth cohort year for 2016-2018. Results SCBDP identifies 900-1,200 birth defects cases for a birth population of approximately 55,000 live births annually through active case reviews. SCBDP uses trained medical staff to abstract detailed information from maternal and infant medical records; SCBDP also has established auto-linkage with state vital statistics to capture demographic and birth data. SCBDP is timely and captures 97.1% (range 96.7-97.6%) of birth defects cases within 6 months after the birth cohort year closes. Active case identification using medical records as the primary data source improves quality assurance and completeness, while prepopulating demographic information improves timeliness. Conclusions Given that birth defects significantly contribute to infant morbidity and mortality, monitoring these conditions is important to understand their impact on communities and to drive public health actions. SCBDP active surveillance and rigorous data quality practices provide the program with timely, complete, and accurate birth defects data.
Hormonal control of cardiac regenerative potential

Research conducted across phylogeny on cardiac regenerative responses following heart injury implicates endocrine signaling as a pivotal regulator of both cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration. Three prominently studied endocrine factors are thyroid hormone, vitamin D, and glucocorticoids, which canonically regulate gene expression through their respective nuclear receptors thyroid hormone receptor, vitamin D receptor, and glucocorticoid receptor. The main animal model systems of interest include humans, mice, and zebrafish, which vary in cardiac regenerative responses possibly due to the differential onsets and intensities of endocrine signaling levels throughout their embryonic to postnatal organismal development. Zebrafish and lower vertebrates tend to retain robust cardiac regenerative capacity into adulthood while mice and other higher vertebrates experience greatly diminished cardiac regenerative potential in their initial postnatal period that is sustained throughout adulthood. Here, we review recent progress in understanding how these three endocrine signaling pathways regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration with a particular focus on the controversial findings that may arise from different assays, cellular-context, age, and species. Further investigating the role of each endocrine nuclear receptor in cardiac regeneration from an evolutionary perspective enables comparative studies between species in hopes of extrapolating the findings to novel therapies for human cardiovascular disease.
Pioneer-like factor GAF cooperates with PBAP (SWI/SNF) and NURF (ISWI) to regulate transcription

Transcriptionally silent genes must be activated throughout development. This requires nucleosomes be removed from promoters and enhancers to allow transcription factor (TF) binding and recruitment of coactivators and RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Specialized pioneer TFs bind nucleosome-wrapped DNA to perform this chromatin opening by mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that GAGA factor (GAF), a Drosophila pioneer-like factor, functions with both SWI/SNF and ISWI family chromatin remodelers to allow recruitment of Pol II and entry to a promoter-proximal paused state, and also to promote Pol II's transition to productive elongation. We found that GAF interacts with PBAP (SWI/SNF) to open chromatin and allow Pol II to be recruited. Importantly, this activity is not dependent on NURF as previously proposed; however, GAF also synergizes with NURF downstream from this process to ensure efficient Pol II pause release and transition to productive elongation, apparently through its role in precisely positioning the +1 nucleosome. These results demonstrate how a single sequence-specific pioneer TF can synergize with remodelers to activate sets of genes. Furthermore, this behavior of remodelers is consistent with findings in yeast and mice, and likely represents general, conserved mechanisms found throughout eukarya.
Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency: Review of the Natural History Study.

Objective:The SSADHD Natural History Study was initiated in 2019 to define the natural course and identify biomarkers correlating with severity.Methods:The study is conducted by 4 institutions: BCH...
Comparison of Traditional Videos With Telenovelas for Hospice Family Caregivers Education.

Background:While research has shown that hospice family caregivers (HFCG) seek additional information related to patient care, pain and symptom management, and self-care, it is unknown how the use ...
Dataset for: Do Conspiracy Beliefs form a Belief System? Examining the Structure and Organization of Conspiracy Beliefs

Despite regular reference to conspiracy theories as a “belief system,” few studies have attempted to explore the structure and organization of conspiracy beliefs beyond an examination of correlations between those beliefs. Employing unique data from two national surveys that includes respondent beliefs in 27 conspiracy theories, we decipher the substantive dimensions along which conspiracy beliefs are organized, as well as subgroupings within those dimensions. We find that variation in these conspiracy beliefs can be accounted for with two dimensions: the first regards partisan and ideological identities, while the other is composed of anti-social orientations, such as narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and acceptance of political violence. Importantly, these two dimensions are uncorrelated. We also find that conspiracy beliefs group together by substantive content, such as those regarding partisan actors or science/medicine. Our findings also demonstrate that inferences about the correlates of conspiracy beliefs are highly contingent on the specific conspiracy theories employed by researchers. We provide suggestions for future research in this vein.
Teaching a neural network to attach and detach electrons from molecules.

Interatomic potentials derived with Machine Learning algorithms such as Deep-Neural Networks (DNNs), achieve the accuracy of high-fidelity quantum mechanical (QM) methods in areas traditionally dominated by empirical force fields and allow performing massive simulations. Most DNN potentials were parametrized for neutral molecules or closed-shell ions due to architectural limitations. In this work, we propose an improved machine learning framework for simulating open-shell anions and cations. We introduce the AIMNet-NSE (Neural Spin Equilibration) architecture, which can predict molecular energies for an arbitrary combination of molecular charge and spin multiplicity with errors of about 2–3 kcal/mol and spin-charges with error errors ~0.01e for small and medium-sized organic molecules, compared to the reference QM simulations. The AIMNet-NSE model allows to fully bypass QM calculations and derive the ionization potential, electron affinity, and conceptual Density Functional Theory quantities like electronegativity, hardness, and condensed Fukui functions. We show that these descriptors, along with learned atomic representations, could be used to model chemical reactivity through an example of regioselectivity in electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. Quantum mechanical calculations of molecular ionized states are computationally quite expensive. This work reports a successful extension of a previous deep-neural networks approach towards transferable neural-network models for predicting multiple properties of open shell anions and cations.
Kidney Autotransplantation for Treatment of Ureteric Obstruction: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature

Autologous kidney transplantation is a relatively rare procedure that has been used as an alternative treatment for a variety of complex genitourinary problems, in particular for the treatment of complex proximal ureteral strictures. In this case report, a 47-year-old male, who had undergone a living donor nephrectomy 14 years earlier, presented with episodes of acute kidney injury on chronic kidney disease. He was found to have a complex proximal ureter stricture of his solitary right kidney. He underwent nephrectomy with subsequent autotransplantation of the kidney into the right iliac fossa. His renal function improved significantly after surgery. Renal autotransplantation may be considered for the management of proximal ureteral obstruction when alternative options are contraindicated.
Measuring Electronic Health Record Use in the Pediatric ICU Using Audit-Logs and Screen Recordings.

Background Time spent in the electronic health record (EHR) has been identified as an important unit of measure for health care provider clinical activity. The lack of validation of audit-log based inpatient EHR time may have resulted in underuse of this data in studies focusing on inpatient patient outcomes, provider efficiency, provider satisfaction, etc. This has also led to a dearth of clinically relevant EHR usage metrics consistent with inpatient provider clinical activity. Objective The aim of our study was to validate audit-log based EHR times using observed EHR-times extracted from screen recordings of EHR usage in the inpatient setting. Methods This study was conducted in a 36-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford between June 11 and July 14, 2020. Attending physicians, fellow physicians, hospitalists, and advanced practice providers with ≥0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) for the prior four consecutive weeks and at least one EHR session recording were included in the study. Citrix session recording player was used to retrospectively review EHR session recordings that were captured as the provider interacted with the EHR. Results EHR use patterns varied by provider type. Audit-log based total EHR time correlated strongly with both observed total EHR time (r = 0.98, p Conclusion Our study found inpatient audit-log based EHR time to correlate strongly with observed EHR time among pediatric critical care providers. These findings support the use of audit-log based EHR-time as a surrogate measure for inpatient provider EHR use, providing an opportunity for researchers and other stakeholders to leverage EHR audit-log data in measuring clinical activity and tracking outcomes of workflow improvement efforts longitudinally and across provider groups.
Ruffled by Ridges: How Evolutionary Algorithms Can Fail

The representations currently used by local search and some evolutionary algorithms have the disadvantage that these algorithms are partially blind to “ridges” in the search space. Both heuristics search and gradient search algorithms can exhibit extremely slow convergence on functions that display ridge structures. A class of rotated representations are proposed and explored; these rotated representations can be based on Principal Components Analysis, or use the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization method. Some algorithms, such as CMA-ES, already make use of similar rotated representations.
The Retarded: Separate and Unequal

The Foundations of Justice: Why the Retarded and the Rest of Us Have Claims to Equality. By Robert M. Veatch.
Using Best Practices Research to Increase Student Engagement in Local Government

The impact of service-learning and community-based research projects on political engagement is mixed at best. Research suggests the most effective way to foster political engagement in service-learning is to explicitly focus these projects on politics, but this may be difficult to do without being partisan. One way to encourage political engagement and avoid bias is hands-on experience with local government. Local governments often have many problems, but few resources with which to solve those problems. In this paper, I will describe a community-based research project, focused on identifying best practices in other communities, examine the results and impact of this project and discuss how such a project might be implemented in other classes.
Hunts, Heinz, and Fries Priming ‘Ketchup’: The Effects of Lexicality on Brand Name–Product Associations and Brand Memory

Summary Brand names should be memorable and easy to associate with the product. The present study investigated how brand name lexicality affects accessibility in memory. In Experiment 1, participants completed a primed lexical decision task (LDT) in which primes were real-word brands (RWB; e.g., SATURN), nonword brands (NWB; e.g., KIA), or semantic associates (e.g., TIRE) and targets were product categories (e.g., car). NWB primes resulted in equivalent priming as semantic primes and were recalled more than RWBs in a free-recall task. In Experiment 2, participants completed an unprimed LDT or brand decision task (BDT). In LDT, high NWB error rates reflected greater familiarity. In BDT, many RWBs were not recognized as brands. In Experiment 3, a primed BDT with brand names as targets indicated that NWBs and RWBs are equally primed by a related category label. Overall, NWBs appear to be more familiar and memorable, possibly because of distinctiveness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Absorption and transport of milk calcium by infant rats

All previous studies of Ca absorption in the developing animal have used simple salts of Ca. The aims of the current study are 1) to determine the predominant form of Ca in rat milk and 2) to compare the absorption of milk Ca and CaCl2. In vivo-labeled rat milk was obtained by injecting lactating dams with 45CaCl2. Distribution of 45Ca in the cream, whey, and casein fractions was determined by differential centrifugation, the values being 0.3, 5, and 95%, respectively. To study Ca absorption, rats aged 14 and 28 days received either 45Ca-milk or 45CaCl2 by intragastric intubation. At 14 days, transport of milk Ca into the carcass was significantly slower than that of CaCl2, although by 6 h postintubation both had plateaued at approximately 92% of dose. At 28 days, the time course of transport was the same for the two forms of Ca, and the plateau was not significantly different from that at 14 days. In the younger animals, more Ca from milk than from CaCl2 was retained in gastrointestinal tissue. Quantitation of 45Ca in various segments of the gastrointestinal tract showed that the greater retention of milk Ca occurred in the stomach, the duodenum, and the distal jejunum. We conclude that milk Ca is efficiently absorbed by the suckling rat, possibly in a protein-bound form. The mechanism of the absorptive process awaits further investigation.
Comunipólogos: los sastres del emperador, sus hilos de oro y las lentes del público

Este articulo describe la complejidad de las actuales estrategias de comunicacion gubernamental y las actividades de los 'inductores de noticias'("spin doctors") encargados de los contactos del gobierno con los medios. Estos nuevos expertos han adquirido una posicion estrategica en las modernas democracias. En paises como Estados Unidos y Gran Bretana, el Director de Comunicaciones de la Presidencia y sus equipos han adquirido un protagonismo decisivo en los procesos de toma de decisiones, superando la tradicional funcion de portavoces a la que antes se limitaban. El rol estrategico de la comunicacion gubernamental exige una intensa combinacion de conocimiento teorico y experiencia practica en la que se fusionan la pericia periodistica, la teoria de la comunicacion de masas y el manejo de la ciencia politica. El tipo de situaciones en las que se requiere la mayor destreza de estas oficinas de comunicacion gubernamental son las situaciones de crisis politica o de catastrofe social. El autor plantea una comprension global de la funcion informativa de los gobiernos democraticos y de las consecuencias ambivalentes para la democracia del conflictivo escenario de la construccion de la imagen gubernamental, en medio de la competencia abierta entre ciudadanos, prensa y gobierno.
IPO Underpricing, Trading Volume, and Investor Interest

The level of "investor interest" in an IPO prior to its issue influences its offer price, its initial return and its initial trading volume. After issue, this interest level impacts the stock's long-term trading volume, leading to a positive relationship between an IPO's initial return and its trading volume for more than three years after issuance. Using newspaper references as a proxy for the level of interest in a firm, I find that investor interest is positively related to initial return, initial trading volume and long-term trading volume.
Planetary exploration spacecraft design

Having only begun in the early 1960s, planetary-exploration spacecraft design is a fairly new art. Between 1962 and 1973, NASA designed, built, and launched 10 spacecraft named Mariner to explore Venus, Mars, and Mercury for the first time. In 1962, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) launched the Mariner 2 spacecraft to explore Venus. In 1965, Mariner 4 flew by Mars and captured the first close-up photos of another planet. Each year since 1962, NASA, the USSR, Japan, or the European Space Agency has launched at least one planetary-exploration spacecraft. Two of the best known are NASA's Voyagers, which were launched in 1977, two years after NASA's Viking mission sent landers and orbiters to Mars. Today, 24 years after launch, Voyager 2 has completed a tour of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and still returns data from a distance of 64 AU. NASA spacecraft have visited every planet in the solar system except Pluto, and orbited Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. In 1975, the USSR's Venera 9 and 10 spacecraft sent the first photos from the surface of another planet (Venus); in 1986, the European Space Agency's Giotto spacecraft captured the first detailed photos of a comet's nucleus (Halley's). The NASA/JPL Cassini spacecraft is due to enter Saturn orbit in 2004. The NASA/APL MESSENGER spacecraft is due to orbit Mercury in 2009. MESSENGER is being built by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), which also built the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous 10 (NEAR) spacecraft that orbited and touched down on the asteroid Eros in February 2001. This article addresses the important elements of planetary-exploration spacecraft (PES) design. The scope of this article includes those spacecraft that fly by, orbit, or land on other planets, asteroids, or comets. Planetary-exploration spacecraft are truly fascinating machines, and their missions are some of humankind's most audacious endeavors. Spacecraft elements are described in some detail, and the principal focus is on the system design and the technical subsystems. Ground stations, launch vehicles, science, and navigational elements are not addressed. Keywords: planetary exploration; spacecraft design; requirements; constraints; planetary protection; space radiative environments; Sun range; subsystem design; telecommunications; power; principles; margins
Use of a 19-gauge injection needle as a guide for direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube placement

Background: Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) tube placement is becoming an accepted means of achieving enteral nutrition. However, during DPEJ placement it can be difficult to maintain the position of the small bowel for insertion of the plastic sheath with stylet, thus limiting the success of the procedure. The results of a technique designed to overcome this problem are presented. Methods: During DPEJ placement, a 19-gauge injection needle was passed into the bowel at the site of transillumination. The needle was snared tightly, fixing the small bowel against the abdominal wall. The plastic sheath with stylet was then inserted adjacent to the 19-gauge needle and into the small bowel and was subsequently snared to facilitate guidewire passage. A 24F, pull-type PEJ tube was then placed in standard fashion. Results: A DPEJ was placed successfully in 24 of 26 (92.3%) patients with this technique. There was one (4%) major complication: inadvertent small bowel perforation during DPEJ placement. The average time to complete a procedure was 23.3 minutes; the mean time to achieve the dietary goal after DPEJ placement was 39 hours. One patient died of an unrelated illness 6 days after DPEJ placement; 23 were discharged with jejunal feeding. Conclusions: A DPEJ can be performed successfully by using a 19-gauge injection needle as guide for tube placement.
Multi-functional edge driven nano-scale cellular automata based on semiconductor tunneling nano-structure with a self-assembled quantum dot layer

Abstract We present a feasibility study of the semiconductor tunneling nano-structure consisting of multiple layers of two semiconductors along with a quantum dot layer for potential application in a cellular automata logic module. The elementary logic cell of the proposed CA module consists of a couple of tunnel diodes connected in series through a quantum dot. The charge of the quantum dot is considered as a logic variable. The local interconnections of nano-cells are achieved via the in-plane tunneling in the quantum dot layer. On the basis of approximate tunneling characteristics, multiple associative states and state dynamics are simulated. There are two ultimate advantages of the proposed CA scheme: (i) potential realization of a number of logic functions in one module, and (ii) reduced number of cell contacts required for read-in and read-out procedures (only edge cells have individual contacts). Examples of image processing using different logic functions are presented.
Subdiffraction microholograms in a single-photon, uniformly inhibited system

Microholograms significantly smaller than the diffraction limit are demonstrated in a photopolymer system with uniformly distributed inhibitor. This subdiffraction performance affords both increased storage density and increased readout signal via suppression of out-of-focus exposure. A model of the micron-scale reaction kinetics of the system is presented, and parameter values are derived experimentally.
Fracture strengths of provisional restorations reinforced with plasma-treated woven polyethylene fiber

Abstract Statement of problem. Fracture strength of interim fixed partial prosthesis is of great concern, especially in long-span restorations or areas of heavy occlusal stress. Purpose. Effects of a plasma-treated woven polyethylene fiber (Ribbond) on the fracture strength of polymethyl methacrylate (Coldpac) and a resin-based two-phase curing provisional restorative material (Provipont DC) were evaluated. Material and methods. A polyvinyl siloxane template was used to fabricate three-unit posterior provisional prostheses on a stainless steel die with two abutments 22 mm apart. The reinforced groups were fabricated by affixing 3 mm wide pieces of fiber treated with methyl methacrylate monomer or polyisocyanate (activator part of Provipont DC) on the occlusal surfaces of abutments. The interim materials were mixed, according to the manufacturers' specifications, and placed in the template. The template was pressed on the die and held secure until complete setting of the material occurred by light curing (Provipont DC) or autopolymerization (PMMA). The specimens were divided into 4 groups of 10 each (A, reinforced Provipont DC; B, unreinforced Provipont DC; C, reinforced PMMA; and D, unreinforced PMMA). A central compressive load force was exerted on the specimen to determine the fracture load of the restorations. Results. The data revealed mean fracture loads of A, 65.59 ± 11.27 kg; B, 46.59 ± 14.84 kg; C, 53.46 ± 7.76 kg; and D, 49.86 ± 14.44 kg. Conclusion. Plasma-treated polyethylene reinforced PMMA restorations showed no significant increase in fracture loads when compared with unreinforced restorations ( p > 0.10), whereas reinforced resin-based restorations revealed significantly higher fracture loads ( p
Private and Anonymous Data Storage and Distribution in Cloud

Cloud storage systems have received extensive attention in recent years. Many individuals and business organizations are beginning to move their data to cloud environments. It becomes increasingly important to investigate secure file storage in cloud environments. In this paper, we present a secure distributed file distribution system in which the customers can directly choose appropriate design parameters and service providers. In our scheme, we use novel coding techniques that almost achieve the Shannon information bound with very efficient coding and decoding process. Our evaluations show the correctness and efficiency of the coding scheme. We show that the problem to find the satisfying file distribution under certain cost and security constraints is NP-hard, and present the Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) formalization to find the satisfying data share distribution with cost and security constraints. The SMT formalization is flexible to be applied to other threshold based cloud file distribution system and can accommodate other constraints. We also analyse the security of the scheme by defining the security metric (compromising probability) for both the eavesdropping and DoS attackers and show that one must carefully choose design parameters to achieve the required security.
CT Demonstration of spontaneous internal drainage of a Pancreatic Pseudocyst

Using CT, we recently studied a patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst. On subsequent examinations, this patient was shown to have undergone spontaneous drainage of the pseudocyst by way of the gastrointestinal tract. Such drainage is probably more frequent than previously realized. With the continued use of CT in the evaluation of pancreatic disease, we should see this phenomenon with increasing frequency.
The rate of chromium transit through the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract The rate of movement of chromium (III) chloride through the gastrointestinal tract of rats was investigated. In the first experiment 85% of rats intubated with 51 CrCl 3 had more than 1% of the administered 51 Cr below the cecum after four hours. In the second study, most 51 Cr recovered in the small intestine reached the ileum one hour after initiation of feeding 2 g diet containing 51 CrCl 3 . In the third experiment, the intestine was ligated in situ; ligation blocked 51 Cr transit. 51 Chromium appeared to be associated with the fluid portion of the ingesta which may negate the use of CrCl 3 as a marker for rate of passage of dietary components.
PatchMatch-Based Content Completion of Stereo Image Pairs

This paper presents a method for completing target regions ("hole filling") in RGB stereo pairs. It builds upon the state of the art for completing single images by matching to and then blending source patches drawn from the rest of the image. A method is introduced for first completing the respective disparity maps using a coupled partial differential equation based on that of Bertalmio, et al., extended to create mutual disparity consistency. Estimated disparities are then used to guide completion of the missing color image texture. An extension to the coherence-based objective function introduced by Wexler, et al. is then introduced, which not only encourages coherence of the respective images with respect to source images but also stereoscopic consistency between the two. The Patch Match algorithm of Barnes, et al. is extended to cross-image searching and matching. This matching is capable of automatically copying from corresponding unoccluded portions of the other image without requiring an explicit preliminary warping step. Stereoscopic consistency is produced by giving preference to matches with cross-image consistency when blending source patches. Results demonstrate that this method produces better completion than either single-image completion or previous methods for stereo completion.
Ultraviolet disinfection of effluent from subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Abstract Subsurface flow constructed wetlands are becoming increasingly common for on‐site treatment of domestic wastewater. Before spray application, wetland effluent must be disinfected. Traditionally, tablet chlorination has been used, but an alternative is needed to increase dependability. Consequently, we investigated the use of ultraviolet light disinfection of effluent from constructed wetlands. Two low pressure (254 nm) and two medium pressure ultraviolet bulbs (190 to 400 run) were used for disinfection. Upon installation, all units disinfected effluent successfully. After 2 weeks in operation, three of the four units did not reduce fecal coliform populations below 200 in 100 ml of effluent due to decreased light intensity from films that developed on the bulbs. One unit consistently disinfected water to populations lower than 200 in 100 ml for 1 year without maintenance. Ultraviolet disinfection, as utilized, was not consistently suitable for disinfection of effluent from subsurface flow constru...