cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of seven chicken hatchery disinfectants on a Staphylococcus aureus strain

Abstract Seven disinfectants used in commercial hatcheries were evaluated for their bactericidal effectiveness on Staphylococcus aureus. These disinfectants included two quarternary ammonium compounds, three phenolic compounds, one iodophor compound, and one pine oil compound. Ten-fold serial dilutions were made for each disinfectant in sterile distilled water. Brain heart infusion (BHI) broth containing from 105 to 108 colony-forming units (cfu) of S. aureus was exposed to different concentrations of the disinfectants for three different time periods (10, 20, and 30 min). Six of the seven disinfectants tested were effective at the manufacturer's recommended concentration (MRC). Four of the seven disinfectants tested were also effective at ten and 100-fold dilutions of the MRC; they caused greater than five decimal reductions (DR) of S. aureus. The effectiveness of the disinfectants was reduced to less than 3 DR at a dilution of 1000-fold of the MRC or higher. Effectiveness was determined as causing five decimal reductions in cfu when comparing the original cfu and the cfu after disinfectant contact time. Furthermore, this study showed that a 10-min contact period was sufficient to kill S. aureus and that longer contact times (20 and 30 min) did not enhance the bactericidal effect of the different disinfectants (P
Changing prevalence of oral manifestations of human immuno-deficiency virus in the era of protease inhibitor therapy ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine temporal trends in the prevalence of oral manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Study design. Five hundred seventy HIV-infected adults recruited consecutively were examined by using established presumptive clinical criteria for HIV-associated oral lesions. Prevalence of oral lesions before the widespread use of HIV protease inhibitors (February 1995 through August 1996, 8% of the early sample, n = 271) was compared with lesion prevalence in a more recent period of greater protease inhibitor use (December 1996 through February 1999, 42% of the late sample, n = 299). Results. Overall prevalence of oral lesions significantly decreased from early to late periods, 47.6% to 37.5%, respectively ( P = .01), with some variation by lesion type. Prevalence of hairy leukoplakia (25.8% to 11.4%; P P = .03) decreased, whereas HIV salivary gland disease increased (1.8% to 5.0%; P = .04). Changes in prevalence of oral candidiasis (20.3% to 16.7%), aphthous ulcers (3.7% to 3.0%), oral warts (2.2% to 4.0%), herpes simplex virus lesions (1.8% to 2.0%), and Kaposi’s sarcoma (1.1% to 0.3%) were not statistically significant ( P > .20 for all comparisons). Conclusion. The pattern of oral opportunistic infections is changing in the era of protease inhibitor use. (ORAL Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2000;89:299-304)
High performance and highly uniform gate-all-around silicon nanowire MOSFETs with wire size dependent scaling

We demonstrate undoped-body, gate-all-around (GAA) Si nanowire (NW) MOSFETs with excellent electrostatic scaling. These NW devices, with a TaN/Hf-based gate stack, have high drive-current performance with NFET/PFET I DSAT = 825/950 µA/µm (circumference-normalized) or 2592/2985 µA/µm (diameter-normalized) at supply voltage V DD = 1 V and off-current I OFF = 15 nA/µm. Superior NW uniformity is obtained through the use of a combined hydrogen annealing and oxidation process. Clear scaling of short-channel effects versus NW size is observed.
An Investigation of the Relationship between Self-Efficacy Beliefs about Technology Integration and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) among Preservice Teachers

AbstractThis exploratory study investigated the relationship between measures of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and the self-efficacy beliefs of preservice teachers about technology integration. Within a single-group, pretest-posttest design, a correlational analysis identified several knowledge domains in the TPACK model that the researcher found to have a significant and positive correlation with self-efficacy beliefs about technology integration. A multiple regression analysis of pretest and posttest data indicated a change over time in the predictive relationship between the measures of knowledge in TPACK domains and self-efficacy beliefs. Findings from the study illustrate the changing nature of the complex relationship between knowledge and self-efficacy beliefs and high-light the potential areas of knowledge in TPACK domains that influence preservice teachers’ beliefs about technology integration.
Electrochemical behaviour of rhenium in aqueous solution

Abstract An open-circuit potential decay, quasi-stationary polarization curves and simple and complex potentiodynamic potential perturbation programmes were employed in order to analyse the electrochemical behaviour of rhenium in aqueous solution, within a wide pH range. The results show that the overall electro-oxidation of rhenium to perrhenate involves the participation of different intermediate oxides, which is inferred from the anodic and cathodic peak multiplicities observed through the potentiodynamic E - I displays. In order to propose an overall reaction scheme for the processes taking place at this interface, an attempt is made to correlate these peaks with different redox couples with the aid of the respective thermodynamic potential values.
Economic History: One Field or Two?

Is Economic History one subject or two? The question has been posed twice during the present century, each time by the growth of a vigorous body of research concerned with economic changes over time but developed largely in isolation from conventional economic history. In each case the new work was quantitative in method, and the result was the phenomenon of two separate bodies of scholarship—the one written in prose and calling itself economic history, the other written mainly in figures and calling itself by another name.
Oral first-pass elimination of midazolam involves both gastrointestinal and hepatic CYP3A-mediated metabolism

Objective To determine in humans the relative roles of intestinal and hepatic metabolism in the oral first-pass elimination of a CYP3A substrate using midazolam as a model compound. Methods Midazolam was administered intravenously (1 mg) or orally (2 mg) to 20 healthy young subjects (10 men and 10 women) in a random fashion, and the disposition of the drug and its 1′-hydroxy metabolite were determined. In separate in vitro studies, the CYP3A-mediated formation of 1′-hydroxymidazolam by human hepatic and intestinal microsomes was investigated. Results No gender-related differences were noted in either the systemic (370 ± 114 ml/min [mean ± SD]) or oral (1413 ± 807 ml/min) clearance values of midazolam. Despite complete oral absorption, measured oral bioavailability was on average about 50% less than that predicted on the assumption that only the liver contributed to first-pass metabolism. Pharmacokinetic estimation of the intestinal component indicated an extraction ratio (0.43 ± 0.24) that was similar to that of the liver (0.44 ± 0.14). 1′-Hydroxymidazolam was extensively but variably formed in vitro by both hepatic and intestinal microsomes and, although the intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) was higher in the liver (540 ± 747 versus 135 ± 92 μl/min/mg protein), this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions These results show that the small intestine can be a major site for presystemic, CYP3A-mediated metabolism after oral administration. Moreover, it appears that this represents a true first-pass effect. In addition, intestinal and hepatic metabolism may be important factors in interindividual variability in disposition after oral administration of midazolam and similar CYP3A substrates. Finally, intestinal localization of CYP3A may be significant in metabolism-based drug-drug interactions. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1996) 59, 491–502; doi:
“That's my worst nightmare”: poetry and trauma in the middle school classroom

This article explores how two middle school girls told stories of family conflict and trauma through poetry. Situated within literature on critical literacies and trauma studies, the article uses a case study approach to consider what happens when stories of trauma emerge within the literacy classroom. The authors explore (1) how the girls used poetry to understand and represent their trauma; (2) how the classroom contexts supported the development and sharing of trauma narratives; and (3) how classroom relationships were affected by the sharing of trauma narratives. The authors argue that the genre of poetry and the classroom contexts supported the girls in asserting “narrative control” and opened up spaces for deeper and more collaborative relationships among members of the classroom community. They also contend that the girls' writing and experiences can prompt reconsideration of what topics are “appropriate” for school.
Feline ocular tumors following ciliary body ablation with intravitreal gentamicin

Practitioners approach chemical ciliary body ablation (CBA) in cats with caution. In 1994, an academic letter proposed a potential link between intraocular gentamicin injections for glaucoma and the appearance of ocular tumors in cats (Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology, 4, 1994, 166). There is an historic perceived risk for the development of feline ocular post-traumatic sarcoma following gentamicin ciliary body ablation, and many clinicians refrain from chemical ablation in cats for this reason. A recent study discussed the possibility of a correlation between intravitreal gentamicin and tumor promotion in dogs (Veterinary Ophthalmology, 16, 2013, 159). We searched the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW) database for cases of cats diagnosed with ocular tumors following ciliary body ablation. Of eight cases with historic gentamicin injection, five had malignant tumors: three post-traumatic sarcomas and two melanomas.
Equalization of the convolutional-coded Lorentzian channel

This paper presents simulation performance results of binary and ternary convolutional-coded Lorentzian channels at error rates of 10/sup -5/. The simulation results are compared with theoretical performance curves, and error propagation measurements are used to explain the discrepancy between predicted and measured performances for the decision feedback equalizer. Although noise correlation is a concern for partial response equalizers, simulations and estimated code performances suggest that the class IV partial response channel is a viable option.
Antimicrobial susceptibility recording and reporting system for veterinary medicine

Abstract Objectives: To develop a system to (1) provide automated interpretation of antimicrobial susceptibility results using animal species, specimen site and bacterial isolate identification criteria, (2) report antimicrobial susceptibility results, according to recommended use category and animal species approval status, (3) allow for changes in antimicrobial agent being tested and result interpretations without need for programming changes and (4) allow for intuitive data entry process without need for reference material. Design: Tables are used to match results and reporting categories to a test method, specific tests, animal species, specimen sites and bacterial isolates. Information used for interpretation of test readings is maintained in tables for user reference while entering results. Results: A table driven system was developed to account for variations in reporting due to antimicrobial susceptibility method used, animal species, bacterial isolate tested and the site from which bacteria isolate was recovered. Conclusions: This process provides for accurate reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility results and is easily adaptable to changes in reporting requirements. The system minimizes reporting criteria and decision-making requirements for technical laboratory personnel, while improving antimicrobial susceptibility reports generated for veterinary practitioners.
p53 Down-Regulates Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue Deleted on Chromosome 10 Protein Stability Partially through Caspase-Mediated Degradation in Cells with Proteasome Dysfunction

There has been intense investigation regarding the interaction between the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) and p53 tumor suppressors. p53 has been shown to up-regulate PTEN expression as a transcriptional activator. However, clinical observations by immunohistochemistry studies indicate that significant increases in p53 protein levels coexist with reduced or absent expression of PTEN protein in a variety of neoplasias. In this study, we propose a mechanism that begins to explain how p53 can both up-regulate and down-regulate PTEN. We have found that PTEN protein is down-regulated under proteasome dysfunction induced by proteasome inhibitor MG132 in both human lymphoblast cells and MCF7 cells. The reduction of PTEN is coincident with elevated p53 protein levels and the association between PTEN and p53 but independent of its phosphatase activities. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR indicates that proteasome inhibition does not reduce PTEN message levels but affects PTEN protein stability. The p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-α, is able to attenuate the effect of proteasome inhibition. Using ectopic expression studies in p53-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts and p53/PTEN-null PC3 cells, we show that PTEN is more stable in p53-null cells compared with p53-expressing cells. Inhibition of caspases, the downstream targets of p53, particularly caspase-3, can partially restore the stability of PTEN. This study provides the first evidence that p53 is able to down-regulate PTEN protein stability in stressed cells. Our study sheds some light on the mechanisms that regulate PTEN protein stability, which is important to fully elucidate to comprehend the broad neoplastic manifestations of Cowden syndrome/Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba and sporadic cancers. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(12): 6139-48)
Genetic model testing and statistical power in population‐based association studies of quantitative traits

The optimal method for considering different genetic models in association studies is not clear. We compared analytical strategies that use different genetic models to analyze genotype-phenotype information from association studies of quantitative traits in unrelated individuals. We created simulated datasets where the minor alleles are causal with an additive, dominant, or recessive mode of inheritance over a range of allele frequencies. We then computed power to detect these causal alleles using one or a combination of statistical models in a standard regression framework, including corrections for the multiple testing incurred by analyzing multiple models. Our results show that, as expected, maximal power is achieved when we test a single genetic model that matches the actual underlying mode of inheritance of the causal allele. When the inheritance pattern of the causal allele is unknown, the co-dominant model, a single two degrees of freedom test, has good overall performance in any of the three simple modes of inheritance simulated. Alternatively, it is slightly more powerful to analyze all three genetic models together (additive, dominant, and recessive), but only if the significance thresholds used to correct for analyzing multiple models are appropriately determined (such as by permutation). Finally, a commonly employed approach, testing the additive model alone, performs poorly for recessive causal alleles when the minor allele frequency is not close to 50%. Our observations were confirmed by analyzing an existing genetic association dataset in which we detect the effect of a KCNJ11 variant on insulinogenic index in unrelated non-diabetic individuals.
News reporter bias: A case study in selective perception

The following case study explores the different audience response to a newspaper account of a television debate than that derived from an actual viewing of the program. Dr. Meyer is assistant professor of speech at the University of Massachusetts.
The effects of intermittent noise on human serial decoding performance and physiological response

The effects of continuous, periodic, and aperiodic broad band noise on serial decoding performance and on three physiological response measures were investigated. Performance data were recorded from 16 undergraduate university students using an electronically programmed rapid serial decoding task. The task configuration chosen combined a basic serial reaction function with a mental coding and short-term memory function. To assess activation or arousal effects of noise, three physiological variables were also simultaneously recorded: finger photoplethysmographic blood volume pulse amplitude, pulse rate, and forearm eleetromyogram. In addition, responses to a noise annoyance sensitivity questionnaire were used in an attempt to assign subjects to experimental groups such that noise annoyance sensitivity across groups would be constant. Each subject was isolated in a soundproof chamber while performance data and physiological data were collected under four counterbalanced conditions: work in quiet, continuous...
Computing Large Polynomial Powers Very Fast in Parallel

Very fast parallel algorithms computing the inverse and large powers of polynomials over finite fields are presented provided the modulus has only small prime factors. The elaborated uniform families of Boolean circuits simultaneously achieve depth O(log n) and size O(no(1)) for P-uniformity and depth O(log n loglog n) and size O(no(1)) for log-space uniformity.
Exaggerated exercise pressor reflex in adults with moderately elevated systolic blood pressure: role of purinergic receptors

The neurocirculatory responses to exercise are exaggerated in hypertension, increasing cardiovascular risk, yet the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to examine t...
Occupational Endeavor As Life History: Anne Roe

As an exemplar of the fulfilled and integrative life, Harvard Professor Emerita Anne Roe provides a model of both personal and professional achievement. In her adult life the roles of researcher, a...
Acts of Henry I of France Concerning Anjou

It is traditional to see the early Capetian kings of France as relatively powerless monarchs who were scarcely distinguishable from the territorial princes around them.' In particular, the early years of Henry I, who reigned from 1031 to 1060, are usually viewed as the nadir of the Capetian monarchy.2 Jean-Francois Lemarignier has provided a quantitative basis for this interpretation in his masterly study of the diplomas of the early Capetian kings. He concludes that beginning under Henry I, royal charters were concerned with an increasingly constricted geographical area centered around the Ile-de-France, and that the counts of the kingdom of France appeared in the royal entourage with less frequency than before.3 Among the territorial principalities that are thought to have virtually escaped from the surveillance and control of the monarchy is the county of Anjou.4 Lemarignier reports that the count of Anjou can be found in Henry I's entourage only once,5 and Frederic Soehnee's catalogue of Henry's acts includes only one charter concerned with Anjou.6
Long-Term Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention in High School Girls

Background Physical activity (PA) decreases during childhood and adolescence, and PA levels are significantly lower in females than males, particularly during adolescence. Schools are attractive settings in which to implement interventions designed to promote PA in girls and young women, but few studies have tested the sustained effects of such interventions. Design Cross-sectional. Data were collected in 2002–2003 and analyzed in 2006–2007. Setting/participants 1594 adolescent girls in 22 high schools. Intervention The intervention, Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP), was designed to increase physical activity in 9th-grade girls through two channels: changes in instructional practices and changes in the school environment. This study (LEAP 2) examined the extent to which effects of the intervention were maintained when the girls were in the 12th grade. Main outcome measures Number of 30-minute blocks per day of vigorous physical activity. Results Girls in the intervention schools that most fully implemented and maintained the intervention were more likely than girls in the other schools to participate in an average of one or more blocks of vigorous physical activity per day ( p =0.04, odds ratio=1.49, 95% confidence interval=1.01–2.20). Conclusions A comprehensive physical activity intervention that is fully implemented and maintained can increase participation in vigorous physical activity by high school girls.
Impact of maximal cytoreductive surgery plus regional heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on outcome of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric origin: Results of the GYMSSA trial

Background: A prospective randomized trial was conducted to compare the impact of systemic chemotherapy versus multi‐modality therapy (complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS), hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), and systemic chemotherapy) on overall survival (OS) in patients with gastric carcinomatosis. Methods: Patients with measurable metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma involving the peritoneum, and resectable to “no evidence of disease” were randomized to gastrectomy, metastasectomy, HIPEC, and systemic FOLFOXIRI (GYMS arm) or FOLFOXIRI alone (SA arm). Results:Seventeenpatientswereenrolled(16evaluable);7of9patientsinthemulti‐modalityGYMSarmachievedcompletecytoreduction(CCR0). MedianOS was11.3monthsinthe GYMSarmand 4.3monthsintheSA arm.Fourpatientsin theGYMSarm survived>12months,2patients close to 2 years at last follow‐up, and 1 patient more than 4 years, with 2 of these patients still alive. No patient in the SA arm lived beyond 11 months. All patients surviving beyond 12 months in the surgery arm achieved complete cytoreduction and had an initial Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) of � 15. Conclusion: Maximal cytoreductive surgery combined with regional (HIPEC) and systemic chemotherapy in selected patients with gastric carcinomatosis and limited disease burden can achieve prolonged survival. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014;110:275–284. 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Handbook Articles: In Defense of the Synthesis Article

The article discusses academic reference works, arguing that articles in handbooks may serve as useful synthetic contributions to academic disciplines. The author says that writing and contributing such articles allows authors to further their own research. Other topics include the links between new subfields and academic disciplines, publisher guidelines for synthesis articles, and the differences between synthesis articles and primary research articles. Synthesis articles are said to point the way toward future research rather than merely summarizing previous scholarship.
Sry-Negative XX Sex Reversal in the German Shorthaired Pointer Dog

Present hypotheses indicate that a testis differentiation cascade in mammals is induced by Sry, a gene encoding a DNA binding protein of the high mobility group (HMG) class. In XX sex reversal, individuals lacking a Y chromosome develop testicular tissue. Sry translocation from the Y to the X chromosome has been found in some, but not all, of these individuals. XX sex reversal in the German shorthaired pointer dog may be a model of Sry-negative XX sex reversal in humans. The purposes of this study were to report the familial occurrence of sex reversal and determine whether the conserved Sry HMG box, the region of the Sry protein essential for testis induction, is present in genomic DNA of affected dogs. Canine Sry HMG box sequences were used as primers in polymerase chain reactions. A 104 bp Sry HMG box product was generated from normal males, but not from females or XX sex reversed dogs. Parallel control reactions using hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase primers generated a 177 bp product from all dogs. The pedigree of affected dogs and the absence of Sry HMG box sequences in their genomic DNA suggest that this disorder is due to a mutant autosomal gene in the testis differentiation cascade.
Rescue of neonatal cardiac dysfunction in mice by administration of cardiac progenitor cells in utero

Striated preferentially expressed gene (Speg) is a member of the myosin light chain kinase family. We previously showed that disruption of the Speg gene locus in mice leads to a dilated cardiomyopathy with immature-appearing cardiomyocytes. Here we show that cardiomyopathy of Speg(-/-) mice arises as a consequence of defects in cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) function, and that neonatal cardiac dysfunction can be rescued by in utero injections of wild-type CPCs into Speg(-/-) foetal hearts. CPCs harvested from Speg(-/-) mice display defects in clone formation, growth and differentiation into cardiomyocytes in vitro, which are associated with cardiac dysfunction in vivo. In utero administration of wild-type CPCs into the hearts of Speg(-/-) mice results in CPC engraftment, differentiation and myocardial maturation, which rescues Speg(-/-) mice from neonatal heart failure and increases the number of live births by fivefold. We propose that in utero administration of CPCs may have future implications for treatment of neonatal heart diseases.
Seasonal Variation in Habitat Use of Juvenile Steelhead in a Tributary of Lake Ontario

Abstract We examined seasonal-habitat use by subyearling and yearling Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout or Steelhead) in Trout Brook, a tributary of the Salmon River, NY. We determined daytime fish-habitat use and available habitat during August and October of the same year and observed differences in habitat selection among year classes. Water depth and cover played the greatest role in Steelhead habitat use. During summer and autumn, we found yearling Steelhead in areas with deeper water and more cover than where we observed subyearling Steelhead. Both year classes sought out areas with abundant cover during both seasons; this habitat was limited within the stream reach. Subyearling Steelhead were associated with more cover during autumn, even though available cover within the stream reach was greater during summer. Principal component analysis showed that variation in seasonal-habitat use was most pronounced for subyearling Steelhead and that yearling Steelhead were more selective in their habitat use...
Predictors of weight-loss response with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment among adolescents with severe obesity.

In two previous, separate clinical trials, we demonstrated significant reductions in body mass index (BMI) with exenatide in adolescents with severe obesity. In the present study, we pooled data from these near identical trials to evaluate factors that may predict BMI reduction at 3 months. Data from 32 patients (mean age 14.3 ± 2.2 years; 69% female; mean BMI 39.8 ± 5.8 kg m(-2)) were included. Exenatide treatment consisted of 5 mcg twice daily for 1 month, followed by an increase to 10 mcg twice daily for 2 additional months. Predictor variables included baseline BMI, BMI percent change at 1 month, incidence of nausea or vomiting and baseline appetite and satiety measures. Treatment effects of percent change in BMI from baseline were estimated within predictor subgroups using generalized estimating equations with exchangeable working correlation and robust variance estimation for confidence intervals and P-values to account for paired observations. The pooled data treatment effect on absolute BMI at 3 months was -3.42% (95% confidence interval: -5.41%, -1.42%) compared to placebo. Within treated participants, appetite at baseline (treatment effect in high [-4.28%] vs. low [1.02%], P = 0.028) and sex (treatment effect in female [-4.78%] vs. male [0.76%], P = 0.007) were significant predictors of change in BMI at 3 months. Baseline BMI, BMI percent change at 1 month, age, incidence of nausea, vomiting, or other gastrointestinal symptoms and satiety scores did not predict 3-month responses. Sex and measures of appetite may serve as useful predictors of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment response among adolescents with severe obesity.
LCTF Hyperspectral Imaging for Vegetable Quality Evaluation

This chapter discusses the liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF)-based hyperspectral imaging technology and its application in vegetable quality inspection by using onion as a case study. A brief overview is provided on using the destructive and nondestructive methods for vegetable quality measurement. A detailed description of the LCTF technology, including system components and calibration, is presented. Two examples are given on using the LCTF technology for onion quality evaluation: one is to detect sour skin disease on the onion surface, and the other is to predict onion internal quality (soluble solid content and dry matter content) using the LCTF system. A brief conclusion is provided at the end of the chapter.
Abstract 3235: Low LDL is Associated with Hematoma Expansion in Chronic Daily Alcohol Users with Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background: Prior studies have reported elevated blood pressure, platelet inhibition, and low LDL cholesterol in chronic daily alcohol users (CDA). Each of these has been shown to be associated wit...
Image-defined risk factors for nephrectomy in patients undergoing neuroblastoma resection

Abstract Background Although nephrectomy rates are higher in children with neuroblastoma who have image-defined risk factors and/or high-risk disease who undergo resection prior to chemotherapy, no published data outline the key radiographic and clinical characteristics associated with nephrectomy. Methods With IRB approval, imaging studies of children undergoing primary resection of intraabdominal neuroblastoma between 2000 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Fisher's exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare categorical and continuous variables, respectively, with p-values adjusted for multiple testing using the false discovery rate approach. Results Twenty-seven of 380 consecutive patients with CT imaging obtained prior to primary neuroblastoma resection underwent partial or total nephrectomy. On preoperative imaging, renal vessel narrowing and encasement and tumor invasion of the renal hilum, pelvis, and/or parenchyma were present significantly more frequently among patients undergoing nephrectomy. Delayed renal excretion of contrast, hydronephrosis, and tumors with MYCN amplification were also more prevalent in the nephrectomy group. Conclusion Encasement and narrowing of renal vessels, delayed excretion, and tumor invasion into the kidney, particularly pelvis and capsule invasion, are significantly associated with partial or total nephrectomy at initial neuroblastoma resection. These observations provide valuable information for surgical planning as well as presurgical discussions with families prior to neuroblastoma resection.
Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil.

While a large-scale soil amendment of biochars continues to receive interest for enhancing crop yields and to remediate contaminated sites, systematic study is lacking in how biochar properties translate into purported functions such as heavy metal sequestration. In this study, cottonseed hulls were pyrolyzed at five temperatures (200, 350, 500, 650, and 800 °C) and characterized for the yield, moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents, elemental composition (CHNSO), BET surface area, pH, pHpzc, and by ATR-FTIR. The characterization results were compared with the literature values for additional source materials: grass, wood, pine needle, and broiler litter-derived biochars with and without post-treatments. At respective pyrolysis temperatures, cottonseed hull chars had ash content in between grass and wood chars, and significantly lower BET surface area in comparison to other plant source materials considered. The N:C ratio reached a maximum between 300 and 400 °C for all biomass sources ...
Effect of ferric chloride on mobilization of accumulated liver cholesterol, in mice.

Summary1. Dietary ferric ions do not increase rate of liver cholesterol mobilization in mice. 2. Mobilization of elevated liver cholesterol is prevented by addition of dietary cholic acid. 3. Evidence is presented which suggests that cholic acid absorption is not prevented by dietary ferric ions.
Study of "adventure clusters" of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank and the Personal Opinion Survey.

The Strong Vocational Interest Blank and the Personal Opinion Survey were administered to 101 high school juniors. A significant correlation of .17 (p < .05) was obtained between the adventure scales of the two tests. Additional findings include a link between creative attitudes and extra-version.
AIDS Epidemic in Youxian District of Mianyang,2003-2009

Objective To analyze the AIDS epidemic in Youxian district of Mianyang from 2003 to 2009,and discuss the prevention and control measure.Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the AIDS epidemic data in Youxian during this period.Results The first HIV infection case was detected in 2003.As of 31 December 2009,a total of 33 HIV infection cases or AIDS patients were diagnosed with the total infection rate of 0.6/100,000 and the male to female ratio of 7.25∶1.Among the 33 diagnosed infection cases or AIDS patients,29 were aged 20 to 49 years,accounting for 90.6% of the total,and the proportion of the cases in urban and rural areas was 1∶1.06.The populations affected included migrant workers,the unemployed,vendors and students.The transmission routes mainly included blood contamination or sexual contact.Conclusion The AIDS epidemic in Youxian became serious from 2003 to 2009.The infected persons were mainly young males.
Brain Injury in the Preterm and Term Neonate

Neonatal brain injury results from a complex interplay of maternal and perinatal factors, and can be challenging to diagnose from both clinical and radiologic perspectives. Depending on infant age and severity of insult, various types of brain injury can result. We will discuss the benefits and disadvantages of different imaging modalities: US, CT, MRI, PET, and SPECT. Focusing on MRI, we will discuss special considerations for neonates, including clinical stabilization, technical challenges, and advanced imaging approaches such as ASL, MRS, and SWI. In the remainder of the article, we will review the pathophysiology and MR imaging patterns of brain injury in preterm and term infants.
Nutritional status of elderly participants in a congregate meals program.

The nutritional status of the elderly persons included in this survey was adequate, but the incidence of obesity was high.
Treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with methotrexate

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an ulcerative skin condition of unknown cause. It is often refractory to treatment, requiring high dosages of immunosuppressive medications. A patient with idiopathic pyoderma gangrenosum was successfully treated with methotrexate and weaned off steroids for the first time in four years. The patient had received multiple skin grafts and failed topical treatment, rifampin, dapsone, azathioprine, and intralesional steroids. She required prednisone 60 mg/day for lesion healing. Methotrexate was given orally, with rapid response, allowing discontinuation of prednisone seven months after beginning therapy. There is evidence of neutrophil dysregulation in pyoderma gangrenosum. Methotrexate has been shown to decrease neutrophil migration and chemotaxis, suggesting a role for its use in pyoderma gangrenosum.
The Marketing of Home Satellite Dishes: A Strategic Mis-Application of the Product Life Cycle Concept

The product life cycle concept (PLC) is widely used to forecast product development over time. Especially significant is the point at which products move from the introductory to the growth phase, normally the signal to adopt mass marketing strategies. This paper is concerned with strategic mis-application of the PLC concept by the home television satellite dish industry. Straight-line extrapolation of market potential from 1980 - 1985 sales figures suggested that this was a product ready to "take off" into the growth phase of the PLC. After-the-fact analysis and survey data suggest instead that this was a mature product with a potential market far less than originally estimated.
Increased messenger RNA levels of the mesenchymal cadherin-11 in the peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis patients correlate with diffuse skin involvement.

OBJECTIVES Cadherin-11 is a cell-cell adhesion molecule also involved in cellular migration and invasion. Experimental studies implicated this molecule in inflammatory arthritis and fibrosing conditions. Moreover, cadherin-11 protein is hyper-expressed on fibroblasts and macrophages in the skin of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, whereas the respective mRNA levels correlate with skin thickness. Herein, we searched for possible cadherin-11 expression also in cells that circulate in SSc peripheral blood. METHODS Cadherin-11 mRNA was quantified by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 3 ml blood samples obtained from 71 SSc patients (aged 53±2 years, 65 women) and 35 control non-SSc patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. RESULTS Cadherin-11 mRNA transcripts were detected in blood samples from 39% of patients with diffuse SSc, versus 16% of those with limited SSc, versus 6% and 16% of patients with idiopathic or associated with other connective tissue diseases Raynaud's phenomenon, respectively (p=0.049). Cadherin-11 mRNA levels in SSc patients were increased by 3.74-fold comparing to controls (p=0.036). By multivariate logistic regression analysis we found that diffuse skin involvement correlated, independently of age, gender, disease duration, lung involvement, digital ulcers, inflammatory indices or anti-Scl-70 autoantibody presence, with cadherin-11 mRNA positivity (p=0.028), but also with increased cadherin-11 mRNA levels (≥3-fold of non-SSc levels, p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS Cadherin-11 may be hyper-expressed in the peripheral blood of diffuse SSc patients. Studies on the origin and possible pathogenic function of these circulating cells may shed light into the complex disease pathogenesis and further support the notion that cadherin-11 is a potential therapeutic target in SSc.
Inelastic Base Shear Reconstruction from Sparse Acceleration Measurements of Buildings

This paper presents a novel method for recovering base shear forces of building structures with unknown nonlinearities from sparse seismic-response measurements of floor accelerations. The method requires only direct matrix calculations (factorizations and multiplications); no iterative trial-and-error methods are required. The method requires a mass matrix, or at least an estimate of the floor masses. A stiffness matrix may be used, but is not necessary. Essentially, the method operates on a matrix of incomplete measurements of floor accelerations. In the special case of complete floor measurements of systems with linear dynamics and real modes, the principal components of this matrix are the modal responses. In the more general case of partial measurements and nonlinear dynamics, the method extracts a number of linearly-dependent components from Hankel matrices of measured horizontal response accelerations, assembles these components row-wise and extracts principal components from the singular value decomposition of this large matrix of linearly-dependent components. These principal components are then interpolated between floors in a way that minimizes the curvature energy of the interpolation. This interpolation step can make use of a reduced-order stiffness matrix, a backward difference matrix or a central difference matrix. The measured and interpolated floor acceleration components at all floors are then assembled and multiplied by a mass matrix. A sum (or weighted sum) of the resulting vector of inertial forces gives the base shear. The proposed algorithm is suitable for linear and nonlinear hysteretic structural systems.
Citizenship Social Work: A Community Environmental Scan of Re-enfranchisement Social Work Supports after Felony Conviction

ABSTRACTAlexander (2012) argues that the corrections system relegates African American men to permanent second class status. Although social work has advanced the democratic project, African Americans often have had to forge a parallel social assistance system. In a community environmental scan, the authors apply the Citizenship Social Work framework to assess availability of services, supports, and advocacy efforts to address civil, political, social and economic rights for African American men with felony convictions. The authors find that a number of social work services are available, but the majority focus on social and economic rights, rather than civil and political rights, perhaps emphasizing professional service over social justice.
The Promises and Pitfalls of Engaging Male Juvenile Offenders in Gender Violence Prevention and Bystander Education

Drawing on interviews with and observations of boys enrolled in a bystander violence prevention program at a juvenile detention center, this article provides a sociological case study on how the bo...
Probabilistic Design of Environmentally Sustainable Reinforced-Concrete Transportation Infrastructure Incorporating Maintenance Optimization

AbstractThis paper presents a framework for probabilistic sustainability design of reinforced-concrete transportation infrastructure incorporating optimization of maintenance. The framework contains three components: (1) stochastic service life models predicting the deterioration of structural components and repair timing; (2) stochastic lifecycle impact assessment (LCIA) models that estimate the sustainability impacts from construction and maintenance activities; and (3) a lifecycle optimization model (LCO) automating the repair and limit-state selection process to minimize the sustainability impact. In this study, the LCO model is constructed by using a dynamic programming method along with Monte Carlo simulation. A case study is presented in which the authors compute the probability that a maintenance scheme allowing more degradation will meet the CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq) emission reduction target of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) by 2050. By integrating lifecycle op...
A significant improvement for anti-malware tests

Despite ongoing improvements in the quality of antimalware tests, the way in which test results are handled often shows a low level of sophistication. In this paper, we introduce the simple concept of confidence intervals and statistical significance to these tests, and show that many of the “best practice” approaches common in other fields are lacking in the security-software testing industry. Further, we argue that the lack of these techniques harms the industry as a whole, and provide a road map for broader adoption of well-known statistical techniques for estimating the confidence interval on measurements.
Case conference: A transvestite fantasy treated by thought-stopping, covert sensitization and aversive shock

Abstract The subject of this case conference is a 22-year-old college senior with a transvestite fantasy whose origin dated back to preschool days. It was successfully treated in six sessions using the behavioral techniques of thought-stopping, covert sensitization and aversive shock. Questions concerning goals, procedures, timing of approaches, and practical issues are discussed.
Evidence of a Transition from Diffusive to Super-Diffusive Motion of Cellulose Synthase Complexes in Living Plants

The polysaccharide cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls, so it is the most abundant polymer on the earth. While it is widely used in industry due to its remarkable properties, such as renewability and biodegradability, its biosynthesis is still not well understood. The large transmembrane protein complex responsible for synthesizing cellulose contains several cellulose synthase A (CESA) subunits that polymerize UDP glucose into the constituent glucan chains of cellulose. Here, we used variable angle epi-fluorescence microscopy in combination with single-particle tracking to characterize the motion of GFP labeled CESA complexes in the root and mesocotyl of Brachypodium distachyon seedlings that are a 3 to 4 days old. We show that CESA complexes move through the plasma membrane at approximately 165 nm/minute. Their motion is known to be guided by cortical microtubules, but no molecular motors are involved. Rather, the motion is thought to be driven by the polymerization and crystallization of the cellulose. A mean-squared displacement analysis shows that CESA complexes move diffusively on short time scales and undergo a transition to super-diffusive motion on a time scale of about 10 s. We also report on the effect of actin and microtubule inhibitors on CESA motion. This work was funded through NSF grant PHY- 1205989.
Rough-wall turbulent boundary layers with constant skin friction

A semi-empirical model is presented that describes the development of a fully developed turbulent boundary layer in the presence of surface roughness with length scale k_s that varies with streamwise distance x. Interest is centred on flows for which all terms of the von Karman integral relation, including the ratio of outer velocity to friction velocity U^+_∞≡U_∞/u_τ, are streamwise constant. For Re_x assumed large, use is made of a simple log-wake model of the local turbulent mean-velocity profile that contains a standard mean-velocity correction for the asymptotic fully rough regime and with assumed constant parameter values. It is then shown that, for a general power-law external velocity variation U_∞∼x^m, all measures of the boundary-layer thickness must be proportional to x and that the surface sand-grain roughness scale variation must be the linear form k_s(x)=αx, where x is the distance from the boundary layer of zero thickness and α is a dimensionless constant. This is shown to give a two-parameter (m,α) family of solutions, for which U^+_∞ (or equivalently C_f) and boundary-layer thicknesses can be simply calculated. These correspond to perfectly self-similar boundary-layer growth in the streamwise direction with similarity variable z/(αx), where z is the wall-normal coordinate. Results from this model over a range of α are discussed for several cases, including the zero-pressure-gradient (m=0) and sink-flow (m=−1) boundary layers. Trends observed in the model are supported by wall-modelled large-eddy simulation of the zero-pressure-gradient case for Re_x in the range 10^8−10^(10) and for four values of α. Linear streamwise growth of the displacement, momentum and nominal boundary-layer thicknesses is confirmed, while, for each α, the mean-velocity profiles and streamwise turbulent variances are found to collapse reasonably well onto z/(αx)z. For given α, calculations of U^+_∞ obtained from large-eddy simulations are streamwise constant and independent of Re_x when this is large. The present results suggest that, in the sense that U^+_∞(α,m) is constant, these flows can be interpreted as the fully rough limit for boundary layers in the presence of small-scale linear roughness.