cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can We Learn in the Sandbox Together?: Interprofessional Case Conferences as Facilitation Tools

Duke Medicine utilized interprofessional case conferences (ICCs) from 2008 to 2012 with the objective of modeling and facilitating development of teamwork skills among diverse health profession students, including physical therapy, physician assistant, medical doctor and nursing. The purpose of this publication was to describe the operational process used to develop and implement the ICCs and measure the success of the ICCs in order to shape future work. The ICCs were offered to develop skills and attitudes essential for participation in healthcare teams. Students were facilitated by faculty of different professions to conduct a comprehensive historical assessment of a standardized patient (SP), determine pertinent physical and lab assessments to undertake, and develop and share a comprehensive management plan. Cases included patient problems that were authentic and relevant to each professional student in attendance. The main barriers to implementation are outlined and the focus on the process of working together is highlighted. Evaluation showed high satisfaction rates among participants and the outcomes from these experiences are presented. The limitations of these results are discussed and recommendations for future assessment are emphasized. The ICCs demonstrated that students will come together voluntarily to learn in teams, even at a research-focused institution, and express benefit from the collaborative exercise.
Sexual histories, attitudes, and behavior of schizophrenic and “normal” women

Data on sexual history and current sexual functioning were collected from 20 schizophrenic women and 15 normal volunteers. Schizophrenic women, compared to normal volunteers, reported a higher incidence of sexual abuse premorbidly, particularly during childhood, as well as after the onset of frank psychotic symptomatology. Patients also learned about sexual interaction and began menstruating earlier and had more negative feelings toward menstruating. In addition, psychosexual dysfunctions were markedly more common among the schizophrenic women, both pre- and postmorbidly. Compared to only 13.4% of the normal women, 60% of the schizophrenic women had never experienced orgasm. Patients did not believe that sexual activity worsened their illness, and only 20% of the patients thought their illness had adversely affected their sexual behavior.
Early visuospatial deficits predict the occurrence of visual hallucinations in autopsy-confirmed dementia with Lewy bodies.

Objectives The current study explored the value of visuospatial findings for predicting the occurrence of visual hallucinations (VH) in a sample of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) compared with patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Participants/Measurements Retrospective analysis of 55 autopsy-confirmed DLB and 55 demographically similar, autopsy-confirmed AD cases determined whether severe initial visuospatial deficits on the WISC-R Block Design subtest predicted the development of VH. Visuospatial deficits were considered severe if Block Design z scores were 2.5 or more standard deviations below the mean of a well-characterized normal control group (severe visuospatial deficits [severe-VIS]; DLB: n=35, AD: n=26) and otherwise were considered mild (mild visuospatial deficits [mild-VIS]; DLB: n=20, AD: n=29). Results Forty percent of the severe-VIS DLB group had baseline VH compared with 0% of mild-VIS DLB patients. Only 8% of the severe-VIS and 3% mild-VIS AD patients had baseline VH. During the follow-up period (mean = 5.0 years), an additional 61% of the severe-VIS but only 11% of the mild-VIS DLB patients developed VH. In that period, 38% of the severe-VIS and 20% of the mild-VIS AD patients developed VH. After considering initial MMSE score and rate of decline, logistic regression analyses found that performance on Block Design significantly predicted the presence of VH in the DLB group but not the AD group. Conclusions The presence of early, severe deficits on neuropsychological tests of visuospatial skill increases the likelihood that patients with suspected DLB will develop the prototypical DLB syndrome. The presence of such deficits may identify those DLB patients whose syndrome is driven by α-synuclein pathology rather than AD pathology and may inform treatment plans as well as future research.
Endocrine regulation of the bursa copulatrix and receptacle gland ofDanaus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Danaidae)

Significant growth occurs in the bursa copulatrix and receptacle glands of female Monarch butterflies held in summer conditions after adult emergence. Removal of the corpora allata prevents this growth, but normal development occurs if juvenile hormone is injected into females lacking corpora allata.
Sensorimotor maturation and alcohol responsiveness in rats prenatally exposed to alcohol during gestational day 8

Abstract On gestational day 8, pregnant Sprague-Dawley derived rats received two intraperitoneal injections of 0.015 ml/g body weight of a 24% v/v ethanol solution representing an absolute alcohol dose of 2.82 g/kg per administration (ETOH Group). Control females were injected with similar volumes of saline (SAL Group) or did not receive any type of intraperitoneal administration of drugs (AC Group). In comparison with the control treatments, the ethanol treatment did not affect long-term maternal body weight gain during pregnancy, total length of gestation, probability of delivery, number of pups born per litter or the offsprings' preference for alcohol odor. Nevertheless, this ethanol insult was sufficient to significantly reduce body weights at birth and to retard the ontogeny of some sensorimotor patterns among offspring, as assessed through the Righting Reflex, Horizontal Screen Test and opening of the external auditory canals. The maturation of other reflexes (Cliff Aversion and Negative Geotaxis) appeared to be retarded indirectly as an outcome of the maternal injection procedure, with ETOH and SAL pups exhibiting similar developmental delays when compared with AC animals. During adulthood, rats prenatally exposed to alcohol exhibited a decreased hypothermic response to an intoxicating dose of alcohol as well as significant increases in voluntary alcohol consumption in comparison with both control conditions. Collectively, these results suggest that relatively acute alcohol exposure early in gestation may not only affect normal patterns of development but also later responsiveness to this pharmacological agent.
Pneumatic hammer on plate with resilient support.

(1958). Pneumatic Hammer on Plate with Resilient Support. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 19, No. 5, pp. 415-416.
FANCF methylation contributes to chemoselectivity in ovarian cancer

A new model of ovarian cancer tumor progression implicates aberrant FANCF promoter methylation that is associated with gene silencing and disruption of the Fanconi-anemia-BRCA pathway. Disruption of the pathway occurs de novo in ovarian cancers and may contribute to selective sensitivity to platinum salts.
Rituximab Treatment of Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVETo review published literature using rituximab for treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA).DATA SOURCESAn English-language literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1966–May 2005) and EMBASE (1980–May 2005). References of identified articles were subsequently reviewed for additional data.DATA SYNTHESISEvidence suggests that B lymphocyte depletion in patients suffering from refractory RA may be a key component in the interruption of the disease pathogenesis. Successful depletion of B lymphocytes with rituximab in patients with RA has been reported in case reports, open-label pilot studies, and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.CONCLUSIONSBased on the limited published data, rituximab, when used in combination with other agents (ie, cyclophosphamide or methotrexate), appears to be a reasonable treatment option for refractory RA. However, additional controlled trials need to be conducted to further define optimal dosing, response rates, comparative long-term efficac...
Sad, glad, or mad hearts? Epidemiological evidence for a causal relationship between mood disorders and coronary artery disease.

Objective: To examine the epidemiological evidence to determine if there is sufficient support for the hypothesis that mood disorders convey a risk factor in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Method: Based on a review of the related research on Type A behavioral pattern (TABP) and other variables such as anger and hostility and their relationship to coronary artery disease (CAD), the findings were analyzed to ascertain any clinical patterns or similarities between behaviors of Type A and those in mood disorders. Using the given epidemiological criteria for a causal relationship, the association between the mood and coronary artery disease was explored. Results: There are similar symptoms and behaviors noted among Type A, manic, cyclothymic and hyperthymic individuals. There is sufficient historical and contemporaneous epidemiological evidence to support the notion that mood disorders confer risk for CAD, but it is premature to describe it as a causative factor. Depressive symptoms and general mood disorders emerged as toxic risk factors for CAD. Limitation: This article presents only a selective literature review, and it is limited by an epidemiological analyses of secondary sources. The impact of this limitation on the interpretation of the analyses is discussed. Clinical relevance: Patients require scrupulous clinical assessment for the presence of mood disorders including subtype; the stakes are high, since their cardiac health status may depend upon it. Pathophysiological pathways may play a covariate role in both mood and coronary disease, and some tentative hypotheses regarding the role of catchecholamines and cortisol are explored. Conclusions: There is evidence to justify studying the role of mood as a covariate risk factor in the pathogenesis of CAD. Implications for mental health, public health, primary care practice, and psychometric measurement are discussed. The hypothesis that mood disorders are a cause of CAD requires further research.
Theophylline toxicity in children

Sixty-five cases of theophylline toxicity in children were reviewed. Vomiting, tachycardia, and central nervous system excitation were the most common manifestations. Seizure activity occurred in four acutely intoxicated children whose serum theophylline concentrations were
Partial rapid metabolism of 1,2‐dichloroethane by Methylosinus trichosporium OB‐3b

Resting cell suspensions of the soil methylotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB-3b rapidly dehalogenate ethylene dichloride, but the process stops after one halogen is removed. Work with 14C- and 13C-labeled 1,2-dichloroethane shows that the biodehalogenation entails a direct hydrox-ylation of one of the CCl bonds to produce chloroethanol. The latter is rapidly oxidized to chloroacetic acid. The organism does not metabolize this acid on the time scale of these experiments.
A novel design technique for beam-waveguide antennas

The poor low-frequency performance of geometrically designed beam-waveguide antennas is shown to be caused by the diffraction phase centers being far from the geometrical optics mirror focus, resulting in substantial spillover and defocusing loss. To generate a new solution by a straightforward analytical design would prove cumbersome because of the large number of scattering surfaces required for the computation. Rather, a unique application was made of the conjugate phase-matching techniques to obtain the desired solution. A plane wave was used to illuminate the main reflector and the fields from the currents induced on the subreflector propagated through the BWG to a plane centered on the input focal point. By taking the complex-conjugate of the currents induced on this plane and applying the radiation integral, the far-field pattern was obtained for a theoretical horn that maximizes the antenna gain. To synthesize a horn quickly and inexpensively, the theoretical horn was matched as well as possible by an appropriately sized circular corrugated horn and the new feed system has been implemented in the JPL Research and Development BWG as part of a dual S/X-band feed system. The new S-band feed system is shown to perform significantly better than the original geometrically designed system.
ACE inhibition and the kidney: species variation in the mechanisms responsible for the renal haemodynamic response

Keywords: ACE inhibition,species variationDepartments ofRadiology andMedicine, Brigham and Women'sHospital and HarvardMedical School,Boston, Massachusetts, USACorrespondence to:Professor Norman KHollenbergBrigham and Women's Hospital,75 Francis Street,Boston, MA 02115,USA.Tel: +1 617 732 6682Fax: +1 617 232 2869Accepted for publication31st March 2000
Interpreting health statistics for policymaking: the story behind the headlines

Politicians, policymakers, and public-health professionals make complex decisions on the basis of estimates of disease burden from different sources, many of which are "marketed" by skilled advocates. To help people who rely on such statistics make more informed decisions, we explain how health estimates are developed, and offer basic guidance on how to assess and interpret them. We describe the different levels of estimates used to quantify disease burden and its correlates; understanding how closely linked a type of statistic is to disease and death rates is crucial in designing health policies and programmes. We also suggest questions that people using such statistics should ask and offer tips to help separate advocacy from evidence-based positions. Global health agencies have a key role in communicating robust estimates of disease, as do policymakers at national and subnational levels where key public-health decisions are made. A common framework and standardised methods, building on the work of Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) and others, are urgently needed.
Reduction in repeated ethanol-withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behavior by site-selective injections of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C ligands.

Rationale Anxiety-like behavior resulting from repeated withdrawals from chronic ethanol diets is counteracted by systemic administration of a 5-HT2C receptor antagonist or a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist.
Adaptive filtering for real-time on-board image restoration

The design methodology of a multiplierless predictor is presented for differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) of images. This is a vital part of an image restoration and compression system. Multiplierless implies that each coefficient of the predictor is a power-of-2 number. Therefore, all multiplications can be performed by simple shifting operations. The predictor is designed as a two-dimensional (2-D) IIR filter with periodic coefficients. Simulation results illustrate the efficiency of the proposed predictor in the DPCM of images.
Security and Privacy Qualities of Medical Devices: An Analysis of FDA Postmarket Surveillance

Background: Medical devices increasingly depend on computing functions such as wireless communication and Internet connectivity for software-based control of therapies and network-based transmission of patients’ stored medical information. These computing capabilities introduce security and privacy risks, yet little is known about the prevalence of such risks within the clinical setting. Methods: We used three comprehensive, publicly available databases maintained by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate recalls and adverse events related to security and privacy risks of medical devices. Results: Review of weekly enforcement reports identified 1,845 recalls; 605 (32.8%) of these included computers, 35 (1.9%) stored patient data, and 31 (1.7%) were capable of wireless communication. Searches of databases specific to recalls and adverse events identified only one event with a specific connection to security or privacy. Software-related recalls were relatively common, and most (81.8%) mentioned the possibility of upgrades, though only half of these provided specific instructions for the update mechanism. Conclusions: Our review of recalls and adverse events from federal government databases reveals sharp inconsistencies with databases at individual providers with respect to security and privacy risks. Recalls related to software may increase security risks because of unprotected update and correction mechanisms. To detect signals of security and privacy problems that adversely affect public health, federal postmarket surveillance strategies should rethink how to effectively and efficiently collect data on security and privacy problems in devices that increasingly depend on computing systems susceptible to malware.
High speed cineradiography using electronic imaging

The Los Alamos National Laboratory has constructed and is now operating a cineradiography system for imaging and evaluation of ballistic interaction events at the 1200 meter range of the Terminal Effects Research and Analysis (TERA) Group at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Cineradiography is part of a complete firing, tracking, and analysis system at the range. The cine system consists of flash x-ray sources illuminating a one-half meter by two meter fast phosphor screen which is viewed by gated-intensified high resolution still video cameras via turning mirrors. The entire system is armored to protect against events containing up to 13.5 kg of high explosive. Digital images are available for immediate display and processing. The system is capable of frame rates up to 10 5 /sec for up to five total images.
Fast thermal dynamics in aqueous foams

Sudden rearrangement of the tightly packed bubbles in a foam can be induced by application of shear and by diffusion of gas from smaller to larger bubbles. Using diffusing-wave spectroscopy, we measure dynamics at times that are short in comparison with the rate of these events, where the relative bubble configurations are fixed. We find a distinctly nonexponential contribution to the autocorrelation function that spans several decades in delay time prior to the full decay caused by rearrangements. The short-time dynamics are independent of changes in the rearrangement rate brought about by alteration of the coarsening rate or by application of shear and are therefore attributed to thermal fluctuations of the bubbles. The magnitude of these microscopic fluctuations can be understood in terms of the macroscopic shear modulus.
Dual control of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid virulence genes.

Abstract The virulence genes of nopaline (pTiC58) and octopine (pTiA6NC) Ti plasmids are similarly affected by the Agrobacterium tumefaciens ros mutation. Of six vir region complementation groups (virA, virB, virG, virC, virD, and virE) examined by using fusions to reporter genes, the promoters of only two (virC and virD) responded to the ros mutation. For each promoter that was affected by ros, the level of expression of its associated genes was substantially elevated in the mutant. This increase was not influenced by Ti plasmid-encoded factors, and the mutation did not interfere with the induction of pTiC58 vir genes by phenolic compounds via the VirA/VirG regulatory control mechanism. The effects of the ros mutation and acetosyringone were cumulative for all vir promoters examined. The pleiotropic characteristics of the ros mutant include the complete absence of the major acidic capsular polysaccharide.
A new moment generation technique for interconnects characterized by measured or calculated S-parameters

In this paper we propose a new method for moment calculation appropriate for dispersive, lossy interconnects and related package discontinuities, transitions and junctions that are modeled in terms of either numerically extracted or measured frequency-dependent scattering parameters. The method first constructs a local regional function approximation to the frequency domain measured data around an expansion point, and then finds the moments easily from the rational function. Comparisons with real measurements are presented which demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the proposed method.
Deadlock-free connection-based adaptive routing with dynamic virtual circuits

Virtual circuits (VCs) can reduce routing overheads with irregular topologies and provide support for a mix of quality of service (QoS) requirements. Information about network loads and traffic patterns may be used during circuit establishment to utilize network resources more efficiently than is practical with packet routing. Most VC schemes are static-each established VC remains unchanged until the connection is no longer needed. In contrast, we propose the dynamic virtual circuit (DVC) mechanism, which enables existing circuits to be quickly torn down in order to free up resources needed for other circuits or to re-establish circuits along routes that are better suited for current network conditions. We propose a deadlock avoidance technique, based on unconstrained routing of DVCs combined with a deadlock-free virtual network. We present a correctness proof for the scheme, describe key aspects of its implementation, and present performance evaluation results that explore its potential benefits.
Acquisition of viscous remanent magnetization

Abstract Viscous remanent magnetization (VRM) has been frequently suggested as a possible source of magnetic anomalies in ocean crust and as an important contributor of natural remanent magnetization in some volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Most references to VRM assume a linear dependence with log(t), yet long-term experimental data on VRM, while scarce often disagree with this simple notion. Here, we investigate the angular-dependence, grain-size dependence, initial-state dependence, and time (t) dependence of VRM acquisition. We observe a non-linear log(t) dependence of VRM acquisition over all time intervals (>104 s) for all the samples regardless of various experimental conditions. Echoing earlier studies, we also find that VRM acquisition is strongly dependent on the initial magnetic state of the samples. Samples in a thermally demagnetized initial-state were most susceptible to VRM acquisition. When VRM is produced parallel to the initial thermal remanence, VRM acquisition is negligible. VRM acquisition is more prevalent for magnetites in single-domain and multidomain (MD) grains than in the pseudo-single-domain range. In MD magnetites, frequent removal and restoration of samples (for the purpose of zero-field remanence measurement) apparently increases the efficiency of VRM acquisition.
Effect of Ionic Strength on the Kinetics of Trypsin and Alpha Chymotrypsin

The kinetic effects resulting from changes in the medium ionic strength on reactions involving trypsin or α-chymotrypsin are different. The reaction rate increases continuously as the ionic strength increases with α-chymotrypsin. With trypsin, the rate increases at low ionic strengths but as the ionic strength further increases a gradual inhibitory effect is observed. The effects produced by different salts of various valence types (from uni-univalent to uni-trivalent or tri-univalent) are essentially the same, and they are a function of the square root of the ionic strength. The quantitative differences among the various salts may be accounted for on the basis of individual properties of the ions, such as the size of the hydrated ion, "association," etc. The effects of salts on the enzymic reactions described herein are amenable to the same electrostatic treatment applicable to non-enzymatic reactions. By applying Bronsted's basic kinetic concepts and the Debye-Huckel law of electrolyte activity, it appears that the salt effects are mainly due to changes in the dissociation of ionizable groups. This appears to be a general method for analyzing the effect of inorganic ions on enzymic reactions.
Comparing Model Predictive Control and input shaping for improved response of low-impedance robots

With an increasing number of robots that can exhibit compliant behavior for safety in operating near humans (either through passive components or active control), additional methods for controlling these robots are needed. In particular, robot arms with low impedance can be safer for working in delicate environments if the effects of dealing with an underdamped robot system can be mitigated to improve performance. This paper focuses on comparing methods that allow a seven degree of freedom Series Elastic Actuator arm to operate with very low impedance while mitigating unwanted oscillation at the end effector. We show that by implementing feedback linearizion in conjunction with input shaping we can reduce residual oscillation for a seven degree of freedom robot arm. We also show that a Cartesian Model Predictive Controller (MPC) is able to significantly reduce residual oscillations while maintaining compliance. Comparing these two methods shows that for our tests for large displacements, MPC has a maximum overshoot of only 0.26% in the worst case where input shaping has at least 5.80% overshoot even in the best case. In addition, despite the fact that MPC is a feedback controller (unlike the open-loop input shaping method), it is still able to maintain compliance at the joints and end effector where we estimated MPC to exhibit a stiffness of 234 N/m as compared to the nominal low impedance controller with a stiffness of 262 N/m. Similar to input shaping (which is a command generation method), MPC is able to generate these commands without any slewing or path planning.
[18F]N-methyl lansoprazole and [18F]N-fluoroethyl lansoprazole: 2nd generation radioligands for tau imaging

1097 Objectives We have confirmed lansoprazole as a scaffold with high affinity for aggregated tau (low to sub-nanomolar affinity for heparin-induced tau) that has selectivity for tau over amyloid, and evaluated both [18F]lansoprazole ([18F]LNS) and [11C]N-methyl lansoprazole ([11C]NML) as candidate radiotracers for in vivo PET imaging of tau (Shao, ACS Med. Chem. Lett., 2012). Whilst [18F]LNS does not cross the blood-brain-barrier, [11C]NML shows rapid brain entry in non-human primates, favorable kinetics and low white matter binding, making it the lead compound for development of further fluorinated radioligands for anticipated clinical evaluation and distribution. This project focuses on synthesis and evaluation of [18F]N-methyl lansoprazole ([18F]NML) and [18F]N-fluoroethyl lansoprazole ([18F]NFEL) as 2nd generation tau radioligands. Methods [18F]LNS was radiolabeled at the CF3 group by fluorinating the corresponding gem-difluoroalkene precursor (Riss, Chem. Commun., 2011; Brooks, JLCR, 2013). 5% iPrOH was included in the DMSO reaction solvent as a proton source to favor formation of the CF3 group. Interestingly, analogous reaction conditions did not generate [18F]NML, and an alternate synthesis was required. Adding 5 uL of satd. NH4Cl to the reaction offered an efficient route to [18F]NML. [18F]NFEL was synthesized by standard treatment of lansoprazole with [18F]fluoroethyl tosylate. Pre-clinical evaluation of the radiotracers was conducted using autoradiography with tau positive brain sections from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, and non-human microPET imaging. Results [18F]NFEL and [18F]NML were synthesized in 2 and 3% radiochemical yield, respectively (non-corrected based upon starting fluoride) and >90% radiochemical purity. They maintain the high affinity for tau of the 1st generation radioligands, co-localize with aggregated tau in AD brain sections, and have improved blood-brain-barrier permeability compared to [18F]LNS. Conclusions [18F]NML and [18F]NFEL are 2nd generation radioligands that have potential for imaging tau in a clinical setting. Research Support Financial support of this work by the University of Michigan Office for the Vice President of Research (OVPR#6354) and NIBIB (T32EB005172-02) are gratefully acknowledged.
Combined Medical and Surgical Approach Improves Healing of Septic Perianal Crohn's Disease.

Background Septic perianal Crohn's disease (SPCD) is a treatment challenge in spite of tumor necrosis factor antagonists (anti-TNF). Our aim was to define the success of SPCD management with a combined medical and surgical approach and to identify clinical and genetic factors predictive of healing. Study Design A retrospective chart review of patients with SPCD treated at the Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center was done. Primary end point was complete healing (ie normal clinical exam and no pain for at least 6 months). Genetic analysis of 185 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with Crohn's disease was performed in 78 patients. Results One hundred and thirty-five episodes of SPCD were identified in 114 patients with a mean follow-up of 77 ± 7.4 months. Overall, 80 of 135 episodes healed (59.3%) and did not differ between those receiving anti-TNF and not (60.4% vs 56.8%). There appeared to be a consistent improved heal rate in each subcategory of surgically managed patients that received anti-TNF. Female sex was significantly predictive of healing in only those receiving anti-TNF agents (63.6% vs 25.0%; p = 0.0005). Twenty-two (19.3%) patients ultimately received a permanent diversion with either a total proctocolectomy or completion proctectomy. Multivariate analysis suggested several single nucleotide polymorphisms in Crohn's disease-associated genes to be possibly associated with healing, but lost significance after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions Overall, there is an approximate 60% rate of healing SPCD using a combined medical and surgical approach. About 20% of SPCD patients will require a permanent stoma. There were no clear genetic predictors of healing SPCD.
A five-species assemblage of shrews from the sagebrush-steppe of Wyoming

A species-rich assemblage of shrews is reported from 10 sites in sagebrush-steppe habitat in southwestern Wyoming. Five species were collected, including Sorex cinereus, S. mon-ticolus, S. merriami, S. nanus , and S. preblei. This is the first record of S. preblei from Lincoln Co., Wyoming. At one site, Cavanaugh Peak, the number of soricid species averaged 3.6 species/year. All five soricids were collected during 1984 and 1987. 5. cinereus was the only soricid collected during all 7 years; S. merriami was taken during 6 years, while 5. preblei, S. nanus , and S. monticolus were each collected during 4 years. An analysis of S. cinereus captured in different microhabitats (grassland/short-shrub habitats, tall shrub habitats, or ecotonal boundaries) showed no significant differences, indicating a lack of microhabitat preference within the shrub-steppe ecosystem.
The clinic study of remifentanil target controlled infusion on cardio-vascular response to tracheal intubation in pediatric patients

Objective To evaluate the effects of different concentration of remifentanil target controlled infusion on cardiovascular response to tracheal intubation in pediatric patients.Methods Forty-five pediatric patients aged 1-3 years for elective abdominal operation were assigned into three groups(n=15)with different concentration of remifentanil target controlled infusion:groupⅠ 6ng/ml;groupⅡ 7ng/ml and groupⅢ 8ng/ml.Propofol 3mg/kg was given from vein,after 10min stabilization induction of anesthesia was commenced with remifentanil target controlled infusion.Vecuronium 0.1mg/kg was given to facilitate intubation after the pediatric patients lost consciousness.BP and HR were recorded immediately before induction of anesthesia,immediately after intubation and at 2,5 and 10 min after intubation,and side effects such as hypotension,bradycardia,chest muscle rigidity,bucking etc.Results The mean systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ from baseline levels in response to induction of anaesthesia.The mean systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ did not significantly increase in response to tracheal intubation,but increased in group Ⅰ.Systolic blood pressure in group Ⅲ decreased significantly at 5 and 10 min after intubation.The incidence of side effects was significantly higher in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅰand Ⅱ.Conclusion The appropriate infusion concentration of remifentanil target controlled infusion for tracheal intubation is 7ng/ml in pediatric patients.
Design of chattering-free global sliding-mode discrete Variable Structure Control algorithm

The Variable Structure Control(VSC) of discrete time system use discrete reaching law is discussed.The cause of the system’s chattering is analyzed.Combine with global sliding mode,a new discrete reaching law is given.The simulation results show that the arithmetic is feasible.It can reduce the systems chattering and make the stability from the beginning.
An Incidental Finding of Gastrointestinal Bleeding on Bone Scintigraphy: Case Report

Objective: A 63-yr-old male with history of metastatic carcinoid tumor and heme-positive stool was referred for a bone scan. We attempted to determine if obtaining serial images would be helpful in characterizing the nature of extraosseous activity seen in the bowel region. Methods: We performed delayed whole-body bone imaging and then serial imaging on the patient. Results: The delayed whole-body bone imaging demonstrated extraosseous activity in the area of the descending and sigmoid colon. During additional serial imaging, the activity progressed to the area of the rectum, suggesting that the patient had experienced a gastrointestinal bleed subsequent to initial tracer injection. There was no evidence of free pertechnetate by imaging or chromatographic criteria, nor reason to suspect a vesicoenteric/colic fistula. Conclusion: This case report demonstrates that serial imaging of extraosseous abdominal activity seen on bone scintigraphy may be helpful to differentiate a gastrointestinal bleeding pattern from other etiologies.
Maternity Homes, the Birthplace of the Virtual Mother

The previous chapter examined the historical, military, geopolitical, and economic links between the development of transnational adoption and South Korea’s national family planning policy, and established the platform for a critical analysis of transnational adoption as a technology of population control. By examining the structural determinants under which numerous working-class women became birth mothers during the 1970s and the 1980s, Chapter 2 argues that birth mothers participated in transnational adoption as part of a national, population control measure, thereby serving national and family security under the developmental state. In this chapter, I focus on single mothers, the largest and fastest growing population of birth mothers from the 1980s to the mid 2000s, and discuss the elaborate system of social governance through which the transnational adoption practice has been deployed as a biopolitical, preemptive measure against single mothers and their “illegitimate” children.
Postoperative Delayed Paradoxical Depression After Uncomplicated Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Surgery.

Background Postoperative delayed paradoxical depression (PDPD) is a psychiatric condition described in patients without a history of mood disorders who undergo major surgery without complications and become clinically depressed. PDPD has been recognized in major surgical interventions, including coronary artery bypass surgery. We sought to determine the incidence and potential factors associated with PDPD after surgical treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Methods The cohort of 105 patients was derived from a prospective observational data set of 3788 consecutive cases of intracranial aneurysms accrued from 1991 to 2015. Starting in 2010, patients with PDPD were identified, and psychiatric treatment and outcomes were documented. Incidence of PDPD and baseline characteristics were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze associations of variables with PDPD. Patients with preoperative depression or bipolar disorder were excluded. Results Of 105 patients, 10.5% ( n = 11) were found to have newly diagnosed major depressive disorder after surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. By univariate and multivariate analysis, the only significant difference between the 2 groups was full return to daily activities ( P = 0.017 and P = 0.029, odds ratio = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [0.00, 0.70]), which was a result and not a cause of PDPD. All 11 patients with PDPD recovered fully, 9 after psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy and 2 without intervention. Conclusions PDPD after uncomplicated unruptured aneurysm surgery can be surprising to the neurosurgeon and the patient and should be promptly identified and addressed to achieve a full recovery. PDPD can be interpreted as a mild variant of post-traumatic stress disorder.
PDE5 Inhibitor Tadalafil and Hydroxychloroquine Cotreatment Provides Synergistic Protection against Type 2 Diabetes and Myocardial Infarction in Mice

Diabetes is associated with a high risk for ischemic heart disease. We have previously shown that phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor tadalafil (TAD) induces cardioprotection against ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic mice. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a widely used antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug that has been reported to reduce hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. Therefore, we hypothesized that a combination of TAD and HCQ may induce synergistic cardioprotection in diabetes. We also investigated the role of insulin-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, which regulates protein synthesis and cell survival. Adult male db/db mice were randomized to receive vehicle, TAD (6 mg/kg), HCQ (50 mg/kg), or TAD + HCQ daily by gastric gavage for 7 days. Hearts were isolated and subjected to 30-minute global ischemia, followed by 1-hour reperfusion in Langendorff mode. Cardiac function and myocardial infarct size were determined. Plasma glucose, insulin and lipid levels, and relevant pancreatic and cardiac protein markers were measured. Treatment with TAD + HCQ reduced myocardial infarct size (17.4% ± 4.3% vs. 37.8% ± 4.9% in control group, P < 0.05) and enhanced the production of ATP. The TAD + HCQ combination treatment also reduced fasting blood glucose, plasma free fatty acids, and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, TAD + HCQ increased plasma insulin levels (513 ± 73 vs. 232 ± 30 mU/liter, P < 0.05) with improved insulin sensitivity, larger pancreatic β-cell area, and pancreas mass. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were also elevated by TAD + HCQ (343 ± 14 vs. 262 ± 22 ng/ml, P < 0.05). The increased insulin/IGF-1 resulted in activation of downstream Akt/mTOR cellular survival pathway. These results suggest that combination treatment with TAD and HCQ could be a novel and readily translational pharmacotherapy for reducing cardiovascular risk factors and protecting against myocardial I/R injury in type 2 diabetes.
Preclinical Evaluation of a Replication-Deficient Recombinant Adenovirus Serotype 5 Vaccine Expressing Guanylate Cyclase C and the PADRE T-helper Epitope.

There is an unmet need for improved therapeutics for colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Adjuvant chemotherapy only marginally improves survival in some patients and has no benefit in others, underscoring the clinical opportunity for novel immunotherapeutic approaches to improve survival in colorectal cancer. In that context, guanylate cyclase C (GUCY2C) is an established biomarker and therapeutic target for metastatic colorectal cancer with immunological characteristics that promote durable antitumor efficacy without autoimmunity. Preliminary studies established non-replicating human type 5 adenovirus (Ad5) expressing GUCY2C as safe and effective to induce GUCY2C-specific immune responses and antitumor immunity in mice. This study characterized the biodistribution, immunogenicity, and safety of a vector expressing GUCY2C fused with the human CD4+ T helper cell epitope PADRE (Ad5-GUCY2C-PADRE) to advance this vaccine into clinical trials in colorectal cancer patients...
Effects of response prompts and diagram comprehension ability on text and diagram learning in a college biology course

Abstract Embedded response prompts are an effective method to support multimedia learning. Response prompts are directives situated within instructional material. Responding to these prompts affects learners' cognitive operations. Different types of prompts affect learning differently due to variations in stimulated cognitive operations. This study compared three types of experimental response prompts; prompts to self-explain the contents of a page, prompts to attend to diagrams and text-diagram relations, and prompts to self-explanation text-diagram relations; and two control conditions. Three tasks that measure verbal text knowledge, diagram knowledge, or knowledge of text-diagram relations assessed learning. The effects of diagram comprehension ability were also considered. A 5 X 3 mixed model ANCOVA revealed an interaction between prompting conditions and posttest tasks. Diagram comprehension ability was associated with task performance but did not interact with conditions.
Delegated Learning in Asset Management

In the presence of moral hazard and costly information acquisition, we show that absolute performance pay and benchmarking naturally arise as part of the contract between investors and active managers. The commonality in compensation incentives across funds, however, gives rise to externalities. By distorting expected returns and asset price informativeness, these contract incentives feed back into active managers' information acquisition and investors’ capital allocations to active management. This leads to less ambitious benchmarking and performance-based incentives, but excessive fixed fees and too large an active industry relative to a constrained efficient benchmark. Further, this commonality contributes to the inconsistency of widely-adopted measures of active manager skill.
Betting on Gold Using a Futures-Based Gold ETF

In an environment of high macroeconomic uncertainty in the fall of 2012, Tom Michelson was looking at his next trading opportunity. Michelson wanted to build a position in gold with a trading horizon of around a year and was wondering how he should go about investing in gold. Gold futures-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seemed like a good alternative, but he needed to understand better how gold futures worked. He was aware that futures-based ETFs for other commodities such as oil and gas had disappointing performances in recent years due to movements in the futures curves. Would a gold futures-based ETF be a good choice to profit from the price appreciation of gold? Excerpt UVA-F-1690 Apr. 22, 2013 BETTING ON GOLD USING A FUTURES-BASED GOLD ETF In an environment of high macroeconomic uncertainty in the fall of 2012, Tom Michelson was looking at his next trading opportunity. Michelson's view was that financial markets would remain in turmoil, and his bet was that gold prices would continue their sustained run-up fueled by the 2008 credit crisis, the successive rounds of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve, and the ongoing euro-area sovereign debt crisis (Exhibit 1). He was willing to build a position of approximately $ 100,000 in gold with a trading horizon of around a year. How should Michelson go about investing in gold? It used to be that, as an individual investor, he would have to buy shares in a gold mining firm. In previous years, however, as gold prices increased, the stock price of gold mining companies had not appreciated because miners struggled with rising costs. Michelson was not a seasoned investor in buying physical gold (e.g., coins or bullion bars), and he wanted to avoid storage and other costs. His financial adviser suggested that an easy way to get exposure to gold was to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that tracked the performance of gold. ETF shares traded the same way as stocks and made commodities more accessible than ever. In particular, he was curious about PowerShares DB Gold Fund (ticker: DGL), a futures-based ETF. It seemed to be a cheap way to get futures-based exposure to gold without having to trade directly in gold futures. . . .
Improving mass measurement of coronary artery calcification using threshold correction and thin collimation in multi-detector row computed tomography: in vitro experiment.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives. This in vitro study was designed to improve the accuracy of coronary calcium mass measurement from computed tomography (CT) images by developing threshold-based calcium CT number correction and thin-slice spiral techniques. Materials and Methods. A cardiac CT phantom containing simulated calcified cylinders of known calcium density was scanned with sequential 4 × 2.5-, spiral 16 × 1.5-, and spiral 16 × 0.75-mm collimation on 4- and 16-detector row CT scanners. The images obtained from the spiral scans were reconstructed in various slice widths. The calcified cylinders were imaged and their mean CT number and size were measured at thresholds ranging from 50 to 390 Hounsfield unit. The calcium mass measured was compared with the actual value to determine errors, and threshold-based correction factors were derived to minimize the errors. Results. The minimum amount of measurable calcium in 1-mm cylinder was 0.3 mg at the 16 × 1.5-mm protocol and 0.2 mg at the 16 × 0.75-mm protocol. Compared with 2.5-mm sequential protocol, thin-slice spiral protocols yielded a higher radiation exposure and lower or similar image noise levels. The error in calcium mass after correction was significantly smaller than that in measured mass ( P P = .49). The accuracy of mass measurements was clearly improved by using thin-slice imaging protocols especially in 200-mg/cm 3 calcium density ( P Conclusion. The accuracy of calcium mass CT measurement can be improved by threshold-based calcium CT number correction and thin collimation spiral techniques.
Observation and Measurement of Drooling by People with Mental Retardation.

Four brief observational surveys were used to score residents of a state institution for people with mental retardation as drooling/not drooling. An average of 14% of the population was identified as drooling on the occasion of any of the surveys; the accumulated proportion of clients reported as drooling was 28%. In a second study, the drooling of 2 of the clients identified in the first study was sampled within and across days. These clients drooled different amounts both within and between days, which validated their presence and classifications in the first study.
Civil Society in Africa: Interrogating the Role of Pentecostal Christianity in Africa’s Democratization and Development Processes

This chapter probes the issue of the extent to which Pentecostal churches in Africa as civic associations contribute to the process of democratization on the continent. According to the findings, overall, Pentecostal churches have, and continue to make negative contributions to the democratization process in Africa. This is because the internal governance systems of the Pentecostal churches are, by and large, an anathema to democracy. For example, the chapter argues that the Pentecostal ideology in Africa is anti-democratic. Also, the decision-making process that anchors governance is authoritarian. Another drawback is that there is a culture of a lack of accountability. Finally, open and frank discussions are not tolerated.
Grain growth of titanium carbide in nickel

The infiltration technique was employed to study the grain growth of titanium carbide in liquid nickel. Three successive stages of growth were observed; formation of idiomorphic grains, spheroidization accompanied by rapid growth, and a period of coalescence and closer packing of the carbide grains. The primary mode of grain growth appears to be by dissolution of high energy surfaces, transport of carbide through the liquid phase and isothermal redeposition.
Model CBAs and Community Benefits Ordinances as Tools for Negotiating Equitable Development: Three Critical Cases

ABSTRACTCommunity benefits agreements (CBAs) allow coalitions of labor and grassroots organizations to negotiate for concessions in the development process. One goal of a CBA is to more broadly dis...