cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacteria infections: A retrospective case series of 78 patients from the Texas Gulf Coast region

Background The incidence of cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections is increasing. These infections are a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Objective We investigated the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of cutaneous NTM infections. Methods A retrospective case series studied 78 patients from a Gulf Coast tertiary referral center diagnosed with cutaneous NTM infection by culture or stain of a skin biopsy specimen. Results A history of trauma, procedure, or environmental exposure was common. The mean time between the initial evaluation and diagnosis was 12 weeks. Only 15% of acid-fast bacillus-positive cultures had a positive acid-fast bacillus smear, and only 43% of those accompanied by skin biopsy specimen had a positive Fite stain. Immunosuppressed patients were more likely to have a positive Fite stain. Treatment included surgery and multiple antibiotics. Immunosuppressed patients and Mycobacterium abscessus group infections were more likely to have persistent disease. Limitations M chelonae and M abscessus isolates were indistinguishable and therefore were reported together. Five cases were not confirmed by culture. Conclusions Even with clinical suspicion, the diagnosis of NTM infection can be difficult. Results of acid-fast bacillus smears and special stains are frequently negative. Antibiotic resistance is common. Multidrug treatment is often required, and surgical therapy may be needed.
Developing Boundary Conditions for Device Design and Durability Evaluation

Abstract This chapter takes raw vascular deformation data and converts them into usable durability boundary conditions for benchtop testing and computational analysis. This includes choosing the appropriate metrics, using statistical methods to sufficiently represent the target patient population, and establishing the duty cycle and number of cycles. Actual examples of boundary condition derivation are shown, with special commentary of treatment of multimodal deformation. There is also a discussion about adapting limited and imperfect data to arrive at boundary conditions that are neither too lenient nor too aggressive.
Family still matters: Counseling patients with complex family histories of colon and endometrial cancers.

BACKGROUND There are no national guidelines for the management of patients with a family history consistent with Lynch syndrome (LS) but a negative genetic test. To determine current management practices, genetic counselors' (GCs) recommendations were assessed. METHODS A survey of GCs using five hypothetical pedigrees was posted to National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) discussion forums. Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS One-hundred and fifteen surveys were completed. A pedigree with a first-degree relative (FDR) with early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) and a family history of CRC and endometrial cancer (EC) prompted 83% (n = 95) of respondents to recommend early and frequent colonoscopies, based on family history. When the CRCs and ECs occurred in family members removed from the proband, 96% (n = 110) of GCs said they would screen based on family history. However, only 52% (n = 60) suggested CRC screening should begin earlier and occur more often, and 43% (n = 50) suggested CRC screening should follow standard age and frequency guidelines. CONCLUSION Concordance of opinion among GCs for the management of patients with negative genetic test results exists when FDRs are affected. However, when affected relatives are more distant, GCs disagreed on screening recommendations. These data suggest a need for guidelines for patients with a family history of cancer and a negative genetic test.
Estradiol administration differentially affects the response to experimental psychosocial stress in post-menopausal women with or without a history of major depression.

Background: The effects of estradiol on the brain regions involved in the response to stress and emotional processes may be particularly important in women who have alterations in these systems that make them vulnerable to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This study examined whether the effect of estradiol administration on the subjective distress and mood response to a laboratory-based psychosocial stress task differs in women with and without a history of MDD. Methods: Participants were 65 euthymic postmenopausal women, with and without a history of MDD. They received either 3 months of open-label oral estradiol or did not receive estradiol. After 3 months, participants completed the Montreal Stress Imaging Task (MIST) and subjective distress and mood ratings. Results: The effect of estradiol on subjective distress following the MIST differed based on MDD history. In women without a history of MDD, estradiol administration was associated with greater subjective distress than no estradiol. However, in women with a history of MDD, estradiol administration was associated with less subjective distress compared to no estradiol. Limitations: This study included open-label administration of estradiol and participants were not blinded to administration. Interpretation of result should include consideration of the relatively small group sizes and that results may not generalize to currently depressed individuals. Conclusions: In euthymic women with a history of MDD, estradiol may benefit the affective response to psychosocial stress while having comparatively little benefit in women with no MDD history. Further work should explore whether estradiol administration reduces the risk of depression recurrence in post-menopausal women with past MDD.
Organ Donation and the Ars Moriendi

Organ donation is rightly understood as a gift that is a genuine act of love. Organ donation as an act of love requires it to be an act of freedom that honors the integrity of the human person who ...
Partisan Rationales for Space: Motivations for Public Support of Space Exploration Funding, 1973–2016

Abstract This study tests the congruence between public opinion toward funding US space exploration and previously theorized rationales to justify space activities and examines how those motivations differ by political party and how they vary from 1973 to 2016. General Social Survey data are used to measure correlations between space spending preferences and other spending categories that proxy proposed rationales, with mixed effects and ordinal logit regressions. Consistent with the scientific discovery rationale, support for funding space correlates with positive attitudes toward science. During the Cold War, a national security frame prevailed: Space and military preferences were correlated, with “hawks” supporting defense and space spending and “doves” opposing both. After the Cold War, Republicans continue to show strong space-military correlation, but for Democrats, space funding support now correlates with environmental protection preferences and not their military spending views. Both parties show slight negative correlations between space and social welfare spending. Overall partisan differences in funding preferences have not greatly increased, but diverging motivations have implications for future space politics.
Aristotle’s Explanationist Epistemology of Essence

Essentialists claim that at least some individuals or kinds have essences. This raises an important but little-discussed question: how do we come to know what the essence of something is? This paper examines Aristotle’s answer to this question. One influential interpretation (viz., the Explanationist Interpretation) is carefully expounded, criticized, and then refined. Particular attention is given to what Aristotle says about this issue in DA I.1, APo II.2, and APo II.8. It is argued that the epistemological claim put forward in DA I.1 differs from that put forward in APo II.2 and II.8, contrary to what has been claimed by Explanationists, and that each of these distinct epistemological claims rests on a distinct non-epistemological thesis about essence. Consequently, an ‘Enriched Explanationist Interpretation’ is developed which takes into account both of the aforementioned elements in Aristotle’s epistemology of essence. The paper concludes by highlighting an insight the preceding exegetical discussion offers to contemporary essentialists seeking to explain how we come to know what something’s essence is.
Pragmatic cluster randomized trial to evaluate effectiveness and implementation of enhanced EHR-facilitated cancer symptom control (E2C2).

The prevalence of inadequate symptom control among cancer patients is quite high despite the availability of definitive care guidelines and accurate and efficient assessment tools. We will conduct a hybrid type 2 stepped wedge pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial to evaluate a guideline-informed enhanced, electronic health record (EHR)-facilitated cancer symptom control (E2C2) care model. Teams of clinicians at five hospitals that care for patients with various cancers will be randomly assigned in steps to the E2C2 intervention. The E2C2 intervention will have two levels of care: level 1 will offer low-touch, automated self-management support for patients reporting moderate sleep disturbance, pain, anxiety, depression, and energy deficit symptoms or limitations in physical function (or both). Level 2 will offer nurse-managed collaborative care for patients reporting more intense (severe) symptoms or functional limitations (or both). By surveying and interviewing clinical staff, we will also evaluate whether the use of a multifaceted, evidence-based implementation strategy to support adoption and use of the E2C2 technologies improves patient and clinical outcomes. Finally, we will conduct a mixed methods evaluation to identify disparities in the adoption and implementation of the E2C2 intervention among elderly and rural-dwelling patients with cancer. The E2C2 intervention offers a pragmatic, scalable approach to delivering guideline-based symptom and function management for cancer patients. Since discrete EHR-imbedded algorithms drive defining aspects of the intervention, the approach can be efficiently disseminated and updated by specifying and modifying these centralized EHR algorithms. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03892967 . Registered on 25 March 2019.
Black Teacher: White School.

Although many Black women teachers are effective in their practices with students in predominantly White teaching spaces, they may experience troubling, unfair, unrealistic, and controlling organiz...
Aortic valve calcification predicts all-cause mortality independent of coronary calcification and severe stenosis

Abstract Background and aims Calcific aortic valve disease is highly prevalent in patients with significant smoking history and is a marker of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to define the prognostic value of aortic valve calcification (AVC) derived from low dose, lung cancer screening computed tomography (LCSCT) for all-cause mortality in this higher risk population. Methods This is a single site, retrospective analysis of 1529 moderate-to-high atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk U.S. veterans (65 years [IQI: 61, 68] years; 96% male), who underwent clinically indicated LCSCT. CTs were scored for aortic valve calcification (AVC) and coronary artery calcification (CAC). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and secondary endpoints were nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) and nonfatal cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Results Over 4-year follow-up, 227 patients (15%) died, 112 patients (7%) had nonfatal MI, and 52 patients (3%) had nonfatal CVA. AVC was predictive of all-cause mortality (HR per 100: 1.041 [1.030–1.052], p Conclusions Scoring AVC derived from LCSCT is predictive of mortality, nonfatal MI, and nonfatal CVA in patients at known risk for cardiovascular disease, independent of coronary calcification or severe aortic valve stenosis.
Differential Cross Sections of the Be 9 (Li 6 , α)B 11 Reaction

The differential cross sections of the ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}({\mathrm{Li}}^{6}, \ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{B}}^{11}$ reaction have been measured as a function of energy and angle. The $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles leaving the ${\mathrm{B}}^{11}$ in the ground state, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$, in the first excited state, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$, and in the second and third excited states, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}+{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{3}$, were observed at 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} intervals from 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 160\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (lab system) at ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}$ energies of 3.00, 3.25, and 3.50 Mev, and at 20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, and 160\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (c.m. system) at ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}$ energies of 2.00, 2.50, 3.75, and 4.00 Mev. The angular distributions of the ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$ groups are asymmetric about 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} c.m. Relative maxima occur at both large and small angles for each of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle groups, with the yields at large angles being comparable to those at small angles. In all cases the angular distribution varies slowly with bombarding energy and the yields at each angle increase monotonically with increasing energy. At 3.50 Mev the total cross sections are 0.97\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.38 mb for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$ and 0.65\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.26 mb for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$. The experimental results suggest that the reactions proceed mainly by direct-interaction mechanisms. The similarity of the angular distributions of the ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}({\mathrm{Li}}^{6}, \ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{B}}^{11}$ and the ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}({\mathrm{He}}^{3}, p){\mathrm{B}}^{11}$ reactions is pointed out.
N2 Fixation by Plasma-Activated Processes

Summary Sustainable nitrogen fixation could offset the significant environmental and societal costs associated with the energy-intensive conventional Haber-Bosch process (HB). This perspective compares the energy requirements, CO2 emissions, and commodity prices associated with alternative plasma-activated ammonia synthesis to those for HB. The threshold efficiency required for a plasma process to become competitive is established for various scenarios of H2 sources, energy sources from natural gas to CO2-free renewable energy, and carbon pricing policies. Economic positive externalities are evaluated for renewable energy-powered modular ammonia production, which is projected to become competitive upon achieving a 6-fold improvement in plasma process efficiency. The technological prospects for achieving the thresholds are discussed, including advancements in plasma-catalyst synergy, direct reactions of N2 with plasma-activated water, and plasma N2 oxidation. A comparison of theoretical energy minima reveals that the energy required for plasma-activated nitrogen fixation might be lower than that for HB.
Obstetrics, genetics, and litigation.

Introduction Claims of medical negligence are universal. Unexpected adverse pregnancy outcome may trigger litigation. Such outcomes, especially with neurodevelopmental sequelae, may be compounded by a genetic disorder, congenital abnormality or syndrome. Material and methods This is a report of 297 cases in which a pregnancy complication, error or incident occurred that was followed by progeny with a genetic disorder, congenital abnormality or syndrome, that spawned litigation. The author assessed, opined and in many cases, testified about causation. Results Pregnancies complicated by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were not infrequently compounded by offspring with a genetic disorder, congenital abnormality or syndrome. Multiple cases were brought because of missed ultrasound or laboratory diagnoses, or failures in carrier detection. Teratogenic medication prescribed before or during pregnancy invited legal purview. Failure to refer (or confer) for genetic evaluation or counseling in the face of significant risk, occurred repeatedly. Ethical breaches and hubris promptly led to litigation. Conclusions Many lessons and recommendations emerge in this report. These include the realization that the vast majority of errors in this series involved at least two caregivers, serial ultrasound studies are important, decreased fetal movements may signal a genetic disorder, congenital abnormality or syndrome, family history and ethnicity are vital, cognitive biases profoundly affect decision-making. Finally, the simplest of errors have the potential for causing life-long grief.
Mixing Properties of Dynamical Systems

In this chapter, we develop the concept of mixing to show that ergodic maps are not the most chaotic type of transformation. For example, not every ergodic dynamical system can make a heterogeneous environment appear to be more homogeneous after repeated applications of the transformation, but mixing systems can. Toral translations (and in fact all isometries on Riemannian manifolds) take every set A to a congruent set, so the set cannot mix into other sets. We define properties of mixing in this chapter and we also discuss how noninvertibility of a map is connected to mixing properties.
The Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Arthrocentesis Among Emergency Medicine Residents.

Introduction The objective of this study is to determine if EM resident physicians are able to successfully utilize POCUS to perform an arthrocentesis in the ED. This is a retrospective review of ED patients who received an ultrasound-guided or ultrasound-assisted arthrocentesis performed in the ED over a 6-year period by an EM resident physician. Methods This was a retrospective review of ED patients who received an ultrasound-guided or ultrasound-assisted arthrocentesis performed in the ED over a 6-year period by an EM resident physician. An ED POCUS database was reviewed for POCUS examinations where an arthrocentesis was performed. Electronic medical records were then reviewed for demographic characteristics, history, physical examination findings, ED course, additional imaging studies, and the impact of the POCUS study on patient care and disposition. Results A total of 101 POCUS examinations of patients were included in the final analysis. The POCUS examinations and procedures were performed by 59 different EM residents at various levels of training. Overall, 92.1% (93/101) of the procedures were successful. When assessing for image quality, 98/101 (97%) had recognizable structures at minimum. The majority of the patients (84/101, 83.2%) received additional imaging of the affected joint. In the minority of cases (23/101, 22.8%), the ultrasound-assisted approach was utilized, while 78/100 (77.2%) utilized the ultrasound-guided approach. For the studies that utilized the ultrasound-guided approach, the quality of needle visualization was determined to be "good" 40/78 (51.3%). Conclusion EM resident physicians are able to utilize POCUS to perform an arthrocentesis in the ED. Further research is encouraged to determine whether having residents utilize POCUS to perform an arthrocentesis has a significant impact on outcomes and patient care.
Does conserving roadless wildland increase wildfire activity in western US national forests

National forests in the western United States are divided roughly in half between lands without roads managed for wilderness characteristics and lands with an extensive road system managed for multiple uses including resource extraction. We investigated the influence of these land use designations on fire ignitions, fire extent, and fire severity over the last three decades. Although roadless areas experienced fewer fire ignitions and are generally cooler, moister, and higher elevation landscapes less conducive to fire, there was a far greater extent of wildfire in these areas than in roaded landscapes managed for multiple uses. An area equivalent to approximately one-third of the roadless landscape burned in the last three decades, while an area equivalent to less than one-fifth of roaded lands experienced fire. Most of the largest fires that have burned on national forest land in recent years began in roadless areas. Whereas fire extent was greater in roadless areas, there was no significant difference in fire severity between roadless wilderness and areas with an extensive road system after accounting for biophysical differences between these areas. Although fire patterns in roadless areas may pose challenges to land managers, the available evidence suggests that the greater extent of fire in roadless areas may confer resilience to these landscapes in the face of climate change.
Local photoreceptor cell death differences in the murine model of retinal detachment.

To investigate local cell death differences in the attached and detached retina at different regions in a murine experimental retinal detachment model. Subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate was performed in eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice. Retinal regions of interest were defined in relation to their distance from the peak of the retinal detachment, as follows: (1) attached central; (2) attached paracentral; (3) detached apex; and (4) detached base. At day 0, the outer nuclear layer cell count for the attached central, attached paracentral, detached apex, and detached base was 1247.60 ± 64.62, 1157.80 ± 163.33, 1264.00 ± 150.7, and 1013.80 ± 67.16 cells, respectively. There were significant differences between the detached base vs. attached central, and between detached base vs. detached apex at day 0. The detached apex region displayed a significant and progressive cell count reduction from day 0 to 14. In contrast, the detached base region did not show progressive retinal degeneration in this model. Moreover, only the detached apex region had a significant and progressive cell death rate compared to baseline. Immediate confounding changes with dramatic differences in cell death rates are present across regions of the detached retina. We speculate that mechanical and regional differences in the bullous detached retina can modify the rate of cell death in this model.
OTC Equity Derivatives

The development of the OTC equity derivatives market offers investors investment opportunities that are simply not available in the listed market or cash market. The international banking community has created a marketplace that has improved the efficiency of investing. Serious investors can no longer ignore the value of using OTC derivative products as a major part of their overall investment strategy. It is incumbent on plan sponsors, money managers, insurance companies, mutual funds, and corporations to consider the use of equity derivatives in achieving their investment objectives. The OTC equity derivatives market can be divided into three main components: OTC options and warrants, equity-linked debt instruments, and equity swaps. OTC equity options are customized option contracts that can be applied to any equity index, basket of stocks, or an individual stock. Equity derivatives have a variety of applications to investment management. Among the considerations for equity portfolio management are ways to take advantage of promising returns through the reallocation of funds within the portfolio. This portfolio rebalancing might include sector rotation, international diversification, style rotation, or return enhancement. These strategies mostly focus on stock selection in some way. Keywords: OTC options; barrier options; compound options; knock-in options; knock-out options; equity swap; equity-linked debt; rainbow option; overperformance option; lookback option; quanto option; chooser option; Asian option; average option; basket option; binary option
The rhetoric of the weekly compilation of presidential documents: ‘We make that decision on a daily basis’

Abstract Source of credibility has long been a concern of classical and contemporary communication theorists. While much has been written about the rhetoric of various U.S. presidents, little research has been conducted examining the official residing place of most presidential commentary. This article examines the origin and development of the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents , views its lack of official editorial standards, and uses a content analysis of Ronald Reagan's comments concerning the downing of Korean Airlines 007 and the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court to illustrate potential problems arising from a lack of established guidelines.
Enteric inhibitory neural regulation of human colonic circular muscle: Role of nitric oxide

Abstract Background: Nitric oxide and an apamin-sensitive transmitter may both contribute to neural inhibition in the human colon. The present study investigated the role of NO in regulating spontaneous rhythmic contractions and examined NO-dependent and independent components of neurally evoked hyperpolarization in the human colon. Methods: Mechanical and electrical activity were recorded from isolated circular muscle strips. Results: Rhythmic contractions were inhibited by nerve stimulation. This response was reduced by apamin, oxyhemoglobin, and l- N G -nitro arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). Electrical recording revealed two components of neurally evoked hyperpolarization: a fast hyperpolarization resulting from a single stimulus and a sustained hyperpolarization that developed with repetitive stimulation. Fast hyperpolarization was not affected by l-NAME or oxyhemoglobin but was significantly reduced by apamin. The sustained hyperpolarization was reduced by l-NAME or apamin. Exogenous NO and the P 2y receptor agonist 2-methylthio adenosine 5′-triphosphate (2-MATP) inhibited spontaneous contractions and produced hyperpolarization. Apamin reduced the effects of 2-MATP but not those of NO. Conclusions: The results support the concept that the inhibitory neurotransmission in the human colon involves two transmitters. A single stimulus results in an apamin-sensitive response. With multiple stimuli, a NO-dependent response develops and sums with the apamin-sensitive mechanism, producing sustained hyperpolarization and inhibition of contractions.
THE HISTORY, STATUS AND FUTURE OF CLIMATIC CLASSIFICATION

As an integral part of the organization of knowledge and discipline development, climatic classification has a long history. Earliest classifications were based upon a single variable, often day-length. Increased availability of data in the late 19th century permitted more quantitative approaches and the use of more than one variable. Vegetation distribution strongly influenced classification system development, with that devised by Koppen proving the most durable. Formulation of climatic indices permitted the development of an applied empiric approach and the development of the moisture-balance concept. Modern taxonomists have used air mass and synoptic climatological approaches in attempts to incorporate atmospheric processes. Synoptic approaches have been of importance since the introduction of methods of numerical taxonomy. The availability of large data sets and computer-generated analytic techniques has helped numeric classification to be of major research importance today. In the future, knowledge ...
The Growing Consumer Exposure to Nanotechnology in Everyday Products: Regulating Innovative Technologies in Light of Lessons from the Past

Consumers in the United States are being exposed to steadily increasing levels of novel and untested substances as a result of their contact with consumer products containing nanoparticles. Hundreds of nanotech consumer products are being marketed for human consumption, including food, dietary supplements, cosmetics and sunscreens. The majority of these products do not list their nanotech content on the product label. This expanding market ignores the growing scientific understanding that nanoparticles can create unintended human health and environmental risks. This Article discusses the public health, regulatory, legal and ethical issues raised by the developing appreciation of the health risks associated with nanotech products and is arranged as follows. After the Introduction, this Article describes the present scientific understanding of the health risks associated with the consumption of nanoparticles. Next, a summary of the existing FDA regulatory structure that governs food, dietary supplements, cosmetics and sunscreens is provided along with an explanation of why these regulations fail to protect public health when applied to regulate the nanotech versions of these products. The Article goes on to illustrate how the FDA’s dated position on bioequivalence, coupled with preexisting regulations, lead to a lack of a labeling requirement which bars a consumer from engaging in self-protection. Compounding this situation, if a consumer is injured from this unavoidable exposure, this Article spells out how the insensitivity of the tort system to injuries from innovative technologies means that an injury from a nanotech product will be borne by the consumer and not the manufacturers who are reaping the profit from product sales. Finally, this Article proposes alternative methods of regulating nanotech products that better protect public health while encouraging technical innovation. These proposals are based on lessons learned from past introductions of new chemicals and innovative technologies such as asbestos, PCBs, DES, Thalidomide, medical X-rays and Benzene that all had serious, long-term public health consequences.
Theories proposed to explain Quasi-Stellar Objects and Radio Galaxies

In this paper I shall consider briefly two major questions. The first is concerned with whether the QSO’s are at cosmological distances or not. The second is concerned with the theoretical models proposed to explain the observed properties of radio galaxies and quasi-stellar objects.
Parallel algorithms for 2D Kalman filtering

Methods for implementing 2-D reduced-update Kalman filtering using parallel machines are described. Various types of parallel architectures can be used for the implementation. Algorithms are described and compared for implementation on the Sequent Balance 21, a multiprocessor system with shared memory, CLIP4, a 96*96 SIMD processor array, and the Connection Machine, an SIMD array of 64 K processors. All the machines show great improvement in performance. The advantage with the Connection Machine is the individual processor's ability to write and read from different locations. This allows multiple-image filtering and a great increase in the efficiency of processor usage. >
Moderating Effects of a Postdisaster Intervention on Risk and Resilience Factors Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Chinese Children

This study is an evaluation of a psychosocial intervention involving child and adolescent survivors of the 2008 Sichuan China earthquake. Sociodemographics, earthquake-related risk exposure, resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the UCLA-PTSD Index were collected from 1,988 intervention participants and 2,132 controls. Mean resilience scores and the odds of PTSD did not vary between groups. The independent factors for risk and resilience and the dependent variable, PTSD, in the measurement models between control and intervention groups were equivalent. The structural model of risk and 2 resilience factors on PTSD was examined and found to be unequivalent between groups. In contrast to controls, risk exposure (B = −0.32, p Language: en
Neutronics and photonics calculations for the tokamak experimental power reactor

One-dimensional neutronic and photonic calculations have been carried out using the discrete-ordinates code ANISN to compare the nuclear performance of blanket and shield designs proposed for use i...
Biological validation of ELISA results for the detection of Cry proteins

The widespread use of Cry proteins in insecticide formulations and transgenic crops for insect control has led to an increased interest in the environmental fate of these proteins. Several detection methods are available to monitor the fate of Cry proteins in the environment, but enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have emerged as the preferred detection method, because they are cost-effective, easy to use, and provide rapid results. Validation methodology, which is essential to ensure accurate measurement of Cry proteins in environmental matrices, has been researched extensively, but most of this research has overlooked biological validation of ELISA results. This oversight has led to concerns that environmental studies utilizing ELISAs may be overestimating the concentrations of Cry proteins in the environment, which may affect the risk assessments for these proteins. A literature review discusses the history and usage of Cry proteins for insect pest control and discusses the use and validation of ELISAs for detection of Cry proteins in environmental samples. The concept of biologically validating ELISA results is introduced, and a critical review of published literature examines the state of ELISA usage and validation, including identifying areas for improvement. Eight different types of model systems were screened for their ability to produce fragments of Cry1Ab protein, and five of these model systems prove capable of generating Cry1Ab fragments. The fragments from these five model systems are then analyzed with ELISAs and bioassays to determine if the fragments are detectable or retain bioactivity. Fragments from four of the model systems are not detectable by ELISA and do not retain bioactivity. Fragments from the fifth model system are detectable by ELISA and do retain bioactivity. These results indicate that the use of ELISAs in environmental fate studies are providing an
Marihuana and the human electroencephalogram

Summary Despite substantial doses of marihuana given orally with the production the typical clinical syndrome expected from such doses, changes in the scalp electroencephalogram were minimal. Flattening of anterior lead tracings, synchronization of posterior lead tracings and occasional paroxysmal slowing of the alpha rhythm were the principal findings. For the most part, they resembled those of drowsiness or sleepiness and were not readily distinguishable from those under placebo conditions, where some drowsing also occurred.
APB alters photopic spectral sensitivity of the goldfish retina

Abstract Because the glutamate analog 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB) alters synaptic transmission at the outer plexiform layer in goldfish we asked whether intraocular injection of APB would alter the spectral sensitivity of the retina. The spectral sensitivity of the ON and OFF components of the optic nerve response (ONR) in goldfish was measured in the presence and absence of APB, under four chromatic adaptation condition. APB decreased absolute sensitivity and altered spectral sensitivity for both ON and OFF responses under each adaptation condition. The spectral sensitivity of the OFF response was altered most at short wavelengths, in a manner consistent with a change in the balance of additive cone inputs. For the ON response, the effects of APB were consistent with a change in spectral antagonism, particularly between M- and L-cones. These results suggest that the activity in the retinal cone pathways in goldfish can be influenced by a mechanism incorporating an APB-sensitive receptor, and that this receptor may be intimately involved with setting the balance of cone inputs to spectrally-opponent neurons.
Signal-to-noise enhancement in time-resolved IR emission spectra through two-dimensional correlation analysis

We have examined the relative signal-to-noise (S/N) enhancement as obtained through extraction of the diagonal elements of the synchronous correlation map following two-dimensional correlation analysis of both self- and cross-spectral correlation. In particular, comparison was made between the resulting correlation spectrum and the spectrum obtained through simple averaging. As a means of analysis, four series of synthetic spectra, containing time dependent variations in both spectral intensity and frequency as well as artificially added random noise, were generated and analyzed with correlation analysis as well as simple averaging. It is found that for a time-dependent decay in spectral intensity, the S/N enhancement achieved through correlation is marginally superior to that which is obtained through simple averaging. For all cases considered, inclusion of a frequency shift results in an overall diminished enhancement. As in the case of simple linear averaging, the effect of self- vs. cross-correlation on S/N enhancement is directly related to the number of spectra used in the analysis. Additionally, for series exhibiting a frequency shift, it is observed that correlation analysis yields spectra which are more representative of the original time-dependent data sets.
False‐positive squamous cell carcinoma in cervical smears: Cytologic‐histologic correlation in 19 cases

Cytologic features of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) can mimic those of invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. We compare and correlate the cytological findings of 19 false-positive squamous-cell carcinomas with follow-up cone biopsies or hysterectomy specimens to define which type of dysplasia is more prone to diagnostic errors on cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Out of 128 patients diagnosed with invasive squamous-cell carcinoma from 1994-2000, 19 (14.8%) with follow-up cone biopsies or hysterectomy specimens were false-positive cases, showing only cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We reviewed tissue sections from these 19 cases of CIN for cytologic features of squamous-cell carcinoma, such as markedly pleomorphic and/or dysplastic squamous cells, necrosis, and nucleoli. Twelve of 19 patients (63%) were menopausal. The mean age was 50.5 yr. On review of cervical smears, 18 cases qualified for the cytologic diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma, keratinizing type, and one case qualified for squamous-cell carcinoma, nonkeratinizing type. Pleomorphic and/or keratinizing dysplasia was found in 15 out of 19 patients (79%), necrosis within superficial endocervical glands in 9 out of 19 patients (47%), and conspicuous nucleoli in 12 out of 19 patients (63%). One or more of these changes were seen in all but 2 patients (89%). Endocervical gland involvement was present and extensive in 18 of the 19 cases (94%). The mean age was older than expected for SIL (50.5 vs. a reported 40), and matched the mean age found in patients with invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. Pleomorphic and/or keratinizing dysplasia involving endocervical glands may exhibit the cytologic features of squamous-cell carcinoma on cervical Pap smears.
Effect of Westphal lipid A on viral activities in mice and hamsters.

SummaryWestphal's lipid A assayed in mice and hamsters enhanced non-specific host resistance against the activities of viruses such as was demonstrated earlier for bacterial endotoxins and for other materials of microbial origin. Lipid A, given intracerebrally into mice, suppressed neurotoxicity of concentrated influenza A virus and reduced the activities of neurotropic influenza (NWS) and herpes simplex viruses as measured by survival and by survival time. Given subcutaneously, it was active against influenza A virus and, following intraperitoneal injection, was active against encephalomyocarditis virus but showed slight if any activity against measles in hamsters or neurotropic (NWS) influenza virus in mice. It was inactive against Lansing type II poliovirus and Coxsackie B3 virus when given intracerebrally and intraperitoneally, respectively. Greatest activity was in the suppression of PVM virus, even when administered up to 72 hours following viral infection. The lipid A did not appear to suppress pro...
A sensitive fluorometric assay method for mammalian tyrosinase.

Abstract Tyrosinase in the mammalian melanocyte catalyzes the initial steps in melanogenesis, i.e., the hydroxylation of tyrosine to dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and the subsequent oxidation of DOPA to DOPA quinone. The kinetic characteristics of the hydroxylation step had been difficult to study until Pomerantz (1964, 1966) developed a specific and sensitive assay method based on the measurement of the release of tritium from tyrosine-3,5- 3 H. The method requires a column chromatography step and the use of radioisotopes. Therefore it is not well suited to the handling of large numbers of biological samples. In this paper, we report an adaptation of the fluorometric measurement of DOPA (Bertler et al., 1958) as applied to the assay of mouse melanoma tyrosinase (tyrosine hydroxylase). With this method microgram quantitites of tissue with an active tyrosinase system can be used. The method is quite applicable to the study of the chanes in enzyme activity with increasing age of melanomas (Adachi, unpublished observations) and probably also to all melanizing tissues.
Evidence for the occurrence of the malate-citrate shuttle in intact Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

A possible activity of the malate-citrate shuttle has been investigated in Ehrlich ascites cells by testing the effects of 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic acid, an inhibitor of the malate-citrate exchange, and (-)-hydroxycitrate, an inhibitor of the citrate cleavage enzyme, on the glucose-dependent oxidation-reduction rates of pyridine nucleotides and cytochrome b as well as two inhibitors glycolyzing cells. Moreover, to quantitate such an activity, the effects of these two inhibitors have been compared with those induced under the same experimental conditions by aminooxyacetate, an inhibitor of the malate-aspartate shuttle which is known to operate in this strain of ascites tumor. Both benzenetricarboxylic acid and hydroxycitrate are able to increase the reduction of pyridine nucleotides, which follows glucose addition to whole cells, to about the same extent. A much more pronounced effect is elicited by aminooxyacetate under the same condition. When n-butylmalonate is added to slow down the flux of glycolytic reducing equivalents to the respiratory chain via the malate-aspartate shuttle, benzenetricarboxylic acid or hydroxycitrate promotes an ATP-driven reversal of electron transfer. Indeed, the glucose induced reduction of cytochrome b becomes sensitive to oligomycin and the ATP level is raised significantly with respect to the value of uninhibited cells. It is concluded that the malate-citrate shuttle operates in Ehrlich ascites cells, although with a substantially lower activity with respect to the malate-aspartate shuttle.
Dominance, plasma testosterone levels, and testis size in house mice artificially selected for high activity levels.

Male house mice (Mus domesticus) from four replicate lines selectively bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior were compared with four random-bred control lines with respect to dominance, testis size, and plasma testosterone level. Behavior was measured with a tube apparatus in which focal mice encountered a standard opponent from an inbred strain, and positions of mice were scored over a 10-min period; the test was replicated the following day. Blood samples were taken from undisturbed mice 1 week prior to testing (baseline condition) and immediately after the first tube test; plasma testosterone was measured by enzyme immunoassay with chromatography. As compared with control lines, mice from selected lines tended to be smaller in body mass, to have larger testes, and were significantly less likely to advance towards their opponent during the second tube-test encounter. However, no significant differences in either baseline or post-encounter testosterone levels were detected. Significant differences in body mass, relative testis size, position during the first tube-test encounter, and baseline testosterone were found among the replicate lines within linetype, which indicates founder effects, random genetic drift, unique mutations, and/or multiple responses to selection. At the level of individual variation (residuals from nested analysis of covariance models), an inverse relationship between baseline testosterone and advancing in the tube test was observed, and the relationship was stronger during the second test day. This unexpected result may reflect an alternate coping strategy.
Low-wage mobility during the early career

Abstract Despite the size of the low-wage workforce, knowledge of the low-wage labor market is markedly sparse. In particular, little is known about the mobility patterns of low-wage workers. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, I analyze low-wage mobility during the early career. I find that exits from low-wages are common, but the odds of exit and the permanence of an exit vary by social group membership and have changed in recent decades. Women, African Americans, residents of the South, and the less educated fare worse in the low-wage labor market. My findings also suggest that low-wage mobility has changed since the 1970s, with low-wages becoming more difficult to avoid.
Simulation of an Air Mass Thunderstorm Using the Two-Scale Model

Abstract The two-scale model (Raymond, 1979) is used to simulate a well-documented Colorado thunderstorm. Good agreement is found with the early and middle stages of the storm life cycle. Intense vertical mixing in the early stages is shown to have a crucial effect on both cloud dynamics and microphysics. In particular, precipitation particles formed at high levels in the storm are rapidly mixed down to low levels against the mean updraft even when sedimentation is suppressed. The termination of this mixing not only enables the simulated storm to develop explosively, but also sets the stage for its eventual demise.
Achieving Consensus in Planning Recreation and Park Services

Abstract Planning recreation and park services often follows a traditional, or “expert,” model. Typically, one or more “experts” are brought in to recommend what needs to be done to meet the future needs of the community being served. Often the final product lies dormant on a shelf because the people who have to implement it and those it is intended to serve had little, or no, input. This article explores a process oriented planning model that uses the expertise of the people who will ultimately use the services and facilities provided by the local recreation and park department. It has been developed, and used, over the past ten years to reach decisions based on a partnership of shared community values, consensus, and a commitment to implementation.
Lithium chloride produces illness-induced analgesia

The analgesic effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) and their interaction with the analgesic effects of morphine were studied in rats. After recording rats’ baseline pain sensitivity in the hot-plate test, we injected half the rats with LiCl (127 mg/kg i.p.) and half with saline. A second hot-plate latency measurement was taken 100 min later. Following this measurement, half the LiCl- and half the saline-injected rats were injected with morphine (10 mg/kg s.c), and the others with saline. A third hot-plate latency measurement was taken 20 min later. LiCl produced strong analgesic effects that were comparable to those produced by morphine. The analgesic effects in the group that received both LiCl and morphine was approximately equal to the sum of the analgesic effects measured in the groups that received each of these drugs with saline. The results support our hypothesis that drugs that produce gastrointestinal illness and nausea also produce analgesia.