cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patients' and oncologists' views on family involvement in goals of care conversations.

Objective Family members can significantly impact advanced cancer patients' treatment and are important participants in goals of care (GoC) conversations. Yet, research on patient and physician perspectives about family involvement and influence on GoC conversations is limited. Our purpose was to describe patients' and oncologists' perspectives about family involvement and influence on GoC conversations among patients with advanced cancer. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews at academic, community, and municipal hospitals (n = 4) with patients with advanced cancer (n = 39) and their oncologists (n = 21). Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. We analyzed data using interpretive description. Three coders independently coded transcripts, compared codes, and resolved discrepancies. Results We identified 4 themes common to patients and oncologists regarding family involvement in GoC conversations: (1) Presence and Duration of Family Involvement; (2) Family Expectations; (3) Protecting patients'/Family Members' Feelings; and (4) Patient-Family Disagreement. For patients, we identified 2 additional themes: (1) Family and Oncologist Relationship and (2) Effects of Cancer on Family. Both patients and oncologists emphasized the importance of family support for the patient's understanding of their illness and on patients' emotions. We also identified ways in which family involvement may benefit or prove challenging to GoC conversations. Conclusions Patients and oncologists have similar views about family involvement in GoC conversations. Learning how to communicate with family members should be a critical component of physician education in palliative care.
Military Case Studies

After a short explanation of case selection and introduction, this chapter discusses three within-cases associated with the grand strategy design input of military strategy. The analyzed cases are the declaration of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea, China’s space program, and its continued participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. Each within-case study contains an introduction, course of events, analysis of relationship with honor and legitimacy, alternative explanations, and a summary.
Developing treatment guidelines for myasthenia gravis

A task force of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America recently published a formal consensus statement intended to be a treatment guide for clinicians caring for myasthenia gravis (MG) patients worldwide. Its development was stimulated by the fact that there is generally no accepted standard of care for MG, and no one treatment is best for all MG patients. Also, there are few randomized trials of treatments in current use, and the generalizability of the few trials that have been successful may be difficult. Fifteen international experts in MG participated in the consensus process, which used a simple consensus to develop preliminary definitions and the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method to quantify agreement on treatment guidance statements for seven topics: symptomatic and immunosuppressive treatment, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange, impending and manifest myasthenic crisis, thymectomy, juvenile MG, MG with muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibodies, and MG in pregnancy. The executive summary of the guidance statement was published with open access to facilitate access by patients and healthcare professionals, and the full statement, with extensive background information, is available online. The guidance statement is a living document that will require updates as new treatments and new information on current treatments become available.
Teacher Talk About Student Ability and Achievement in the Era of Data-Driven Decision Making

BackgroundData-driven decision making continues to be a common feature of educational reform agendas across the globe. In many U.S. schools, the teacher team meeting is a key setting in which data ...
Assessing Transgender Patient Care and Gender Inclusivity of Breast Imaging Facilities Across the United States

Abstract Purpose To evaluate transgender patient care, gender inclusivity, and transgender health-related policies at breast imaging facilities across the United States. Methods A survey on breast imaging facilities’ policies and practices regarding transgender care was distributed to the membership of the Society of Breast Imaging, consisting of approximately 2,500 breast radiologists across the United States. The survey was conducted by e-mail in January 2018. Results There were 144 survey respondents. Responses showed that 78.5% of facilities have gender-neutral patient bathrooms, 9.0% have a separate waiting area for transgender patients, and 76.4% do not have dominant pink hues in their facilities, although 54.2% have displays with female gender content. Also, 58.0% of intake forms do not ask patients to provide their gender identity, although 25.9% automatically populate with female phrases. Within the electronic health record, 32.9% lack a distinct place to record patients’ preferred names and 54.9% lack a distinct place to record patients’ gender pronouns. The majority (73.4%) do not have explicit policies related to the care of transgender patients. Only 14.7% of facilities offer lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender training. Conclusion Our national survey demonstrates that many breast imaging facilities do not have structures in place to consistently use patients’ preferred names and pronouns, nor provide inclusive environments for transgender patients. All breast imaging facilities should recognize the ways in which their practices may intensify discrimination, exclusivity, and stigma for transgender patients and should seek to improve their transgender health competencies and foster more inclusive environments.
Morphology and Electrophysiology of the Through-Conducting Systems in Pennatulid Coelenterates

Recent electrophysiological investigations of colonial anthozoan nervous systems (Anderson and Case, 1975; Shelton, 1975) have supplemented behavioral studies which found that colonial control was either through-conducted (Parker, 1920; Nicol, 1955; Horridge, 1957; Buck, 1973), or restricted to a finite portion of the colony with subsequent incremental spread (Horridge, 1957). In the Pennatulacea, colonial nervous systems have been found to be through-conducting (Anderson and Case, 1975; Shelton, 1975). A possible morphological basis for such coordination, namely ectodermal, mesogleal, and endodermal nerve nets, has been described within the rachis of some pennatulids (Titschack, 1968, 1970; Buisson, 1970). However, there is no conclusive evidence to link these nerve nets with through-conducted colonial coordination, and the exact morphological circuitry has yet to be elucidated. Here we correlate the morphology of possible conducting elements with the colonial behavior and the electrophysiology of the through-conducting systems of five species of pennatulids as a contribution towards determination of the anatomical basis for through-conduction.
Hydrograph peak-shaving using a graph-theoretic algorithm for placement of hydraulic control structures

Abstract The need to attenuate hydrograph peaks is central to the design of stormwater and flood control systems. However, few guidelines exist for siting hydraulic control structures such that system-scale benefits are maximized. This study presents a new graph-theoretic algorithm for stabilizing the hydrologic response of watersheds by placing controllers at strategic locations in the drainage network. This algorithm identifies subcatchments that dominate the peak of the hydrograph, and then finds the “cuts” in the drainage network that maximally isolate these subcatchments, thereby flattening the hydrologic response. Evaluating the performance of the algorithm through an ensemble of hydrodynamic simulations, we find that our controller placement algorithm produces consistently flatter discharges than randomized controller configurations—both in terms of the peak discharge and the overall variance of the hydrograph. By attenuating flashy flows, our algorithm provides a powerful methodology for mitigating flash floods, reducing erosion, and protecting aquatic ecosystems. More broadly, we show that controller placement exerts an important influence on the hydrologic response and demonstrate that analysis of drainage network structure can inform more effective stormwater control policies.
The categorical neural organization of speech aids its perception in noise

ABSTRACT We investigated whether the categorical perception (CP) of speech might also provide a mechanism that aids its perception in noise. We varied signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) [clear, 0 dB, -5 dB] while listeners classified an acoustic-phonetic continuum (/u/ to /a/). Noise-related changes in behavioral categorization were only observed at the lowest SNR. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) differentiated phonetic vs. non-phonetic (category ambiguous) speech by the P2 wave (∼180-320 ms). Paralleling behavior, neural responses to speech with clear phonetic status (i.e., continuum endpoints) were largely invariant to noise, whereas responses to ambiguous tokens declined with decreasing SNR. Results demonstrate that phonetic speech representations are more resistant to degradation than corresponding acoustic representations. Findings suggest the mere process of binning speech sounds into categories provides a robust mechanism to aid perception at the “cocktail party” by fortifying abstract categories from the acoustic signal and making the speech code more resistant to external interferences.
Loss of p53 Expression in Myc-induced B Lineage Tumors

Tumors are formed following the accumulation of several genetic changes in genes which normally function to regulate cell growth. As yet it is unclear why multiple mutations are required, which type of alterations can collaborate with each other, and if collaboration is cell-type specific. In our myc transgenic mouse model system both point mutations and loss of mRNA expression for the p53 tumor suppressor gene have been found in the myc-induced B-lineage tumors arising spontaneously in these mice. This demonstrates the collaboration between these two growth control genes in cellular transformation. The observation that alterations in the expression of p53 is a common phenomenon in tumors formed in myc transgenic mice as well as a variety of different types of human tumors suggests that inactivation of the p53 growth control pathway may be required for transformation, and that alterations in p53 itself might be the most efficient way to achieve this inactivation. An analysis of the molecular mechanism for p53 alterations has implications for what kind of factors, both environmental and physiological, can influence tumor formation. The identification of collaboration groups has implications for the process of tumor formation, growth regulation, and will some day be important for the diagnosis of cancer, the prognosis of the individual and the design of specific therapeutic agents for treatment.
Antifungal Activity of the Enterococcus faecalis Peptide EntV Requires Protease Cleavage and Disulfide Bond Formation.

ABSTRACT Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive bacterium, and Candida albicans, a polymorphic fungus, are common constituents of the microbiome as well as increasingly problematic causes of infections. Interestingly, we previously showed that these two species antagonize each other’s virulence and that E. faecalis inhibition of C. albicans was specifically mediated by EntV. EntV is a bacteriocin encoded by the entV (ef1097) locus that reduces C. albicans virulence and biofilm formation by inhibiting hyphal morphogenesis. In this report, we studied the posttranslational modifications necessary for EntV antifungal activity. First, we show that the E. faecalis secreted enzyme gelatinase (GelE) is responsible for cleaving EntV into its 68-amino-acid, active form and that this process does not require the serine protease SprE. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a disulfide bond that forms within EntV is necessary for antifungal activity. Abrogating this bond by chemical treatment or genetic modification rendered EntV inactive against C. albicans. Moreover, we identified the likely catalyst of this disulfide bond, a previously uncharacterized thioredoxin within the E. faecalis genome called DsbA. Loss of DsbA, or disruption of its redox-active cysteines, resulted in loss of EntV antifungal activity. Finally, we show that disulfide bond formation is not a prerequisite for cleavage; EntV cleavage proceeded normally in the absence of DsbA. In conclusion, we present a model in which following secretion, EntV undergoes disulfide bond formation by DsbA and cleavage by GelE in order to generate a peptide capable of inhibiting C. albicans. IMPORTANCEEnterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans are among the most important and problematic pathobionts, organisms that normally are harmless commensals but can cause dangerous infections in immunocompromised hosts. In fact, both organisms are listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as serious global public health threats stemming from the increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. The rise in antifungal resistance is of particular concern considering the small arsenal of currently available therapeutics. EntV is a peptide with antifungal properties, and it, or a similar compound, could be developed into a therapeutic alternative, either alone or in combination with existing agents. However, to do so requires understanding what properties of EntV are necessary for its antifungal activity. In this work, we studied the posttranslational processing of EntV and what modifications are necessary for inhibition of C. albicans in order to fill this gap in knowledge.
It doesn't just happen to "Other" people - An exploration of occupation and education level of women who die from intimate partner violence.

Abstract Introduction While age, sex, and race/ethnicity of victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) have been described, little has been examined regarding other characteristics. We aim to characterize occupation and education levels of female victims of IPV homicide. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the National Violent Death Reporting System from 2003 to 2015 for victims of IPV homicide. Occupation, industry, and education fields were examined to categorize victims according to the 2010 Standard Occupation Classification. Results 4931 female victims of IPV were included. When clustering by job type, no single group dominated. Most victims had completed at least high school, with approximately 20% having at least some college. Conclusion Occupation and education level of women victims do not predict or protect against homicide in IPV, and these details are often omitted in data collection. This underscores the societal ubiquity of this public health crisis and argues for universal screening and better data collection, including in surgical populations.
Advancing an Integrative Framework to Evaluate Sustainability in National Dietary Guidelines

The food system is responsible for some of society’s most pressing sustainability challenges. Dietary guidelines are one policy tool to help address the multiple sustainability challenges associated with food systems through dietary recommendations that better support environmental and human wellbeing. This article develops and applies a sustainability framework scoring tool comprised of four key dimensions (environmental, economic, human health, and sociocultural and political) and 32 sub-dimensions of sustainable food systems for the analysis and modification of national dietary guidelines. Two coders pilot tested the framework to quantify the occurrence of sustainability dimensions and sub-dimensions in national/regional dietary guidelines of 12 randomly selected high-income and upper-middle income countries including Albania, Australia, Brazil, the Grenadines, Grenada, Qatar, Netherlands, Nordic Countries, St. Vincent, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Sustainability Dimension Scores (SDS) were calculated as a percentage of the occurrence of the 8 sub-dimensions comprising each sustainability dimension and Total Sustainability Scores (TSS) were calculated as a percentage of the occurrence of the 32 sub-dimensions in each guideline. Inter-rater reliability of TSS and SDS indicated high validity of applying the sustainability framework for dietary guidelines. SDS varied between the four sustainability dimensions with human health being the most represented in the dietary guidelines examined, as hypothesized (average SDS score of 83%; range from 50-100%). Significant differences (p < 0.0001) were found in mean SDS between the four sustainability dimensions. Overall, results indicate that the ecological (average SDS score of 31%; range from 0-100%) economic (average SDS score of 29%; range from 0-100%), and socio-cultural and political (average SDS score of 44%; range of 0-100%) dimensions of sustainability are underrepresented in the examined national dietary guidelines with significant differences in SDS between guidelines (p < 0.0001). TSS varied by country between 12% to 74% with a mean score of 36% ( 20%). Brazil had the highest TSS (74%) followed by Australia (69%). The sustainability framework presented here can be applied by policy makers, researchers, and practitioners to identify gaps and opportunities to modify national dietary guidelines and associated programs for transforming food systems through diets that support planetary health.
Republication of “Science Fiction and Introductory Sociology: The Handmaid in the Classroom”:

Although there is a great deal of available material on using nontraditional resources for teaching sociology, the pedagogical uses of science fiction have not been examined for 20 years. This essa...
Cerebral Salt Wasting in Traumatic Brain Injury Is Associated with Increased Morbidity and Mortality

Introduction In the setting of cerebral injury, cerebral salt wasting (CSW) is a potential cause of hyponatremia, which contributes to adverse effects and mortality. Objective The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients complicated by CSW. Methods A retrospective data analysis was performed on data collected from patients with TBI with an abbreviated injury scale (AIS) greater than 3. Data was divided into 2 groups of patients with CSW and those without. The primary endpoint was incidence of adverse effects of CSW in regard to injury severity score (ISS), hospital length of stay (HLOS), ventilator days, ICU length of stay (ICU LOS) and survival to discharge. Data was analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results A total of 310 consecutive patients with severe head injury (anatomic injury score 3 or greater) were evaluated over a 3-year period. A total of 125 of the 310 patients (40%) were diagnosed with cerebral salt wasting as defined by hyponatremia with appropriate urinary output and salt replacement. Patients with CSW had poorer outcomes in regard to ISS (21.8 vs 14.2, p<0.0001), HLOS (14.1 vs 3.5, p<0.0001), ventilator days (5.0 vs 0.45, p<0.0001), ICU LOS (8.5 vs 1.6, p<0.0001), and survival to discharge (88% vs 99%, p<0.0001). Discussion Common adverse effects of CSW were noted in this study. Patients with TBI have a predilection towards development of CSW and consequently have poorer outcomes including increased morbidity and mortality. Data is sparse on the duration of CSW and degree of hyponatremia over time. Larger, comparative studies need to be performed to investigate the hyponatremic patient population and the clinical outcomes of those who present with CSW.
Sexual Arousal Patterns of Mostly Heterosexual Men

Mostly heterosexual men describe themselves as slightly bisexual, with predominant sexual attraction to women but occasional attraction to men. After "completely heterosexual," "mostly heterosexual" is the most common male sexual orientation, by self-report. However, self-reported bisexual feelings among men can diverge from patterns of genital arousal, an objective measure of sexual interest with high validity. We compared 49 mostly heterosexual and 50 completely heterosexual men's patterns of genital and subjective sexual arousal to male and female erotic stimuli. In addition, we compared these groups on relevant self-report measures pertaining to sexual feelings, identity, and behavior. Results supported increased bisexual arousal with respect to self-report and genital arousal pattern among the mostly heterosexual men, compared with the completely heterosexual men. Furthermore, mostly heterosexual men reported more childhood gender nonconformity, greater male sex partners, and less self-reported disgust or aversion to sex acts with men. "Mostly heterosexual" appears to be a gradation of male sexual orientation associated with unique genital arousal patterns, among other correlates.
The Effects of a Nutritional Intervention on the Nutritional Knowledge of Children and Adolescents with Visual Impairments

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a nutritional program on the nutritional knowledge of children and adolescents with visual impairments. The results indicated that there ...
Two modes of mechanical ventilation for laparoscopy in infants

Objective To explore rational mode of respiratory management for laparoscopic operations under general anesthesia in infants. Methods Forty infants with the age ranging from 1 to 3 months who were scheduled for elective laparoscopy were enrolled in this study. The infants were incubated and anesthetized with intravenous-inhalation anesthesia. During CO2 pneumoperitoneum, infants were randomly ventilated by pressure controlled ventilation(PCV) or volume controlled ventilation (VCV). Peak airway pressure (Ppeak), mean airway pressure (Pmean), thorax-lung compliance (C) and hemodynamic parameters of the patients were monitored before pneumoperitoneum(T1), 15 and 30 minutes during CO2 pneumoperitoneum(T2 and T3). Blood samples for blood gas analysis were taken at T1 and T3. Results Compared with the values at T1, the thorax-lung compliance (C) at T2 and T3 decreased significantly in both groups (P 0.05). Conclusions During laparoscopy under general anesthesia in young infants, PCV can provide effective mechanical ventilation with relatively lower peak inspiratory airway pressure, which had more superiority than VCV in preventing ventilator-induced lung injury. Key words: Infant; Surgical procedures, laparoscopic; Pneumoperitoneum
Long-term postoperative pain evaluation in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation after hemilaminectomy

BACKGROUND Chronic neuropathic pain is a common complication in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) but has not been investigated in dogs. OBJECTIVE To determine the reliability of measuring spinal mechanical sensory thresholds (MSTs) in dogs and to compare MSTs of healthy dogs and dogs with SCI caused by acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion after hemilaminectomy over a 1-year period. STUDY DESIGN Prospective study. ANIMALS Thirty-two healthy and 40 SCI dogs. METHODS Dogs were divided into group 1 (healthy Dachshunds), group 2 (healthy dogs including several breeds), and SCI group. The MSTs were measured using algometry at an incision (thoracolumbar) and control site. Dogs in group 1 were tested once; those in group 2 were tested for 5 consecutive days; and SCI dogs were tested on days 7, 14, 28, 42, 180, and 365 postoperatively. The MSTs were compared among days in healthy and SCI dogs and between SCI and healthy dogs using mixed effect models. P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS At the incision site of SCI dogs, MST was significantly lower than in healthy dogs for 42 days postoperatively, but not subsequently. However, 4/27 dogs had control site MST below the reference range 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Mechanical sensory thresholds normalize by 6 months after surgery in most dogs with SCI. Approximately 15% of SCI dogs may develop chronic neuropathic pain. Improving long-term pain assessment of SCI dogs is important for offering treatment options and advising owners.
How Far Is Love From Charity?: The Literary Influence of Reformation Bible Translation

This essay explores the literary and cultural influence of post-Reformation English Bible translation. The massive influence of biblical language and ideas has been well studied, but the specific i...
A systematic review of CT chest in COVID-19 diagnosis and its potential application in a surgical setting.

Aim The aim of this work was to investigate the sensitivity and utility of CT of the chest in diagnosing active SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) infection, and its potential application to the surgical setting. Method A literature review was conducted using Google Scholar® and MEDLINE®/PubMed® to identify current available evidence regarding the sensitivity of CT chest compared with RT-PCR for the diagnosis of COVID-19-positive patients. GRADE criteria and the QUADAS 2 tool were used to assess the level of evidence. Results A total of 20 articles were identified that addressed the question of sensitivity of CT for diagnosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19-positive patients. Overall sensitivity of CT scan ranged from 57%-100% for symptomatic and 46%-100% for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, while that of RT-PCR ranged from 39%-89%. CT chest was a better diagnostic modality and capable of detecting active infection earlier in the time course of infection than RT-PCR in symptomatic patients. In asymptomatic patients, disease prevalence seems to play a role in the positive predictive value. Minimal evidence exists regarding the sensitivity of CT in patients who are asymptomatic. Conclusions In surgical patients, CT chest should be considered as an important adjunct for detection of COVID-19 infection in patients who are symptomatic with negative RT-PCR prior to any operation. For surgical patients who are asymptomatic, there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine preoperative CT chest for COVID-19 screening.
A Stochastic Approach to Finding Densest Temporal Subgraphs in Dynamic Graphs

One important problem that is insufficiently studied is finding densest lasting subgraphs in large dynamic graphs, which considers the time duration of the subgraph pattern. We propose a framework called Expectation-Maximization with Utility functions (EMU), a novel stochastic approach that nontrivially extends the conventional EM approach. EMU has the flexibility of optimizing any user-defined utility functions. We validate our EMU approach by showing that it converges to the optimum---by proving that it is a specification of the general Minorization-Maximization (MM) framework with convergence guarantees. We devise EMU algorithms for the densest lasting subgraph problem, as well as several variants by varying the utility function. Using real-world data, we evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of our techniques, and compare them with two prior approaches on dense subgraph detection.
Competitive formation of intercalated versus supported metal nanoclusters during deposition on layered materials with surface point defects.

Intercalated metal nanoclusters (NCs) can be formed under the surface of graphite after sputtering to generate surface “portal” defects that allow deposited atoms to reach the subsurface gallery. However, there is a competition between formation of supported NCs on top of the surface and intercalated NCs under the surface, the latter only dominating at sufficiently high temperature. A stochastic model incorporating appropriate system thermodynamics and kinetics is developed to capture this complex and competitive nucleation and growth process. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation shows that the model captures experimental trends observed for Cu and other metals and reveals that higher temperatures are needed to facilitate detachment of atoms from supported NCs enabling them to reach the gallery.
Do Takeover Targets Underperform? Evidence from Operating and Stock Returns

Financial economists seem to believe that takeovers are partly motivated by the desire to improve poorly performing firms. However, prior empirical evidence in support of this inefficient management hypothesis is rather weak. We provide a detailed re-examination of this hypothesis in a large scale empirical study. We find little evidence that target firms were performing poorly before acquisition, using either operating or stock returns. This result holds both for the sample as a whole and for subsamples of takeovers that are more likely to be disciplinary. We conclude that the conventional view that targets perform poorly is not supported by the data.
Sensitivity analysis of an agent-based simulation model using reconstructability analysis

Reconstructability analysis, a methodology based on information theory and graph theory, was used to perform a sensitivity analysis of an agent-based model. The NetLogo BehaviorSpace tool was emplo...
The insulo-opercular cortex encodes food-specific content under controlled and naturalistic conditions.

The insulo-opercular network functions critically not only in encoding taste, but also in guiding behavior based on anticipated food availability. However, there remains no direct measurement of insulo-opercular activity when humans anticipate taste. Here, we collect direct, intracranial recordings during a food task that elicits anticipatory and consummatory taste responses, and during ad libitum consumption of meals. While cue-specific high-frequency broadband (70–170 Hz) activity predominant in the left posterior insula is selective for taste-neutral cues, sparse cue-specific regions in the anterior insula are selective for palatable cues. Latency analysis reveals this insular activity is preceded by non-discriminatory activity in the frontal operculum. During ad libitum meal consumption, time-locked high-frequency broadband activity at the time of food intake discriminates food types and is associated with cue-specific activity during the task. These findings reveal spatiotemporally-specific activity in the human insulo-opercular cortex that underlies anticipatory evaluation of food across both controlled and naturalistic settings. Animal studies have shown that insulo-opercular network function is critical in gustation and in behaviour based on anticipated food availability. The authors describe activities within the human insulo-opercular cortex which underlie anticipatory food evaluation in both controlled and naturalistic settings.
Impact of Grazing Management on Cattle Distribution and Physical Characteristics of the Riparian Zones of Pastures

Introduction Grazing management practices that allow cattle to congregate near pasture streams may result in the loss of vegetative cover and accumulation of manure near pasture streams. These conditions may cause loading of the streams with sediment, phosphorus, and pathogens carried in surface runoff. The loss of vegetation and increased compaction associated with concentrated cattle traffic may promote stream bank erosion causing further impairment of stream water quality. The objectives of the current study were 1) to evaluate cattle distribution patterns, in relation to a pasture stream/pond and 2) to evaluate the effects of stocking rate and the botanical composition of the pastures’ riparian zone on the forage sward height and the proportions of bare and manure-covered ground along the banks of pasture streams.
Chapter 13 Scientific quality management and management science

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with quality and quality management from the viewpoint of the management scientist. The chapter focuses on the mathematical modeling and statistical research base of the scientific quality control movement. The chapter discusses the re-emerging role of quality as a central feature in the competitive strategy of modern firms. Quality is so central and is becoming more so because of four primary factors: (1) quality refocuses the firm back on the basic reason for its existence that is to serve and, thereby satisfy or, as modern jargon puts it, “delight” its customers, (2) quality and productivity are positively correlated, (3) the very affluence and bounty of modern life coupled with the provision of unparalleled levels of quality by suppliers of some products has made consumers ever more demanding across the board, and (4) in a number of ways higher technology makes higher quality necessary.
Strain energy interactions, the To concept and sympathetic nucleation

This letter considers a possible exception to the T/sub o/ criterion, based upon elastic strain energy interactions associated with neighboring precipitate plates. It is shown that, as long as one accepts that crystals of the product phase must pass through some type of nucleation stage (and hence are initially much smaller than previously formed product phase plates with which they are interacting elastically), the strength of these interactions permits violation of the T/sub 0/ criterion only under special circumstances and does not allow the development of sheafs of plates by shear above T/sub 0/.
Matters of Size

Bigger dendritic spines are associated with stronger neural connections. Now underlying mechanisms for this association are being revealed.
Implementation of an intraoperative blood transport and storage initiative and its effect on reducing red blood cell and plasma waste.

Background The national waste rate for hospital-issued blood products ranges from 0% to 6%, with operating room–responsible waste representing up to 70% of total hospital waste. A common reason for blood product waste is inadequate intraoperative storage. Study Design and Methods Our transfusion service database was used to quantify and categorize red blood cell (RBC) and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) units issued for intraoperative transfusion that were wasted over a 27-month period. Two cohorts were created: 1) before implementation of a blood transport and storage initiative (BTSI)—RBC and plasma waste January 1, 2011-May 31, 2012; 2) after implementation of BTSI—RBC and plasma waste June 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013. The BTSI replaced existing storage coolers (8-hr coolant life span with temperature range of 1-10°C) with a cooler that had a coolant life span of 18 hours and a temperature range of 1 to 6°C and included an improved educational cooler placard and an alert mechanism in the electronic health record. Monthly median RBC and plasma waste and its associated cost were the primary outcomes. Results An intraoperative BTSI significantly reduced median monthly RBC (1.3% vs. 0.07%) and FFP (0.4% vs. 0%) waste and its associated institutional cost. The majority of blood product waste was due to an unacceptable temperature of unused returned blood products. Conclusion An intraoperative BTSI significantly reduced median monthly RBC and FFP waste. The cost to implement this initiative was small, resulting in a significant estimated return on investment that may be reproducible in institutions other than ours.
Valuation relevance of allowance for funds used during construction and operating income: The effects of regulatory climates and deregulation

This study considers the valuation relevance allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC), operating income (OI), and their innovations across regulatory climates and regulatory reforms. Valuation relevance is assessed by examining the coefficients and R 2s from the regressions of returns on AFUDC, OI, and their innovations. Regulatory climate is predicted to affect valuation relevance of earnings components on the premise that different regulatory regimes enact and enforce policies that differently affect (1) the uncertainty of future earnings, (2) the recovery of deferred assets, and (3) the sustainability of earnings innovations. In an extended analysis, indicators of rate-base valuation method and leverage are added as control variables to isolate their mediating effects on returns for electric utilities. Additional analysis considers the effects of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 on the valuation of earnings components. The results reveal that AFUDC and OI are valued differently relative to each other and across regulatory climates. The results also show a significant decline in the explanatory power of earnings components after the passage of the EPAct in 1992. Rate-base valuation method has no discernible effects on returns for the utilities. On the other hand, the effect of leverage on returns for the utilities is reliably negative.
Androgen Blockade for the Treatment of High-Flow Priapism

ABSTRACT Introduction High-flow priapism (HFP) may occur secondary to perineal trauma, congenital arterial malformations, and iatrogenic insults. In cases that do not resolve spontaneously, standard management is by selective embolization, resulting in resolution rates as high as 78%; however, erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent complication, occurring in up to 39% of cases. Aim We report our use of androgen blockade (AB) to suppress nocturnal erections as an alternative treatment for HFP. Methods A retrospective review of all patients treated at our institution for HFP was undertaken. Included in this study were any patients treated with single- or combination-agent AB for HFP. Operative reports and medical records were examined to determine patient characteristics and outcomes. Treatment efficacy, side effects, and residual ED were assessed using a questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures The primary clinical outcomes assessed were resolution of HFP, tolerability, and side effects of treatment. Results Seven patients with HFP were treated with AB. Priapism was a result of trauma in three patients and a persistent high-flow state after shunt procedures in four. Mean follow-up was 2 years (range 4 to 64 months). Therapy consisted primarily of 7.5 mg intramuscular monthly leuprolide injections, although bicalutamide and ketoconazole were also utilized as adjunct treatments. Therapy duration ranged from 2 months to 6 months and was discontinued after symptom resolution. One patient discontinued daily ketoconazole after 1 week because of severe hot flashes. The remaining six patients reported complete resolution of HFP. The primary complaints during therapy were decreased libido and fatigue. All patients reported some degree of ED during therapy. There was no reported residual ED or other hypogonadal symptoms on withdrawal of therapy. Conclusion AB is a successful option for treating HFP with acceptable side effects and return to baseline potency on treatment withdrawal. Mwamukonda KB, Chi T, Shindel AW, and Lue TF. Androgen blockade for the treatment of high-flow priapism.
Education for Justice: Stitching a Seamless Garment

This essay aims to present the challenges of teaching Catholic social thought to undergraduates at a Catholic college. It begins with a review of the three foundational principles of the Church's social tradition: dignity, community, and preferential option for the poor. It next moves to three primary obstacles to making these concepts come alive for college students: (1) the prevalence of social and economic stereotypes, (2) a Romanticized reduction of Christianity which emphasizes charity to the neglect of justice, and (3) an unwillingness to allow the resources of one's faith to challenge the policies of one's government. The essay concludes with some reflections on the appropriateness of all of these subjects at a college dedicated to the liberal arts. Throughout this paper, generous use is made of writings by my students that demonstrate the pedagogical principles and pitfalls I narrate.
Investigation and reduction of sub‐microgram peptide loss using molecular weight cut‐off fractionation prior to mass spectrometric analysis

This work investigates the suitability of molecular weight cut-off membrane-based centrifugal filter devices (MWCO) for sub-microgram peptide enrichment passing through the membrane by introduction of methanol and a salt modifier. Using a neuropeptide standard, bradykinin, a reduction in sample loss of over two orders of magnitude is demonstrated with and without undigested protein present. Additionally, a bovine serum albumin (BSA) tryptic digestion was investigated and 27 tryptic peptides were identified using MALDI mass spectrometry whereas only two BSA tryptic peptides were identified after MWCO separation using H2O. The protocol presented here enhances recovery from MWCO separation for sub-μg peptide samples.
Morbidity and mortality of thyroidectomy for substernal goiter.

Background Our objective was to evaluate morbidity and mortality of thyroidectomy in substernal goiters and identify patients at risk for these events. Methods The medical records of 127 patients with substernal goiters were retrospectively reviewed. Results The most common preoperative symptom was shortness of breath (48%). 13% of the 127 patients were asymptomatic. Preoperative imaging identified tracheal deviation in 69% and tracheal compression in 41% of the cases. Substernal goiters were resected via a cervical approach in 100% of the cases. Six patients (5%) had postoperative hoarseness, 1 had permanent vocal cord paralysis, and 19 (15%) had transient postoperative hypocalcemia. The mortality and permanent hypoparathyroidism were null. Patients with postoperative complications had larger goiters and were more likely to have tracheal compression. Conclusions Thyroid resection via a cervical approach for substernal goiters is associated with low rate of morbidity and no mortality. Patients with large tumors and tracheal compression are more likely to develop postoperative complications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
Inappropriate medication use in the elderly: results from a quality improvement project in 99 primary care practices.

Abstract Background: The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in the elderly population is common. Interventions to decrease PIM use in primary care settings are needed. Objective: This study was designed to assess the time trends in use of always inappropriate and rarely appropriate medications in primary care patients aged ≥65 years during a quality improvement project. Methods: A 4-year, prospective demonstration project was delivered to 99 primary care practices that use a common electronic medical record and are members of the Practice Partner Research Network. Each participating practice received quarterly performance reports on the use of always inappropriate and rarely appropriate medications in the elderly. Optional interventions included biannual on-site visits and annual network meetings for performance review, academic detailing, and quality improvement planning. General linear mixed regression models were used to analyze the change in prescribing rates over time. Results: Across 42 months of project exposure, 124,802 active patients (61% women, 39% men) aged ≥65 years were included in the analyses. Among the 33 practices that participated in all 42 months of the intervention, the proportion of patients with a prescription for an always inappropriate medication decreased from 0.41% to 0.33%, and the proportion of patients with a prescription for a rarely appropriate medication decreased from 1.48% to 1.30%. Across all 99 practices, the adjusted absolute annual declines for the comprehensive categories of always inappropriate medications (00.018%, P = 0.03) and rarely appropriate medications (0.113%, P = 0.001) were statistically significant. Propoxyphene was the only individual medication that decreased significantly in use over time (baseline proportion, 0.72%; adjusted absolute annual decline, 0.072% [P = 0.001]). Conclusions: Always inappropriate and rarely appropriate medication use decreased over time in this practice-based research network study. Additional studies of robust interventions for improving medication use in the elderly are warranted.
Volume Expansion of Euglena gracilis in Fresh Culture Media

SUMMARY. Transfers of Euglena gracilis to fresh media gave rise to increased volumes of the flagellates, the magnitude of expansion varying with temperature, pH, osmotic pressure, and number of nutritional particles in the medium. Expansion was accompanied by decreased protoplasmic density and increased intracellular solids and water. When the population density of the flagellates was more than optimal, competition for substrates was reflected in reduced maximum volume. Below the optimal range, a similar decrease in maximum volume was observed.
Characterization of the optimal mass problem for aerobraking tethers

Abstract In the aerobraking tether concept, a probe, connected to an orbiter by a long, thin tether, passes through the atmosphere of a target planet to provide a desired velocity change, while keeping the orbiter above the sensible atmosphere. In earlier work, simple analytic models have been developed which accurately describe the characteristics of the mass-optimal tether. In this paper these models are generalized so that design of the spacecraft and the aerobraking maneuver can be completely characterized by four independent parameters. By comparing the tether mass (e.g. for aerocapture) with the propellant mass required to capture the orbiter, we show that aerobraking tethers have a clear advantage for a wide range of maneuvers.
Hydrogen diffusion in β-phase titanium iron hydride

Abstract NMR pulse techniques have been used to measure proton relaxation times in high purity β-TiFeH 1.03 between 94K and 413K. Recent crystal structure parameters from neutron diffraction studies of orthorhombic β-TiFeD x have been explicitly included in the analysis of the T 2 relaxation times to obtain more accurate hydrogen diffusion parameters than were possible from previous NMR studies of β-TiFeH x . The room temperature (300K) hydrogen diffusion constant in β-TiFeH x is verified to be about 1.2 ± 0.8 × 10 −12 cm 2 /s, which is 10 −4 –10 −5 times smaller than in many other metal hydrides such as PdH x or LaNi 5 H x .
Holocene slip rates along the Owens Valley fault, California: Implications for the recent evolution of the Eastern California Shear Zone

One of the largest historical earthquakes in California occurred in 1872 along the Owens Valley fault located along the western margin of the Eastern California Shear Zone. New paleoseismic and optically stimulated luminescence data are the first to bracket the timing of the pre-1872 rupture to between 3.3 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.3 ka. These data yield an earthquake recurrence interval between 4100 and 3000 yr, under the assumption of uniform return, and indicate a Holocene slip rate between 1.8 ± 0.3 and 3.6 ± 0.2 mm/ yr. Our data are broadly consistent with a model proposed for the space-time evolution of the Eastern California Shear Zone. Our Holocene slip-rate estimates for the Owens Valley fault are slower than present-day slip rates determined from elastic half-space models of geodetic data. This discrepancy is reduced by using the recurrence interval estimated here and a viscoelastic model of geodetic data or by including geologic slip rates from adjacent faults.