cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilateral intracranial electrodes for lateralizing intractable epilepsy: efficacy, risk, and outcome.

Objective Medically refractory epilepsy is amenable to neurosurgical intervention if the epileptogenic focus is accurately localized. If the scalp video-electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging are nonlateralizing, yet a single focus is suspected, video-EEG monitoring with bilateral intracranial electrode placement is helpful to lateralize the ictal onset zone. We describe the indications, risks, and utility of such bilateral surveys at our institution. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 26 patients with medically refractory seizures who were treated over a 5-year period and underwent bilateral placement of intracranial electrodes. Subdural strips were used in all cases, and additional stereotactic implantation of depth electrodes into mesial temporal lobes occurred in 50%. The mean patient age was 37.7 years, and 65.4% of patients were male. Results The most common indication for bilateral invasive monitoring was bilateral ictal onsets on surface video-EEG (76.9%), followed by frequent interictal spikes contralateral to a single ictal focus (7.7%). Intracranial monitoring lasted an average of 8.2 days, with ictal events recorded in all cases. Ten patients (38.5%) subsequently underwent more extensive unilateral monitoring via implantation of subdural and depth electrodes through a craniotomy. A therapeutic procedure was performed in 17 patients (65.4%), whereas 1 patient underwent a palliative corpus callosotomy (3.8%). Nine patients underwent a resection without unilateral invasive mapping. Reasons for no therapeutic surgery (n = 8) included multifocal onsets, failing the Wada test, refusal of further treatment, and negative intraoperative electrocorticogram. There was 1 surgical complication, involving a retained electrode fragment that was removed in a separate minor procedure. Of the 26 patients, 15 (57.7%) are now seizure-free or have seizure disorders that have substantially improved (modified Engel classes I and II). Of the 17 patients who underwent a potentially curative surgery, 13 (76.5%) were Engel classes I and II. Conclusion Bilateral placement of subdural strip and depth electrodes for epilepsy monitoring in patients with nonlateralizing scalp EEG and/or discordant imaging studies but clinical suspicion for focal seizure origin is both safe and effective. Given the safety and efficacy of this procedure, epileptologists should have a low threshold to consider bilateral implants for suitable patients.
Alcohol-related legal infractions and student retention

Objective: The present study employed municipal alcohol-related arrest reports to determine if being arrested/cited reduced the probability of academic retention. Method: Alcohol-related legal infraction data implicating 1,310 college students was gathered during a 4-year period. First- through third-year students were identified in the database by cross-checking names in the campus directory. A random sample of nonarrested students functioned as the comparison group (n = 856). Students not appearing in the directory the following year were defined as nonretained students. Results: Retention was not affected by the experience of one alcohol-related legal infraction. Retention odds were 31% lower for students experiencing multiple arrests, however, than for nonarrested or single-arrested students. Gender moderated the association between arrest and retention, with women who had been arrested more likely to return to school than those who had not been arrested. Retention odds were higher for arrested/cited students if they were in their second or third year of college, a fraternity/sorority member, or charged with an offense other than driving under the influence. Conclusions: Multi-arrested college students are at risk for attrition. Immersion in college life may reduce the odds of attrition among arrested college students. Language: en
Polar bears, cactus, and natives: race, agrarian reform, and environmental determinism in Latin America (1920–1950)

Abstract Early twentieth-century environmentalism or environmental determinism, as it is more pejoratively known, has been widely denounced by critical human geographers on the grounds of its well-established role in imperialist dispossession and subordination. Recently, however, historical geographers have re-visited environmentalism in an effort to better understand its diverse and often contradictory deployments. This article examines environmentalist thought as a function of Latin American anti-imperialist reform movements in the first half of the twentieth century, arguing that progressive Latin American intellectuals emphasized constitutive links between race and place to support community claims to land and subsistence.
Confined plasma ablation for shock physics, plate launch, and material dynamics

Confined plasma ablation for shock physics, plate launch, and material dynamics has several unique advantages over direct-drive laser plasma that allows the freely expanding plasma away from the ablated surface, thus reducing energy coupling to the surface of the specimen. By confining the plasma with a laser-transparent, high-impedance window, energy coupling from the plasma to the specimen under test can be increased by several orders. However, for confined ablation, the laser power density and energy fluence must be kept below the break down threshold of the confining window material. Confined ablation to accelerate flyer plates decouples the laser parameters from the shock profile imparted in a target by the plasma-accelerated flyer plate.
Magnetic field sensing with magnetostrictive materials using a tunneling tip detector

Abstract This paper is a feasibility study for the design and construction of a magnetic field sensor using a tunneling tip as the detection system. In this experiment, a scanning tunneling microscope is used to measure dimensional changes of a short, thin amorphous FeBSi magnetostrictive ribbon exposed to d.c. and a.c. magnetic fields. A response of the system to a.c. magnetic fields was observed down to 0.020 G at a frequency of 1 Hz. The calculated sensitivity of the system can be near 10 −6 G if the vibrational stability of the device can be improved and if the demagnetizing field associated with short ribbons can be reduced. A mode of sensor operation involving the modulation of the tip-to-specimen separation is reported. Methods to improve the stability of the device are also discussed.
Oxidized omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil inhibit leukocyte-endothelial interactions through activation of PPARα

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are abundant in fish oil, improve the prognosis of several chronic inflammatory diseases although the mechanism for such effects remains unclear. These fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are highly polyunsaturated and readily undergo oxidation. We show that oxidized, but not native unoxidized, EPA significantly inhibited human neutrophil and monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in vitro by inhibiting endothelial adhesion receptor expression. In transcriptional coactivation assays, oxidized EPA potently activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), a member of the nuclear receptor family. In vivo, oxidized, but not native, EPA markedly reduced leukocyte rolling and adhesion to venular endothelium of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–treated mice. This occurred via a PPARα-dependent mechanism because oxidized EPA had no such effect in LPS-treated PPARα-deficient mice. Therefore, the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids may be explained by a PPARα-mediated anti-inflammatory effect of oxidized EPA.
Towards frequency-coded qdits manipulation using coherent four-wave mixing

We demonstrate that the process of coherent four-wave mixing can be used to frequency shift on-demand single photons into several frequency bins.
Image acquisition unit for the Mayo/IBM PACS project

The Mayo Clinic and IBM Rochester, Minnesota, have jointly developed a picture archiving, distribution and viewing system for use with Mayo's CT and MRI imaging modalities. Images are retrieved from the modalities and sent over the Mayo city-wide token ring network to optical storage subsystems for archiving, and to server subsystems for viewing on image review stations. Images may also be retrieved from archive and transmitted back to the modalities. The subsystems that interface to the modalities and communicate to the other components of the system are termed Image Acquisition Units (LAUs). The IAUs are IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) computers with specially developed software. They operate independently in a network of cooperative subsystems and communicate with the modalities, archive subsystems, image review server subsystems, and a central subsystem that maintains information about the content and location of images. This paper provides a detailed description of the function and design of the Image Acquisition Units.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Traction Forces During Cell Migration Predicted by the Multiphysics Model

Cells rely on traction forces in order to crawl across a substrate. These traction forces come from dynamic changes in focal adhesions, cytoskeletal structures, and chemical and mechanical signals from the extracellular matrix. Several computational models have been developed that help explain the trajectory or accumulation of cells during migration, but little attention has been placed on traction forces during this process. Here, we investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of traction forces by using a multiphysics model that describes the cycle of steps for a migrating cell on an array of posts. The migration cycle includes extension of the leading edge, formation of new adhesions at the front, contraction of the cytoskeleton, and the release of adhesions at the rear. In the model, an activation signal triggers the assembly of actin and myosin into a stress fiber, which generates a cytoskeletal tension in a manner similar to Hill’s muscle model. In addition, the role that adhesion dynamics has in regulating cytoskeletal tension has been added to the model. The multiphysics model was simulated in Matlab for 1-D simulations, and in Comsol for 2-D simulations. The model was able to predict the spatial distribution of traction forces observed with previous experiments in which large forces were seen at the leading and trailing edges. The large traction force at the trailing edge during the extension phase likely contributes to detachment of the focal adhesion by overcoming its adhesion strength with the post. Moreover, the model found that the mechanical work of a migrating cell underwent a cyclic relationship that rose with the formation of a new adhesion and fell with the release of an adhesion at its rear. We applied a third activation signal at the time of release and found it helped to maintain a more consistent level of work during migration. Therefore, the results from both our 1-D and 2-D migration simulations strongly suggest that cells use biochemical activation to supplement the loss in cytoskeletal tension upon adhesion release.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
OncomiR addiction in an in vivo model of microRNA-21-induced pre-B-cell lymphoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a recently discovered class of small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs have crucial functions in the development and establishment of cell identity, and aberrant metabolism or expression of miRNAs has been linked to human diseases, including cancer. Components of the miRNA machinery and miRNAs themselves are involved in many cellular processes that are altered in cancer, such as differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Some miRNAs, referred to as oncomiRs, show differential expression levels in cancer and are able to affect cellular transformation, carcinogenesis and metastasis, acting either as oncogenes or tumour suppressors. The phenomenon of 'oncogene addiction' reveals that despite the multistep nature of tumorigenesis, targeting of certain single oncogenes can have therapeutic value, and the possibility of oncomiR addiction has been proposed but never demonstrated. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is a unique miRNA in that it is overexpressed in most tumour types analysed so far. Despite great interest in miR-21, most of the data implicating it in cancer have been obtained through miRNA profiling and limited in vitro functional assays. To explore the role of miR-21 in cancer in vivo, we used Cre and Tet-off technologies to generate mice conditionally expressing miR-21. Here we show that overexpression of miR-21 leads to a pre-B malignant lymphoid-like phenotype, demonstrating that mir-21 is a genuine oncogene. When miR-21 was inactivated, the tumours regressed completely in a few days, partly as a result of apoptosis. These results demonstrate that tumours can become addicted to oncomiRs and support efforts to treat human cancers through pharmacological inactivation of miRNAs such as miR-21.
Promising trends in neuroscience.

Investigations ranging from tissue culture to animal communication are rapidly providing deeper insights into the mechanisms of brain and behaviour.
Clergy Who Experience Trauma as a Result of Forced Termination

Forced termination of clergy is a demeaning and psychologically distressing experience. Clergy who experience a forced termination are subjected to mobbing (psychological harassment) and other activities meant to publicly or privately demean a minister in such a way that they resign their ministry position. In a purposive convenience sample of 55 ministers who had been forcibly terminated, participants scored above the known cut-off score for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and scored high on a measure of burnout and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Forced termination has been anecdotally connected to PTSD and GAD, this project sought to empirically link PTSD and GAD to the forced termination of clergy. This study raises concern for the long-term mental health effects of ministers who have been forcibly terminated and provides implications for future clinical study on this group of clergy. Findings in this research indicate there may be a process to forced termination, which could be developed into a theory on forced termination of clergy.
Patterns of Population Differentiation in Early Traits of Development in Elymus glaucus: Implications for Restoration

Restoration of native plant communities is a foundational practice in restoration ecology, but land managers and biologists don’t often take into account the role of intraspecific variation in establishment of restoration seedings. Although ecologists have known for decades that lack of adaptation to local conditions may interfere with the success of ecological restoration, there is little information about the extent to which species demonstrate adaptive divergence among populations. If adaptive divergence occurs for early establishment, knowing which populations have better germination and early growth can maximize restoration performance. Restoration of California grassland requires species establishment in both riparian and upland habitats. To what degree does local adaptation to these habitats influence early growth traits? In this study, we compared time to germination and early growth rate of riparian, upland, and commercial seed sources of blue wild rye ( Elymus glaucus ) under contrasting water regimes in a controlled environment. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) plants grown from commercial seeds will outperform plants grown from locally-collected seeds under controlled conditions; and 2) plants will demonstrate local adaptation by high performance of riparian sources under high water treatments and high performance of upland sources under low water treatments. We saw no evidence of local adaptation but did observe population differentiation. Time to germination was significantly shorter for upland seeds. In addition, the rate of shoot growth for upland plants was significantly higher than riparian or commercial plants. Understanding if sourcing from similar microhabitats is more important than sourcing from nearby populations will allow us to develop more successful restoration seedings.
Sequestered Water and Binding Energy are Coupled in Complexes of λ Cro Repressor with Non-consensus Binding Sequences

Abstract We use the osmotic pressure dependence of dissociation rates and relative binding constants to infer differences in sequestered water among complexes of λ Cro repressor with varied DNA recognition sequences. For over a 1000-fold change in association constant, the number of water molecules sequestered by non-cognate complexes varies linearly with binding free energy. One extra bound water molecule is coupled with the loss of ∼ 150 cal/mol complex in binding free energy. Equivalently, every tenfold decrease in binding constant at constant salt and temperature is associated with eight to nine additional water molecules sequestered in the non-cognate complex. The relative insensitivity of the difference in water molecules to the nature of the osmolyte used to probe the reaction suggests that the water is sterically sequestered. If the previously measured changes in heat capacity for λ Cro binding to different non-cognate sequences are attributed solely to this change in water, then the heat capacity change per incorporated water is almost the same as the difference between ice and water. The associated changes in enthalpies and entropies, however, indicate that the change in complex structure involves more than a simple incorporation of fixed water molecules that act as adaptors between non-complementary surfaces.
The orthoenstatite to clinoenstatite transformation by shearing and reversion by annealing: Mechanism and potential applications

Clinoenstatite (CE) was produced by deforming single-crystal specimens of ortho-enstatite (OE) in several different sorta of experiments. Examination with light and trans-mission electron microscopes shows that the transformation is coherent and involves a macroscopic shear on (100) [001] through an angle of 12.8±1.3 °, in good agreement with the theoretically expected value of 13.3 °, and that the transformation is accomplished by glide on (100) of partial dislocations with b= 0.83[001]. Structural analysis provides further insight into the transformation mechanism. Reversion occurs in specimens annealed under a variety of conditions, and thin lamellae of CE in unconstrained, low-strain specimens recover their original shape during transformation back to OE. Our experiments and thermodynamic estimates both suggest that the equilibrium transition temperature is raised roughly 300 ° C per kilobar of shear stress on (100) [001]. This provides the basis of a method by which it may be possible to determine the magnitude as well as the orientation of the principal stresses that produce CE in nature during deformation of enstatite-bearing rocks.
Genetic variants associated with optic nerve vertical cup-to-disc ratio are risk factors for primary open angle glaucoma in a US Caucasian population.

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), which affects 2% of Caucasians and up to 12% of persons of African race older than 60, is a leading cause of blindness worldwide.1,2 Patients affected by POAG have a range of phenotypes, from ocular hypertension and minimal optic nerve disease to significant optic nerve deterioration in the setting of normal IOP. A family history of glaucoma is a major risk factor for POAG, and genetic risk factors are likely to contribute to both elevated IOP and optic nerve/retinal ganglion cell degeneration.3 Although POAG has a significant overall heritability,4 the genetic contributions to the disorder are complex and involve multiple genetic factors susceptible to the influence of environmental exposures.5,6 Complex disorders, such as POAG, may include highly heritable quantitative traits as part of the overall phenotype. Mapping genes that influence the related quantitative trait (often also called endophenotypes) rather than the complete complex phenotype has several important advantages, including objective definitions of the phenotype, identification of genes that are important risk factors for the disease, and possible reduction in the underlying molecular heterogeneity. Several ocular quantitative traits with high heritability including IOP, central corneal thickness (CCT), and size and configuration of the optic nerve, are attributes that are structural features related to POAG. Given the complexity of the disease process, the genes associated with these features are reasonable candidates for POAG. Recently there has been considerable interest in genetic factors influencing optic nerve area and vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR). Larger optic nerves may be more susceptible to damage related to IOP,7,8 and persons with larger VCDR may be more likely to have progressive enlargement of the cup.9,10 Heritability of the optic disc area and of the VCDR is estimated to be approximately 52% to 59% and 48% to 80%, respectively.11–14 Using quantitative analytical approaches, two recent genomewide studies have identified an association between a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) near the ATOH7 gene (rs1900004) and the optic disc area (Rotterdam study,15 Australia study16). The Rotterdam study also identified several genomic regions showing association with VCDR.15 SNPs located in the two regions with the best evidence for association with VCDR (rs10483727 near the SIX1/SIX6 gene complex on 14q22–23; rs1063192 within the CDKN2B gene on 9p21) were also marginally associated with POAG in a sample of 188 cases (P = 0.017 for rs1063192; P = 0.021 for rs10483727). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between POAG and these SNPs influencing the optic nerve parameters of optic nerve size and VCDR in a US Caucasian case-control sample.
Some aspects of a three-zone model of machining

Abstract Although significant advances have been made in continuous chip theory, many problems exist. A major discrepancy is that materials require more energy to cut than two-zone models predict. Recent experimental work has shown the existence of an additional zone of deformation and fracture associated with the tool major cutting axis and has led to a fundamental modification of the model of continuous chip formation. In this paper the new model of machining is proposed, the material factors comprising it are discussed and an attempt made to account qualitatively for the energy of machining.
Evidence for a causal role of CD38 expression in granulocytic differentiation of human HL-60 cells

Granulocytic differentiation of human HL-60 cells can be induced by retinoic acid and is accompanied by a massive expression of CD38, a multi-functional enzyme responsible for metabolizing cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a Ca(2+) messenger. Immunofluorescence staining showed that CD38 was expressed not only on the surface of intact HL-60 cells but also intracellularly, which was revealed after permeabilization with Triton. Concomitant with CD38 expression was the accumulation of cADPR, and both time courses preceded the onset of differentiation, suggesting a causal role for CD38. Consistently, treatment of HL-60 cells with a permeant inhibitor of CD38, nicotinamide, inhibited both the CD38 activity and differentiation. More specific blockage of CD38 expression was achieved by using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides targeting its mRNA, which produced a corresponding inhibition of differentiation as well. Similar inhibitory effects were observed when CD38 expression was reduced by the RNA interference technique targeting two separate regions of the coding sequence of CD38. Further support came from transfecting HL-60 cells with a Tet-On expression vector containing a full-length CD38. Subsequent treatments with doxycycline induced both CD38 expression and differentiation in the absence of retinoic acid. These results provide the first evidence that CD38 expression and the consequential accumulation of cADPR play a causal role in mediating cellular differentiation.
Near-continuous measurement of hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide by an automatic gas chromatograph

Abstract An automatic gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector that samples and analyzes hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide at 30-s intervals is described. Temperature programming was used to elute trace amounts of carbon disulfide present in each injection from a Supelpak-S column in a single peak at the end of 15-min runs. The system was used to study the high-temperature fuel-rich sulfur capture reactions of hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide with injected calcium oxide sorbent, necessitating the nearly continuous measurement of these gaseous sulfur species. The hydrogen sulfide concentration ranged from 300 ppm to 3000 ppm and the carbonyl sulfide from 30 ppm to 300 ppm. The system was also used to monitor sulfur dioxide levels under fuel lean conditions, and the results compared very closely with sulfur dioxide measurements made simultaneously with continuous UV sulfur dioxide instrumentation.
Bio-inspired tunable disorder in a 3D photonic crystal via highly controlled partial wetting and drying

We use highly controlled partial wetting in chemically encoded 3D photonic crystals to study tunable disorder in structurally colored systems. Our experimental and FDTD analyses also guide our design of a colorimetric indicator for organic liquids.
Hybrid Stochastic Finite Elements and Generalized Monte Carlo Simulation

A procedure is developed to integrate analytical solutions to problems featuring random media with Monte Carlo simulations in order to improve the efficiency of the simulations. This is achieved by developing a common theoretical framework that encompasses Monte Carlo procedures as well as various expansion solution techniques. This framework can be perceived as a natural extension of hybrid deterministic finite element procedures whereby refinement is achieved by simultaneously increasing the number of elements as well as the degree of interpolation within each element.
New Lower Bounds for the Ihara Function A(q) for Small Primes

Abstract The Ihara function, A ( q ) , is an asymptotic measure comparing the number of rational places of a global function field with its genus. In this paper, we improve the best known lower bounds for A ( 7 ) and A ( 11 ) and match the best known lower bound for A ( 13 ) .
Murine bone marrow culture system for cytogenetic analysis.

Abstract A mouse bone marrow culture system for examining genotoxicity of agents by first exposing animals in vivo then growing cells in vitro is presented. This assay can also be used for in vitro and/ or for the in vivo and in vitro comparative cytogenetic studies. The protocol involves culturing of approximately 1 000 000 nucleated cells obtained from mice tibia and femora in 5 ml of Ham's F-12 medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum, 10% whole uterus extract from pregnant mice and 1% penicillin-streptomycin. The use of flasks and mouse uterus extract for culturing are important steps for higher mitotic yield. The addition of 20 μ M BrdU for 24 h helps in the differentiation of sister chromatids for sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis. Cyclophosphamide, given to mice through intraperitoneal injection induced significant dose-related SCEs in culture. Trinitrofluorenone, a direct-acting mutagen, caused dose-related SCEs in in vitro bone marrow cell culture.
Consideration of future consequences, ego-depletion, and self-control: Support for distinguishing between CFC-Immediate and CFC-Future sub-scales

We examine how individual differences in the consideration of future consequences (Strathman et al., 1994) impact trait self-control, and temporal discounting under conditions of ego-depletion. Study 1 (N = 986) reveals that the CFC scale contains two underlying factors, which can be labeled the CFC-Immediate (CFC-I) and CFC-Future (CFC-F) sub-scales. Supporting the distinction between the two sub-scales, Study 2 (N = 147) shows that lower levels of trait self-control are best predicted by higher levels of CFC-I (not CFC-F), while Study 3 (N = 104) reveals that ego-depletion leads to more temporal discounting only among those high in CFC-I. Future use of the two sub-scales is encouraged.
Evaluation of Two Prevalent EPON Networks Using Simulation Methods

Passive optical networks (PON) promise to open the last mile bottleneck in next generation access networks, permitting the transport of higher data rates than conventional copper and copper-fiber hybrid technologies. As a result, several PONs architectures have been proposed and among those, the two prevalent architectures are: one based on time division multiplexing with a single wavelength optical channel on each direction, and the other based on multiple optical channels using wavelength division multiplexing technology. This paper provides a critical and comprehensive comparison between the two. Through the use of simulation we will highlight their differences in terms of scalability, performance and access distance.
Commentary: From the Mother's Point of View

Abstract A person-centered ethnography of mothering begins with the mother's point of view, reconstructed in terms of its utilitarian and semiotic components, and proceeds to the child's point of view, which is more difficult to detect. The child's culture-specific precocious behavior can provide indications of earlier experience. Other methodological and interpretive problems are briefly discussed in terms of the articles in the issue: discontinuities in socialization, questions of internalization, and the emotional mutuality of mother and child. [mothering, parenting, childhood, socialization, emotions, ethnographic methods]
Developing a theory-based taxonomy of methods for implementing change in practice.

Title. Developing a theory-based taxonomy of methods for implementing change in practice Aim. In this paper we present a theory-based taxonomy of the methods used to implement change in practice. Background. Implementation research is characterized by inconsistent terminology for the methods employed and inattention to differences in the relevance of methods across different disciplines. Studies of the effectiveness of implementation have yielded mixed results. Positive effects shown have been small. The limited success of many efforts to implement change in practice may be due, in part, to the absence of a framework to guide the use of implementation methods. Method. A provisional taxonomy of implementation methods, derived from theory and existing taxonomies, was used to content analyse a convenience sample of 43 reports of empirical studies of the implementation of one or more research-based practice changes involving nurses that had been published between 1995 and 2005. This taxonomy was revised throughout the course of analysis to capture more completely the information in each report. Findings. Following the analysis, nine of the 11 methods in the provisional taxonomy were retained, two were removed and five new methods were identified. The final taxonomy includes 14 implementation methods organized into five categories: (a) increasing coordination; (b) raising awareness; (c) persuasion via interpersonal channels; (d) persuasion via reinforcing belief that behaviour will lead to desirable results and (e) increasing behavioural control. Conclusions. The taxonomy presented here differs from prior taxonomies by focusing on nursing and by providing a clear and mutually exclusive guide to implementation methods. By deriving the initial coding strategy from theory, the taxonomy links the methods to theoretical constructs that may inform the selection of methods across different practice changes and settings.
MR Imaging of Renal Masses: Correlation with Findings at Surgery and Pathologic Analysis

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is useful in the characterization of renal masses. The MR imaging manifestations and pathologic diagnoses of 82 renal masses were reviewed and correlated. The MR imaging appearance of clear cell type renal cell carcinoma varies depending on the presence of cystic components, hemorrhage, and necrosis. Papillary renal cell carcinomas appear as well-encapsulated masses with homogeneous low signal intensity on T2-weighted images and homogeneous low-level enhancement after the intravenous administration of contrast material, or as cystic hemorrhagic masses with peripheral enhancing papillary projections. Transitional cell carcinoma may be seen as an irregular, enhancing filling defect in the pelvicaliceal system or ureter. Lymphomatous masses are usually hypointense relative to the renal cortex on T2-weighted images and enhance minimally on delayed gadolinium-enhanced images. Bulk fat is a distinguishing feature of angiomyolipoma. Oncocytoma has a variable and nonspecific appearance at MR imaging. MR imaging findings may allow the characterization of various renal masses and can provide valuable information for their clinical management.
Loading, pretreatment, and interindividual variability issues with clopidogrel dosing.

Clopidogrel, a thienopyridine, decreases adenosine diphosphate (ADP)–induced platelet aggregation. Clopidogrel is an inactive prodrug that requires in vivo conversion in the liver by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 enzyme system to an active metabolite that exerts its antiplatelet effect by noncompetitive inhibition of the platelet ADP receptor subtype P2Y12.1 The 75-mg once-daily dose was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 1997 after the Clopidogrel versus Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischemic Events (CAPRIE) trial2 showed superior reduction of adverse cardiovascular events with clopidogrel versus aspirin. The 75-mg once-daily dose had been used in CAPRIE because it produced inhibition of platelet aggregation equivalent to that produced by ticlopidine 250 mg administered twice daily. FDA approval for the 300-mg loading dose in patients with acute coronary syndromes was granted in February 2002 after the Clopidogrel in Unstable angina to prevent Recurrent Events (CURE) trial3 demonstrated a reduction of adverse cardiovascular events with dual antiplatelet therapy versus aspirin. Clopidogrel is not approved by the FDA for adjunctive antiplatelet therapy in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), although it has become the standard of care. It is curious that investigations into the optimal loading and maintenance doses of clopidogrel have been pursued only recently. See p 2560 In this issue of Circulation , Hochholzer et al4 performed optical platelet aggregometry and flow cytometry before and after a 600-mg oral dose of clopidogrel in 1001 potential PCI candidates undergoing cardiac catheterization. The findings are consistent with previous observations from small studies with regard to the 600-mg clopidogrel loading dose: Maximal inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation was achieved ≈2 hours after ingestion,5 interindividual variability of platelet response was considerable,6 and there was no significant effect of concomitant statin therapy on platelet inhibition.7,8 Although …
Image intersification applied to biological problems

In many important types of observations in biological research, the information provided by the specimens is in the form of photons-quanta of visible light, u.v., or X-rays. The process of observation becomes one of recording this information in useful form, with as high an efficiency as possible. The problem becomes particularly important when for some reason or other the total number or rate of quanta provided by the specimen is small. Examples of such limitations are included in the following: (i) Processes permitting only low-intensity illumination in order not to interfere with the biological processes under observation. (ii) Processes changing very rapidly and requiring rapid sequence recording. (iii) Processes providing only a limited number of photons per event, such as bioluminescence. (iv) Processes in which radioactive tracers are utilized, and observation of radioactivity is desirable at low specific activity or within short time intervals. (v) X-ray diffraction processes where the specimen is weakly diffracting or where the X-ray intensity must be kept low in order not to damage the specimen. (vi) Processes involving the observation of fluorescence, where the intensity is low because of limitations on the amount of tagging material.
Large-microstrip-step-discontinuity model useful to 10 GHz

The effect of field fringing at microstrip impedance steps is shown to be representable by a Section of lossy microstrip transmission line. The experimental solution for the step-model parameters is described. Specific results are presented for much used 0-0635 cm-thick alumina substrates.
Microtribological properties of hard amorphous carbon protective coatings for thin-film magnetic disks and heads

AbstractFor long durability of magnetic media and head sliders, protective overcoats of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) are generally used. In this study, microtribological studies of hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings deposited on a single-crystal silicon using three different deposition techniques—sputtering, ion beam and cathodic arc—were studied using atomic force/friction force microscopy (AFM/FFM). Roughnesses of all coatings at two scan sizes of 1 μm × 1 μm and 10 μm × 10 μm are comparable. Surface topography of sputtered carbon coating shows some particulates on the surface. Cathodic arc carbon coating exhibits the lowest coefficient of friction value followed by ion beam and sputtered carbon coatings. Microscratch and wear resistance and nanohardness of cathodic arc carbon coating are superior to those of ion beam and sputtered carbon coatings. Cathodic arc deposited carbon coatings are potential candidates for magnetic disks and heads.
Animal models for the study of maturity-onset and hereditary cataract

The increasing use of animal models in the study of cataract has been one of the most important trends in lens research over the last two decades. The number of animal models available for both hereditary congenital cataracts and for maturity-onset cataracts has grown substantially during this time. Analysis of some of these systems by biochemical and molecular biology techniques has resulted in significant and often surprising insights into the basic biology of the lens, as well as the process of cataractogenesis. The following is a brief overview of those animal models for which biochemical studies have been reported.
The Regulation of Environmental Space

The need to regulate environmental problems is of ever-increasing urgency. Yet the complexity of environmental dynamics challenges any regulatory scheme. We use this essay to describe and assess some of these challenges. We deploy the terms scope and scale as analytic tools in this effort. We define and elaborate on these terms and then use them to analyze three especially critical dilemmas in environmental regulation: the fit between environmental dynamics and legal categories, the relationship between legal and nonlegal dynamics in structuring human impacts on the environment, and the relationship between environmental law and environmental justice.
Comparing net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide between an old-growth and mature forest in the upper Midwest, USA

Abstract Old-growth forests are often assumed to exhibit no net carbon assimilation over time periods of several years. This generalization has not been typically supported by the few whole-ecosystem, stand-scale eddy-covariance measurements of carbon dioxide exchange in old-growth forests. An eddy-flux tower installed in a >300-year-old hemlock–hardwood forest near the Sylvania Wilderness, Ottawa National Forest, MI, USA, observed a small annual carbon sink of CO 2 of −72 ± 36 g C m −2 year −1 in 2002 and −147 ± 42 g C m −2 year −1 in 2003. This carbon sink was much smaller than carbon sinks of −438 ± 49 g C m −2 year −1 in 2002 and −490 ± 48 g C m −2 year −1 in 2003 observed by a nearby flux tower in a 70-year-old mature hardwood forest (Willow Creek, WI). The mature forest had vegetation similar to the old-growth site prior to European settlement. Both sites had slightly larger carbon sinks in 2003, which was a drier and cooler year than 2002. However, the difference in sink strength between the two years was smaller than the uncertainty in the results arising from missing and screened data. Both sites also had significant systematic errors due to non-representative fluxes during certain micrometeorological conditions, which required careful screening. The difference in sink strength between the two sites was driven mainly by greater ER at the old-growth site (965 ± 35 g C m −2 year −1 in 2002 and 883 ± 69 g C m −2 year −1 in 2003) compared to the mature site (668 ± 21 g C m −2 year −1 in 2002 and 703 ± 17 g C m −2 year −1 in 2003). GEP was lower at the old-growth site (1037 ± 47 g C m −2 year −1 in 2002 and 1030 ± 41 g C m −2 year −1 in 2003) compared to the mature site (1106 ± 47 g C m −2 year −1 in 2002 and 1192 ± 51 g C m −2 year −1 in 2003), especially in 2003. Observations also suggested that growing season ER had greater interannual variability at the old-growth site. These results imply that old-growth forests in the region may be carbon sinks, though these sinks are smaller than mature forests, mostly likely due to greater ER.
Oestrogen alters adipocyte biology and protects female mice from adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance.

Aims: Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, liver steatosis and low-grade inflammation. The role of oestrogen in sex differences in the above co-morbidities is not fully understood. Our aim was to assess the role oestrogen has in modulating adipocyte size, adipose tissue oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance and liver steatosis. Methods: To determine the role oestrogen has in the above co-morbidities related to obesity, we randomized C57BL/6J mice into four groups (15 mice per group): (i) male, (ii) non-ovariectomized female (novx), (iii) ovariectomized female (ovx) and (iv) ovariectomized female mice supplemented with 17β estradiol (ovx-E). Mice received either a low-fat (LF) or a high-fat (HF) diet for 10 weeks. Outcomes measured were bodyweight, body fat, adipocyte diameter, adipose tissue lipolysis markers, adipose tissue oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance and liver steatosis. Results: Male and ovx-female mice consuming the HF diet had a higher propensity of gaining weight, specifically in the form of body fat. Oestrogen protected female mice from adipocyte hypertrophy and from developing adipose tissue oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, novx-female and ovx-female+E mice had higher phosphorylated levels of protein kinase A and hormone sensitive lipase, markers associated with lipolysis. Additionally, male and ovx female mice had a higher propensity of developing liver steatosis and insulin resistance. In contrast, oestrogen protected female mice from developing liver steatosis and from becoming insulin resistant. Conclusion: We show that oestrogen protects female mice from adipocyte hypertrophy and adipose tissue oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, oestrogen prevented female mice from developing liver steatosis and from becoming insulin resistant.
Effective Use of Herbal Medicine in Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTI), acute and chronic, can be effectively treated with herbal medicine. Two strategies are essential in utilizing herbal medicine. The choice of herbs, through their herbal actions, along with appropriate therapeutic dosing strategies, will determine the effectiveness of herbal treatment and prevent the need to intervene with antibiotics. This paper will discuss urinary tract infections and botanical therapeutics through a case-study presentation.
G99(P) Respiratory support for infants with bronchiolitis in a High Dependency Unit of a UK children’s hospital

Aims Results from observational studies in infants with severe bronchiolitis suggest that nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) and High Flow Nasal Cannulae Oxygen (HFNC) may improve physiological parameters and reduce respiratory distress. We aimed to examine trends in the use of headbox oxygen, CPAP and HFNC, in infants with bronchiolitis, admitted to our regional children’s hospital High Dependency Unit (HDU). Method We retrospectively reviewed electronic case records of infants aged less than one year, with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis admitted to HDU between 2003 and 2013. We collected data on: age of admission, RSV-status, first modality of respiratory support used, whether the infant was transferred to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and length of HDU stay. In our hospital, CPAP and HFNC are only used on HDU or PICU. We excluded infants who were already in-patients with other problems and those transferred to HDU from other hospitals or after ventilation on PICU. Results Over the 10 consecutive seasons, 138 eligible infants with bronchiolitis were admitted to HDU, median age 1.5 [IQR 1,3] months; RSV was isolated in 112/138 (81%). 18/138 (13%) required subsequent admission to PICU. Trends in the use of headbox oxygen, nCPAP, HFNC, and admission rates from HDU to PICU, are shown in Figure 1. Median length of stay on HDU increased from two to four days (see Figure 1). Conclusion We observed a change in the initial modality used to support infants with severe bronchiolitis on HDU from headbox oxygen, to nCPAP and HFNC. During the study period there was an initial increase in admission rates to PICU which reversed after 2006. The use of nCPAP and HFNC seemed to increase the length of stay on HDU, and we are developing decision aids to help wean infants from these therapies appropriately. Our study, which covers a longer timeframe and includes more infants than other UK studies, supports the use of CPAP and HFNC, for infants with severe bronchiolitis in a HDU setting.
CHILD: a first step toward continual learning

Continual learning is the constant development of increasingly complex behaviors; the process of building more complicated skills on top of those already developed. A continual-learning agent should therefore learn incrementally and hierarchically. This paper describes CHILD, an agent capable of Continual, Hierarchical, Incremental Learning and Development. CHILD can quickly solve complicated non-Markovian reinforcement-learning tasks and can then transfer its skills to similar but even more complicated tasks, learning these faster still.
Fixed Dosing versus Body‐Size‐Based Dosing for Therapeutic Biologics—A Clinical Pharmacology Strategy

This chapter focuses on the dosing strategies for therapeutic biologics in human adult populations, and it is acknowledged that the strategies for the dosing of pediatric populations may be different. The aim of any dosing strategy for a therapeutic agent is to optimize the overall clinical performance within an intended indication by maximizing the efficacious effect while minimizing the adverse events within the target patient population. The performance of body-size-based dosing and fixed-dosing approaches have been evaluated for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and therapeutic peptides/proteins, in terms of their population and individual performances in reducing intersubject pharmacokinetic (PK) and/or pharmacodynamic (PD) variability in adult patients. The results of these simulation studies have demonstrated that in contrast to conventional assumption, body-size-based dosing did not always result in less intersubject variability in drug exposure and PD measurements when compared to fixed-dosing approaches. Keywords: body-size-based dosing; fixed-dosing approaches; monoclonal antibodies; pharmacodynamic variability; pharmacokinetic variability; therapeutic biologics