cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seeing the forest for the trees: a qualitative synthesis project.

Although qualitative studies are increasing in the discipline of nursing, their clinical application and knowledge development will be impeded unless the rich understandings revealed in these individual studies can be synthesized. Meta-synthesis is an invaluable method for accumulating knowledge from individual qualitative studies. This article describes a project focusing on qualitative synthesis that the author required her nursing students in a graduate-level research course to complete. In addition, qualitative meta-synthesis is defined, and its benefits are discussed. Then, Noblit and Hare's approach for synthesizing qualitative studies is described. The remainder of the article is devoted to explaining the actual course project and students' evaluation of the project. The benefits of having graduate students conduct a meta-synthesis are many, and as one student shared, "It was a wonderful, very interesting, and challenging way to teach us."
Synthesis of a gallium-functionalized polyoxovanadate-alkoxide cluster: Toward a general route for heterometal installation

Abstract Incorporating transition metal ions into Lindqvist polyoxovanadate-alkoxide (POV-alkoxide) clusters has been shown to be an effective method for tuning the electronic properties of these molecular assemblies. Herein, we report the synthesis of a gallium-functionalized POV-alkoxide cluster, extending the family of heterometal-functionalized clusters to a metalloid ion. Complex [V5O6(OCH3)12GaCl] was characterized by infrared and electronic absorption spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry, revealing the retention of the extensive delocalization upon installation of the 3d10 ion. The new reaction conditions developed for [V5O6(OCH3)12GaCl] were shown to successfully generate the iron analogue, [V5O6(OCH3)12FeCl], from a ferric salt precursor. However, attempts at installing other group 13 ions, e.g. InIII, instead produced the cyclic hexavanadate cluster, [Bu4N][V6O6(OCH3)12Cl].
Chapter 14 – Osteocyte Biology

Osteocytes are defined as cells embedded within the bone matrix. As it is difficult to extract these cells from bone, the biology of these cells was largely ignored for decades. Once tools became available to study these cells, surprising functions have been identified. These functions include regulation of skeletal homeostasis, mechanosensation and mechanotransduction, and as endocrine cells secreting factors that can target distant organs, such as kidney and muscle. It has recently emerged that mutations in osteocyte biomarkers coding for hormones and factors are responsible for a number of bone conditions and diseases. As the osteocyte is the longest-lived bone cell, it should be considered a memory cell that can undergo senescence with aging. Clearly bone health is dependent on the function and health of the osteocyte.
Programmed cell death in Parkinson's disease

Publisher Summary Programmed cell death (PCD) is a form of death in which genetic programs intrinsic to the cell bring about its demise through orderly molecular pathways. Necrotic cell death is characterized morphologically by the disruption of cellular and nuclear membranes and intracellular organelles. There are three principal pathways by which the molecular events of PCD can be initiated: the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The extrinsic pathway of cell death has an important role in killing lymphocytes, cancerous cells, and virus-infected cells. Examples include the binding of Fas ligand (FasL or CD95L) to the Fas (or CD95) receptor and the binding of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to the TNF receptor (TNF-R1). These death receptors all contain cytoplasmic death domains (DD). Following ligand binding, these intracellular DDs interact with homologous DDs on adapter proteins, which also contain death effector domains (DED). Astrocytes and microglia are important sources of cytokines which activate the extrinsic pathway of cell death, such as TNF-α.
H2O2‐induced Microvessel Barrier Dysfunction: The Interplay Between Reactive Oxygen Species, Nitric Oxide, and Peroxynitrite

Elevated H2 O2 is implicated in many cardiovascular diseases. We previously demonstrated that H2 O2 -induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation and excessive NO production contribute to vascular cell injury and increases in microvessel permeability. However, the mechanisms of excessive NO-mediated vascular injury and hyperpermeability remain unknown. This study aims to examine the functional role of NO-derived peroxynitrite (ONOO- ) in H2 O2 -induced vascular barrier dysfunction by elucidating the interrelationships between H2 O2 -induced NO, superoxide, ONOO- , and changes in endothelial [Ca2+ ]i and microvessel permeability. Experiments were conducted on intact rat mesenteric venules. Microvessel permeability was determined by measuring hydraulic conductivity (Lp). Endothelial [Ca2+ ]i , NO, and O2 - were assessed with fluorescence imaging. Perfusion of vessels with H2 O2 (10 µmol/L) induced marked productions of NO and O2 - , resulting in extensive protein tyrosine nitration, a biomarker of ONOO- . The formation of ONOO- was abolished by inhibition of NOS with NG -Methyl-L-arginine. Blocking NO production or scavenging ONOO- by uric acid prevented H2 O2 -induced increases in endothelial [Ca2+ ]i and Lp. Additionally, the application of exogenous ONOO- to microvessels induced delayed and progressive increases in endothelial [Ca2+ ]i and microvessel Lp, a pattern similar to that observed in H2 O2 -perfused vessels. Importantly, ONOO- caused further activation of eNOS with amplified NO production. We conclude that the augmentation of NO-derived ONOO- is essential for H2 O2 -induced endothelial Ca2+ overload and progressively increased microvessel permeability, which is achieved by self-promoted amplifications of NO-dependent signaling cascades. This novel mechanism provides new insight into the reactive oxygen and/or reactive nitrogen species-mediated vascular dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases.
Treatment strategies for glioblastoma in older patients: age is just a number.

Optimal care for elderly patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains in question due to their exclusion from and underrepresentation in many clinical trials (including EORTC 22,981) as well as their historically poor overall survival. A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single high-volume cancer center for newly diagnosed elderly (65 years old or older) GBM patients diagnosed from 2011 through 2017. A total of 158 newly diagnosed GBM patients aged 65 years and older were identified. One hundred forty-four patients (91.1%) received radiotherapy (RT) and 130 patients (90.3%) received concurrent temozolomide with RT. Sixty-one patients (38.6%) completed concurrent chemoradiation and 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide. 23% of patients discontinued temozolomide during concurrent or adjuvant treatment due to side effects or complications of chemotherapy. With a median follow-up time of 35.0 months, median overall survival (OS) time for the full cohort was 18.6 months, with estimated OS rates of 74.8%, 35.9%, and 9.5% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. On multivariable analysis, higher KPS (p = 0.002, HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.63–0.82), completing planned RT course (p = 0.01, HR 0.29; 95% CI 0.11–0.75), and completing 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide (p = 0.01, HR 2.62; 95% CI 1.67–4.12) were independently associated with improved OS. Our cohort of elderly GBM patients was predominantly treated with standard of care therapy based on EORTC 22,981. Despite their age, these patients generally tolerated treatment well and had favorable outcomes compared to those reported for patients treated on EORTC 22,981. Based on these findings, using advanced age as the basis for treatment de-escalation or as an exclusionary criterion in clinical trials should be discouraged.
When the Only Easy Day Was Yesterday: Joshua, the General

The hustle culture of twenty-first-century entrepreneurial leadership does not always value patience, suffering, and followership. There are valuable lessons one can learn during the developmental phase of leadership. Hidden within the narrative of Joshua one finds that “following well” may develop the resilience one needs to lead under pressure. This chapter explores the lessons Joshua learned from Moses as he transitioned from follower to leader. It then connects those lessons with the strategic decision-making that Joshua made while under intense organizational and environmental stress.
Nucleocytoplasmic transport of intrinsically disordered proteins studied by high‐speed super‐resolution microscopy

Both natively folded and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) destined for the nucleus need to transport through the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in eukaryotic cells. NPCs allow for passive diffusion of small folded proteins while barricading large ones, unless they are facilitated by nuclear transport receptors. However, whether nucleocytoplasmic transport of IDPs would follow these rules remains unknown. By using a high-speed super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we have measured transport kinetics and 3D spatial locations of transport routes through native NPCs for various IDPs. Our data revealed that the rules executed for folded proteins are not well followed by the IDPs. Instead, both large and small IDPs can passively diffuse through the NPCs. Furthermore, their diffusion efficiencies and routes are differentiated by their content ratio of charged (Ch) and hydrophobic (Hy) amino acids. A Ch/Hy-ratio mechanism was finally suggested for nucleocytoplasmic transport of IDPs.
Effects of Cr on the properties of multicomponent cobalt-based superalloys with ultra high γ’ volume fraction

Abstract Chromium is known to confer oxidation resistance on Co-based superalloys. Herein we studied the influence of Cr concentration on the properties of a Co-based superalloy, Co–30Ni–11Al–2Ti-5.5W-2.5Ta-0.1B (at.%), with high γ ’ -volume fractions (up to 98%). Additions of 4, 8, or 12 at.% Cr decreased the γ ’ -solvus temperature and the γ ’ -volume fraction, while also reducing the mean radius of γ ’ -particles. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and atom-probe tomography confirmed that Cr reduces the lattice parameter misfit by altering the partitioning behavior of W between the γ- and γ ’ -phases. Concomitantly, an increase in Cr content significantly improved the oxidation resistance of the alloy. The results indicate that 4 at.% Cr is sufficient to decrease the oxidation rate by two orders of magnitude. A creep study at 850 ∘C revealed that Cr does not affect adversely the creep performance in high γ ’ -volume fraction Co-based superalloys, but the tendency toward γ ’ rafting changes with Cr concentration. Compared to Ni3Al intermetallic compounds, the alloys with high γ ’ -volume fraction studied exhibited a significantly higher creep resistance. This may be attributed to the increase in antiphase boundary energy caused by the addition of Cr, Ti, or Ta, and significant solid-solution hardening in the Co-based intermetallic γ ’ -phase.
Collaborative or Simply Uncaged? Understanding Human-Cobot Interactions in Automation

Collaborative robots, or cobots, represent a breakthrough technology designed for high-level (e.g. collaborative) interactions between workers and robots with capabilities for flexible deployment in industries such as manufacturing. Understanding how workers and companies use and integrate cobots is important to inform the future design of cobot systems and educational technologies that facilitate effective worker-cobot interaction. Yet, little is known about typical training for collaboration and the application of cobots in manufacturing. To close this gap, we interviewed nine experts in manufacturing about their experience with cobots. Our thematic analysis revealed that, contrary to the envisioned use, experts described most cobot applications as only low-level (e.g. pressing start/stop buttons) interactions with little flexible deployment, and experts felt traditional robotics skills were needed for collaborative and flexible interaction with cobots. We conclude with design recommendations for improved future robots, including programming and interface designs, and educational technologies to support collaborative use.
A Case Report of Nicolau Syndrome After Aesthetic Breast Surgery: A Review of the Literature and Introduction to a New Treatment Modality

Nicolau syndrome (NS) is a rare iatrogenic syndrome usually following intramuscular (IM) injection of various described medications. The typical presentation involves immediate injection site pain and development of a livedoid reticular patch, which can progress to muscle necrosis requiring surgical debridement. The pathophysiology is unclear, although vasoconstrictive etiologies have been implicated. Treatment ranges from supportive care to surgical debridement. The authors present a case report of this syndrome as well as a review of the literature and introduction to a new treatment modality. NS in a 52-year-old woman following IM injection of Demerol and Phenergan to address pain and nausea before discharge is reported. This occurred in the post-anesthesia care unit after aesthetic breast surgery in an ambulatory surgery center. Our patient had immediate injection site pain and a hemorrhagic patch was evident on her physical examination the following day. With local care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, her lesion improved in appearance. However, she continued to have debilitating pain and was referred to a specialist for osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT), which had the greatest impact on her pain level. After multi-modal therapy was initiated, the syndrome ultimately resolved without the need for surgical debridement. However, she continues to experience pain and ambulates with a limp due to muscle atrophy. NS is a rare diagnosis that can have devastating complications that can be averted by early recognition and initiation of treatment modalities. In this case, the authors introduced OMT as a new treatment modality, with the potential to improve the progression of this syndrome. Level of Evidence 5
Socially determined cervical cancer care navigation: An effective step toward health care equity and care optimization.

BACKGROUND Despite being the standard of care for patients with locoregional cervical cancer, many patients do not complete all components of primary chemoradiotherapy (pCRT): external beam radiotherapy, chemosensitization, and brachytherapy. Incomplete or protracted pCRT is associated with worse survival. The authors implemented a socially determined cervical cancer care navigation program at a public safety-net hospital to improve treatment adherence. METHODS Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB1 to IVA cervical cancer who underwent pCRT from 2012 to 2016 were prospectively enrolled into this navigation program spanning the medical, financial, and psychosocial aspects of care. This patient cohort was compared with a similar cohort of consecutive nonnavigated patients who were treated from 1998 to 2008. Patient characteristics, treatment data, and patient outcomes were collected. A database of navigation encounters was maintained prospectively. RESULTS A total of 46 patients composed the navigated cohort and 85 patients composed the nonnavigated cohort. After implementation of the cervical cancer care navigation program, the percentage of patients receiving ≥5 cycles of weekly cisplatin increased from 74% to 93% (P < .01) and rates of the initiation of brachytherapy during external beam radiotherapy increased from 49% to 78% (P < .01). The median treatment time was reduced from 67 days in the nonnavigated patients to 55 days in the navigated patients (P < .01). Approximately 95% of navigated patients who completed pCRT did so within 63 days, compared with 52% of nonnavigated patients (P < .01). Treatment completion within 63 days was associated with significantly improved overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Socially informed cervical cancer care navigation can significantly improve the timeliness of guideline-based care, enhance access to resources for underserved minority patients receiving pCRT, and may improve overall patient outcomes.
Dermatographism associated with ocrelizumab.

Summary Dermatographism is a disorder of unknown etiology that results in inducible hives from environmental stimuli. Here we report the first known case of dermatographism associated with ocrelizumab in a patient with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. The patient presented with pruritic linear raised rash approximately two weeks after her first infusion with ocrelizumab and was later diagnosed with dermatographism. This case highlights a potential rare adverse reaction to ocrelizumab and may provide insight into the biological underpinnings of dermatographism.
Trends in short-term, long-term, and high-risk opioid use among older cancer patients.

187Background: While opioids represent a cornerstone of cancer pain management, the timing and patterns of persistent and high-risk opioid use in the context of the ongoing opioid epidemic are not ...
Interprofessional Education Activities for Students in Physician Assistant, Clinical Psychology, and Athletic Training Programs Utilizing Aspects of Team-Based and Problem-Based Learning Practices

Interprofessional education (IPE) allows two or more professionals to learn from one another through partnership to improve patient outcomes. Implementation of IPE varies within health profession programs and universities, requiring programs to develop IPE activities that adhere to specific learning objectives or accreditation standards. These activities were a preliminary investigation on the feasibility of IPE activities at an institution with no substantial IPE infrastructure. Students integrated aspects of team-based learning (TBL), problem-based learning (PBL), and didactic components into diverse simulated patient cases with health profession students to develop skills in interdisciplinary patient-centered care. Lessons learned and future directions are discussed.
The relative locations of the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina: A cadaveric study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the applicability of the current surgical guideline stating that the main facial foramina that transmit cutaneous nerves to the face (supraorbital notch/foramen, infraorbital foramen, and mental foramen) are equidistant from the midline in European and Hispanic populations. Previous studies suggest this surgical guideline is not applicable for all ethnicities; however, to our knowledge, no data have been published regarding the accuracy of this guideline pertaining to the Hispanic population. An experimental study was performed on 67 cadavers donated to the Human Anatomy Program at UT Health San Antonio. The supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina were dissected and midline structures including the crista galli, internasal suture, anterior nasal spine, and mandibular symphysis were identified. The distance from each foramen to midline was recorded using a digital caliper. For all cadavers/ethnicities studied, the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina were 25.32 mm, 29.57 mm, and 25.55 mm to the midline, respectively. Thus, the infraorbital foramen is located significantly more lateral compared to the supraorbital (p < 0.0001) and mental foramina (p < 0.0001). After dividing the sample based on ethnicity, this relationship was also true for the European sample and tended to be true for the Hispanic sample. Significant anatomical variations exist in the current surgical guideline stating that the supraorbital foramen, infraorbital foramen, and mental foramen are equidistant from the midline. Clinicians may need to adjust their methodology during surgical procedures of the face in order to optimize patient care.
Secondary Frequency Regulation from Variable Generation Through Uncertainty Decomposition: An Economic and Reliability Perspective

The rapid integration of variable generation (VG), such as photovoltaics (PV), necessitates an increase in the secondary frequency regulation (SFR) to handle the system intra-dispatch interval imbalance because of VG's variation. Although PV has the control capability to provide SFR, the main challenge is in guaranteeing the delivery of PV's energy and SFRs capacities in the automatic generation control (AGC) within each dispatch interval considering its uncertainty. This paper proposes a deliverable VG SFR provision model with endogenous VG's power uncertainty decomposition. First, the uncertainty of VG is decomposed using distributionally robust chance constraints through which the deliverable SFR provision is guaranteed. Next, the intra-interval frequency response of PV's SFR is validated with a user defined AGC model including the PV power plant. Finally, the economic benefits and the reliability improvements—such as the frequency deviation reduction with PV providing SFR—can be integrated and evaluated. The proposed model is tested in a modified 18-bus system and in the 240-bus simplified Western Electricity Coordinating Council test system. Results demonstrate that with the deliverable SFR from PV, the system cost and the frequency reliability can be improved simultaneously. PV's SFR performance can be guaranteed with the proposed model.
An Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Tensile Creep Resistance in a Stable Nanocrystalline Alloy

Nanocrystalline materials possess excellent room temperature properties, such as high strength, wear resistance, and toughness as compared to their coarse-grained counterparts. However, due to excess free energy, nanocrystalline microstructures are unstable at higher temperatures. Significant grain growth is observed already at moderately low temperatures, limiting their broader applicability. Here, we present a design approach that leads to a significant improvement in the high temperature tensile creep resistance (up to 0.64 of the melting temperature Tm) of a nanocrystalline Cu-Ta alloy. The design approach involves alloying of pure elements for engineering nanometer sized solute clusters within the solvent grains as well as along the grain boundaries. Using a chemically optimized nanocrystalline Cu-3at.%Ta alloy as a model material system, we demonstrate that the addition of Ta nanoclusters inhibits the migration of the planar defects at higher temperatures and reduces the dislocation motion, leading to extraordinary high temperature properties. For instance, the NC Cu-3Ta alloy tested under tensile creep conditions up to the temperature of 873 K (0.64Tm) displays highly unusual behavior, including the absence of any appreciable steady-state creep deformation which is normally observed in almost all materials. This approach can be readily scaled-up for bulk manufacturing of creep resistant nanocrystalline parts. Moreover, this design strategy can be transferred to other multicomponent systems such as Ni-based alloys for making nanocrystalline materials with tailored properties.
Virtual reality surgical planning for endoscopic endonasal approaches to the craniovertebral junction.

Abstract Purpose To demonstrate the utility of virtual reality (VR) for preoperative surgical planning of endoscopic endonasal craniovertebral junction (CVJ) surgery. Materials and methods Five patients who had undergone endoscopic endonasal surgery of the craniovertebral junction with preoperative virtual reality surgical planning were identified and described. Results The anterior approach to the CVJ has been traditionally accomplished transorally. However, recently the transnasal endoscopic approach to this location has been described. Multiple anatomical studies have been conducted using the nasopalatine, nasoaxial, and rhinopalatine lines (NPL, NAxL, RPL) in an attempt to preoperatively delineate the inferior limits of endoscopic dissection. The use of advanced surgical simulation using immersive virtual reality is an innovative approach for analyzing CVJ anatomy and developing a surgical plan. VR simulation through the use of interactive and highly accurate patient specific models allows for the creation of three-dimensional (3D) digital reconstructions via the fusion of CT and MRI studies. Incorporation of simulation technology has been shown to increase surgeon proficiency while simultaneously decreasing complication rates. The described case series demonstrates the novel utility of VR planning for designing the endoscopic surgical approach to the CVJ. Conclusions VR technology allows for the creation of anatomically accurate 3D models that can be used for preoperative planning of endoscopic endonasal surgery. Such models help in the development of safe surgical plans by predicting inferior and lateral planes of dissection and assisting in the identification of critical structures.
Traffic Maneuver Problems and Crashes of Young Drivers

While over the past decades the population of younger drivers has been decreasing, their crash rates have increased. Past research has associated their higher crash rates to societal influences and youthful behavior. The objective of this research is to identify the specific driving maneuvers whose unsuccessful undertaking results in specific types of crashes involving these drivers. Four types of crashes were identified as the most prominent for young drivers including crashes at intersections, rear end, crashes resulting from passing maneuvers and single vehicle crashes. The analysis was performed examining the Kentucky crash database for the 1994-1996 period using the quasi-induced exposure method. The results showed that for all crashes there is a general trend of decreasing involvement with increasing age, which indicates that their inexperience is the largest single contributor to their increased crash rates. Of significance is the fact that for all crashes a dramatic decrease of involvement after the first year of driving between the years of 16 and 17 is observed. This may be indicative of a steep learning curve in the first years of driving regarding the ability to control a vehicle. Therefore, very little can be made to improve this phenomenon. Increasing the level of awareness among young drivers about these issues and their likely crash involvement seems to be the only viable approach. However, preliminary efforts from the graduated license show that some of these trends seem to be reduced indicating a possible impact on the crash rates of young drivers.
65 - Seismic Hazards and Risk Assessment in Engineering Practice

This chapter provides an overview of how seismic hazards are evaluated and how seismic risk is assessed in current engineering practice in the United States. This is done within the context of the rapidly evolving framework of performance-based seismic engineering. In a seismic hazard evaluation for a given site, it is necessary to identify the seismic sources on which future earthquakes are likely to occur, to estimate the magnitudes and frequency of occurrence of earthquakes on each seismic source, and to identify the distance and orientation of each seismic source in relation to the site. If a deterministic approach is used to characterize the ground motions, then a single scenario earthquake is usually used to represent the seismic hazard, and its frequency of occurrence does not directly influence the level of the hazard. The simplest ground-motion attenuation relations predict ground-motion parameters using a simplified model in which the effects of the earthquake source are represented by earthquake magnitude or moment; the effects of wave propagation from the earthquake source to the site region are specified by a distance; and the effects of the site are specified by a site category. Deterministic ground-motion estimates play an important role in planning, preparedness, and loss estimation for earthquakes in urban regions. Many of these activities are more readily related to a specific earthquake scenario than to a probabilistic representation of the seismic hazard.
A Modal Model of Memory

We consider the problem of automatically guiding program transformations for locality, despite incomplete information due to complicated program structures, changing target architectures, and lack of knowledge of the properties of the input data. Our system, the modal model of memory, uses limited static analysis and bounded runtime experimentation to produce performance formulas that can be used to make runtime locality transformation decisions. Static analysis is performed once per program to determine its memory reference properties, using modes, a small set of parameterized, kernel reference patterns. Once per architectural system, our system automatically performs a set of experiments to determine a family of kernel performance formulas. The system can use these kernel formulas to synthesize a performance formula for any program's mode tree. Finally, with program transformations represented as mappings between mode trees, the generated performance formulas can be used to guide transformation decisions.
Comparing the Effects of Negative and Mixed Emotional Messages on Predicted Occasional Excessive Drinking

Nicotine, the addictive component of cigarette smoke has profound effects on the brain. Activation of its receptors by nicotine has complex consequences for network activity throughout the brain, potentially contributing to the addictive property of the drug. Nicotinic receptors have been implicated in psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia and are also neuroprotective, potentially beneficial for neurodegenerative diseases. These effects of nicotine serve to emphasize the multifarious roles the drug, acting through multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. The findings also remind us of the complexity of signaling mechanisms and stress the risks of unintended consequences of drugs designed to combat nicotine addiction.
Randomized Trial of a Fitbit-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Women

Introduction Direct-to-consumer m Health devices are a potential asset to behavioral research but rarely tested as intervention tools. This trial examined the accelerometer-based Fitbit tracker and website as a low-touch physical activity intervention. The purpose of this study is to evaluate, within an RCT, the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of integrating the Fitbit tracker and website into a physical activity intervention for postmenopausal women. Methods Fifty-one inactive, postmenopausal women with BMI ≥25.0 were randomized to a 16-week web-based self-monitoring intervention ( n =25) or comparison group ( n =26). The Web-Based Tracking Group received a Fitbit, instructional session, and follow-up call at 4 weeks. The comparison group received a standard pedometer. All were asked to perform 150 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Physical activity outcomes were measured by the ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer. Results Data were collected and analyzed in 2013–2014. Participants were aged 60 (SD=7) years with BMI of 29.2 (3.5) kg/m 2 . Relative to baseline, the Web-Based Tracking Group increased MVPA by 62 (108) minutes/week ( p p =0.008); and steps by 789 (1,979) ( p =0.01), compared to non-significant increases in the Pedometer Group (between-group p =0.11, 0.28, and 0.30, respectively). The Web-Based Tracking Group wore the tracker on 95% of intervention days; 96% reported liking the website and 100% liked the tracker. Conclusions The Fitbit was well accepted in this sample of women and associated with increased physical activity at 16 weeks. Leveraging direct-to-consumer m Health technologies aligned with behavior change theories can strengthen physical activity interventions.
Strange Parallels: The Pattern and Dynamics of Democratization Movements in the Global South, 1918-2009

In this research, I examine emerging patterns and dynamics of democratization movement waves in the global South from 1918 to 2009. The core canon in social movement theory has been based on case studies of movements occurring primarily in the United States and Western Europe. Most social movement theory has also been generated from case-oriented researches of shorter-term movement organization activity in Western democracies. Likewise, most of studies in comparative democratization have been focused on variable-oriented research to examine a liner correlationship between the achievement of formal democracy and other variables as neglecting geopolitical and historical context. For better understanding of the democratization process in the global South, this research challenges the conventional assumption that democratization movement trajectories are limited to phases of emergence, expansion and decline, and suggests a longitudinal and large-scale analysis under differing economic and political conditions in the global South. Rather, the research shows how periods of contention may be just the one wave in a larger sea of long-term resistance. Recasting social movement studies in the world-historical framework, the research creates a new database on worldwide democratization protest to show how local democratization movements have been related to world-scale currents since the early twentieth century. For the overall mapping the world-historical pattern of democratization movements, this research uses a newspaper source, the New York Times from 1918 to 2009. This world-historical event database permits single protests located in different countries/regions to be both linked to each other and situated within a world-scale layer of governance structure and political process. In the initial observations, there are found that key movement clusters of the period in the global South are the year during the great resistance for democratization in 1937-41, 1945-51, 1956-60, 1973-75, 1978-92, and 2003-06. The results show to concentrate on charting temporal and spatial diffusion of democratization movements across a large set of countries.
When Management Override Negates Common Sense

Write “OK per big boss” across the invoice and everything is fine! Or is it? This paper analyzes the human factor link related to the Debra Valice Case. The human factor is the weakest link of any internal control system. Understanding the human factors that cause people to “not follow the rules,” is key to strengthening this link. This research will utilize the human factors adapted from the Independence Education Program to analyze the Debra Valice Case. Valice was responsible for ensuring a secure internal control system. The Chief Executive Officer was able to manipulate this system and unauthorized payments were made to him or on his behalf. Valice’s lack of good judgment allowed this to happen. The human factors allowing this breach were professional character, business culture and environment, the ability to recognize there is an issue and the quality of the decision-making process as outlined by the Independence Education Program.
Telephone Counselling for Pregnant Smokers: Essential Elements

Counselling pregnant smokers to quit is as difficult as it is essential. This article discusses a telephone counselling protocol designed to promote tobacco cessation among pregnant smokers. The protocol, validated in a large randomised, controlled trial, addresses three key elements of change for addictive behaviour —motivation, cognition and skill building — in ways tailored to pregnant smokers’ unique needs. Details concerning scheduling, counsellor training and broader applicability are also presented.
The utility of morphological characters in gastropod phylogenetics: an example from the Calyptraeidae

Organismal taxonomy is often based on a single or a small number of morphological characters. When they are morphologically simple or known to be plastic, we may not have great confidence in the taxonomic conclusions of analyses based on these characters. For example, calyptraeid gastropod shells are well known for their simplicity and plasticity, and appear to be subject to frequent evolutionary convergences, but are nevertheless the basis for calyptraeid taxonomy. In a case like this, knowing how the pattern of relationships inferred from morphological features used in traditional taxonomy compares to the patterns of relationships inferred from other morphological characters or DNA sequence data would be useful. In this paper, I examine the relative utility of traditional taxonomic characters (shell characters), anatomical characters and molecular characters for reconstructing the phylogeny of calyptraeid gastropods. The results of an ILD test and comparisons of the recovered tree topologies suggest that there is conflict between the DNA sequence data and the morphological data. Very few of the nodes recovered by the morphological data were recovered by any other dataset. Despite this conflict, the inclusion of morphological data increased the resolution and support of nodes in the topology recovered from a combined dataset. The RIs and CIs of the morphological data on the best estimate topology were not any worse than these indices for the other datasets. This analysis demonstrates that although analyses can be misled by these convergences if morphological characters are used alone, these characters contribute significantly to the combined dataset.
Scientific Evidence to Support a Vitamin E and Heart Disease Health Claim: Research Needs

In addition to epidemiologic studies suggesting a benefit for high intakes of alpha-tocopherol, studies following supplementation in humans have clearly shown that alpha-tocopherol decreases lipid peroxidation, platelet aggregation, and functions as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. However, prospective human clinical trials with alpha-tocopherol alone and in combination with other antioxidants have been largely negative. In this review, we critically appraise the various clinical trials and provide recommendations for future research.
CUDA implementation of belief propagation for stereo vision

Measuring distance to obstacles is an important process for intelligent vehicles (IV). With accurate measurement, IV can make appropriate maneuver to avoid such obstacles. To obtain highly accurate result, we used a Markov random field model-based global energy minimization algorithm called belief propagation (BP). However, BP has high computational complexity which makes it difficult for real-time processing. To solve this issue, we took massively parallel approach using Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA). In this paper, we first provide profiling result to find the performance bottleneck of BP. Next, we explain CUDA-specific optimization techniques to enhance the performance. We propose a new parallelization technique to speed up the message computation, which takes up the longest time in BP. The experimental result shows that we were able to obtain accurate distance estimation result in real time.
Characteristics of elliptical sources in BEAMnrc Monte Carlo system: Implementation and application

Recently, several papers noticed that the electron focal spot of a linear accelerator (linac) could be elliptical which would cause dosimetric discrepancies between measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. To resolve the mismatch, two elliptical source models were developed in BEAMnrc code. The first was a parallel beam elliptical source with uniform distribution where the shape of the source was primarily considered. The other was a parallel beam elliptical source with Gaussian distribution whose source distribution follows the normal distribution. To validate the elliptical source models, uniform and Gaussian electron beams were impinged on a thin air target. Both models successfully reproduced the elliptical shapes and source distributions. Then, this study investigated the characteristics of the elliptical Gaussian source for a 6 MV photon beam in a Varian 21EX linac. The linac head model was implemented in the BEAMnrc/EGSnrc system and commissioned by comparing the lateral and depth dose profiles to the ion chamber measurements acquired from the annual quality assurance (QA). It was found that the circular Gaussian beam with 6 MeV/0.2 cm full width half maximum (FWHM) produces the best matches to the QA data. To explore the characteristics of the elliptical Gaussian source, this study employed an ellipticalmore » Gaussian electron source with 0.1 cm FWHM in the x axis and 0.2 cm FWHM in the y axis which was incident on the target of the linac head. Two circular Gaussian beams with 0.1 and 0.2 cm FWHM were employed to compare the differences between circular and elliptical sources. For all the sources, planar and energy fluences were acquired and analyzed. This study also compared the lateral and depth dose profiles in a water phantom by using a DOSXYZnrc user code. In results, a constricted shoulder effect was observed in both planar and energy fluence plots when the FWHM value was increased and the field size is larger than 30x30 cm{sup 2}. The same effect was also noticed in the lateral dose profiles, while the depth dose profile did not vary much.« less
The effects of situational variations in role-play scenes on assertive behavior

The study was conducted to determine the extent to which variations in the situational parameters of role-play scenes affect subjects' levels of assertiveness. Thirty-six psychology undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of three role-play conditions that differed in the situation-setting characteristics presented in the scenes: a Difficult condition, designed to inhibit assertive responding; an Easy condition, designed to facilitate assertive responding; and a Neutral condition. Subjects also completed a self-report assertion inventory. Videotapes of the role-played interactions were rated for a variety of component responses. Results indicate that subjects responded differently in the three conditions. Subjects in the Difficult and Neutral conditions were more compliant, and those in the Easy and Difficult conditions were more fluent. It is suggested that failure to specify the situational parameters of role-play scenes may affect the validity of this assessment procedure.
Absorption of Sodium γ-hydroxybutyrate and its Prodrug γ-butyrolactone: Relationship Between in vitro Transport and in Vivo Absorption

A qualitative relationship between in vitro transport and in vivo absorption of sodium γ-hydroxybutyrate and γ-butyrolactone was demonstrated. As with other short-chain acids, sodium γ-hydroxybutyrate showed capacity-limited transport in vitro, consistent with the previous observation that this drug exhibited slower in vivo absorption with increasing dose. The prodrug lactone, on the other hand, showed a higher intestinal flux than the acid in the everted gut, and in vivo absorption also was more rapid. Capacity-limited transport and absorption of the lactone appeared less evident. Thus, the increased oral hypnotic activity of the lactone over that of the acid most likely is a result of its more favorable intestinal transport characteristics.
Bicyclische Acetale via Oxacarbene

Synthese photochimique de perhydro furo [2,3-b] furannebutyrates- et -propionates-2 de methyle a partir des hydroxy-2' ethyl-3 oxo-2 cyclobutanebutyrate- et -propionate de methyle via des perhydro carbena-2furannes. La meme reaction a partir d'hydroxy-2' ethyl-2 oxo-4 cyclobutanebutyrate conduit au dioxa-1,6bicyclo [3.2.1] octanebutyrate-5
Some electrical properties of murine thymocytes, and B- and T-lymphocytes.

Abstract The electrical properties of the peripheries of mouse thymocytes, B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes have been examined in the fresh and glutaraldehyde-fixed states by electrophoresis, and in the fixed state by electron microscopic observation of the densities of binding of positively charged, colloidal iron hydroxide (CIH) particles. On the one hand, the electrophoretic mobilities of the T-lymphocytes were higher than those of either the B-lymphocytes or the thymocytes, in both the fresh and fixed states. On the other hand, the densities of CIH particles binding to the B-lymphocytes were higher than those on either the T-lymphocytes or the thymocytes. It is suggested that the disproportions between the electrokinetic and electron microscopic observations in the three classes of cells, are due to different (average) numbers of anionic sites, in the clusters of these sites marked by each CIH particle.
The Adjuvant Effect in Infection and Autoimmunity

Infections are widely believed to serve as a trigger for initiating autoimmune disease in humans. An infectious agent may activate lymphocytes in an antigen-specific manner and can also provide the nonantigen-specific second signal necessary to induce a pathogenic adaptive immune response. Collectively, the secondary signaling necessary for induction of an autoimmune disease has been referred to as the adjuvant effect. Examples of an adjuvant effect have been described in the induction of experimental thyroiditis where the administration with thyroglobulin of muramyl dipeptide of mycobacteria or lipopolysaccaride of Gram-negative bacilli provide the necessary adjuvant effect. Other commonly used adjuvants fail to induce disease, although they may elicit autoantibody formation. Myocarditis can be induced in susceptible mice by infection with cardiotrophic coxsackievirus B3 and even induced in resistant mice if an additional adjuvant effect is provided through proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The adjuvant effect is usually exerted early after infection during the innate immune response, operating at least in part through toll-like receptors and mast cells to direct the subsequent pathogenic adaptive immune response.
Insights into nucleic acid reactivity through gas-phase experimental and computational studies

Abstract Accurate measurements of the acidities and basicities of nucleic bases and nucleic base derivatives is essential for understanding issues of fundamental importance in biological systems. Hydrogen bonding modulates recognition of DNA and RNA bases, and the interaction energy between two bonded complementary nucleobases is dependent on the intrinsic basicity and acidity of the acceptor and donor groups. In addition, understanding the intrinsic reactivity of nucleic bases can shed light on key biosynthetic mechanisms for which nucleobases are substrates. In this review, we highlight advances in our lab toward understanding the fundamental reactivity of DNA and RNA. In particular, we focus on our investigation of the gas phase acidities and basicities of natural and unnatural nucleobases, and the implications of our results for the mechanisms of nucleotide biosynthetic and repair enzymes.
Understanding evidence-based diagnosis

The real meaning of the word "diagnosis" is naming the disease that is causing a patient's illness. The cognitive process of assigning this name is a mysterious combination of pattern recognition and the hypothetico-deductive approach that is only remotely related to the mathematical process of using test results to update the probability of a disease. What I refer to as "evidence-based diagnosis" is really evidence-based use of medical tests to guide treatment decisions. Understanding how to use test results to update the probability of disease can help us interpret test results more rationally. Also, evidence-based diagnosis reminds us to consider the costs and risks of testing and the dangers of over-diagnosis and over-treatment, in addition to the costs and risks of missing serious disease.