cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effective number of cigarettes inhaled daily by passive smokers: are epidemiologic and dosimetric estimates consistent?

Abstract Since the early 1980's, a number of epidemiologic studies have implicated environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) as a cause of lung cancer among non-smokers passively exposed to other people's tobacco smoke. A recent National Academy of Science Report on environmental tobacco smoke (NAS, 1986) summarized 13 such studies. Each study provided an estimate of the ratio of the lung cancer mortality rate among non-smokers with smoking spouses to the mortality rate among those with non-smoking spouses. The weighted average of the 13 study-specific rate ratios was roughly 1.3. In this paper, we show that if this summary rate ratio is causally related to ETS and not to bias then the estimated number of lung cancer deaths attributable to ETS exposure occurring in U.S. non-smokers in 1985 lies in the range 2500–5000. Further, we examine whether the summary rate ratio of 1.3 is consistent with the existing epidemiologic data on active smokers and the dosimetric measurements that have been made on mainstream and environmental tobacco smoke. If consistent with this other data, the hypothesis that the rate ratio of 1.3 is causally related to ETS exposure will be strengthened.
Carbon Dioxide, an Important Messenger Molecule for Small Cell Lung Cancer

Chronic nonneoplastic lung diseases that impair pulmonary oxygenation while increasing the levels of intrapulmonary carbon dioxide (CO2) are a documented risk factor for the development of lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers. Using established cell lines derived from human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung carcinoma, our experiments demonstrated that elevated CO2 concentrations in the range of those found in the diseased lung selectively stimulated the proliferation of SCLC but not adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. The proliferative response of SCLC cells involved activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK-1 and ERK-2, as well as the p70 ribosomal S6 kinase and the stimulation of an autocrine serotonergic loop. Kinase activation was unrelated to changes in intracellular pH. We concluded that CO2 is an important messenger molecule for SCLC which may contribute significantly to the high lung cancer burden observed in individuals with chronic lung disease, by the activation of kinases which play a central role as downstream effectors of many growth factor-stimulated mitogenic pathways.
Cuba and caribbean tourism after castro

Abstract Cuba has become a major force in Caribbean tourism. If or when US travel restrictions are lifted, it might quickly become the dominant player, siphoning off American tourists from competitors. This paper presents an overview of tourism in Cuba and the Caribbean before and during Castro and discusses factors that might condition a post-Castro transition. Further it reviews tourism products Cuba might introduce into the Caribbean market. Based on historical trends and interviews, the study projects tourism growth in Cuba after a five-year transition period and simulates the quantitative diversion of US tourists from competing destinations. Concern among regional neighbors about negative impacts to their tourism activities appears justified.
Impact of orthologous gene replacement on the circuitry governing pilus gene transcription in streptococci.

Background: The evolutionary history of several genes of the bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes strongly suggests an origin in another species, acquired via replacement of the counterpart gene (ortholog) following a recombination event. An example of orthologous gene replacement is provided by the nra/rofA locus, which encodes a key regulator of pilus gene transcription. Of biological importance is the previous finding that the presence of the nra- and rofA-lineage alleles, which are ,35% divergent, correlates strongly with genetic markers for streptococcal infection at different tissue sites in the human host (skin, throat). Methodology/Principal Findings: In this report, the impact of orthologous gene replacement targeting the nra/rofA locus is experimentally addressed. Replacement of the native nra-lineage allele with a rofA-lineage allele, plus their respective upstream regions, preserved the polarity of Nra effects on pilus gene transcription (i.e., activation) in the skin strain Alab49. Increased pilus gene transcription in the rofA chimera correlated with a higher rate of bacterial growth at the skin. The transcriptional regulator MsmR, which represses nra and pilus gene transcription in the Alab49 parent strain, has a slight activating effect on pilus gene expression in the rofA chimera construct. Conclusions/Significance: Data show that exchange of orthologous forms of a regulatory gene is stable and robust, and pathogenicity is preserved. Yet, new phenotypes may also be introduced by altering the circuitry within a complex transcriptional regulatory network. It is proposed that orthologous gene replacement via interspecies exchange is an important mechanism in the evolution of highly recombining bacteria such as S. pyogenes.
The Dialectic of Unenlightenment: Toward a Critical Theory of Islamic Fundamentalism *

The foundational critique of modernity, (DoE), showed how the quest for domination, rooted in the Greek pursuit of control over nature, articulated in the emancipatory promise of Enlightenment base...
Phosphatidyl inositol isopropylidene derivatives: synthesis, characterizaton and use as synthetic intermediates

Abstract To provide starting material for the synthesis of phosphatidyl inositol phosphates and inositol phosphates, isopropylidenes of phosphatidyl inositols were prepared. Phosphatidyl inositol obtained from yeast was converted into a mono- and two di-O-isopropylidenes fractions by transacetalation with 2,2-dimethoxypropane. Three isopropylidenes fractions were isolated and characterized by mass spectral analysis and comparison of the hydrolysis products of these fractions to know isopropylidenes of myo-inositol. The isopropylidenes were phosphatidtyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-inositols, phosphatidyl-2,3:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-inositols and phosphatidyl-2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-inositols. These compounds are intermediates for the stereospecific synthesis of different phosphatidyl inositol phosphates, inositol phosphates and analogs of these compounds. Using the di-O-isopropylidenes as starting materials, both phosphatidyl inositol-4-phosphate and phosphatidyl inositol-6-phosphates were synthesized. Neither compound had been prepared synthetically before and phosphatidyl inositol-6-phosphate is not naturally occurring.
Nanoscale Void Nucleation and Growth in the Passive Oxide on Aluminum as a Prepitting Process

Nanometer scale morphological changes in the passive oxide on aluminum have been tracked as a function of polarization in aqueous chloride and borate electrolytes. Nanoscale void formation has been detected and characterized in the passive oxide on single and polycrystalline Al as well as nanocrystalline Al films. Void nucleation occurs at the metal/oxide interface and growth proceeds into the oxide. Nucleation and growth are continuous processes that occur well below the pitting potential. Void growth is related to the rate and extent of the passive oxide growth. Chloride is shown not to be necessary for the nucleation and growth of voids. The extent of void growth correlates with the faradaic charge density produced due to Al oxidation. Void densities on the order of 5 X 10 10 cm -2 form with as little as 2 to 4 monolayers of Al oxidation and at volumetric efficiencies of 10 to 50%. The mechanistic origin of the voids is consistent with point defect saturation at the Al/oxide interface. The shape factors for the voids are inconsistent with two leading pit initiation models where stable pitting is argued to result from disruption of the remnant oxide over a void or voidlike structures.
The Battle for the Bs: 1950s Hollywood and the rebirth of low-budget cinema

One of the most slippery terms in the lexicon of cinema studies is B film. In popular usage, B films are frequently synonymous with bad films, or—even more mistakenly—with films that are so bad the...
Keynote speaker 2: Combining computational electromagnetics with signal processing algorithms to enhance the performance of imaging devices and antennas

Computational Electromagnetics (CEM) has made great strides over the years and has enabled us to solve very large and complex problems that were well beyond our reach only a few year ago. This has been made possible because of steady increases in computing speeds — thanks to Moor's Law — and the advent of parallelization as well as development of iterative and domain decomposition techniques. The quest as well as progress toward the solution of very large and complex problems remain unabated — CEM problems involving "billions and billions" of unknowns are being routinely solved today — and this trend is likely to continue for a long time to come. The focus of this presentation is not on proposing yet another algorithm which would help us solve even larger problems than we can handle today, but on discussing alternate ways by which we can enhance the performance of microwave devices — such as imaging systems and lenses — by combining signal processing algorithms with CEM. The paper will discuss several examples of performance enhancement including sub-wavelength imaging of objects that are not located in the near fields of lenses, and improving the accuracy of direction finding antenna systems with size constraints that limit their limitation if conventional DF techniques are used. Our strategy is to first use available CEM techniques to solve the forward problems efficiently and then to use these solutions in Signal Processing algorithms for the purpose of performance enhancement of microwave devices of the type mentioned above.
High-speed non-directional infrared communication for wireless local-area networks

The use of wide-area infrared beams to establish high-speed digital links between portable terminals and a base station, allowing construction of in-building wireless local-area networks, is discussed. Key impairments to high-speed communication using nondirectional infrared links, namely, small received power in the face of potentially intense ambient infrared radiation and intersymbol interference caused by multipath optical propagation, are examined. Transmitter and receiver design strategies to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio are discussed. Experimental measurements of multipath dispersion are presented, and the performance of two communication techniques that attempt to counter multipath distortion are evaluated. They are baseband on-off keying with adaptive decision-feedback equalization and multiple-subcarrier modulation. >
Prospective analysis of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator mutations in adults with bronchiectasis or pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection.

Background Bronchiectasis and pulmonary infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) may be associated with disease-causing mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR). Methods Fifty adult patients at Stanford University Medical Center with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis and/or pulmonary NTM infection were prospectively characterized by sweat chloride measurement, comprehensive mutational analysis of CFTR, and sputum culture results. Results A de novo diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) was established in 10 patients (20%). Patients with CF were more likely than those without CF to have mucus plugging seen on chest high-resolution CT, and women with a CF diagnosis were thinner, with a significantly lower mean body mass index than the non-CF subjects. Thirty CFTR mutations were identified in 24 patients (50% prevalence). Sweat chloride concentration was elevated > 60 mEq/dL (diagnostic of CF) in seven patients (14%), and from 40 to 60 mEq/dL in eight patients (16%). The frequency of CFTR mutations was elevated above that expected in the general population: heterozygous ΔF508 (12% vs 3%), R75Q (14% vs 1%), and intron 8 5T (17% vs 5 to 10%). Other known CFTR mutations identified were V456A, G542X, R668C, I1027T, D1152, R1162L, W1282X, and L183I. Three novel CFTR mutations were identified: A394V, F650L, and C1344S. Conclusions Mutations in CFTR that alter RNA splicing and/or functional chloride conductance are common in this population, and are likely to contribute to the susceptibility and pathogenesis of adult bronchiectasis and pulmonary NTM infection. Careful clinical evaluation for disease cause should be undertaken in this clinical context.
Polymer Effects on the Chemorheological and Drying Behavior of Alumina–Poly(vinyl alcohol) Gelcasting Suspensions

A new gelcasting system based on aqueous alumina (Al2O3)–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) suspensions cross-linked via titanium ion complexation has been developed as a feedstock for bulk casting and solid freeform fabrication (SFF) routes. Its chemorheological properties, as measured by stress viscometry and oscillatory techniques, exhibited a strong dependence upon polymer hydrolysis and molecular weight. The gelation time of systems of constant PVA volume fraction (φPVAsoln) and cross-linker concentration decreased with increasing degree of hydrolysis and molecular weight, whereas their steady-state elastic modulus (G′) exhibited the opposite dependence. Stress evolution during drying of gelcast layers was measured in situ using a controlled-environment, cantilever deflection apparatus. Both the maximum and residual drying stresses increased with increasing degree of hydrolysis, with only a modest molecular weight effect observed.
Sigmoid and Cecal Volvulus

Colonic volvulus was first recorded in the Ebers Papyrus in ancient Egypt. The authors astutely recognized that detorsion of the colon was crucial and that if the colon did not spontaneously reduce, it “rotted.” Early management of colonic volvulus was nonoperative and various techniques evolved from ancient Egypt until the late nineteenth century. Hippocrates proposed the insertion of a suppository, 12 in. in length to promote detorsion. Other practitioners used air insufflation, oral ingestion of metal and lead balls as well as external manipulation in order to relieve the volvulus and concomitant bowel obstruction [1]. In 1859, Gay published his observations in an article entitled “Fatal obstruction from twisting of the meso-colon.” Through his work on cadavers, he observed that insertion of a rectal tube detorsed sigmoid volvulus, which led him to propose that all patients with sigmoid volvulus have a rectal tube inserted [2]. By the late nineteenth century, nonoperative treatment was well established. Operative treatment was avoided, as surgical mortality rates were high. In 1851 Malgaigne warned “you cannot be too reserved” in operating on volvulus. Trousseau echoed this sentiment and suggested that laparotomy be reserved for cases where “there was imminent danger to life.”[1]
Molecular analysis of plasma DNA for the early detection of lung cancer by quantitative methylation-specific PCR

Purpose: Aberrant promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is a promising marker for lung cancer detection. We investigated the likelihood of detecting aberrant DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes in plasma samples of patients with abnormalities of the lung detected upon computed tomography (CT) scan. Experimental Design: In a small evaluation cohort, four gene promoters ( DCC, Kif1a, NISCH, and Rarb ) were found to be methylated with increased frequency in samples from cancer patients specifically. We then examined DNA from 93 plasma samples from patients with abnormal findings in the lung detected upon CT scan for aberrant methylation of these four gene promoters by quantitative fluorogenic real-time PCR. The patients were divided into two groups, ground glass opacity ( n = 23) and cancerous tumors ( n = 70). Plasma DNA from age-matched nodule-free individuals were used as controls ( n = 80). Results: In plasma, 73% of patients with cancerous tumors showed methylation of at least one gene with a specificity of 71% ( P = 0.0001). Only 22% patients with ground glass opacity exhibited methylation of at least one gene. When smoking history was taken into account, 72% of cancer patients with no smoking history or those who smoked P = 0.05) when compared with matched controls. Among heavy smokers with 20+ pack-years of smoking history, 30% of the control group and 73% of the patients with cancerous tumors showed methylation ( P = 0.0001). Conclusions: These biomarkers can distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous abnormal CT findings. Clin Cancer Res; 16(13); 3463–72. ©2010 AACR.
USING THERMOCHRONOLOGY TO UNDERSTAND OROGENIC EROSION

Erosion of orogenic mountain ranges exhumes deeply buried rocks and controls weathering, climate, and sediment production and transport at a variety of scales. Erosion also affects the topographic form and kinematics of orogens, and it may provide dynamic feedbacks between climate and tectonics by spatially focused erosion and rock uplift. Thermochronology measures the timing and rates at which rocks approach the surface and cool as a result of exhumation. Relatively well-understood noble gas and fission-track thermochronometric systems have closure temperatures ranging from ∼60 to ∼550 ◦ C, making them sensitive to exhumation through crustal depths of about one to tens of kilometers. Thus, thermochronology can constrain erosion rates and their spatial-temporal variations on timescales of ∼10 5 –10 7 years, commensurate with orogenic growth and decay cycles and possible climate-tectonic feedback response times. Useful methods for estimating erosion rates include inverting ages for erosion rates using crustal thermal models, vertical transects, and detrital approaches. Spatial-temporal patterns of thermochronometrically determined erosion rates help constrain flow of material through orogenic wedges, orogenic growth and decay cycles, paleorelief, and relationships with structural, geomorphic, or climatic features.
On the scalability of parallel genetic algorithms

This paper examines the scalability of several types of parallel genetic algorithms (GAs). The objective is to determine the optimal number of processors that can be used by each type to minimize the execution time. The first part of the paper considers algorithms with a single population. The investigation focuses on an implementation where the population is distributed to several processors, but the results are applicable to more common masterslave implementations, where the population is entirely stored in a master processor and multiple slaves are used to evaluate the fitness. The second part of the paper deals with parallel GAs with multiple populations. It first considers a bounding case where the connectivity, the migration rate, and the frequency of migrations are set to their maximal values. Then, arbitrary regular topologies with lower migration rates are considered and the frequency of migrations is set to its lowest value. The investigationis mainly theoretical, but experimental evidence with an additively-decomposable function is included to illustrate the accuracy of the theory. In all cases, the calculations show that the optimal number of processors that minimizes the execution time is directly proportional to the square root of the population size and the fitness evaluation time. Since these two factors usually increase as the domain becomes more difficult, the results of the paper suggest that parallel GAs can integrate large numbers of processors and significantly reduce the execution time of many practical applications.
Haphazard wiring of simple receptive fields and orientation columns in visual cortex.

The receptive fields of simple cells in visual cortex are composed of elongated on and off subregions. This spatial arrangement is widely thought to be responsible for the generation of orientation...
The Timing of Infant Food Introduction in Families With a History of Atopy

Objective. To describe the timing of introduction and type of food introduced to infants with a family history of atopy. Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of foods introduced each month to an interventional birth cohort of 149 infants at risk for atopy. Results. Seven percent of infants received solid food prior to 4 months of age; 13% after 6 months of age. Hyperallergenic foods were introduced on average in the following order: wheat (8.7 months); eggs (11.2 months); soy (13.0 months); fish (13.4 months); peanut (20.2 months); tree nuts (21.8 months); and other seafood (21.8 months). Asian race (odds ratio 3.94; 95% CI 1.14-13.58) and maternal history of food allergy (odds ratio 3.86; 95% CI 1.29-11.56) were associated with late food introduction. Conclusion. Variation in timing of food introduction may reflect cultural preferences and/or previous experience with food allergy, as well as the ambiguous state of current recommendations.
A Parallel Algorithm for Multilevel Graph Partitioning and Sparse Matrix Ordering

In this paper we present a parallel formulation of the multilevel graph partitioning and sparse matrix ordering algorithm. A key feature of our parallel formulation (that distinguishes it from other proposed parallel formulations of multilevel algorithms) is that it partitions the vertices of the graph intopparts while distributing the overall adjacency matrix of the graph among allpprocessors. This mapping results in substantially smaller communication than one-dimensional distribution for graphs with relatively high degree, especially if the graph is randomly distributed among the processors. We also present a parallel algorithm for computing a minimal cover of a bipartite graph which is a key operation for obtaining a small vertex separator that is useful for computing the fill reducing ordering of sparse matrices. Our parallel algorithm achieves a speedup of up to 56 on 128 processors for moderate size problems, further reducing the already moderate serial run time of multilevel schemes. Furthermore, the quality of the produced partitions and orderings are comparable to those produced by the serial multilevel algorithm that has been shown to outperform both spectral partitioning and multiple minimum degree.
Speckle bias as a 3-D offset for the tracking location of shear wave imaging

In conventional, multiple track location shear wave elasticity imaging (MTL-SWEI), shear wave speeds are estimated by imaging wave propagation at multiple positions in the tissue with high speed ultrasound and comparing the motion measured at each location. The positions of the tracking beams are determined by transmit-receive beamforming. Because of stationary speckle noise, the precise position of each track beam varies from its prescribed location. This spatial speckle bias creates stationary offsets in the temporal characteristics of imaged waves and errors in velocity estimates. This work examines the speckle bias through simulations and experiments, and demonstrates methods for compensation.
The effects of fishing on demersal fish communities of the Scotian Shelf

Since the 1970s, average individual weight of commercially targeted demersal fish on the Scotian Shelf (Canada) decreased by 51% on the eastern shelf and by 41% on the western shelf. For both systems, the integrated community size spectrum showed long-term declines in proportions of large fish and survey cpue of most targeted species. In the east, these changes were coincident with a doubling of fishing effort and a decline in bottom temperatures to the lowest value observed in 50 years. In the west, fishing effort more than doubled while bottom temperatures reached the highest value in 50 years. In both areas, declines in survey cpue and average weight were more prevalent for target species than for non-target species. Since introduction of the closure of the cod fishery on the eastern shelf in 1993 and the restrictions on landings on the western shelf, average weights and the community size structure have stabilized. In the east, this stability is associated with increasing bottom temperatures; in the west it is concurrent with high bottom temperatures. I conclude that both fishing and changes in bottom temperature have influenced demersal fish size but that the relative effects cannot be determined from current observations.
Assessment of genotype imputation methods

Several methods have been proposed to impute genotypes at untyped markers using observed genotypes and genetic data from a reference panel. We used the Genetic Analysis Workshop 16 rheumatoid arthritis case-control dataset to compare the performance of four of these imputation methods: IMPUTE, MACH, PLINK, and fastPHASE. We compared the methods' imputation error rates and performance of association tests using the imputed data, in the context of imputing completely untyped markers as well as imputing missing genotypes to combine two datasets genotyped at different sets of markers. As expected, all methods performed better for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in high linkage disequilibrium with genotyped SNPs. However, MACH and IMPUTE generated lower imputation error rates than fastPHASE and PLINK. Association tests based on allele "dosage" from MACH and tests based on the posterior probabilities from IMPUTE provided results closest to those based on complete data. However, in both situations, none of the imputation-based tests provide the same level of evidence of association as the complete data at SNPs strongly associated with disease.
Televised Attacks and the Incumbency Advantage in State Supreme Courts

This project evaluates whether televised attack advertising has detrimental effects on the electoral performance of state supreme court justices seeking reelection. I examine this question by estimating theoretically specified models of vote shares that include all televised messages for incumbents and challengers in 76 partisan and nonpartisan elections in 19 states from 2002 through 2006. I also rely on Campaign Media Analysis Group advertising data and campaign finance measures to disentangle the effects of advertising from campaign spending. Results show that attacks have deleterious effects on the incumbency advantage but only in nonpartisan elections. In this regard, the preference for nonpartisan elections among many reform advocates has rendered some concerns about the pernicious effects of negativity into self-fulfilling prophecies. More broadly, these findings demonstrate the powerful force of institutional arrangements in shaping democratic politics and highlight striking similarities between state supreme court elections and elections to other important offices in the United States. (JEL D7, D72)
The transformation of online teaching practice: Tracing successful online teaching in higher education

This dissertation was an in-depth investigation of successful online teaching in the context of higher education. It is presented in nontraditional dissertation format as approved by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Iowa State University. This dissertation includes three publishable journal articles that would represent Chapter 2, 3 and 4 of a traditional dissertation along with introduction and conclusion chapters. This dissertation argues that current standard-driven, technical, and one-size-fits-all approaches to preparing and supporting teachers for online teaching has been insufficient in addressing teachers’ needs as they make a transition to online teaching and create a distinctive pedagogy for online learning. Because of these unstable patterns both at the organizational and faculty level, many online learning practices are employed as the replication of traditional classroom environments. Moreover, the research has been limited in terms of bringing teachers’ voices into this process, which created a potential to regress them to passive roles. Therefore a critical review was conducted looking at the current literature on online teaching, and formulated a critique of the standardsand competency-driven vision of online teaching from the perspective of transformative learning theory. The study also provided an alternative perspective towards online teacher professional development considering teachers as adult learners, supporting teacher empowerment, promoting critical reflection, and integrating technology into pedagogical inquiry. Considering the importance of bringing teachers’ voices to the discussion on online teaching, a multiple case study was conducted to investigate exemplary online teaching within different colleges of a university. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with six teachers who were selected through the nominations of online
Guiding practice improvements in pediatric surgery using multidisciplinary clinical pathways.

Clinical pathways guide the evaluation and care of patient populations and can advance the strategic initiatives of the organization as well. To meet external and internal demands, this organization developed pathways to reduce variability in practice, integrate available evidence into care delivery, improve care coordination and documentation, increase efficiencies, and provide outcomes data to consumers and payers. The authors highlight processes and outcomes of some of the organization's surgical pathways, including guidelines for children with second degree burns grafted with TransCyte, those children hospitalized for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, appendectomies, atrial and ventricular septal defects, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or surgical gastrostomy procedures.
Passive data link layer 802.11 wireless device driver fingerprinting

Motivated by the proliferation of wireless-enabled devices and the suspect nature of device driver code, we develop a passive fingerprinting technique that identifies the wireless device driver running on an IEEE 802.11 compliant device. This technique is valuable to an attacker wishing to conduct reconnaissance against a potential target so that he may launch a driver-specific exploit. In particular, we develop a unique fingerprinting technique that accurately and efficiently identifies the wireless driver without modification to or cooperation from a wireless device. We perform an evaluation of this fingerprinting technique that shows it both quickly and accurately fingerprints wireless device drivers in real world wireless network conditions. Finally, we discuss ways to prevent fingerprinting that will aid in improving the security of wireless communication for devices that employ 802.11 networking.
Total Bed-Material Transport

A method of estimating the bed-material discharge of sand-bed flumes, canals, and rivers is presented. The method uses a group of curves developed from flume data that relate intensity of transport, intensity of shear, and the median fall diameter of the bed material. Also, these curves illustrate that the intensity of transport varies with regime of flow and form of bed roughness. Application of the method yields good results for sand-bed channels when the depth of flow is less than 4 ft.
Safe closure of therapeutic relationships with abuse survivors.

1 Safe closure of a therapeutic relationship is needed because neither healer nor client can be a "stranger" again. 2 A "failed termination" may overshadow the therapeutic gains that were made during the working phase, constituting a "retraumatization." 3 Closure, as opposed to termination, involves a unique, individualized mutual transformation of the therapeutic relationship into a "real relationship." Language: en
Cardiac Function and Diastolic Dysfunction in Behcet's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Cardiovascular involvement in Behcet's disease (BD) is reported and has variable manifestations. It is not clear if diastolic dysfunction (DD) is increased in BD. Our objective was to evaluate the existing literature to determine if cardiac dysfunction, particularly DD, was more prevalent in these patients. Methods. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available studies analyzing the echocardiographic findings in BD was conducted using a random-effects model. Mean differences were used to calculate the effect sizes of the echocardiographic parameters of interest. Results. A total of 22 studies with 1624 subjects were included in the analysis. Patients with BD had statistically significantly larger mean left atrial dimension (0.08, p = 0.0008), greater aortic diameter (0.16, p = 0.02), significantly reduced ejection fraction (-1.08, p < 0.0001), significantly prolonged mitral deceleration time (14.20, p < 0.0001), lower E/A ratio (-0.24, p = 0.05), and increased isovolumetric relaxation time (7.29, p < 0.00001). Conclusion. DD is increased in patients with BD by the presence of several echocardiographic parameters favoring DD as compared to controls. The meta-analysis also identified that LA dimension is increased in BD patients. EF has also been found to be lower in BD patients. Aortic diameter was also increased in BD patients as compared to controls.
Effects of buoyance on oil droplets migration in waterflood process

By studying the forces on the oil droplets in porous media,the interaction relationship among acting forces of the fluids during the process of oilfield development and the influences of acting forces on the residual oil distribution were analyzed.The action of buoyance on oil droplets during different stages of the oilfield development was considered,and the influences of buoyance on residual oil distribution were studied by Darcy law.The results show that the distribution of vertical residual oil is affected by the buoyance produced by fluids on oil droplets.The influences are relatively obvious in the inner oil layer,while it is not so obvious in the areas near the injection wells and production wells.
Kidney transplantation in patients with an abnormal lower urinary tract.

SUMMARY Several factors influence the decision about which type of urinary drainage is best for any given patient. In a patient who has undergone cystectomy, supravesical drainage is required. However, many patients with upper tract urinary diversion have bladders that can be rehabilitated to provide adequate urinary storage. In most patients who have not had a cystectomy, the bladder can be augmented with bowel to achieve a suitable capacity. The urethral resistance component of continence can be achieved using bladder neck reconstruction, periurethral injection, or artificial urinary sphincter. Intermittent catheterization may be required following lower tract reconstruction. When reconstruction is possible, the native bladder is usually the best option for kidney transplant drainage. In general, one should provide an effective, low-pressure means of urine drainage that the patient can manage. With improvements in surgical technique and with better immunosuppressive regimens, kidney transplantation can be performed safely in patients with abnormal lower urinary tracts. Using appropriate bladder rehabilitation or supravesical diversion can preserve and even improve a patient’s life style.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Since the introduction of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for neonatal respiratory failure, the use of ECMO for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia has increased significantly. ECMO is offered to infants with a high risk of dying (with reported survival rates of 38% to 65%). Unstable infants can be placed on ECMO with subsequent repair on ECMO or after weaning from support. The complication rate can be high with repair on ECMO, but changes in operative techniques have decreased the risk. Most centers use venoarterial ECMO in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), but venovenous ECMO appears as effective. ECMO support appears to have improved the survival rate in high-risk infants with CDH, but because almost all studies are retrospective single institutional and have small numbers of patients, the true improvement in survival rate is difficult to quantitate. Further studies of the value of ECMO in patients with CDH are warranted.
Is laparoscopic colon surgery appropriate in patients who have had previous abdominal surgery

Laparoscopic techniques in colon surgery reduce postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, and 30-day morbidity when compared with open surgery. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of a laparoscopic colectomy in patients who have previously undergone abdominal surgery. We performed a retrospective, single-institution review of laparoscopic colorectal procedures for benign or malignant pathology between October 2002 and September 2008. Our analysis included 55 patients who previously had laparoscopic, open, or a combination of procedures and subsequently underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery. We observed a 14.5 per cent conversion rate (n = 8). Of the patients who had previous open procedures (n = 48 [87.3%]), the conversion rate was 16.7 per cent. Only one patient (12.5%) who had a history of only laparoscopic surgery required conversion. The highest conversion rate in our study was from patients who underwent a left colectomy (60%, n = 3/5), which was the only statistically significant factor found for conversion. Since the emergence of laparoscopy, use in colon and rectal surgery nationwide has been poor as a result of multiple factors, including a frequent history of abdominal surgery. Our experience shows that laparoscopic colorectal surgery in patients with prior intra-abdominal surgery can be completed with an acceptable conversion rate.
Functional strength training: Seated machine vs standing cable training to improve physical function in elderly

Abstract Background The majority of the strength training studies in older adults have incorporated fixed-form exercises using seated resistance training machines. In light of the modest improvements in physical function shown in these studies, functional or task-specific exercises, involving movement patterns that mimic daily activities, have been studied. Free-form exercises, using free-weights or cable, is another form of functional strength training. Currently, no intervention studies exist comparing free-form exercises, using cable machines, and fixed-form exercises, using seated machines in older adults. Methods A total of 29 independently-living older adults, 65 years or older, were randomized into two groups, seated machine (SM, n = 10) and standing cable (SC, n = 12). After 12 weeks of training twice per week, groups were compared. The primary outcome was the Physical Performance Battery (PPB), a measure of physical function. Secondary outcomes were lower and upper body strength and power, activities of daily living evaluated by multiple tests including: Physical Performance Test (PPT), pan carry and gallon jug transfers, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and self-reported function using Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Outcome assessors were blinded to participants' intervention assignments. Results The PPB (SC = 0.23 points; SM = 0.15 points) showed clinical and significant improvements, but there was no significant difference between the groups ( g = 0.2, 95% CI (− 0.6, 1.0). For secondary outcomes, chair stand ( g = 0.7, 95% CI (0.2, 1.6), p = 0.03) and pan carry ( g = 0.8, 95% CI (0.07, 1.07), p = 0.04) favored SC, while chest press 1RM ( g = 0.2, 95% CI (0.06, 1.1), p = 0.02) favored SM. There were no statistically significant group differences between PPB, gallon jug transfer, leg press 1RM, power, RPE or self-reported function. Conclusions Standing cable training was not superior to seated machine training in improving physical performance in older adults. However, both training interventions were effective in improving function. The findings also suggest that exercise specificity should be considered when prescribing resistance exercises to improve physical function in older adults.
Silent Myocardial Ischemia: The Cardiologist's Perspective on Mechanisms, Prevalence, and Treatment

Summary Silent ischemia occurs frequently in patients with stable angina and acute coronary syndromes as well as in patients undergoing major operation. Although it has not yet been established fully, several recent reports indicate that the presence of silent myocardial ischemia is a predictor of adverse clinical outcome and poor prognosis in these patients. Whether treatment of silent ischemia can alter the associated adverse prognosis is not yet known. Furthermore, the effects of anti-ischemic therapy on silent ischemic events detected during the perioperative evaluation has not been evaluated systematically in a large prospective clinical trial. Although antianginal agents, such as nitrates, calcium-channel blockers, and β-blockers, have all been evaluated on an individual basis, large comparative trials are lacking. The results of ongoing studies should provide important information regarding the most appropriate anti-ischemic therapy for control of total ischemic activity. Patients undergoing major operation should be evaluated carefully for the risk of the development of episodes of transient ischemia. Although the benefits of therapy have not yet been proved, based on the associated adverse prognosis, it has been suggested that the high-risk patient with evidence of silent ischemia be treated aggressively in an attempt to reduce the risk of perioperative cardiac events. It seems logical to emphasize that it is the presence of recurrent episodes of myocardial ischemia and not the associated symptoms that determines the subsequent prognosis.
Health Insurance Trends and Access to Behavioral Healthcare Among Justice-Involved Individuals—United States, 2008–2014

A large proportion of justice-involved individuals have mental health issues and substance use disorders (SUD) that are often untreated due to high rates of uninsurance. However, roughly half of justice-involved individuals were estimated to be newly eligible for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We aimed to assess health insurance trends among justice-involved individuals before and after implementation of the ACA’s key provisions, the dependent coverage mandate and Medicaid expansion, and to examine the relationship between health insurance and treatment for behavioral health conditions. Repeated and pooled cross-sectional analyses of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Nationally representative sample of 15,899 adults age 19–64 years between 2008 and 2014 with a history of justice involvement during the prior 12 months. Uninsurance rates between 2008 and 2014 are reported. Additional outcomes include adjusted treatment rates for depression, serious mental illness, and SUD by insurance status. The dependent coverage mandate was associated with a 13.0 percentage point decline in uninsurance among justice-involved individuals age 19–25 years (p < 0.001). Following Medicaid expansion, uninsurance declined among justice involved individuals of all ages by 9.7 percentage points (p < 0.001), but remained 16.3 percentage points higher than uninsurance rates for individuals without justice involvement (p < 0.001). In pooled analyses, Medicaid, relative to uninsurance and private insurance, was associated with significantly higher treatment rates for illicit drug abuse/dependence and depression. Given the high prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorders among justice-involved populations, persistently elevated rates of uninsurance and other barriers to care remain a significant public health concern. Sustained outreach is required to reduce health insurance disparities between individuals with and without justice involvement. Public insurance appears to be associated with higher treatment rates, relative to uninsurance and private insurance, among justice-involved individuals.
Design and engineering of a transmissible antiviral defense

We propose, model, and implement a novel system of population-level intervention against a virus. One context is a treatment against a chronic infection such as HIV. The underlying principle is a form of virus ‘wars’ in which a benign, transmissible agent is engineered to protect against infection by and spread of a lethal virus. In our specific case, the protective agent consists of two entities, a benign virus and a gene therapy vector mobilized by the benign virus. Numerical analysis of a mathematical model identified parameter ranges in which adequate, population-wide protection is achieved. The protective system was implemented and tested using E. coli, bacteriophage M13 and a phagemid vector mobilized by M13 to block infection by the lethal phage T5. Engineering of M13 profoundly improved its dynamical properties for facilitating spread of the gene therapy vector. However, the gene therapy vector converts the host cell to resist T5 too slowly for protection on a time scale appropriate for T5. Overall, there is a reasonable marriage between the mathematical model and the empirical system, suggesting that such models can be useful guides to the design of such systems even before the models incorporate most of the relevant biological details.
From cultural sojourner to guestworker? The historical transformation and contemporary significance of the J-1 visa Summer Work Travel Program

AbstractSince the mid-1990s, the J-1 Summer Work Travel (SWT) program has quadrupled in size. While many J-1 visa holders are in the U.S. to study or conduct research, the primary activity of SWT participants is low-wage labor. We analyze the trajectory of the SWT program since its origins in the Fulbright-Hays Act, underscoring both change and continuity in the practical and discursive handling of what are, in effect, guestworkers. Our analysis reveals both longstanding concerns about the SWT program’s risks to foreign and domestic workers, as well as repeated efforts by U.S. government officials and private sector stakeholders to justify its status as cultural exchange rather than temporary work. Yet despite these concerns, over the last two decades, the SWT program has become larger and less regulated. We explore these changes in the context of two contending forces shaping the labor market: on the demand side, a transformation in the organization of work towards ‘fissured’ workplaces and contingent em...
Monitoring sound and light continuously in an intensive care unit patient room: A pilot study.

Abstract Purpose To determine the feasibility of continuous recording of sound and light in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and methods Four 1-hour baseline scenarios in an empty ICU patient room by day and night (doors open or closed and maximal or minimal lighting) and two daytime scenarios simulating a stable and unstable patient (quiet or loud devices and staff) were conducted. Sound and light levels were continuously recorded using a commercially available multisensor monitor and transmitted via the hospital's network to a cloud-based data storage and management system. Results The empty ICU room was loud with similar mean sound levels of 45 to 46 dBA for the day and night simulations. Mean levels for maximal lighting during day and night ranged from 1306 to 1812 lux and mean levels for minimum lighting were 1 to 3 lux. The mean sound levels for the stable and unstable patient simulations were 61 and 81 dBA, respectively. The mean light levels were 349 lux for the stable patient and 1947 lux for the unstable patient. Conclusions Combined sound and light can be continuously and easily monitored in the ICU setting. Incorporating sound and light monitors in ICU rooms may promote an enhanced patient- and staff-centered healing environment.