cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictive validity of the nursing severity index in patients with musculoskeletal disease

Abstract Prior studies have not examined the validity of severity of illness instruments in patients at low risk for mortality. We, therefore, examined the predictive validity of a newly developed instrument, the Nursing Severity Index in 5347 adult medical and surgical patients with musculoskeletal diagnoses admitted to an academic medical center in 1985–1988. The Index is based on aggregating 34 clinical observations which were recorded by primary nurses during patient care; observations reflect biologic, functional, cognitive and psychosocial abnormalities. Other data, including patient demographic data and outcomes were obtained from hospital data bases. We found that, among all study patients, admission Nursing Severity Index scores were highly related ( p p
Using statistical risk information to assess oral contraceptive safety

The effect of variations in the presentation of oral contraceptive (OC) risk information on perceived safety was investigated. 4 tests of the hypothesis that consumers focus on the absolute value of the number presented when assessing risk probabilities were performed with the following results. 1) When base rates are given risks are perceived as less likely than when base rates are not given. 2) Risks seen smaller when the information provided focuses on the number that will not die than when the number of expected deaths is presented. 3) Contrary to the authors expectation respondents do not focus on foreground numbers when risk is represented in an "X our of Y occurrences" format. 4) Respondents judged a risk of 4.15 times greater as less likely than when the information was presented as 415% greater risk. The authors concluded that consumers convert statistical risk information into judgements about the magnitude of the number presented (small or large number) and utilize this more meaningful information when making risk judgements. (authors)
Octupole deformation in neutron-rich barium isotopes.

Partial decay schemes for the very neutron-rich nuclei $^{142}$,144Ba and $^{146}\mathrm{Ba}$ have been determined by the study of \ensuremath{\gamma}-\ensuremath{\gamma} coincidences in $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$ fission fragments. Interlaced positive- and negative-parity levels connected by fast electric dipole transitions are observed in $^{144}\mathrm{Ba}$ and $^{146}\mathrm{Ba}$ above spin 7\ensuremath{\Elzxh}. This is similar to the situation in some light actinide nuclei, where the data have been interpreted in terms of reflection-asymmetric shapes.
Prediction of Mortality in ELBW Infants using Logistic and Linear Regression versus Neural Networks 1198

INTRO: Neural network models are nonparametric pattern recognition techniques. Compared to techniques such as regression, neural networks offer theoretical advantages, including the ability to detect complex non-linear relationships between independent and dependent variables.
Please Mind the Culture Gap: Intercultural Development During a Teacher Education Study Abroad Program:

Seeking to deepen our understandings of the ways international study abroad programs may enhance efforts to prepare culturally responsive teachers, the purpose of this case study was to explore a preservice teacher’s intercultural development during a semester-long teacher education program in London, England. Such study abroad teacher education programs are offered as an innovative means to promote preservice teachers’ intercultural development, providing unique opportunities for these students to confront their ethnocentric worldviews and begin to consider the ways culture influences teaching and learning. Findings from this study reveal that participation in the program positively influenced intercultural development. Themes that illuminate aspects of the participant’s study abroad experience that both challenged and supported intercultural development included immersion within both a culture and school along with the essential role of an intercultural guide who promoted reflective practices around iss...
Monoclonal antibody therapies for solid tumors.

Background: About 1.4 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2008 and the overall costs of cancer treatment is estimated at > $200 billion per year. Over half a million people will die from cancer each year. Monoclonal antibodies have attracted attention because of their potential clinical benefits. Currently, there are four monoclonal antibodies that have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of solid tumor malignancies. Over 100 other antibodies are in early- and late-phase clinical testing. Objectives/methods: Clinical efficacy of FDA-approved and investigational monoclonal antibody therapies are summarized. Results/conclusions: Anti-tumor responses have been modest. However, the advent of novel antibody engineering and combination therapy strategies has generated much optimism for current and future antibody-based therapeutics in solid tumors.
Corrosion in aqueous cerium oxide magnetorheological fluids

Carbonyl iron (CI) is the magnetic powder used in magnetorheological finishing (MRF). Placed into deionized water, CI shows no evidence of corrosion. When combined with cerium oxide to form an MR polishing fluid evidence of corrosion may be extensive, but can be prevented.
When Genetic Instability Is a Good Thing

Many years of cell-cycle research have been devoted to understanding the mechanisms that replicate and repair the genome so that cells can proliferate without accumulating the genetic damage that drives the initiation and progression of cancer. A classic example of genetic instability in cancer cells is the amplification of segments of the genome in a normally diploid cell type that increases the copy number and thus the expression of oncogenes. However, those who study cell-cycle control in a developmental context know that these types of events are often a normal part of development. This paper by the Orr-Weaver laboratory furthered our understanding of developmentally regulated gene amplification that occurs in Drosophila ovaries. The authors used competitive genome hybridization to a cDNA microarray to identify new follicle cell amplicons required for egg production. This work set the stage for using modern genomic techniques to comprehensively identify gene amplification events that drive the synthesis of large amounts of gene product needed to produce certain structures during development. This PaperPick refers to "Gene amplification as a developmental strategy: isolation of two developmental amplicons in Drosophila ," by Julie M. Claycomb, Matt Benasutti, Giovanni Bosco, Douglas D. Fenger, and Terry L. Orr-Weaver, published in January 2004. Video Abstract Dr. Orr-Weaver discusses her group's work on regulatory programs that amplify (or suppress) overreplication of cell-type-appropriate genes in the Drosophila embryo.
Robotic radical hysterectomy

Objective Advanced laparoscopic procedures are increasing being used in gynecologic surgery. The da Vinci robotic system (Intuitive Surgical Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA) can further augment laparoscopic surgery. We describe our initial experience using the da Vinci robotic system to perform radical hysterectomy. Study Design Twenty consecutive patients with primary stage IB-IIA cervical carcinoma underwent class 3 radical hysterectomy with the use of the da Vinci robotic system. Median age was 44 years, median weight was 69.9 kg, 65% of patients had medical comorbidity, and 40% had prior abdominal surgery. Results All 20 patients successfully underwent robotic radical hysterectomy. Median operative time was 6.5 hours (3.5-8.5 hours) and median blood loss was 300 mL. All patients were discharged on the first day after surgery. At median follow-up of 2 years (0.6-3 years), 90% of patients are alive and disease free. Conclusion We report the first series of robotic radical hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer. All cases were successfully performed robotically with minimal complications and all patients were discharged on postoperative day 1.
A hierarchical model for spatially clustered disease rates.

Maps of regional disease rates are potentially useful tools in examining spatial patterns of disease and for identifying clusters. Bayes and empirical Bayes approaches to this problem have proven useful in smoothing crude maps of disease rates. In recent years, models including both spatially correlated random effects and spatially unstructured random effects have been very popular. The spatially correlated random effects have been proposed in an attempt to capture a general clustering in the data. As an alternative, we propose replacing the spatially structured random effect with fixed clustering effects associated with particular areas. A reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC) algorithm for posterior inference is described. We illustrate the model using the well-known New York leukaemia data.
A 32 kb 10T Sub-Threshold SRAM Array With Bit-Interleaving and Differential Read Scheme in 90 nm CMOS

Ultra-low voltage operation of memory cells has become a topic of much interest due to its applications in very low energy computing and communications. However, due to parameter variations in scaled technologies, stable operation of SRAMs is critical for the success of low-voltage SRAMs. It has been shown that conventional 6T SRAMs fail to achieve reliable subthreshold operation. Hence, researchers have considered different configuration SRAMs for subthreshold operations having single-ended 8T or 10T bit-cells for improved stability. While these bit-cells improve SRAM stability in subthreshold region significantly, the single-ended sensing methods suffer from reduced bit-line swing due to bit-line leakage noise. In addition, efficient bit-interleaving in column may not be possible and hence, the multiple-bit soft errors can be a real issue. In this paper, we propose a differential 10T bit-cell that effectively separates read and write operations, thereby achieving high cell stability. The proposed bit-cell also provides efficient bit-interleaving structure to achieve soft-error tolerance with conventional Error Correcting Codes (ECC). For read access, we employ dynamic DCVSL scheme to compensate bitline leakage noise, thereby improving bitline swing. To verify the proposed techniques, a 32 kb array of the proposed 10T bit-cell is fabricated in 90 nm CMOS technology. The hardware measurement results demonstrate that this bit-cell array successfully operates down to 160 mV. For leakage power comparison, we also fabricated 49 kb arrays of the 6T and the proposed 10T bit-cells. Measurement results show that the leakage power of the proposed bit-cell is close to that of the 6T (between 0.96x and 1.22x of 6T).
Incentives for Developing and Communicating Principles: A Reply

The commentators raised many interesting ideas in response to Armstrong and Pagell (2003), from which one general theme emerges: The commentators claim that management science lacks the incentives to encourage efforts to develop and communicate grounded principles. As a result, academics often conduct their research as an intellectual exercise with little concern as to whether their findings might eventually be of any practical use.
Moving beyond quantity of participation in process evaluation of an intervention to prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain.

Background: Few lifestyle interventions have successfully prevented excessive gestational weight gain. Understanding the program processes through which successful interventions achieve outcomes is important for the design of effective programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the quantity and quality of participation in a healthy lifestyle intervention on risk of excessive gestational weight gain. Findings: Pregnant women (N = 179) received five newsletters about weight, nutrition, and exercise plus postcards on which they were asked to set related goals and return to investigators. The quantity of participation (dose) was defined as low for returning few or some vs. high for many postcards (N = 89, 49.7%). Quality of participation was low for setting few vs. high for some or many appropriate goals (N = 92, 51.4%). Fisher’s exact tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the effect of participation variables on the proportion with excessive weight gain. Quantity and quality of participation alone were each not significantly associated with excessive gestational weight gain, while quality of participation among those with high-levels of participation approached significance (p = 0.07). The odds of gaining excessively was decreased when women had both a high quantity and quality of participation (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.005, 0.30).
Postprandial Mineral Metabolism and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Early CKD

Normophosphatemia and normocalcemia are maintained in chronic kidney disease (CKD) by increased levels of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and parathyroid hormone (PTH), but the stimuli for secretion of these hormones in early CKD are incompletely understood. Most human physiologic studies have focused on random or fasting measurements of phosphorus, calcium, FGF-23, and PTH, but in this study, the hypothesis was that measurements in the postprandial state may reveal intermittent stimuli that lead to increased FGF-23 and PTH levels. The 4-h postprandial response in 13 patients with CKD and fasting normophosphatemia and normocalcemia (mean GFR 41 ± 8 ml/min per m 2 ) was compared with 21 healthy volunteers. Compared with healthy subjects, fasting patients with CKD had significantly higher levels of FGF-23 and fractional excretion of phosphorus; lower fractional excretion of calcium; and no difference in serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels. After standardized meals, urinary phosphorus excretion in both groups increased despite unchanged serum phosphorus and FGF-23 levels. Postprandial urinary calcium excretion also increased in both groups, and this was accompanied by significantly reduced serum calcium and increased PTH levels in patients with CKD only; therefore, FGF-23 does not seem to be an acute postprandial regulator of phosphaturia in CKD or in health, but inappropriate postprandial calciuria with episodic, relative hypocalcemia may represent a previously unreported mechanism of secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD.
The Electrocardiographic Diagnosis of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This study compares electrocardiographic changes with right ventricular mass rather than thickness of the ventricular wall in 71 patients with an unequivocal clinical and pathologic diagnosis of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Specific heart chamber weights were determined in all patients. Pathologically, 30 patients had definite right ventricular hypertrophy and 3 probable right ventricular hypertrophy; 20 patients had normal ventricular weights and 18 patients had left ventricular hypertrophy. Using 20 suggested ECG criteria for the diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy, 226 ECG's were analyzed. Four criteria were found to be most reliable: S 1 Q 3 pattern, right axis deviation ≧ 110°, S 1 -S 2 -S 3 pattern, and R/S ratio in V 6 ≦ 1.0. These four simple ECG criteria can be used effectively in predicting right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Postcards from the Edge of the Color Line: Images of African Americans in Popular Culture, 1893–1917

This paper examines visual representations of African Americans on postcards from 1893 to World War I. Caricatures of African Americans found on these popular cultural artifacts frequently employ the visual metaphor of other-as-beast. To map the discursive features of this form of racist ideology, attention is paid to the icono-graphic and linguistic strategies employed to depict African Americans as physically, intellectually, and temperamentally distinct and inferior. While no oppositional readings to this racist discourse were located in the flip-side messages of the senders, resistance was located in the contemporaneous popular culture of African Americans.
Mechanisms of Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor Endocytosis and Intracellular Sorting Differ between Fibroblasts and Epithelial Cells

Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-beta) are multifunctional proteins capable of either stimulating or inhibiting mitosis, depending on the cell type. These diverse cellular responses are caused by stimulating a single receptor complex composed of type I and type II receptors. Using a chimeric receptor model where the granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor ligand binding domains are fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic signaling domains of the TGF-beta type I and II receptors, we wished to describe the role(s) of specific amino acid residues in regulating ligand-mediated endocytosis and signaling in fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Specific point mutations were introduced at Y182, T200, and Y249 of the type I receptor and K277 and P525 of the type II receptor. Mutation of either Y182 or Y249, residues within two putative consensus tyrosine-based internalization motifs, had no effect on endocytosis or signaling. This is in contrast to mutation of T200 to valine, which resulted in ablation of signaling in both cell types, while only abolishing receptor down-regulation in fibroblasts. Moreover, in the absence of ligand, both fibroblasts and epithelial cells constitutively internalize and recycle the TGF-beta receptor complex back to the plasma membrane. The data indicate fundamental differences between mesenchymal and epithelial cells in endocytic sorting and suggest that ligand binding diverts heteromeric receptors from the default recycling pool to a pathway mediating receptor down-regulation and signaling.
Do Posttransplant Outcomes Differ in Heart Transplant Recipients Bridged With Continuous and Pulsatile Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Background The purpose of this study was to compare posttransplantation morbidity and mortality in orthotopic heart transplant recipients bridged to transplant with (1) continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD), (2) pulsatile-flow LVAD, or (3) inotropic therapy only with no LVAD. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing provided deidentified patient-level data. All status 1 orthotopic heart transplant recipients (n = 7,744) 18 or more years of age and transplanted between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2008, were included. Follow-up was available through June 18, 2009. Recipients were stratified into three groups: inotropes (n = 5,448, 70.4%), continuous-flow LVAD (CONT [n = 564, 7.3%]), and pulsatile-flow LVAD (PULS [n = 1,732, 22.4%]). The primary outcome measure was risk-adjusted posttransplant graft survival (PTGS) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included risk-adjusted PTGS at 90 days to 1 year and 1 to 5 years. Results Unadjusted PTGS was similar in all groups ( p = 0.920). When compared with recipients bridged with inotropes, PTGS for patients bridged with an LVAD (CONT or PULS) did not differ in any follow-up period analyzed ( p = 0.021), but not in the PULS group ( p = 0.244), improved significantly between the first half of the study period (2001 to 2004) and the second half (2005 to 2008). Conclusions Compared with recipients bridged with inotropes, neither unadjusted nor adjusted PTGS differed for either the CONT group or the PULS group. Outcomes among the CONT group improved significantly from the first to the second half of the study period.
Acoustic Techniques for Estimating Fish Abundance

Echo counting and echo integration are two acoustic techniques for estimating the abundance of fish stocks. Mathematical models for the echo counting and echo integrating systems are presented and analyzed. Expressions for the mean squared errors of the abundance estimate obtained with each system are obtained. Both theoretical performance and the practical problems of implementation are considered in the discussion of the relative advantages and disadvantages of each system.
Advances in imaging for diagnosis and management of cardiac sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder with a high prevalence of cardiac involvement. Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) may be life threatening due to end-stage cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death. The frequent absence of specific symptoms and lack of a diagnostic 'gold standard' pose challenges in the diagnosis of CS. Endomyocardial biopsy, although specific, has an unacceptably low sensitivity. Non-invasive cardiac imaging has a huge role in the assessment of patients with known or suspected CS. This comprehensive review compares the diagnostic accuracy, along with advantages and disadvantages, of established and emerging imaging modalities for CS.
Influence of Linoleic Acid on Egg Weight

Abstract JENSEN et al. (1958) presented evidence of an unidentified factor in yellow corn and in certain other feedstuffs necessary for maximum egg weight. A level of 70% corn or 3% crude corn oil in the diet increased egg weight. Further studies by Shutze et al. (1958) showed that when corn oil was oxidized, the factor was inactivated or destroyed, and that the factor was in the saponifiable fraction and stable to heat. Another series of experiments has been undertaken to determine the influence on egg weight of linoleic acid, methyl linoleate and natural oils which are generally high in linoleic acid. PROCEDURE Three experiments were conducted with Single Comb White Leghorn pullets maintained in individual cages. The treatments were randomly assigned to groups of six birds. Egg weight change was determined by calculating the difference between the average egg weight at the end of a 4–8 week depletion period…
Special issue on the Accelerating Clinical Trials and Outcomes Research (ACTOR) Conference.

Many occupational therapy practitioners enter the profession to help improve people’s lives, but how do we know that our treatments work? The answer lies not with techniques and modalities; instead, our treatments work because of theories and research. The role of research in education, practice, and policy continues to grow, and accordingly research is highlighted in the Centennial Vision with the words “science-driven” and “evidence-based” (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2007). The emphasis on research is timely given the increasing health care needs of
Respiration and Acid-Base Physiology of the Spotted Gar, A Bimodal Breather: III. Response to a Transfer from Fresh Water to 50% Sea Water, and Control of Ventilation

Transfer from fresh water to 50% sea water (SW) at 26 °C increased the blood osmolarity of spotted gar ( Lepisosteus oculatus ) from 275 to 310 mosmol during the first 24 h. It then returned slowly to freshwater levels by 5 days after the transfer. The arterial pH dropped sharply, from 7.69 in fresh water to 7.46 in 50% SW, as a result of a small elevation in the blood CO2 partial pressure, and a marked metabolic acidosis. The respiratory (CO2) portion of the acidosis appeared to be a result of the reduction in branchial ventilation, and possibly permeability as well. The metabolic portion of the acidosis was not due to the accumulation of lactic acid, but probably involved a disruption of the extracellular strong ion difference in the saltier medium. The metabolic acidosis did not diminish during 5 days. The rate of air breathing rose from 7 to 20 bph during 50 % SW exposure. The control of pulmonary ventilation was directly responsive to the availability of O2, in general increasing when O2 was limiting (e.g. 50% SW transfer, hypoxia) and decreasing in hyperoxia. CO2 had no affect on the rate of air breathing. Withdrawal from 5–20% of total lung volume elicited an immediate air breath during hypoxia, but the response was inconsistent in normally aerated water. Lung inflation with O2 prolonged the interval between air breaths, but inflation with N2 did not change the rate of air breathing. Thus, pulmonary ventilation was secondarily controlled by lung volume. Gill ventilation frequency fell in 50 % SW, despite a respiratory and metabolic acidosis, while gill ventilation increased in response to treatment with acetazolamide. Hyperoxia caused a marked depression of gill ventilation, despite a respiratory acidosis. The gill ventilation rate appears to be most closely linked to oxygen, but may be affected indirectly by CO2 through the Root or Bohr effects.
Analysis of magnetic stimulation of a concentric axon in a nerve bundle

The authors present an analysis of magnetic stimulation of an axon located at the center of a nerve bundle. A three-dimensional axisymmetric volume conductor model is used to determine the transmembrane potential response along an axon due to induced electric fields produced by a toroidal coil. The authors evaluate four such models of an axon located in: (1) an isotropic nerve bundle with no perineurium, (2) an anisotropic nerve bundle without a perineurium, (3) an isotropic nerve bundle surrounded by a perineurium, and (4) an anisotropic nerve bundle surrounded by a perineurium. The transmembrane polarization computed along an axon for the above four models is compared to that for an axon located in an infinite homogenous medium. These calculations indicate that a nerve bundle with no sheath has little effect on the transmembrane potential. However, the presence of a perineurium around the nerve bundle and anisotropy in the bundle significantly affects the shape of the transmembrane response. Therefore, during magnetic stimulation, nerve bundle anisotropy and the presence of perineurium must be taken into account for calculation of stimulus intensities for threshold excitation. >
Response of NF1‐related plexiform neurofibroma to High‐Dose Carboplatin

Plexiform neurofibromas (PN) are a hallmark of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). These large nerve tumors can be disfiguring and surgery is the only known standard therapy. Surgical intervention may be suboptimal due to the diffuse nature of PN. Here, we present a case in which we describe the use of high-dose carboplatin to treat the patient's testicular seminoma which resulted in the decrease in size of a PN in a patient with NF1.
Stereo person tracking with short and long term plan-view appearance models of shape and color

In prior work, we introduced adaptive plan-view height and occupancy templates, derived from stereo camera data, for person tracking and activity recognition. These templates efficiently capture current details of each tracked person's body pose, thereby enabling good tracking performance even when multiple people occlude and interact with each other. However, the templates ignore useful color information, and their rapid evolution makes them poorly suited for recognizing the same person at well-separated times. In this paper, we seek to remedy both of these shortcomings, by 1) adding novel plan-view color templates to our short-term, template-based models of person appearance, and 2) augmenting our person descriptions with longer-term models that describe invariants of each person's shape and color. We demonstrate how each of these improves our real-time tracking performance on challenging, multi-person sequences.
Movements between coral colonies in Trapezia ferruginea (Crustacea: Brachyura), an obligate symbiont of scleractinian corals

Trapezia ferruginea appears to depend entirely on its coral host (Pocillopora spp.) for shelter and food. Field and laboratory experiments have shown that the brightly colored crabs move between colonies at night. Analysis of movements in crabs randomly distributed among randomized Pocillopora damicornis colonies under laboratory conditions showed that after 6 days there was a significant increase in the number of heterosexual pairs (P 0.05) in a similar experiment where very intense predation by carnivorous fishes was present. This host selection by adults appears to be elicited by the lack of a suitable partner and the inadequate size of their established territory in the colony.
On a new medullosan pollen organ from the Pennsylvanian of North America

Interpretingthe reproductivebiologyoffossil plants has contributed significantlytoourunderstanding of plantevolution.Especially important are studies that have focused on structurally preserved reproductive organs that contain pollen or spores. Among Carboniferous pteridosperms, the medullosans are interpreted as a highly diverse group based on a large number of pollen organs and ovules. Here we report a permineralized pollen organ of Pennsylvanian age (Breathitt Formation) from eastern Kentucky, USA. The synangiumisslightlymorethanacentimeterlongandapproximately2.5mmindiameter,andcomposedof10–12thin-walled,elongate sporangia. Vascular bundles occur in the periphery of the ground tissue. Pollen grains are of theMonoletes-type and up to 195 μ ml ong. When compared with other Monoletes-producing pollen organs, the Lewis Creek synangium is most similar to the impression/ compression morphotype Aulacotheca. Based on the co-occurrence of vegetative and reproductive organs, we suggest that this pollen organ was borne on Medullosa anglica.
A comparison of prairie cordgrass and switchgrass as a biomass for syngas production

A computational simulation of the gasification of prairie cordgrass (PCG) and switchgrass is conducted to assess their suitability as gasifying fuels in the production of syngas. An Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) bubbling fluidized gasifier is modeled using a commercial code that previously has been documented to simulate this particular reactor exceptionally well. Despite the similarities in the ultimate analyses of the PCG and switchgrass with regards to the amounts of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the composition of the syngas is found to differ notably between the two grasses. The gasification of switchgrass results in significantly higher H2 than that of PCG. The syngas produced from switchgrass also has greater amounts of CO than PCG, but results in very small amounts of methane when compared to PCG. The H2/CO molar ratio of the syngas produced, which is a very important design parameter in the Fischer–Tropsch process, is greater for switchgrass than prairie cordgrass.
Demographic Analysis of Small Populations Using the Own-Children Method

This article discusses the own-childrenmethod, a reverse-survival techniquedevised by demographers to estimate Total Fertility Rates in the absence of detailed data on reproduction. The method is u...
Detention of Asylum Seekers En Masse: Immigration Detention in the United States

In this essay, we discuss how the increasingly punitive nature of the immigration detention regime in the United States affects the lives and legal claims of asylum seekers. First, we lay out the history of immigration detention policies and practices in the United States, emphasizing how the detention regime has grown in scale and severity over the last twenty-five years. Second, we examine the implications of these policies and practices for asylum seekers. Finally, we conclude by assessing the prospects for further change in the context of current debates over comprehensive immigration reform.
Pharmacodynamics of transdermal granisetron in women with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy

Background Limited options exist for women with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) who cannot tolerate oral intake. Transdermal delivery of granisetron, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist, provides an effective alternative for such patients. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacodynamics of granisetron administered intravenously (IV) and as a sustained release transdermal patch in women with NVP. Study Design We recruited 16 women with singleton gestation between 12 0/7-18 6/7 weeks who were receiving treatment for NVP and had a Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) score of ≥6. All consenting subjects received 1 mg of granisetron as an IV infusion over 5 minutes and blood was obtained prior to the infusion and at 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after the start of the infusion. After a minimum washout of 48 hours after initiation of IV granisetron, a 52-cm 2 granisetron patch (34.3 mg) was placed on the upper arm of all subjects for 7 days. Blood was drawn prior to patch placement and daily thereafter for 9 days. The subjects were evaluated daily. The PUQE score was obtained from these subjects prior to the IV infusion and daily for 2 days after and again prior to and daily for 9 days after patch placement. Results Complete data were available in 15 women after IV administration and 13 women after patch placement. One woman stopped participation during the IV infusion while data were not available in 2 additional women after patch placement due to noncompliance. Peak plasma granisetron concentrations after IV and transdermal administration were similar (∼10 ng/mL). Prior to IV administration of granisetron, the PUQE score was 8.6 ± 1.8 (mean ± SD). The PUQE scores were significantly reduced for the ensuing 2 days ( P P Conclusion Granisetron significantly improved symptoms of nausea and vomiting as gauged by the PUQE score. After IV infusion the reduction in PUQE score was observed within 1 day. When granisetron was administered as a patch, benefit likewise was seen within 1 day suggesting rapid absorption of the medication transdermally. The beneficial effect of transdermal granisetron on the PUQE score persisted for the entire 7 days during which the patch was in place. In this small cohort, the granisetron patch appeared to be efficacious in reducing the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The patch provides another option for treating this disorder and may be particularly useful in women who cannot tolerate oral medications.
Photochemical Ring Openings are Complete in Picoseconds: A Time-Resolved UV Resonance Raman Study

A classic electrocyclic ring-opening reaction is the photoconversion of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) to cis-hexatriene (cis-HT)[1]. Our time-resolved resonance Raman studies have shown that the timescale for cis-HT formation is 8 ± 1 ps[2]. To determine if the kinetics of CHD are representative of other photochemical ring-opening reactions, we have studied the photoconversions of 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene (COT) to octatetraene and of α-phellandrene (α-PHE) to 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,5-octatriene.[3] COT is known to photochemically ring open with a disrotatory motion of the methylene portion of the ring as opposed to the conrotatory ring opening of CHD[4]. α-PHE is a substituted 1,3-cyclohexadiene in which one of the carbons undergoing conrotatory rotation has a hydrogen substituted for an isopropyl group.[5]
Reaction of Orthoesters with Amine Hydrochlorides: An Introductory Organic Lab Experiment Combining Synthesis, Spectral Analysis, and Mechanistic Discovery

While orthoesters are often used by chemists as alkylating, acylating, and formylating agents, they are rarely encountered in introductory organic chemistry curricula. We describe a second-semester organic chemistry laboratory experiment in which students acetylate unknown amine hydrochloride salts with trimethyl orthoacetate (TMOA) in the absence of solvent, monitor the progress of the reaction chromatographically, identify the amide product spectroscopically, and propose a mechanism supported by spectral detection of a transient imidate intermediate in an aliquot removed from the reaction mixture. This operationally straightforward experiment combines synthesis with spectral analysis as part of a mechanistic investigation.
A mimic of soft tissue infection: intra-arterial injection drug use producing hand swelling and digital ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Inadvertent intra-arterial injection of illicit substances is a known complication of injection drug use and can lead to severe complications, including infection, ischemia and compartment syndrome. Identifying complications of intra-arterial injection can be difficult, as clinical manifestations overlap with other more common conditions such as cellulitis and soft tissue infection, and a history of injection drug use is frequently not disclosed. METHODS: A 37-year-old male patient presented with 24 hours of right hand pain, erythema and swelling. Despite classic "track marks", he denied a history of injection drug use, and vascular insults were not initially considered. After failing to respond to three days of aggressive treatment for suspected deep-space infection, an arteriogram demonstrated findings consistent with digital ischemia of embolic etiology. RESULTS: As a result of the delay in diagnosis, the lesion was not amenable to reperfusion and the patient required amputation of the distal digit. CONCLUSION: Practitioners should be alert to the possibility of intra-arterial injection and resulting complications when evaluating unusual extremity infections or unexplained ischemic symptoms, even in the absence of a definite history of injection drug use.
Levodopa therapy for Parkinson disease A look backward and forward

Although levodopa is widely recognized as the most effective therapy for Parkinson disease (PD), its introduction 5 decades ago was preceded by several years of uncertainty and equivocal clinical results. The translation of basic neuroscience research by Arvid Carlsson and Oleh Hornykiewicz provided a logical pathway for treating PD with levodopa. Yet the pioneering clinicians who transformed PD therapeutics with this drug--among them Walther Birkmayer, Isamu Sano, Patrick McGeer, George Cotzias, Melvin Yahr, and others--faced many challenges in determining whether the concept and the method for replenishing deficient striatal dopamine was correct. This article reviews highlights in the early development of levodopa therapy. In addition, it provides an overview of emerging drug delivery strategies that show promise for improving levodopa's pharmacologic limitations.
Stigma and Divorce: A Relevant Lens for Emerging and Young Adult Women?

ABSTRACTHistorically, divorced women have been vulnerable to devaluation. This study examined the experiences of divorce-related stigma in emerging and young adult women, who at the time of divorce were between the ages of 23 and 32. Using consensual qualitative research methodology, (Hill et al., 2005), the authors identified 5 categories pertaining to stigma and divorce: (a) self-stigma versus public stigma; (b) failure, embarrassment, and perceptions of blame; (c) religion and stigma; (d) nondisclosure and impression management; and (e) contextual considerations: “it would have been different if.” Analyses suggest that stigma informs the behavior of emerging and young adult women in nuanced and contradictory ways. Although a significant number of the participants acted in ways that were consistent with the belief that stigmatization is relevant to their lives, when they spoke of stigma, they assessed that stigma is no longer relevant. Implications for clinicians and related professionals are discussed.
The Gamma A Globulins: First Line of Defense

Secretory IgA—the antibody class that predominates at all interfaces between the internal and external environments—differs from serum IgA in possessing a unique “piece” that appears to lend it stability. In the second article of a series on immunology, Dr. Tornasi outlines what is known about the gamma A and other globulins and suggests a mechanism to explain how piece is formed and integrated into secretory IgA.
A Comparison of the Noise Characteristics of a Conventional Slat and Krueger Flap

An aeroacoustic test of two types of leading-edge high-lift devices has been conducted in the NASA Langley Quiet Flow Facility. The test compares a conventional slat with a notional equivalent-mission Krueger flap. The test matrix includes points that allow for direct comparison of the conventional and Krueger devices for equivalent-mission configurations, where the two high-lift devices satisfy the same lift requirements for a free air flight path at the same cruise airfoil angle of attack. Measurements are made for multiple Mach numbers and directivity angles. Results indicate that the Krueger flap shows similar agreement to the expected power law scaling of a conventional flap, both in terms of Strouhal number and fixed frequency (as a surrogate for Helmholtz number). Directivity patterns vary depending on the specific slat and Krueger orientations. Varying the slat gap while holding overlap constant has the same influence on both the conventional slat and Krueger flap acoustic signature. Closing the gap shows dramatic reduction in levels for both devices. Varying the Krueger overlap has a different effect on the data when compared to varying the slat overlap, but analysis is limited by acoustic sources that regularly present themselves in model-scale wind tunnel testing but are not present for full-scale vehicles. The Krueger cavity is found to have some influence on level and directivity, though not as much as the other considered parameter variations. Overall, while the spectra of the two devices are different in detail, their scaling behavior for varying parameters is extremely similar.
Electronic nicotine delivery system landscape in licensed tobacco retailers: results of a county-level survey in Oklahoma

Objectives Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have recently emerged as a component of the tobacco retail environment. The aims of this study were to describe the availability, types of ENDS and placement of ENDS relative to traditional tobacco products at franchised licensed tobacco retailers and non-franchised licensed tobacco retailers. Design Observational study. Setting Franchised and non-franchised tobacco retailers in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, USA. Primary and secondary outcome measures The number of stores selling ENDS, the variability in brands of ENDS sold, the location of the ENDS within the retailers, the quantity of ENDS sold compared with traditional tobacco products, and the presence of outdoor signage. Results Data from 57 randomly sampled tobacco retailers were used to describe the presence of ENDS at independent non-franchised and franchised tobacco retailers. The overwhelming majority (90%) of licensed tobacco retailers sold ENDS, and differences were observed between franchised and non-franchised stores. 45 of the 51 retailers (88%) selling ENDS had them placed at the point of sale. 2 of the 21 franchised retailers (9.5%) had ENDS placed at ≤3½ feet above floor level compared to none of the 30 non-franchised retailers (0%). Conclusions This small study is the first to characterise ENDS within the tobacco retail environment in a county in Oklahoma, USA. The results from this study demonstrate the complexity of the tobacco retail landscape and generate questions for future studies regarding the incorporation and placement of ENDS in tobacco retail environments.
The Role of Nonhuman Primate Animal Models in the Clinical Development of Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies.

On 28 September 2015, the Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) Workshop was held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The workshop was sponsored by the Office of Scientific Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
PGE2 induces cyclin D1 in colon cancer via the Wnt pathway

6124 Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme for conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins including PGE 2 , is often associated with reduced proliferation of cancer cells; the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. A large body of studies demonstrates a strong link between COX-2/PGE 2 signaling and the APC/β-catenin/TCF pathway in intestinal neoplasia. The most convincing evidence was provided by clinical trials conducted in Familiar Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) patients that result from germline mutations of the APC gene. Administration of sulindac or celecoxib, which inhibit COX enzyme activity, significantly reduces size and number of polyps in these patients. In the present study, we show that PGE 2 activated the Wnt signaling pathway and induced the expression of a Wnt target gene cyclin D1 in vitro and in vivo . Exposure to PGE 2 rapidly increased levels of cyclin D1 protein in colon cancer LS-174 cells. PGE 2 increased the activity of cyclin D1 promoter driving reporter vector 4.5-fold. Furthermore, expression of stabilized β-catenin (Δ-89) increased the activity of the cyclin D1 promoter; however, in combination, PGE 2 and mutated β-catenin (Δ-89) induced the activity of cyclin D1 promoter in a synergistic manner. Cyclin D1 promoter contains both TCF and CRE binding sites; mutation of the CRE did not attenuate PGE 2 induced cyclin D1 transcription. In contrast, TCF elements were critical for PGE 2 -induced cyclin D1 promoter activity. In animal experiments, administration of PGE 2 significantly increased the levels of cyclin D1 protein in APC min/+ mouse polyps. To confirm that PGE 2 was able to activate the Wnt pathway directly, LS-174 cells were transfected with a TCF reporter vector, TOPflash, which contains a combination of TCF binding sites. Exposure to PGE 2 increased in the transcriptional activity of TCF ∼10-fold. PGE 2 induced TCF activity in a concentration-dependent fashion; as low as 1 nM PGE 2 clearly activated TCF elements. To investigate the effect of PGE 2 on endogenous activity of the Wnt pathway, HCA-7 colon cancer cells were treated with low concentration celecoxib to block the generation of endogenous PGE 2 . Celecoxib at 0.1 μM reduced TCF activity by ∼ 50%, suggesting that HCA-7 generated PGE 2 was partially responsible for the endogenous activity of the Wnt pathway. Activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway was required for PGE 2 stimulation of the Wnt pathway, as a specific PKA inhibitor, H-89, completely attenuated the PGE 2 induced Wnt activity. In summary, COX-2 generated PGE 2 may stimulate the Wnt pathway directly and activate Wnt target genes. Given the critical roles of Wnt target genes in regulation of cell proliferation, migration, transformation, and neo-angiogenesis, our results provide a novel mechanism by which COX-2/PGE 2 signaling exerts pro-oncogenic effects in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Econometrics and Epidemiology

One goal of creating a model is to organize thoughts, ideas, or assumptions into a coherent form so as to draw out the logical implications of the basic premises of the model. A second reason to create a model is to empirically test a hypothesis or empirically measure the magnitude of some effect. The goal of this chapter is to demonstrate the usefulness of precise modeling for empirical estimation.
What is “Chernobyl Syndrome?” The Use of Radiophobia in Nuclear Communications

This article examines the use of “radiophobia,” “Chernobyl syndrome,” “irrationality,” and other similar concepts in communications on nuclear issues. Historically, these terms have been used in tw...
Regional variation in the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Decreasing disparities with multimodality therapy

Background Survival in pancreatic cancer remains poor with curative potential dependent on operative resection. We reviewed national adherence to practice guidelines to evaluate regional variation in the treatment and survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods Retrospective cohort review of adults with pancreatic adenocarcinoma using the National Cancer Data Base from 2006 to 2013. Overall survival was compared by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. Sequential multivariate logistic regression models were generated for odds of: a) diagnosis in stage I/II, b) resection, and c) receipt of multimodality therapy, defined as operative resection plus chemotherapy with or without radiation. Five geographic regions of the United States were used for analyses. Results A total of 115,952 patients were identified. At least 22% of patients in all stages received no treatment, with only 38.4% and 32.3% of stage I and II patients receiving multimodality therapy. On unadjusted analysis, the Northeast had the greatest survival for all stages of disease, most pronounced for stage I where patients lived 2 to 3 more months (log-rank P Conclusion Regional variations exist in pancreatic cancer treatment and survival. While providing multimodality cancer-directed therapy can help mitigate these differences, survival with pancreatic cancer needs to be interpreted in the context of overall health, underlying risk factors, and life expectancy.