cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of traumatic war wounds using vacuum-assisted closure dressings in an austere environment.

OBJECTIVE The study was undertaken to develop a protocol for the ongoing management of traumatic war wounds in the austere environment of a combat support hospital. METHOD A total of 286 surgical procedures were performed by a single orthopaedic surgeon during a 5-month period at a combat support hospital in Iraq. Over 150 procedures were performed on Iraqi soldiers, detainees, and civilians who would receive their definitive care at the combat support hospital, and who would remain as inpatients until their wounds were healed enough for discharge. Initially, all extremity wounds were treated with surgical irrigation and debridement followed by twice daily dressing changes on the wards. As the ward census increased to 75 patients, it became necessary to develop alternate forms of wound management. Field expedient vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) dressings were instituted. These dressings were created with fluffs or prep sponges, suction tubing, Ioband, and portable suction machines. The VAC dressings were left in place for 3 to 4 days and then changed. Traumatic, contaminated, and infected wounds were rapidly debrided and granulation tissue was induced. The portable suction pumps, however, were extremely noisy and failed with continued use. Machines and sponges manufactured by KCI Inc. were purchased. The VAC dressing became an invaluable tool for managing, closing, and preparing wounds for skin grafting. Over 50 traumatic war wounds were treated with the VAC dressing. The clinical courses of 20 of these wounds were carefully documented with digital photography. RESULTS Over 50 traumatic war wounds were effectively treated with initial irrigation and debridement, followed by serial application of VAC dressings. VAC dressings rapidly debrided contaminated wounds, reduced edema, decreased wound size, and induced granulation tissue. Wounds were then treated by delayed primary closure, local flap coverage, or skin grafting. CONCLUSION An effective protocol utilizing VAC dressings was developed for the expeditious treatment of traumatic war injuries in an austere environment.
Forgiving the Unforgivable: An Exploration of Contradictions between Forgiveness-related Feeling Rules and Lived Experience of Forgiveness of Extreme Harm

Utilizing a symbolic interactionist framework, this article analyzes data from 30 semistructured interviews of individuals who have lost loved ones to homicide and 32 months of concurrent participa...
Frequency of bovine viral diarrhea virus detected in subpopulations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in persistently infected animals and health outcome

Abstract Bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) cause acute and persistent infections. Acute infection results in generalized immunosuppression characterized by a decrease in circulating lymphocytes as a result of depletion of CD4+ and CD8 + T cell populations. Persistent infection with BVDV is the result of immune tolerance and is generally not associated with lymphocytopenia. The health outcome of persistently infected (PI) calves varies widely; some die of mucosal disease, some succumb to ill thrift and others appear normal and survive to adulthood. Detection of BVDV at the single lymphoid cell level is important to the study of subpopulations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) during BVDV infections, however there are few methods available for the detection and quantification of BVDV at this level. To circumvent this difficulty, a novel flow cytometry-based PrimeFlow RNA assay using in-situ detection of BVDV was developed. This assay was used to evaluate differences in viral distribution within subpopulations of PBMC over time in PI calves carrying one of two different species of BVDV (type 1 and type 2). Calves were sampled at 3 different time points approximately one month apart. During the course of the study, a subset of the calves died from ill thrift. Mucosal disease was not indicated in any of the deaths. Using RNA probes specific for the BVDV Npro-Erns coding regions for each respective virus, BVDV RNA was detected in all PBMC of PI that appeared clinically healthy. Calves that succumbed to ill thrift were found to have no or little virus in T cells. The clearance of virus from T cells suggests a breakdown in immune tolerance in these calves. This is the first report of a pattern observed in the viral load in the T cell subpopulations and survival in PI calves.
Sleep Apnea Increases Ninety-Day Complications and Cost Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Sleep apnea (SA) negatively affects bone mineralization, cognition, and immunity. There is paucity in the literature regarding the impact of SA on total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The purpose of this study is to compare complications in patients with and without SA undergoing either total knee (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods A retrospective review from 2005 to 2014 was conducted using the Medicare Standard Analytical Files. Patients with and without SA on the day of the primary TJA were queried using the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision codes. Patients were matched by age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index), and body mass index. Patients were followed for 2 years after their surgery. Ninety-day medical complications, complications related to implant, readmission rates, length of stay, and 1-year mortality were quantified and compared. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) with their respective 95% confidence interval and P values. Results After the random matching process there were 529,240 patients (female = 271,656, male = 252,106, unknown = 5478) with (TKA = 189,968, THA = 74,652) and without (TKA = 189,968, THA = 74,652) SA who underwent primary TJA between 2005 and 2014. Patients with SA had greater odds of developing medical complications following TKA (OR 3.71) or THA (OR 2.48). Conclusion The study illustrates an increased risk of developing postoperative complications in patients with SA following primary TJA. Surgeons should educate patients on these adverse effects and encourage the use of continuous positive airway pressure which has been shown to mitigate many postoperative complications.
Soul of the community: an attempt to assess attachment to a community

In this article, we work with data from the Soul of the Community survey project that was conducted by the Knight Foundation from 2008 to 2010. Overall, 26 communities across the United States with a total of more than 47,800 participants took part in this study. Each year, around 200 different questions were posed to each participant. One key variable is attachment to one’s community. In our article, we provide an assessment via various machine learning algorithms which factors may have an effect on attachment.
Do government and legal barriers impede entrepreneurship in the U.S.? An exploratory study of perceived vs. actual barriers

Abstract In this exploratory study, we investigate how the actual and the perceived level of government bureaucracy correlates with nascent ventures' outcomes, a largely understudied topic in entrepreneurship literature. We use data merged (N = 922) from the U.S. Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics II (PSED II)—which tracked nascent startups over a six-year period—and the Economic Freedom of North America Index from the Fraser Institute. We find no relationship between state-level economic freedom and startups' outcomes and no relationship between the actual and the perceived government bureaucracy. Additionally, government is perceived as a major barrier by only 6% of entrepreneurs (of whom only 54% actually check government regulations), and 1% of entrepreneurs list regulations as the main reason for quitting the startup process. Overall, our results suggest that government and legal barriers are not significantly related to nascent startups’ outcomes and are not major barriers for entrepreneurs.
Impact of ecohydrological fluctuations on iron-redox cycling

Abstract Because of its interaction with plants, carbon decomposition, and soil properties, soil iron cycle has been recognized as an important player in the carbon and other biogeochemical cycles. The impact of the hydrologic cycle and plants on it, however, remains largely unexplored. Here we focus on terrestrial ecosystems and develop a dynamical system to analyze the coupling between iron and carbon dynamics in the soil root zone as driven by fluctuations in soil moisture. Particular emphasis is placed on the modeling of the soil organic matter, the Fe-reducing population, the iron Fe2+-Fe3+ cycling, and the soil moisture level, which controls the redox rates. Informed by laboratory and field measurements from a tropical forest, our results suggest that soil moisture and litterfall rates are the primary drivers of iron fluctuations at daily-to-seasonal temporal scales. We also emphasize the important role of soil iron cycle in the decomposition of the organic matter.
Functional Gradient Motion Planning in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces

We introduce a functional gradient descent trajectory optimization algorithm for robot motion planning in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces (RKHSs). Functional gradient algorithms are a popular choice for motion planning in complex many-degree-of-freedom robots, since they (in theory) work by directly optimizing within a space of continuous trajectories to avoid obstacles while maintaining geometric properties such as smoothness. However, in practice, functional gradient algorithms typically commit to a fixed, finite parameterization of trajectories, often as a list of waypoints. Such a parameterization can lose much of the benefit of reasoning in a continuous trajectory space: e.g., it can require taking an inconveniently small step size and large number of iterations to maintain smoothness. Our work generalizes functional gradient trajectory optimization by formulating it as minimization of a cost functional in an RKHS. This generalization lets us represent trajectories as linear combinations of kernel functions, without any need for waypoints. As a result, we are able to take larger steps and achieve a locally optimal trajectory in just a few iterations. Depending on the selection of kernel, we can directly optimize in spaces of trajectories that are inherently smooth in velocity, jerk, curvature, etc., and that have a low-dimensional, adaptively chosen parameterization. Our experiments illustrate the effectiveness of the planner for different kernels, including Gaussian RBFs, Laplacian RBFs, and B-splines, as compared to the standard discretized waypoint representation. 1 ar X iv :1 60 1. 03 64 8v 1 [ cs .R O ] 1 4 Ja n 20 16
Characterization of a New Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant Complex from Pseudomonas Isolate DYNA270.

The chemical and physical properties of extracellular rhamnolipid synthesized by a nonfluorescent Pseudomonas species soil isolate, identified as DYNA270, is described, along with characteristics of rhamnolipid production under varying growth conditions and substrates. The biosurfactant is determined to be an anionic, extracellular glycolipid consisting of two major components, the rhamnopyranoside β-1-3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoic acid (GU-6) and rhamnopyranosyl β→β2-rhamnopyranoside-β1-3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoic acid (GL-2), of molecular weight 504 and 649 daltons, respectively. These glycolipids are produced in a stoichiometric ratio of 1:3, respectively. The purified rhamnolipid mixture exhibits a critical micelle concentration of 20 mg/L, minimum surface (air/water interface) tension of 22 mN/m, and minimum interfacial tension values of 0.005 mN/m (against hexane). The pH optimum, critical micelle concentration, and effective alkane carbon number were established for Pseudomonas species DYNA270 and compared to those of rhamnolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PG201. Significant differences are documented in the physical properties of extracellular rhamnolipids derived from these two microorganisms. The surface properties of this rhamnolipid are unique in that ultra-low surface and interfacial tension values are present in both purified rhamnolipid and culture broth containing the rhamnolipid complex (GU6 and GL2). We are not aware of prior studies reporting surface activity values this low for rhamnolipids. An exception is noted for an extracellular trehalose glycolipid produced by Rhodococcus species H13-A, which measured 0.00005 mN/m in the presence of the co-agent pentanol (Singer et al. 1990). Similar CMC values of 20 mg/L have been reported for rhamnolipids, a few being recorded as 5–10 mg/L for Pseudomonas species DSM2874 (Lang et al. 1984).
Toughness and strength anisotropy among high-symmetry directions in 3C-SiC

This paper presents a quantitative understanding of toughness and strength anisotropy in 3 C-SiC under uniaxial deformation. We consider four high-symmetry crystallographic directions including [100], [110], [111], and [ 11 2 ¯ ] for loading, and find that both toughness and strength are the maximum along the [100] direction and the minimum along the [111] direction. The maximum anisotropy in crack nucleation-toughness is 145% and in fracture toughness 126%, relative to the [111] direction. The corresponding anisotropies in fracture strain and fracture strength are found to be 62% and 36%, respectively. An atomistic analysis shows that bonds deform uniformly for loading along the [100] direction, whereas for loading along the [110], [111], or [ 11 2 ¯] directions, bonds deform nonuniformly and it breaks the symmetry of the local atomic structure. The nonuniform bond deformation creates different sets of bond lengths and forms the atomistic basis for the direction-dependent mechanical behavior. The simulations are conducted with four different interatomic potentials including the Stillinger-Weber, Tersoff, Vashishta, and Environment Dependent Interatomic Potentials. It is found that only the Stillinger-Weber potential exhibits first-principles accurate strength and toughness as well as brittlelike fracture. Also, there is a sizeable difference among the potentials in terms of the crack nucleation toughness and strength. We find the difference to originate from the dissimilarity in the forcing function and its derivative in the nonlinear regime of mechanical deformation. A mathematical analysis suggests that it is essential for the forcing function to accurately represent the first-principles accurate forcing function, at least up to the maximum bond force, to produce accurate fracture properties and patterns.
Staple Line Thickening After Sublobar Resection: Reaction or Recurrence?

Background Stapling across lung parenchyma may lead to tissue granulation, which could be confused radiographically with recurrence. We sought to define the time course and radiographic characteristics of such thickening and to determine their association with recurrence. Methods Patients who underwent limited resection for non-small cell lung cancer were included. Surveillance computed tomography scans were reviewed to characterize the morphology and size of staple line granulation tissue. Radiological and clinical findings were analyzed and univariate predictors of recurrence were examined. Results We characterized 78 patients for tissue granulation a total of 314 times in serial scans. On initial postoperative scans, 3.8% (n = 3) of staple lines showed no thickening and 17.9% (n = 14) showed thickening less than 2 mm, whereas 78.2% (n = 61) showed thickening 2 mm or greater. Of the 75 staple lines with thickening, soft tissue was characterized as linear in 32.0% (n = 24), focal along the pleura, hilum, or parenchyma in 24.0% (n = 18), and nodular in 44.0% (n = 33). Subsequent scans revealed that 25.3% of these areas (n = 19) did not change in shape or size over time, 58.7% (n = 44) showed regressive changes, and 16.0% (n = 12) showed progressive changes, the thickening of which in all 12 of these patients showed an increase in the largest dimension by 2 mm or greater. Among the 78 patients, 7.7% (n = 6) had biopsy-proven recurrence along the staple line. An increase in the largest dimension by 2 mm or greater (83.3% versus 9.7%; P = .001) and radiologic concern for malignancy (66.7% versus 11.1%; P = .001) predicted staple line recurrence. Conclusions Staple line thickening is a frequent occurrence after pulmonary limited resection, but rarely indicative of recurrence. The characteristics and initial size of granulation tissue do not predict recurrence. Increases in tissue 2 mm or greater at the staple line over time predict local recurrence, which typically occurs after a prolonged time interval.
Iliac Stenting for Chronic Total Occlusion Using Brachial Artery Access

Right common iliac stenting for chronic total occlusion was performed using left brachial access in a patient who had left common iliac stent extending into distal aorta. Patient had satisfactory result. Types of access for crossing chronic total occlusions of common iliac artery are discussed.
A Wireless Implantable Strain Sensing Scheme UsingUltrasound Imaging of Highly Stretchable Zinc Oxide/Poly DimethylacrylamideNanocomposite Hydrogel

We are introducing a wireless and passive strain sensing scheme that utilizes ultrasound imaging of a highly stretchable hydrogel embedded with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, named “ZnO-gel”. The ...
Lentigo, Other Melanosis, and the Acquired Nevus

In this chapter, benign pigmented lesions associated with increased melanin pigment in basal keratinocytes and mild increase in the number of melanocytes such as lentigo, psoralen and ultraviolet A lentigo, solar lentigo, cafe au lait macule, ink-spot lentigo, mucosal melanotic macule, vulvar melanosis, and nevus spilus/speckled lentiginous nevus are discussed. In addition, the common acquired nevi are a phenomenon of the epidermis and papillary dermis, and they can present as junctional nevus, compound nevus, and dermal nevus.
Bandgap optimization in combinatorial graphs with tailored ground states: Application in Quantum annealing.

A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation is presented for parameter estimation of the Potts model. Two algorithms are developed; the first method estimates the parameters such that the set of ground states replicate the user-prescribed data set; the second method allows the user to prescribe the ground states multiplicity. In both instances, the optimization process ensures that the bandgap is maximized. Consequently, the model parameter efficiently describes the user data for a broad range of temperatures. This is useful in the development of energy-based graph models to be simulated on Quantum annealing hardware where the exact simulation temperature is unknown. Computationally, the memory requirement in this method grows exponentially with the graph size. Therefore, this method can only be practically applied to small graphs. Such applications include learning of small generative classifiers and spin-lattice model with energy described by Ising hamiltonian. Learning large data sets poses no extra cost to this method; however, applications involving the learning of high dimensional data are out of scope.
At Penpoint: African Literatures, Postcolonial Studies, and the Cold War

Monica Popescu’s book is an important contribution to a growing field of Cold War studies inflected through a postcolonial methodology. It aims to complexify our understanding by demonstrating insi...
Enhance load forecastability: Optimize data sampling policy by reinforcing user behaviors

Abstract Load forecasting has long been a key task for reliable power systems planning and operation. Over the recent years, advanced metering infrastructure has proliferated in industry. This has given rise to many load forecasting methods based on frequent measurements of power states obtained by smart meters. Meanwhile, real-world constraints arising in this new setting present both challenges and opportunities to achieve high load forecastability. The bandwidth constraints often imposed on the transmission between data concentrators and utilities are one of them, which limit the amount of data that can be sampled from customers. There lacks a sampling-rate control policy that is self-adaptive to users’ load behaviors through online data interaction with the smart grid environment. In this paper, we formulate the bandwidth-constrained sampling-rate control problem as a Markov decision process (MDP) and provide a reinforcement learning (RL)-based algorithm to solve the MDP for an optimal sampling-rate control policy. The resulting policy can be updated in real time to accommodate volatile load behaviors observed in the smart grid. Numerical experiments show that the proposed RL-based algorithm outperforms competing algorithms and delivers superior predictive performance.
Esophageal Function Testing

Esophageal functional testing comprises assessments of esophageal motility and reflux, for the diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders and acid and nonacid reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Testing is accomplished using a catheter-based esophageal manometry system, as well as catheter-based and capsule-based pH and impedance systems.
Functional perceptions of relational success and infidelity concerns for violators of gendered naming conventions in marriage

Replicating and extending previous findings, we report two high-powered studies exploring how heterosexual men and women’s decisions to change or keep their surnames following marriage influence pe...
Geochemical analysis of colonoware and brick artifacts from Brook Green Plantation using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry:

This study used data collected using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to examine ceramic artifacts found during the excavation of historic Brook Green Plantation, in Georgetown County, So...
PCSK9 Axis-Targeting Pseurotin A as a Novel Prostate Cancer Recurrence Suppressor Lead

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays an important role in the choleste...
Association of race and health insurance in treatment disparities of colon cancer: A retrospective analysis utilizing a national population database in the United States.

Background Both health insurance status and race independently impact colon cancer (CC) care delivery and outcomes. The relative importance of these factors in explaining racial and insurance disparities is less clear, however. This study aimed to determine the association and interaction of race and insurance with CC treatment disparities. Study setting Retrospective cohort review of a prospective hospital-based database. Methods and findings In this cross-sectional study, patients diagnosed with stage I to III CC in the United States were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB; 2006 to 2016). Multivariable regression with generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were performed to evaluate the association of insurance and race/ethnicity with odds of receipt of surgery (stage I to III) and adjuvant chemotherapy (stage III), with an additional 2-way interaction term to evaluate for effect modification. Confounders included sex, age, median income, rurality, comorbidity, and nodes and margin status for the model for chemotherapy. Of 353,998 patients included, 73.8% (n = 261,349) were non-Hispanic White (NHW) and 11.7% (n = 41,511) were non-Hispanic Black (NHB). NHB patients were less likely to undergo resection [odds ratio (OR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61 to 0.72, p Conclusions This study suggests that racial disparities in receipt of treatment for CC persist even among patients with similar health insurance coverage and that different disparities exist for different racial/ethnic groups. Changes in health policy must therefore recognize that provision of insurance alone may not eliminate cancer treatment racial disparities.
Extensions of Randon’s Projection Theory in RADAR Target Shape Reconstruction

The basis for developing projection tomographic reconstruction algorithms has been the assumption of straight-line ray-path propagation. But in the case in which propagation occurs within discretely inhomogeneous media at wavelengths of the order of the size of the scatterer, phenomena such as refraction, reflection and diffraction can no longer be neglected and a straight-line projection tomographic approach fails. This is especially evident when a large difference in refractive index occurs, such as that encountered with dm-to-mm-wave propagation in inhomogeneous atmospheric media, representing hydrometeorite distributions, the marine ocean boundery layer, the ground surface underburden, or bone and soft layers within soft tissue. An exact solution for the general vector scattering case which strictly requires a Polarimetric radiative transfer approach is not available, and in this research, the assumption is made that the media are weakly diffracting so that the Born and Rytov approximations are valid. Based on this assumption, various diffraction imaging methods were developed most recently, and we are basing our studies on Devaney’s back-propagation tomographic approach which was developed upon a scalar wave theory. It is the main objective of this research to extend this work to the realm of electromagnetic vector wave theory for the improved diffraction-corrected imaging of radar targets embedded in clutter within the dm-to-mm-wavelength region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Brief Dynamic Therapy

In Brief Dynamic Therapy, Hanna Levenson discusses the history, theory, and practice of this approach. Brief dynamic therapy is a time-efficient treatment in which the therapist maintains a focus on specific client issues and goals, all within a basic psychodynamic conceptual framework. Many different approaches fit this general definition, but each shares the brief dynamic characteristics of time management, defined focus, circumscribed goals, active therapist participation, rapid assessment, prompt intervention, an awareness of unconscious processes, and techniques that quickly foster a strong alliance with the client. Dr. Levenson discusses the approach of brief dynamic therapy in general, but focuses on one example, time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP), to give readers a richer understanding of this popular model. Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy is an integrative approach that uses recent developments in attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, affective - experiential learning, and systems orientations to help clients with long-standing, dysfunctional ways of relating to others. It provides a specialized method for delineating the client's cyclical maladaptive interpersonal pattern that can lead to symptoms like depression and anxiety. This approach privileges empathic attunement and awareness of moment-to-moment affective shifts within the client, and transactions between the client and therapist. In this book, the author presents and explores this integrative, culturally-sensitive approach, its theory, history, the therapy process, primary change mechanisms, empirical basis, and future developments. This essential primer, amply illustrated with detailed case examples, is perfect for graduate students studying theories of therapy and counseling as well as for seasoned practitioners interested in learning how to do focused, depth work.
Manufacturing ownership of work-in-process control

IBM's semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, Vermont has made the transition from business-as-usual to continuous flow manufacturing. As a result, traditional tools used to control the production line have become ineffective, with new and more creative ways of managing work in process (WIP) required. This facility manufactures high-volume logic chips with multiple part numbers. Because of this volume, the technologies used to fabricate these devices must share tools and processes. The authors describe the system developed to control WIP in a logic facility with high-volume wafer starts and multiple part numbers. They also explain how manufacturing accepted ownership and responsibility for WIP control. Topics discussed include the control of wafer starts, overall WIP management, rules for product movement, the priority system, and communication methods. Since becoming an internal manufacturing responsibility, cycle times have decreased to targets 3*RPT (raw-process time), a significant factor in improving final test yields for wafers. WIP control has also helped increase weekly and monthly serviceability for volume and part-number mix, decrease the number of late lots in the line, and tighten the distribution of lots exiting the line. >
He Ion acceleration in near critical density plasma

The CO 2 laser-plasma interactions are uniquely placed for Shock Wave Acceleration of He or other light ions. We report on experimental and numerical studies of He ion acceleration in a gas jet plasma.
Inhibition of Na,K-ATPase and sodium pump by protein kinase C regulators sphingosine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and oleic acid.

The effects and modes of action of certain lipid second messengers and protein kinase C regulators, such as sphingosine, lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC), and oleic acid, on Na,K-ATPase and sodium pump were examined. Inhibition of purified rat brain synaptosome Na,K-ATPase by these lipid metabolites, unlike that by ouabain, was subject to membrane dilution (i.e. inhibition being counteracted by increasing amounts of membrane lipids). Kinetic analysis, using the purified enzyme, indicated that sphingosine and lyso-PC were likely to interact, directly or indirectly, with Na+-binding sites of Na,K-ATPase located at the intracellular face of plasma membranes, a conclusion also supported by studies on Na,K-ATPase and 22Na uptake using the inside-out vesicles of human erythrocyte membranes. The studies also showed that ouabain (but not sphingosine and lyso-PC) increased the affinity constant (K0.5) for K+, whereas sphingosine and lyso-PC (but not ouabain) increased K0.5 for Na+. Sphingosine and lyso-PC inhibited 86Rb uptake by intact human leukemia HL-60 cells at potencies comparable to those for inhibitions of purified Na,K-ATPase and protein kinase C. It is suggested that Na,K-ATPase (sodium pump) might represent an additional target system, besides protein kinase C, for sphingosine and possibly other lipid second messengers.
The nursing home life space diameter a measure of extent and frequency of mobility among nursing home residents

We developed the Nursing Home Life-Space Diameter (NHLSD) as a measure of the extent and frequency of mobility among skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents. Intrarater and interrater reliability was assessed in a small sample of SNF residents. The means and ranges of NHLSD scores, the characteristics associated with NHLSD score, and the association between NHLSD score and other functional characteristics were then determined among 398 residents of 12 SNFs. NHLSD scores ranged from 0, signifying bed- or chair-bound to 50, signifying leaving the facility daily. The correlation between NHLSD scores by two nurses was 0.951; the correlation between scores at two points of time was 0.922. Mean score among the 398 subjects was 27.05. Decreased vision, presence of a neurologic disease, and arthritis were all associated with lower NHLSD score. Mobility (NHLSD) score was moderately correlated with other functional characteristics such as participation in social activities (Spearman's correlation = +0.565). The NHLSD, which represents a simple and reliable assessment of mobility among SNF residents, could be used to assess the effect of interventions and to monitor changes among SNF residents.
Group Long-Term Disability Insurance Claims and the Business Cycle

This paper explores the relationship between private group long-term dis- ability (LTD) submitted claims incidence and the business cycle. While much of the recent literature connecting disability incidence to the economy tends to focus on employment conditions, we rigorously explore broader economic connections between the submission of LTD claims and the business cycle. Using a group LTD data set from a private-sector carrier with approximately 104 million records drawn from both the manufacturing and wholesale/retail sectors and data for a carefully chosen set of economic variables, we find statistically-significant relationships between the change in LTD incidence and change in the status of various sectors of the U.S. economy. Our findings, we argue, are consistent with the idea that the submission of LTD claims is influenced not just by employment conditions, but also by current and anticipated future conditions in other economic sectors as well. Our results have important implications for the insurance industry, given the size of the market and the
Smartphone-based networks for earthquake detection

To enhance current earthquake early warning (EEW) systems, emerging technologies, including social and mobile computing, have been the focus of much attention. As smartphones have benefitted from significant development over the last few years, it is now possible to capture various kinds of motion using a smartphone’s sensors, (e.g., accelerometer, GPS, etc.) including earthquake motion. To that end, we developed smartphone software to capture and backend analytics to determine whether the motion captured by a smartphone is caused by an earthquake or by human motion. In so doing, our goal is to establish a new type of seismic network using smartphones which enhance traditional seismic networks. In this paper, we evaluated the use of smartphones as detection devices; collected both human and simulated earthquake data using the smartphones, and developed an algorithm to distinguish earthquakes from human activities. Our results show that using our algorithms, a smartphone can not only be used as a recording instrument, but also a highly accurate earthquake detection tool. As a result, creating networks of seismic sensors based on smartphones will enhance the safety of communities vulnerable to earthquakes, worldwide.
Guanylyl cyclase C agonists regulate progression through the cell cycle of human colon carcinoma cells

The effects of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) and uroguanylin were examined on the proliferation of T84 and Caco2 human colon carcinoma cells that express guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C) and SW480 human colon carcinoma cells that do not express this receptor. ST or uroguanylin inhibited proliferation of T84 and Caco2 cells, but not SW480 cells, in a concentration-dependent fashion, assessed by quantifying cell number, cell protein, and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. These agonists did not inhibit proliferation by induction of apoptosis, assessed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dNTP-biotin nick end labeling of DNA fragments) assay and DNA laddering, or necrosis, assessed by trypan blue exclusion and lactate dehydrogenase release. Rather, ST prolonged the cell cycle, assessed by flow cytometry and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. The cytostatic effects of GC-C agonists were associated with accumulation of intracellular cGMP, mimicked by the cell-permeant analog 8-Br-cGMP, and reproduced and potentiated by the cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast but not the inactive ST analog TJU 1-103. Thus, GC-C agonists regulate the proliferation of intestinal cells through cGMP-dependent mechanisms by delaying progression of the cell cycle. These data suggest that endogenous agonists of GC-C, such as uroguanylin, may play a role in regulating the balance between epithelial proliferation and differentiation in normal intestinal physiology. Therefore, GC-C ligands may be novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.
Psychometric Properties of the Simulation Thinking Rubric to Measure Higher Order Thinking in Undergraduate Nursing Students

Abstract Background There is progress in the development of simulation-based instruments that measure the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) as an educational strategy. However, there are few psychometrically sound instruments that can quantify learning in HFS. This study sought to test the psychometric properties of the Simulation Thinking Rubric (STR). The purpose of the STR was to assess higher order thinking during HFS in undergraduate (bachelor of science in nursing [BSN]) nursing students. Method Using a nonexperimental design, a convenience sample of 22 first semester junior year and 22 fourth semester senior year BSN students allowed six raters to review their previously recorded scenario to score the STR. Results The content validity index average was a 0.92. Cronbach's coefficient alpha was an acceptable but weak 0.74. The analysis of variance F test showed that the fourth semester BSN nursing students (mean = 4.11; standard deviation = 1.12) were rated higher on the STR than the first semester BSN students (mean = 3.20; standard deviation = 0.74). Conclusion Although the psychometric testing of the STR did not show strong evidence of internal consistency reliability between raters, work in this area is important. A revision and more testing of the STR are warranted with a focus on interrater agreement procedures and internal consistency reliability.
The age of the Steens reversal and the Columbia River Basalt Group

Abstract The Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) eruptions have a well-defined relative magnetostratigraphy but have not been definitively correlated to the geomagnetic polarity time scale. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages are presented from lavas erupted in the R 0 through N 1 magnetozones of the CRBG and in the transition between R 0 and N 0 . Four ages from transitionally magnetized lava flows at Steens Mountain, Catlow Peak, and Poker Jim Ridge with a weighted mean age 16.58 ± 0.10 Ma 1 and the more precise age 16.654 ± 0.025 Ma of the normally magnetized Oregon Canyon tuff at the top of the Catlow Peak section show that the oldest CRBG magnetozone ( R 0 ) correlates with the C5Cr chron. Bayesian statistical analysis applied to data from four flows at Catlow Peak (using the mean age of the Steens reversal) gives a best and preferred age of the Steens reversal of 16.73 + 0.13/−0.08 Ma (95% confidence). Depending on the geomagnetic polarity time scale model, the eruption rate from N 0 through R 2 (0.34–0.45 Ma in the middle and the bulk of the CRBG emplacement) averaged 0.30–0.41 km 3 /a and peaked at a rate 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 times higher during R 2.
Oxygen isotope fractionation in ferric oxide-water systems: low temperature synthesis

Abstract The magnitude and temperature-sensitivity of oxygen isotope fractionation in ferric oxide-water systems remain uncertain. In this study, three different synthetic methods are used to investigate the temperature dependence of the fractionation between water and hematite, akaganeite, and goethite at near-surface temperatures. Our results reveal two similarities among these ferric oxide-water systems. First, the fractionation of oxygen isotopes between water and ferric oxide is small (i.e., ferric oxide-water fractionation factors [α] are very close to 1.000). Second, these α values are relatively insensitive to change in temperature (T). Hematite-water has a slightly higher α value and a greater temperature sensitivity than goethite-water at surface temperatures. While the issue requires further study, we speculate that differences in the washing and drying protocols applied to final precipitates may be one of the factors that have contributed to the discrepancies among published α-T curves. Owing to the rapid exchange of oxygen among the various hydrolytic Fe(III) species and ambient water, oxygen isotope equilibrium is probably attained between water and the ferric oxide gels and poorly-ordered ferrihydrite that are the initial precipitates in nearly all natural settings. Aging experiments suggest that isotopic compositions carried by ferric oxide gels and ferrihydrite are almost entirely erased by later exchange with ambient water during the maturation processes leading to formation of either hematite or goethite. These results suggest that dissolution and reprecipitation occur in the supposedly “solid-state transformation” from ferrihydrite to hematite. Thus the δ18O value of natural crystalline ferric oxides may provide a record of the long-term average δ18O value of local surface water, rather than that of the water from which the solid ferric oxide first formed.
Early components of averaged evoked responses to rapidly repeated auditory stimuli.

Averaged evoked responses to clicks were elicited from 20 normal-hearing subjects between the ages of 16 and 41. Two thousand clicks were presented to the right ear at the rate of 10 per sec at 60,...
Efficient generalized cross-validation for state space models

SUMMARY For a signal plus noise model with a state space representation, an efficient procedure is given for obtaining the trace of the influence matrix, where the influence matrix expresses the estimated signal vector as a linear combination of the observed data. This allows an 0(n) evaluation of the generalized cross-validation criterion function. Our approach is very efficient, requiring the addition of only one equation to the ordinary Kalman filter, and extends to models with linear regressors in the observation equation. Important applications are to spline smoothing in regression and to variance components models for seasonal time series.
Sorbaria sorbifolia is a New Host for Rhodococcus fascians

This work confirms S. sorbifolia as a newly identified host for R. fascians. This finding indicates woody plants may be at risk of disease in those nurseries that grow a range of woody and non-wood...
Selection of Phototransduction Genes in Homo sapiens.

Purpose We investigated the evidence of recent positive selection in the human phototransduction system at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and gene level. Methods SNP genotyping data from the International HapMap Project for European, Eastern Asian, and African populations was used to discover differences in haplotype length and allele frequency between these populations. Numeric selection metrics were computed for each SNP and aggregated into gene-level metrics to measure evidence of recent positive selection. The level of recent positive selection in phototransduction genes was evaluated and compared to a set of genes shown previously to be under recent selection, and a set of highly conserved genes as positive and negative controls, respectively. Results Six of 20 phototransduction genes evaluated had gene-level selection metrics above the 90th percentile: RGS9, GNB1, RHO, PDE6G, GNAT1, and SLC24A1. The selection signal across these genes was found to be of similar magnitude to the positive control genes and much greater than the negative control genes. Conclusions There is evidence for selective pressure in the genes involved in retinal phototransduction, and traces of this selective pressure can be demonstrated using SNP-level and gene-level metrics of allelic variation. We hypothesize that the selective pressure on these genes was related to their role in low light vision and retinal adaptation to ambient light changes. Uncovering the underlying genetics of evolutionary adaptations in phototransduction not only allows greater understanding of vision and visual diseases, but also the development of patient-specific diagnostic and intervention strategies.
Development and assessment of disinfectant efficacy test methods for regulatory purposes

The United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates pesticidal products, including products with antimicrobial activity. Test guidelines have been established to inform manufacturers of which methodology is appropriate to support a specific efficacy claim. This paper highlights efforts designed to improve current methods and the development and assessment of new test methods.
Functional deficiencies of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin-3 contribute to insulitis and destruction of β-cells

The pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) involves the immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Genetic analysis of families with a high incidence of T1D and nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, a prototypical model of the disorder, uncovered multiple susceptibility loci, although most of the underlying immune defects remain to be delineated. Here we report that aged mice doubly deficient in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) manifest insulitis, destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, and compromised glucose homeostasis. Macrophages from mutant mice produce increased levels of p40 after LPS stimulation, whereas concurrent ablation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) ameliorates the disease. The administration of antibodies that block cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) to young mutant mice precipitates the onset of insulitis and hyperglycemia. These results, together with previous reports of impaired hematopoietic responses to GM-CSF and IL-3 in patients with T1D and in NOD mice, indicate that functional deficiencies of these cytokines contribute to diabetes.
Bronchoalveolar lavage in rats and mice following beryllium sulfate inhalation

Abstract The effects of lung injury in rats and mice exposed to an aerosol of beryllium sulfate for 1 hr through nose-only inhalation were evaluated by the method of bronchoalveolar lavage. The lavage fluid of rats exposed to an aerosol of either 3.3 or 7.0 μg Be/liter over a 21-day period following exposure indicated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (Alk Pase) activities to be the most sensitive indicators of lung damage. LDH activity peaked at 8 days postexposure while Alk Pase activity was maximum at Day 5. Both values were 30 times greater than comparable controls at these time points. Acid phosphatase activity and albumin levels also increased over the 21-day period, but not to the same extent. The lung lavage of mice exposed to 7.2 μg Be/liter showed LDH activity as the most sensitive indicator of lung damage with a maximum response three times greater than that of controls at Day 5.
Non-Linear Dynamics Of Loosely Supported Tubes In Crossflow

Abstract By means of the unsteady flow and a bilinear mathematical model, a theoretical study was conducted of the chaotic dynamics associated with the fluid-elastic instability of loosely supported tubes. Calculations were performed for the r.m.s. of tube displacement, bifurcation diagram, phase portrait, power spectral density and Poincare map. Analytical results show the existence of chaotic, quasi-periodic and periodic regions when the flow velocity exceeds a threshold value.
Impact of nuclear dependence of R = σ L / σ T on antishadowing in nuclear structure functions

We study the impact of the nuclear dependence of $R={\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{L}/{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{T}$ on the extraction of the ${F}_{2}^{A}/{F}_{2}^{D}$ and ${F}_{1}^{A}/{F}_{1}^{D}$ structure function ratios from the data on the ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{A}/{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{D}$ cross section ratios. Guided by indications of the nuclear dependence of $R$ from the world data, we examine selected sets of the European Muon Collaboration (EMC), Bologna-CERN-Dubna-Munich-Saclay (BCDMS), the New Muon Collaboration (NMC), and SLAC data and find that ${F}_{1}^{A}/{F}_{1}^{D}l{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{A}/{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{D}\ensuremath{\le}{F}_{2}^{A}/{F}_{2}^{D}$. In particular, we observe that the nuclear enhancement (antishadowing) for ${F}_{1}^{A}/{F}_{1}^{D}$ in the interval $0.1lxl0.3$ becomes significantly reduced or even disappears, which indicates that antishadowing is dominated by the longitudinal structure function ${F}_{L}$. We also argue that precise measurements of nuclear modifications of $R$ and ${F}_{L}^{A}$ have the potential to constrain the poorly known gluon distribution in nuclei over a wide range of $x$.