cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Residue influences quality of life independently of penetration and aspiration in head and neck cancer survivors.

Objectives/Hypothesis Dysphagia is one of the most significant side effects of the treatment of head and neck cancer. Residue and aspiration are two indicators of dysphagia, but aspiration is historically the only indicator of interest, because it may impact health outcomes. Clinicians have anecdotally used residue as another marker of swallowing dysfunction, but it is understudied. This project investigated the impact of aspiration versus residue on function and quality of life (QoL) in these patients. Study Design Observational study. Methods A total of 168 head and neck cancer survivors with moderate to severe dysphagia were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial comparing two swallow therapy interventions. Data at time of entry were used for the current study. A modified barium swallow study was done to compute Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores, percentage oral residue, and percentage pharyngeal residue with three bolus consistencies (5 mL thin, nectar, and pudding). The Performance Status Scale (PSS) and the Head Neck Cancer Inventory (HNCI) questionnaires were administered. Data were analyzed to determine associations between aspiration and residue estimates with function and QoL scores. Results Worsening aspiration and residue estimates were all correlated with decreased scores on the PSS functional scales (r = −0.190 to −0.324, P ≤ .031). However, only increasing residue estimates were significantly related to decreased patient-perceived QoL on the HNCI (r = −.178 to −.194, P < .046). This effect was more pronounced with oral versus pharyngeal residue. Conclusions In this group of head and neck cancer survivors, penetration/aspiration and residue show independent effects. PAS affects functional status only, but residue affects both functional status and QoL. This study supports that residue should be considered a primary measurement of swallowing function and be a target for identification, treatment, and evaluation of swallowing. Level of Evidence 2c. Laryngoscope, 127:1615–1621, 2017
Transcending the Limits of Comparative Administration: A New Internationalism in the Making

This paper begins with a critique of comparative public administration in light of globalization and internationalism. It discusses why positivistic and scientific research is less useful today, ho...
Dipole-dipole interactions mediated by epsilon-and-mu-near-zero waveguide supercoupling: publisher's note

An “Invited” label was added to an article Opt. Mater. Express7(2), 415 (2017).10.1364/OME.7.000415 appearing in the Materials and Concepts for Quantum Nanophotonics feature issue.
Moral Legitimacy & Biased Resource Provision for Anti-Trafficking/Anti-Slavery Organizations

Drawing on legitimacy and categorization theories, we evaluate the success of organizations in obtaining resources in light of the assessments and biases of resource-providers. Our study makes thre...
Interactions among plants, bacteria, and fungi reduce extracellular enzyme activities under long-term N fertilization

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has enhanced soil carbon (C) stocks in temperate forests. Most research has posited that these soil C gains are driven primarily by shifts in fungal community composition with elevated N leading to declines in lignin degrading Basidiomycetes. Recent research, however, suggests that plants and soil microbes are dynamically intertwined, whereby plants send C subsidies to rhizosphere microbes to enhance enzyme production and the mobilization of N. Thus, under elevated N, trees may reduce belowground C allocation leading to cascading impacts on the ability of microbes to degrade soil organic matter through a shift in microbial species and/or a change in plant-microbe interactions. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which couplings among plant, fungal, and bacterial responses to N fertilization alter the activity of enzymes that are the primary agents of soil decomposition. We measured fungal and bacterial community composition, root-microbial interactions, and extracellular enzyme activity in the rhizosphere, bulk, and organic horizon of soils sampled from a long-term (>25 years), whole-watershed, N fertilization experiment at the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia, USA. We observed significant declines in plant C investment to fine root biomass (24.7%), root morphology, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization (55.9%). Moreover, we found that declines in extracellular enzyme activity were significantly correlated with a shift in bacterial community composition, but not fungal community composition. This bacterial community shift was also correlated with reduced AM fungal colonization indicating that declines in plant investment belowground drive the response of bacterial community structure and function to N fertilization. Collectively, we find that enzyme activity responses to N fertilization are not solely driven by fungi, but instead reflect a whole ecosystem response, whereby declines in the strength of belowground C investment to gain N cascade through the soil environment.
Cstf2t Regulates expression of histones and histone‐like proteins in male germ cells

Formation of the 3' ends of mature mRNAs requires recognition of the correct site within the last exon, cleavage of the nascent pre-mRNA, and, for most mRNAs, addition of a poly(A) tail. Several factors are involved in recognition of the correct 3'-end site. The cleavage stimulation factor (CstF) has three subunits, CstF-50 (gene symbol Cstf1), CstF-64 (Cstf2), and CstF-77 (Cstf3). Of these, CstF-64 is the RNA-binding subunit that interacts with the pre-mRNA downstream of the cleavage site. In male germ cells where CstF-64 is not expressed, a paralog, τCstF-64 (gene symbol Cstf2t) assumes its functions. Accordingly, Cstf2t knockout (Cstf2t-/- ) mice exhibit male infertility due to defective development of spermatocytes and spermatids. To discover differentially expressed genes responsive to τCstF-64, we performed RNA-Seq in seminiferous tubules from wild-type and Cstf2t-/- mice, and found that several histone and histone-like mRNAs were reduced in Cstf2t-/- mice. We further observed delayed accumulation of the testis-specific histone, H1fnt (formerly, H1t2 or Hanp1) in Cstf2t-/- mice. High-throughput sequence analysis of polyadenylation sites (A-seq) indicated reduced use of polyadenylation sites within a cluster downstream of H1fnt in knockout mice. However, high-throughput sequencing of RNA isolated by cross-linking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) was not consistent with a direct role of τCstF-64 in polyadenylation of H1fnt. These findings together suggest that the τCstF-64 may control other reproductive functions that are not directly linked to the formation of 3' ends of mature polyadenylated mRNAs during male germ cell formation.
Chance and Causality: Of Crows, Palm Trees, God and Salvation

This paper was written for a workshop, Chance and Contingency in Indian Philosophy, that was held at Yale University in May 2017. It examines the role that chance plays by focusing on the popular maxim of the crow and the palm tree. It argues that while representatives of different schools of thought were aware of the possibility of purely random occurrences, they dealt with it very differently. For some like the Vedāntins chance provided proof of their positions, while for others, Naiyāyikas and Buddhists, chance was a challenge, particularly to their theories of inference.
The Harvey project: open course development and rich content

INTRODUCTION The rise of the Internet has started a knowledge revolution whose extent can only be guessed at. The last revolution of this magnitude, brought on by the printing press, led to the proliferation of books and the rise of the modern university system. If universities are to survive the latest knowledge revolution, they must adapt with unaccustomed speed and learn how to use the Internet for more effective teaching. Most universities adopt a limited approach to building on-line courses. However, many studies have found that merely transplanting materials to the Web does not significantly improve learning (Russell, 1999). In fact, handouts, slides, and viewgraphs that have been “repurposed” for the Web are sometimes derisively referred to as “shovelware” (Fraser, 1999). So while moving existing materials to the Web may increase their accessibility, it will not necessarily improve their effectiveness. The Internet’s real value as a medium and teaching platform is that it makes possible rich, interactive content such as simulations, animations, and 3-D models. These learning objects, or rich content, can significantly enhance learning, especially in the sciences, and can be just as useful inside the classroom as outside. The difficulty is how to create this enhanced content, since the task demands a broad range of technical skills and enormous effort. Besides faculty domain experts and experienced teachers, rich content development typically requires illustrators, Web designers, programmers, instructional designers, testers, and Webmasters. The only way faculty and institutions can meet this challenge is to embrace collaboration more broadly and seriously than they have in the past. One approach is the multi-institutional consortium. Another solution is a collaboration of faculty to build rich content in their discipline. This chapter chronicles an example of the latter sort: a bottomup, cross-institutional project. For such a grass roots collaboration to succeed, it must recruit many faculty pioneering the use of the Internet in their teaching, as well as artists and technical professionals. It must offer collaborators an incentive to participate, and it must attract not only volunteers, but also institutional and agency funding as well. Finally, as a pioneering project, it must create standards and develop paradigms as it goes. This case study describes a work-in-progress to solve these issues. 1331 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033-1117, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING
A System Integrating Agent Services with JMS for Shared Battlefield Situation Awareness

This paper reports on work in progress on a prototype information dissemination and management system for a hierarchical military command structure. Each unit is provided with a suite of services that integrates three paradigms for collaboration, communicates with its neighbors, and directs its immediate subordinates. This paper emphasizes concepts largely ignored but critical for shared situation awareness. As a prerequisite for coordination, we focus on common knowledge. Something is common knowledge in a group if not only does everyone in the group know it but also everyone knows that everyone knows it. Constraints on inter-unit communication motivated using, in one unit’s services, proxy agents for its subordinate units. This use of proxies amounts to a version of the psychological concept of theory of mind (the ability to attribute to others mental states often conflicting with our own), seen as a mechanism for achieving common knowledge.
The effects of cognitive-focused interventions on cognition and psychological well-being in persons with multiple sclerosis: A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACTCognitive impairment affects more than half of persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and it is associated with difficulties in multiple aspects of daily functioning. There is a growing body of literature that has explored the use of cognitive-focused interventions in PwMS, which aim to improve cognition-related function through drill and practice exercises, training in compensatory strategies, or a combination of the two. The current study aimed to expand upon previously published meta-analyses in this area, exploring the effects of cognitive-focused interventions on objective and subjective functioning in PwMS, as well as determining demographic and treatment-related factors that may influence intervention efficacy. Thirty-three studies, with a total of 1890 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. Outcome measures were categorised based on the domain they presumably assessed. For objective cognitive functioning, weighted effect-size analysis revealed small effects of cognitive-focused...
Integrating Systemic and Postsystemic Approaches to Social Work Practice with Refugee Families

The author assesses the potential of integrating systemic and postsystemic theories for therapeutic social work practice with refugee families. These families face problems as they experience rapid...
Small business owners’ external information-seeking behaviors: The role of perceived uncertainty and organizational identity complexity

This study examines how small business owners’ perceived uncertainty about their environment interacts with the complexity of their organization’s identity to explain their information seeking from external sources. We hypothesize that perceived uncertainty is positively related to external information seeking, and, organizational complexity, in the form of different organizational identities, complicates this relationship and reduces the information seeking in certain conditions while increases in others. The results extend evidence to prior established relationships between perceived uncertainty and information seeking and also suggest that organizational complexity plays an equally important role as a critical moderator. Additionally, we propose a different classification scheme for the external sources and use this to test our hypotheses.
Hydrologic model parameterization using dynamic Landsat-based vegetative estimates within a semiarid grassland

Abstract The use of hydrologic models to assess long-term watershed condition through repeated simulations of runoff and erosion is one common approach for rangeland health evaluation. However, obtaining vegetative data of appropriate spatiotemporal resolution for model parameterization can be difficult. The goal of this research was to assess the utility of using time-varying, Landsat-derived vegetative values to parameterize an event-based, watershed-scale hydrologic model. This study was conducted on a small, instrumented grassland watershed in the USDA Agricultural Research Service operated Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in southeastern, Arizona. Cloud-free Landsat scenes were acquired over the watershed for the years 1996–2014. The Soil Adjusted Total Vegetation Index (SATVI) was calculated for each image and calibrated using ground measured data to produce a time series of satellite-based foliar cover rasters. These values were used to parameterize the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) for 26 rainfall-runoff events with corresponding observed data. Three parameterization scenarios using these data aggregated to different temporal resolutions (static, long-term mean, annual mean, and intra-annual values) were compared to a static literature-based scenario for evaluation. The linear relationship between field-measured foliar cover and SATVI showed statistically significant agreement with R2 = 0.85 and p
Reducing delays to diagnosis in ambulatory care settings: A macrocognition perspective.

Abstract We aim to use a macrocognition theoretical perspective to characterize contributors to diagnostic delays by physicians that can be mitigated by work system redesign. As experienced with other complex, sociotechnical domains, system redesign is anticipated to be more effective at improving safety than training-based solutions. In the outpatient care setting, complex tasks, conducted by a primary care provider, are provided for five macrocognition functions: sensemaking, re-planning, detecting problems, deciding, and coordinating. Redesigning systems could reduce delays to diagnosis by helping users to avoid missed symptoms, forgotten follow-up activities, and delayed actions. Health information technology could support resilience strategies by offloading documentation burdens, recording working diagnoses, displaying planned follow-up activities at the correct time interval, and supporting recognition of patterns in patient care. These insights suggest a path forward for future research on system design innovations to reduce diagnostic delays, and ultimately, reduce patient harm.
MOF-derived nanostructured catalysts for low-temperature ammonia synthesis

Nanostructured catalysts for low-temperature ammonia synthesis have been developed via thermal treatment under nitrogen of Ru-containing MOFs. The resulting catalysts reveal high concentration of small Ru nanocrystals (<4 nm) well-dispersed on a graphitic carbon shell demonstrating stable ammonia formation rates at low temperature. Additional acetylene pre-treatment leads to more dispersed active catalysts containing stable sub-nanometric Ru clusters.
The Incidence of Node-Positive Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Sublobar Resection and the Role of Radiation in Its Management.

Purpose: To identify the incidence, preoperative risk factors, and prognosis associated with pathologically positive lymph node (pN+) in patients undergoing a sub-lobar resection (SLR). Methods: This is a retrospective study using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2014 analyzing SLR excluding those with any preoperative chemotherapy and/or radiation, follow-up 1 tumor nodule. Multivariable modeling (MVA) was used to determine factors associated with overall survival (OS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to determine preoperative risk factors for pN+ in patients having at least one node examined to assess radiation's effect on OS in those patients with pN+ and to determine whether SLR was associated with inferior OS as compared to lobectomy for each nodal stage. Results: A total of 40,202 patients underwent SLR, but only 58.3% had one lymph node examined. Then, 2,615 individuals had pN+ which decreased progressively from 15.1% in 2004 to 8.9% in 2014 (N1, from 6.3 to 3.0%, and N2, from 8.4 to 5.9%). A lower risk of pN+ was noted for squamous cell carcinomas, bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma (BAC), adenocarcinomas, and right upper lobe locations. In the pN+ group, OS was worse without chemotherapy or radiation. Radiation was associated with a strong trend for OS in the entire pN+ group (p = 0.0647) which was largely due to the effects on those having N2 disease (p = 0.009) or R1 resections (p = 0.03), but not N1 involvement (p = 0.87). PSM noted that SLR was associated with an inferior OS as compared to lobectomy by nodal stage in the overall patient population and even for those with tumors <2 cm. Conclusion: pN+ incidence in SLRs has decreased over time. SLR was associated with inferior OS as compared to lobectomy by nodal stage. Radiation appears to improve the OS in patients undergoing SLR with pN+, especially in those with N2 nodal involvement and/or positive margins.
Enabling bifacial thin film devices by developing a back surface field using CuxAlOy

Abstract Bifacial solar cells have the potential to increase the energy yield per unit area over traditional monofacial devices without significant added cost, driving $/kWh costs lower and accelerating the adoption of solar photovoltaics. However, the performance of bifacial thin film solar cells significantly lags that achieved by crystalline silicon cells. Here we incorporate wide bandgap CuxAlOy as a back buffer layer for CdTe devices and achieve a backside illuminated device with high current density and high fill factor. Moreover, these values remain nearly constant even as the absorber layer thickness changes, indicating that a fully-depleted device is not required for efficient charge collection. We show that this response is indicative of a back surface field, albeit with a persistent high back surface recombination velocity. By managing electron reflection, we achieved a backside illumination conversion efficiency of 7.1% and bifaciality of 0.55 for a 3.3 µm CdTe device and 8.0% and 0.62 for a 2 µm device. Future improvements can be made by identifying and incorporating a passivation material that reduces the back surface recombination velocity.
Perceptions and Barriers on the Use of Proprotein Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors in Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (From a Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Cardiologists).

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) results in significant elevations in LDL-C and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Current guidelines recommend add-on proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) therapy for additional LDL-C lowering beyond statins. Data are sparse, however, regarding treatment patterns and barriers relating to PCSK9i in HeFH patients. We examined physician attitudes, use, and barriers for treatment in patients with HeFH. We surveyed 1,000 physicians (500 primary care providers [PCPs] and 500 cardiologists in the US regarding their preferred treatments, experience and barriers associated with using PCSK9is. Cardiologists compared to PCPs were more likely to rank a PCSK9i as most important for an HeFH patient needing additional LDL-C lowering (68.6% vs. 64.8%; p
Teachers as role models in solving childhood obesity

The rise in childhood obesity has led policymakers to target schools and school districts to take a leadership role in addressing this epidemic. As such, teachers must be prepared to address the complex nature of childhood obesity through nutrition and health education. This paper outlines how teachers have the potential to be agents of change in schools thereby creating a culture of health within the school environment. Through professional development workshops and employee wellness programs, teachers have the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills needed to promote health resulting in teachers being role models of healthy behaviors and integrating health concepts into daily instruction. The purpose of this study was to assess the beliefs and self-efficacy of classroom teachers before and after a professional development program focused on aligning nutrition lessons with district learning standards in an urban middle school. The school faculty was exposed to a minimal intervention designed to align nutrition and health standards to core curriculum learning standards. As a result of this program, teachers showed significant changes in their beliefs in the intersection of health and learning and improved their self-efficacy for delivering health and nutrition education aligned to existing learning standards. This project presents the promise that teachers can develop the confidence and conviction to include health across the curriculum and positively impact student and teacher health outcomes.
CAR MULTIMEDIA BUS DEVELOPMENT

The following paper discusses the latest developments that are taking place in the automobile industry pertaining to the development of a high-speed data bus standard. By 2005, it is likely that we will see the introduction of numerous high-speed, real time multimedia applications proliferating into the vehicle. These applications will provide the car owner access to information, entertainment, communication, and safety as well as the Internet. These systems will also drive the need to have a high-speed data bus serving as a backbone for data traffic between different applications. Currently, the minimum bus speed being considered for such applications is 100 Mbps, which is suitable for transmitting a compressed video and audio data stream. Concerns about electromagnetic interference (EMI) and weight have driven the physical media requirement to be plastic optical fiber (POF). For the covering abstract see ITRD E108169.
Trophic Actions of Gonadal Steroids on Neuronal Functioning Normally and Following Injury

Publisher Summary Neuroendocrine research has established that gonadal hormones are capable of having profound trophic effects on the nervous system. These neurotrophic actions of gonadal steroids extend to normal aspects of neuronal functioning such as cell growth, metabolism, cell survival and development, neurite outgrowth, and synaptogenesis. The available evidence suggests that many of the aspects of neuronal functioning affected by gonadal steroids under steady-state conditions are also significantly affected by steroids under stress conditions such as axon disconnection. This presents an argument for the therapeutic usefulness of gonadal steroids in activating and/or accelerating the reparative response of neurons to injury, a concept that will be exciting to test in future clinical studies.
Management of chronic airway inflammation in the horse: A systematic review

Summary The purpose of this article is to review available scientific reports on recurrent airway obstruction and inflammatory airway disease treatment efficacy. Critical evaluation of the quality and limitations of the evidence provided should provide equine practitioners with the tools to apply the latest scientific data to the management of individual clinical cases. While a large body of clinical research supports the efficacy of low-dust environmental management and corticosteroid administration in the treatment of recurrent airway obstruction, limited clinical trials exist to evaluate the treatment of inflammatory airway disease.
Wireless Underground Sensor Networks: MI-based communication systems for underground applications.

Wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) can enable many important applications such as intelligent agriculture, pipeline fault diagnosis, mine disaster rescue, concealed border patrol, and crude oil exploration. The key challenge to realize WUSNs is the wireless communication in underground environments. Most existing wireless communication systems utilize a dipole antenna to transmit and receive propagating electromagnetic (EM) waves, a method that does not work well in underground environments due to the high material absorption loss. The magnetic induction (MI) technique provides a promising alternative solution that could address the current problem in underground environments. Although MI-based underground communication has been intensively investigated theoretically, little effort has been made so far to develop a testbed for MI-based underground communication that can validate the theoretical results. In this article, a testbed of several MI-based communication systems is designed and implemented in an in-lab underground environment. The testbed realizes and tests not only the original MI mechanism utilizing a single coil but also recently developed techniques that use the MI waveguide and threedirectional (3D) MI coils. The experiments are conducted in an in-lab underground environment with reconfigurable environmental parameters, such as soil composition and water content. This article provides the principles and guidelines for developing the MI underground communication testbed, which is very complicated and time consuming due to the new communication mechanism and the new wireless transmission medium.
Accurate prognostications of death. Opportunities and challenges for clinicians.

Abstract Linking survival time to an array of prognostic variables through a powerful statistical model can provide reliable, valid and potentially useful information for patient care. We present a summary of the recently developed SUPPORT model [Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatment] for estimating survival time of seriously ill adult inpatients and illustrate the possible clinical use of such a model. This model is then translated into counseling. Clinicians are positioned to evaluate the relevance and validity of any model and to understand their persistent shortcomings.
Reducing Stress from Workload Compression: Coping Strategies That Work in CPA Firms

Workload compression is characterized by the AICPA (Padwe 1994) as a condition of excessive job demands caused by the 1986 Tax Reform Act (TRA). The TRA severely limited the ability of businesses to elect other than a calendar year-end reporting for tax purposes. Consequently, professional accountants find their tax and audit work compressed into the first quarter of each year. In an earlier study Cluskey and Vaux (1997a) found job stressors, such as excessive job demands, to be contributing factors in causing job stress, which ultimately leads to degraded job performance. Cluskey and Vaux (1997b) also found workload compression to be a possible contributor to occupational stress in professional accountants. The current study surveyed public accountants in both October (slack season) and February (busy season). The study found that standard indicators of job stress were no greater in February than in October, indicating that workload compression does not contribute additional occupational stress in accounting practitioners. Subsequent interviews with the participants revealed that the firms in this study have incorporated specific management practices to help their employees cope with the extremely high job demands during this period of workload compression, which may help explain these unexpected results.
Usefulness and limitations of left heart catheterization in mitral disease

Abstract Hemodynamic data obtained at left heart catheterization in 110 instances of mitral valve disease have been presented, with particular emphasis on the value of this procedure in differentiating mitral stenosis from regurgitation. Configuration of the left atrial pressure curve, diastolic gradient across the mitral valve, and left ventricular end diastolic pressure are all helpful in determining the relative degree of mitral stenosis or regurgitation. However, there is still a significantly high number of cases in which the predominant lesion cannot be determined by this means, and it is felt that left ventriculography will be helpful in these cases to assess the degree of mitral regurgitation.
A model for superlight velocities of extragalactic radio sources

An explanation is proposed for apparent superlight velocities of compact radio sources. In our model high velocities are a consequence of the interaction of the radio sources with the ambient gas in a galactic nucleus or quasar. This model predicts that the pair of sources is not centred on the nucleus and that the individual components should be smaller and more separated when observed at higher frequency.
Chemical biology of in vivo and in vitro wounds

Abstract In vivo , different injurious agents result in necrotic lesions of similar histochemical and biochemical nature despite the marked difference in the number of leukocytes found in these lesions. All wounds demonstrated loss of insoluble collagen and accumulation of serum-derived fucoglycoproteins. Four different anti-inflammatory drugs decreased markedly the amount of glycoprotein sequestered within the wound but had little if any effect upon the loss of insoluble collagen from the lesion. When whole, normal skin was excised from rats and exposed to 56° for 2 min, no changes from normal were noted. After the skins had been allowed to incubate in sterile organ culture for 16 hr, however, these in vitro burned tissues demonstrated a translation of 30 per cent of the insoluble collagen to the 0·15 M NaCl-extractable form. This conversion was paralleled by the appearance of presumably lysosomally derived proteases and beta-glucuronidase in the extracellular compartment of rat skin. Associated with the release of proteolytic activities into the extracellular compartment and closely related to the conversion of insoluble into soluble collagen was a conversion of the bound, inactive collagenolytic function, normally found in this cutaneous compartment, into a free, active collagenase. Although salicylate could partially inhibit some of the lysosomally released proteolytic activity found extracellularly after burning in vivo , neither this drug nor oxyphenylbutazone had any effect upon collagen degradation in the in vitro burns.
Problems with Monitoring Heparin Anticoagulation

Regardless of how President Clinton might define “is,” the monitoring of anticoagulation in clinical practice and research is problematic. It has been in the past, it is now, and will remain so at least for the near term. Until recently, warfarin therapy was monitored by the prothrombin time ratio (PTR; the patient’s prothrombin time divided by the laboratory’s normal value), and heparin therapy was monitored by the activated partial thromboplastin time ratio (aPTTR; the patient’s activated partial thromboplastin time divided by either the laboratory’s normal value or the patient’s own baseline value). In 1992 we learned that wide variability in thromboplastin sensitivity made PTR results all but meaningless, and the international normalized ratio (INR) method of reporting was adopted in order to correct for variations in reagent sensitivity. The following year it became widely recognized that a similar problem exists in reporting aPTTR values. Even though an effort was made to establish an INR-type of reporting for aPTTR values, it was not accepted for a number of reasons. Although several controversies exist regarding how best to use the INR system, there is no lack of consensus on the fact that the INR should always be used to monitor warfarin therapy. 1 The issue of the optimal method to monitor heparin therapy, however, remains less clear. The following discussion will address several of the currently recognized problems with aPTTR reporting, but the reader is referred to a recent consensus conference report from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for a more thorough discussion. 2
Successful in vitro maturation of human oocytes not exposed to human chorionic gonadotropin during ovulation induction, resulting in pregnancy

Objective: To report a case of successful in vitro maturation of human oocytes not exposed to hCG during ovulation induction, resulting in pregnancy after transfer of a frozen-thawed embryo resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of the in vitro-matured human oocytes. Design: Clinical study. Setting: Hospital-based private IVF center. Patient(s): A couple with infertility due to severe oligospermia. Intervention(s): Five immature oocytes were retrieved from a patient who failed to use hCG during ovarian stimulation and were cultured for 48 hours in B2 medium containing FSH and hCG. Five oocytes extruded the first polar body and underwent ICSI with frozen-thawed husband spermatozoa. Main Outcome Measure(s): In vitro maturation, fertilization after ICSI, embryo development, and pregnancy. Result(s): All five oocytes extruded the first polar body and were injected using ICSI. Three oocytes were fertilized, but two showed three pronuclei. The remainder, a two-pronuclei embryo subsequently cleaved and was cryopreserved. An ongoing pregnancy was obtained after the transfer of this frozen-thawed embryo. Conclusion(s): Immature human oocytes at the germinal-vesicle stage that have not been exposed to hCG during ovarian stimulation can be matured in vitro and a normal pregnancy can result from ICSI of the in vitro-matured oocytes.
Determining probability distributions by maximum entropy and minimum cross-entropy

The principle of maximum entropy and a generalization, the principle of minimum cross entropy, are prescriptions for solving problems of the following sort, which are encountered in a remarkable number of different fields. Namely, some system may be in any one of a given set of states; the probabilities of its being in the various states are not specified, but information about the probability distribution is available in the form of expectation values of given functions on the set of states. It is required to assign an optimal, or minimally prejudiced, set of state probabilities consistent with the given information. This paper describes the principles and presents APL functions that use the Newton-Raphson method to compute maximum-entropy and minimum-cross-entropy probability distributions for arbitrary sets of given expectation values. Example calculations are given.
IN VIVO FEMTOSECOND LASER SUBSURFACE SCLERAL TREATMENT IN RABBIT EYES

Background and Objectives The progression of glaucoma can be reduced or delayed by reducing intraocular pressure (IOP). The properties of femtosecond laser surgery, such as markedly reduced collateral tissue damage, coupled with the ability to achieve isolated subsurface surgical effects in the sclera, make this technology a promising candidate in glaucoma management. In this pilot study we demonstrate the in vivo creation of partial thickness subsurface drainage channels with the femtosecond laser in the sclera of rabbit eyes in order to increase aqueous humor (AH) outflow.
An International Collaboration: Establishing an Education Collection in a Library in Qatar

ABSTRACT Texas A&M University has a history of international collaboration, cooperation and global outreach. Texas A&M University at Qatar provides engineering students in the Middle East with an education, and ultimately, a degree comparable to that found on our home campus in College Station. The Texas A&M University Libraries have provided curricular and research support in all of these endeavors, and currently maintain library facilities in Santa Chiara, Bodrum, and Doha, Qatar. In 2004, a noteworthy collaboration between the Colleges of Education at Texas A&M University (TAMU) and Qatar University (QU) in the development of a primary teacher preparation program at Qatar University offered another opportunity for the TAMU Libraries to support our campus community. As the education librarian at the Texas A&M University Libraries, I participated in this collaboration by recommending materials, equipment and supplies for a resource library collection and an instructional materials preparation room. This ...
Reduction of exposure to ultrafine particles by kitchen exhaust hoods: The effects of exhaust flow rates, particle size, and burner position

Cooking stoves, both gas and electric, are one of the strongest and most common sources of ultrafine particles (UFP) in homes. UFP have been shown to be associated with adverse health effects such as DNA damage and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigates the effectiveness of kitchen exhaust hoods in reducing indoor levels of UFP emitted from a gas stove and oven. Measurements in an unoccupied manufactured house monitored size-resolved UFP (2 nm to 100 nm) concentrations from the gas stove and oven while varying range hood flow rate and burner position. The air change rate in the building was measured continuously based on the decay of a tracer gas (sulfur hexafluoride, SF(6)). The results show that range hood flow rate and burner position (front vs. rear) can have strong effects on the reduction of indoor levels of UFP released from the stove and oven, subsequently reducing occupant exposure to UFP. Higher range hood flow rates are generally more effective for UFP reduction, though the reduction varies with particle diameter. The influence of the range hood exhaust is larger for the back burner than for the front burner. The number-weighted particle reductions for range hood flow rates varying between 100 m(3)/h and 680 m(3)/h range from 31% to 94% for the front burner, from 54% to 98% for the back burner, and from 39% to 96% for the oven.
Comparative Studies of Carbon Blacks by Thermogravimetry and Nitrogen Adsorption.

Abstract Thermodesorption behavior of water, n -butanol, and n -heptane from different carbon blacks was studied by thermogravimetry. It was shown that differences in interactions of these adsorbates with the carbon blacks studied can be monitored by this technique. The adsorbates' polarity is essential in controlling thermodesorption from low surface area carbon blacks while this factor seems to be less important in the case of high surface area samples. The relative thermodesorption plot was introduced and used to analyze thermogravimetric data. It was shown that this method provides information about surface heterogeneity similar to that obtained from the comparative adsorption plot. In addition, thermogravimetric results are related to nitrogen adsorption data.
Traumatic Superior Oblique Palsies

The differences in the clinical and diagnostic characteristics of 33 consecutive traumatic unilateral (21 patients, 62%) and bilateral (12 patients, 38%) superior oblique palsies were studied. The unilateral palsies had a large hypertropia in primary position, more vertical than torsional diplopia, a compensatory head tilt to obtain fusion, and a positive Bielschowsky head tilt test. In contrast, the bilateral palsies had small hypertropias in primary gaze that alternated on right and left gaze, a large V-pattern esotropia with excyclotorsion that was frequently bilateral, and a compensatory head position with fusion in upgaze. The results of the study indicate that a V-pattern in excess of 25 prism diopters, an excyclotorsion of greater than 10 degrees, or head trauma severe enough to cause loss of consciousness should also signal bilateral involvement. Torsional diplopia was present in only 20% of unilateral palsies vs 75% of bilateral palsies. The Bielschowsky head tilt test was diagnostic in 100% of the patients with unilateral palsy and 83% of the patients with bilateral palsy. It was undiagnostic in the supine position in all patients. Spontaneous resolution occurred in 65% of the unilateral palsies but in only 25% of the bilateral palsies. Surgical correction was successful in relieving persistent symptoms.
An Inter-intra Subunit Salt Bridge near the Selectivity Filter Stabilizes the Conducting State of Kir1.1

ROMK (Kir1.1) potassium channels are normally closed by internal acidification with a pKa of 6.6. If this acidification occurs in the presence of low (1mM) external K, the channels also inactivate, such that channel activity is not recovered by realkalization until high K is returned to the external solution. Mutations in an inter-intra subunit salt bridge (E118-R128-E132-Kir1.1b) in the P-loop of the channel near the selectivity filter increased the K sensitivity of inactivation, such that the salt-bridge mutants E132Q-Kir1.1b and R128Y-Kir1.1b inactivated in 100mM K solutions after a transient acidification. However 300mM external K (but not 200mM Na +100mM K) protected E132Q and R128 from inactivation during this acidification, suggesting an altered K sensitivity in these mutants. External application of a modified honey bee toxin (TPNQ) protected wild-type ROMK from inactivation in 1mM K and protected E132Q or R128Y from inactivation in 100mM K, suggesting that TPNQ binding to the outer mouth of the channel stabilizes the conducting state. Nonetheless, TPNQ was unable to protect either E132Q or R128Y from inactivation in 1mM external K. However, both E132Q and R128Y were protected from inactivation in 1mM K either by a mutation that disrupted transmembrane helix H-bonding (K61M-Kir1.1b) or by a mutation that stabilized a selectivity-filter to helix-pore linkage (V121T-Kir1.1b). Our results are consistent with an inter-intra subunit salt bridge near the outer end of the selectivity filter that stabilizes the conductive state of the channel.
Temperature Dependence of the Half-Integer Magnetic Flux Quantum

The temperature dependence of the half-integer magnetic flux quantum effect in thin-film tricrystal samples of the high-critical-temperature cuprate superconductor YBa2Cu3O7–δ was measured and found to persist from a temperature of 0.5 kelvin through a critical temperature of about 90 kelvin, with no change in total flux. This result implies that d-wave symmetry pairing predominates in this cuprate, with a small component of time-reversal symmetry breaking, if any, over the entire temperature range.
Is primary sclerosing cholangitis a progressive disease or not

The clinicopathologic features and natural history of primary sclerosing cholangitis were reviewed in 53 patients followed at the Yale Liver Center during the past 30 yr. At presentation, the mean age of patients was 46 yr, and the male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Biliary sclerosis was limited to the intrahepatic ductal system in 21% of the patients. Fifty-three percent of the patients had mild disease without portal hypertension at presentation, and 25% had no symptoms attributable to their liver disease. Long-term follow-up was available for 42 patients and averaged 56 mo. Over this period, 16 patients remained mildly symptomatic, and 11 were asymptomatic. Survival was calculated by a Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis and demonstrated that 75% of the patients were alive 9 yr after the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis. A multivariate analysis of clinical features revealed that hepatomegaly and a serum bilirubin level > 1.5 mg/dl at the onset of disease were independent discriminators of a poor prognosis. Patients referred to this university medical center displayed different clinical characteristics than previously reported in primary sclerosing cholangitis. A higher percentage were older, female, and asymptomatic, and more had disease limited to the intrahepatic ductal system. Survival was also considerably improved in this group of patients and suggests that long-term prognosis for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis may be considerably better than previously believed. The natural history and prognostic factors of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are poorly defined. We reviewed our experience with PSC to determine its natural history and whether any factors on presentation or during follow-up were indicative of a favorable or unfavorable prognosis. Thirty-eight patients were followed up for 75.1 ± 58.7 months; 17 (45%) had a poor outcome, defined as the occurrence of death (11 patients [29%]), variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, or hepatic transplantation. We found the following: (1) the rate of progression of PSC is highly variable; (2) an asymptomatic presentation may not indicate a more favorable outcome or prolonged survival; (3) a serum bilirubin value of four times or more the upper limit of normal, particularly if sustained so as to exclude a reversible cause, is indicative of late-stage disease with a likelihood of subsequent poor outcome and death; and (4) variceal hemorrhage may occur before the terminal stage of the disease.
Evaluation of Stock–Recruitment Curves for White Shrimp in Georgia

Abstract Georgia's food shrimp fishery is currently managed on the premise that a relationship exists between the abundance of spring-spawning white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus and the abundance of fall recruits. Spawners are caught primarily during May and June, and fall recruits are caught from August through January. The efficacy of this management approach is unknown because the relationship between the two segments of the shrimp fishery has never been evaluated. We applied Beverton–Holt and Ricker spawner–recruit curves to fishery-independent and fishery-dependent indices to determine whether spawner abundance could be used to reliably predict the abundance of fall recruits. The commercial landings (lb) from May and June combined were used as the fishery-dependent spawner index, and monthly catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) values observed during April, May, and June were used as fishery-independent spawner indices. Potential spawner– recruit models were evaluated for each set of indices and the resultin...