cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
College student knowledge and attitudes toward emergency contraception.

Abstract Background This study explored male and female college students' knowledge of and attitudes toward emergency contraception pills (ECPs). Study Design A survey of 692 undergraduate college students (338 male and 358 female) was conducted at a mid-size university in northwest Pennsylvania during the Spring 2008 semester. Results Eighty-three percent of the participants had experienced sexual intercourse, and 52% of them had feared a pregnancy at least once. Only 17% of the participants indicated prior use of ECP. Seventy-four percent of the students had heard of emergency contraception (EC); however, less than one-third knew the prescription status, common side effects or mechanisms of ECP. Only 16% of the participants knew that ECP was available at their college health center. Fifty percent of the students reported that they would feel comfortable using ECP, and 58% felt that ECP should be available without a prescription. Conclusions College students' knowledge level about EC is poor. There is a clear need for ECP as a pregnancy prevention method among college students and for better education about it.
Congenital heart disease: Genetic causes and developmental insights

Abstract The genetic basis of congenital heart disease, an important form of cardiovascular disease in the young, is being increasingly recognized. Using a combination of human molecular genetic studies and developmental models in several animal species, significant advances in the understanding of normal cardiac development and the pathogenesis of cardiac malformations are being made. Here we review congenital heart disease due to single gene defects identified by human genetic studies, genotype–phenotype correlations and insights into pathogenesis resulting from studies in model systems. The future promises that these complementary approaches will inform clinical management and provide the means to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to congenital heart disease.
Inhibition of human platelet function by verapamil.

Abstract We evaluated the ability of the calcium antagonist, verapamil, to alter human platelet function. With the concentrations tested (20 ng to 0.1 mg/ml of whole blood), verapamil inhibited epinephrine-induced aggregation and release of 14C-serotonin; produced a dose-dependent inhibition of 14C-serotonin uptake and prevented aggregation dependent release of thranboxane B2. The action of verapamil could be overcame by higher concentrations of both epinephrine and calcium. Furthermore, verapamil-induced inhibition could be reversed by gel-filtering platelets suggesting that verapamil's anti-platelet activity does not outlast its presence in plasma. Verapamil was relatively ineffective as an inhibitor of ADP-induced aggregation. As with epinephrine-induced platelet activation, the effects of verapamil on ADP-induced 14C-serotonin and thromboxane release correlated with its effects on secondary aggregation. Finally, verapamil failed to alter calcium ionophore-induced platelet aggregation. Thus, verapamil at the concentrations tested, appears to be functioning as a reversible, relatively specific inhibitor of epinephrine-induced platelet activation. Our findings suggest that the actions of verapamil in this regard are complex; there may be competitive inhibition of epinephrine binding as well as a blockade of epinephrine-induced calcium flux.
The Monty Hall dilemma in pigeons: Effect of investment in initial choice

In the Monty Hall dilemma, humans are initially given a choice among three alternatives, one of which has a hidden prize. After choosing, but before it is revealed whether they have won the prize, they are shown that one of the remaining alternatives does not have the prize. They are then asked whether they want to stay with their original choice or switch to the remaining alternative. Although switching results in obtaining the prize two thirds of the time, humans consistently fail to adopt the optimal strategy of switching even after considerable training. Interestingly, there is evidence that pigeons show more optimal switching performance with this task than humans. Because humans often view even random choices already made as being more valuable than choices not made, we reasoned that if pigeons made a greater investment, it might produce an endowment or ownership effect resulting in more human-like suboptimal performance. On the other hand, the greater investment in the initial choice by the pigeons might facilitate switching behavior by helping them to better discriminate their staying versus switching behavior. In Experiment 1, we examined the effect of requiring pigeons to make a greater investment in their initial choice (20 pecks rather than the usual 1 peck). We found that the increased response requirement facilitated acquisition of the switching response. In Experiment 2, we showed that facilitation of switching due to the increased response requirement did not result from extinction of responding to the initially chosen location.
A simple time to tumor distribution and the ‘setting the clock back to zero’ property

The present paper introduces the ‘setting the clock back to zero’ property, of a family of life time distributions and proves some closure theorems for competing risks acting on an organism. It is proved that the family of simple time to tumor distributions proposed by Chiang and Conforti (1989) has this property. As a simple application of this result, the life expectancy at age X0 of an organism is derived for such a family. In our time to tumor application, if no tumor has been found in an organism of age x0, the life expectancy denotes that the organism can have, on the average, an additional time units of tumor-free life. If x0=0, the expression reduces to the ordinary expectation of life, see Chiang and Conforti (1989). Some further results and generalizations are discussed, with applications in competing risk theory.
Effect of inhaled tacrolimus on ischemia reperfusion injury in rat lung transplant model.

Objective Systemic tacrolimus therapy has been shown to protect against lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in animal models. We sought to investigate on a functional and cellular level if inhaled nanoparticle tacrolimus administered to the donor lung before procurement could similarly attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury after lung transplant. Methods An isogenic orthotopic rat model of single left lung transplant was used. Donor animals were pretreated with inhaled tacrolimus (treatment group) or inhaled lactose (controls) before lung procurement. Lung grafts were subjected to 3 hours of cold ischemia followed by 4 hours of reperfusion after graft implantation. Recipient animal arterial blood gas measurement and isograft wet to dry weight ratios were obtained. Macrophage, neutrophil, and T-cell accumulation and activation in lung isografts, including γδ T-cell, T-helper, and cytotoxic T-cell subtypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Tacrolimus levels were measured in the lung isograft using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Isograft cytokine levels were measured with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and microbead array kits. Results Oxygenation in treatment group animals was significantly higher than in controls. The presence of macrophages, neutrophils, and all T-cell subtypes in the isografts as well as isograft levels of inflammatory cytokines were all less in the treatment group versus controls, although no single variable achieved statistical significance. Conclusions Inhaled nanoparticle tacrolimus treatment of lung donors is associated with an attenuation of ischemia-reperfusion injury on a functional and cellular level in lung transplant.
New statistical reconstruction method for emission tomography

The topic of the reconstruction of data acquired in emission tomography is examined in this work. A new statistical estimator of voxel activities is derived assuming Poisson statistics of the data. A Monte Carlo algorithm to calculate the estimator and its covariance is provided. The estimator is based on the calculation of expectations of random variables which differ from commonly used iterative optimization approaches based on maximum likelihood (ML) or posterior likelihood (MAP) principles. The new estimator is defined as the expectation of maximized activities in complete-data (C-D) space (EMACS). A new super-complete-data space (also refereed to as origin ensemble space) is defined. Using this discrete space the EMACS estimator and its covariance is computed using Markov Chain process. An example of the application of EMACS for 3D positron emission tomography (PET) is presented. The compute intensive projection and backprojection operations are not used in EMACS. This may constitute a major advantage in terms of computing time for systems with complex acquisition geometries (e.g. Compton Camera) and for systems with accurate modeling of the physics of the data acquisition (e.g. detector spatial and energy resolutions).
Patterned metal printing on pliable composites for RF design

Low-cost and convenient fabrication techniques are of significant interest for flexible and multifunctional electronics industry. This paper has presented a versatile fabrication process for direct printing of conducting patterns for RF circuits on ceramic-PDMS composite substrates. In order to illustrate this technique, a three-dimensional design of a GPS antenna is produced. Through this promising technique based on microtransfer molding and electroplating, not only flexible composite substrates are obtained, but also direct printing of patterned metal structures is achieved by overcoming metal-polymer adhesion issues.
Microstructural Objectives for High-Temperature Alloys in Advanced Energy Systems

This paper reviews six advanced systems in a broad fashion helpful in orientation of engineering and technical personnel not directly involved in such developments. These are coal utilization systems including coal liquefaction, coal gasification and pressurized fluid beds, nuclear systems including liquid metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBR), and high-temperature gas reactors (HTGR). In concert with these systems, yet cross-functioning, superalloy technologies are discussed for combined-cycle electrical plants and high-temperature heat exchangers. Then potential applications and problems for superalloys in the systems, are identified, drawing from this base examples that might typically be applied, utilizing these to discuss ideal microstructures one may find.
Condom Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Male-to-Female Transgenders in Jakarta, Indonesia

This article examined differences in condom use during anal intercourse among men who have sex with men (MSM) and male-to-female transgender women in Jakarta, Indonesia. A cross-sectional design, s...
Efficacy of Daptomycin against Bacillus anthracis in a Murine Model of Anthrax Spore Inhalation

Daptomycin demonstrated in vitro (MIC90, 4 μg/ml) and in vivo activities against Bacillus anthracis. Twice-daily treatment with a dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight was begun 24 h after challenge and continued for 14 or 21 days; results were compared to those for controls treated with phosphate-buffered saline or ciprofloxacin. Day 43 survival rates were 6/10 mice for the 14-day and 9/10 mice for the 21-day treatment groups, compared to survival with ciprofloxacin: 8/10 and 9/10 mice, respectively. Culture results from tissues removed at the termination of the experiment were negative.
Comment on Levy et al. “Eye Tracking Dysfunction and Schizophrenia”

We agree with Levy et al.'s conclusion (Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol. 19, No. 3, 1993) that global quantitative measures of eye tracking dysfunction (ETD) have an important role in studies of ETD in schizophrenia . We clarify some misunderstandings of our own work contained in their review. In particular, an explanation is presented of how we computed a fit of our data to their Mendelian latent structure model, when testing for a fit to their hypothesis of essential genetic homogeneity. We also point out that our mixture analyses, as with our reported abnormality rates obtained by using cutting scores, are not in agreement with their reported rates of ETD in schizophrenia.
Arthroscopic debridement of the osteoarthritic knee combined with hyaluronic acid (Orthovisc ® ) treatment: A case series and review of the literature

An evaluation of safety and efficacy of high molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) delivered at the time of arthroscopic debridement of the osteoarthritic knee. Thirty consecutive patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent arthroscopic debridement by a single surgeon and concomitant delivery of 6 ml/90 mg HA (Orthovisc®). These patients were evaluated preoperatively, at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months post-operatively. Evaluations consisted of WOMAC pain score, SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score and complications. No complications occurred during this study. Pre-op average WOMAC pain score was 6.8 +/- 3.5 (n = 30) with a reduction to 3.4 +/- 3.1 at 6 weeks (n = 27). Final average WOMAC pain score improved to 3.2 +/- 3.8 at six months (n = 23). No patients had deterioration of the WOMAC pain score. Mean pre-operative SF-36 PCS score was 39.0 +/- 10.4 with SF-36 PCS score of the bottom 25th percentile at 29.9 (n = 30). Post procedure and HA delivery, mean PCS score at 6 weeks improved to 43.7 +/- 8.0 with the bottom 25th percentile at 37.5 (n = 27). At 6 months, mean PCS score was 48.0 +/- 9.8 with the bottom 25th percentile improved to 45.8 (n = 23). The results show that concomitant delivery of high molecular weight hyaluronan (Orthovisc® – 6 ml/90 mg) is safe when given at the time of arthroscopic debridement of the osteoarthritic knee. By delivering HA (Orthovisc®) at the time of the arthroscopic debridement, there may be a decreased risk of joint infection and/or injection site pain. Furthermore, the combination of both procedures show efficacy in reducing WOMAC pain scores and improving SF-36 PCS scores over a six month period.
Safety and Efficacy of Two Potassium Cocktail Formulations for Treatment of Neonatal Hyperkalemia

Background::A consensus has not been established for the standard treatment of hyperkalemia in the neonatal population. Most treatment regimens include a dextrose/insulin infusion. Additional agents used include calcium, sodium bicarbonate, polystyrene sulfonate, and albuterol. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of a potassium cocktail (k-cocktail) containing dextrose, insulin, calcium gluconate, and sodium lactate for treatment of neonatal hyperkalemia.Objective:To determine whether modifications to a potassium cocktail formulation, based on a prior quality improvement project, resulted in a decrease in the incidence of hyperglycemia and acidosis associated with its use, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the k-cocktail in lowering serum potassium levels and the incidence of adverse effects.Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort study of neonates with hyperkalemia who received 2 k-cocktail formulations (group 1 [n = 13], original formulation, dextrose:insulin 5:1; group 2 [n = 26], modifi...
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: New Translational Therapies

The myeloproliferative neoplasms represent a diverse group of hematologic malignancies that have been the subject of intense investigation over the last decade. Although clinical trials of the much anticipated small molecule inhibitors of Janus kinase 2 have shown that these experimental agents are successful in palliating many of the symptoms associated with the myeloproliferative neoplasms, they have not been reported to affect the disease initiating hematopoietic stem cell population or to alter the natural history of these disorders. Investigators remain optimistic that new information about the genetic and cellular origins gained from the efforts of numerous laboratories will ultimately translate in to the identification of new drug targets and more effective therapies. We hypothesize that ultimately, the use of combinations of drugs including chromatin modifying agents, immunomodulatory agents, anti-apoptotic agents, cellular therapies and monoclonal antibodies will be required to effectively treat patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Characterization of feeder effects on continuous solid mixing using fourier series analysis

Variance reduction ratio (VRR) is generally considered as an important index in characterizing the continuous powder mixing. Although the capacity of the mixer to smooth out feeder fluctuations can be expressed by the VRR, few studies are performed quantitatively in this area. The feeder effects are investigated on the solid mixer through the Fourier series analysis. The VRR is deduced quantitatively using the Fourier series of the feed rate variability and the residence time distribution (RTD), which facilitate the explicit decomposition of VRR into intensities of different frequency components. It provides a novel model to determine whether the integrated feeder-mixer system satisfies specific solid mixing performance criteria, and provides guidelines of system improvement. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Wideband Phase-Locked-Loop-Based Frequency Synthesis

Frequency synthesizers in cognitive radio play a central role in providing the local oscillator (LO) signal for frequency translation and channel scanning. At the heart of the frequency synthesizer is the phase-locked loop (PLL). In this chapter, frequency synthesizer design requirements including frequency range and phase noise performance are first given. This is followed by detailed analysis of both integer-N PLL and ΣΔ fractional-N PLL. Sources of phase noise in PLL design are detailed along with a methodology to minimize the phase noise. Design details of important PLL components such as the charge pump, the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and the feedback frequency divider are given.
A Preliminary Study of the Basic Display/Guidance Requirements for Flying Near Optimal Trajectories

The NASA has responded to the increased emphases on cost efficient operation of today's airline fleet with an ongoing research program to investigate the requirements and benefits of using new airborne guidance and pilot procedures, which result in cost optimal flight profiles that are compatible with advanced air traffic control system concepts. A trajectory optimization algorithm has been incorporated into one of NASA Langley's fixed-based simulators to investigate the pilot/cockpit interface requirements. The trajectories that are generated by this algorithm differ from conventional profiles in that they are constantly varying in both flight path angle and airspeed. Considering the dynamic nature of these profiles, conventional guidance may be insufficient for practical use. This paper summarizes the results of an initial set of piloted simulation tests to investigate the basic guidance requirements for flying the near optimal trajectories.
Cytochemical Reactions in Cells from Leukemic Dogs

Leukemic cells from 17 dogs with spontaneous leukemia were stained with leukocyte alkaline phosphatase, alpha naphthyl acetate esterase with and without fluoride, peroxidase, and periodic acid-SchiK Cytochemistry was necessary for identification or confirmation of leukemic cell type in most dogs and resulted in changing the light microscopic morphologic diagnosis in eight of 17 dogs. Leukemic cell types diagnosed were myelomonocytic leukemia in seven dogs, monocytic leukemia in five dogs, lymphocytic leukemia in four dogs, and myelocytic leukemia in one dog. Cytochemical reactions can be used to distinguish human leukemic granulocytes, monocytes, and lym- phocyte~.~,~,' Specific identification of the leukemic cell type is important in the selection of therapy re- gimes for human leukemic patients and appears to be important in leukemic dog^.^^^,^^^^^^^^ Also, it is imper- ative that the leukemic cell type be fully characterized in leukemic dogs used as research models for the study and treatment of human leukemia. Other than single case reports, few papers have been published on the cytochemical staining of leukemic cells in dogs. I7 The purpose of this study was to characterize the staining reactions of leukemic cells and to evaluate the usefulness of cytochemical stains for classifying leu- kemias in the dog.
Modeling of Shales in Salt-Hydrocarbon Systems

We model the stress–strain response of shale wall rocks to large deformations associated with the emplacement of salt bodies. We further identify the implications of these stress changes for hydrocarbon exploration. We model the mudrocks as porous elastoplastic materials. We employ both static and evolutionary approach for the modeling of salt systems and show that while the static one can model actual geologic geometries, only the evolutionary approach can provide a detailed description of the stress changes associated with the emplacement of salt. Hence, the evolutionary approach can register the overall stress history of the shale wall rocks, which is essential for predicting the present-day state of stress, porosity, and pore pressure. More generally, the evolutionary approach can provide useful insights for understanding Earth processes related to salt-hydrocarbon systems.
Swimming in needlefish (Belonidae): anguilliform locomotion with fins.

The Atlantic needlefish (Strongylura marina) is a unique anguilliform swimmer in that it possesses prominent fins, lives in coastal surface-waters, and can propel itself across the surface of the water to escape predators. In a laboratory flow tank, steadily swimming needlefish perform a speed-dependent suite of behaviors while maintaining at least a half wavelength of undulation on the body at all times. To investigate the effects of discrete fins on anguilliform swimming, I used high-speed video to record body and fin kinematics at swimming speeds ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 L s ‐1 (where L is the total body length). Analysis of axial kinematics indicates that needlefish are less efficient anguilliform swimmers than eels, indicated by their lower slip values. Body amplitudes increase with swimming speed, but unlike most fishes, tail-beat amplitude increases linearly and does not plateau at maximal swimming speeds. At 2.0 L s ‐1 , the propulsive wave shortens and decelerates as it travels posteriorly, owing to the prominence of the median fins in the caudal region of the body. Analyses of fin kinematics show that at 1.0 L s ‐1 the dorsal and anal fins are slightly less than 180° out of phase with the body and approximately 225° out of phase with the caudal fin. Needlefish exhibit two gait transitions using their pectoral fins. At 0.25 L s ‐1 , the pectoral fins oscillate but do not produce thrust, at 1.0 L s ‐1 they are held abducted from the body, forming a positive dihedral that may reduce rolling moments, and above 2.0 L s ‐1 they remain completely adducted.
Corporate Environmental Reporting as Informational Regulation: A Law and Economics Perspective

The substantial growth of voluntary formal corporate environmental reporting presents an opportunity to significantly expand informational regulation as a tool of American environmental protection policy. The goal of this Article is to encourage policymakers to leverage this voluntary trend for public policy purposes, ultimately leading to development of a comprehensive system of mandatory reporting of environmental performance information. Importantly, however, such an objective is not offered as a panacea for infirmities inherent in traditional environmental regulation. Indeed, extant scholarship reflects that disclosure strategies are imperfect substitutes for direct legal controls on environmental conduct. Nonetheless, concerning the search for viable alternatives to traditional regulatory choices, such scholarship also reflects the substantial promise of information disclosure as a supplement to the existing regulatory system. Indeed, as part of a reflexive law strategy, a primary objective of information disclosure is to encourage "self-regulatory" behavior to complement existing direct control systems and attendant enforcement regimes. Accordingly, use of corporate environmental reporting as an informational regulatory approach should stand alongside of, rather than in substitute for, command-and-control regulation. Section I of this Article examines the still evolving trend toward voluntary disclosure of environmental performance information in formal corporate environmental reports. This discussion pays particular attention to the most important recent development in the evolution of voluntary formal corporate environmental reporting - the Global Reporting Initiative. Section II examines two existing examples - the European Union's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme ("EMAS") regulation and environmental disclosure under United States securities laws - of governmental policy instruments requiring disclosure of environmental performance information. Section III utilizes a law and economics framework to evaluate the viability of utilizing the existing voluntary formal corporate environmental reporting regime to establish a comprehensive strategy of environmental informational regulation. Following analysis of formal corporate environmental reporting through consideration of economic and legal perspectives on environmental informational regulation, the Article concludes with a brief discussion of the intrinsic worth of a mandatory regulatory approach as opposed to mere governmental support for a voluntary reporting regime.
Detection of Durable and Permanent Changes in Urban Areas Using Multitemporal Polarimetric UAVSAR Data

Change detection using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is useful in emergency situations and unfavorable weather conditions. In this letter, change detection using multitemporal polarimetric Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle SAR data is investigated in an urban environment. The most robust polarimetric parameters are determined, and change detection techniques using a maximum likelihood ratio and a hyperbolic tangent model function are applied to the selected parameter. The model function was introduced to quantify the change characteristics and to rule out seasonal changes or those related to mobile features, and thus to only detect durable and permanent changes in urban environments. A comparison of results with historical Google Earth images showed a good level of agreement. Fitting of the hyperbolic tangent function to the multitemporal polarimetric parameters significantly reduces the false detection rate and indicates whether a building was constructed or destroyed, as well as when the detected changes occurred.
Mechanism of decreased cardiac output during ANP infusion in conscious anephric dogs.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may decrease cardiac output (CO) by lowering circulating blood volume (BV) or by altering the vasculature in a manner that would decrease venous return. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of decreased BV in mediating the decrease in CO during acute infusion of ANP. BV was measured by dilution of 51Cr-labeled red blood cells in seven trained conscious splenectomized dogs studied after unilateral (UNX) and total (TNX) nephrectomy. BV, hematocrit (Hct), CO, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were determined during a 90-min control period and 270 min of infusion of ANP (20 ng.kg-1.min-1 iv). In UNX dogs, ANP decreased BV from 60.9 +/- 1.4 to 58.6 +/- 1.4 ml/kg and increased Hct from 39.3 +/- 1.8% to 41.1 +/- 1.8% (P less than 0.05). MAP was not changed and CO fell to a low that was 86 +/- 2% of control (P less than 0.05) 240 min after starting ANP. TPR increased significantly during ANP infusion. All variables returned to control after ANP was stopped. In the same dogs studied 24 h after TNX, MAP averaged 111 +/- 5 mmHg during control and did not change during ANP infusion. CO fell to a low of 82 +/- 3% of control (P less than 0.05) after 120 min of infusion and remained reduced until after the ANP was stopped.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Extreme Data Mining: Inference from Small Datasets

Neural networks have been applied successfully in many fields. However, satisfactory results can only be found under large sample conditions. When it comes to small training sets, the performance may not be so good, or the learning task can even not be accomplished. This deficiency limits the applications of neural network severely. The main reason why small datasets cannot provide enough information is that there exist gaps between samples, even the domain of samples cannot be ensured. Several computational intelligence techniques have been proposed to overcome the limits of learning from small datasets. We have the following goals: i. To discuss the meaning of "small" in the context of inferring from small datasets. ii. To overview computational intelligence solutions for this problem. iii. To illustrate the introduced concepts with a real-life application.
Understanding and responding to danger from climate change: the role of key risks in the IPCC AR5

The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) identifies key risks in a changing climate to inform judgments about danger from climate change and to empower responses. In this article, we introduce the innovations and implications of its approach, which extends analysis across sectors and regions, and consider relevance for future research and assessment. Across key risks in the AR5, we analyze the changing risk levels and potential for risk reduction over the next few decades, an era with some further committed warming, and in the second half of the 21st century and beyond, a longer-term era of climate options determined by the ambition of global mitigation. The key risk assessment underpins the IPCC’s conclusion that increasing magnitudes of warming increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive, and irreversible impacts. Here, we emphasize central challenges in understanding and communicating risks. These features include the importance of complex interactions in shaping risks, the need for rigorous expert judgment in evaluating risks, and the centrality of values, perceptions, and goals in determining both risks and responses.
Sensitive and Compact Silicon Wire Evanescent Field Molecular Sensors

Densely folded silicon wire waveguide evanescent field sensors demonstrate high sensitivity and compact foot-print. Real time monitoring of molecular binding resolves ~0.2% of a protein monolayer, corresponding to a mass of ~5 femtograms.
Society of gynecologic surgeons' survey: mesh use in vaginal prolapse surgery.

OBJECTIVE : To evaluate the practice patterns of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) members and guests regarding the use of synthetic mesh in vaginal prolapse repair. METHODS : A 26-item questionnaire regarding synthetic mesh use in vaginal prolapse repair was placed on the desks of those SGS attendees present at the fourth scientific session of the 2008 annual scientific meeting. Voluntary participation was requested and the survey questionnaires were retrieved at the session's conclusion. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation using χ tests were performed with SPSS. RESULTS : One hundred twenty-eight of the 180 scientific session attendees completed the surveys. Sixty-nine percent (88/128) of the respondents identified themselves as urogynecologists and 45% (83/128) were male. Forty-five percent (58/128) were SGS members. Sixty-six percent (84/128) described their practice setting as academic, 28% (36/128) as community-based, and 6% (8/128) as other. The majority of the urogynecologists, 65% (64/88), used mesh at the time of survey completion versus 40% (8/18) of the obstetrician/gynecologists (P < 0.001). Fifty-nine percent (74/125) respondents were currently using mesh and 11% (14/125) reported using mesh at one time. Fifty-six percent (48/86) used mesh in both primary and recurrent repairs. For anterior repair, 97% (82/86) used mesh; of these, 31% (26/86) used only mesh kits, 33% (28/86) used only free mesh and 33% (28/86) reported using both. For posterior repair, 70% (62/88) used mesh; of these 18% (16/88) used only mesh kits, 26% (23/88) used only free mesh and 26% (23/88) used both. For anterior repair, 84% (71/85) dissected full-thickness and 43% (35/85) plicated connective tissue prior to inserting the mesh. The respondents had excised mesh for indications including: persistent drainage (59%), persistent pain (21%), hispareunia (21%), dyspareunia (16%), and asymptomatic exposure (11%). Fifty percent (44/88) initially managed mesh erosion with estrogen cream whereas 29% (26/88) started with mesh excision. CONCLUSIONS : This survey suggests that the majority of urogynecologists attending the 34th SGS annual scientific meeting have used vaginal mesh for prolapse repair, and they more commonly used it in the anterior as compared to the posterior compartment. This has occurred in the absence of prospective, controlled, high-quality studies supporting its efficacy and safety. Research is clearly needed in this area.
miR-145 suppresses thyroid cancer growth and metastasis and targets AKT3

The expression and function of miR-145 in thyroid cancer is unknown. We evaluated the expression and function of miR-145 in thyroid cancer and its potential clinical application as a biomarker. We found that the expression of miR-145 is significantly downregulated in thyroid cancer as compared with normal. Overexpression of miR-145 in thyroid cancer cell lines resulted in: decreased cell proliferation, migration, invasion, VEGF secretion, and E-cadherin expression. miR-145 overexpression also inhibited the PI3K/Akt pathway and directly targeted AKT3. In vivo, miR-145 overexpression decreased tumor growth and metastasis in a xenograft mouse model, and VEGF secretion. miR-145 inhibition in normal primary follicular thyroid cells decreased the expression of thyroid cell differentiation markers. Analysis of indeterminate fine-needle aspiration samples showed miR-145 had a 92% negative predictive value for distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules. Circulating miR-145 levels were significantly higher in patients with thyroid cancer and showed a venous gradient. Serum exosome extractions revealed that miR-145 is secreted. Our findings suggest that miR-145 is a master regulator of thyroid cancer growth, mediates its effect through the PI3K/Akt pathway, is secreted by the thyroid cancer cells, and may serve as an adjunct biomarker for thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Are the “A’s” in AAI Anachronistic? An Imaginary Interview with Bert Foer

We conducted this interview with Bert Foer in 2014, at the time of his retirement from the presidency of AAI.1 Our interview was held in AAI’s beautiful offices overlooking the Department of Justic...
The Queer Nation Acts Up: Health Care, Politics, and Sexual Diversity in the County of Angels

The emergence of organized political groups of people with AIDS has forced issues of health and illness into a public visibility which threatens traditional assumptions of privacy and public heterosexual privilege. The struggle against the stigmatization of AIDS has forced many gay men and lesbians to reject the relative pleasures of the closet and its legal girdings in discredited notions of constitutional privacy for a radical insistence on the right to be ‘queer’ on their own terms in public. ACT UP and Queer Nation present a threat not only to prevailing state and church ideologies of power and submission, but perhaps more importantly to the gendered and sexualized assumptions which define the boundaries of public space itself. People who are ill and people defined as degenerates present a special threat to the historical myths and antiurban morphology of Los Angeles, which still is perceived as an island of private consumption and public piety by those in power. The challenge presented by ACT UP and ...
Effect of 3L Adhesive Membrane on Preventing Sacral Pressure Sores in Children after Cardiac Surgery

Objective This study aims to evaluate the effect of 3L adhesive membrane on preventing sacral pressure sores in children after cardiac surgery.Methods 200 children after cardiac surgery were randomly assigned into two groups: the observation group(n=100) and the control group(n=100).3L adhesive membrane was used for the patients in the observation group and common sheet for the patients in the control group.Results No sacral pressure sores occurred in the patients of the observation group.Ten patients(10%) in the control group developed Ⅰ° sacral pressure sores and 4(4%) developed Ⅱ° sacral pressure sores 24 hours after surgery.The total incidence rate of two groups was significantly different.Conclusion 3L adhesive membrane can prevent sacral pressure sores in children after cardiac surgery and promote the use in clinical.
The Story Workbench: an extensible semi-automatic text annotation tool

Text annotations are of great use to researchers in the language sciences, and much effort has been invested in creating annotated corpora for an wide variety of purposes. Unfortunately, software support for these corpora tends to be quite limited: it is usually ad-hoc, poorly designed and documented, or not released for public use. I describe an annotation tool, the Story Workbench, which provides a generic platform for text annotation. It is free, open-source, cross-platform, and user friendly. It provides a number of common text annotation operations, including representations (e.g., tokens, sentences, parts of speech), functions (e.g., generation of initial annotations by algorithm, checking annotation validity by rule, fully manual manipulation of annotations) and tools (e.g., distributing texts to annotators via version control, merging doubly-annotated texts into a single file). The tool is extensible at many different levels, admitting new representations, algorithm, and tools. I enumerate ten important features and illustrate how they support the annotation process at three levels: (1) annotation of individual texts by a single annotator, (2) double-annotation of texts by two annotators and an adjudicator, and (3) annotation scheme development. The Story Workbench is scheduled for public release in March 2012.
The African Union’s diaspora diplomacy and policymaking: Operationalizing the migration–development nexus

ABSTRACTOver the past decade, the question of migration has moved to the forefront of the international and African agenda. The African Union (AU) has emphasized its linkages to other key economic, social, and political issues as well as its centrality to the project of continental integration and development. Against this backdrop and alongside the global and Africa-European Union dialogues on migration and development, the AU has adopted, since 2006, a number of policy instruments that outline a broad migration agenda which calls for a strategic engagement with the African diaspora. This article discusses the substance of the AU’s diaspora diplomacy and policymaking, and assesses its efforts at operationalizing the migration-development nexus. The study is divided into three parts, the first of which discusses some theoretical insights and empirical evidence on the diaspora-development nexus. The second part undertakes a review of AU policy instruments and frameworks dealing with the African diaspora. T...
Man and Military Space

The Fifty-First Wilbur Wright Memorial Lecture, “Man in Military Space”, was given by Professor C. D. Perkins, Chairman of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at Princeton University, on 23rd May 1963. Professor A. R. Collar, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.Ae.S., F.A.I.A.A., F.C.A.S.I., President of the Society, was in the Chair. Professor Collar presented the Lawrence Hargrave Memorial Lecture Medallion to Professor A. V. Stephens on behalf of the Melbourne Branch of the Australian Division. He explained that Professor Stephens had delivered the first Lawrence Hargrave Memorial Lecture in 1956 when he was the Lawrence Hargrave Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Sydney University, but the Australian Division had not then had the Medallion struck. Professor Stephens was now Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Queen's University, Belfast.
Proteomic Landscape of Tissue-Specific Cyclin E Functions in Vivo.

E-type cyclins (cyclins E1 and E2) are components of the cell cycle machinery that has been conserved from yeast to humans. The major function of E-type cyclins is to drive cell division. It is unknown whether in addition to their ‘core’ cell cycle functions, E-type cyclins also perform unique tissue-specific roles. Here, we applied high-throughput mass spectrometric analyses of mouse organs to define the repertoire of cyclin E protein partners in vivo. We found that cyclin E interacts with distinct sets of proteins in different compartments. These cyclin E interactors are highly enriched for phosphorylation targets of cyclin E and its catalytic partner, the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2). Among cyclin E interactors we identified several novel tissue-specific substrates of cyclin E-Cdk2 kinase. In proliferating compartments, cyclin E-Cdk2 phosphorylates Lin proteins within the DREAM complex. In the testes, cyclin E-Cdk2 phosphorylates Mybl1 and Dmrtc2, two meiotic transcription factors that represent key regulators of spermatogenesis. In embryonic and adult brains cyclin E interacts with proteins involved in neurogenesis, while in adult brains also with proteins regulating microtubule-based processes and microtubule cytoskeleton. We also used quantitative proteomics to demonstrate re-wiring of the cyclin E interactome upon ablation of Cdk2. This approach can be used to study how protein interactome changes during development or in any pathological state such as aging or cancer.
Marketing to Millennials

The chapter begins with a discussion of the problem in defining millennials and of the different generations that are of interest to marketers. Millennials (also known as Generation Y) are held to be people born between 1980 and 1994 (some say 2000). This is followed by some statistics about the millennial generation, which represents about a quarter of the American population, and material from a Pew Report on Millennials, which provides insights into their interests and lifestyles. The problems marketers face in reaching millennials are discussed. A list of their top dozen brands and stores is then offered and reason for these being the choices of millennials is dealt with, since they are often held to be “marketing resistant.” Next, the ideas of a prominent psychoanalyst, Erik Erikson, are explored. He writes about the crises people face at different stages of their lives. This is followed by a chart listing Erikson’s crises and suggested coping mechanisms people use to deal with these crises. The chapter ends with a discussion of the problems marketers face in finding way ways to sell things to millennials.
The global nonmethane reactive organic carbon budget: A modeling perspective

The cycling of reactive organic carbon (ROC) is central to tropospheric chemistry. We characterize the global tropospheric ROC budget as simulated with the GEOS-Chem model. We expand the standard simulation by including new emissions and gas-phase chemistry, an expansion of dry and wet removal, and a mass tracking of all ROC species to achieve carbon closure. The resulting global annual mean ROC burden is 16 Tg C, with sources from methane oxidation and direct emissions contributing 415 and 935 Tg C yr−1. ROC is lost from the atmosphere via physical deposition (460 Tg C yr−1), and oxidation to CO/CO2 (875 Tg C yr−1). Ketones, alkanes, alkenes, and aromatic hydrocarbons dominate the ROC burden, whereas aldehydes and isoprene dominate the ROC global mean surface OH reactivity. Simulated OH reactivities are between 0.8–1 s−1, 3–14 s−1, and 12–34 s−1 over selected regions in the remote ocean, continental midlatitudes, and the tropics, respectively, and are consistent with observational constraints.
Demystifying traditional herbal medicine with modern approach

Plants have long been recognized for their therapeutic properties. For centuries, indigenous cultures around the world have used traditional herbal medicine to treat a myriad of maladies. By contrast, the rise of the modern pharmaceutical industry in the past century has been based on exploiting individual active compounds with precise modes of action. This surge has yielded highly effective drugs that are widely used in the clinic, including many plant natural products and analogues derived from these products, but has fallen short of delivering effective cures for complex human diseases with complicated causes, such as cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and degenerative diseases. While the plant kingdom continues to serve as an important source for chemical entities supporting drug discovery, the rich traditions of herbal medicine developed by trial and error on human subjects over thousands of years contain invaluable biomedical information just waiting to be uncovered using modern scientific approaches. Here we provide an evolutionary and historical perspective on why plants are of particular significance as medicines for humans. We highlight several plant natural products that are either in the clinic or currently under active research and clinical development, with particular emphasis on their mechanisms of action. Recent efforts in developing modern multi-herb prescriptions through rigorous molecular-level investigations and standardized clinical trials are also discussed. Emerging technologies, such as genomics and synthetic biology, are enabling new ways for discovering and utilizing the medicinal properties of plants. We are entering an exciting era where the ancient wisdom distilled into the world's traditional herbal medicines can be reinterpreted and exploited through the lens of modern science.
The Disruption of Social Media: How the traditional collaborative model between reporters and editors evolves in American newsrooms

Reporters and editors perform different journalistic duties in traditional newsrooms. With the popularity of social media, journalism is transitioning into a highly varied and diverse range of practices. Utilizing a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire, the online survey (N = 1063) study seeks to understand how social media is disrupting the traditional collaborative model between reporters and editors in American newsrooms. The study found that newsrooms’ integration of social media and entrepreneurialism is blurring the line between reporters and editors. With journalists taking more entrepreneurial roles, the traditional collaborative model between reporters and editors is being taken place by a hybrid model – both reporters and editors take on promotional duties in addition to traditional journalistic roles.
Zanzibar, the Indian Ocean, and Nineteenth-Century Global Interface

This chapter highlights the mechanics and consequences of Zanzibar’s position as a hub at the height of its prosperity and regional influence. Nineteenth-century Zanzibar was situated at the interface of East African, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and Atlantic systems. As a result, Zanzibar Town acted as a condensed, integrative space through which goods, people, and ideas from very different societies circulated and East African socioeconomic trends articulated with transoceanic currents. This chapter outlines these articulations and related socioeconomic phenomena in urban Zanzibar from the mid-nineteenth century until the beginning of the twentieth century. During this period, Zanzibar Town dominated East Africa’s interface with the maritime world. Zanzibar Town channeled goods and ideas, amplified social frictions, broadcast shifting sociocultural trends across and beyond the Swahili coast, and displayed an unusual cultural vibrancy. Thus, Zanzibar was more than a commercial center; it was a nexus of global exchange, human mobility, exploitation, and changing social relations.