cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The environmental context of patient safety and medical errors.

ABSTRACT: The environmental context of patient safety and medical errors was explored with specific interest in rural settings. Special attention was paid to unique features of rural health care organizations and their environment that relate to the patient safety issue and medical errors (including the distribution of patients, types of adverse events associated with learning, information flows, triage and transfer decisions, and culture of safety). Relevant organizational theories and strategies for medical error reduction and prevention in rural health care settings were identified. Financial and technical assistance are needed to support the systematic collection of data from rural hospitals and other entities and to enhance relevant patient safety practices for rural America.
Efficacy of Broadcast and Perimeter Applications of S-Methoprene Bait on the Red Imported Fire Ant in Grazed Pastures

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Buren), is a major pest in the United States because of its painful sting. Toxic bait has been an important management tool against fire ants, but site registrations prohibit applications of most baits on grazed pastures. Extinguish, containing the insect growth regulator methoprene, was selected for this study because it has a broad site registration that includes grazed pastures. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy for control of red imported fire ants by using broadcast applications of methoprene bait at a label rate of 1,121 g/ha versus applications around the perimeter of a target area at the reduced rate of 280 g/ha. Grazed pastures in Lee County, Alabama, and Chambers County, Alabama, were selected for this study, with broadcast treatments, perimeter treatments, and controls replicated three times at each site. All mounds were counted and rated using the USDA population index before applications and then at 8 and 16 wk posttreatment. Perimeter applications did not significantly reduce S. invicta mound abundance, but bait treatments significantly reduced mound abundance at 16 wk posttreatment at site 1 where applications were conducted in early evening. However, broadcast applications were not effective at site 2 where treatments were conducted in early morning with warmer temperatures. Emergence of winged alates was observed at 12 wk posttreatment, followed by a high density of incipient mounds that may have masked the full treatment effect of methoprene applications at site 2. Methoprene bait was effective in reducing abundance of S. invicta only when full label rates were applied.
Biomimetic and Non-biomimetic Extraction of Motor Control Signals Through Matched Filtering of Neural Population Dynamics

Brain-machine interfaces rely on extracting motor control signals from brain activity in real time to actuate external devices such as robotic limbs. Whereas biomimetic approaches to neural decoding use motor imagery/observation signals, non-biomimetic approaches assign an arbitrary transformation that maps neural activity to motor control signals. In this work, we present a unified framework for the design of both biomimetic and non-biomimetic decoders based on kernel-based system identification. This framework seamlessly incorporates the neural population dynamics in the decoder design, is particularly robust even with short training data records, and results in decoders with small filter delays. The theory and results presented here provide a new formulation of optimal linear decoding, a formal method for designing non-biomimetic decoders, and a set of proposed metrics for assessing decoding performance from an online control perspective. The theoretical framework is also applicable to the design of closed-loop neural control schemes.
Transpupillary thermotherapy as initial treatment for small intraocular retinoblastoma: Technique and predictors of success☆

Abstract Objective To determine which small retinoblastoma tumors can be treated with transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) alone and to clarify the minimum amount of treatment required to prevent recurrence. Design Noncomparative interventional case series. Participants Ninety-one tumors in 22 eyes of 24 patients were treated with TTT as the primary treatment modality at a single institution from 1995 until 2002. Methods Transpupillary thermotherapy was applied only when a tumor first appeared or if growth subsequently occurred. Treatment was performed while patients were under general anesthesia with the Iris diode laser (810 nm) on continuous mode with a 1.2-mm spot size. Main outcome measures Local tumor recurrence, failure of TTT requiring the use of salvage therapies. Results Mean age at diagnosis was 3 months (range, 0–19 months), and mean initial tumor base was 0.67 disc diameters (DD) (range, 0.1–1.5). Eighty-four tumors (92%) were cured with TTT alone. Seven tumors (8%) required between 1 and 5 salvage treatments: 4 tumors received cryotherapy, 3 tumors received systemic chemotherapy, 2 tumors received external beam radiation, and 1 tumor received periocular chemotherapy. All 7 tumors requiring salvage treatment were cured without enucleation. Twenty-one eyes were preserved (95%), with 1 eye enucleated secondary to growth of other tumors. The mean number of treatment sessions required for cure was 1.7 (median, 1 session, range 1–6), with 64% of the tumors requiring only 1 session. The mean power was 420 mW, the mean total duration for all sessions was 320 seconds, and the mean total energy for all treatments was 139.6 J. Univariate analysis revealed that predictors of tumor recurrence were male gender, increasing age at diagnosis, posterior and inferior tumor location, increasing initial tumor base diameter, and increasing total energy. Multivariate analysis indicated that the predictive combination of variables included male gender, increasing age at diagnosis, and increasing total energy. The predictors of need for salvage treatment on univariate analysis were male gender, inferior tumor location, increasing initial tumor base diameter, and increasing total energy. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the most important combination of variables was male gender and increasing total energy. Conclusions Retinoblastoma tumors
Linear Evolution Equations

Here we study linear PDE for which one poses an initial-value problem, also called a “Cauchy problem,” say at time t = t0. The emphasis is on the wave and heat equations: $$\frac{{\partial }^{2}u} {\partial {t}^{2}} -\Delta u = 0,\quad\frac{\partial u} {\partial t} -\Delta u = 0,$$ (0.1) though some other sorts of PDE, such as symmetric hyperbolic systems, are also discussed.
'The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be' - New Developments in Evidence for the 2005 Term of Court

The strongest trend in the 2005 Term of Court was the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces’ struggle to establish the boundaries of logical relevance and the limits of legal relevance in trials by Court-Martial. The court appears to be ideologically fractured and inconsistent on issues of relevance, making it very difficult for practitioners and military judges to apply the plain language of the Military Rules of Evidence.This article is a case-by-case analysis of each case that affected a Military Rule of Evidence. At the end of each section, the author provides a conclusion summing up the practical implications of each decision and provides insight on how a lawyer may proceed on such issues in the future. While the article notes that the focus of the court was on relevance in the 2005 term, the article includes in depth analysis of many other types of cases including opinions on sexual propensity evidence, uncharged adolescent sexual misconduct, due process, hearsay, and foundation among others.
Consensus statement: Using laryngeal electromyography for the diagnosis and treatment of vocal cord paralysis

Introduction The purpose of this study was to develop an evidence-based consensus statement regarding use of laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) for diagnosis and treatment of vocal fold paralysis after recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). Methods Two questions regarding LEMG were analyzed: (1) Does LEMG predict recovery in patients with acute unilateral or bilateral vocal fold paralysis? (2) Do LEMG findings change clinical management in these individuals? A systematic review was performed using American Academy of Neurology criteria for rating of diagnostic accuracy. Results Active voluntary motor unit potential recruitment and presence of polyphasic motor unit potentials within the first 6 months after lesion onset predicted recovery. Positive sharp waves and/or fibrillation potentials did not predict outcome. The presence of electrical synkinesis may decrease the likelihood of recovery, based on 1 published study. LEMG altered clinical management by changing the initial diagnosis from RLN in 48% of cases. Cricoarytenoid fixation and superior laryngeal neuropathy were the most common other diagnoses observed. Conclusions If prognostic information is required in a patient with vocal fold paralysis that is more than 4 weeks and less than 6 months in duration, then LEMG should be performed. LEMG may be performed to clarify treatment decisions for vocal fold immobility that is presumed to be caused by RLN. Muscle Nerve 53: 850-855, 2016.
Effect of Different Manganese Precursors on the Doping Efficiency in ZnSe Nanocrystals

We prepare ZnSe nanocrystals in the presence of several different Mn precursors to investigate the incorporation of Mn as an intentional impurity. Four different Mn sources, including dimethylmanganese, tricarbonyl methylcyclopentadienylmanganese, Mn(II) cyclohexanebutyrate, and Mn2(μ-SeMe)2(CO)8 are tested in a standard hot-injection organometallic synthesis. The resulting ZnSe nanocrystals can exhibit two optical emission peaks: one related to the incorporation of Mn at around 585 nm and one due to electron−hole recombination in the nanocrystal at around 400 nm. We use the photoluminescence intensity ratio of these two peaks to extract information about the doping efficiency. These results are further verified with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Among the four Mn sources, dimethylmanganese leads to the highest doping efficiency, tricarbonyl methylcyclopentadienymanganese and Mn2(μ-SeMe)2(CO)8 lead to poor incorporatio...
Charge density waves in exfoliated films of van der Waals materials: evolution of Raman spectrum in TiSe2.

A number of the charge-density-wave materials reveal a transition to the macroscopic quantum state around 200 K. We used graphene-like mechanical exfoliation of TiSe2 crystals to prepare a set of films with different thicknesses. The transition temperature to the charge-density-wave state was determined via modification of Raman spectra of TiSe2 films. It was established that the transition temperature can increase from its bulk value to ∼240 K as the thickness of the van der Waals films reduces to the nanometer range. The obtained results are important for the proposed applications of such materials in the collective-state information processing, which require room-temperature operation.
LEP Language Disability, Immigration Reform, and English-Language Acquisition

Policy might partly shape the English-language acquisition of Hispanics migrating to the U.S. mainland, particularly policies related to limited-English-language disability benefits and immigration reform. Using data from the American Community Survey, we find that island-born Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland, as U.S. citizens, may have lower incentives to learn English than Hispanic immigrants because of their higher participation in LEP disability programs. However, among Mexican immigrants, recent immigration reform aimed at interior enforcement might have increased incentives for Mexican immigrants to learn English to reduce their probability of detection, if speaking English proxies for undocumented status.
Exchange transfusion in peripheral blood vessel in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of 22 cases

Objective To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of synchronizing replacement of peripheral blood in treating neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.Methods A catheter was inserted into a scalp temporal vein for infusion of donor blood,meanwhile another catheter connecting three way stopcock was inserted into a femoral artery withdrawing about 1.5~2.0 times of internal blood volume.Vital signs were monitored electronically and recorded.Blood routine,reticulocytes,liver function,blood biochemistry and so on were measured before and after transfusion.Results The mean drop in serum bilirubin concentration was(47.29±13.43)% after exchange transfusion,mainly in hemobilirubin.Hb,RC,Na+,Ca2+ descended significantly(P0.01),and WBC also descended significantly(P0.05),and Glu heightened obviously(P0.01) after replacement transfusion.Average blood volume exchanged was 135 ml·kg-1.20 cases improve the general state of health and internal environment rapidly after treatment,only 2 persons had hyperglycosemia shortly,and became usual after an hour by intravenous dropping insulin.Conclusion The synchronizing replacement transfusion of peripheral blood is practicable and safe with few complications,which is recommended to be widely used.
Mechanisms of twinning: VIII. Maternal height, insulinlike growth factor and twinning rate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship of maternal height to the rate of twinning and the possible connection of these parameters to the coexistent level of insulinlike growth factor (IGF). STUDY DESIGN: Since spontaneous multiple gestations in humans are relatively uncommon in general, it is reasonable to consider distinguishing physical attributes, such as height, that may have some functional relationship to this phenomenon. In a prior study, hereditary and dietary factors affecting the level of IGF were found to correlate with the rate of twinning. In that height is known to parallel the serum level of IGF, a survey of women who had previously conceived spontaneously and had given birth to twins or triplets was undertaken. Their heights were compared with the mean value for the general female population. RESULTS: Mothers of 129 sets of spontaneous multiples displayed a mean height of 164.8 cm as compared to 161.8 cm for the general population of women (p< 0.005). CONCLUSION: These data confirm those from previous studies and corroborate the proposed relationship between maternal height and the rate of twinning. Thus, the results reported here further support the IGF model of twinning.
The Cryogenic Data Center

As a result of the rapid increase of technical literature in general and the exceptionally rapid growth of the cryogenic field in particular, ordinary library techniques have become inadequate for rapid retrieval of specific information. A number of storage and retrieval systems [1–4] have been devised for large-scale handling of specialized technical literature. Manual punch cards have been found suitable for up to 10,000 to 20,000 listings, using either a library type of classification system or a “descriptor” alignment system [5,6].Machine handling methods using punch cards, punched tape, and/or magnetic tape have been developed for handling up to 1,000,000 listings and more. All these systems are relatively new and are rapidly being developed and improved.
The Kinetic Theory of Gases

James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the chief architect of the electromagnetic theory of light.1 Maxwell also played a significant role in the development of both thermodynamics and the kinetic theory of gases. Regarding the former topic (thermodynamics), Maxwell derived a set of four equations that relate changes in the thermodynamic variables of a substance.
Computational Assessment of Neural Probe and Brain Tissue Interface under Transient Motion

The functional longevity of a neural probe is dependent upon its ability to minimize injury risk during the insertion and recording period in vivo, which could be related to motion-related strain between the probe and surrounding tissue. A series of finite element analyses was conducted to study the extent of the strain induced within the brain in an area around a neural probe. This study focuses on the transient behavior of neural probe and brain tissue interface with a viscoelastic model. Different stages of the interface from initial insertion of neural probe to full bonding of the probe by astro-glial sheath formation are simulated utilizing analytical tools to investigate the effects of relative motion between the neural probe and the brain while friction coefficients and kinematic frequencies are varied. The analyses can provide an in-depth look at the quantitative benefits behind using soft materials for neural probes.
Defensive Approaches in the Asia-Pacific

Since the Cold War’s end, the Asia-Pacific has become an increasingly significant area in terms of politics, strategy, and economics.1 This chapter examines the viability of defensive concepts in the Asia-Pacific region since 1989, focusing on the security debate and highlighting the extent to which several of the region’s countries have pursued policies manifesting strong defensive elements. The security debate concerning this region has included some defensive advocacy and . as with previous cases . the unacknowledged application of defensive norms and assumptions. However, the attention that defensive advocates have paid to the possibility of applying their ideas to the Asia-Pacific has been comparatively minor, and the number of regionally based advocates has been small.2
Barrett's esophagus: diagnosis and management

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is characterized by a change of the normal stratified squamous epithelium lining the esophagus to a metaplastic columnar epithelium with goblet cells. The prevalence of BE is estimated to be 1.5% in the general population [1, 2] and as high as 15% in those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) [3, 4]. Other risk factors associated with BE are older age, male sex, smoking, central obesity, and white race [5–10]. There also appears to be an increased genetic pre-disposition among those with first-degree relatives with BE [11]. BE is a known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and oncogenesis is thought to occur through a sequential progression from metaplasia to dysplasia to carcinoma. The risk of developing EAC is as high as 7% per year in those with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) [12] and 0.7% per year in low-grade dysplasia (LGD). However, reports of EAC risk in LGD are highly disparate, ranging from risks approximating that of non-dysplastic BE (NDBE), to risks of progression to HGD or EAC of 10% per year or more [8, 13–16]. EAC is associated with high mortality and is increasing in incidence in the western world [17–19]. Risk factors for progression of BE to EAC include increasing degree of dysplasia, increasing age, increasing BE segment length, male sex, and smoking, among others [20]. Therefore, there is a need to optimize screening, surveillance, and treatment of high-risk BE with the ultimate goal of decreasing the disease burden and mortality associated with EAC. In this review article, we will briefly discuss the diagnostic criteria and endoscopic screening for BE. We will then review the indications and performance of endoscopic surveillance, with an emphasis on possible new directions to improve the performance of surveillance. We will conclude with a discussion of the management of BE, with an emphasis on the indications, technique, and outcomes of endoscopic therapy for BE.
AMVR: A multicast routing protocol for autonomous military vehicles communication in VANET

Unmanned military vehicles (UMVs) and autonomous robots became part of modern warfare strategy to perform military combat missions and dangerous war field operations. The military vehicles (MVs) need to communicate with each other to achieve several required military tasks collectively. It has been achieved by proposing an autonomous military vehicles routing (AMVR) protocol to develop a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) among all military manned and unmanned vehicles to meet the challenges of modern warfare. AMVR protocol performs multicast communication among unmanned and manned military vehicles in combination to develop strong coordination among them. The proposed protocol performs the message dissemination among MVs in two tier structure i.e. T 1 and T 2 which reduces the network overhead by distributing it among the two tiers. The UMVs are grouped in to T 1 because these vehicles have the capability to arrange them at front autonomously with uniform distance by sharing speed and direction which avoids the occurrence of network fragmentation also. Hence, the UMVs maintain the stable radio links of VANET within dynamic environment of war field. The event detection messages (EDMs) are disseminated from unmanned vehicles to manned military vehicles (MMVs) of T 2 . The proposed protocol performs multicast communication to achieve high throughput and efficient dissemination of EDMs among all or specific group of military vehicles. The store and carry approach is adopted to inform incoming MVs about the current situation of war field. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed protocol has achieved the goal of EDMs dissemination among all UMVs and MMVs efficiently despite of dynamic battlefield environment.
The Evolution of Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy: Has It Now Become the Gold Standard?

Renal transplantation is the preferred treatment for end stage renal disease (ESRD). Outcomes after transplantation of a kidney from a living donor are superior to those of organs obtained from deceased donors. Traditionally performed by means of an open incision, the last two decades have seen rapid and widespread adoption of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN), with techniques that continue to evolve and improve. Because LDN delivers donor safety and efficiency, offers excellent allograft function, is preferred by donors, potentially increases the live-donor pool, and since it is now the dominant form of live-donor surgery, a legitimate question can now be asked as to whether or not LDN has become the “gold standard” for living kidney donation.
Late-phase immune responses limiting oocyst survival are independent of TEP1 function yet display strain specific differences in Anopheles gambiae

There is emerging evidence that mosquito anti-Plasmodium immunity is multimodal with distinct mechanisms for killing malaria parasites at either the ookinete or oocyst stages. Early-phase responses targeting the ookinete require complement-like components circulating in the mosquito hemolymph that result in TEP1-mediated lysis or melanization. Additional responses mediated by the LL3 and STAT pathways limit oocyst survival through unknown mechanisms that require mosquito hemocyte function. While previous experiments argue that these mechanisms of parasite killing are independent, the transient nature of gene-silencing has rendered these experiments inconclusive. To address this issue, we outline experiments using a TALEN-derived TEP1 mutant line to examine the role of TEP1 in the Anopheles gambiae late-phase immune response. Despite higher early oocyst numbers in the TEP1 mutant line, no differences in oocyst survival were observed when compared to control mosquitoes, suggesting that TEP1 function is independent of the late-phase immune response. To further validate this phenotype in the TEP1 mutant, oocyst survival was evaluated in the TEP1 mutant background by silencing either LL3 or STAT-A. Surprisingly, only STAT-A silenced mosquitoes were able to reconstitute the late-phase immune phenotype increasing oocyst survival in the TEP1 mutant line. Additional experiments highlight significant differences in LL3 expression in the M/S hybrid genetic background of the TEP1 mutant line compared to that of the Keele strain (M form) of An. gambiae, and demonstrate that LL3 is not required for granulocyte differentiation in the M/S hybrid G3 genetic background in response to malaria parasite infection. Through the combination of genetic experiments utilizing genetic mutants and reverse genetic approaches, new information has emerged regarding the mechanisms of mosquito late-phase immunity. When combined with previously published experiments, the body of evidence argues that Plasmodium oocyst survival is TEP1 independent, thus establishing that the mechanisms of early- and late-phase immunity are distinct. Moreover, we identify that the known components that mediate oocyst survival are susceptible to strain-specific differences depending on their genetic background and provide further evidence that the signals that promote hemocyte differentiation are required to limit oocyst survival. Together, this study provides new insights into the mechanisms of oocyst killing and the importance of genetics in shaping mosquito vector competence.
Long-Term Timekeeping in the Clock of the Long Now

We construct our systems of time for many different purposes: to measure intervals and events, to predict the future and solidify the past, and to align our activities with the cycles of the seasons and days. For most purposes, we can ignore the differences between the kinds of time that we need for these different purposes, but over long intervals, we cannot. This article describes the nine kinds of time that are used in the construction of the Clock of the Long Now, a mechanical clock that is designed to keep time continuously for 10,000 years.
Bioethics in Practice: The Ethics Surrounding the Use of Donor Milk

Donor milk is the recommended next best feeding option for preterm infant growth and development if a mother's own milk is not available.[1][1],[2][2] Healthcare providers have used donor milk since the 1900s.[3][3] As early as 1910, mother milk donors were screened for communicable diseases, but
Detection of Brillouin Precursors at Microwave Frequencies Through a Rectangular Waveguide Filled With Wet Soil

This letter extends our recent experimental work to detect Brillouin Precursors (BPs) at microwave frequencies through a rectangular waveguide (WG) filled with wet soil. Simulated and experimental data processing methods are discussed. BPs through the waveguide at TE10 mode are shown at two center frequencies. These are then compared with TEM BP at normal incident angles through similar medium. An optimized Brillouin pulse is numerically constructed, and its performance is compared with Lambert–Beer’s law limits.
Spatial filtering of evanescent waves with rough multilayer hyperbolic metamaterials

Hyperbolic metamaterials acting as spatial filters, passing incident evanescent waves and blocking incident propagating waves, can be produced for ultraviolet wavelengths by a stack of alternating metal/dielectric films. However, real fabricated devices have disordered layer surfaces due to imperfect material deposition. Here, we investigate the effect of realistic surface roughness on the spatial filtering properties of such devices. The findings have implications in subdiffraction imaging and photolithography.
Conditioned Tolerance to Nicotine in Rats

Evidence is reviewed for the role of conditioning in tolerance to nicotine. Possible mechanisms are discussed, including the hypothesis that a conditioned release of adrenal steroids may mediate conditioned tolerance to some of nicotine’s effects.
Critical Conceptual and Measurement Issues in the Study of Resilience

In conclusion, I am going to briefly present two major challenges that confront the resiliency research community. First, it would be beneficial to the field if greater effort were directed toward some empirically-based taxonomy of risk and protective factors and resiliency processes that would serve as an organizational tool for existing (and ongoing) research findings across disciplines and specialty areas. The research literature on resilience is proliferating at an exponential rate, yet there is no organizing framework for integrating studies, for evaluating common and unique findings across different subject populations, variable domains, or spacing intervals, or for studying the impact of alternative operational definitions and classification procedures on the identification of resilient individuals. Conceivably, with at least some initial, elementary taxonomic organizational scheme, and a heretofore unparalleled level of cooperation among investigators, it would be possible to develop a large database of studies to conduct systematic meta-analyses. Such meta-analyses could be of enormous value in identifying common and unique risk and protective factors associated with the wide range of problems currently under investigation. Although there would obviously be numerous logistical issues and details to be addressed in embarking on such an endeavor (e.g., who decides on the initial categories, who has access to the data, etc.), the Internet provides a potent technological tool to be exploited to share information across research laboratories worldwide. There may be clear integrationist advantages to entertaining such a notion to organize and maximally utilize the existing (and expanding) body of literature in the resiliency domain.
A British pathologist and child neurologist who described familial dementing disease and the neuropathology of subacute combined degeneration

Fredrick E. Batten defined the pathology of subacute combined degeneration and made seminal observations about myasthenia gravis, poliomyelitis, and infantile neuronal lipofuscinosis.Fredrick Eusta...
Salivary Duct Carcinoma

Salivary duct carcinoma affects primarily adults and presents at a mean age of approximately 60 years. Women are involved less than men. The majority of cases involve the parotid gland, presenting as single or multiple masses. Most cases of salivary duct carcinoma behave as high-grade malignancies. Salivary duct carcinoma is infiltrative, comprised almost exclusively of one cell type (ductal), and exhibit a variety of architectural patterns (solid, trabecular, cribriform, and microcystic) (Figs. 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 25.10, 25.11, 25.12, 25.13, 25.14, 25.15, 25.16, 25.17, 25.18, 25.19, 25.20, 25.21, 25.22, 25.23, 25.24, 25.25 and 25.26).
Genomic Alterations in Undifferentiated Malignant Tumors with Rhabdoid Phenotype and Loss of BRG1 Immunoexpression Identified by Fine Needle Aspirates.

Objective Evidence shows that the switch/sucrose nonfermenting chromatin remodeling complex plays a critical role in DNA repair, cancer progression and dedifferentiation. BRG1 is one of its key catalytic subunits. While the loss of BRG1 expression by immunocytochemistry has been identified in a subset of malignancies arising in various sites with undifferentiated/rhabdoid morphology and poor prognosis, the underlying basis for its loss is unclear. Methods A retrospective search was conducted in our cytopathology archive for undifferentiated malignant tumors with rhabdoid phenotype and BRG1 loss. Clinical information was obtained from electronic medical records. Next-generation sequencing was performed following macro-dissection of paraffin-embedded cellblock tissue. Results Three cases were identified; all presented with widely metastatic disease with no previously diagnosed primary malignancy, and subsequently died within 6 months of initial presentation. Cytologically, the aspirates showed dyshesive and undifferentiated cells with rhabdoid features. Extensive immunocytochemical workup demonstrated immunoreactivity with vimentin only and could not establish a specific lineage. BRG1 expression was absent, while INI1 expression was retained. Two cases harbored deleterious mutations in BRG1/SMARCA4. Pathogenic mutations in TP53 were identified in all tumors. Conclusions BRG1 deficiency reflects underlying mutation in SMARCA4 gene in some but not all cases, suggesting that additional mechanisms may be causing BRG1 silencing. Pathogenic mutations in TP53 in all tumors are consistent with their highly aggressive nature. Recognizing the cytomorphology of this group of neoplasms and confirming their BRG1-deficient status by immunocytochemistry not only has prognostic implications, but may also impart potentially therapeutic value in the near future.
Understanding Formal Responses to Intimate Partner Violence and Women's Resistance Processes: A Scoping Review.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) literature addresses the ways in which women oppose violent male partners through acts of “everyday resistance.” There is a limited understanding, however, of the re...
The role of tax regulation and compensation contracts in the decision to voluntarily expense employee stock options

Abstract We show that firms with executive bonuses that qualify for deduction under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) were less likely to expense stock option compensation (SOC) in 2002. Additionally, the more likely it is that a qualified firm will incur re-contracting costs, the less likely it is that the firm will expense SOC. CEOs of qualified firms that also expense SOC receive smaller bonuses than CEOs of expensing firms that are not qualified under 162(m), and the lower 162(m) bonuses are not offset by higher SOC. Our results suggest that 162(m) tax incentives are an important determinant of the decision to expense SOC.
Nonprofit Sector Unionization and Gender Equity Learning Lessons From a Case Study of a Teacher Organization in the St. Louis Archdiocese

This article examines issues that arose between a large Catholic archdiocese and its elementary school teachers when the latter organized to form a union to negotiate over wages, benefits, working conditions, and grievance procedures. Similar tensions are likely to reoccur in archdioceses across the country as the number of nuns continues to decline and parochial schools are forced to hire lay teachers. The St. Louis, Missouri, story underscores the gender inequity inherent in this area of nonprofit organizations’ labor relations; indeed, gender equity is the silent and heretofore invisible dimension driving major developments observed in the St. Louis experience. Similar gender equity-!oriented developments likely lie ahead in labor relations in the nonprofit sector as it expands its role in the contemporary hollow state of American government.
State-of-the-art review and design of grouted duct connections for precast bridge columns

Abstract The use of prefabricated bridge columns in seismic regions is challenging since performance data on precast column connections is limited. A handful accelerated bridge construction (ABC) details to connect precast columns to adjoining members have been experimentally investigated, and some were found viable for seismic applications and field deployment. A connection consisting of ducts filled with conventional grout is the focus of the present study. In this connection type, precast column longitudinal bars are protruded out of the column and are inserted into grout-filled ducts matching the number and configuration of the column bars. A state-of-the-art review of the grouted duct connection studies and bridge component tests utilizing this connection type is presented. A preliminary design equation for duct connection filled with conventional grout is proposed based on the data collected from the literature. Subsequently, the validity of this equation is evaluated through pullout testing of 12 full-scale grouted-duct specimens. Finally, a refined design equation is proposed based on all available test data, and construction guidelines are developed to facilitate the use of grouted duct ABC column connections in high seismic regions. These design and construction guidelines were proposed to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for possible adoption as national specifications.
Uniting Teachers and Pediatric Providers: the Interprofessional Fight Against ACEs

Background: One in six adults have experienced four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Increased exposure to ACEs is associated with increased risk for chronic health problems that manifest during adolescence or earlier. Because these ACEs are deep-rooted in an adolescent’s childhood, they take a multidisciplinary approach to address. Only a low number of pediatric residents and attendings are formally trained on how to screen for or recognize ACEs, however they are front-line providers who identify and interact with these health issues. Teachers are adults who spend a maximum amount …
D-Type Cyclin Family in Populus:Functional Characterization and Expression Profiling under Phytohormones and Sucrose Treatment

The G1/S transition is one of the key regulatory points during the plant cell cycle.D-type cyclins(CYCDs) play critical roles in controlling the progression through the G1 into the S phase.Since CYCDs are responsive to stimulatory signals,they are functional in integrating mitogenic signals into cell division.However,the expression patterns and functional characteristics of different CYCD families in woody species remain to be elucidated.Six putative CYCD genes designated as PdCYCD1-7 from a hybrid poplar clone(P.deltoides × P.nigra,NE19) by complementing a yeast mutant lacking G1 cyclins were identified.But their effects on promoting yeast cell division after ectopic expression are divergent.Sucrose and phytohormone treatments on in vitro-grown poplar seedlings led to the alteration of morphological traits in roots.The effects on the transcript levels of PdCYCDs were monitored.Differential expression characteristics of the CYCDs in response to the mitogen supply were observed.Though CYCDs were induced by sucrose,their extents of induction among CYCD subgroups varied.PdCYCD6;4 and PdCYCD3;1 may have wider roles in responding to external signals than others,for they were modulated with sucrose and most hormones treatments.The induction of PdCYCD2;1 and PdCYCD1;1 by hormones depended on the presence of sucrose.PdCYCD5;1 was greatly stimulated by ethylene and the strengthening effect on induction was observed when sugar and hormones were added together.PdCYCD7;1 was not so sensitive to sucrose but was upregulated by gibberellin and ethylene.Together,these results suggest that the six populus CYCD genes identified here are functional in rescuing yeast cyclin mutant but may still have group-specific functions during the development of plants.
Global Convergence in Large Sensor Networks under Hybrid Faults

Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) span over a number of areas such as military, healthcare, and industrial. However, because of their unique characteristics, WSNs are prone to failures. Consensus is a fault tolerance technique that can prolong the lifetime of such networks in the presence of faulty sensors (nodes). Consensus can mask off the effect of faulty behavior while ensuring agreement among non-faulty nodes. Each node conducts repetitive rounds of collecting values from its immediate neighbors, applying a convergent voting algorithm, and broadcasting its voted value to the neighbors. The success of these rounds to converge the voted values depends on the link-density, which often varies among nodes in large WSNs. Therefore, the theoretical results in literature, which place strict requirements on the link-density of each node, are often not suitable for such networks. Consequently, this research aims at investigating the following on consensus, herein referred to as Global Convergence (GC): 1) The effect of faults on GC; 2) The effect of random link-density among nodes on GC in comparison to the conservative theoretical results; 3) Better understanding of intertwined relationship among various parameters such as network size and total rounds to achieve GC. To achieve these goals, a GUI simulator has been developed, which has illustrated tangible insight into the application of GC to real world problems.
Ideal theory of infinite directed unions of local quadratic transforms

Let $R$ be a regular local ring of dimension at least 2. Associated to each valuation domain birationally dominating $R$, there exists a unique sequence $\{R_n\}$ of local quadratic transforms of $R$ along this valuation domain. We consider the situation where the sequence $\{ R_n \}_{n \ge 0}$ is infinite, and examine ideal-theoretic properties of the integrally closed local domain $S = \bigcup_{n \ge 0} R_n$. Among the set of valuation overrings of $R$, there exists a unique limit point $V$ for the sequence of order valuation rings of the $R_n$. We prove the existence of a unique minimal proper Noetherian overring $T$ of $S$, and establish the decomposition $S = T \cap V$. If $S$ is archimedian, then the complete integral closure $S^{*}$ of $S$ has the form $S^{*} = W \cap T$, where $W$ is the rank $1$ valuation overring of $V$.
Bacteria species and solution pH effect postharvest quality of cut Zinnia elegans

Bacterial growth in vase solutions can lead to stem vasculature blockage causing petal and leaf wilt, bent neck, or similar symptoms related to water stress that reduce vase life. In these studies we isolated, identified, and evaluated the effects of several bacteria species on the vase life of cut Zinnia elegans L. ‘Benary’s Giant Wine’. Nine bacterial species were isolated during postharvest testing of cut zinnia stems: Pseudomonas fulva, Serratia ficaria, Rhizobium radiobacter, Chryseobacterium sp., Pantoea ananatis, Bacillus pumilus, Chryseobacterium daejeonense, Brevundimonas sp., and Pseudomonas marginalis and pure cultures of each species were added to the vase solution of cut zinnia stems. Escherichia coli K12, a lab adapted strain, was also included. Cut flowers inoculated with P. fulva and E. coli K12 had significantly greater vase lives of 9.5 and 9.4 d, respectively, compared to P. marginalis, P. ananatis, R. radiobacter, or the nutrient broth control (7.0, 6.9, 6.8, or 7.3 d, respectively). The vase lives of the other bacteria treatments were not statistically different from the deionized (DI) water control (8.6 d). There were no significant differences in water uptake or vase water bacteria concentrations at termination among all treatments. In further studies, sterilized and non-sterilized stems of Zinnia were used to investigate the effects of solution pH and the addition of P. marginalis and E. coli K12 on number of days to drought stress (DTDS), stem hydraulic conductivity, and bacteria concentrations inside and outside the stem. The non-sterilized stems in control solution with E. coli K12 and non-sterilized stems in preservative solution with no bacteria had the most DTDS of 8.0 d. The sterilized stems in the control solution (deionized water) with E. coli K12 and sterilized stems in basic solution with no bacteria had the least DTDS of 5.5 d and 5.8 d, respectively. The concentrations of bacteria inside and outside the stems were lowest for stems in the preservative solutions. Of the stems that were sterilized, partial percent loss of conductivity (PPLC) was significantly lower in the acidic solutions (64%) compared to the preservative (87%) and control (83%). This research shows that for Zinnia the bacteria species that has a primary effect on vase life, not necessarily the concentration of bacteria in the vase solution.
Rural Leaders, Rural Places: Problem, Privilege, and Possibility.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kathleen Budge, Boise State University, Leadership Development Program, Boise, ID 83706. (kathleenbudge@boisestate.edu) Citation: Budge, K. (2006, December 18). Rural leaders, rural places: Problem, privilege, and possibility. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 21(13). Retrieved [date] from http://jrre.psu.edu/articles/2113.pdf Rural Leaders, Rural Places: Problem, Privilege, and Possibility
Acidic Conditions Are Not Obligatory for Onset of Butanol Formation by Clostridium beijerinckii (Synonym, C. butylicum).

Factors that may initiate the metabolic transition for butanol production were investigated in batch cultures of Clostridium beijerinckii (synonym, Clostridium butylicum) VPI 13436. Cultures maintained at pH 6.8 produced nearly as much butanol as those incubated without pH control, indicating that neither a change in the culture pH nor acid conditions per se are always required to initiate solvent formation. Acetate and butyrate levels at the onset of butanol production were dependent on the pH at which the cultures were maintained. Cultures maintained at pH 6.8 could be accelerated into solvent production by artificially lowering the pH to 5.0 or by the addition of acetate plus butyrate without a pH change (but neither acid alone was effective). Solvent production was associated with slower rates of growth and general metabolism, and it did not show a requirement for mature spore formation. We speculate that a slowdown in metabolism, which may be brought about by several conditions, is mechanistically related to the onset of butanol production. Extracts of solvent-producing cells contained acetoacetate decarboxylase activity as well as higher NADP+-linked butanol dehydrogenase and lower hydrogenase activities than extracts of acid-producing cells. Solvent production did not appear to involve an enhanced ability to catalyze H2 oxidation.
Induction and Maintenance Therapy for Opportunistic Infections in Patients with AIDS

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has clearly illustrated the vital role of an effective cellular immune system in the successful chemotherapy of many infections. Most drugs used to treat fungal, protozoan, viral, and some bacterial infections are capable of inhibiting growth of the pathogen (static), but do not kill or destroy it. These static agents require an effective cellular immune (monocyte-macrophage) system to ensure that the infecting organism(s) is eradicated and relapse prevented. The cellular immune system is severely impaired in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (AIDS). Thus, a more aggressive approach to therapy of infections complicating HIV disease is emerging. This approach, which includes an initial induction phase followed by a chronic suppressive or maintenance phase, comprises a strategy that mimics the approach of the oncologist to chemotherapy of malignancies.
The effects of staffing on in-bed times of nursing home residents.

Objectives: To examine the effect of staffing level on time observed in bed during the daytime in nursing home (NH) residents. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Setting: Thirty-four southern California NHs. Participants: A total of 882 NH residents: 837 had hourly observation data, 777 had mealtime observations, 837 completed interviews, and 817 completed a physical performance test. Measurements: Cross-sectional data collected from participants at each NH site included direct observations (hourly and mealtime), resident interviews, medical record review, and physical performance tests. Results: In multivariate analyses, staffing level remained the strongest predictor of time observed in bed after controlling for resident functional measures (odds ratio=4.89; P=.042). Residents observed in bed during the daytime in more than 50% of hourly observations were observed also to experience increased daytime sleeping (P<.001) and less social engagement (P=.026) and consumed less food and fluids during mealtimes than those observed in bed in less than 50% of observations, after adjusting for resident function (P<.001). Conclusion: In this sample of NHs, resident functional measures and NH staffing level predicted observed time in bed according to hourly observations, with staffing level the most powerful predictor. Neither of these predictors justifies the excessive in-bed times observed in this study. Staff care practices relevant to encouraging residents to be out of bed and resident preferences for being in bed should be examined and improved. Practice recommendations regarding in-bed time should be considered, and further research should seek to inform the development of such recommendations.