cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D suppresses M1 macrophages and promotes M2 differentiation at bone injury sites

An indispensable role of macrophages in bone repair has been well recognized. Previous data have demonstrated the copresence of M1 macrophages and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during the proinflammatory stage of bone repair. However, the exact role of M1 macrophages in MSC function and bone repair is unknown. This study aimed to define the role of M1 macrophages at bone injury sites via the function of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D) in suppressing M1 but promoting M2 differentiation. We showed that 1,25(OH)2D suppressed M1 macrophage-mediated enhancement of MSC migration. Additionally, 1,25(OH)2D inhibited M1 macrophage secretion of osteogenic proteins (i.e., Oncostatin M, TNF-α, and IL-6). Importantly, the 1,25(OH)2D-mediated suppression of osteogenic function in M1 macrophages at the proinflammatory stage was associated with 1,25(OH)2D-mediated reduction of MSC abundance, compromised osteogenic potential of MSCs, and impairment of fracture repair. Furthermore, outside the proinflammatory stage, 1,25(OH)2D treatment did not suppress fracture repair. Accordingly, our data support 2 conclusions: (a) M1 macrophages are important for the recruitment and osteogenic priming of MSCs and, hence, are necessary for fracture repair, and (b) under vitamin D-sufficient conditions, 1,25(OH)2D treatment is unnecessary and can be detrimental if provided during the proinflammatory stage of fracture healing.
Petroleum systems framework of significant new oil discoveries in a giant Cretaceous (Aptian–Cenomanian) clinothem in Arctic Alaska

Recent oil discoveries in an Aptian–Cenomanian clinothem in Arctic Alaska demonstrate the potential for hundred-million- to billion-barrel oil accumulations in Nanushuk Formation topsets and Torok Formation foresets–bottomsets. Oil-prone source rocks and the clinothem are draped across the Barrow arch, a structural hinge between the Colville foreland basin and Beaufort Sea rifted margin. Stratigraphic traps lie in a favorable thermal maturity domain along multiple migration pathways across more than 30,000 km2 (10,000 mi2). Sediment from the Chukotkan orogen (Russia) filled the western Colville basin and spilled over the Beaufort rift shoulder, forming east- and north-facing shelf margins. Progradational shelf margin trajectories change abruptly to “sawtooth” trajectories at midclinothem, the result of reduction in sediment influx. Two stratigraphic trap types are inferred in Nanushuk basal topsets in the eastern part of the clinothem: (1) lowstand systems tracts, inferred to reflect forced regression, include a narrow, thick progradational stacking pattern perched on a sequence boundary on the upper slope; and (2) highstand-progradational systems tracts include a broad, thin wedge of shingled parasequences above a toplap surface. Both include stratigraphically isolated sandstone sealed by mudstone. Trap geometries in Torok foreset and bottomset facies in the same area include basin-floor fan, slope-apron, and slope-channel deposits that pinch out upslope and are sealed by mudstone. Significant potential exists for the discovery of additional oil accumulations in these stratigraphic trap types in the eastern part of the clinothem. Less potential may exist in the western part because reservoir–seal pairs may not be well developed.
Simulation of a Load-Managing Photovoltaic System

We proposed and demonstrated a load-managing photovoltaic (PV) system that significantly reduces the levelized cost of electricity over conventional PV systems. Instead of managing the PV power, the system manages the number of loads connected to the PV array throughout the day to maximize the utilization efficiency of available PV power without a conventional maximum power point tracker. The system can also regulate its output voltage without a DC/DC converter. This paper presents a simulation study for a stand-alone load-managing system with direct-coupled ohmic loads. The simulation program can model a load-managing system with a PV array of any size and any number of loads, and outputs the power delivered to the loads. The theoretical utilization efficiency was found to increase with the number of loads being managed and reaches above 99% for a direct-coupled system with just eight ohmic loads. The voltage variation seen by the loads can be reduced to less than ±5% by adjusting the switch points for the loads.
Recent Advances in Geotechnical Post-earthquake Reconnaissance

Field observations are particularly important in geotechnical engineering, because it is difficult to replicate in the laboratory the response of soil deposits built by nature over thousands of years. Detailed mapping of damaged and undamaged areas provides the data for the well-documented case histories that drive the development of many current design procedures. Thus, documenting key insights from earthquakes advances research and practice. This has been a primary goal of the National Science Foundation-sponsored Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association since its inception almost 20 years ago. New technologies are continually employed by GEER teams to capture ground deformation and its effects. These technologies include Light Imaging Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) image processing techniques for generating and visualizing three-dimensional point cloud data sets. New sensor deployment platforms such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are playing an integral role in the data collection process. Unanticipated observations from major events often catalyze new research directions. An overview of some of these recent integrated technology deployments and their role at the core of earthquake disaster analysis is presented. Important advancements are possible through post-event research if their effects are captured and shared effectively.
Label-free nanostructured sensor for the simple determination of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)

Abstract One of the main confirmatory metabolites of diabetes mellitus is known as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a hemoglobin modified with cis-diol sugars. This work presents an optical detection of this metabolite via the preparation and characterization of glass surfaces coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and subsequently modified with boronic acid to enhance specificity. Through the localized surface plasmon resonance intrinsic to the AuNPs an absorbance enhancement (82×) of the Soret band was obtained due to local electric field enhancement. As a consequence, determination of HbA1c can be performed by absorption spectroscopy in the UV–vis range by monitoring the Soret band, at 409 nm. The analytical performance of the label-free, nanostructured sensor is studied using univariate and multivariate calibration. The absorbance dependence of the Soret band as a function of HbA1c concentration showed a linear regression in the clinically relevant range of 0.09–2.35 g/L with a detection limit of 0.03 g/L. The method matches up well analytically when compared to other standard tests and has the advantage of simplicity (sample analysis and signal readout), low cost and fast detection (time of assay completion on the order of 10 s of minutes).
The Anatomy of Vascular Compression in Trigeminal Neuralgia (P07.051)

OBJECTIVE: To review the anatomic basis underlying vascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia (TN). BACKGROUND: The etiology of TN is unclear but vascular (arterial and venous) compression of the trigeminal nerve roots is thought to be causal in many cases. The theoretical underpinning to the vascular compression hypothesis is primarily based on hypotheses presented by Dandy (1934) and Jannetta (1980) proposing age-related “arterial elongation” and “brain sagging.” Reported success rates for microvascular decompression surgery (MVD) vary widely from 30%-97%. DESIGN/METHODS: We searched the literature using the keywords: “trigeminal neuralgia,” “microvascular decompression,” “arterial compression,” “venous compression,” and “neurovascular compression.” RESULTS: The vessels most often implicated in TN are the superior cerebellar artery, anterior and posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, and superior petrosal vein including several tributaries. Jannetta9s theory of “brain sagging” was proposed to explain the anatomical positions of these vessels, yet if this was valid TN should occur bilaterally. Bilateral TN is seen in 60% of cases) for unexplained reasons. Dandy9s theory of “arterial elongation” (increased vessel tortuosity with age) may explain the unilateral juxtaposition of vessel(s) and nerve, but the incidence of TN should then be greater than 4-5/100,000. Additionally, whereas arterial pulsations provide a reasonable compression mechanism, venous compression of the large trigeminal nerve (21%-90% of cases) is not a parsimonious theory. The existence of asymptomatic vascular compression (13%-60% in cadaver studies) seems to further argue against an anatomical basis of MVD. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the anatomical support for a vascular compressive etiology of TN is weak. How and why (and if) the arteries and veins commonly implicated become misaligned so that they exert pressure on the trigeminal nerve is not consistent with a brain sagging/vessel elongation aging process for many cases despite high reported success rates of some of the surgical studies. Supported by: Midwest Alliance for Health Education. Disclosure: Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vilensky has received royalty payments from Elsevier and John Wiley & Sons.
The Underdog Effect: When Low Expectations Increase Performance

Existing theory and research has documented the benefits of facing high expectations and the perils of encountering low expectations. This paper examines the performance effects of underdog expecta...
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors for the management of advanced or metastatic breast cancer in women

Purpose The pharmacology, clinical activity, safety, and place in therapy of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib are reviewed. Summary CDK 4 and CDK 6 are downstream agents in the estrogen signaling pathway that control entry into the cell cycle. CDK4/6 inhibition may prevent tumor cell progression in the cell cycle. Three CDK4/6 inhibitors (palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib) are available for women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer. These medications' indications in the treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer include use with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) as initial therapy in postmenopausal women and with fulvestrant in women whose disease progressed during endocrine therapy. Ribociclib is also indicated as initial therapy with an AI in premenopausal or perimenopausal women and as initial therapy with fulvestrant in postmenopausal women. Abemaciclib is also indicated as monotherapy in women with disease progression after endocrine therapy and prior chemotherapy. A significant increase in progression-free survival (PFS) was seen with use of all 3 agents as initial therapy with an AI in controlled trials. Each agent also was demonstrated to produce a significant increase in PFS when used with fulvestrant in women whose disease progressed with prior endocrine therapy. Neutropenia is a dose-limiting adverse effect of palbociclib and ribociclib. Fatigue is more common with use of palbociclib and abemaciclib, and gastrointestinal effects are more common with abemaciclib use. Conclusion CDK4/6 inhibitors have significant demonstrated clinical activity in combination with AIs or fulvestrant in women with HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer and are becoming a standard of care in these patients.
The secret life of degradative lysosomes in axons: delivery from the soma, enzymatic activity, and local autophagic clearance

Lysosomal degradation of protein aggregates and damaged organelles is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. This process in neurons is challenging due to their highly polarized architecture. While enzymatically active degradative lysosomes are enriched in the cell body, their trafficking and degradation capacity in axons remain elusive. We recently characterized the axonal delivery of degradative lysosomes by applying a set of fluorescent probes that selectively label active forms of lysosomal hydrolases on cortical neurons in microfluidic devices. We revealed that soma-derived degradative lysosomes rapidly influx into distal axons and target to autophagosomes and Parkinson disease-related SNCA/α-synuclein cargos for local degradation. Disrupting axon-targeted delivery of degradative lysosomes induces axonal autophagic stress. We demonstrate that the axon is an active compartment for local degradation, establishing a foundation for future investigations into axonal lysosome trafficking and functionality in neurodegenerative diseases and lysosomal storage disorders associated with axonal pathology and macroautophagy/autophagy stress.
Hospital Discharge Within a Day After Total Hip Arthroplasty Does Not Compromise 1-Year Outcomes Compared With Rapid Discharge: An Analysis of an Insurance Claims Database.

Abstract Background As health care costs continue to rise, same-day and rapid discharge have become popular options for total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, it remains unclear if there is a difference between within-a-day discharge and early discharge for 1-year clinical outcomes. Methods Data were collected from the Humana insurance database using the PearlDiver Patient Records Database from 2007 to 2017, identifying patients receiving a primary THA. Patients were then stratified into three groups: (1) discharge within a day (length of stay [LOS] Results In total, 40,038 patients met inclusion criteria. Among those, 754 (1.88%) patients were discharged within a day, 13,670 (34.14%) patients were in the rapid discharge cohort, and 25,614 (63.97%) patients were in the traditional discharge cohort. After multivariate analysis, no significant differences were observed between the within-a-day discharge group and either the rapid discharge or the traditional discharge group. Rapid discharge patients were at decreased risk of periprosthetic joint infection (odds ratios: 0.747, 95% confidence interval: 0.623-0.896) and readmission (odds ratios: 0.778; 95% confidence interval: 0.735-0.824, P Conclusions No significant differences were observed in the one-year outcomes of primary THA between within-a-day discharge patients, rapid discharge, and traditional discharge. For those that qualify after careful selection, outpatient THA might be a feasible alternative to the traditional inpatient THA.
The Law and Economics of Best Execution

This paper reviews and analyzes the legal and economic aspects of the duty of best execution. Although a well-established principle of securities trading, we show that the dual problems of definition and enforcement make best execution both unwieldy and unworkable as a mandated legal duty. We examine the impact of several market practices on best execution, in particular payment for order flow, preferencing and internalization practices, and price improvement and order execution protocols. We suggest three possible directions for the future rule and interpretation of the duty of best execution.
Neuroendocrine cells of the prostate: Histology, biological functions, and molecular mechanisms

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cause of cancer-related mortality in men worldwide. Although most men are diagnosed with low grade, indolent tumors that are potentially curable, a significant subset develops advanced disease where hormone therapy is required to target the androgen receptor (AR). Despite its initial effect, hormone therapy eventually fails and the tumor progresses to lethal stages even through continued inhibition of AR. This review article focuses on the role of PCa cellular heterogeneity in therapy resistance and disease progression. Although AR-positive luminal-type cells represent the vast majority of PCa cells, there exists a minor component of AR-negative neuroendocrine (NE) cells that are resistant to hormonal therapy and are enriched by the treatment. In addition, it is now well accepted that a significant subset of hormonally treated tumors recur as small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC), further highlighting the importance of targeting NE cells in addition to the more abundant luminal-type cancer cells. Although it has been long recognized that NE cells are present in PCa, their underlying function in benign prostate and molecular mechanisms contributing to PCa progression remains poorly understood. In this article, we review the morphology and function of NE cells in benign prostate and PCa as well as underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, we review the major reported mechanisms for transformation from common adenocarcinoma histology to the highly lethal SCNC, a significant clinical challenge in the management of advanced PCa.
COVID and the Environment

A great many similarities can be found in the issues of COVID-19 and environmental quality, including global climate change. These include the need for good science, for strong leadership, and for social commitment.
Progressive retinal atrophy in related cattle

Blindness secondary to retinal degeneration has been described in Hostein cattle. In the few reported cases, the disease is of unknown etiology, appears in apparently healthy adult cows with no other systemic signs of illness, and has not been linked to heredity. This report will describe two cases of an apparent familial retinal degeneration and blindness in related adult dairy cows.
The Legal Foundations of Financial Capitalism: Remarks upon Receipt of the Veblen-Commons Award

The widening of the U.S. market following the adoption of the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution stimulated changes in methods of production and business organization. These changes required a radical change in finance that prompted the Supreme Court to adopt exchange value as the accepted principle of property rights. These rights did not rest on tangible material, but on incorporeal and intangible assets. This legalized the firm as a going concern instead of a bundle of things and enhanced the role of finance relative to production. These evolving business practices and supporting judicial decisions set the U.S. economy on the path that has resulted in our current financial economy. The steps along this path are discussed in this article and we conclude that an economic theory based on intangible property is needed.
Biological Effects of Sound and Ultrasound

At frequencies mostly in the megahertz range, ultrasound has become indispensable in diagnostic medicine. Sound over a wide frequency range is being used increasingly in therapeutic applications, including drug delivery. Much research has been carried out to study biological effects of this agent, especially, ultrasound, to seek understanding of mechanisms for them. Since sonic energy is converted into heat as it passes through tissues, temperature elevation is an important mechanism. Another important kind of mechanism, called cavitation, is important when small gas bubbles are present, as is often true during in vivo exposures of cell suspensions. If the pressure amplitude is modest, the action may be harmless, or even beneficial by making cells temporarily permeable allowing drug transfer. If it is high, the action may be violent and cause permanent damage. The importance of cavitation during applications of diagnostic ultrasound has greatly increased during the last decade because of the widespread use of “contrast agents”. These are small specially coated gas bubbles, which are injected into the blood of a patient to improve image contrast. Whether cavitation occurs or not during an application, sonic fields can produce effects via time-averaged forces and fluid motions known as radiation force and acoustic streaming (or microstreaming). The present chapter is a review of current knowledge on effects that can be produced by sonic fields and causes of these effects. Keywords: sound; ultrasound; cavitation; bubble vibration; microstreaming
Filter coefficient selection using design criteria

For tracking systems with a uniform data rate and stationary measurement noise, non-manoeuvring targets can be accurately tracked with a steady-state Kalman filter. The steady-state Kalman filter, which can be viewed as equivalent to an alpha-beta filter, has been widely applied to many different systems. A means of selecting the filter coefficients was proposed by Kalata (1984) using Kalman filter considerations. An alternative method based on noise reduction ratios is presented in this paper. Using a design criteria with the Kalata relation, optimal filter coefficients can be selected for specific applications. This method generalizes current methods for selecting the filter coefficients.
Romantic reformers and the antislavery struggle in the Civil War era

On the cusp of the American Civil War, a new generation of reformers, including Theodore Parker, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Robison Delany and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, took the lead in the antislavery struggle. Frustrated by political defeats, a more aggressive Slave Power, and the inability of early abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison to rid the nation of slavery, the New Romantics crafted fresh, often more combative, approaches to the peculiar institution. Contrary to what many scholars have argued, however, they did not reject Romantic reform in the process. Instead, the New Romantics roamed widely through Romantic modes of thought, embracing not only the immediatism and perfectionism pioneered by Garrisonians but also new motifs and doctrines, including sentimentalism, self-culture, martial heroism, Romantic racialism, and Manifest Destiny. This book tells the story of how antebellum America's most important intellectual current, Romanticism, shaped the coming and course of the nation's bloodiest - and most revolutionary - conflict.
N ≫ 2: multi-speaker display systems for virtual reality and spatial audio projection

This paper describes multi-speaker display systems for immersive auditory environments, collaborative projects, realistic acoustic modeling, and live musical performance. Two projects are described. The sound sub-system of the Princeton Display Wall project, and the NBody musical instrument body radiation response project. The Display Wall is an 18' × 8' rear-projection screen, illuminated by 8 high-resolution video projectors. Each projector is driven by a 4-way symmetric-multi-processor PC. The audio sub-system of this project involves 26 loudspeakers and server PCs to drive the speakers in real time from soundfile playback, audio effects applied to incoming audio streams, and parametric sound synthesis. The NBody project involves collecting and using directional impulse responses from a variety of stringed musical instruments. Various signal processing techniques were used to investigate, factor, store, and implement the collected impulse responses. A software workbench was created which allows virtual microphones to be placed around a virtual instrument, and then allows signals to be processed through the resulting derived transfer functions. Multi-speaker display devices and software programs were constructed which allow real-time application of of the filter functions to arbitrary sound sources. This paper also discusses the relation of spherical display systems to conventional systems in terms of spatial audio and sound-field reconstruction, with the conclusion that most conventional techniques can be used for spherical display systems as well.
Nonlinear Developmental trajectory of fear learning and memory

The transition into and out of adolescence is a unique developmental period during which neuronal circuits are particularly susceptible to modification by experience. Adolescence is associated with an increased incidence of anxiety disorders in humans, and an estimated 75% of adults with fear-related disorders met diagnostic criteria as children and adolescents. Conserved neural circuitry of rodents and humans has facilitated neurodevelopmental studies of behavioral and molecular processes associated with fear learning and memory that lie at the heart of many anxiety disorders. Here, we review the nonlinear developmental aspects of fear learning and memory during a transition period into and out of adolescence and provide a discussion of the molecular mechanisms that may underlie these alterations in behavior. We provide a model that may help to inform novel treatment strategies for children and adolescents with fear-related disorders.
K * and K Meson Pole Contributions to Leptonic Λ Decay

An attempt is made to calculate the leptonic $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ decay rate on the basis of the known ${K}_{e3}$ and ${K}_{\ensuremath{\mu}2}$ decay rates. Unsubtracted dispersion relations are written for the relevant matrix elements of the strangeness-changing vector weak current and the absorptive parts are approximated by retaining only the contribution from the ${K}^{*}$. In this way the vector current contribution to the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ decay is related to the known ${K}_{e3}$ rate, the known effective $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}K\ensuremath{-}{K}^{*}$ coupling constant, and the as yet unknown $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ensuremath{-}p\ensuremath{-}{K}^{*}$ coupling constant. The latter coupling constant will hopefully be determined soon from extrapolation of the associated production data. The axial vector contribution to $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ decay is related to the ${K}_{\ensuremath{\mu}2}$ decay rate by writing unsubtracted dispersion relations for the divergence of this current and approximating the absorptive parts by keeping only the contribution of the $K$ meson. The numerical consequences of this calculation can only be evaluated once the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ensuremath{-}p\ensuremath{-}{K}^{*}$ is determined, but a crude estimate suggested by "unitary symmetry" yields a leptonic $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ decay rate a few times smaller than is now suggested experimentally.
Endometrial (Uterine Corpus) Carcinoma

Carcinoma of the endometrium has long been known to be more common in the obese and those having late menopause, and to be more common in women with a few or no children. When estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms came into common use, rates of endometrial cancer rose, and subsequently many studies have confirmed that prolonged use of estrogens produces growth of the endometrial cells generally, and causes carcinoma. When progestins were added to estrogens to cause the endometrial cells to mature as well as grow, forming a combination hormone replacement therapy, the frequency of endometrial cancer declined. Women who have used oral contraceptives are less likely to develop endometrial cancer, probably because natural estrogen production is reduced. Perhaps the factor most responsible for decreasing the occurrence of endometrial cancer is hysterectomy. Endometrial cancer is common in Los Angeles and other economically developed populations. It is particularly common among white women, particularly those of higher social class. The incidence of this malignancy increases in frequency just before menopause and flattens out or drops just after menopause. No particular geographic pattern is evident, and no other local source of causation can be proposed.
Nazar: Photographs from the Arab World

Nazar: Photographs from the Arab World. Wim Melis, editor, with essays by Michket Krifa, Negar Azimi, Issam Nassar, Isolde Brielmaier, Issa Touma, Peter Lewis, and Sherifa Zuhur. New York: Aperature Foundation. 2004.
Dialogue and Constitutional Duty

The concept of dialogue has become a central feature in contemporary thinking about constitutional review. Dialogues occur between courts and legislatures over the constitution’s meaning and implementation, making less clear the line between those institutions. This Essay links the idea of constitutional dialogue with the idea of constitutional duty, with the aim of illuminating modern constitutionalism more generally. It begins with a simple model of constitutional dialogue in which legislatures are the first movers, then switches the order so that courts are the first movers. Doing so brings out the connection between the ideas of dialogue and constitutional duty. Distinguishing among types of duty suggests that constitutions require not the maximization of any – or all – constitutional values, but joint maximization in which the constitutional system as a whole achieves as much as possible even though we can see that there is something more that the system could do to achieve any particular constitutional value. Finally, I suggest that joint maximization implies that only dialogic review is appropriate if we are interested in constitutional systems as a whole.
Music intervention and preoperative anxiety: an integrative review

PITTMAN S. & KRIDLI S. (2011) Music intervention and preoperative anxiety: an integrative review. International Nursing Review58, 157–163 Background: Hospitalized patients and patients scheduled to undergo surgery or invasive medical procedures experience high levels of anxiety. Recently, music intervention has been evaluated for its anxiolytic effects in preoperative patients. Aim: The aim of this integrative review was to illustrate the varying methodological approaches utilized to assess the efficacy of a music intervention in reducing preoperative anxiety in adults. Methods: A total of 11 articles, meeting the inclusion criteria, were evaluated and included. Findings: Three of the eight (38%) studies, investigating the effect of listening to music on blood pressure, concluded that listening to music lowered blood pressure. Three of seven (43%) studies, investigating the relationship between listening to music and heart rate, illustrated patterns of decreased heart rates. Finally, two of four (50%) studies, investigating relaxing effects of listening to music on breathing, provided evidence of a decreased respiratory rate. Conclusion: There was inconsistent evidence regarding music's effectiveness in lowering blood pressure, heart rate and respirations in anxious patients. However, music intervention can still be used by nurses to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere geared towards reducing anxiety in preoperative patients.
General model for the functional dependence of defect concentration on oxygen potential in mixed conducting oxides

To understand and engineer applications for mixed conducting oxides, it is desirable to have explicit, analytical expressions for the functional dependence of defect concentration and transport properties on the partial pressure of the external gas phase. To fulfill this need, general expressions are derived for the functional dependence of defect concentration on the oxygen partial pressure (\( P_{{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2}}} }} \)) for the mixed ionic electronic conductors. The model presented in this paper differs from expressions obtained using the popular Brouwer approach because they are continuous across multiple Brouwer regions.
A SWELL Channel Indeed

Water constitutes about two-thirds of the mass of most living organisms. It serves as a solvent in the cell cytoplasm and exterior, and like other molecules, it moves down its concentration gradient by osmosis. Indeed, the diffusion of water is responsible for the dilemma in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner , Samuel Taylor Coleridge's epic poem: “Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” If the mariner were to drink seawater, with its high concentration of dissolved salts, the water in his cells would diffuse out (down its concentration gradient), dehydrating the cells and killing the seafarer. Two recent studies, by Qiu et al. ( 1 ) and by Voss et al. on page 634 in this issue ( 2 ), advance our understanding of how animal cells deal with such osmotic challenges.
Responding to the Needs of the Whole Child: A Case Study of a High-Performing Elementary School for Immigrant Children

Changes in the demography of the nation's public schools are occurring at a dramatic pace. In states such as California, Texas, and Florida, new immigrants comprise more than a third of the student population. In major cities such as New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, they comprise more than 40% of the student population. Similar changes are occurring in small towns and rural areas throughout the country. This article examines (a) how Washington Elementary, a suburban school, has responded to these dramatic demographic changes; and (b) why this particular school has produced dramatic academic success among immigrant students when so many other suburban schools have not. This article focuses on understanding the school's practices and their implications for literacy achievement. It focuses on whether the interaction between organizational and programmatic practices and the implementation of these reform practices produced a transformative effect upon the school and student learning.
Exsanguinating hemorrhage from urinary ileal conduit in patient with portal hypertension.

Abstract A patient with an ileal conduit diversion after cystectomy for carcinoma of the bladder is seen with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Massive bleeding from the peristomal varices developed. Our experience with conservative treatment is outlined.
Antenna-coupled niobium bolometers for millimeter-wave imaging arrays

Antenna-coupled thin-film niobium microbolometers designed for mm-wave imaging arrays have been fabricated and their electrical properties measured. The niobium bolometers are operated at room temperature and are located at the feeds of half-wave dipole antennas on an electrically thick silicon substrate. We independently measured the resistance of the microbolometers as a function of temperature and the dynamic resistance as a function of DC bias current, yielding the electrical responsivity and thermal conductance of the bolometers. The latter is dominated by conduction through a deposited SiO 2 isolation layer. We describe electrical measurements of the bolometers' pulse response and noise, performed by illuminating the bolometers with a high power, pulsed mm-wave source. We discuss these measurements in the context of the pulsed detection architecture planned for an active mm-wave imaging system currently under development.
Semi-automated mitral valve morphometry and computational stress analysis using 3D ultrasound

In vivo human mitral valves (MV) were imaged using real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (rt-3DTEE), and volumetric images of the MV at mid-systole were analyzed by user-initialized segmentation and 3D deformable modeling with continuous medial representation, a compact representation of shape. The resulting MV models were loaded with physiologic pressures using finite element analysis (FEA). We present the regional leaflet stress distributions predicted in normal and diseased (regurgitant) MVs. Rt-3DTEE, semi-automated leaflet segmentation, 3D deformable modeling, and FEA modeling of the in vivo human MV is tenable and useful for evaluation of MV pathology.
Teorías populares sobre lo que los niños comprenden y prácticas interactivas en una población rural de Méjico Central

ResumenEsta comparacion intracultural realizada en Mexico Central entre mujeres rurales ha puesto de manifiesto que pueden existir estilos o practicas de crianza culturalmente especificos y relacionados con las teorias populares que los padres tienen sobre la crianza y desarrollo del nino. Para cada madre se ha extraido una puntuacion de una parte de un cuestionario relacionado con el desarrollo cognitivo, especialmente con la comprension. Han aparecido dos tipos de teorias populares: una teoria interactiva relacionada con la provision de mas informacion no-verbal que facilita la comprension, y una teoria maduracionista relacionada con una menor aportacion de informacion contextual en caso de que el nino tuviera dificultades para comprender.
Editor's Note: 2014 – A Year in Review for Hotel Firms

2014 has been yet another memorable year for U.S. lodging firms.According to the latest Smith Travel Research report (October 5, 2014), the 12-month occupancy (end August) for these lodging firms i...
Reaction of the thiol groups of E. coli RNA polymerase with 7 chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2 oxa-1,3 diazole.

A single thiol group of E. Coli RNA polymerase reacts rapidly with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2 oxa-1,3 diazole (NBD-C1) at pH 7.5 with slower reaction of a much larger number of such groups. Reaction of the unique thiol is associated with maximal loss of about 60% of the catalytic activity. The extent of inactivation is independent of the template used in the assay. Initiation of RNA synthesis shows no inhibition, thereby implicating the elongation step as the impaired function. Neither substrate, template, rifampcin, nor the elongation inhibitor rose bengal protect the enzyme against reaction with NBD-C1. These observations suggest that the partial inactivation of RNA polymerase on reaction with a thiol group is most likely due to a local conformational change outside of the active site which influences the active site in an indirect manner.
Comparison of sensory differences of stored Russet Burbank potatoes treated with CIPC and alternative sprout inhibitors

The sensory properties of Russet Burbank potatoes treated with three naturally occurring volatile compounds, as alternatives to CIPC for sprout inhibition, were evaluated. Potatoes from the 1995 and 1996 crop years were treated with salicylaldehyde, 1,8-cineole, 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, or CIPC prior to dormancy break during storage and stored for up to 16 wk. Sensory differences between potatoes treated with alternative sprout inhibitors and CIPC-treated or untreated potatoes and inhibitor concentration were determined at 2-wk intervals. Potatoes treated with 1,8-cineole or salicylaldehyde, but not 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, were significantly different from the untreated potatoes or potatoes treated with CIPC. Sensory detection threshold levels for the alternative inhibitors were measured in a model potato system. The residual levels of the sprout inhibitors were within the detection threshold range for 1,8-cineole (0.02–0.04 ppm), but not for salicylaldehyde (0.0–0.10 ppm) or 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (0.80–1.40 ppm). The presence of the residual sprout inhibitors and/or the influence of sprout inhibitors on potato metabolism during storage contributed to observed differences in sensory quality of stored potatoes.
Coleman-Weinberg potential in good agreement with WMAP

We briefly summarize and update a class of inflationary models from the early eighties based on a quartic (Coleman-Weinberg) potential for a gauge singlet scalar (inflaton) field. For vacuum energy scales comparable to the grand unification scale, the scalar spectral index ${n}_{s}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.94--0.97$, in very good agreement with the WMAP 3-year results. The tensor-to-scalar ratio $r\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.14$ while $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\equiv}\mathrm{d}{n}_{s}/\mathrm{d}\mathrm{ln}﻿k$ is $\ensuremath{\simeq}\ensuremath{-}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. An $SO(10)$ version naturally explains the observed baryon asymmetry via nonthermal leptogenesis.
An NMR investigation of the conformational equilibria of 2-(2'-pyridyl)ethylphosphonic acid in several solvents

Vicinal proton–proton NMR couplings have been used to investigate whether the position of conformational equilibria is determined by intramolecular N-H hydrogen bonding for 2-(2′-pyridyl)ethylphosphonic acid 1 in its various possible ionization states in water, methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). With 1 in the form of its monoanion and dianion, the trans is favored, with the dianion being more trans than the monoanion for a given solvent, probably as the result of steric effects, possibly enhanced by repulsive electrostatic effects between the negatively charged phosphonic group and the lone pair on the pyridine nitrogen. For 1 and its conjugate acid, the gauche amounts, respectively, to 43% and 45% in water, 66% and 51% in methanol, 66% and 64% in ethanol, and 29% and 49% in DMSO. For these latter two species, electrostatic, steric, and hydrogen bonding-effects are all likely to play a role in determining the conformational equilibria.
Selective prescribing led to overestimation of the benefits of lipid-lowering drugs

Abstract Objective Observational studies have found beneficial effects of lipid-lowering drugs on diverse outcomes, including venous thromboembolism, hip fracture, dementia, and all-cause mortality. Selective use of these drugs in frail people may confound these relationships. Study Design and Setting We measured 1-year mortality in two cohorts of New Jersey residents, aged 65–99 years, enrolled in state-sponsored drug benefits programs: 112,463 persons hospitalized during the years 1991–1994 and 106,838 nonhospitalized enrollees. Use of lipid-lowering drugs and other medications, as well as diagnoses, were evaluated before follow-up. Results In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, users of lipid-lowering drugs had a 43% reduced death rate relative to nonusers among hospitalized enrollees and a 56% reduction in the nonhospitalized sample. Available markers of frailty and comorbidity predicted decreased use of these drugs. Control for the propensity to use lipid-lowering drugs attenuated but did not eliminate these effects. After such adjustment, users had a 30% reduction in death rate (95% confidence interval [CI]: 25%–35%) among hospitalized enrollees and a 41% reduction (95% CI: 35%–47%) in the nonhospitalized sample. Unmeasured frailty associated with a 26%–33% reduced odds of receiving lipid-lowering therapy could explain this effect. Conclusion Frailty and comorbidity that influence use of preventive therapies can substantially confound apparent benefits of lipid-lowering drugs on outcomes.
Increased incidence of negative appendectomy in childhood obesity

In recent years, there has been worldwide increase in childhood obesity. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis in very obese children can sometimes be difficult and challenging. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of histologically normal appendix in very obese and non-obese children undergoing emergency appendectomy for the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The hospital records of 1,228 consecutive patients, who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis between 2000 and 2008, were analyzed. 207 children (16.9%) were very obese. Very obese was defined as greater than 2 standard deviations above the standardized mean weight for age. Histological data was compared between very obese and non-obese children. Seventy-seven (37%) of 207 very obese and 398 (39%) of 1,021 non-obese children had ultrasound preoperatively. The incidence of normal appendectomy was significantly higher in very obese children compared to non-obese children (24.6 vs. 9.9%, P < 0.001). The false positive rate of ultrasound was significantly higher in very obese children group compared to non-obese (26 vs. 6%, P < 0.05). The specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of ultrasound were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in very obese children group compared to non-obese children. Suspected appendicitis in childhood obesity is associated with increased incidence of normal appendectomy. Active observation in hospital in very obese children may reduce the rate of normal appendectomy without increasing the incidence of complicated appendicitis.
Hapten-induced colitis is associated with colonic patch hypertrophy and T helper cell 2-type responses.

To investigate the potential involvement of T helper (Th)2-type responses in murine models of intestinal inflammation, we used trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)–hapten to induce inflammatory bowel disease in situations where Th1-type responses with interferon (IFN)-γ synthesis are either diminished or do not occur. Intracolonic administration of TNBS to either normal (IFN-γ+/+) or Th1-deficient IFN-γ knockout (IFN-γ−/−) BALB/c mice resulted in significant colitis. In IFN-γ−/− mice, crypt inflammation was more severe than in IFN-γ+/+ mice and was accompanied by hypertrophy of colonic patches with a lymphoepithelium containing M cells and distinct B and T cell zones resembling Peyer's patches. Hapten-specific, colonic patch T cells from both mouse groups exhibited a Th2 phenotype with interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production. TNBS colitis in normal mice treated with anti–IL-4 antibodies or in IL-4−/− mice was less severe than in either IFN-γ+/+ or IFN-γ−/− mice. Our findings now show that the Th2-type responses in TNBS colitis are associated with colonic patch enlargement and inflammation of the mucosal layer and may represent a model for ulcerative colitis.
The impact of local infrastructural and development policies on agricultural land alienation

Abstract Over the past decade, the issue of agricultural land conversion, particularly on the urban—rural fringe, has emerged as a leading concern in U.S. land-use planning. Responding to the public concern over land alienation, most state governments and many local governments have enacted policies designed to protect farmlands. The effectiveness of these actions has, however, been questioned. One serious oversight in most existing programs is the lack of coordination between farmland protection efforts and local growth and capital investment policies. The focus of this paper is an empirical investigation of farmland conversion activity using a five-variable public policy model. The research findings show a statistically significant relationship between the scale of conversion activity and the examined factors. The research suggests that effective planning strategies to control agricultural land conversion must recognize the impact of local policy decision-making on the agricultural land market.
Structuring the group experience: A format for designing psychoeducational groups

Abstract The design of an effective psychoeducational group begins with a strong theoretical foundation and evolves into a highly interactive experience that fosters growth and development in participants. This article presents a six-step model that enables the designer to move from a general statement of purpose to a session-by-session design that includes didactic content, experiential activities, and processing. By following this model, the group facilitator is able to develop a psychoeducational group that provides a logical sequence of learning activities that foster cognitive, affective, and behavioral change.
Active damping with a reaction mass actuator

This paper presents analytical and experimental results in actively damping flexible structures with reaction mass actuators. A two degree of freedom spring-mass model of a flexible structure is analyzed and the key parameters of actuator mass participation and pole-zero separation are related to the maximum damping achievable from rate feedback control. The main conclusion of the paper is that the larger the pole-zero separation the larger the amount of damping that can be imparted to a structural mode. Laboratory experiments conducted on an 8-foot truss structure support the analytical predictions.
Adsorption phenomena in hydrometallurgy, 1 The uptake of copper, nickel and cobalt by oxide adsorbents in aqueous ammoniacal solutions

Abstract The uptake or adsorption of copper, nickel and cobalt by finely divided oxide solids in aqueous ammoniacal medium has been investigated experimentally in order to determine how adsorption on leach residues can affect the recovery of leachable metals. Hematite, rutile, alumina and quartz were used as model solid adsorbents. In the case of ammoniacal leach solutions the controlling metal species appears to be the aqueous neutral hydroxo species. Adsorption behavior was found to have maxima and minima as a function of pH, the magnitude of which depends on ammonia concentration, the metal cation, and the adsorbent.