cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasma Membrane Targeting of Endogenous NKCC2 in COS7 Cells Bypasses Functional Golgi Cisternae and Complex N-Glycosylation.

Na+K+2Cl– cotransporters (NKCCs) effect the electroneutral movement of Na+-K+ and 2Cl– ions across the plasma membrane of vertebrate cells. There are two known NKCC isoforms, NKCC1 (Slc12a2) and NKCC2 (Slc12a1). NKCC1 is a ubiquitously expressed transporter involved in cell volume regulation, Cl– homeostasis and epithelial salt secretion, whereas NKCC2 is abundantly expressed in kidney epithelial cells of the thick ascending loop of Henle, where it plays key roles in NaCl reabsorption and electrolyte homeostasis. Although NKCC1 and NKCC2 cotransport the same ions with identical stoichiometry, NKCC1 actively cotransports water, whereas NKCC2 does not. There is growing evidence showing that NKCC2 is expressed outside the kidney, but its function in extra-renal tissues remains known. The present study shows molecular and functional evidence of endogenous NKCC2 expression in COS7 cells, a widely used mammalian cell model. Endogenous NKCC2 is primarily found in recycling endosomes, Golgi cisternae, Golgi-derived vesicles and to a lesser extent in the endoplasmic reticulum. Unlike NKCC1, NKCC2 is minimally hybrid/complex N-glycosylated under basal conditions, and yet it is trafficked to the plasma membrane region of hyper-osmotically challenged cells through mechanisms that require minimal complex N-glycosylation or functional Golgi cisternae. Control COS7 cells exposed to hypertonic solutions for 16h were not shrunken, suggesting that both, NKCC1 and NKCC2 may participate in cell volume recovery. However, NKCC2 targeted to the plasma membrane region, or transient over-expression of NKCC2, failed to rescue NKCC1 in COS7 cells where NKCC1 had been silenced. Further, COS7 cells in which NKCC1, but not NKCC2, was silenced exhibited reduced cell size compared to control cells. Altogether, these results suggest that NKCC2 does not participate in cell volume recovery and therefore, NKCC1 and NKCC2 are functionally different Na+K+2Cl– co-transporters.
Microgrid optimal scheduling with chance-constrained islanding capability

Abstract To facilitate the integration of variable renewable generation and improve the resilience of electricity supply in a microgrid, this paper proposes an optimal scheduling strategy for microgrid operation considering constraints of islanding capability. A new concept, probability of successful islanding (PSI), indicating the probability that a microgrid maintains enough spinning reserve (both up and down) to meet local demand and accommodate local renewable generation after instantaneously islanding from the main grid, is developed. The PSI is formulated as mixed-integer linear program using multi-interval approximation taking into account the probability distributions of forecast errors of wind, PV and load. With the goal of minimizing the total operating cost while preserving user specified PSI, a chance-constrained optimization problem is formulated for the optimal scheduling of mirogrids and solved by mixed integer linear programming (MILP). Numerical simulations on a microgrid consisting of a wind turbine, a PV panel, a fuel cell, a micro-turbine, a diesel generator and a battery demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheduling strategy. The relationship between PSI and various factors are verified.
Sparse reconstruction for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy with poisson noise

We present a novel, three-stage method to solve the fluorescence lifetime imaging problem under low-photon conditions. In particular, we reconstruct the fluorophore concentration along with its support and fluorescence lifetime from the time-dependent measurements of scattered light exiting the domain. Because detectors used for these problems are photon counting devices, measurements are corrupted by Poisson noise. Consequently, we explicitly consider Poisson noise in conjunction with SPIRAL-l p — a sparsity-promoting non-convex optimization method — to solve this problem. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed three-stage method through numerical experiments in 2D fluorescence lifetime imaging.
Measurements of Cardiac Dimensions with Ultrasonic Crystals: New Aspects of Left Ventricular Diastolic Compliance

After having developed several ingenious electromechanical devices designed to measure cardiac dimensions, in 1956 Rushmer et al. [1] introduced a new method based on the determination of the interval required for a constant-velocity, ultrasonic pulse to travel from a transmitter to a receiver (Fig. 1). The transmitter and receiver were discs of piezoelectric material covered with plastic convex lenses. Due to the fundamental properties of piezoelectric material, the transmitter vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency when it was excited by a voltage. Reciprocally, when the vibration reached the receiver, the distortion of the crystal which it produced caused a small voltage to appear across the crystal. Appropriate circuitry detected the voltage, measured the transmission interval, and produced an analog signal proportional to this interval. In subsequent years, this method was refined by Rushmer’s colleagues, Stegall et al. [2] and Franklin et al. [3], and also by Leraand [4] in Oslo.
Poor People Are Hospitalized Three Times More for Mental Health Services than the Non-Poor in Central Valley California

Introduction: Providing health insurance to the poor has become a standard policy response to health disparities between the poor and the non-poor. It is often assumed that if the poor people are given health insurance, they will use preventative care, which will prevent more expensive emergency visits and inpatient hospitalization, and in turn, it will save healthcare cost in the long run. This paper presents the findings from our study in California about what happens to the poor when they are given health insurance. The purpose of the study was to understand how the healthcare system in California treats the poor patients differently than the non-poor. Method: Using multivariate logistic regressions, this study analyzed a large patient discharge data (PDD) from the California Office of Statewide Planning and Development (OSHPD) for eight counties in the Central Valley California (N = 423,640). First, utilizing International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) as diagnostic criteria, mental-health vs. non-mental health hospitalization rates were estimated. Second, health insurance status was used as a proxy measure of poverty of the patients. Using chi-Square, the probability of hospitalization for mental health services was estimated based on their insurance types. Finally, using step-wise logistic regression, the odds of mental health hospitalization was estimated conditional on individual characteristics, health insurance types, and geographic characteristics. Findings: When the poor people were given health insurance, they were three times more likely to be hospitalized for mental health services than the non-poor. The more than three-fold variation in mental health hospitalization was not driven by demographic or geographic characteristics. The findings are new and have important implications for the healthcare policies for the poor. Further studies are needed to understand the extent to which the disproportionately high rate of mental health hospitalizations of the poor are driven by the provider-induced needs.
The Gates Foundation MET Research Project As a Case of Philanthrocapitalism

This chapter examines the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation project, Measures of Effective Teaching [MET]. The chapter synthesizes current research on philanthrocapitalism to highlight some implications of current trends in funding for educational research. The MET project was a massive Three-year, $45 million undertaking. It studied six school districts and 3000 teachers in the United States, collected digital video of 13,000 classroom lessons, administered surveys to students, and tracked student scores on two separate tests in efforts to stipulate the parameters of effective teaching. Reports from the MET project publicized research results about how effective teaching might be defined and measured. MET project analyses and conclusions were published in scholarly academic venues, policy briefs, and popular media from 2010 through 2013. Issues of philanthrocapitalism in educational research include the establishment of an incestuous plutocracy, the conduct of educational research in a shadow economy, the promotion of the special interests of private wealthy donors, and shifts in the terms of debate about educational issues for research in the public interest.
The pH dependent reactions of graphene oxide with small molecule thiols

Graphene oxide (GO) is a heterogenous 2D carbon-based material composed of sp2 and sp3 hybridized carbon atoms and oxygen containing functionalities, i.e., alcohols and epoxides. Thus, the chemical reactivity of GO is complex and both complimentary and contrasting to the reactivity of corresponding small molecules (e.g., tertiary alcohols, epoxides, and alkenes). Understanding the reactivity of GO under different conditions and with different reagents will ensure the chemical composition can be controlled and thus electronic and optical properties dictated, and solubility tuned for desired applications. Reaction of GO nanosheets towards a variety of reagents has been reported, however controlling the reaction pathway of GO nanosheets with a single nucleophile by simple alternation of the reaction medium has not been realized. This ability to tune the reaction by modification of solution pH, for example, would aid in understanding the reactivity of GO. Herein, we report that GO undergoes two distinct reaction pathways with ethane thiol depending on the pH of the reaction media: under aprotic basic conditions GO nanosheets undergo functionalization with minimal reduction, and under superacidic conditions GO nanosheets are reduced with no functionalization.
A New Proof of Warning's Second Theorem

We give an elementary proof of Warning's second theorem on the number of solutions to the system of polynomial equations over finite fields.
Preparation and characterization of phenyl-, benzyl-, and phenethyl-substituted polysilsesquioxanes

Polysilsesquioxanes are a class of siloxane polymers commonly prepared by the hydrolysis and condensation of trialkoxysilanes or trichlorosilanes. From a trifunctional monomer one would expect the organically-modified polymers to be highly crosslinked and insoluble resins. However, while some silsesquioxane monomers with R = H, CH{sub 3}, or vinyl do form crosslinked polymers capable of forming gels, the majority react to form soluble oligosilsesquioxanes, including discrete polyhedral oligomers, and polymers. Because of their solubility, ladder structures have been proposed. However, viscosity studies by Frye indicate that the polyphenylsilsesquioxane is more likely best represented by a polymer rich in both cyclic structures and branches, but without any regular stereochemistry. In this study, the authors have examined the hydrolysis and condensation polymerizations of phenyltrialkoxysilane, benzyltrialkoxysilane, and 2-phenethyltrialkoxysilane monomers under both acidic and basic conditions. The resulting phenyl, benzyl and phenethyl-substituted polysilsesquioxanes were characterized by {sup 1}H, {sup 13}C, {sup 29}Si NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. The effects of the organic substituent (phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl), alkoxide group (OMe, OEt), catalyst (HCl, NaOH), monomer concentration, and polymer processing on polymer molecular weight and glass transition temperature were determined.
YOUNG WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN GANGS IN THE UNITED STATES: AN OVERVIEW

In the United States, the 1980s and 1990s have witnessed monumental national growth both in gangs and in the renewed academic study of gangs. Female gang involvement, which until recently was typically either stereotyped or ignored, has also garnered new interest among researchers, thanks in part to the work of feminist scholars, who have struggled to bring the study of women’s lives more fully into the field of criminology.1 One consequence of this renewed interest in gangs, and girls’2 gang involvement in particular, has been much improved information about the topic, including a number of important questions: (1) how widespread is young women’s gang involvement? (2) why do they join gangs? (3) what is the nature of their gang involvement? and finally, (4) what are the consequences of girls’ participation in gangs? Here I will address each of these issues by reviewing recent research on young women’s gang involvement in the United States.
The relation as the Fundamental Issue in Derrida

Of all the aspects of Derrida’s thought, his interpretation of Husserl has occasioned the most debate.1 Although all of Derrida’s critics start out wanting to understand him—none, for instance, claim to do anything as extraordinary as “deconstruction”—none adhere to one of the most basic hermeneutical rules: reconstruct the context. Because critics neglect the context, some charge Derrida with interpreting Husserlian phenomenology merely as ontologism and intuitionism, in a word, as Platonism.2 They do this despite the fact that Derrida has repeatedly stated his allegiance to transcendental philosophy.3 Others charge him with failing “to recognize the subtleties of Husserl’s account of the interplay of presence and absence, of immanence and transcendence, of filled and empty intention,”4 even though Derrida appropriates precisely these subtleties to criticize the so-called “metaphysics of presence” he nevertheless finds in Husserl. The one-sidedness of such charges is startling. Perhaps however the critics’ negligence can be excused; to assemble all the parts of the Derridean context is an immense task. Roughly the context can be divided into two parts, and even these two do not exhaust it.
4He in Liquid 3He below 0.1 K: Measurements of the Solubility and Prewetting Transition

We have measured the solubility of 4He in liquid 3He down to ∼0.04 K at various pressures. The solubility was obtained indirectly, from the thickness of the superfluid film in contact with unsaturated solutions. We determined the film thickness from the ratio of two parallel plate capacitors with different gaps, immersed in the unsaturated liquid. The technique is described in detail, with its advantages and drawbacks, including the effects of the edge capacitance and capillary condensation. For use in interpreting the data, the adsorption area and the van der Waals potential of the cell walls were found by measuring the thickness of 3He and 4He–3He films under their vapor pressure. By fitting the temperature dependence of the solubility to the predictions of Fermi liquid theory, we determined the 4He effective mass m*4, the binding energy E 4 and the partial volume v*4, as a function of pressure. At 24 atm, a prewetting transition was observed in the 4He-rich film in contact with the liquid 3He. The transition, which is related to a similar phenomenon discovered by Tholen and Parpia at very low temperature, is explained by a simple model. An Appendix describes a new derivation of the thermodynamic functions of 3He-rich mixtures in Fermi liquid theory.
Pervasive Sensor-less Networks for Cooperative Multi-robot Tasks

A number of researchers are investigating the use of embedded sensor networks to facilitate mobile robot activities. Previous studies focus individual tasks (e.g. navigation to a goal) using networks of several to tens of expensive (≈ $100) nodes placed by the robots themselves or in predetermined geometric grids. In this work we explore the use of tens up to hundreds of simple and cheap (≈ $10) sensorless nodes placed arbitrarily to support a complex multi-robot foraging task. Experiments were conducted in a multi-robot simulation system. Quantitative results illustrate the sensitivity of the approach to different network sizes, environmental complexities, and deployment configurations. In particular, we investigate how performance is impacted by the density and precision of network node placement.
From Complexity to Simplicity: Adaptive ES-Active Subspaces for Blackbox Optimization

We present a new algorithm (ASEBO) for optimizing high-dimensional blackbox functions. ASEBO adapts to the geometry of the function and learns optimal sets of sensing directions, which are used to probe it, on-the-fly. It addresses the exploration-exploitation trade-off of blackbox optimization with expensive blackbox queries by continuously learning the bias of the lower-dimensional model used to approximate gradients of smoothings of the function via compressed sensing and contextual bandits methods. To obtain this model, it leverages techniques from the emerging theory of active subspaces in a novel ES blackbox optimization context. As a result, ASEBO learns the dynamically changing intrinsic dimensionality of the gradient space and adapts to the hardness of different stages of the optimization without external supervision. Consequently, it leads to more sample-efficient blackbox optimization than state-of-the-art algorithms. We provide theoretical results and test ASEBO advantages over other methods empirically by evaluating it on the set of reinforcement learning policy optimization tasks as well as functions from the recently open-sourced Nevergrad library.
Integrating Lean Thinking and Implementation Science Determinants Checklists for Quality Improvement: A Scoping Review:

It is not known how often lean tools and implementation determinants frameworks or checklists are used concurrently in health care quality improvement activities. The authors systematically reviewed the literature for studies that used a lean tool along with an implementation science determinants framework (January 1999 through August 2018). Seven studies (8 publications) were identified, inclusive of 2 protocols and 6 research articles across multiple continents. All included studies used the consolidated framework for implementation research as their implementation science determinants framework. Lean tools included in more than 1 publication were process mapping (4 publications), process redesign (3 publications), and 5S standardization (2 publications). Only 1 study proposed using a lean tool concurrently with an implementation science determinants framework in the design and execution of the QI project. Few published studies utilize both an implementation science determinants framework or checklist and 1 or more lean tool in their study design.
A 1.65 GHz Lithium Niobate A1 Resonator with Electromechanical Coupling of 14% and Q of 3112

This paper reports on the demonstration of a 1.65 GHz A1 mode lithium niobate resonator with a high electromechanical coupling ( ${k_{t}}^{2}$ ) of 14%, a high-quality factor ( $Q$ ) of 3112, and a near spurious-free response. The 1.65 GHz resonance has been achieved by exploiting the high phase velocity of the first-order antisymmetric (A1) Lamb wave mode in a Y-cut lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ) thin film, while spurious mode suppression is accomplished with electrode optimization. The performance demonstrated herein marks the first time that a new resonator technology outperforms surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators and thin-film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) regarding the figure of merit (FoM) in the 1–6 GHz frequency range. Thus, the A1 mode lithium niobate resonator in this work promises a new platform for the fifth-generation (5G) front-end filtering.
Potential Impact of Cessation Interventions at the Point of Lung Cancer Screening on Lung Cancer and Overall Mortality in the United States

Abstract Introduction Annual lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography is recommended for adults aged 55 to 80 years with a greater than or equal to 30 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. The 50% who are current smokers should be offered cessation interventions, but information about the impact of adding cessation to screening is limited. Methods We used an established lung cancer simulation model to compare the effects on mortality of a hypothetical one-time cessation intervention and annual screening versus annual screening only among screen-eligible individuals born in 1950 or 1960. Model inputs were derived from national data and included smoking history, probability of quitting with and without intervention, lung cancer risk and treatment effectiveness, and competing tobacco-related mortality. We tested the sensitivity of results under different assumptions about screening use and cessation efficacy. Results Smoking cessation reduces lung cancer mortality and delays overall deaths versus screening only across all assumptions. For example, if screening was used by 30% of screen-eligible individuals born in 1950, adding an intervention with a 10% quit probability reduces lung cancer deaths by 14% and increases life years gained by 81% compared with screening alone. The magnitude of cessation benefits varied under screening uptake rates, cessation effectiveness, and birth cohort. Conclusions Smoking cessation interventions have the potential to greatly enhance the impact of lung cancer screening programs. Evaluation of specific interventions, including costs and feasibility of implementation and dissemination, is needed to determine the best possible strategies and realize the full promise of lung cancer screening.
Chapter 13 – Perfect Competition

Individual firms’ supply decisions are aggregated and combined with aggregate demand to form the excess demand correspondence. Optimality, homogeneity, monotonicity, convexity, continuity, and Walras’ Law properties inherited from individual choices are explored, including the potential for nonexistence. Perfectly competitive equilibrium and its Pareto efficiency are defined, illustrated in an Edgeworth box, and formally proven. A relatively simple existence theorem for partial equilibrium is presented. Existence of long-run (free entry/exit) perfectly competitive partial equilibrium is studied.
Osteoporosis in spine surgery patients: what is the best way to diagnose osteoporosis in this population?

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to compare different recognized definitions of osteoporosis in patients with degenerative lumbar spine pathology undergoing elective spinal fusion surgery to determine which patient population should be considered for preoperative optimization. METHODS A retrospective review of patients in whom lumbar spine surgery was planned at 2 academic medical centers was performed, and the rate of osteoporosis was compared based on different recognized definitions. Assessments were made based on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), CT Hounsfield units (HU), trabecular bone score (TBS), and fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX). The rate of osteoporosis was compared based on different definitions: 1) the WHO definition (T-score ≤ -2.5) at total hip or spine; 2) CT HU of < 110; 3) National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) guidelines; and 4) "expanded spine" criteria, which includes patients meeting NBHA criteria and/or HU < 110, and/or "degraded" TBS in the setting of an osteopenic T-score. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with a DXA scan of the total hip and/or spine performed within 1 year and a lumbar spine CT scan within 6 months of the physician visit. RESULTS Two hundred forty-four patients were included. The mean age was 68.3 years, with 70.5% female, 96.7% Caucasian, and the mean BMI was 28.8. Fracture history was reported in 53.8% of patients. The proportion of patients identified with osteoporosis on DXA, HUs, NBHA guidelines, and the authors' proposed "expanded spine" criteria was 25.4%, 36.5%, 75%, and 81.9%, respectively. Of the patients not identified with osteoporosis on DXA, 31.3% had osteoporosis based on HU, 55.1% had osteoporosis with NBHA, and 70.4% had osteoporosis with expanded spine criteria (p < 0.05), with poor correlations among the different assessment tools. CONCLUSIONS Limitations in the use of DXA T-scores alone to diagnose osteoporosis in patients with lumbar spondylosis has prompted interest in additional methods of evaluating bone health in the spine, such as CT HU, TBS, and FRAX, to inform guidelines that aim to reduce fracture risk. However, no current osteoporosis assessment was developed with a focus on improving outcomes in spinal surgery. Therefore, the authors propose an expanded spine definition for osteoporosis to identify a more comprehensive cohort of patients with potential poor bone health who could be considered for preoperative optimization, although further study is needed to validate these results in terms of clinical outcomes.
Correlation of p16 immunostaining in cell-blocks with corresponding tissue specimens for squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of p16 staining in cell-blocks vs tissue specimens as a surrogate marker for human papillomavirus (HPV) status in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. METHODS Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cases presenting as a neck mass with a p16 result on cytology and corresponding tissue specimens (1 January 2014 to 30 June 1920) were included in the study. The following were assessed from cell-block material: number of tumour clusters, percentage of tumour cells with p16 staining, and presence of staining in clusters vs single cells. Results were compared to tissue p16 status. Results of any other ancillary HPV testing were also noted. RESULTS Forty-two head and neck squamous cell carcinoma neck metastases (35 oropharyngeal, five non-oropharyngeal, and 2 unknown primaries) were identified. The p16 staining pattern in cell-blocks was seen in single cells (27.6%), clusters (44.8%), or both (27.6%). The percentage of tumour cells staining for p16 in cell-blocks was much lower than in corresponding tissue specimens. There were four false negatives and one false positive (concurrent HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction testing was positive in cytology and surgical material). CONCLUSIONS Compared to tissue, the cut-off for p16 interpretation in cell-blocks is substantially lower and staining may be present in single cells or clusters. In 96.9% of cases, any p16 staining in cell-blocks correlated with positive p16 staining in surgical specimens. However, a negative or discrepant p16 result on cell-block should prompt confirmatory HPV studies, as false negative p16 staining in cell-blocks is high.
Jean-Michel Rabaté, ed. The New Samuel Beckett Studies.

Rabate’s collection of essays examines the textual and digital revolutions that have expanded Samuel Beckett’s corpus over the last ten years and the critical approaches that have evolved to take a...
A dynamic multilevel modeling approach to university students’ anxiety and hope regulation

Abstract Preparing for an exam entails various exam-related emotions. To ensure psychologically healthy behavior and an effective learning process, emotion regulation is highly important. In the present study, we used a dynamic multilevel modeling approach to analyse the interplay of exam-related anxiety and hope, as well as four regulation strategies over time. This study provides valuable insights into students’ emotion regulation in academic settings. Specifically, we measured students’ emotions and regulation strategies (cognitive approach, cognitive avoidance, behavioral approach, behavioral avoidance) across two weeks of measurement. In total, 217 university students answered several questionnaires via an electronic device during two different measurement periods lasting 7 days each. These measurement periods were 5 weeks (day 35–29) and one week (day 7 to 1) prior to an important exam. During their everyday life, they answered these questionnaires six times a day. We applied dynamic multilevel modeling to analyse the data. Results revealed cross-lagged relationships of exam-related emotions on regulation strategies, with the strongest cross-lagged relationship being found for hope and the cognitive approach regulation strategy. Moreover, the temporal distance to the exam affected the strength and direction of these cross-lagged relationships. This study suggests the importance of considering the mechanisms of emotion regulation on the situation level, and that strategies should be tailored to the individual situation rather than employing universal strategies. Further, the extent to which we can interpret the lagged relationships as suggestive of causal mechanisms are discussed.
Principles and Practices in Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

International professional organizations have contributed to the global effort for the prevention of child abuse and neglect: identification of efficient procedures in respective backgrounds, increasing the knowledge base, reducing the acceptance threshold of CAN, thus enhancing the quality of national visions in terms of child oriented policies. In some areas of the Arab world, initiatives are hindered by armed conflicts, with many violations to the CRC, the EU Guidelines and the Geneva conventions. They are also challenged by unstable socio-political situations in many counties of the MENA region
Optimizing Thymoglobulin Administration: A Care Bundle Approach

Introduction Smart infusion pumps, and information systems have enhanced nursing practice, but awareness of our overreliance on technology must be considered to prevent adverse events. Infusion pumps are required to achieve optimal dosage and timing of Thymoglobulin infusion. This project addressed safety measures in daily nursing practice, including medication administration, documentation, and clinical alarm management. Identification of the problem IV Infusion pump assigned to administer Thymoglobulin to a kidney transplant recipient did not function appropriately, failing to deliver any medication, and failing to alarm, leading to subsequent adverse reactions. Nursing documentation reflected Thymoglobulin had been actively infusing on that failed pump. Inability to trace the infusion pump was also present in the event. Purpose of the study Our aim is to optimize care processes related to the administration of Thymoglobulin in kidney transplant recipients by using a care bundle approach. Methods Nursing staff in-services were provided on the Thymoglobulin care bundle interventions. Staff compliance with care bundle was reviewed through direct observation, surveys and patient chart audits: (1) Standard cell documenting Thymoglobulin and pump asset tag number, (2) ‘Bag details’ on the I&O Flowsheet, (3) ‘Thymoglobulin Administration Note’ when infusing a new IV bag, (4) Pump drug library selecting Thymoglobulin, and (5) Infusion pump alarm checks. Outcomes/Results Patients' charts were reviewed prior to in-service (n=20), and post in-service (n=32), for the presence of documentation elements of the care bundle. Prior to in-service, 80% of the charts demonstrated some elements of the care bundle. Post in-service, 91% demonstrated all the documentation elements of the care bundle. Post in-service Survey results revealed 80% of RNs were performing infusion pump alarm checks, versus 20% pre in-service survey results. Direct observations revealed 90% of staff used infusion pump drug library. Discussion Infusion pumps carry certain degree of risk of not working correctly, and nurses must mitigate this risk by ensuring the safety and effective performance of these devices. Conclusion The care bundle significantly improved documentation on Thymoglobulin administration, including management of Infusion pump alarms. Implications for perianesthesia nurses and future research RNs must rely on their expert monitoring of the patient and his/her environment to ensure patient safety. Continuous assessment of infusion practices is required to enable us to identify opportunities for process improvements.
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Complex Fusion Devices Using CAD-MCNPX Interface

MCNPX's [1] geometric modeling capabilities are limited to Boolean combinations of primitive geometric shapes. These capabilities are not sufficient for simulating particle transport in stellerators, whose geometric models are quite complex. We describe a CAD based implementation of MCNPX, where a CAD geometry engine is used directly for solid model representation and evaluation. The application of this code, to calculating the neutron wall loading distribution (Γ) in the Z and toroidal directions for the ARIES-CS[2] design, is described.
Regulation of Ferritin Synthesis in Rat Liver

Abstract Ferritin synthesis in rat liver is greatly increased by prior treatment of intact animals with iron salts. Liver slices from treated rats incorporate increased amounts of 14C-leucine into ferritin in vitro, with net synthesis of the protein. Slices of spleen, testis, intestine, and kidney also show increased incorporation following iron. The response of the liver to iron has been studied to determine whether increased transcription of genes and the formation of messenger RNA are involved, or whether control is at a later stage in the biosynthetic pathway. Three lines of evidence support the existence of transcriptional control. (a) Actinomycin D inhibits the response to iron. (b) Iron treatment stimulates incorporation of 14C-orotic acid into a rapidly labeled fraction of liver nuclear RNA. (c) Direct addition of iron to liver slices in vitro has failed to stimulate ferritin synthesis, although 59Fe penetrates liver cells.
Features reflective of early prognosis in corticosteroid-treated severe autoimmune chronic active hepatitis

Abstract To identify features reflective of early prognosis in corticosteroid-treated severe autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, we compared the initial findings and immediate biochemical response of 5 patients who died soon after institution of corticosteroid therapy (mean survival, 2.5 ± 0.7 mo) with those of 108 patients who survived for at least 6 mo after comparable therapy (mean survival, 94 ± 6 mo). Early mortality could not be predicted before therapy by individual clinical, laboratory, or histologic findings. Patients who resolved at least one pretreatment laboratory abnormality, improved a pretreatment hyperbilirubinemia, or did not experience biochemical deterioration after 2 wk of corticosteroid treatment survived for at least 6 mo in 98% of instances. Patients who died early had multilobular necrosis at presentation and manifested at least one deficiency in their immediate biochemical response. Death invariably occurred in patients with multilobular necrosis and an unimproved hyperbilirubinemia after 2 wk of therapy. Only 3 of the 5 patients who died, however, could be identified in this fashion. We conclude that no individual abnormality at presentation predicts early mortality. Only patients with multilobular necrosis are at risk for an early demise and death can be predicted in those with an unimproving hyperbilirubinemia. Laboratory improvement after 2 wk of corticosteroid therapy virtually assures immediate survival.
The Amino-Terminal 100 Residues of the Nitrogen Assimilation Control Protein (NAC) Encode All Known Properties of NAC from Klebsiella aerogenes and Escherichia coli

The nitrogen assimilation control protein (NAC) from Klebsiella aerogenes or Escherichia coli (NACK or NACE, respectively) is a transcriptional regulator that is both necessary and sufficient to activate transcription of the histidine utilization (hut) operon and to repress transcription of the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) operon in K. aerogenes. Truncated NAC polypeptides, generated by the introduction of stop codons within the nac open reading frame, were tested for the ability to activate hut and repress gdh in vivo. Most of the NACK and NACE fragments with 100 or more amino acids (wild-type NACK and NACE both have 305 amino acids) were functional in activating hut and repressing gdh expression in vivo. Full-length NACK and NACE were isolated as chimeric proteins with the maltose-binding protein (MBP). NACK and NACE released from such chimeras were able to activate hut transcription in a purified system in vitro, as were NACK129 and NACE100 (a NACK fragment of 129 amino acids and a NACE fragment of 100 amino acids) released from comparable chimeras. A set of NACE and NACK fragments carrying nickel-binding histidine tags (his6) at their C termini were also generated. All such constructs derived from NACE were insoluble, as was NACE itself. Of the his6-tagged constructs derived from NACK, NACK100 was inactive, but NACK120 was active. Several NAC fragments were tested for dimerization. NACK120-his6 and NACK100-his6 were dimers in solution. MBP-NACK and MBP-NACK129 were monomers in solution but dimerized when the MBP was released by cleavage with factor Xa. MBP-NACE was readily cleaved by factor Xa, but the resulting NACE was also degraded by the protease. However, MBP-NACE-his6 was completely resistant to cleavage by factor Xa, suggesting an interaction between the C and N termini of this protein.
Process, people, and conflict management in organizations

Purpose – In this viewpoint, the authors argue that the predominant method of analyzing conflict management focuses too heavily on the managerial interests in administrative efficiency and productivity rather than on the needs of individuals and organizations. The aim of this paper is to employ Weber's analysis of conflict systems, specifically the distinction between formal and substantive rationality, to support the authors’ view.Design/methodology/approach – This is a viewpoint, where content is dependent on the author's opinion and interpretation.Findings – Conflict management based on Weber's theories of formal and substantive rationality will benefit organizations and society by promoting a more positive perception of corporate behavior.Research limitations/implications – Future research could examine the relationship between organizational justice and the more global concepts of formality and rationality. Similarly, future research on justice may be expanded by through the notion and perception of ...
Understanding productivity: The ways of economics and of history

Abstract As applied to economic growth in times past, the term ‘productivity’ is incomplete and unsatisfactory. Taken by economists from the income accountant's language, it is ill-suited to handle the increases in value resulting from production and innovation and from intangible social inputs (education, technology, organization, entrepreneurial spirit). When used in descriptive history, it offers the discussion no fixed limits and no structural model in which the independent influence of specific elements can be assessed.
The Influence of Pensions on Behavior: How Much Do We Really Know?

Economists have developed models to explain the impact of pensions and Social Security on various outcomes, such as retirement, worker turnover, and saving. However, some recent research has raised questions about these conventional models. This issue of Research Dialogue summarizes findings from our ongoing research on pensions and Social Security. Using data from the new longitudinal Health and Retirement Study that reports both the respondents' own knowledge about their pensions and the actual provisions of their pension plans, our research emphasizes how well the conventional model does in describing behavior, answers some of the questions raised by others, and raises some new questions. We also discuss the implications of our findings for researchers and policy makers.
Introduction to a regional passive ozone sampler network in the Sierra Nevada

Abstract An extensive survey of ambient ozone (O3) patterns and ozone injury to crowns was conducted for the Sierra Nevada between May and October in 1999. The study area included the Sierra Nevada subregion, and extended from the Sequoia National Forest in the south through the Lassen National Forest in the north. Both Westside and Eastside forests were included in the ambient ozone survey. This survey included passive O3 sampler data at 89 locations across the Sierra Nevada, of which nine were collocated with active ozone monitors. In addition, digital elevation maps, and spatial maps of temperatures and precipitation were developed as part of the analysis.
Proteomic analysis of patient tissue reveals PSA protein in the stroma of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease frequently associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that involves hyperplasia of both epithelial and stromal cells. Stromal fibrosis is a distinctive feature of BPH, but the exact mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. METHODS In the current study, proteomics analyses were utilized to identify proteins altered in the BPH stromal compartment from patients with symptomatic BPH. Stromal cells were isolated from histological nodules of BPH by laser capture microdissection (LCM) and subjected to liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS Proteins identified included several stromal-specific proteins involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, focal adhesion, and cellular junctions. Additionally, the proteomics array identified the presence of luminal epithelial secretory protein PSA. Immunostaining, ELISA, and in situ hybridization analyses of BPH tissues verified the presence of PSA protein but absence of PSA mRNA in the stromal compartment. E-cadherin was down-regulated in BPH epithelial cells compared to normal adjacent tissues, suggesting that alteration of cellular junctions could contribute to the presence of luminal epithelial secreted proteins PSA and KLK2 in the stromal compartment. CONCLUSIONS The above findings suggest that the presence of secreted proteins PSA and KLK2 from prostate luminal epithelial cells in BPH stroma is a hallmark of BPH nodules, which could in part be due to alterations in cellular junction proteins and/or increased epithelial barrier permeability. Elucidating the cause and consequence of these secreted proteins in the stromal compartment of BPH may lead to new understanding of BPH pathogenesis as well as approaches to prevent and/or treat this common disease. Prostate 74:892–900, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Balloon laryngoplasty for pediatric laryngeal stenosis: case series and systematic review.

Objectives/Hypothesis The aim of this study was to systematically review available literature on the outcomes of children treated with balloon laryngoplasty (BLP) as a primary or adjuvant treatment for subglottic or laryngeal stenosis, as well as briefly report on a new series of 60 children treated at the Medical University of South Carolina from 2007 to 2013. Study Design Review of published case series and retrospective chart review. Methods A literature search was performed in PubMed and MEDLINE to identify trials that reported clinical outcomes of BLP in human patients under the age of 18 with subglottic or laryngeal stenosis. Single case reports and series studying the dilation of tracheal or bronchial stenosis alone were excluded. Hospital billing codes were used to identify appropriate patients for retrospective chart review. A successful outcome for chart review was determined to be decannulation of previous tracheostomy or avoidance of open laryngotracheoplasty or tracheostomy. Results Seven studies published between 1991 and 2012 met inclusion criteria and reported outcomes with success defined through improvement of symptoms, decrease in Myer-Cotton level of stenosis, decannulation, or avoidance of reconstructive procedures. Including 60 children from our institution, 202 patients between 1 day and 22 years of age (average 35 months) underwent 457 dilations, with an average of 2.26 dilations per patient (2.25 in our population). The overall success rate was 64% (77% in our population). No complications were reported with subglottic or laryngeal dilations. Conclusions BLP is a highly effective, low-risk alternative or adjunct to traditional reconstructive procedures in children with subglottic or laryngeal stenosis. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 124:1707–1712, 2014
Drowning in Documents: Action, Documentation, and Factography in Early Work by the Collective Actions Group

This article traces a provisional history of the early years of the conceptual performance art group Collective Actions through an examination of three critical terms—action, documentation, and factography—that came to figure prominently in the group's definition of its aesthetic project. A close reading of several of the group's actions and key theoretical texts from this period (1976–1981) reveals a dialectic of performance and documentation wherein the photographic and textual recording of actions, first carried out for purely pragmatic purposes, begins to acquire an independent aesthetic dimension that challenges the primacy of the live action. This shifting understanding of action—away from the ephemeral, spatio-temporal event and toward an aesthetics of documentation and factographic discourse—became a form of self-institutionalization that revealed fault lines in the artistic positions and ambitions of the Moscow Conceptualist circle. The article therefore attempts to locate the specific stakes of ...
Influences of Soil Environment on Biomass and Nitrogen Accumulation Rates of Orchardgrass

Grasslands are the basis for a stable agriculture in the northeast USA. However, knowledge of the interactive effects of the diverse soils and climate of this region on grassland production remains scant. Our objective was to quantify the effect of soil environment on grassland biomass and N accumulation. The study was conducted for 3 yr on four sites in central Pennsylvania selected for soil water holding capacity and temperature regime. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) was treated with a split application (50%/50%) of 0, 84, and 168 kg N ha -1 of 15 N depleted ammonium nitrate. Biweekly biomass samples were taken starting 30 April of each year and continuing until the grass heading stage. At heading, plots were cut at a 7.5-cm stubble height and all herbage removed. Plots were refertilized with the second half of the N and monthly biomass sampling commenced on 31 July and continued until 31 October []
Polycystic ovary syndrome: etiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age, with a prevalence of up to 10%. Various diagnostic criteria have been proposed, generally centered around the features of hyperandrogenism and/or hyperandrogenemia, oligo-ovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology. Insulin resistance is present in a majority of cases, with compensatory hyperinsulinemia contributing to hyperandrogenism via stimulation of ovarian androgen secretion and inhibition of hepatic sex hormone-binding globulin production. Adipose tissue dysfunction has been implicated as a contributor to the insulin resistance observed in PCOS. Environmental and genetic factors also have a role in the development of PCOS. The syndrome is associated with numerous morbidities, including infertility, obstetrical complications, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and mood and eating disorders. Despite these morbidities, PCOS may be common in our society owing to evolutionary advantages of the syndrome in ancient times, including smaller family sizes, reduced exposure to childbirth-related mortality, increased muscle mass and greater capacity to store energy. The diagnosis of PCOS hinges on establishing key features while ruling out other hyperandrogenic or oligo-ovulatory disorders. Treatment is focused on the goals of ameliorating hyperandrogenic symptoms, inducing ovulation and preventing cardiometabolic complications.