cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Desert Biogeography: Mojave

Abstract The Mojave Desert is a vast and diverse landscape in the southwestern United States, encompassing 127,689 km2. This ecoregion is bordered by the colder and wetter Great Basin desert to the north, and the warmer and wetter Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts to the south. Spanning from 86 m below sea level at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, to 3632 m at its highest mountains near Las Vegas, Nevada, the Mojave is the driest of the four North American deserts, in part due to the rain-shadow caused by the Transverse Ranges on its western edge. Extremes of moisture availability, temperature, physiographic variety, and soil diversity all are key in the formation of this unique landscape, and the divergence of its inhabitants over time. While the Mojave is often considered an intermediary with respect to the plants and animals that occupy the Great Basin and Sonoran Deserts, there are many species unique to the Mojave that aid in highlighting its unique characteristics. The Joshua Tree, Mojave Desert Tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, and several species of fringe-toed lizards are all endemics to this ecoregion that have adapted to this austere environment. There is also a wide array of fishes and aquatic invertebrates that occupy the Mojave's sparse and discontinuous waterways and springs. Nearly all of these Mojave endemics are the subjects of conservation concern facing a rapidly changing environment driven by increasing human populations and land use, and a changing climate.
Holding Serious Juvenile Offenders Responsible: Implications from Differential Oppression Theory

A current controversy in criminology is whether juvenile offenders should be treated in a similar manner as adult offenders. This paper examines this issue within the context of the theory of _diffe􀀪ential oppression. Differential oppression theory argues that delinquents and their delinquencies are a consequence of adult perceptions and treatment of children as inferior persons. The remedy for delinquency is to change existing social arrangements to give children the opportunity to be viewed as equally valuable as adults and as autonomous persons. Implicit within the recommendation is that children be held responsible for their wrongful actions. To do otherwise would deny them their humanity and their right to be treated as persons. Treating children as adults for the decisions they make (both good and bad) is being respectful of them as autonomous, moral agents.
Criminal recidivism among justice-involved veterans following substance use disorder residential treatment.

Abstract Veterans in treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) often report past criminal offending. However, the rate of criminal recidivism in this population is unknown. Further, prior research in veterans has not examined personality factors as predictors of recidivism, despite the prominence of such factors in leading models of recidivism risk management. We examined these issues in a secondary data analysis of 197 military veterans with a history of criminal offending who were enrolled in an SUD residential treatment program. Participants were interviewed using several measurement instruments at treatment entry, one month into treatment, treatment discharge, and 12 months post-discharge. Most veterans (94%) had a history of multiple charges, and 53% had recent involvement in the criminal justice system at the time of treatment entry. In the 12 months post-discharge, 22% reported reoffending. In addition, 30% of patients who had been recently involved in the criminal justice system at treatment entry reoffended during follow-up. Higher friend relationship quality (OR = 2.32, 95% CI [1.03, 5.21]) at treatment entry and higher staff ratings of patients’ relationship quality with other residents during treatment (OR = 2.76, 95% CI [1.40, 5.41]) predicted lower odds of recidivism post-discharge. After accounting for these factors, smaller reductions during treatment in the personality trait of Negative Emotionality predicted an increased risk for criminal recidivism post-discharge (OR = 1.13, 95% CI [1.01, 1.26]). Results support augmenting the curriculum of SUD programs for veterans with services aimed at reducing risk for criminal recidivism, with a focus on interventions that directly target patients’ social support networks and tendencies towards negative emotionality.
Antifungal prophylaxis in lung transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

BACKGROUND No consensus exists regarding optimal strategy for antifungal prophylaxis following lung transplant. OBJECTIVE To review data regarding antifungal prophylaxis on the development of fungal infections. STUDY SELECTION/APPRAISAL We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus for eligible articles through December 10, 2019. Observational or controlled trials published after January 1, 2001, that pertained to the prevention of fungal infections in adult lung recipients were reviewed independently by two reviewers for inclusion. METHODS Of 1702 articles screened, 24 were included. Data were pooled using random effects model to evaluate for the primary outcome of fungal infection. Studies were stratified by prophylactic strategy, medication, and duration (short term < 6 months and long term ≥ 6 months). RESULTS We found no difference in the odds of fungal infection with universal prophylaxis (49/101) compared to no prophylaxis (36/93) (OR 0.76, CI: 0.03-17.98; I2 = 93%) and preemptive therapy (25/195) compared to universal prophylaxis (35/222) (OR 0.91, CI: 0.06-13.80; I2 = 93%). The cumulative incidence of fungal infections within 12 months was not different with nebulized amphotericin (0.08, CI: 0.04-0.13; I2 = 87%) compared to systemic triazoles (0.07, CI: 0.03-0.11; I2 = 21%) (P = .65). Likewise, duration of prophylaxis did not impact the incidence of fungal infections (short term: 0.11, CI: 0.05-0.17; I2 = 89%; long term: 0.06, CI: 0.03-0.08; I2 = 51%; P = .39). CONCLUSIONS We have insufficient evidence to support or exclude a benefit of antifungal prophylaxis.
Cystic Lesions of the Liver

This chapter describes the various benign and malignant cystic lesions of the liver. The lesions and conditions covered include simple cysts, polycystic liver disease, biliary hamartomas, biliary cystadenomas, biliary cystadenocarcinomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of biliary origin, Caroli’s disease, peribiliary cysts, cystic hepatocellular carcinoma, cystic metastases, and post-traumatic lesions. The imaging characteristics and clinical management of these lesions are reviewed.
Design of a Microfluidic Bleeding Chip to Evaluate Antithrombotic Agents for Use in COVID-19 Patients.

Interventions that could prevent thrombosis, clinical decompensation, and respiratory compromise in patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are key to decrease mortality rate. Studies show that profound cytokine release and excessive activation of blood coagulation appear to be key drivers of COVID-19 associated mortality. Since limited in vitro methods exist for assessing the effects of anticoagulants on hemostasis, the development of novel therapies to safely prevent thrombosis in COVID-19 patients relies on preclinical animal models and early phase human trials. Herein we present the design of a microfluidic “bleeding chip” to evaluate the effects of antithrombotic therapies on hemostatic plug formation in vitro. The design of the microfluidic device consists of two orthogonal channels: an inlet that serves as a model blood vessel, and a bleeding channel to model hemostatic plug formation at sites of compromised endothelial barrier function. This is achieved by placing a series of 3 pillars spaced 10 μm apart at the intersection of the two channels. The pillars and bleeding channel are coated with the extracellular matrix protein collagen. Perfusion of human whole blood through the microfluidic bleeding chip led to initial platelet adhesion and aggregation at the pillars followed by hemostatic plug formation and occlusion of the bleeding channel. Safe and effective mitigating agents are needed for treatment and prevention of thrombotic complications in COVID-19 patients. This simple microfluidic device holds potential to be developed into a tool for assessing the effects of anticoagulant therapy on hemostasis.
Horizontal gene transfer becomes disadvantageous in rapidly fluctuating environments

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows organisms to share genetic material with non-offspring, and is typically considered beneficial for evolving populations. Recent unexplained observations suggest that HGT rates in nature are linked with environmental dynamics, being high in static environments but surprisingly low in fluctuating environments. Here, using a geometric model of adaptation, we show that this trend might arise from evolutionary constraints. During adaptation in our model, a population of phenotype vectors aligns with a potentially fluctuating environmental vector while experiencing mutation, selection, drift and HGT. Simulations and theory reveal that HGT shapes a trade-off between the adaptation speed of populations and their fitness. This trade-off gives rise to an optimal HGT rate which decreases sharply with the rate of environmental fluctuations. Our results are consistent with data from natural populations, and strikingly suggest that HGT may sometimes carry a significant disadvantage for populations.
Of Race and Immutability

In this Article, Donald Braman reviews the diversity of scientific and political opinion in debates about the nature of race and the consequences that these disagreements have had for constitutional law. He finds that the varied scientific and legislative classifications, presented in the briefs and oral arguments of a number of cases from Plessy v. Ferguson through more recent cases such as Saint Francis College v. Al-Khazraji, have consistently moved the Supreme Court to treat racial status as the product of social and political institutions. Understanding that the Court has not embraced a biological conception of race has broad implications for equality principles developed in relation to race. Most notably, a review of the Court's equal protection cases involving biological traits illustrates how the Court's understanding of race informs and is imbedded in its articulation of the immutability principle in equal protection doctrine. In conclusion, this Article argues for a discussion of equality principles that reflects the Court's nuanced treatment of race.
Mathematics Teaching in Slovakia during COVID-19 Quarantine Season in Spring of 2020

In many countries, the attendance form of education was interrupted during quarantine in the spring of 2020 and replaced by some form of distance education. The COVID-19 pandemic has thus tested the preparedness of schools, teachers and educational systems in general to provide various forms of distance education. This paper briefly describes the situation in mathematics teaching in lower and upper secondary schools during the spring quarantine in Slovakia. We focus on the initial reactions and early experience of mathematics teachers. They have used different applications, software and methods in teaching mathematics during this time. Our goal is not to evaluate whether the teachers managed it or not, but what and how they had to do so that the educational process in mathematics would not be interrupted. © 2020 Lucia Csachova et al., published by De Gruyter.
Absence de marqueurs synoviaux spécifiques pour les révisions de prothèse totale de genou pour arthrofibrose

Abstract Introduction Current diagnostic criteria for arthrofibrosis are limited. Since many patients will be aspirated during their clinical course, synovial fluid analysis may supplement current diagnostic criteria for arthrofibrosis. The goal of this study was to determine a unique synovial fluid and inflammatory marker profile for diagnosing arthrofibrosis. Hypothesis Patients with arthrofibrosis following total knee arthroplasty will have a unique synovial fluid aspirate profile compared to control patients to aid in diagnosis. Materials and methods Between 2013 and 2017, 32 patients (32 total knee arthroplasties [TKAs]) underwent revision TKAs for arthrofibrosis. Fourteen patients had pre-revision aspirations. They were 2:1 matched based on age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and year of revision to 28 patients who underwent aseptic revision TKAs for reasons other than arthrofibrosis (control group). Mean age at revision was 66 years, with 64% males. Results In TKAs revised for arthrofibrosis, mean total cell count was 828 cells/uL. These aspirates contained a mean distribution of 46% macrophages (range, 4–76%), 31% lymphocytes (range, 11–68%), 21% neutrophils (range, 0–75%), 1% other cells (mainly synovial cells; range, 0–11%), and 1% eosinophils (range, 0–7%). There was no significant difference in mean total cell count (p = 0.8) or mean distribution of macrophages (p = 0.6), lymphocytes (p = 0.1), neutrophils (p = 0.2), eosinophils (p > 0.9), or serum inflammatory markers (p > 0.7) when compared to controls. All aspirations were culture negative for infection. Discussion The profile of arthrofibrotic synovial fluid aspirates and serum inflammatory marker values were similar to patients revised for non-arthrofibrotic aseptic etiologies. This suggests synovial fluid and serum inflammatory markers in non-infected knees with arthrofibrosis should expect to have characteristics similar to synovial fluid and inflammatory marker profiles in other aseptic diagnoses. Level of evidence III; Retrospective case-control study.
Adherence to a Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern and Cancer Risk in a Prospective Cohort Study.

A Mediterranean-style diet is a healthy eating pattern that may benefit cancer risk, but evidence among Americans is scarce. We examined the prospective association between adherence to such a diet pattern and total cancer risk. A Mediterranean-style dietary pattern (MSDP) score was derived from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at exam 5 (1991–1995). Subjects included 2966 participants of the Framingham Offspring Study who were free of prevalent cancer. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric measures. Cox-models were also used to examine effect modification by lifestyle and anthropometric measures. During 18 years of median follow-up, 259 women and 352 men were diagnosed with cancer. Women with moderate or higher adherence to the MSDP had ≥25% lower risks of cancer than women with the lowest MSDP (HR (moderate vs. lowest): 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52–0.97 and HR (highest vs. lowest): 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55–0.99). The association between MSDP score and cancer risk in men was weaker except in non-smokers. Beneficial effects of the MSDP in women were stronger among those who were not overweight. In this study, higher adherence to MSDP was associated with lower cancer risk, especially among women.
Endocrine and paracrine calcium signaling in bile duct cells.

Abstract Bile duct cells play an important role in maintaining, modifying and augmenting bile flow. It is well established that cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an important second messenger for secretion in these cells, but less is known about cytosolic Ca2+ (Ca2+i). Here we review evidence that ATP and acetylcholine (ACh) are Ca2+i agonists for bile duct cells, and that these agonists increase Ca2+i through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3). We also review data suggesting that hepatocytes have the ability to secrete ATP, so that they may serve as a paracrine source for this signaling molecule in vivo. Finally, we compare the effects of cAMP and Ca2+i on secretion, both in isolated bile duct units and isolated hepatocyte couplets. Implications and future directions for studying the role of Ca2+i in bile ductular secretion are discussed.
sCD40L -CD40/VLA- 5 Signaling Contributes to AngII-induced Thrombosis and Inflammation.

AngII-induced hypertension is associated with accelerated thrombus formation and leukocyte recruitment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the prothrombogenic-pro...
Analytical energy gradient for the two-component normalized elimination of the small component method

The analytical gradient for the two-component Normalized Elimination of the Small Component (2c-NESC) method is presented. The 2c-NESC is a Dirac-exact method that employs the exact two-component one-electron Hamiltonian and thus leads to exact Dirac spin-orbit (SO) splittings for one-electron atoms. For many-electron atoms and molecules, the effect of the two-electron SO interaction is modeled by a screened nucleus potential using effective nuclear charges as proposed by Boettger [Phys. Rev. B 62, 7809 (2000)]. The effect of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) on molecular geometries is analyzed utilizing the properties of the frontier orbitals and calculated SO couplings. It is shown that bond lengths can either be lengthened or shortened under the impact of SOC where in the first case the influence of low lying excited states with occupied antibonding orbitals plays a role and in the second case the jj-coupling between occupied antibonding and unoccupied bonding orbitals dominates. In general, the effect of SOC on bond lengths is relatively small (≤5% of the scalar relativistic changes in the bond length). However, large effects are found for van der Waals complexes Hg2 and Cn2, which are due to the admixture of more bonding character to the highest occupied spinors.
Equivalence Trials and Equivalence Limits

An equivalence trial employs a selected active control treatment as a comparator for evaluating the effect of a test treatment. The notion of equivalence is that the difference between the test treatment and the active control is clinically insignificant with respect to therapeutic benefits or an adverse effect at issue. The threshold of clinical insignificance or indifference must be defined and is often termed “equivalence margin” or “equivalence limit.” In clinical trials, the study question that is more often of primary interest is the noninferiority hypothesis that the test treatment is clinically acceptably inferior to the control. Determination of the noninferiority hypothesis with a specified margin often requires special considerations pertaining to other study objectives, such as showing that the test treatment retains a certain fraction of the control's effect. These special considerations in defining a noninferiority margin may not be applicable to defining the superiority margin in the equivalence hypothesis. Keywords: Active or positive control; equivalence margin; superiority; noninferiority
Occurrence/Exposure Rate †

This article has no abstract. Keywords: competing risks model; Kaplan–Meier estimator; Kiefer–Wolfowitz theory; mixtures of distributions; nonparametric estimation; reliability; survival analysis
The effect of storage on the P50 of feline blood

Objective: To determine the effect of storage on the P50 of feline hemoglobin. Design: Prospective, in vitro, laboratory study. Subjects: Venous blood from 4 clinically healthy cats. Measurements: Blood was collected into CPDA-1 anticoagulant/preservative and maintained at 4°C for 5 weeks. Measurements were made on Days 0, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. The blood samples were equilibrated in a tonometer to gas mixtures containing 2.5%, 4%, 5%, or 8% oxygen, with 5% carbon dioxide balance nitrogen; pH was adjusted to 7.4. Chloride, partial pressure of oxygen, and hemoglobin saturation were measured; P50 was calculated. Results: Chloride decreased from 124.3±2.1 to 88.5±1.9 mEq/L immediately after dilution with CPDA-1, and did not change for the 5 weeks thereafter. The P50 decreased from an average of 35.0±1.2 to between 31 and 32 mmHg after 7 days, and did not change further for 4 weeks thereafter. Conclusions: The decrease in P50 of feline hemoglobin was minor compared with that of blood from species in which 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) is a major modifier of hemoglobin affinity for oxygen. The decrease in P50 in the present study was attributed to an initial decrease in chloride and a subsequent loss of modest quantities of red cell 2,3-DPG.
Fusion-based sensor fault detection

A fusion-based fault detection and diagnosis system is introduced for a multisensor system where the fault detection process is divided into three stages and the uncertainty-reductive-fusion technique is used to detect possible sensor failures. A fuzzy rule-based diagnosis is performed in order to analyze and to try to correct for the signaled faults. >
Resilient Youth in Residential Care

Youth typically enter residential treatment once other less-intensive interventions have been ineffective. Youth in residential care often have trauma histories, resulting in significant behavioral and emotional impairments. Given the adversity residential youth have faced, how can resiliency and protective factors be fostered? The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), resiliency, and positive youth development in a sample of adolescent youth placed in residential care. The sample included 42 youth between the ages of 13–18 in five different residential treatment centers. Results showed that higher levels of resiliency indicated higher levels of positive youth development. A strong, positive correlation was found between resiliency and positive youth development. Results suggest that higher levels of trauma are related to lower levels of resiliency. A moderate, negative correlation was found between trauma and resiliency. Understanding an...
Timing of Environmental Exposures as a Critical Element in Breast Cancer Risk.

Objective: The role of the chemical environment in disease initiation or progression is becoming more evident. Endocrine disruption via environmental chemicals is now well documented in humans, rodent research models, and wildlife. Breast cancer is an endocrine-based disease whose risk may be modified by environmental exposures. Our purpose is to encourage more investigation into early life environmental exposures as they relate to breast cancer risk factors and disease over a lifetime. Evidence: The 2009 President's Cancer Panel, 2012 Institute of Medicine, 2013 Interagency Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Coordinating Committee reports, and research publications dated ≥2012 in PubMed were used to inform our perspective. Consensus Process: Literature was reviewed and evidence gathered on the effects of the environment on risk of breast cancer or mammary tumor development in animal research models as it pertained to the influence of timing of exposure on later-life outcomes. Conclusions: Evidenc...
Fuel Efficiency of Ancient Copper Alloys: Theoretical Melting Thermodynamics of Copper, Tin and Arsenical Copper and Timber Conservation in the Bronze Age Levant*

The melting of pure or alloyed copper, tin and arsenical copper ingots or recycled objects was a drain on the timber and dung fuel resources of many cultures. This paper suggests formulae grounded in thermodynamic principles in an attempt to estimate the energy requirements necessary to melt copper alloys common to both Old and New World cultures, with the goal of identifying consumption and conservation patterns. It has been suggested that tin bronze metallurgy was first adopted in the Levant during the Early Bronze Age (EB) IV, at the onset of the Late Holocene climate episode (c.2300–2000 bc), becoming the most desired alloy by the Middle Bronze Age (MB) II (2000–1530 bc) due to the ease of melting tin. To test this hypothesis, the formulae are applied here to all published Levantine EB IV – MB II copper alloys. Fuel conservation rates are proposed based on the thermodynamic formulae. Tin bronze is demonstrably more fuel efficient than pure copper. Due to the inherent difficulties in predicting the behaviour of arsenical copper compounds, it is suggested that melting experiments with representative alloys are conducted to further test and refine these energy relationships.
Nitrite Confers Preconditioning and Cytoprotection After Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through the Modulation of Mitochondrial Function.

Abstract Significance: Nitrite is now recognized as an intrinsic signaling molecule that mediates a number of biological processes. One of the most reproducible effects of nitrite is its ability to mediate cytoprotection after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). This robust phenomenon has been reproduced by a number of investigators in varying animal models focusing on different target organs. Furthermore, nitrite's cytoprotective versatility is highlighted by its ability to mediate delayed preconditioning and remote conditioning in addition to acute protection. Recent Advances: In the last 10 years, significant progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms underlying nitrite-mediated ischemic tolerance. Critical Issues: The mitochondrion, which is essential to both the progression of I/R injury and the protection afforded by preconditioning, has emerged as a major subcellular target for nitrite. This review will outline the role of the mitochondrion in I/R injury and preconditioning, review the accumulate...
eRFA: excision followed by RFA-a new technique to improve local control in breast cancer.

Excision followed by RFA (eRFA) may allow improved cosmesis while ensuring negative margins in patients with breast cancer. This technique utilizes heat to create an additional tumor-free zone around the lumpectomy cavity. We hypothesized that eRFA will decrease the need for re-excision of inadequate margins. Between July 2002 and January 2005, we conducted a multiphase trial of RFA of prophylactic mastectomy specimens and of women desiring lumpectomy. In both models, a lumpectomy was performed, the RFA probe was deployed 1 cm circumferentially into the walls of the lumpectomy cavity and maintained at 100°C for 15 min. Whole mount slides were used to measure the zone of ablation for ex vivo specimens. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of in vivo lumpectomy margins <3 mm was considered inadequate. Nineteen prophylactic mastectomy ablations revealed a consistent perimeter of ablation. Forty-one patients (mean age 63 ± 14 years) had an average tumor size of 1.6 ± 1.5 cm underwent in vivo eRFA, and 25% had inadequate margins: one focally positive, one <2 mm, eight <1 mm and one grossly positive. Only the grossly positive margin was re-excised. Overall complication rate of in vivo ablations was 7.5%. Twenty-four of 41 patients did not have post-eRFA XRT. No in-site local recurrences have occurred during a median follow-up of 24 months (12–45 months). Two patients have occurred elsewhere. The ex vivo ablation model reliably created a 5–10 mm perimeter of ablation. In vivo, this zone reduced the need for re-excision for inadequate margins by 91% (10/11). Short-term follow-up suggests that eRFA could reduce re-excision surgery and local recurrence.
Adaptive subtraction using complex-valued curvelet transforms

We propose a complex-valued curvelet transform-based (CCT-based) algorithm that adaptively subtracts from seismic data those noises for which an approximate template is available. The CCT decomposes a geophysical data set in terms of small reflection pieces, with each piece having a different characteristic frequency, location, and dip. One can precisely change the amplitude and shift the location of each seismic reflection piece in a template by controlling the amplitude and phase of the template's CCT coefficients. Based on these insights, our approach uses the phase and amplitude of the data's and template's CCT coefficients to correct misalignment and amplitude errors in the noise template, thereby matching the adapted template with the actual noise in the seismic data, reflection event-by-event. We also extend our approach to subtract noises that require several templates to be approximated. By itself, the method can only correct small misalignment errors ( ±5 ms in 50-Hz data) in the template; it re...
Nurses' Use of Palliative Care Practices in the Acute Care Setting

Abstract This study examines the reported use of palliative care practices by nurses caring for terminally ill patients in the acute care setting. Randomly selected nurses (n = 180) from six randomly selected hospitals in Connecticut completed a self-administered questionnaire. Factors associated with use of palliative care practices were examined by using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Most nurses surveyed (88.5%) reported using palliative care practices when caring for their terminally ill patients. Factors associated with greater use included greater knowledge about hospice, having practiced nursing for less than 10 years, and having had hospice training in the past 5 years. A substantial proportion of nurses reported that they never discuss hospice (51.7 per cent of nurses) and prognosis (26.6 per cent of nurses) with their terminally ill patients. Educational preparation (bachelor's degree versus less education) was not associated with greater use of palliative care practices. Palliative care practices are commonly used by nurses in the acute care setting. However, many report having limited training and substantial gaps in knowledge about hospice among this group of nurses, suggesting greater attention to palliative care and hospice may be warranted in nursing educational programs. J Prof Nurs 17:14-22, 2001. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Modified Pfannenstiel approach for radical retropubic prostatectomy

Radical retropubic prostatectomy is traditionally performed using a vertical midline incision and occasionally using a transverse Pfannenstiel incision. We describe a technique for performing radical retropubic prostatectomy using a modified Pfannenstiel approach. This involves a Y incision of the rectus sheath, instead of a pure transverse incision, and provides both excellent exposure and better cosmetic results.
Naloxone and Pavlovian fear conditioning

Abstract Previous research has shown that pretreating rats with the opiate antagonist naloxone increases the freezing that follows painful electric shock. Three experiments, using freezing behavior as a dependent variable, were carried out to determine whether the drug might cause this effect by enhancing fear conditioning. Two of the studies employed a differential context fear-conditioning paradigm. Naloxone did not affect freezing behavior during the preshock adaptation period. In Experiment 1, naloxone was found to increase resistance to extinction in the S+ context. In Experiment 2, naloxone was found to increase freezing in the S+ context. This effect was dependent upon administering naloxone during training but not dependent on administering it during testing. The third study employed a generalization paradigm. It was found that naloxone's effect on postshock freezing was dependent on the place of testing; as the contextual cues of the test chamber were changed from those of the conditioning chamber, the effect of naloxone on freezing was reduced. The results of these experiments lend strong support to the hypothesis that naloxone increases freezing by enhancing the conditioning of fear to contextual stimuli associated with shock.
Transport in submicron devices

Abstract We have studied the effects of realistic band structures on transport through the active region of hot electron transistor (HET) alloy semiconductor devices. The relevant physical parameters are the injection-energy dependence of the group velocities and the velocity scattering rates due to longitudinal optical phonons, ionized impurities, alloy disorder, and other electrons. All III–V and II–VI semiconductors and their alloys have been examined, with special emphasis placed on those showing the most promise, which are GaAs, InAs, InP, GaInAs, and InAsP. The relevant parameters are then related to device upper cut-off frequencies, the fraction of ballistic electrons, and the α-current gain parameter (the ratio of the collector to emitter current). For devices thicker than 500 A, GaInAs alloys are demonstrated to exhibit distinct advantages. However, for thin devices (≅ 100 A), the cut-off frequencies range around 15 THz, and no material has an appreciably higher ballistic-electron fraction than GaAs. Moreover, we have calculated the α-current gain parameter as a function of injection energy in an HET device and find agreement with the important measured features with no adjustable parameters. One new element in this theory is a simple direct calculation of the deformation potential for intervalley scattering.
Total positivity properties of the bivariate diagonal natural exponential families

Abstract The diagonal natural exponential families (NEFs) on ℝr were defined and classified recently by Bar-Lev et al. (1994). In this paper, we apply explicit formulas for the Mehler kernels of certain bivariate diagonal NEF classes to develop the total positivity properties of these NEFs and the variation-diminishing properties of their Mehler kernels.
Should patients with high-risk prostate cancer receive 6 months or 3 years of adjuvant androgen suppression therapy?

Should patients with high-risk prostate cancer receive 6 months or 3 years of adjuvant androgen suppression therapy?
Extreme Nonlinear Optics in a Femtosecond Enhancement Cavity

Intrinsic to the process of high-order harmonic generation is the creation of plasma and the resulting spatiotemporal distortions of the driving laser pulse. Inside a high-finesse cavity where the driver pulse and gas medium are reused, this can lead to optical bistability of the cavity-plasma system, accumulated self-phase modulation of the intracavity pulse, and coupling to higher-order cavity modes. We present an experimental and theoretical study of these effects and discuss their implications for power scaling of intracavity high-order harmonic generation and extreme ultraviolet frequency combs.
Quantitative autoradiography on [35S]TBPS binding sites of gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptors in discrete brain regions of high-alcohol-drinking and low-alcohol-drinking rats selectively bred for high- and low-alcohol preference

It has been documented that ethanol can potentiate brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic function, and there is a close link between the GABAA receptor complex and effects of ethanol, including reinforcement of alcohol which is a fundamental element of alcohol preference. However, it is unknown in what discrete brain regions GABAA receptors might be associated with alcohol preference. In the present study, [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) was used to localize GABAA receptors in high-alcohol-drinking (HAD) rats and low-alcohol-drinking (LAD) rats which were selectively bred for high and low alcohol preference, respectively. Initial qualitative observations indicated that [35S]TBPS binding sites were abundant in many brain areas including the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and amygdala of HAD and LAD rats. Furthermore, the quantitative autoradiographic analysis revealed fewer [35S]TBPS binding sites of GABAA receptors in the amygdaloid complex, central medial thalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic nucleus and anterior hypothalamic nucleus of HAD rats than LAD rats. Collectively, this study has indicated that HAD rats selectively bred for high alcohol preference possess lower [35S]TBPS binding in the brain. Since lower TBPS binding has been proposed to reflect enhanced GABAergic function, as evidenced in rats with seizure or under alcohol withdrawal, the results from the present study suggest that HAD rats might have an enhanced GABAergic function. It is thus likely that enhanced GABAergic function in the brain might be related to high alcohol preference which is characteristic in HAD rats. In addition, the present result showing no difference of [35S]TBPS binding in the nucleus accumbens is also in agreement with a notion that [35S]TBPS binding may represent only a small spectrum of the GABAA receptor complex which is constituted of a sophisticated subunit combination whose functional compositions are still unknown. In conclusion, the present study supports the working hypothesis that GABAA receptors are involved in alcohol preference in HAD rats.
Shear-induced transport of a particle layer along a porous wall

Abstract A theory is presented which describes the transport of a concentrated layer of particles along a porous wall under laminar flow conditions. A shear-induced hydrodynamic diffusion mechanism is proposed to describe the lateral migration of particles away from the porous wall as the layer is sheared. At steady state, the particle diffusion within the layer is balanced by the convective flux of particles toward the porous wall due to the fluid flow into the wall. This model predicts the nonlinear velocity and concentration profiles within the sheared particle layer, as well as the layer thickness and the wall concentration. In addition, a criterion is found for predicting whether or not a stagnant particle layer will form on the porous wall. The application of this theory to crossflow microfiltration is discussed.
New Energetic Salts Based on Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles

New energetic salts (4−9, 11, 13, 16, 21, 22, 29−34, 36, 37, 42, 43, 46, 47) were synthesized via the quaternization of azido or nitro derivatives of imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, and substituted derivatives of tetrazole with nitric or perchloric acid or with iodomethane followed by metathesis reaction with silver nitrate or silver perchlorate. The structures of 1,4-dimethyl-3-azido-1,2,4-triazolium nitrate (5), 3-azido-1,2,4-triazolium nitrate (6), 1-methyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazolium perchlorate (16), and 1,4-dimethyl-2-H-1,2,4-triazolium triiodide (20) were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Most of the salts exhibit good thermal stabilities and low melting points. By using constant volume combustion energies that were determined experimentally using an oxygen bomb calorimeter, the standard molar enthalpies of formation were derived based on designed Hess thermochemical cycles.
Impact of knowledge management on the self-efficacy of entrepreneurs: Mexican SME context

This paper investigates the relationship between knowledge management and the self-efficacy of individuals in the organisation. We investigate the impact of the ETK model on the self-efficacy of entrepreneurs in the organisation. The ETK model refers to the three concepts: emotional competence (E), technology competence (T) and knowledge competence (K) within an organisation and is a synchronisation concept of linking the ETK components in an organisation so that they operate synergistically. We propose that self-efficacy of individuals in an organisation is related to the synchronisation levels of the ETK components in that organisation. Self-efficacy, an intrinsic characteristic of an individual, can be impacted by using different interventions and treatments. Using data from 200 small and medium entrepreneurs in the Mexican economy, the paper concludes that the synergistic operation of the E, T and K components in an organisation is significantly related to the self-efficacy scores of the organisational entrepreneurs.
Assessing Google Flu Trends Performance in the United States during the 2009 Influenza Virus A (H1N1) Pandemic

Background Google Flu Trends (GFT) uses anonymized, aggregated internet search activity to provide near-real time estimates of influenza activity. GFT estimates have shown a strong correlation with official influenza surveillance data. The 2009 influenza virus A (H1N1) pandemic [pH1N1] provided the first opportunity to evaluate GFT during a non-seasonal influenza outbreak. In September 2009, an updated United States GFT model was developed using data from the beginning of pH1N1. Methodology/Principal Findings We evaluated the accuracy of each U.S. GFT model by comparing weekly estimates of ILI (influenza-like illness) activity with the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). For each GFT model we calculated the correlation and RMSE (root mean square error) between model estimates and ILINet for four time periods: pre-H1N1, Summer H1N1, Winter H1N1, and H1N1 overall (Mar 2009–Dec 2009). We also compared the number of queries, query volume, and types of queries (e.g., influenza symptoms, influenza complications) in each model. Both models' estimates were highly correlated with ILINet pre-H1N1 and over the entire surveillance period, although the original model underestimated the magnitude of ILI activity during pH1N1. The updated model was more correlated with ILINet than the original model during Summer H1N1 (r = 0.95 and 0.29, respectively). The updated model included more search query terms than the original model, with more queries directly related to influenza infection, whereas the original model contained more queries related to influenza complications. Conclusions Internet search behavior changed during pH1N1, particularly in the categories “influenza complications” and “term for influenza.” The complications associated with pH1N1, the fact that pH1N1 began in the summer rather than winter, and changes in health-seeking behavior each may have played a part. Both GFT models performed well prior to and during pH1N1, although the updated model performed better during pH1N1, especially during the summer months.
SU-GG-I-169: Effective Photodynamic Dose Delivered by Head and Neck Visualization Light Sources

Purpose: In photodynamic therapy(PDT), it is possible that light sources used for visualization can cause unintended dose delivery. We sought to determine the effective PDT dose delivered by these light sources to provide guidelines for their safe use. Method and Materials: We have measured the spectrum and power of a range of light sources typically used in the evaluation of head and neck cancer. The power was measured using a calibrated thermopile detector when possible, and separately using a semiconductorphotodiode attached to a 6‐inch integrating sphere. The integrating sphere was connected to a fiber‐optic spectrograph, which recorded the spectrum of each lamp. The relative sensitivities of the photodiode detector and spectrograph were evaluated relative to the sensitivity at 630 nm. The spectral power of each source was multiplied by the published excitation spectrum of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) to obtain an effective power, defined as the power at 630 nm required to produce the level of PpIX excitation as the source. This effective power was used to determine the maximum exposure time for each source. We have evaluated the effect of colored plastic optical filters placed on these sources. Results: We have characterized the output of several light sources. The equivalent power emitted by these sources varies from tens to hundreds of milliwatts. The effective power can be reduced by up to a factor of three by appropriate filtration.. The effectiveness of this filtration is dependent on the light source spectrum and the sensitizer being used. Exposure time recommendations are summarized for each light source. Conclusion: A range of light sources may be suitable for use in conjunction with PDT. These light sources can be used safely and effectively through a combination of limited exposure time and appropriate filtration.
Soybean root and nodule nitrate reductase

Nitrate reductase (NR) activity was followed in root and nodule from Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Cv. Tracy) inoculated with Rhizobium japonicum. Initially, a plus NO3- in vivo assay was used. When chlorate-resistant mutants were used as inoculum, nodule NR activity was reduced by about 90%. indicating that the bacteroid accounts for much of the normal nodule's NR. With plants 3 to 15 weeks of age nodule NR activity (g fresh weight)-1 was highest in young plants and root activity highest in old plants. Root and nodule total NR activity increased with plant age and were often not greatly different. Root NR activity correlated with plant NO3- supply and increased from 0.8 to 11.4 μmol plant-1 h-1 as NO3- was increased from 0 to 3 mM. In contrast, nodule NR activity was high in plants grown without NO3- and did not appear to increase as nitrate supply to the plant was increased. Nodule activity was 6 to 14 μmol NO2- plant-1 h-1. Use of a minus NO3- in vivo assay had little affect on root NR activity, but greatly reduced nodule activity. Root tissue was found to have 5 to 38 times more NO3- than nodule tissue. It is concluded that low nitrate levels within the nodule limit NR activity and that it is improbable that the nodule is a major site of plant nitrate reduction.
Abstract 1247: Assessment of the roles of prostaglandin E2receptors in a rodent model of chemically induced esophageal carcinogenesis

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Esophageal carcinogenesis is a multistage process characterized by morphological changes from normal esophagus to basal cell hyperplasia, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Our laboratory has used a rodent model of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced esophageal SCC to investigate molecular carcinogenesis and identify putative chemopreventive agents. In our previous studies, we found that the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in rat esophageal epithelium were elevated in papillomatous lesions relative to precancerous and normal tissues. PGE2 exerts its cellular effect by binding to its cognate receptors. There are four subtypes of PGE2 receptors, EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4, which are involved in carcinogenesis depending on the cell or tissue types. The overall objective of the current study was to assess the roles of PGE2 receptors in NMBA-induced rat esophageal tumorigenesis. F344 rats were injected subcutaneously with NMBA (0.30 mg/kg b.w.) three times per week for five weeks. One week after NMBA treatment, animals were randomized into five experimental groups and fed 300 ppm celcecoxib plus 50 ppm S,S'-1,4-phenylenebis(1,2-ethanediyl)bisisothiourea (PBIT) starting from week 6, 9, 12 , or 15, respectively, or 5% freeze-dried black raspberries (BRB) starting from week 6. Esophagi were collected at 29 weeks. Results of real-time PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry demonstrated a correlation between the upregulation of EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4 and neoplastic progression in the rat esophagus. The expression of the PGE2 receptors in preneoplastic tissues and papillomas was significantly elevated when compared to normal tissues. Moreover, we observed that celecoxib + PBIT and 5% BRB significantly reduced EP2 expression. Our data suggest, therefore, that the production of PGE2 receptors by the esophageal epithelium is associated with the development of NMBA-induced esophageal tumorigenesis in rats, and EP2 antagonist may have chemopreventive potential in esophageal cancer. Research efforts are needed to elucidate the function of PGE2 receptors and related oncogenic pathways in esophageal SCC. (Supported by NIH/NCI R01 CA131073-01A1). Citation Format: Ni Shi, Tong Chen. Assessment of the roles of prostaglandin E2 receptors in a rodent model of chemically induced esophageal carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1247. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1247