cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the global behaviour of the LPA model when cPA = 0

This article provides sufficient conditions for the global attractivity of the unique positive fixed point of the LPA model in the case when cPA=0.
Harmonic Imaging Improves Delineation of Human Carotid Plaque Features by ARFI Variance of Acceleration

Stroke is often caused by carotid plaque rupture, with rupture potential indicated by plaque structure and composition. Delineating carotid plaque components that confer rupture risk is vital to stoke prevention. We have previously shown that ARFI Log Variance of Acceleration, log(VoA), discriminates intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) from lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) and collagen (COL) from calcium (CAL) in vivo in humans, while ARFI peak displacement does not. We hypothesize that log(VoA) performance will be further improved by harmonic tracking of ARF-induced displacement. In a pilot clinical study of six carotid plaques imaged in vivo in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA), plaque component contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) achieved by harmonic log(VoA) was compared to that achieved by tracking at fundamental low (4.0 MHz, FL) and high (8.89 MHz, FH) frequencies with validation by spatially-matched histology derived from the extracted plaque specimens. Over all examined plaques, harmonic and both fundamental low and high log(VoA) distributions statistically differentiated plaque components (Wilcoxon, $\mathrm{p} , panel iv). Harmonic log(VoA) achieved the highest CNR between COL and LRNC, which is relevant to fibrous cap delineation, but FH tracking yielded the highest CNR between LRNC and IPH and between COL and CAL. These results suggest that combined harmonic and FH tracking could improve ARFI log(VoA) characterization of carotid plaque components that are correlated to rupture.
Tecnología Humanitaria como catalizadora de una nueva arquitectura de Acción Exterior en España: Horizonte 2030

La politica exterior de Espana se encuentra en continuo proceso de adaptacion a los nuevos retos que el orden internacional y el multilateralismo presentan. La Agenda 2030 se presenta como horizonte para afrontar retos tanto tradicionales como nuevos. En ella, las tecnologias humanitarias empiezan a adquirir progresivamente mayor protagonismo. Su incidencia es clave tanto en la planificacion como en la implementacion y evaluacion del desempeno de la politica exterior. Sin embargo, la tecnologia humanitaria es un asunto poco analizado desde este prisma. El presente documento plantea un analisis de la gestion institucional y de politicas publicas de las tecnologias humanitarias a partir de una serie de casos de estudio internacionales y de un grupo de dilemas, con la finalidad de proveer de lecciones aprendidas, errores a resolver y nuevas propuestas que la arquitectura de politica exterior en Espana deberia tener en cuenta para alcanzar sus objetivos de la Agenda 2030, asi como para ganar un mayor grado de competitividad internacional en base a las particularidades espanolas.
Relationship Between Moral Distress and Intent to Leave a Position Among Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses.

Background The phenomenon of moral distress is prevalent in the literature, but little is known about the experiences of nurses working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In addition, a paucity of literature exists exploring the relationship between moral distress and intent to leave a position in NICU nurses. Purpose To explore the phenomenon of moral distress in NICU nurses using the Measure of Moral Distress for Health Care Professionals (MMD-HP) survey. Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was conducted nationally via an electronic survey distributed to NICU nurses who are members of National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN). Participants were asked to electronically complete the MMD-HP survey between March 27 and April 8, 2020. Findings A total of 75 NICU nurses completed the survey, and 65 surveys were included for data analysis. Five situations from the survey had a composite MMD-HP score of more than 400. Results indicated that 41.5% of the NICU nurses surveyed considered leaving a clinical position due to moral distress, and 23.1% of the nurses surveyed left a position due to moral distress. Implications for practice NICU nurses experiencing high MMD-HP scores are more likely to leave a position. Further research is needed to develop strategies useful in mitigating moral distress in and prevent attrition of NICU nurses. Implications for research Many NICU nurses experiencing high levels of moral distress have left positions or are considering leaving a clinical position. Longitudinal interventional studies are vital to understand, prevent, and address the root causes of moral distress experienced by NICU nurses.
Making a Case for Social Justice

Community college has had an important role in United States history far beyond its most obvious place in any discussion of education. From the earliest discoveries, summaries, and finding made in the 1947 Truman Report, to the current discussions on community college expansions into baccalaureate offerings; it has had a significant impact in society. In fact, one of the major intentions of the community college was to act as a vehicle to motive social change. This paper seeks to examine how successful the community college has been in that endeavor, and what can be done to help ensure that aspect of the community college mission is met.
Metabolic disturbances in the dairy cow influenced by managerial practices

A study was instituted at Dykstra Veterinary Hospital, Department of Surgery and Medicine, Kansas State University, to determine possible etiological denominators in high production dairy cows presented by owners with complaints of metabolic and/or infectious conditions commonly associated with high milk production. Subsequent field surveys of herds from which hospital patients originated were used to gain more information. The study spanned approximately five years with the departments of Surgery and Medicine, Pathology, Diagnostic Services, Clinical Pathology, Dairy Extension and practicing veterinarians cooperating.
Expanded Access to Postabortion Contraception under Oregon's Reproductive Health Equity Act.

Abstract Objective We describe the first 24 months of expanded family planning services for low-income immigrants under Oregon's Reproductive Health Equity Act. We examined postabortion contraceptive use in rural versus urban locations. Study Design We conducted a historical cohort study of abortion services reimbursed under Reproductive Health Equity Act in the first 2 years after its implementation (2018 and 2019). Our primary outcome was shift in contraceptive tier from a less effective method before an abortion to a more effective contraceptive method after an abortion. Our key independent variable was residence in a metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area. We tested the association of nonmetropolitan residence and shift to a tier 1 or tier 2 method after the abortion, controlling for other factors, using logistic regression. Results Our analysis included 625 abortions from across the state. After an abortion, 66% of women transitioned to a more effective form of contraception. Nonmetropolitan residence was not significantly associated with a shift from no method or a tier 3 method to tier 1 or tier 2 method (adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.81–2.02) compared with metropolitan residence. Conclusions The program was successful in helping women not wishing pregnancy to transition to a more effective contraceptive method post abortion, regardless of metropolitan location of residence.
Active Automotive Suspensions

The analysis of passive automotive suspensions in the last chapter showed that there are significant trade-offs in performance between the ride quality, rattle space and tire deflection transfer functions. Improvements in any one of the three transfer functions in the case of passive suspensions is often obtained at the expense of deterioration in the other two transfer functions. In this chapter, we look at the use of active suspensions in which electronically controlled actuators placed in the suspension are used to provide significantly superior performance. Alternate control laws are analyzed and the performance that active suspensions can provide is studied and compared with that of passive suspensions. The factors that limit the performance of active suspensions are studied. The analysis of “invariant points” is used to understand these performance limitations. A simple control law called sky-hook damping which needs only a few sensor measurements and can provide most of the benefits of full state feedback control laws is discussed. Finally, the chapter looks at actual experimental implementation issues, including the dynamics of hydraulic actuators used to provide the active force.
Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen ion concentration in arterial and uterine venous blood of pregnant goats.

Abstract Using indwelling plastic catheters, blood samples were drawn from an artery and a uterine vein of unanesthetized pregnant goats at selected stages in gestation. Oxygen and carbon dioxide contents, pH, and oxygen capacity were determined on the samples. The coefficient of oxygen utilization by the uterus increased from 9 per cent early in gestation to 25 per cent in the last third of the gestation period of 145 to 147 days. The CO 2 tension of the arterial blood ranged between 25.1 and 31.9 mm. Hg (average, 28.6) and the pH was 7.32 to 7.49 (average, 7.41).
Intracisternal Nor-Binaltorphimine Distinguishes Central and Peripheral κ-Opioid Antinociception in Rhesus Monkeys

Systemic administration of nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) produces a long-lasting κ-opioid receptor (κOR) antagonism and has κ1-selectivity in nonhuman primates. The aim of this study was to establish the pharmacological basis of central κOR antagonism in rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ). After intracisternal (i.c.) administration of small doses of nor-BNI, the duration and selectivity of nor-BNI antagonism were evaluated against two κOR agonists, ( trans )-3,4-dichloro- N -methyl- N -[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide (U50,488) and bremazocine. Thermal antinociception was measured in the warm water (50°C) tail-withdrawal assay and sedation was evaluated by observers blind to treatment conditions. Following i.c. pretreatment with 0.32 mg nor-BNI, a 5- to 10-fold rightward shift of the U50,488 baseline dose-effect curve was observed in antinociception. In contrast, this dose of nor-BNI only produced an insignificant 2-fold shift against bremazocine. Pretreatment with a smaller dose (0.032 mg) of nor-BNI produced a 3-fold shift of U50,488, which lasted for 7 days, but failed to alter the potency of bremazocine. This differential antagonism profile of i.c. nor-BNI also was observed in sedation ratings. In addition, the centrally effective dose of nor-BNI (0.32 mg), when administered s.c. in the back, did not antagonize either U50,488- or bremazocine-induced antinociception and sedation. After i.c. pretreatment with the same dose, nor-BNI also did not antagonize the peripherally mediated effect of U50,488 against capsaicin-induced thermal nociception in the tail. These results indicate that i.c. nor-BNI produces central κOR antagonism and support the notion of two functional κOR subtypes in the central nervous system. Moreover, it provides a valuable pharmacological basis for further characterizing different sources of κOR-mediated effects, namely, from central or peripheral nervous system receptors.
Selective decay principle for 2D magnetohydrodynamic flows

The selective decay phenomena has been observed by physicists for many dynamic flows such as Navier-Stokes flows, barotropic geophysical flows, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows in either actual physical experiments or numeri- cal simulations. Rigorous mathematical works have been carried out for both Navier-Stokes and barotropic geophysical flows. It is the goal of this paper to verify the selective decay principle mathematically for the 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows.
Use of Unembalmed/Fresh Cadavers in Anatomy Teaching

Embalmed cadavers have and continue to be widely used in anatomy education at most medical schools. However, in a program developed at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University students learn anatomy from unembalmed/fresh cadavers that more closely resemble the living body. Additionally, they are taught by residents and fellows who enhance the practicality of the anatomical knowledge gained. Thus, this unique educational environment provides a learning experience enhanced in such a way that students feel that what they are learning is immediately applicable to clinical situations.
Bethe's contributions to atomic and molecular physics

We discuss the contributions of Hans A Bethe to the fields of atomic, molecular and optical physics. Those contributions are seminal to these still vibrant major areas.
Computation of three-dimensional turbulent vortical flows on bodies at high incidence

As Navier-Stokes computations are carried out for high-angle-of-attack flows, the various numerical and physical factors affecting the accuracy of the flow predictions must be determined. In an effort to further this understanding, numerical predictions of the complex three-dimensional separated flow about bodies of revolution in supersonic and subsonic flows have been performed. Predictions have been made for the supersonic flow over a secant ogive cylinder at relatively low angles of attack using a thin-layer Navier-Stokes code, showing good agreement with experimental pressure measurements as well as boundary-layer velocity profiles. The predictions are also compared with parabolized Navier-Stokes computations from a previous work. Subsonic predictions at high angles of attack were made for a tangent ogive cylinder and were found to be in good agreement with available experimental data. The accuracy of the predictions are shown to depend on using grids that are sufficiently fine to resolve the details of both the viscous boundary layer and the off-surface separated flow structures and, for turbulent flow cases, the use of a turbulence model that accounts for the leeward vortical flow structures. An example of high-incidence flow computed about a more complex geometry, the F-18 fighter fuselage forebody and leading-edge extension, is also presented.
Toward a defect invariant basis for susceptibility to adiabatic shear bands

Abstract In a recent paper (Wright, 1992, Int. J. Plast. 8, 583), it was argued that in order to compare the susceptibility to adiabatic shearing among different materials it is necessary to control the defect that initiates the localized shear band. Furthermore, the defect must be scaled in an appropriate way that depends on the homogeneous adiabatic response of the material. The argument was based on a linearized set of equations, rather than the complete nonlinear equations. In this paper the idea of comparing materials on the basis of a known and properly scaled defect is explored further. Computations with the fully nonlinear equations show that the scaling factors, deduced from the linearized equations, do organize the different cases over a wide range of physical parameters. The actual functional form deduced from the linearized equations, however, gives only an order of magnitude estimate for stress collapse, in most cases being a lower bound for the actual collapse point.
Female family size ideals as population policy objectives for Latin America: Demographic and methodological considerations

The CELADE urban surveys carried out 1964-1966 found that in 9 metropolitan areas in 8 Latin American countries the median ideal family size was 3.2 while the women said that if they could start their families over again they would have 2.7 children. This study develops a cohort projection model that incorporates contraceptive usage and resource limitations to study the use of family size ideals in the formulation of population policies in Latin America. Empirical analyses are presented for El Salvador Mexico and Venezuela. At present most Latin American countries spend about 2% or less of the national health budget on family planning; this model assumes expenditures found in many Asian nations of 10-25% of the national health budget and an effectiveness found in the best Asian programs. It is concluded that between now and the year 2000 attainment of fertility levels consonant with ideal family size appears infeasible. However such a goal might meet with moderate success despite the fact that the dynamics and momentum of population growth built into a young rapidly growing population appears extremely resistant to external manipulation. In the 3 countries analyzed a vigorous population program would have some impact but population stabilization appears a long way off. It is cautioned that adoption of goals must consider demographic realities.
Putative Immunogenicity Expression Profiling Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Derivatives

Autologous human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) should allow cellular therapeutics without an associated immune response. This concept has been controversial since the original report that syngeneic mouse iPSCs elicited an immune response after transplantation. However, an investigative analysis of any potential acute immune responses in hiPSCs and their derivatives has yet to be conducted. In the present study, we used correlative gene expression analysis of two putative mouse "immunogenicity" genes, ZG16 and HORMAD1, to assay their human homologous expression levels in human pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives. We found that ZG16 expression is heterogeneous across multiple human embryonic stem cell and hiPSC-derived cell types. Additionally, ectopic expression of ZG16 in antigen-presenting cells is insufficient to trigger a detectable response in a peripheral blood mononuclear cell coculture assay. Neither of the previous immunogenicity-associated genes in the mouse currently appears to be relevant in a human context.
Characterization of trivalent chromium process coating on AA2024-T3

Abstract Trivalent Chromium Process (TCP) coatings, which have been used recently as an alternative to chromate conversion coatings (CCCs), have been characterized. The TCP coating was found to be a dense layer consisting of particles, hundreds of nm in size on the coating surface, which is similar to CCCs. The TCP coating has a two layered structure, with zirconium-chromium mixed oxide in the outer layer and aluminum oxide or oxyfluoride at the metal/coating interface. No Cr(VI) was found, which supports its use as an environmentally friendly replacement for CCC. The TCP thickness was in the range of 40–120 nm, considerably thicker than the zirconium based coating without chromium species. The high vacuum condition in the SEM dehydrates the coating quickly resulting in the formation of mud-crack artifacts. The TCP coating provides corrosion protection to the AA2024-T3 through suppressing the oxygen reduction reaction on aluminum alloy surfaces by acting as a protective barrier layer. Two pretreatments were investigated but found to result in little difference in the resulting TCP formed on AA2024-T3.
CHROMOSOME 9 MONOSOMY BY FLUORESCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION OF BLADDER IRRIGATION SPECIMENS IS PREDICTIVE OF TUMOR RECURRENCE

Purpose:: Bladder irrigation specimens are effective for sampling the urothelium for detection of recurrent bladder cancer. These specimens can be evaluated by cytology or quantitative techniques. Proliferation and ploidy changes are readily detected using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) cytometry. Tumor associated chromosomal aberrations can be assayed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The prognostic values of DNA cytometry, and chromosome 9 and 9p21 FISH on exfoliated cells from bladder irrigation specimens from 61 bladder cancer patients were evaluated.Materials and Methods:: A total of 61 consecutive bladder irrigation specimens were obtained during cystoscopy. DNA cytometry was performed by image analysis. FISH was performed using a centromeric chromosome 9 probe and a cosmid contig (COSp16) probe to the CDKN2A/p16 tumor suppressor region of 9p21. Proportional hazards regression analysis was performed with statistical software to test the predictor variables of initial patient status (pres...
Poly-L-Lysine Mediated Fractal Titania Structures

We demonstrate the use of Poly-L-lysine to mediate the mineralization of fractal titania structures. Reproducible structures formed by 2D DLA are prepared on various substrates when the proper length and concentration of poly-L-lysine are present.
Pounding of an 18-Story Building During Recorded Earthquakes

AbstractDuring the San Fernando Earthquake (1971), two of the three triaxial recording instruments placed in an 18-story steel building in Los Angeles recorded the impact with an adjacent reinforced concrete parking structure. This provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate the modeling of such an event using current computer programs (time step, structure damping, impact damping, and use of a gap element) to evaluate the effect of the impact on the strength demands and evaluate the design implications (necessary separation). Although only the base recorder worked during the Northridge Earthquake, it was possible to evaluate the computer modeling using the San Fernando data, and then use the model to evaluate the building behavior under the stronger Northridge Earthquake (1994). Results of the numerical model indicate an agreement with the extensive cracking identified by the results of a damage investigation following the Northridge Earthquake in the two moment resistant transverse frames of the steel...
High performance terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on intracavity difference frequency generation

We demonstrate high power, room temperature, single-mode THz emissions based on intracavity difference frequency generation from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers. Dual active regions both featuring giant nonlinear susceptibilities are used to enhance the THz power and conversion efficiency. The THz frequency is lithographically tuned by integrated dual-period distributed feedback gratings with different grating periods. Single mode emissions from 3.3 to 4.6 THz with side-mode suppression ratio and output power up to 40 dB and 65 µW are obtained, with a narrow linewidth of 5 GHz.
Stratigraphie distribution of carbohydrate residues in Middle Devonian Onondaga beds of Pennsylvania and western New York

Abstract Average total carbohydrate content of limestones, shales and cherts of the Onondaga Group as determined by a eolorimetric phenol-sulfuric acid method is about 60 ppm, but significant variations occur. These variations are suggested to be due to differences in source material and conditions of deposition. An area of high concentration, up to 392 ppm, lies in northwestern Pennsylvania and another area up to 430 ppm occurs in Wyoming County, western New York. These areas may have received excessive contribution of organic matter from the cratonic land mass to the north, or from Sargasso-like floating vegetation. In Pennsylvania an area of low carbohydrate concentration adjoins the enriched belt on the east and is suggested to have been a shelf where scavenger activity was high. The average total carbohydrate content of 16 samples of dark shale and limestone from the type area in Devon, England, lithologically similar to the Onondaga is about 30 ppm. A range of 25–50 ppm total carbohydrates appears to be normal for the neritic Onondaga interbedded shale and limestone studied here and where significant departures from this range occur, unusual conditions of deposition or of post-depositional effects might be expected to have occurred. Individual monosaccharides analyzed chromatographically in one Onondaga sample consist of mannose, glucose and xylose. Glucose was confirmed enzymatically by use of a glucose-oxidase technique. The carbohydrate content of the middle and perhaps the lower Onondaga is somewhat higher than that of the upper Onondaga in the various facies which are represented in Pennsylvania and western New York. In general, it appears that residual organic compounds will be useful in other paleoenviron-mental and facies studies.
Radiation fields from neutron generators shielded with different materials

Abstract As a general guide for assessing radiological conditions around a DT neutron generator numerical modeling has been performed to assess neutron and photon dose profiles for a variety of shield materials ranging from 1 to 100 cm thick. In agreement with accepted radiation safety practices high- Z materials such as bismuth and lead have been found to be ineffective biological shield materials, owing in part to the existence of (n,2n) reaction channels available with 14.1 MeV DT neutrons, while low- Z materials serve as effective shields for these sources. Composite materials such as a mixture of polyethylene and bismuth, or regular concrete, are ideal shield materials for neutron generator radiation because of their ability to attenuate internally generated photon radiation resulting from neutron scattering and capture within the shields themselves.
Abstract LB-217: A universal cancer detection platform which measures telomerase activity from live circulating tumor cells captured on microfilter

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Objective. · Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) quantified in cancer patients’ blood can predict disease outcome and response to therapy. However, the CTC analysis platforms currently used are expensive, labor-intense, operator-dependent, and only applicable to tumors of epithelial origin. To address these limitations, we engineered a universal cancer detection platform which measures telomerase activity from live circulating tumor cells captured on microfilter. Methodology: Microfilters were fabricated from parylene-C by a multi-step Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) technique and then connected to a constant low-pressure fluid delivery system. To optimize slot size and filtration pressure, PC3 prostate cancer cells were stained with live-cell dye (Calcein-AM) and spiked into whole blood. After filtration, the captured cells were counter-stained with dead-cell stain (propidium iodide, PI) and counted to determine capture efficiency, viability, and enrichment. Telomerase activity measurement was accomplished using blood spiked with cancer cell lines as well as actual patient samples. Briefly, 7.5 ml blood samples were depleted of red blood cells by ficoll gradient centrifugation, and the PBMC fraction was resuspended in PBS, captured on microfilter and lysed. Telomerase activity was assayed from the cell lysates using a modified quantitative PCR telomere repeat amplification protocol (qPCR-TRAP). Results: The optimized microfilter platform was capable of cell capture from 7.5 ml of whole blood in under 15 minutes, achieving 80% capture efficiency, 90% cell viability and 1500-fold sample enrichment. Importantly, the captured cells retained normal morphology by scanning electron microscopy and could be readily manipulated, further analyzed, or expanded on- or off-filter. Remarkably, telomerase activity was reliably detected by qPCR-TRAP from as few as 25 cancer cells spiked into 7.5 ml whole blood, as well as from actual CTCs in patient blood samples and even from single cancer cells captured on microfilter. Conclusions: We present a novel cancer biomarker platform capable of assaying telomerase activity in live CTCs captured on microfilter from human blood. This new technology can be used to elucidate the basic biology of cancer dissemination and also applied clinically to improve prognostication, treatment, or even early detection of common malignancies. It is fast and simple yet fully quantitative and applicable to nearly all solid tumor types, making microfilter telomerase analysis a truly universal and highly promising cancer biomarker platform. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-217.
Use of fibrin tissue sealants during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN)

Abstract Introduction: To demonstrate feasibility and efficacy of commercially-available fibrin tissue sealants as a hemostatic agent and collecting system sealant during hand-assisted LPN. Methods: 15 patients underwent transperitoneal LPN for enhancing renal masses using a hand-assist device. Monopolar electrocauterization and argon beam coagulation initially was used to slow bleeding from the resection site. Through a laparoscopic applicator, Tisseel® Fibrin Sealant (Baxter Inc, Deerfield, IL) was applied to the transected bed while the surgeon’s hand maintained compression and partial hemostasis. In all cases no further hemostatic measures were required. Patients were evaluated for acute and delayed bleeding and urinary extravasation. Indigo carmine was administered intravenously (n = 5) and via ureteral catheter (n = 2) (with larger, more central tumors) to evaluate for possible urinary leak. Results: Mean age was 61 (40–82) and mean tumor size was 2.7 cm (1.5–5.0 cm). In all cases electrocauterization and argon beam followed by Tisseel® was successful in obtaining strict hemostasis of surgical bed with no intra- or post-operative bleeding. There was no evidence of intra- or post-operative urinary leak. No immediate or delayed complications were noted. Short-term outpatient follow-up (16–60 weeks) revealed no additional problems. Operating time (range) 129 min (100–180) Estimated blood loss (range) 173 ml (50–300) Hospital stay (range) 2.7 days (2–9) Creatinine Preop (range) 1.1 (0.6–2.4) Creatinine Postop (range) 1.2 (0.6–3.5) Volume tisseel (range) 4.8 ml (3–5) Postop bleed none Postop urine leak none Complications 1 (arrythmia) Conclusions: Conventional hemostatic measures of electrocauterization and argon beam coagulation combined with commercially-available fibrin sealants allow for successful hemostasis during LPN. In addition to hemostatic properties, fibrin sealants appear to have sealant properties that may help prevent complications of urine leak by sealing/closing small defects in the collecting system. The use of this compound may facilitate the ability to perform LPN.
Retrograde amnesia for previously acquired Pavlovian conditioning: UCS exposure as a reactivation treatment

Relatively little information is available on the stimulus conditions that can make old memory vulnerable to amnesic treatment. Three experiments employing a Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm examined the effectiveness of a UCS exposure in reactivating a previously established memory. Reactivation of memory was indicated by increased susceptibility to retrograde amnesia (RA). Experiment 1A established that a noncontingent footshock (NCFS) 24 h after aversive conditioning, but immediately prior to hypothermia, was effective in reactivating the earlier established memory. This finding was further examined in Experiment 1B, in which it was demonstrated that severity of RA in groups reexposed to the conditioned fear cues, either before or after NCFS, was equivalent to that in subjects given NCFS only prior to hypothermia. Surprisingly, presenting footshock during reexposure to the fear cues (i.e., a brief retraining trial) also permitted induction of RA for old memory. While amnesia was comparable in subjects exposed to hypothermia following one of the four reactivation conditions (NCFS, NCFS/CUE, CUE/NCFS, CUE-FS), differences in memory strength were found among subjects not exposed to hypothermia after their reactivation treatment. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the temporal gradient of amnesia that is characteristic of new learning was also obtained for NCFS-reactivated memory. These findings provide evidence that previously acquired information can be activated by the aversive component of the original training episode, and that this active memory is vulnerable to an amnestic treatment.
Sex-Related Differences of Cortical Thickness in Patients with Chronic Abdominal Pain

Author(s): Jiang, Zhiguo; Dinov, Ivo D; Labus, Jennifer; Shi, Yonggang; Zamanyan, Alen; Gupta, Arpana; Ashe-McNalley, Cody; Hong, Jui-Yang; Tillisch, Kirsten; Toga, Arthur W; Mayer, Emeran A | Abstract: Background a aimsRegional reductions in gray matter (GM) have been reported in several chronic somatic and visceral pain conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic pancreatitis. Reported GM reductions include insular and anterior cingulate cortices, even though subregions are generally not specified. The majority of published studies suffer from limited sample size, heterogeneity of populations, and lack of analyses for sex differences. We aimed to characterize regional changes in cortical thickness (CT) in a large number of well phenotyped IBS patients, taking into account the role of sex related differences.MethodsCortical GM thickness was determined in 266 subjects (90 IBS [70 predominantly premenopausal female] and 176 healthy controls (HC) [155 predominantly premenopausal female]) using the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) Pipeline. A combined region of interest (ROI) and whole brain approach was used to detect any sub-regional and vertex-level differences after removing effects of age and total GM volume. Correlation analyses were performed on behavioral data.ResultsWhile IBS as a group did not show significant differences in CT compared to HCs, sex related differences were observed both within the IBS and the HC groups. When female IBS patients were compared to female HCs, whole brain analysis showed significant CT increase in somatosensory and primary motor cortex, as well as CT decrease in bilateral subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC). The ROI analysis showed significant regional CT decrease in bilateral subregions of insular cortex, while CT decrease in cingulate was limited to left sgACC, accounting for the effect of age and GM volume. Several measures of IBS symptom severity showed significant correlation with CT changes in female IBS patients.ConclusionsSignificant, sex related differences in CT are present in both HCs and in IBS patients. The biphasic neuroplastic changes in female IBS patients are related to symptom severity.
Differential Modular Forms on Shimura Curves, I

The quotient of a Shimura curve by the isogeny equivalence relation is not an object of algebraic geometry. The paper shows how this quotient space becomes a geometric object in a more general geometry obtained from 'usual algebraic geometry', by adjoining a new operation; this operation looks like a 'Fermat quotient' and should be viewed as an arithmetic analogue of usual derivations.
"Forgetting to remember" in Huntington's disease: a study of laboratory, semi-naturalistic, and self-perceptions of prospective memory.

Prospective memory (PM) is dependent on executive processes known to be impaired in Huntington's disease (HD); however, no study to the authors’ knowledge has investigated PM in this group. We examined performance-based, semi-naturalistic, and self-reported PM in 20 individuals diagnosed with mild–moderate HD and 20 demographically similar controls. Relative to controls, HD participants demonstrated significantly lower scores in time-based PM, event-based PM (at a trend level), and the semi-naturalistic PM trial, all of which were marked by omission errors. HD participants demonstrated comparable recognition memory for the PM intentions relative to controls. HD and control participants also showed comparable scores in self-reported PM complaints. The results suggest that HD is associated with deficits in the strategic aspects of PM. HD-associated PM deficits also are evident in real-world situations, which may relate to an apparent meta-memory deficit for PM functioning as indicated by HD participants’ overestimation of their PM performance on self-report. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–8)
Failure to Mourn “White Nativism”: Impact of Deportation on Hispanic American–Born Children and Mixed-Status Families

Contemporary American immigration policy since 1996 has sought to control the entrance of “illegal immigrants” while also facilitating their deportation, thereby dividing mixed-status families. American children born to non-native parents are rendered second-class citizens. Such policies claim to preserve the American economic and social order. The author posits that American immigration reform needs to be viewed in the context of legal statutes and social policies that are embedded in a complex, unconscious intrapsychic defense system of “White nativism,” aimed to avert the mourning of the “White native” cultural identity. Deportation and immigration reform is therefore a “White native,” legal, and policy-driven annihilatory tool, designed to extricate the American-born Hispanic child from the United States in order to avert the inevitable transformation of the “White natives” collective external group symbolic representations, or reservoirs, that are linked to individual and collective affective mother–...
ELASTIC SCATTERING AND POLARIZATION OF FAST NEUTRONS BY LIQUID DEUTERIUM AND TRITIUM.

Abstract One-mole samples of all three hydrogen isotopes in liquid from have been employed to obtain complete angular distributions of the absolute differential cross sections for n-D scattering at neutron energies of 5.6, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 18.55, 20.5, and 23.0 MeV, for n-T scattering at 6.0, 9.0, 18.0, 19.5, 21.0, and 23.0 MeV, and for n-T polarization at 22.1 MeV. Time-of-flight techniques were used with the Mobley beam-compression system at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory vertical Van de Graaff accelerator. Neutrons were detected in large liquid scintillators in collimators heavily shielded with copper, tungsten, and polyethylene. Electronic discrimination against gamma rays was applied, and the raw data and preliminary statistical reduction were handled on line by an SDS-930 computer. Comparison is made with the limited amount of neutron cross-section data previously available, with the more extensive recent measurements of the charge-conjugate systems p-D and p-3He, and with various calculations and phase-shift representations. The differences between the deuterium total and integral elastic cross section are smaller than previous extrapolation of nonelastic cross sections below 14 MeV.
The Evolution of the Anesthesiologist: Novel Perioperative Roles and Beyond

Delivery of the spectrum of anesthesia from sedation to general anesthesia for patients undergoing procedures outside of the operating room (OR) poses several problems not encountered in the OR. These include limited time to assess the patient and often no time to obtain consultations for medical conditions that may be outside of the usual purview of an anesthesiologist, such as initial management of infections, diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmotic hyperglycemic state, inadequately managed cardiovascular disease, and toxic ingestions. Anesthesiologists trained in critical care usually have more experience with the initial assessment and management of patients with such conditions. It can be argued that because procedures performed outside of the OR are becoming more common, the curriculum for anesthesia residencies should be modified to provide more training in conditions typically assessed and managed by internists or medical subspecialists.
Relation between extent of cardiac muscle cell disorganization and left ventricular wall thickness in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The presence of numerous, abnormally arranged, cardiac muscle cells distributed widely throughout the hypertrophied left ventricular (LV) wall has been considered a characteristic, morphologic feature of patients dying of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) and also probably a determinant of impaired LV compliance. However, the relation between such regions of myocardial cell disarray and the magnitude of wall thickness in the same areas of the left ventricle has not been defined. Therefore, the present study was undertaken in which LV wall thickness and the percent area of myocardium disorganized were systematically compared in the same tissue section. No correlation was identified between wall thickness and the amount of myocardium disorganized in the same tissue sections, either when calculated separately for the ventricular septum, and anterolateral and posterior free walls, or when expressed for all 3 regions combined. Therefore, in patients with HC: (1) disorganized myocardial architecture is not confined to greatly thickened portions of the LV wall, but regions of the left ventricle with normal or only mildly increased thickness may also be disordered; and (2) whereas both LV wall thickening and cellular disorganization are manifestations of the primary cardiomyopathic process, these 2 morphologic features do not appear to be directly related with regard to their extent and distribution within the LV wall. These observations will potentially enhance understanding of the relation between LV structure and compliance in HC.
Risks and Opportunities in the ABS Sector

The ABS sector has recovered well from the depths of credit crisis and is functioning relatively well. The risks facing investors are manageable; however, investors should exercise caution while dealing with off-the-run ABS and lower-rated tranches. Although it remains strong, collateral performance will weaken at some point. In addition, some of the positive credit trends, such as the high recoveries on used cars, may not last forever. Investors should be on guard against subordination levels declining in the face of increasing demand for the deals.
Mutagenic effects of ribavirin in vivo.

Almost 200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). For these people treatment options are relatively limited, and they have recently evolved from IFN-a monotherapy to IFN-a/ribavirin to the present standard of PEG-IFN-a/ribavirin combination therapy. Ribavirin (RBV), a synthetic guanosine analogue, when used as monotherapy against HCV has little antiviral effect, decreasing HCV viral load by less than 0.5 log10 [1,2]. Yet, RBV when used in combination with IFN yields substantial increases in end of treatment and sustained virological responses over those observed with interferon alone [3–7]. How RBV accomplishes this is unknown and intriguing [8,9]. Many hypotheses have been proposed and they include inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) that would lead to a depletion of intracellular GTP pools [10,11], inhibition of HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [8, 9], immunomodulation towards Th1 responses that could increase cell-mediated immune responses against HCV infected cells [12], and mutagenesis [13]. Because other IMPDH inhibitors, such as mycophenolic acid and VX497, do not have a significant anti-HCV effect it is unlikely that this is ribavirin’s major mode of action. However, depletion of GTP pools could enhance the mutation rate. Similarly, the observations that RBV monotherapy only causes a minor decrease in HCV RNA and does not seem to enhance the first phase decline of HCV when given with high-dose daily IFN [14,15] argue against ribavirin being a potent HCV polymerase inhibitor. There have also been arguments against RBV acting as an immunomodulator and as a mutagen [16–18], thus leaving the field in a state of some confusion. In this issue of the journal, Asahina et al. [19] report on a clinical trial designed to assess the merits of the mutagenesis
Influence of fatty acid and time of focusing on the isoelectric focusing of human plasma albumin

In the isoelectric focusing of human plasma albumin, two major peaks of pI 4.8 and 5.6 are observed. As fatty acids are removed from the albumin either by defatting before the focusing experiment or gradually during the focusing experiment, the pI 4.8 peak diminishes and the pI 5.6 peak increases. The interpretation of this effect is confirmed by fatty acid analysis before and after focusing. Alkylation of the free sulfhydryl group changes the focusing position of the defatted peak to pI 5.7. Otherwise the isoelectric focusing pattern of human albumin is unaffected by the status of the free sulfhydryl group or by the ampholine concentration.
Using Music to Promote Children's Thinking and Enhance Their Literacy Development.

In an effort to understand how children's literacy is affected by their life experiences, this article analyses the natural disposition of children to engage in musical activities that connect them to previous experiences and allow them to build new thoughts. Music is inherent to children's experiences and is related to sounds heard everyday, which facilitate mental imagery. This article focuses on the use of music as a tool that is instrumental in engaging children in thinking activities that promote literacy development. The author shows evidence of how music serves as a scaffold to foster thinking, self‐expression and cultural awareness in children, including second‐language learners, based on findings from an action research project conducted with pre‐kindergarten to second‐grade children and their teachers. The project used their explorations with music and soundscapes (sounds that characterise the environment) to promote thinking and enhance their creative writing.
The demand/withdraw pattern of communication in parent–adolescent dyads

The current study used both participant reports and outsider ratings of conversations to examine the demand/withdraw pattern in parent–adolescent dyads (N= 57). Results indicated that demands by either parents or adolescents were associated positively with the other dyad member's withdrawal. Overall, parent-demand/adolescent-withdraw was more prevalent than adolescent-demand/parent-withdraw; however, parent-demand/adolescent-withdraw was significantly lower during discussions of adolescents’ issues than during discussions of parents’ issues. There were few differences based on the sex of the parent or the child, but parent-demand/adolescent-withdraw during discussion of parents’ issues was higher in dyads with mothers than in dyads with fathers. The discussion focuses on the implications for understanding demand/withdraw communication and on the utility of examining demand/withdraw in parent–adolescent relationships.
Consistency of atypical antipsychotic superiority to placebo in recent clinical trials.

Abstract Background: The use of control placebos in clinical trials of new antipsychotic medications is increasingly under examination. The active controlled equivalence study could offer a potential alternative design. First, however, it must be clear that any proposed standard control agent has been consistently superior to placebo in previous studies. Methods: Through a Freedom of Information Act request, we identified nine placebo-controlled trials of risperidone, olanzapine, or quetiapine. Results: Meta-analysis indicated that the pooled estimate of the true population effect size ± SE was 0.46 ± 0.06 for categorical response rates and >0.53 ± 0.07 for the continuous Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale change score outcome measure. If the desired detectable effect size is set very conservatively at a 95% confidence lower bound for the estimate of true effect size, statistical power for random samples of 80 per group drawn from a population of subjects similar to that of the nine meta-analyzed studies is .67 for categorical response rates and >.82 for the continuous measure, based on one-sided α = .05. Conclusions: These data suggest substantial confidence that a therapeutic dose of an atypical antipsychotic will be statistically superior to placebo in an adequately sized randomized trial, when reporting a continuous measure as the principal outcome.