cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DC magnetization of random Y1Ba2Cu3O8−δ/Ag bulk composites

It is commonly believed that high-field magnetization measurements of superconducting/normal metal bulk composites probe only the intragranular nature of the superconducting constituent. According to this view, the measured magnetic moment divided by the volume of superconducting material should be independent of the volume fraction of superconductor. We have tested this hypothesis by measuring the dc magnetization at 10K in magnetic fields to 5T of a series of YBCO/Ag bulk composites with 0 ≤ p ≤ 1.0, where p is the volume fraction of superconductor. We find that the magnetization hysteresis curves for p ≥ 0.70 are nearly identical, while those for the p < 0.70 samples fall inside the p ≥ 0.70 curves. Two possible interpretations are (i) that variations in Ag content alters the superconducting properties of individual YBCO grains, and (ii) that the p-dependent variations in the YBCO clusters affects the demagnitization factor for samples with p < 0.70.
Teaching Human Capital by Calculating the True Costs of Education.

Human capital, defined as any individual characteristic that contributes to worker productivity, has been presented as a unifying theme for academic advising in higher education (Shaffer, 1997). An approach to calculating the true costs of a college education is presented as an exercise to maximize students' human capital. When considering college expenses, students usually overlook opportunity cost: that is, the income forgone while they are pursuing degrees. In addition to a true-cost calculation worksheet, the paper presents a strategy for making true costs salient to students: projecting the number of years needed for college graduates to recoup their investments. The article closes with suggestions for using the true-cost exercise in academic advising.
MO‐D‐BRA‐01: Hypofractionated RT: Biological Basis and Clinical Application in the Prostate and Lung

Hypo‐fractionation, the delivery of radiation therapy with a dose per fraction >2.0 Gy, was introduced in curative radiotherapy in many centers all over the World in the period from WWII to the mid‐1970's, mainly for health economics reasons. Clinical studies published in the late 70's and early 80's showed that these schedules were often associated with excessive late toxicity compared to standard fractionation schedules, and hypo‐fractionation was abandoned in most centers. In hindsight, this negative experience largely resulted from the over‐estimation of tolerance doses in hypo‐fractionated schedules arising from the Ellis NSD formula. Logically, this historical clinical experience does not exclude that hypo‐fractionation can be acceptable or even advantageous under certain defined circumstances. The current status of the linear‐quadratic bio‐effect model in clinical practice is reviewed. Two clinical settings, where hypo‐fractionation is considered, are presented and discussed: (1) definitive radiotherapy for nonsmall cell lungcancer(NSCLC); (2) definitive radiotherapy for prostate cancer. For both NSCLC and prostate cancer the current interest in the development and clinical testing of safe hypo‐fractionation regimens springs partly from the improved physical dose distribution achievable with 3D conformal radiotherapy or IMRT. This provides a window of opportunity for escalating dose per fraction. But there is also a biological rationale for hypo‐fractionation in these two tumor types — and a slightly different one in the two cases! For NSCLC there is strong evidence that shortening the overall treatment time creates a favorable efficacy:toxicity ratio with respect to late toxicity: hypo‐fractionation is a convenient way of delivering accelerated radiotherapy. In other words, we are trading in time for dose per fraction. For prostate cancer, there are no good reasons to believe that there is a strong time factor. However, there is increasingly convincing evidence that the α/β ratio for this tumor type is low, perhaps even lower than for the dose‐limiting rectal side‐effects. This alone creates a case for exploring hypo‐fractionation in this disease. Hypo‐fractionation schedules are being tested in controlled clinical trials in several tumor types at the moment. These schedules should not be introduced in the clinic without appropriate evidence that they are safe and effective. However, based on our improved knowledge of clinical radiobiology, it appears that hypo‐fractionation schedules may yield a beneficial therapeutic ratio and/or a superior cost‐effectiveness in some clinical indications. Learning objectives: After this session the participants should be able to: 1. Recognize the limitations of the traditional linear‐quadratic model. 2. Summarize the changes in biological understanding of dose fractionation that have occurred over the last 10–15 years. 3. Explain the rationale behind the current interest in hypo‐fractionation in NSCLC and prostate cancer.
Comparison of a Micromethod for Performance of the Serum Bactericidal Test with the Standard Tube Dilution Method

A micromethod for performance of the serum bactericidal test is described, and the results obtained with this method are compared with those obtained with the standard tube dilution macromethod. An agreement within ± 1 dilution was achieved in 23 of 25 (92%) determinations of the serum bactericidal titer. The micromethod used approximately one-third of the amount of pooled normal human serum and of the technician9s time required for performance of the macromethod. The micromethod offers an accurate and economical alternative to the macromethod for the performance of the serum bactericidal test and is particularly useful with infants and children since it minimizes blood loss.
Augmenting 3D urban environment using mobile devices

We describe an augmented reality prototype for exploring a 3D urban environment on mobile devices. Our system utilizes the location and orientation sensors on the mobile platform as well as computer vision techniques to register the live view of the device with the 3D urban data. In particular, the system recognizes the buildings in the live video, tracks the camera pose, and augments the video with relevant information about the buildings in the correct perspective. The 3D urban data consist of 3D point clouds and corresponding geo-tagged RGB images of the urban environment. We also discuss the processing steps to make such 3D data scalable and usable by our system.
Soldiers as Police Officers/ Police Officers as Soldiers: Role Evolution and Revolution in the United States

The military and police professions share a number of common facets, but in spite of surface similarities, the two professions are significantly different. Consequently, the evidence indicating a convergence of primary aspects of the two roles presages an important societal development, with substantial implications on several levels. Thus, this article has several objectives. First, it reviews the evidence indicating role convergence, that is, evidence that significant segments of police operations in the United States have taken on military characteristics; and evidence indicating that many U.S. military initiatives have taken on policing characteristics. Next, using the notion of internal and external role-change “drivers,” it examines how such role shifts occur and considers some political and legal implications of the shift. Third, the article compares the role orientations and job demands of both professions, identifying the important differences inherent in the two roles and presenting an analysis ...
Solvent-Dependent Conformational System of Hydroxyureas in Octanol–Water and in Inhibition of Ribonucleotide Reductase

The carbonyl nitrogen IR absorption region of selected hydroxyureas was examined in octanol. The spectra indicated appreciably different absorptions prior to and after equilibration with water. Stability studies on the hydroxyureas indicated that the absorption differences were not due to chemical decomposition in the equilibration process but were due to solvent conformational and/or tautomeric dependency of the system. Preliminary in vitro inhibition of the enzyme ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase by selected hydroxyureas also indicated an apparent solvent dependency, which may involve the conformational and/or tautomeric properties of these agents. The implications of the solvent- dependent conformational-tautomeric system observed are discussed in relation to this property in the biological action of these agents.
Spinodal Decomposition in the System CoFe2O4-Co3O4

A miscibility gap exists in the spinel-structured region of the pseudobinary CoFe2O4-CO3O4 system in air. Phase decomposition inside the miscibility gap was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and by X-ray diffraction. In samples containing 35 and 50 cation % Fe, the first observable changes on aging at 500°C were appearance of side bands on X-ray diffraction photographs of powder samples and of a periodic structure under the electron microscope. When specimens which contained 50 cation % Fe were aged at 700°C, the first observed change was another set of diffraction lines; homogeneously distributed fine particles were also observed. The former behavior was attributed to spinodal decomposition and the latter to classical nucleation and growth.
Surgeon, Not Disease Severity, often Determines the Operation for Acute Complicated Diverticulitis

Background The "best" operation in the setting of acute complicated diverticulitis has been debated for decades. Multiple studies, including a recent prospective randomized trial, have reported improved outcomes with primary anastomosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether surgeon or patient-specific factors drives the choice of operative procedure. Study Design Consecutive adult patients with sigmoid diverticulitis, requiring emergent operative treatment for acute complicated diverticulitis, from 1997 to 2012 at an academic medical center, were identified from a prospectively maintained complications database. Patient characteristics, surgeon, choice of operation, and outcomes including postoperative complications and stoma reversal were noted. The use of primary anastomosis and associated outcomes between colorectal and noncolorectal surgeons were compared. Results There were 151 patients who underwent urgent resection during the study period, and 136 met inclusion criteria. Eighty-two resections (65.1%) were performed by noncolorectal surgeons and 44 by colorectal surgeons (34.9%). Noncolorectal surgeons performed more Hartmann procedures (68.3% vs 40.9%, p = 0.01) despite similar demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and Hinchey stage. Length of stay, time to stoma reversal, ICU days, and postoperative complications were lower in the colorectal group (43.2% vs 16.7, p = 0.02). Conclusions Although patient-specific factors are important, surgeon is a potent predictor of operation performed in the setting of severe acute diverticulitis. A more aggressive approach to primary anastomosis may lower the complication rate after surgical treatment for severe acute diverticulitis.
REASSESSING NONLINEARITY IN THE URBAN DISADVANTAGE/VIOLENT CRIME RELATIONSHIP: AN EXAMPLE OF METHODOLOGICAL BIAS FROM LOG TRANSFORMATION*

Sociologists and criminologists have become increasingly concerned with nonlinear relationships and interaction effects. For example, some recent studies suggest that the positive relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and violent crime is nonlinear with an accelerating slope, whereas other research indicates a nonlinear decelerating slope. The present paper considers the possibility that this inconsistency in findings is partially caused by lack of attention to an important methodological concern. Specifically, we argue that researchers have not been sensitive to the ways in which logarithmic transformation of the dependent variable can bias tests for nonlinearity and statistical interaction. We illustrate this point using demographic and violent crime data for urban neighborhoods, and we propose an alternative procedure to log transformation that involves the use of weighted least-squares regression, heteroscedasticity consistent standard errors, and diagnostics for influential observations.
Successful Aging: A Developmental Approach

Like goodness, truth, and other human ideals, successful aging may appeal more than it illuminates. It is an image that attracts human interest but defies easy or consensual definition. As growing numbers of people anticipate a long old age, the meaning of successful aging takes on even greater importance. Formulations of the concept become standards by which individuals evaluate themselves and others, as well as visions toward which to strive. In attempting to advance understanding of how these years might be fully experienced, this article examines previous perspectives on successful aging and presents a new alternative. The aim is to illustrate how a developmental orientation adds new challenges and dimensions to the task of growing old successfully. Previous Approaches to Successful Aging Four dimensions of successful aging were proposed in the Kansas City Studies of Adult Life: the amount of activity in which the individual engaged, the ability to disengage, satisfaction with life, and maturity or integration of personality. Williams and Wirths (1965) later derived two additional views of successful aging: a balanced exchange of energy between the individual and the social system, and a stable social system. Of these various formulations, life satisfaction became the most frequently investigated dimension of successful aging. Life satisfaction included the components of zest versus apathy, resolution and fortitude, relationships between desired goals and achieved goals, self-concept, and mood tone (Neugarten, Havighurst, & Tobin, 1961). A vast body of gerontological research was generated by this early formulation, so much so that life satisfaction has been described as the most widely studied variable in the field of aging (Maddox & Wiley, 1976). The abundance of empirical work elaborated and differentiated the concept of life satisfaction far beyond its initial definition. Thus, in addition to the original dimensions, successful aging
Some Angular-Linear Distributions and Related Regression Models

Abstract Parametric models are proposed for the joint distribution of bivariate random variables when one variable is directional and one is scalar. These distributions are developed on the basis of the maximum entropy principle and by the specification of the marginal distributions. The properties of these distributions and the statistical analysis of regression models based on these distributions are explored. One model is extended to several variables in a form that justifies the use of least squares for estimation of parameters, conditional on the observed angles.
Symptom burden and functional gains in a cancer rehabilitation unit

Aim: To determine whether symptom burden at the time of admission to inpatient rehabilitation is predictive of functional improvement in cancer rehabilitation inpatients. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records at a tertiary referral-based cancer centre of all patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit between 1 March 2013 and 20 May 2013. The medical records for 71 unique cancer rehabilitation inpatients were analysed. Outcome measures included the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and Functional Independence Measure. Results: Statistical analysis of total admission Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scores and total change in Functional Independence Measure scores found no significant relationships. The symptom burden of patients was mild. Patients demonstrated statistically significant improvements in symptoms and function during inpatient rehabilitation. The mean change in total Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and total Functional Independence Measure scores was a decrease of 7...
Antitrypanosomal Therapy for Chronic Chagas' Disease

A 42-year-old woman presents after donating blood and receiving a report that she is positive for Chagas' disease. Chagas' disease is caused by a parasite and is endemic in many parts of Latin America.
Absolute Hydraulic Conductivity Estimates from Aquifer Pumping and Tracer Tests in a Stratified Aquifer

Independent estimates of absolute hydraulic conductivity were obtained by a standard aquifer pumping test and a forced-gradient tracer test in a highly heterogeneous aquifer. An aquifer hydraulic test was conducted to evaluate the average hydraulic conductivity (K), and to establish steady-state flow for the tracer test. An average K of 48 m/day was interpreted from the draw-down data in a fully screened well. Type-curve matching and simulation with MODFLOW of the hydraulic response in partially screened wells indicates K of 10 to 15 m/day for the upper section and 71 to 73 m/day for the deeper section. Iodide and fluorescent dye tracers were injected at low rates in wells located approximately 8 m upgradient of the production well. Tracer breakthrough was monitored in the production well and at ten depth intervals within the fully screened monitoring well. Interpretation of tracer response in the production well reveals tracer transport is limited to a 3.9 m thick section of the 20 m thick aquifer, with a hydraulic conductivity of 248 m/day. However, the depth distribution of these permeable strata cannot be determined from the production well tracer response. When sampled at 1.5 m depth intervals in the monitoring well, breakthrough was observedmore » in only three intervals along the entire 18.2 m screened well. K estimates from tracer travel time within discrete high-permeability strata range from 31 to 317 m/day. Inclusion of permeameter K estimates for the lower permeability aquifer sands result in a range in relative K of 0.01 to 1.0. This field site has the highest absolute K estimate for a discrete stratum and the widest range in relative hydraulic conductivity among research field sites with K estimates for discrete strata. Within such a highly stratified aquifer, the use of an average K from an aquifer pumping test to predict solute transport results in great underestimation of transport distances for a given time period.« less
Towards an understanding of the performance of MPI-IO in Lustre file systems

Lustre is becoming an increasingly important file system for large-scale computing clusters. The problem, however, is that many data-intensive applications use MPI-IO for their I/O requirements, and MPI-IO performs poorly in a Lustre file system environment. While this poor performance has been well documented, the reasons for such performance are currently not well understood. Our research suggests that the primary performance issues have to do with the assumptions underpinning most of the parallel I/O optimizations implemented in MPI-IO, which do not appear to hold in a Lustre environment. Perhaps the most important assumption is that optimal performance is obtained by performing large, contiguous I/O operations. However, the research results presented in this poster show that this is often the worst approach to take in a Lustre file system. In fact, we found that the best performance is often achieved when each process performs a series of smaller, non-contiguous I/O requests. In this poster, we provide experimental results supporting these non-intuitive ideas, and provide alternative approaches that significantly enhance the performance of MPI-IO in a Lustre file system.
Psychological Functioning of Children with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Study

Assessed school-age youth repeatedly over the first 6 years of their insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) to determine self-perceived psychological adjustment. After the first year of IDDM, Ss exhibited a mild increase in depressive symptoms. Anxiety decreased for boys but increased for girls over the duration of IDDM. In contrast, self-esteem remained stable regardless of rehospitalizations or degree of metabolic control. Ss' adjustment shortly after IDDM onset, as reflected by levels of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem, were predictors of later adjustment. In general, Ss found the implications of IDDM more upsetting and the regimen more difficult with time, and girls were more upset by their illness than boys. The degree to which children were upset by the implications and management of IDDM varied as a function of their anxiety and depression.
Telemedicine encounter quality: comparing patient and provider perspectives of a socio-technical system

The effectiveness of the telemedicine encounter is dependent on the use of state-of-the-art technology and the quality of the technology-based interactions. We take a socio-technical approach to understanding quality during telemedicine encounters. This approach has not been well studied in telemedicine service encounter research. To enrich understanding, we use a multimethod (direct observation, interview, focus group, survey) field study to collect and interpret a rich set of data. We conduct this study from two perspectives. First, we focus on the perceptions of the medical providers (e.g. physicians) who directly use the technology and are accountable for patient care. We then compare provider perspectives to those of patients, who act as indirect users of telemedicine technology and are the ultimate consumers of health care services provided via telemedicine. The result of this field study is a comparative framework of quality attributes for telemedicine service encounters that prioritizes the attributes from the provider and patient perspectives.
Estimating Repeatability of Egg Size

Abstract Measures of repeatability have long been used to assess patterns of variation in egg size within and among females. We compared different analytical approaches for estimating repeatability of egg size of Black Brant. Separate estimates of repeatability for eggs of each clutch size and laying sequence number varied from 0.49 to 0.64. We suggest that using the averaging egg size within clutches results in underestimation of variation within females and thereby overestimates repeatability. We recommend a nested design that partitions egg-size variation within clutches, among clutches within females, and among females. We demonstrate little variation in estimates of repeatability resulting from a nested model controlling for egg laying sequence and a nested model in which we assumed laying sequence was unknown.
Preparing the Exporting Entrepreneur

Rather than the current multinational firm orientation in international marketing courses, our thesis is that course content should shift to export and/or import opportunities for entrepreneurs, ma...
Dietary Recommendations for Primary Prevention: An Update:

This article reviews some recent dietary recommendations for the primary prevention of chronic disease, including diabetes, cancer, and coronary heart disease. It provides background and sets the stage for the latest revision of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which will be issued later this year.
Measuring social work values A cross-cultural challenge for global practice

This study employed the Professional Opinion Scale (POS) to analyze the values of a sample of 128 social workers representing more than 25 countries. Value scores indicate that social workers acros...
Intrarenal and Extrarenal Autonomic Nervous System Redefined

Purpose: The autonomic nervous supply to the kidneys is involved in the development of several diseases including hypertension. The neural distribution at the segmental vessels and intrarenal vasculature has not been well characterized. Thus, we evaluated the autonomic nerve distribution from the great vessels to the renal cortex in a cadaveric model.Materials and Methods: We performed a detailed anatomical nerve dissection from the inferior mesenteric artery to the renal operculum in 2 human cadaveric torsos. Autonomic nerve fibers were verified by dissecting the greater splanchnic, sympathetic trunk and ganglia. We then systematically cross-sectioned the kidneys in 12, 1 mm slices across 3.6 cm, and stained the slices for histopathological analysis of neural tissue in relation to segmental arteries and other anatomical landmarks. Advanced reconstructive software was used to create a 3-dimensional computer image.Results: Autonomic nerve fibers are located almost exclusively anteriorly on the main renal a...
Modern planning and scheduling technologies

A number of successful applications which have been developed using modern planning and scheduling methods are described. The applications cover a number of areas of current business interest and include manufacturing, logistics and crisis planning. In addition to the techniques and benefits described through the applications, a number of other planning and scheduling techniques are introduced and described. While certain techniques have had a major impact in some areas, further research and development is required. These future developments are targeted at providing integrated intelligent planning rather than the `islands' of techniques which currently exist. A description is given of an integrated planning and scheduling system which could address the current problems in integrating legacy systems with modern planning and scheduling technologies.
In vivo monitoring of two circulating cell lines using two-color two-photon cytometry

Two-photon flow cytometry is demonstrated for simultaneous monitoring of two separate cell lines in a mouse. The technique is used to study the roles of proteins in regulating the trafficking of circulating metastatic cancer cells.
Accurate efficient mosaicking for Wide Area Aerial Surveillance

Wide Area Aerial Surveillance (WAAS) imagery is captured by an array of smaller sensors sharing an optical center, instead of one large sensor. It is desirable to generate a single image (mosaic) from the sensor array, since it simplifies higher level vision tasks. It is important that the mosaic be of high quality, without noticeable seams, and be estimated efficiently for every frame of the video. We propose a piecewise affine model to handle image distortions not captured by a homography. This model has more degrees of freedom than a standard lens distortion model used in previous work, yet can be estimated just as efficiently by carefully selecting a small number of constraints in the optimization of model parameters. We have evaluated our algorithm on publicly available WAAS imagery and the results show our proposed model produces more accurate mosaics than the widely used lens distortion model, thus simplifying further stages of image analysis.
Colony Dynamics of the Formosan Subterranean Termite in a Frequently Disturbed Urban Landscape

The success of evaluating areawide control of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), in urban landscapes hinges on detailed understanding of colony movement and plasticity of the breeding system. Most previous studies of colony affiliation and breeding systems of C. formosanus have been conducted in relatively undisturbed park-like areas. However, disturbance in the form of landscaping, construction, and nearby treatment may impact termite colony dynamics in urban habitats. Therefore, we used microsatellite genotyping to identify the number of colonies, assess colony movement, and investigate the breeding structure of colonies surrounding the Supreme Court Building in New Orleans, LA. During 4 yr, 18 distinct colonies were identified in the study area. In contrast to earlier studies in park-like areas, which indicated stable foraging areas, colonies in this study moved frequently into and out of inground stations. Five colonies were simple families; two of these colonies were headed by inbred nestmate pairs, and three of these colonies were headed by outbred unrelated pairs. Thirteen colonies were extended families headed by fewer than five neotenic reproductives. During the study, the predominant breeding system shifted; simple family colonies either moved or were eliminated, and they were replaced with new extended family colonies. In one case, a generation turnover within a colony from simple to extended family was observed.
Robotic Approach to Management of Fibroids

The integration of robotics into the field of gynecologic surgery initially involved a voice-recognition system and robotic control of laparoscopic camera movement (AESOP® Endoscope Positioner (Computer Motion Inc., Goleta, CA)). This technology further evolved with the ZEUS® Surgical System (Computer Motion Inc., Goleta, CA) to include two robotic arms, thereby allowing the surgeon to operate from a console away from the operative table. The da Vinci Surgical System® (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA), which was approved for gynecologic surgery in 2005 by the United States Food and Drug Administration, incorporates three or four robotic arms to allow surgeon control of the visual field and up to three laparoscopic instruments.
Hypercapnic blood flow reactivity not increased by alpha-blockade or cordotomy in piglets.

We tested the hypothesis that differential sympathetic innervation explains the attenuated cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to hypercapnia (hyper) in fore-brain (fb) compared with brain stem in 1- to 2-wk-old piglets. In pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized piglets, CBF (microspheres) was measured during hypocapnia, normocapnia (normo), and hypercapnia [arterial CO2 partial pressure (PaCO2) of 25, 40, and 65 mmHg, respectively] in random sequence. After pretreatment values were obtained, piglets were randomized to undergo sham treatment (n = 5), high cervical spinal cord transection (n = 6), or pharmacological alpha-adrenergic blockade (prazosin 1 mg/kg + yohimbine 1 mg/kg, n = 6). After each experimental treatment, CO2 reactivity was again measured. Before experimental manipulation, hypercapnic reactivity [(CBFhyper - CBFnormo)/(PaCO2hyper - PaCO2normo)] in brain stem was approximately three times greater than in forebrain (e.g., sham; 3.6 +/- 0.8 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.3 ml.min-1.100 g-1.mmHg-1). Hypercapnic reactivity in forebrain was not increased by cord transection (1.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.2 ml.min-1.100 g-1.mmHg-1) or alpha-blockade (1.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.4 ml.min-1.100 g-1.mmHg-1). Likewise, hypercapnic cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) was unchanged by experimental treatment (e.g., CVRfb; cord transection 1.1 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.1; alpha-blockade 1.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.1 mmHg.ml-1.min-1.100 g-1). Hypocapnic vasoconstriction, however, was attenuated by both cord transection and alpha-blockade in forebrain and brain stem. We conclude that physiological stimulation of the noradrenergic component of the sympathetic nervous system does not explain regional differences in CBF reactivity during hypercapnia in 1- to 2-wk-old piglets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prevention of Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism in Thoracic Surgical Patients: Implementation and Evaluation of a Caprini Risk Assessment Protocol

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can be a devastating postoperative complication, with about one-third of VTEs occurring post-discharge. We previously retrospectively evaluated the Caprini VTE risk assessment model (RAM) in postoperative lung and esophageal cancer patients, demonstrating that "high risk" patients were more likely to have a postoperative VTE. In this study, we sought to implement the RAM protocol in thoracic surgical patients to evaluate adherence, safety, and VTE outcomes. Study Design This prospective cohort study at a large safety net hospital included all surgically treated patients within the thoracic surgery division beginning in July 2014. Per RAM protocol, patients with high risk scores were prescribed a total of 30 days of postoperative daily enoxaparin prophylaxis, and moderate risk patients received a total of 10 postoperative days. Adherence and outcome audits were conducted. Results A total of 126 patients were included for analysis. Provider adherence to RAM score calculation was 99.2% (125 of 126), with appropriate post-discharge prophylaxis prescribed in 96.0% of cases. Twenty-four patients scored high risk (19.2%), 60 were moderate risk (48.0%), and 41 scored low risk (32.8%). Patient adherence to post-discharge enoxaparin prophylaxis was 97.2%. The overall VTE rate was 2.3%, with no post-discharge VTEs or adverse bleeding events. Conclusions Implementation of a VTE risk assessment protocol with extended course prophylaxis in high risk patients is safe and feasible for providers and thoracic surgical patients at a large safety net institution with a diverse patient population. Follow-up studies are needed to assess efficacy of the RAM in this surgical population.
The Neural Dynamic in Equilibrium Modeling

I will end this section on application of the neural dynamic to economics with a look at a more popular theme. We were captivated by the story of Nobel prize winner John Nash. We were fascinated, perhaps more by the human interest story than the mathematical achievements themselves. The book and the movie A Beautiful Mind played upon the mystique of mathematics as well as the popular fantasy that insanity and genius are closely related. We like to believe in the mysterious. And we also like to think that those who are different from us are a bit weird. Both mystique and weirdness played together to capture the popular imagination.
Abstract 3027: Report of Stroke Symptoms in the Absence of Stroke Predicts Incident Cognitive Impairment

Introduction: Stroke and vascular risk factors are recognized as important markers of increased risk of cognitive impairment. Experience of stroke-like symptoms and/or transient ischemic attack (SS/TIA) are suspected to represent another independent marker of risk for cognitive impairment. Methods: We assessed these relationships in REGARDS, a national longitudinal cohort study following over 30,000 black and white participants aged 45 and older from the 48 contiguous states. Cognitive function is assessed by several scales, including the Six-Item Screener (SIS), conducted by telephone at baseline and annually during follow-up. After excluding those who were impaired at first assessment, 23,830 participants (mean baseline age 64.2) were stroke free at baseline and had at least two cognitive function assessments (11,096 with two to four, and 12,734 with more than four). Observation time was censored after a suspected stroke during follow-up (censoring 1439 assessments in 515 participants). SS/TIA were assessed using the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. The association between report of SS/TIA and subsequent impairment was assessed using logistic regression, both univariately and after adjustment for a variety of risk factors. In addition, the role of the Framingham Stroke Risk (FSR) in these relationships was examined. Incident impairment was characterized as a score of 4 or fewer on the most recently assessed SIS. Models were fitted separately for white and black subjects to evaluate race-specific effects. Results: Among blacks, the presence of any incident SS/TIA was associated with 1.66 (95% CI: 1.45, 1.89) times the likelihood of impairment in an unadjusted model, compared to those with no SS/TIA, which was slightly attenuated to 1.41 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.62) in a model incorporating gender, income, region and education. Among whites, the unadjusted OR was 2.08 (95% CI: 1.81, 2.39), with an adjusted OR of 1.85 (95% CI: 1.61, 2.13). The association between SS/TIA differed by FSRF, with a stronger association between SS/TIA and impairment among those with lower FSR, both for blacks and whites. Discussion: In an initially stroke-free cohort and with censoring of incident stroke cases in the follow-up, report of SS/TIA was strongly related to increased risk of cognitive impairment. The stronger association between self-report of SS/TIA and incident cognitive impairment among those with lower FSR score suggests these symptoms may reflect risk factors for cognitive impairment not captured in the FSR. This effect was larger in whites, suggesting differential sensitivity or exposure to this risk.
Evidence for a catalytically and kinetically competent enzyme-substrate cross-linked intermediate in catalysis by lipoyl synthase.

Lipoyl synthase (LS) catalyzes the final step in lipoyl cofactor biosynthesis: the insertion of two sulfur atoms at C6 and C8 of an (N6-octanoyl)-lysyl residue on a lipoyl carrier protein (LCP). LS is a member of the radical SAM superfamily, enzymes that use a [4Fe–4S] cluster to effect the reductive cleavage of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) to l-methionine and a 5′-deoxyadenosyl 5′-radical (5′-dA•). In the LS reaction, two equivalents of 5′-dA• are generated sequentially to abstract hydrogen atoms from C6 and C8 of the appended octanoyl group, initiating sulfur insertion at these positions. The second [4Fe–4S] cluster on LS, termed the auxiliary cluster, is proposed to be the source of the inserted sulfur atoms. Herein, we provide evidence for the formation of a covalent cross-link between LS and an LCP or synthetic peptide substrate in reactions in which insertion of the second sulfur atom is slowed significantly by deuterium substitution at C8 or by inclusion of limiting concentrations of SAM. The obse...
Laboratory Method for Screening Corn for European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Resistance

A method is described of screening corn, Zea mays L., for resistance to the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), in the laboratory by adding lyophilized plant material to the insect diet. Measurement of larva length at 10 days is sufficient to show differences in growth response to feeding on the resistant or susceptible plant material.
Instrumental Music Educators’ Experiences in a Professional Development Course:

The purpose of this research was to investigate the experiences of instrumental music teachers in Designing Arts Instruction, a 4-day professional development course in a large urban school distric...
Microbial community structure in a drinking water GAC filter

The biofilm community structure in a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter was investigated by ribosomal intergenic spacer region analysis (RISA). The results showed that microbial diversity diminished and stabilized with time of filter operation. One bacterium (Hydrogenophaga palleronii) was identified according to its 16S-rRNA sequence. However, this bacterium did not degrade any of the HAAs tested. Another bacterium was isolated from biofilm enrichment cultures and was capable of degrading CIAA and Cl 2 AA.
Polynomial formula for sums of powers of integers

In this article, it is shown that for any positive integer k ≥ 1, there exist unique real numbers akr, r= 1, 2,…, (k+1), such that for any integer n ≥ 1 $${S_{k,n}} \equiv \sum\limits_{j = 1}^n {{j^k}} = \sum\limits_{r = 1}^{\left( {k + 1} \right)} {{a_{kr}}{n^r}} .$$ The numbers akr are computed explicitly for r = k + 1, k, k - 1,…, (k - 10). This fully determines the polynomials for k = 1, 2,…, 12. The cases k = 1, 2, 3 are well known and available in high school algebra books.
Monitoring Side-Chain Dynamics of Proteins Using 2 H Relaxation

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful technique capable of monitoring a wide range of motions in proteins on a per residue basis. A variety of (2)H relaxation experiments have been developed for monitoring side-chain methyl group motions on the picosecond-nanosecond timescale. These experiments enable determination of the order parameter, S (2) axis, which reports on the rigidity of the C-CH3 bond for side-chain methyl groups. The application of a commonly used subset of these experiments is described in this chapter. It is intended to serve as a practical guide to investigators interested in monitoring side-chain motions.
Situs Inversus With Liver Metastases: Diagnosis With Sonography and Computed Tomography

Situs inversus totalis is a rare condition of the organs being transposed within the abdominal and chest cavities. The cause of situs inversus is unknown, but it is a recessive trait. Complete situ...
Abnormalities of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in platelets from patients with uremia

Uremic patients have a hemorrhagic tendency, often associated with prolonged bleeding times and decreased platelet function in vitro. Whether these defects result from abnormalities in plasma factors affecting platelet activity, platelet surface receptors, intracellular platelet mediators, or other aspects of platelet behavior is unknown. To examine the possibility that the abnormality in platelet function may result from aberrations in Ca2+ homeostasis, blood was obtained from 29 patients with severe uremia. The platelets were washed, loaded with the Ca2+ -sensitive probes indo-1 and aequorin, gel-filtered, and resuspended in either plasma or buffer. Of the 29 patients, seven had template bleeding times prolonged to 11 minutes or more, but platelet aggregation in plasma was not consistently impaired in these patients. However, in aequorin-loaded platelets from the patients with long bleeding times, the highest elevation of cytoplasmic calcium [( Ca2+]i) in response to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, arachidonate, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), or epinephrine was lower than that seen in platelets from both uremic patients with less prolonged bleeding times and normal volunteers. The reduced [Ca2+]i response was associated with decreased aggregation of gel-filtered platelets suspended in buffer. Suspending washed aequorin-loaded uremic platelets in normal plasma for 20 minutes did not reverse the decreased agonist-induced rise in [Ca2+]i; platelets from a normal donor resuspended in uremic plasma aggregated and produced a normal increase in [Ca2+]i in response to agonists. We conclude that the platelet defect seen in some patients with uremia is associated with a decreased rise in platelet [Ca2+]i after stimulation and that this is a manifestation of an intrinsic platelet defect.
VIP-induced alterations in cAMP and inositol phosphates in the lower esophageal sphincter

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), and inositol phosphate (IP) levels were measured in thin tissue samples from the circular smooth muscle of ...
Skin Attachment Model for Improved Laboratory Evaluation of Potential Carcass Disinfectants for their Efficacy Against Salmonella Attached to Broiler Skin

An improved laboratory system for testing the efficacy of potential broiler carcass disinfectants against attached Salmonella was developed. Breast skin from freshly processed chilled broilers was cut into 10 cm diameter pieces, irradiated to inactivate vegetative microflora and served as the attachment surface. Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella montevideo were grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth at 23 or 37°C, diluted in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (KPB), and inoculated onto skin samples as a coarse aerosol spray. At 10, 20 or 30 min post inoculation, skins were vigorously rinsed twice with phosphate buffer (PB) to remove "loose" cells. To enumerate salmonellae remaining on the skin ("attached" cells), skins were blended with fresh PB and plated onto tryptic soy agar (TSA). Applying 102, 103 or 104 cells/skin consistently resulted in attachment of 23 to 44% of the applied inoculum. Culturing temperature and serotype did not affect attachment. The described skin attachment model (SAM) provides a reliable and repeatable procedure for studying the efficacy of various treatments for removing or inactivating enteropathogens that are attached to poultry skin. The SAM allows for consistency in testing of antimicrobial agents against attached bacteria and enables utilization of specific bacteria without interference from background microflora using non-selective recovery techniques.
What is an Electron? Relativistic Electron Theory and Radiative Processes

Quantum theory originated from the remarkable behavior of electrons, light quanta and their interactions. One can take the point of view that a better understanding of quantum theory is a better understanding of the entities we call “electron” and “photon”, rather than the quantum theory being the new abstract laws of nature that we have simply to accept. For problems and “paradoxes” in the quantum theory of measurement it is important to ask what are the objects that we are trying to measure. Instead of saying that the electron or photon have particle behavior or wave behavior, we could say that we really do not know how they look like, but we can approximate them by a wave or a particle, better yet by a wave and a particle. It is worth recalling what the pioneers of the concepts of photon and electron have said after a lifelong occupation with their own creation! A. Einstein (1955): “Every physicist thinks that he knows what a photon is. I spent my whole life to find out what a photon is, and I still don’t know it”. And P.A.M. Dirac “I really spent my life mainly trying to find better equations for quantumelectrodynamics, and so far without success, but I continue to work on it”2.
How to Save the World and Other Lessons from Children’s Environmental Literature

This article argues that most contemporary children’s environmental picture books and easy readers published in the United States focus overwhelmingly on individual environmentalist acts and lifestyle changes, overlook the connections between environmental degradation and systemic social problems such as class disparities, and ultimately over-simplify environmental crisis. They typically encourage children to adopt environmentalist behaviors such as recycling that can be performed by individuals or families in the home, school, and local community, but do little to encourage civic engagement that would call into attention the intertwined ideological, economic, and political factors preventing profound environmental change. The analysis then examines several books that notably do inform readers about the larger political and economic issues and place a strong emphasis on environmental justice, a type of environmentalism deeply concerned with issues of race, class, gender, and economic inequality. Such texts are more likely to encourage an environmentalism that combines lifestyle and consumer choices with political activism. We need more books like this, as children’s texts that resign environmental action almost completely to individual choices and behaviors and disassociate environmental crises from their larger constitutive contexts do little to prepare young people for the socio-environmental challenges we face now and in the future.
Health Care's Unfinished Bridge

Every era relies on the intuition of a talented few in its search for scientific breakthroughs. Herodotus rejected the notion the Earth was flat, and in particular its description on the Shield of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad. Some 29 centuries later, science has reduced the labors of Homer to little more than myth, though philosophy still honors the epic, from its very first word (“μῆνῐν” or “wrath”) to its lesson addressing the value of balancing excessive pride with the fear of anonymity. Similarly, advances in technology have greatly benefited medicine in recent generations, as doctors increasingly approach diseases of the body from a tangible perspective. However, the treatment of diseases of the mind continues to be far more speculative in nature, serving to highlight the chasm between these two seemingly similar but ultimately disparate fields. This in turn presents a complex issue for both medical practitioner and mental health provider.