cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elemental Zn and its Binding Protein Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein are Elevated in HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is biologically distinct from HPV-negative HNSCC. Outside of HPV-status, few tumor-intrinsic variables have been identified that correlate to improved survival. As part of exploratory analysis into the trace elemental composition of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), we performed elemental quanitification by X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) on a small cohort (n = 32) of patients with HPV-positive and -negative OPSCC and identified in HPV-positive cases increased zinc (Zn) concentrations in tumor tissue relative to normal tissue. Subsequent immunohistochemistry of six Zn-binding proteins—zinc-α2-glycoprotein (AZGP1), Lipocalin-1, Albumin, S100A7, S100A8 and S100A9—revealed that only AZGP1 expression significantly correlated to HPV-status (p < 0.001) and was also increased in tumor relative to normal tissue from HPV-positive OPSCC tumor samples. AZGP1 protein expression in our cohort significantly correlated to a prolonged recurrence-free survival (p = 0.029), similar to HNSCC cases from the TCGA (n = 499), where highest AZGP1 mRNA levels correlated to improved overall survival (p = 0.023). By showing for the first time that HPV-positive OPSCC patients have increased intratumoral Zn levels and AZGP1 expression, we identify possible positive prognostic biomarkers in HNSCC as well as possible mechanisms of increased sensitivity to chemoradiation in HPV-positive OPSCC.
ADULT STILL'S DISEASE: A RARE CAUSE OF MYOPERICARDITIS DISGUISED AS A STEMI

Adult Still's disease is a rare autoimmune syndrome that has an annual incidence of 0.16 cases per 100,000 people. An exceptional complication of Adult Still's is myocarditis, which can cause arrhythmias, heart failure and cardiac tamponade. A 35 year old male with history of rheumatoid arthritis,
Differences in abortion rates by race-ethnicity after implementation of a restrictive Texas law.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the association between a restrictive Texas law, House Bill 2 (HB2), and receipt of in-clinic abortion by patient’s race–ethnicity. Study design In this retrospective cohort study, we collected Texas state statistics on number of abortions, abortions per county, and abortions per county by race–ethnicity for 2012, before HB2 was enacted, and 2015, after HB2 was in effect. Using female reproductive-aged population estimates, we calculated the abortion rate and percent change in the abortion rate between the two time periods by county, patient residence in a county with an open clinic or HB2-related clinic closure, and change in distance to an open clinic for each race–ethnicity. We also used geospatial analyses to depict the greatest decrease in abortion rate by race–ethnicity and county. Results In Texas, there were 64,716 reported abortions in 2012 and 54,253 in 2015. Statewide, there was a 20% decrease in the abortion rate affecting all racial-ethnic groups, yet the reduction was greater among Hispanic women compared to White women (−25% vs. −16%, respectively). The abortion rate also decreased more among those living in a county with an HB2-related clinic closure, especially for Hispanic women (−41% Hispanic vs. −29% White vs. −30% Black vs. −3% Other). Hispanic women whose travel distance increased 100+ miles had the greatest reduction in the abortion rate (−43%). Geospatial mapping confirmed our quantitative findings. Conclusion HB2 led to a disproportionate reduction in the abortion rate among Hispanic women in Texas, including those living in counties with a closed clinic or traveling long distances to obtain in-clinic abortion care. Implications Restrictive abortion policies in Texas may disproportionately burden Hispanic women and those affected by clinic closures.
Using Manual and Computer-Based Text-Mining to Uncover Research Trends for Apis mellifera

Honey bee research is believed to be influenced dramatically by colony collapse disorder (CCD) and the sequenced genome release in 2006, but this assertion has never been tested. By employing text-mining approaches, research trends were tested by analyzing over 14,000 publications during the period of 1957 to 2017. Quantitatively, the data revealed an exponential growth until 2010 when the number of articles published per year ceased following the trend. Analysis of author-assigned keywords revealed that changes in keywords occurred roughly every decade with the most fundamental change in 1991–1992, instead of 2006. This change might be due to several factors including the research intensification on the Varroa mite. The genome release and CCD had quantitively only minor effects, mainly on honey bee health-related topics post-2006. Further analysis revealed that computational topic modeling can provide potentially hidden information and connections between some topics that might be ignored in author-assigned keywords.
Telecommunication-Compatible Bias-Free Photoconductive Source with a 5 THz Radiation Bandwidth

We demonstrate a telecommunication-compatible bias-free plasmonic photoconductive source that induces a strong built-in electric field to drift the majority of photocarriers to generate terahertz radiation over a bandwidth exceeding 5 THz with a 100-dB dynamic range.
Anticipatory guidance and systematic review of prescribing combination incretin therapy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE Few studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of combining a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinicians may frequently encounter this drug therapy combination in practice and should be aware of clinical evidence and risks associated with its use. METHODS A literature search was conducted in Embase (1947-April 20, 2020), Medline - Ovid (1946-April 21, 2020), Medline - PubMed (1946-April 21, 2020), Cochrane Library CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials (1991-April 20, 2020) and Web of Science (1900-April 17, 2020). Databases were searched using keywords and subject headings to identify studies assessing efficacy and safety of combination incretin therapy. The search identified 1255 studies. Of these, 383 were excluded for duplicate citations. Articles were then excluded based on title and abstract screen. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Six studies were included. A small reduction in haemoglobin A1c and weight loss was found by combining incretin therapy. Adverse effects such as hypoglycaemia, gastrointestinal upset and pancreatitis were infrequent. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION On current evidence, the small benefit in glycaemic control that may be realized by using combination incretin therapy is unlikely to be offset by the potential increased risk of pancreatitis or additional cost. Additional long-term prospectively designed studies are needed to better understand the efficacy and safety of combination incretin therapy.
When experience does not promote expertise: security professionals fail to detect low prevalence fake IDs.

Professional screeners frequently verify photograph IDs in such industries as professional security, bar tending, and sales of age-restricted materials. Moreover, security screening is a vital tool for law enforcement in the search for missing or wanted persons. Nevertheless, previous research demonstrates that novice participants fail to spot fake IDs when they are rare (i.e., the low prevalence effect; LPE). To address whether this phenomenon also occurs with professional screeners, we conducted three experiments. Experiment 1 compared security professional and non-professionals. Experiment 2 compared bar-security professionals, access-security professionals, and non-professionals. Finally, Experiment 3 added a newly created Professional Identity Training Questionnaire to determine whether and how aspects of professionals’ employment predict ID-matching accuracy. Across all three experiments, all participants were susceptible to the LPE regardless of professional status. Neither length/type of professional experience nor length/type of training experience affected ID verification performance. We discuss task performance and survey responses with aims to acknowledge and address this potential problem in real-world screening scenarios.
Fitness landscapes for coupled map lattices

Our goal is to match some dynamical aspects of biological systems with that of networks of coupled logistic maps. With these networks we generate sequences of iterates, convert them to symbol sequences by coarse-graining, and count the number of times combinations of symbols occur. Comparison of this with the number of times these combinations occur in experimental data—a sequence of interbeat intervals for example—is a measure of the fitness of each network to describe the target data. The most fit networks provide a cartoon that suggests a decomposition of the experimental data into a component that may be produced by a simple dynamical subsystem, and a residual component, the result of detailed, particular characteristics of the system that generated the target data. In the space of all network parameters, each point corresponds to a particular network. We construct a fitness landscape when we assign a fitness to each point. Because the parameters are distributed continuously over their ranges, and because fitnesses are estimated numerically, any plot of the landscape involves a finite sample of parameter values. We’ll investigate how the local landscape geometry changes when the array of sample parameters is refined, and use the landscape geometry to explore complex relations between local fitness maxima.
Vaccine Hesitancy and Exposure to Misinformation: a Survey Analysis.

Despite the widespread availability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in the USA, vaccine hesitancy continues to represent a significant impediment to the attainment of herd immunity and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. This survey analysis provides an update for clinical healthcare providers and public health officials regarding current trends in misinformation exposure, as well as common objections to COVID-19 vaccination. We conducted a web-based survey of 600 adults in the state of Florida between June 3 and June 14, 2021. Access to the sample was purchased through an industry-leading market research provider (Prodege MR), and survey respondents were selected using a stratified, quota sampling approach to ensure representativeness. Balanced quotas were determined (by region of the state) for gender, age, race, education, and ethnicity. The survey responses were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics, as well as chi-square testing and a logit regression model. High levels of misinformation exposure were observed among participants, with 73% reporting some exposure to misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines in the past 6 months. Exposure to misinformation was directly correlated with vaccine hesitancy. Among those who did not report any exposure to misinformation, 73.8% of respondents were vaccinated. That number fell to 62.9% with exposure to just one misinformation theme and 52.2% for six or more (χ2 = 11.349; φ = 0.138; p ≤ 0.05). Politicization was also found to be a major factor in vaccine hesitancy, with 73.4% of self-identified Democrats being vaccinated, compared to only 58.5% of Republicans and 56.5% of Independents (χ2 = 16.334; φ = 0.165; p ≤ 0.001). Both misinformation exposure and political affiliation were strong predictors of vaccination even after accounting for other demographic predictors. The survey results add to previous research on misinformation and vaccine hesitancy by quantifying exposure to specific misinformation themes and identifying its relationship to vaccine hesitancy. Overcoming these impediments to vaccination will require strategic and targeted messaging on the part of public health professionals, which may be aided by collaboration with political thought leaders. Understanding the volume and nature of misinformation themes the public is exposed to regarding COVID-19 vaccines may aid public health officials in targeting this vaccine messaging to more directly address reasons for vaccine hesitancy.
Acoustic and postural displays in a miniature and transparent teleost fish, Danionella dracula

Individuals can reveal their relative competitive ability or mate quality through acoustic communication, varying signals in form and frequency to mediate adaptive interactions including competitive aggression. We report robust acoustic displays during aggressive interactions for a laboratory colony of Danionella dracula, a recently discovered miniature and transparent species of teleost fish closely related to zebrafish (Danio rerio). Males produce bursts of pulsatile, click-like sounds and a distinct postural display, extension of a hypertrophied lower jaw, during resident-intruder dyad interactions. Females lack a hypertrophied lower jaw and show no evidence of sound production or jaw extension under such conditions. Novel pairs of size-matched or mismatched males were combined in resident-intruder assays where sound production and jaw extension could be linked to individuals. Resident males produce significantly more sound pulses than intruders in both dyad contexts; larger males are consistently more sonic in size-mismatched pairs. For both conditions, males show a similar pattern of increased jaw extension that frequently coincided with acoustic displays during periods of heightened sonic activity. These studies firmly establish D. dracula as a sound-producing species that modulates both acoustic and postural displays during social interactions based on either residency or body size, thus providing a foundation for investigating the role of these displays in a new model clade for neurogenomic studies of aggression, courtship and other social interactions.
A unit process model based methodology to assist product sustainability assessment during design for manufacturing

Abstract As the growth in demand for sustainable manufacturing continues, companies must begin to make conscious decisions with regard to the sustainability of their products. Thus, design and manufacturing engineers must consider economic, environmental, and social aspects simultaneously when developing products and process flows. The purpose of this research is to develop a sustainable assessment methodology to both improve the accuracy of existing approaches in identifying the sustainability impacts of a product and to assist manufacturing decision makers. The methodology developed utilizes unit process modeling and life cycle inventory techniques. Combining these approaches allows for conducting product sustainability assessment at the process level by quantifying a selected set of sustainability metrics. A demonstration of the methodology to assess three design alternatives for a bevel gear is presented. The developed methodology is capable of quantifying the sustainability metrics by aggregating information from the process level. It was found that the various metrics require different aggregation methods from the manufacturing process to the manufacturing system level. The general approach can be applied to aid the investigation of tradeoffs during the design decision making process for a wide range of products.
Probability and Uncertainty in Law

Uncertainty is a pervasive feature of law and legal systems. One important form of uncertainty in law is factual uncertainty. These lecture notes examine several strategies for portraying or dissecting this form of uncertainty. The relationship between legal uncertainty and factual uncertainty is discussed. Graphic representations of factual uncertainty are discussed. The complexity of real-world networks of inference in legal settings is discussed. The question of whether the complexity of real-world factual inference in legal settings outruns formal analysis is discussed. The notes consider that probability theorists have developed strategies for simplifying inference networks - partly or mainly for the purpose of preserving computational tractability. The suggestion is made that some of these strategies may not be appropriate for representing the types of factual and evidential uncertainty that often arise in legal settings.
Generalized descriptions for the procedural modeling of ancient East Asian buildings

Many ancient East Asian buildings are noted for their immense beauty and intricate design. We introduce a graphics modeling library based on a generalized procedural description we formulated to describe East Asian architecture. By setting the desired parameters, a user can create a building in any of the many different styles, such as Chinese, Japanese or Korean. Different building types, such as palace halls, commoner houses, temples, pagodas, pavilions, ceremonial gates and fences, are described by our modeling system. This large range of traditional East Asian styles and structures is significantly more than those supported by existing systems.
Nonidentity of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Strains 109D and 109J

Two strains of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, both designated as 109 in the literature, differ. They should be referred to as 109D and 109J to avoid further confusion.
Agent classification using implicit models

We present an algorithm that uses a sparse collection of noisy sensors to characterize the observed behavior of a mobile agent. Our approach models the agent's behavior using a collection of randomized simulators called implicit agent models and seeks to classify the agent according to which of these models is believed to be governing its motions. To accomplish this, we introduce an algorithm whose input is an observation sequence generated by the agent, represented as sensor label-time pairs, along with an observation sequence generated by one of our implicit agent models and whose output is a measure of the similarity between the two observation sequences. Using this similarity measure, we propose two algorithms for the model classification problem: one based on a weighted voting scheme and one that uses intermediate resampling steps. We have implemented these algorithms in simulation, and present results demonstrating their effectiveness in correctly classifying mobile agents.
WINNING ARTICLE 1986 ALPHA KAPPA DELTA UNDERGRADUATE PAPER COMPETITION.: Women Atheletes and Athletic Women: The Dilemmas and Contradictions of Managing Incongruent Identities

Using the example of “woman athletes,” or more specifically, women basketball players, this is a case study in the management of contradictory essential and relational identities. Two types of data are used. Survey data demonstrates member understanding of the social identity of “female athlete”; observational data illustrates the management of incongruent identities on three stages: the woman athlete on the basketball court, the athletic woman attending a formal dinner, and the metamorphosis of identities in the locker room. The results indicate that even though the identity of female athlete is, by definition, deviant, it offers a positive alternative to the deviant identity of woman. However, this study demonstrates that in order for an actor to achieve this identity of female athlete she must be willing and able to consistently manage the dilemmas and contradictions inherent in the role itself. That is, this study demonstrates how female athletes must simultaneously uphold loyalty to both the essential identity of female as well as to the relational identity of athlete.
Membranes for biomedical applications: Utilization of plasma polymerization for dimensionally stable hydrophilic membranes

Abstract Plasma polymerization techniques were utilized in the development of hydrophilic composite membranes having high hydrogen ion permeability and excellent dimensional stability. These membranes were prepared by using plasma polymerization of acrylic acid on porous polypropylene (PPA/PP) and plasma-initiated interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)-type polymerization of acrylic acid in porous polypropylene (PIPA/PP IPN). Hydrogen ion permeabilities of these membranes were determined. A hydrophilic composite membrane with high hydrogen ion permeability of acrylic acid polymer and excellent dimensional stability and mechanical strength of porous polypropylene was developed based on plasma IPN technique.
Evaluation of ultra-low gossypol cottonseed and regular glandless cottonseed meals as dietary protein and lipid sources for Litopenaeus vannamei reared under zero-exchange conditions

The current study evaluated transgenic cotton lines with normal levels of gossypol/terpenoids in the vegetative and floral tissues, but with ultra-low gossypol in the seeds as a replacement for glandless cottonseed meal (GCSM) and fishmeal. A 64-day growth trial evaluated the ability of cottonseed meals from a natural glandless cotton variety/mutant, two transgenic Ultra-low Gossypol Cottonseed (ULGCS) lines, a non-transgenic parental control and a commercial variety, to replace 355 g kg−1 fishmeal in a diet containing 350 g kg−1 crude protein. Juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (1.48 ± 0.29 g) were stocked (40 shrimp m−3) with six replicates. No significant differences were found between all formulated diets in terms of final weight, survival and feed conversion ratio. The commercial cottonseed variety displayed a significantly lower feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio than one of the ULGCS diets. These results suggest that GCSM and/or transgenic ULGCS meals can be used to replace fishmeal in commercial shrimp diets.
Scattering by a Chiral Cylinder of Arbitrary Cross Section in the Presence of a Half-Plane

An integral equation and method of moments/Green's function solution to the problem of scattering by a chiral cylinder of arbitrary cross section in the presence of a perfectly conducting half-plane is presented. The volume equivalence theorem for chiral media is used to formulate a pair of coupled vector integral equations for the equivalent electric and magnetic volume polarization currents representing the chiral cylinder. The presence of the half-plane is accounted for by including the half-plane Green's function in the kernel of the integral equations, and efficient techniques for accurately evaluating the integrals in this Green's function are presented. Numerical results illustrate that a chiral cylinder surrounding the half-plane edge can significantly modify the scattering from the edge. The chiral cylinder is also seen to produce significant cross-polarized scattered fields, which are a direct result of the rotation of field polarization in a chiral medium.
Tissue proliferation within and surrounding Palmaz-Schatz stents is dependent on the aggressiveness of stent implantation technique.

In-stent restenosis is entirely due to intimal hyperplasia. Histologic studies have indicated that intimal hyperplasia is related to the arterial injury induced during stent implantation. We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging to study whether tissue proliferation inside and surrounding stents is related to the aggressiveness of the implantation technique. After intervention and follow-up (mean 5.6 +/- 3.7 months), serial IVUS imaging was performed in 102 native artery stented stenoses in 91 patients. Measurements at 5 predetermined segments within each stented lesion included external elastic membrane, stent, and lumen cross-sectional areas (CSAs). Calculations included mean plaque CSA growth outside of the stent (external elastic membrane-stent) and mean neointimal hyperplasia CSA and thickness within the stent (stent-lumen). Stenoses were categorized depending on the aggressiveness of stent placement (group 1, adjunct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty pressure or = 16 atm and balloon/artery ratio > or = 1.1). An aggressiveness score was calculated as balloon/artery ratio x inflation pressure. Mean intimal hyperplasia CSA (2.9 +/- 1.5 vs 2.2 +/- 1.6 mm2, p = 0.028), mean intimal hyperplasia thickness (0.34 +/- 0.19 vs 0.25 +/- 0.19 mm, p = 0.012), and mean peristent tissue growth CSA (2.5 +/- 1.0 vs 1.1 +/- 1.4 mm2, p = 0.003) were significantly greater in group 2 stenoses. In addition, intimal hyperplasia CSA and thickness correlated significantly with balloon/artery ratio x inflation pressures: r = 0.305, p = 0.002 and r = 0.329, p = 0.0007, respectively, as did peristent tissue proliferation CSA (r = 0.466, p = 0.001). Tissue proliferation inside and surrounding stents may be related to aggressiveness of the stent implantation technique.
Somal Size of Immunolabeled Pyramidal Cells in the Prefrontal Cortex of Subjects with Schizophrenia

Background Although the somal volume of Nissl-stained deep layer 3 pyramidal cells is reduced in prefrontal cortex area 9 of subjects with schizophrenia, the subset of large pyramidal cells immunoreactive (IR) for nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein (NNFP) is not. Consequently, we hypothesized that the somal volume of another subset of pyramidal cells immunoreactive for neuronal calcium binding protein-1 (Necab-1) is significantly reduced in schizophrenia. Methods We labeled Necab-1-IR pyramidal neurons using immunoperoxidase techniques and estimated the mean somal volume in deep layer 3 of area 9 in 13 matched pairs of control and schizophrenic subjects. Identical studies were conducted for pyramidal neurons immunoreactive for neuronal nuclear protein (Neu-N), which is present in all neurons. Results In subjects with schizophrenia, neither the mean somal volume of Necab-1-IR pyramidal neurons nor of Neu-N-IR pyramidal neurons was significantly different from control subjects. In addition, the mean somal volume of Neu-N-IR cells was larger than that of Nissl-stained cells in both subject groups, and the magnitude of this difference was greater for the subjects with schizophrenia. Conclusions These findings suggest that immunoperoxidase techniques are associated with an overestimation of the volume of labeled neurons. This confound appears to interact with disease state, and thus obscures differences between diagnostic groups.
Evolution of glycosaminoglycans and their glycosyltransferases: Implications for the extracellular matrices of animals and the capsules of pathogenic bacteria.

Glycosaminoglycans (linear polysaccharides with a repeating disaccharide backbone containing an amino sugar) are essential components of extracellular matrices of animals. These complex molecules play important structural, adhesion, and signaling roles in mammals. Direct detection of glycosaminoglycans has been reported in a variety of organisms, but perhaps more definitive tests for the glycosyltransferase genes should be utilized to clarify the distribution of glycosaminoglycans in metazoans. Recently, glycosyltransferases that form the hyaluronan, heparin/heparan, or chondroitin backbone were identified at the molecular level. The three types of glycosyltransferases appear to have evolved independently based on sequence comparisons and other characteristics. All metazoans appear to possess heparin/heparan. Chondroitin is found in some worms, arthropods, and higher animals. Hyaluronan is found only in two of the three main branches of chordates. The presence of several types of glycosaminoglycans in the body allows multiple communication channels and adhesion systems to operate simultaneously. Certain pathogenic bacteria produce extracellular coatings, called capsules, which are composed of glycosaminoglycans that increase their virulence during infection. The capsule helps shield the microbe from the host defenses and/or modulates host physiology. The bacterial and animal polysaccharides are chemically identical or at least very similar. Therefore, no immune response is generated, in contrast to the vast majority of capsular polymers from other bacteria. In microbial systems, it appears that in most cases functional convergent evolution of glycosaminoglycan glycosyltransferases occurred, rather than direct horizontal gene transfer from their vertebrate hosts.
Some new PDE methods for weak KAM theory

We discuss a new approximate variational principle for weak KAM theory. The advantage of this approach is that we build both a minimizing measure and a solution of the generalized eikonal equation at the same time. Furthermore the approximations are smooth, and so we can derive some interesting formulas upon differentiating the Euler-Lagrange equation. Our method is inspired by the ”calculus of variations in the sup-norm” ideas of Aronsson, Jensen, Barron and others.
A biochemical approach to periodontal regeneration: tetracycline treatment conditions dentin surfaces.

Selective use of tetracycline HCl was studied to evaluate a potential treatment methodology. Tetracycline HCl adsorbed to dentin surfaces, binding 4.7 μg/mm2 after a 5 min exposure to a 50 mg/ml tetracycline HCl solution. Desorption in a discontinuous flow assay maintained biologically active concentrations of tetracycline HCl in the fluid phase for at least 48 h. The tetracycline HCl bound, and subsequently released from dentin retained antimicrobial activity with an ID50 of 3.7 μg/ml. Tetracycline HCl conditioning removed an amorphous surface layer, thereby exposing dentin with open tubules, as determined by scanning electron microscopy. These data suggest that tetracycline HCl-treated root surfaces may act as a depot for release of active antibiotic, as well as serve as an improved substrate for connective tissue components vital to healing at the interface between hard and soft tissues.
Racial differences in hospital discharge disposition among stroke patients in Maryland.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the evidence for racial differences in discharge disposition among patients hospitalized for stroke. DATA Hospital discharge data from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission were used in the analysis. The data covered the period from January 2000 to September 2003. STUDY DESIGN Discharge-disposition categories were ordered such that higher numbers corresponded to less desirable outcomes: 1 = discharge to home; 2 = discharge to any medical care facility; 3 = death. We analyzed the influence of black race on the discharge disposition by estimating a partial proportional odds logit regression model that included demographic and clinical covariates. DATA EXTRACTION The study inclusion criteria were 1) stroke (ICD9 431-434; 436-438) as a primary admission diagnosis and 2) patient race identified as black or white. Patients discharged against medical advice were excluded. The sample contained 51,564 stroke hospitalizations. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Based on the relative odds ratios (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]), black males were more likely to be discharged to higher ranked (i.e., less desirable) discharge categories (OR = 1.66; CI 1.55-1.77) compared to white males. Black females were more likely to die (OR = 1.14; CI 1.02-1.28) and more likely either to die or to be discharged to medical care (OR = 1.38; CI 1.24-1.54) compared to white males. CONCLUSIONS Blacks are at greater mortality risk following stroke hospitalizations and face less desirable discharge dispositions if they survive. These results are consistent with prior reports of lower survival rates among blacks and are robust to adjustments for various confounding factors.
Adrenal renal fusion confusion: a case report of an adrenal cortical adenoma with adrenal-renal fusion

We report a case of laminaria hypersensitivity treated with diphenhydramine and corticosteroids. A literature review identified 10 previously reported cases, with 8 recognized as anaphylaxis, and good outcomes with corticosteroids and antihistamines despite limited epinephrine utilization. Laminaria hypersensitivity is likely IgE mediated with an increased anaphylaxis risk with prior exposure.
Remote sensing of water clarity in Tampa Bay

Abstract We examined the spatial and temporal variability of the Secchi Disk Depth (SDD) within Tampa Bay, Florida, using the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) satellite imagery collected from September 1997 to December 2005. SDD was computed using a two-step process, first estimating the diffuse light attenuation coefficient at 490 nm, K d (490), using a semi-analytical algorithm and then SDD using an empirical relationship with K d (490). The empirical SDD algorithm (SDD = 1.04 × K d (490) − 0.82 , 0.9 r 2 = 0.67, n = 80) is based on historical SDD observations collected by the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPCHC) in Tampa Bay. SeaWiFS derived SDD showed distinctive seasonal variability, attributed primarily to chlorophyll concentrations and color in the rainy season and to turbidity in the dry season, which are in turn controlled by river runoff and winds or wind-induced sediment resuspension, respectively. The Bay also experienced strong interannual variability, mainly related to river runoff variability. As compared to in situ single measurements, the SeaWiFS data provide improved estimates of the “mean” water clarity conditions in this estuary because of the robust, frequent, and synoptic coverage. Therefore we recommend incorporation of this technique for routine monitoring of water quality in coastal and large estuarine waters like Tampa Bay.
How to Initiate and Maintain Carbamazepine Therapy in Children and Adults

Summary: Appropriate use of carbamazepine for the treatment of epilepsy is based on correct identification of the patient's seizure type. Carbamazepine is effective against partial seizures and against generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Therapy should begin gradually, with initial doses increased slowly over 1 or 2 weeks, as tolerated. Side effects include fatigue, dizziness, ataxia, double vision, nausea, and vomiting. Most practitioners agree that, because of carbamazepine's relatively short half-life, the total dosage should be administered in at least two divided doses. This avoids too high a peak blood level that would occur with a single dose. Carbamazepine therapy is associated with the development of two hematologic conditions. Leukopenia, which may be transient or persistent, requires careful monitoring but is not cause for immediate discontinuation of therapy. Aplastic anemia occurs rarely but is potentially fatal, and therefore diligent monitoring of hematologic function is indicated. Aplastic anemia is an idiosyncratic, non-dose-related side effect that is most likely to occur within the first 3 or 4 months of initiating therapy. Once seizures are controlled, plasma levels of carbamazepine should be measured to establish optimum levels for individual patients being treated with this drug.
Selecting a portfolio of nonhomogeneous R&D proposals☆

Abstract This article reports a procedure developed to assist the U.S. Department of Energy in the selection of a portfolio of proposals addressing the design and manufacture of components of solar photovoltaic arrays, and complete photovoltaic systems. Considerations such as the relative importance of the different components in the overall effort, compatibility of the proposed designs, and budgetary and programmatic issues were complicating factors. The technical quality of each proposal was represented by multiple evaluation measures. These were combined into a single index through the use of multi attributeutility function. Indices representing the relative importance of the various components were then developed, and results in measurable value theory were applied to derive an index of technical quality of a portfolio of proposals. The problem was then formulated as an integer program. It was solved by using an interactive branch and bound code that allowed for sensitivity analysis before selecting the portfolio of proposals for funding. The procedure was successfully applied to funding a portfolio of proposals aimed at reducing the cost of producing photovoltaic arrays, and to several other government-sponsored procurements.
Necessary condition for the existence of periodic solutions to systems of reaction-diffusion equations

Abstract It is shown that periodic solutions ci=ci(x,t)≡ci(x,t+T) to systems of reaction-diffusion equations of the form ∂c i ∂t =D i λ 2 c i + Q i (c) are such that the average over a period of a certain functional of the ci's vanishes if the boundary conditions are such that each ci is independent of time or its normal derivative vanishes at all boundary points. Sufficient to preclude a periodic solution immediately if ∂ Q i (c) ∂c j =∂ Q j (c)/∂c j , this necessary condition for the existence of periodic solutions also provides a useful criterion in the general case. A special application of the necessary condition is presented for periodic running wave solutions with ci=ci(t−f(x))≡ci(t−f(x)+T).
Young Adult Drug Use and Delinquency: Childhood Antecedents and Adolescent Mediators

ABSTRACT Objective The aims of this study were (1) to examine the childhood, early adolescent, and late adolescent predictors of young adult drug use and delinquency; and (2) to explore the effects of drug use on delinquent behavior. Method Data were gathered during the course of a 20-year longitudinal study of children representative of the Northeast. Data were gathered on childhood aggression, early and late adolescent drug use and delinquency, and young adult drug use and delinquency. Results Overall, the results were consistent with our proposed model. Childhood aggression had an adverse effect on young adult drug use and female deviant behavior. Drug use and delinquency during early and late adolescence served as the mediator between childhood aggression and young adult drug use. Moreover, adolescent drug use was associated with later delinquency. Conclusions The findings indicated that childhood aggression was related to both young adult drug use and delinquency. Second, there was stability of drug use and delinquency between early adolescence and young adulthood. Third, drug use during early adolescence had an impact on delinquency not only in early adolescence, but also in late adolescence and young adulthood.
Growth and surface morphology of uranium films during molecular plating

Abstract Molecular plating is a widely used technique for the preparation of lanthanide and actinide targets. We have studied the growth and surface morphology of uranium films during the molecular plating process using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman and IR spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. During deposition of U films on 10 μm Al backings by molecular plating, the RMS roughness increased from 17 to 446 nm for deposition times up to 45 min and then decreased to 223 nm for deposition times of 120 min, which gave the smoothest films with a fractal dimension of 2.10.
Micellar perturbation of enone reduction

Abstract The reduction of several enones using BH 4 − in the presence of cationic surfactants has been investigated. These reductions are all shifted by the micelle towards the formation of conjugate reduction products.
Preparation of uniform colloidal particles of lead sulfide and of mixed sulfides of cadmium + zinc and cadmium + lead☆

Abstract The preparation of colloidal dispersions consisting of uniform particles of PbS, PbS·xCdS, and ZnS·xCdS by aging acidic solutions of corresponding metal salts in the presence of thioacetamide is described. Lead sulfide particles so obtained are of tetragonal morphology and have the structure of galena. The composition of the mixed metal sulfides depends on the relative metal ion concentrations in the reacting solutions, time of aging, and temperature. The particle shape shows some characteristics of both metal sulfides and so does their crystal structure.
The biosynthesis of choline and its relation to phospholipid metabolism.

The biosynthesis of choline has been studied in the rat with [3-14C]serine, [1,2-14C]-aminoethanol and [14CH3]methionine as precursors. When [14C]aminoethanol was given to intact rats, radioactive choline was isolated from the liver phospholipids, but no radioactive phosphocholine was found in an aqueous liver extract. When [14C]methionine was given, radioactive mono- and dimethylaminoethanol, as well as radioactive choline, were isolated from the liver phospholipids. The mono- and dimethylaminoethanol had much higher turnover rates than had the choline. When [14C]methionine was administered, the incorporation of radioactivity into phospholipid choline, delayed. In vitro experiments showed that choline-labeled lecithin was formed when isolated rat-liver microsomes were incubated with S-adenosylmethionine. When [14C]serine was injected into intact rats, radioactive aminoethanol as well as radioactive choline labeled in both the hydroxyethyl- and in the methyl groups, were isolated. Turnover and specific activity studies showed that phosphoaminoethanol and cytidinediphosphoaminoethanol are unlikely intermediates in the formation of phospholipid aminoethanol from serine. On the basis of these results it is concluded that phosphatidylserine is decarboxylated to phosphatidylaminoethanol and that the latter compounds is methylated to form lecithin. In this reaction all the methyl groups of choline are incorporated by transmethylation from S-adenosylmethionine. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to fat and phospholipid metabolism.
Nanometer-scale wetting of the silicon surface by its equilibrium oxide.

Despite the extremely broad technical applications of the Si/SiO 2 structure, the equilibrium wetting properties of silicon oxide on silicon are poorly understood. Here, we produce new results in which a solid-state buffer method is used to systematically titrate oxygen activity about the Si/SiO 2 coexistence value. The equilibrium morphology at the Si(001) surface over >8 decades of PO 2 about coexistence is revealed to be a uniform sub-stoichiometric SiO x film of sub-nanometer thickness, coexisting with secondary island structures which coarsen with annealing time. A new thermodynamic method using chemical potential to stabilize and control surficial oxides in nanoscale devices is suggested.
Gender and Binegativity: Men’s and Women’s Attitudes Toward Male and Female Bisexuals

This study assessed the influence of gender on attitudes about bisexuals. A total of 164 heterosexual female and 89 heterosexual male undergraduates completed the Biphobia Scale (Mulick & Wright, 2002), rewritten to refer to bisexual men and bisexual women and thus re-named the Gender-Specific Binegativity Scale. A mixed-design ANOVA revealed an interaction between rater’s sex and target’s sex: women equally accepted bisexual men and bisexual women, but men were less accepting of bisexual men than bisexual women. A mediation analysis indicated the relationship between rater’s sex and greater acceptance of bisexual women was partially explained by eroticization of female same-sex sexuality. Finally, participants also responded to two open-ended items, which provided additional information about the content of binegativity: participants described male bisexuals negatively, as gender-nonconforming, and labeled them “really gay,” whereas participants described female bisexuals positively, as sexy, and labeled them “really heterosexual.” These findings suggest multiple underlying beliefs about bisexuals that contribute to binegativity, particularly against bisexual men. Results also confirm the importance of considering gender (of both the target and the rater) when assessing sexual prejudice.
Application of the Memristor in Reconfigurable Electromagnetic Devices

The recently popularized memristor, short for memory resistor, is investigated in this paper for its potential as a new and attractive method for enabling reconfigurable radio-frequency (RF) devices. The charge- or flux-controlled resistance of this fourth circuit element allows for easy reconfigurability and maintains its configured state in the absence of controlling signals. A specialized finite-difference time-domain simulation code is developed and employed to design devices with embedded memristors. The time-domain code allows observation of the nonlinear memristor switching characteristics and real-time functionality of the reconfigurable device. Several different reconfigurable RF devices are designed here to demonstrate the versatility of the memristor and determine the behavior of systems which utilize them.
Concurrent regeneration of T lymphocytes and susceptibility to HSV-1 corneal stromal disease

In these studies, mice were simultaneously depleted of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes (T cell-depleted) by weekly intraperitoneal injections of rat monoclonal antibodies specific for L3T4 and Lyt-2 respectively, beginning 1 day before topical corneal infection with KOS herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Control mice were mock-depleted by weekly injections of saline. All mice developed dendritic epithelial lesions 2-3 days after infection, which healed within 2 days. Fifty percent of the mock-depleted mice developed severe HSV-1 stromal disease, which began 9-14 days after infection. No skin lesions were observed in mock-depleted mice. In contrast, none of the T cell-depleted mice developed HSV-1 corneal stromal disease through an initial 30 day observation period. These mice did develop severe periocular skin lesions. After 30 days, the T cell-depleted mice were subdivided into two groups. In one group, T cell depletion was continued and the mice remained largely free of stromal disease for an additional 30 days (one of 30 mice developed a mild stromal haze). T cell depletion was discontinued in the second group. During the subsequent 30 days the CD4 and CD8 T cells in their lymph nodes and spleens recovered to approximately 50% of normal, and 43% (13 of 30) of the mice developed severe HSV-1 stromal disease. The skin lesions healed in all T cell-depleted mice between days 30 and 60, even when T cell depletion was maintained. Our findings demonstrate that T cells are both protective (preventing the spread of HSV-1 in the skin) and detrimental (inducing the destruction of the corneal stroma).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Longitudinal influence of prenatal cocaine exposure on child language functioning

The present study estimates the longitudinal effects of in utero cocaine exposure on language functioning at 3, 5 and 7 years of age in an urban sample of 443 full-term children (236 cocaine-exposed and 207 noncocaine-exposed) participating in the Miami Prenatal Cocaine Study. The sample was enrolled prospectively at birth, with documentation of prenatal drug exposure status through maternal interview and urine and meconium toxicology assays. Language functioning was measured at ages 3 and 5 years using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Preschool (CELF-P) and at age 7 years using the Core Language Domain of the NEPSY: A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment. Longitudinal Generalized Linear Model and Generalized Estimating Equations (GLM/GEE) analyses revealed an association between prenatal cocaine exposure and deficits in total language functioning after statistically controlling for child sex, visit age, prenatal exposure to alcohol, marijuana and tobacco and over 20 additional medical and sociodemographic covariates drawn from potentially confounding influences assessed at birth and follow-up visits (D=−0.17; 95% CI=−0.32, −0.03; P=.019). The link from prenatal cocaine exposure to later language deficits does not appear to be mediated by cocaine-associated deficits in birth weight, length or head circumference. Overall, the evidence tends to support an inference of a stable cocaine-specific effect on indicators of language functioning during early childhood through age 7 years.