cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of mild cognitive impairment on functional abilities in the elderly.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) covers a spectrum of cognitive impairment, bordered by normal cognitive performance on one end and frank dementia on the other. How wide the net for MCI is cast will affect the prevalence and severity of its functional consequences. Many studies suggest that MCI is an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, investigation of the functional impact of MCI offers an important opportunity to examine the quality-of-life impact of a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease. In this review, the authors examine the nosology of the condition, the subjective experience of having an MCI diagnosis, and crosssectional and prospective studies that have examined the topic.
Geriatric trauma: special needs for a special population.

Pediatric patients are not just “little adults” and elderly patients are not just “old adults.” The elderly patient experiences physiologic and anatomic changes that affect all body systems. Providing trauma care for the elderly presents a particular challenge. Muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and decr
Initial incorporation of sulfur into the Pd(111) surface : A theoretical study

Density functional theory is used to investigate the initial inclusion of sulfur into the subsurface interstitial sites of Pd(111) surface. Pure subsurface adsorption is found to be less energetically favorable than on-surface adsorption. The incorporation of sulfur into the metal becomes more favorable than continuous adsorption on the surface after a critical on-surface sulfur coverage. We find subsurface sulfur occupation to be energetically favorable after adsorption of more than half a monolayer on the surface. Occupation of subsurface sites induces a pronounced structural distortion of the Pd(111) surface. We find significant expansion of interplanar spacing between the uppermost surface metal layers and rearrangement of the S overlayer. The interplay between the energy cost due to structural distortion of Pd(111) and the energy gain due to bond formation for different structures is discussed.
Separation and quantitation of metallothioneins by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Abstract A rapid, reproducible, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of the concentration of metallothionein-I (MT-I) and metallothionein-II (MT-II) in rat liver has been developed. Metallothioneins (MTs) were separated and quantitated by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Purified rat liver MT-I and MT-II, used as standards for developing the method, were easily resolved, eluting at 7.5 and 10.4 min, respectively. To establish standard curves, protein concentrations of solutions of the purified MTs were determined by the Kjeldahl method for the determination of nitrogen, after which the standards were saturated with Cd (final concentration of 50 ppm Cd). Rat liver cytosols obtained from untreated and Cd- or Zn-treated rats were prepared for HPLC-AAS analysis by saturation with Cd (50 ppm Cd) followed by heat denaturation (placing in a boiling water bath for 1 min). Based on the method of standard additions, recovery of MTs exceeded 95% and repeated injection of a sample yielded a coefficient of variance of approximately 2%. A detection limit of 5 μg MT/g liver was established for the method. Only MT-II was detected in untreated rats, whereas following exposure to Cd or Zn, both forms of MTs were detected. Concentrations of total MTs in liver of untreated and Cd- or Zn-treated rats were also determined by the Cd/hemoglobin radioassay (which fails to distinguish MT-I from MT-II) and indicated that results obtained with the HPLC-AAS method compared favorably to the Cd/hemoglobin radioassay. Thus, the HPLC-AAS method for quantitating MT-I and MT-II offers the advantage of determining the concentrations of both proteins in tissues and should be useful for studying the regulation of MT-I and MT-II.
Integrated Thermal-Fluid Experiments in WPI's Discovery Classroom

An integrated experimental-analytical-numerical approach to engineering education has been developed in introductory thermal-fluid courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Central to these innovations is a facility at WPI known as the Discovery Classroom. In this facility the traditional lecture hall has been redefined to combine a multi-media classroom, an adjoining experimental laboratory, and computational facilities. This approach was designated as the DIANE philosophy: Daily Integration of Analytical, Numerical, and Experimental methods into engineering classes. In this approach, experimental apparatus are demonstrated directly in class during an engineering lecture. Real-time quantitative data are acquired from the apparatus, and the data are immediately analyzed and compared to concurrently developed theory by the students in class. One objective of this approach is to help students better understand relationships between the physical experiments and theory. Three undergraduate engineering classes were re-designed: fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and aerodynamics. Student surveys indicate that nearly 90% of 390 students preferred the re-designed courses to traditional lecture-oriented courses, while also believing that they gained a better understanding of engineering fundamentals.
Near-wall dynamics of compressible boundary layers

The coherent structures populating the inner-region of a compressible boundary layer with free-stream Mach number equal to 2.5 are analyzed by means of direct numerical simulations of the Navier–Stokes equations. This study shows similarity with the incompressible case in the sense that turbulence in the near-wall region can be sustained without fluctuations in the outer region, proving the existence of a local cycle within the near-wall region. The dynamics are further simplified by making use of the coherence of the inner region. The wall-normal velocity component in this region is split into two: one coherent part representing vortices spanning all the inner-region, and one incoherent part representing the background turbulence. By damping the latter part, the statistical features of the flow are only slightly influenced, showing that the coherent part is essential in determining the flow characteristics. Flow dynamics and turbulence structures within this coherent part are examined. It is shown that t...
Ritual reverb: Two ‘blockbuster’ Hindi films

This essay re-examines a highly successful and much discussed film of the mid-1970s, Jai Santoshi Maa, along with a comparably celebrated hit released two decades later, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Theorizing that the unexpected success of both these films may lie in their structuring around popular forms of ritual, it situates each in the context of its production and reception and considers the nature and implications of some of the forms of participatory practice that each film, at very different historical moments, encouraged.
Stabilization of an axisymmetric liquid bridge by viscous flow

Abstract An axial flow of an immiscible liquid past a nearly cylindrical liquid bridge of similar density influences the stability of the bridge. Laminar flow along a cylindrical interface can generate a differential pressure gradient across the interface that is equivalent to a steady axial gravitational acceleration. Ideally, this flow can be used to cancel the pressure gradient due to the density imbalance, allowing a longer cylindrical interface than would be statistically possible. Experimental results that show this effect and that are in qualitative agreement with predictions are presented.
Acute vasculitis after endovascular brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose: Angioplasty effectively relieves coronary artery stenosis but is often followed by restenosis. Endovascular radiation (β or γ) at the time of angioplasty prevents restenosis in a large proportion of vessels in swine (short term) and humans (short and long term). Little information is available about the effects of this radiation exposure beyond the wall of the coronary arteries. Methods and Materials: Samples were obtained from 76 minipigs in the course of several experiments designed to evaluate endovascular brachytherapy: 76 of 114 coronary arteries and 6 of 12 iliac arteries were exposed to endovascular radiation from 32 P sources (35 Gy at 0.5 mm from the intima). Two-thirds of the vessels had angioplasty or stenting. The vessels were systematically examined either at 28 days or at 6 months after radiation. Results: We found an unexpected lesion: acute necrotizing vasculitis in arterioles located ≤2.05 mm from the target artery. It was characterized by fibrinoid necrosis of the wall, often associated with lymphocytic exudates or thrombosis. Based on the review of perpendicular sections of tissue samples, the arterioles had received between 6 and 40 Gy. This arteriolar vasculitis occurred at 28 days in samples from 51% of irradiated coronary arteries and 100% of irradiated iliac arteries. By 6 months, the incidence of acute vasculitis decreased to 24% around the coronary arteries. However, at that time, healing vasculitis was evident, often with luminal narrowing, in 46% of samples. Vasculitis was not seen in any of 44 samples from unirradiated vessels (0%) and had no relation to angioplasty, stenting, or their sequelae. This radiation-associated vasculitis in the swine resembles the localized lymphocytic vasculitis that we have reported in tissues of humans exposed to external radiation. On the other hand, it is quite different from the various types of systemic vasculitis that occur in nonirradiated humans. Conclusion: Endoarterial brachytherapy using 32 P results in vascular effects beyond the adventitia of the target vessel. This necrotizing vasculitis is causally related to radiation, but its mechanism is unclear and a dose effect is not evident. Quite possibly, local upregulation of inflammatory cytokines contributes to this radiation-associated vasculitis, which only involved some of the arterioles in each sample. It is likely that radiation-associated vasculitis also occurs around human coronary arteries and may result in foci of ischemia. To our knowledge, this lesion has not been previously recognized, either in experimental models or in human specimens examined after angioplasty/brachytherapy.
A square wave electromagnetic flowmeter for application to intact blood vessels.

A new type electromagnetic flowmeter which utilizes an alternating square wave magnetic field applied to the unopened blood vessel is described. It attains stability of baseline and sensitivity not possible with older D.C. and A.C. meters and therefore puts measurement of blood flow through the unopened vessel on a practical basis.
Prey localization by surface wave ray-tracing: fish track bugs like oceanographers track storms.

Surface-feeding fish accurately determine direction and distance to the center of a concentric wave stimulus, even if only a single, short lasting wave train is presented1,2. It has been suggested that one cue used by these fish to localize the wave center is the distance dependent frequency modulation of the initial part of a wave stimulus3,4. Here we show how the distance information contained in the fractional frequency change of a capillary wave group can be decoded. We suggest that wave source localization in surface-feeding fish in part is based on a principal similar to that used by oceanographers to track storms by the frequency change of forerunners of swell.
Intelligent system controller for remote systems

Summary form only given. The US Department of Energy's Office of Technology Development (OTD) has sponsored the development of the Generic Intelligent System Controller (GISC) for application to remote system control. Of primary interest to the OTD is the development of technologies which result in faster, safer, and cheaper clean up of hazardous waste sites. The GISC development project supports these goals by seeking to develop a modular robotic control system which reduces the time and cost of development by allowing reuse of control system software and uses computer models to improve the safety of remote site clean-up. GISC is termed an intelligent control system because computer models reduce development time by automating much of the system programming, and they monitor all operations for safety. Intelligent decision making algorithms evaluate the known environment represented by a world model, plan collision-free robot motions, and then automatically generate the robot command sequences necessary to execute the desired robot motions. Visualization software technologies provides the operator of the robot system with animated graphic displays of the computer's knowledge base. >
Solving AX + XB = C by control and tearing

A method is proposed for solving AX + XB = C by exploiting the concepts of controllability and tearing. The matrices manipulated are no larger than A or B, and the operation count is favourable.
Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes Increase Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 Expression on Brain Endothelium through NF-κB

Sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (Pf-IRBC) in postcapillary brain endothelium is a hallmark of cerebral malaria (CM) pathogenesis. There is a correlation between adherent Pf-IRBC and increased expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), which is also a receptor for Pf-IRBC on human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). The underlying mechanism for the increased ICAM-1 expression has not been clearly defined. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms of ICAM-1 expression on isolated HBMEC after exposure to Pf-IRBC. Ultrastructural characterization of the model confirmed that there was attachment through both Pf-IRBC knobs and HBMEC microvillus protrusions. Pf-IRBC induced a dose- and time-dependent increase in ICAM-1 expression on HBMEC that was specific for human brain endothelium and was not observed with human umbilical vein endothelium. Involvement of both membrane-associated Pf-IRBC proteins and parasite-derived soluble factors with the increase in ICAM-1 expression was demonstrated by surface trypsinization and fractionation. Pf-IRBC exposure induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB in HBMEC, which was linked to ICAM-1 expression, as shown by use of specific inhibitors of the transcription factor NF-κB and immunocytochemistry. In addition, inhibition of reactive oxygen species decreased Pf-IRBC-induced ICAM-1 expression on HBMEC. Parasite-induced ICAM-1 expression explains the localization of this molecule on brain endothelium in postmortem CM brain samples. By increasing ICAM-1 expression, Pf-IRBC may increase their sequestration, thereby perpetuating CM.
Fast Fourier transform method for shadow moire fringe pattern analysis

An image system using the shadow moire method for the quantitative inspection of highway pavement surface has been developed. Studies have shown that a single moire image is ordinarily not sufficient to yield complete information about the gradient of a set of contour lines pertaining to a particular area of surface. The pavement surface reconstruction algorithm that has been developed to date uses two moire interferograms of any point on the surface to obtain overlapping information to correctly measure elevation. In this paper, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) method is described which generates accurate surface topographical information from a single interferogram. The fast Fourier transform used in conjunction with the shadow moire technique provides the basis for an automated pavement survey system now under development. This new approach is expected to significantly decrease system hardware and processing time requirements for an automated pavement survey system.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Disequilibrium and Reconstruction: The Urban Encounter as Catalyst for Preservice Educators' Cultural Transformation.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which preservice teachers participating in a semester of urban immersion would evidence a change in attitudes toward urban teaching based on their experiences in the program. The experiences of 22 program participants were examined to qualify potential change. Study methodology included analysis of student journals, content of focus groups conducted throughout the semester, student discussion observed in coursework, and personal interviews conducted at the end of the urban experience. Analysis revealed common themes including the importance of direct experience with diversity and personal reflection as critical components of multicultural growth. The experience served to dispel myths and stereotypes regarding urban teaching, to expand university students’ understanding of privilege and power in society, and to encourage movement from a color denial perspective to an appreciation for and respect of cultural differences. The study illustrates th...
Endoscopic therapies for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic recurrent condition that affects over 7% of individuals on a daily basis in the United States. The primary objective of antireflux therapy is relief of symptoms, with secondary goals to heal esophagitis, prevent reflux-related complications, and maintain remission. Over the past few years, several endoscopic therapies (ETs) have emerged for the treatment of GERD. These new techniques have generated considerable interest among gastroenterologists, surgeons, and patients alike. The possibility of an outpatient procedure, performed without an abdominal incision and general anesthesia, is attractive to patients and is leading to the rapid development and introduction of these alternative therapies into clinical practice, despite the lack of long-term follow-up and well-designed randomized trials. These endoscopic interventions may be considered ‘‘bridge’’ therapy, because patients who undergo these treatments can still elect to be treated with chronic medications or operation if the endoscopic therapy does not provide symptom relief or if symptoms recur. In this article, the authors review the endoscopic procedures that have been introduced to treat GERD. Technical aspects, mechanisms of action, safety, efficacy, and tolerability of these ETs are discussed. Patient selection and relevant human studies are reviewed in an effort to clarify advantages and disadvantages of ETs over conventional surgical procedures.
Far-infrared transmission spectra of high Tc (Y0.6Ba0.4)2CuO4−y superconductors

Abstract We have measured the far-infrared transmission spectra of two samples of the YBaCuO superconductor which have transition temperatures of 98K and 86K respectively. Both samples showed absorption peaks at 110 cm -1 , 141 cm -1 , 173 cm -1 , 209 cm -1 , 234 cm -1 , 273 cm -1 , and 328 cm -1 , in the frequency range of 50 – 340 cm -1 , in both the normal and the superconducting states. The peak frequencies did not vary with temperature. The linewidths were smaller for the sample with T c = 98 K. For one sample it was estimated from the temperature dependence of the transmission spectra that the superconducting energy gap was 2δ ≅ 3.3 kT c .
Moving targets: Introducing mobility into universal service obligations

Structural changes in the economies of developing countries are leading to increased mobility of work and family life, and so an accommodating set of universal service obligations (USOs) implies new goals that extend beyond wireline telephone penetration and access. Wireless telephony penetration frequently exceeds wireline penetration in developing countries, and digital wireless platforms can incorporate Internet technology. This paper evaluates the history of telecom development in Mexico that has led to wireless telephony becoming the new consumption norm. The study takes the eMexico project as a case study of diversified USOs beyond wireline telephony. It considers potential obstacles to incorporating mobile phone and Internet (''Wireless Web'') services into Mexico's diversified universal service policy, including economic barriers to political mobilization over issues of telecom policy.
Ion-beam sculpting at nanometre length scales

Manipulating matter at the nanometre scale is important for many electronic, chemical and biological advances, but present solid-state fabrication methods do not reproducibly achieve dimensional control at the nanometre scale. Here we report a means of fashioning matter at these dimensions that uses low-energy ion beams and reveals surprising atomic transport phenomena that occur in a variety of materials and geometries. The method is implemented in a feedback-controlled sputtering system that provides fine control over ion beam exposure and sample temperature. We call the method "ion-beam sculpting", and apply it to the problem of fabricating a molecular-scale hole, or nanopore, in a thin insulating solid-state membrane. Such pores can serve to localize molecular-scale electrical junctions and switches and function as masks to create other small-scale structures. Nanopores also function as membrane channels in all living systems, where they serve as extremely sensitive electro-mechanical devices that regulate electric potential, ionic flow, and molecular transport across cellular membranes. We show that ion-beam sculpting can be used to fashion an analogous solid-state device: a robust electronic detector consisting of a single nanopore in a Si3N4 membrane, capable of registering single DNA molecules in aqueous solution.
A lightweight code analysis and its role in evaluation of a dependability case

A dependability case is an explicit, end-to-end argument, based on concrete evidence, that a system satisfies a critical property. We report on a case study constructing a dependability case for the control software of a medical device. The key novelty of our approach is a lightweight code analysis that generates a list of side conditions that correspond to assumptions to be discharged about the code and the environment in which it executes. This represents an unconventional trade-off between, at one extreme, more ambitious analyses that attempt to discharge all conditions automatically (but which cannot even in principle handle environmental assumptions), and at the other, flow- or context-insensitive analyses that require more user involvement. The results of the analysis suggested a variety of ways in which the dependability of the system might be improved.
A novel synthesis of 2‐substituted oxazolines

Thermal rearrangement of N-acyl-2-oxazolidones in the presence of calcium oxide has been shown to provide a new entry into 2-substituted oxazolines.
Sustainability of the automotive recycling infrastructure: review of current research and identification of future challenges

In addition to rising fuel prices, government policy-makers are endeavouring to reduce the environmental impact of the automotive industry through directives and standards. Automotive manufacturers are working to reduce the use phase environmental impact of automobiles by introducing innovative vehicle designs. However, these product design changes may jeopardise the profitability of the business entities within the automotive recovery infrastructure leading to deleterious environmental impacts. This paper focuses on describing past research relative to the automotive recovery infrastructure and those research challenges that may arise in the future. The aim is identify the research gaps in order to ensure the sustainability of the recovery infrastructure.
Sima Qian and Adam Smith

In the (Pacific Economic Review 1, 137–45), Leslie Young argued that Sima Qian anticipated Adam Smith's famous concept of the “invisible hand.” While this point is beyond dispute, Young makes the additional claim that Smith’s conception of the natural order was probably “imported from China.” This paper demonstrates that Smith's vision of the natural order was not imported from China.
Capsular Management During Hip Arthroscopy: From Femoroacetabular Impingement to Instability

Advances in the ability to treat various soft-tissue and osseous pathologic conditions of the hip arthroscopically have been predicated on an improved exposure of the pathology of the central, peripheral, and peritrochanteric compartments. The management of the capsule is critical and must allow for an improved exposure without compromising stability and kinematics of the hip. Described approaches have included capsulectomy, limited capsulotomy, extensile capsulotomy, capsular plication, and capsular shift. The selected approach must consider various factors, including symptomatic complaints, underlying hyperlaxity, specific mechanical pathology, and surgical expertise. Universally using a single technique without consideration of the complex mechanical and anatomic factors unique to each patient may result in incomplete treatment of the pathoanatomy or iatrogenic instability. This article reviews the anatomy of the hip capsule and provide a diagnosis-based consideration of capsular management during hip arthroscopy. The senior author's preferred techniques are also presented.
BENEFITS OF POSITIVE HUMAN INTERACTION FOR SOCIALLY- HOUSED CHIMPANZEES

Human interaction as environmental enrichment for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and other primates is widely promoted and believed to be of value, but has been subject to little objective evaluation. This study assessed the effects of positive human interaction (eg relaxed treat feeding, playing, and other forms of social interaction compatible with personnel safety) on the behaviour of adult chimpanzees. Subjects were housed indoors in groups of two or three individuals. The level of interaction during routine care and management (ie in the process of cleaning, feeding, and monitoring) represented the baseline condition. The test condition involved a familiar caretaker spending an additional 10 minutes per day, 5 days a week, with each chimpanzee. This study was designed to assess carry-over effects of interaction on behaviour outside of the context of care staff presence. Therefore, in all phases of the study, data (97 hours of focal animal sampling) were collected only when caretakers were absent from the building. During the increased human interaction phase, the chimpanzees groomed each other more and showed lower levels of the following behaviours: regurgitation/reingestion, other oral abnormal behaviours, inactivity, and reactivity to the displays of neighboring groups. A trend toward reduced agonistic displaying was detected as well. Attempted interactions with the observer shifted significantly from predominantly aggressive to predominantly affiliative in nature. These results suggest that simple, unstructured affiliation between humans and chimpanzees should be a valued component of behavioural management.
County jail financing in Kentucky

Despite statutory provisions, jailers report a varity of fees received for care of prisoners.
Processing of Novel Electroceramic Components by SFF Techniques

Novel piezoelectric ceramic and ceramic/polymer composite structures were fabricated by solid freeform fabrication (SFF) for sensor and actuator applications. SFF techniques including fused deposition of ceramics (FDC) and Sanders prototyping (SP) were utilized to fabricate a variety of complex structures directly from a computer aided design (CAD) file. Novel composite structures including volume fraction gradients (VFG) and staggered rods, as well as actuator designs such as tubes, spirals and telescopes were made using the flexibility provided by the above processes. VFG composites were made by SP technique with the ceramic content decreasing from the center towards the edges. This resulted in a reduction of side lobe intensity in the acoustic beam pattern. The FDC technique was used to manufacture high authority actuators utilizing novel designs for the amplification of strain under applied electric field. The design, fabrication and electromechanical properties of these composite and actuator structures are discussed in this paper.
Radial dependence of magnetohydrodynamic continuum modes for an incompressible plasma

The spatial structure of the magnetohydrodynamic shear Alfven and cusp continuum modes in axisymmetric toroidal geometry is analyzed for an incompressible plasma. The normal component ξ ψ of the plasma displacement is found to have an oscillatory type of singularity, ξ ψ ∼ (ψ - ψ 0 ) δ ∼ sin(|δ|ln|ψ - ψ 0 | + const), or, for example, in the case of up/down symmetry, a purely logarithmic behavior. This result was also obtained in the more general case of a compressible plasma (Salat, A. and Tataronis, J. A. 1999 Phys. Plasmas 6, 3207). However, in that work the incompressible limit could not be taken because the continuum equations were written in terms of a variable that becomes ill-defined in the limit. The present ab initio derivation shows that, in general, the incompressible limit in the previous work, γ → ∞, where γ is the ratio of the specific heats, does give the correct spatial dependence. Furthermore, we prove that it is possible to recover the oscillatory type of singularity for the cylindrical screw pinch from the logarithmic singularity of an up/down symmetric torus.
Beyond the Humanitarian/Political Divide: Witnessing and the Making of Humanitarian Ethics

This essay examines how witnessing became encoded as an act of advocacy that may furnish a response to the plight of distant victims, and how it has impacted upon contemporary humanitarian ethics. By following the discourses and practices of witnessing elaborated by the French section of the humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) since the late 1970s, the essay argues that witnessing helped transform a well-established humanitarian sensibility into a full-fledged humanitarian responsibility, which has been thoughtfully and systematically attentive to the pitfalls of transnational aid. The essay shows that when mobilized by individual and collective actors who strove to constitute themselves as subjects of moral conduct, witnessing took on disparate forms and rationalities that amounted neither to eye-witnessing nor simply to the public use of speech. It concludes by offering a reappraisal of the contemporary politics of humanitarianism, arguing that contemporary human...
Study protocol: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in first-line treatment of squamous non-small cell lung cancer

There is a high unmet need for effective treatments for patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eli Lilly and Company is conducting a phase III, randomized, multicenter, open-label study of gemcitabine plus cisplatin plus necitumumab (GC + N) versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) for the first-line treatment of patients with stage IV squamous NSCLC. Given GC is not the only treatment commonly used for the treatment of squamous NSCLC, this study was designed to compare the survival, toxicity, and quality of life outcomes of current treatment strategies for squamous NSCLC in the first-line setting. A systematic review and meta-analysis (including indirect comparisons) of treatments used in squamous NSCLC will be conducted to assess the clinical efficacy (overall and progression-free survival), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and safety (grade 3–4 toxicity) of GC + N compared to other treatments used in squamous NSCLC. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines will be followed for all aspects of this study. A systematic literature review will be conducted to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating chemotherapy treatment in first-line NSCLC. Eligible articles will be restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) among chemotherapy-naive advanced NSCLC cancer patients that report outcome data (survival, toxicity, or quality of life) for patients with squamous histology. Following data extraction and validation, data consistency and study heterogeneity will be assessed. A network meta-analysis will be conducted based on the available hazard ratios for overall and progression-free survival, odds ratios for published toxicity data, and mean difference of HRQoL scales. Sensitivity analyses will be conducted. This is a presentation of the study protocol only. Results and conclusions are pending completion of this study. PROSPERO CRD42014008968
Variation in the senescence of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivars. I. Comparison of flower life, respiration and ethylene biosynthesis

Abstract Cut flowers of the ‘Sandra’ and ‘Chinera’ cultivars of carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L.) lasted about twice as long (approx. 14 days) as those of ‘White Sim’. Vase life of ‘White Sim’ was unaffected by the age of the flower at harvest, but the life ‘Sandra’ and ‘Chinera’ fell as flower age at harvest increased. The senescence of ‘White Sim’ and ‘Chinera’ carnations, indicated by petal in-rolling and wilting, was accompanied by a marked increase in respiration, l-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) content, ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) activity, and C 2 H 4 production. In contrast, ‘Sandra’ flowers showed neither petal in-rolling nor climacteric respiration and C 2 H 4 production during their eventual senescence. There was negligible ACC and very low EFE activity in petals of ‘Sandra’ throughout the post-harvest period.
Novel elastomeric polyurethanes with pendant epoxy groups as highly reactive auxiliary groups for further derivatizations

The introduction of pendant, reactive groups into polyurethane macromolecules is a challenging problem. A variant of the nondegradative modification of polyurethanes with epoxy groups attached to the urethane sites is proposed. Two types of commercial elastomeric segmented polyurethanes, represented by a poly(ether urethane) and a poly(urethane urea), were functionalized by base-induced N-glycidylation of the urethane hard segments with an excess of epibromohydrin in dimethylacetamide solutions at low temperatures. This resulted in the modification of polymers with 0.30–0.44 mmol/g of pendant epoxy groups. Lithium or potassium tert-butoxides were used as bases to initiate the reaction. A nonpolymeric urethane model (ethyl N-p-tolylcarbamoate) was used to verify the course of glycidylation. One of the polymers was subjected to epoxy ring opening with 1-propanethiol, demonstrating the versatility of pendant glycidyl groups as auxiliary groups for further bulk modifications of polyurethanes. These functionalized polyurethanes are useful for the further covalent attachment of suitable moieties (stabilizing or biocompatibility-enhancing agents). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4378–4385, 2002
Approaching ballistic transport in suspended graphene.

The discovery of graphene1,2 raises the prospect of a new class of nanoelectronic devices based on the extraordinary physical properties3,4,5,6 of this one-atom-thick layer of carbon. Unlike two-dimensional electron layers in semiconductors, where the charge carriers become immobile at low densities, the carrier mobility in graphene can remain high, even when their density vanishes at the Dirac point. However, when the graphene sample is supported on an insulating substrate, potential fluctuations induce charge puddles that obscure the Dirac point physics. Here we show that the fluctuations are significantly reduced in suspended graphene samples and we report low-temperature mobility approaching 200,000 cm2 V−1 s−1 for carrier densities below 5 × 109 cm−2. Such values cannot be attained in semiconductors or non-suspended graphene. Moreover, unlike graphene samples supported by a substrate, the conductivity of suspended graphene at the Dirac point is strongly dependent on temperature and approaches ballistic values at liquid helium temperatures. At higher temperatures, above 100 K, we observe the onset of thermally induced long-range scattering. The novel electronic properties of graphene can be compromised when it is supported on an insulating substrate. However, suspended graphene samples can display low-temperature mobility values that cannot be attained in semiconductors or non-suspended graphene, and the conductivity approaches ballistic values at liquid-helium temperatures.
VLSI implementation of adaptive bit/serial IIR filters

A new structure for the VLSI implementation of a bit/serial adaptive IIR filter is presented. The system is built at a bit level consisting of only gated full adders. This approach allows recursive operation of the IIR filter to be implemented with minimal delay time and chip area. The coefficients of the filter can be updated in real time for the time invariant and adaptive filtering. The fourth-order filter is implemented on a 2- mu m CMOS technology clocked at 50 MHz. >
Do-not-resuscitate orders: providing safe care while honoring the patient's wishes.

A do-not-resuscitate order means that a patient should be allowed to die naturally (ie, no resuscitation is provided) in the event the patient experiences respiratory or cardiac arrest. A do-not-resuscitate order is initiated by the patient; however, it does not mean that treatment is withheld if the patient needs medical intervention. Clinicians may have differing interpretations of what a do-not-resuscitate order means, especially when a patient is undergoing a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia. In this instance, a do-not-resuscitate order can create the ethical dilemma of how to safely care for the patient while honoring his or her wishes and values. Many perioperative clinicians view do-notresuscitate orders as being inconsistent with anesthesia administration and surgery, and, historically, do-not-resuscitate orders have been suspended during the perianesthesia period of patient care. Beginning in the 1960s, the widespread use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as an automatic treatment whenever a patient experienced cardiac or respiratory arrest became common. Because of this, uncertainty arose and discussions
Consumer Sovereignty, Democracy, and the Marketing Concept: A Macromarketing Perspective

Abstract Marketing mythology includes a story in which the marketing concept is linked to consumer sovereignty and thus transforms a manager's pursuit of profit into consumer benefits. This story jeopardizes marketing education because it omits the element of individual responsibility and makes unrealistic assumptions about markets. Study of the long forgotten historical origins of this story reveals that the underlying concepts are based upon individual responsibility, and make realistic assumptions about markets. Early contributors to marketing and economic thought provide an alternative perspective for marketing education. Resume Un des mythes du marketing consiste a asservir le concept de marketing a la toute-puissance du consommateur et, par la, a transformer l'appetit de profits du gestionnaire en avantages pour le consommateur. Ce mythe comporte un risque pour l'enseignement du marketing parce qu'il omet l'element de responsabilite individuelle et conduit a des suppositions irrealistes a propos des marches. L'etude des lointaines origines historiques de ce mythe revele au contraire que les concepts de depart sont fondes sur la responsabilite individuelle et menent a des hypotheses realistes sur les marches. Les premiers theoriciencs du marketing et de l'economie offrent un autre point de vue par rapport a l'enseignement du marketing.
Gendered Justice in the American West: Women Prisoners in Men's Penitentiaries

The woman prisoner -- The male prison world -- Women of the prison world -- Women's worlds of violence -- Women's health inside the walls -- Women and prison work -- Women prisoners respond.
Warfarin–Antiretroviral Interactions

Objective:To review the literature for information regarding interactions between warfarin and antiretroviral agents and evaluate the clinical significance of these interactions.Data Sources:Primary literature was identified through a search of MEDLINE (1950–July 2008) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–July 2008) using individual antiretroviral drug names and the following key search terms: warfarin, antiretroviral, protease inhibitor, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, cytochrome P450,2C9, HIV, and drug interactions. Relevant abstracts from infectious disease and HIV conferences (2005–2008), reference citations from relevant articles, and manufacturers' product information were also reviewed.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All English-language articles identified through the data search were examined. Studies and reports addressing warfarin interactions with antiretrovirals, CYP2C9 polymorphism, and antiretroviral CYP2C9 effects were evaluated. A total of 12 case reports we...
Low-Dose Spiral CT Screening and Evaluation of the Solitary Pulmonary Nodule

Lung cancer screening using helical low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) increased drastically after publication of a successful well-designed prospective randomized screening study, the National Lung Screening Trial. This increase in screening has led to a significant increase in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). Some of these lesions are early cancers, and their removal can potentially prevent a lung cancer death. Some have the histologic appearance of a cancer but will never progress and cause harm. Some are non-neoplastic and are best observed. The number of lesions detected with LDCT is so great that algorithms are being developed for more efficient evaluation and management of SPNs. This article will discuss current tools, approaches, and concerns regarding patient care in this setting.
Local and Global Stability of Discrete One-Dimensional Population Models

Local and global stability do not necessarily coincide even for one-humped discrete models. We give several sufficient conditions for global stability, and use these conditions to show that for the usual population models from the litterature, local and global stability do coincide. The sufficient conditions also imply that local and global stability coincide for slightly more complicated models. We give examples of the simplest models which are locally but not globally stable.
Assessing the environmental justice consequences of flood risk: a case study in Miami, Florida

Recent environmental justice (EJ) research has emphasized the need to analyze social inequities in the distribution of natural hazards such as hurricanes and floods, and examine intra-ethnic diversity in patterns of EJ. This study contributes to the emerging EJ scholarship on exposure to flooding and ethnic heterogeneity by analyzing the racial/ethnic and socioeconomic characteristics of the population residing within coastal and inland flood risk zones in the Miami Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Florida—one of the most ethnically diverse MSAs in the U.S. and one of the most hurricane-prone areas in the world. We examine coastal and inland flood zones separately because of differences in amenities such as water views and beach access. Instead of treating the Hispanic population as a homogenous group, we disaggregate the Hispanic category into relevant country-of-origin subgroups. Inequities in flood risk exposure are statistically analyzed using socio-demographic variables derived from the 2010 U.S. Census and 2007–2011 American Community Survey estimates, and 100-year flood risk zones from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Social vulnerability is represented with two neighborhood deprivation indices called economic insecurity and instability. We also analyze the presence of seasonal/vacation homes and proximity to public beach access sites as water-related amenity variables. Logistic regression modeling is utilized to estimate the odds of neighborhood-level exposure to coastal and inland 100-year flood risks. Results indicate that neighborhoods with greater percentages of non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and Hispanic subgroups of Colombians and Puerto Ricans are exposed to inland flood risks in areas without water-related amenities, while Mexicans are inequitably exposed to coastal flood risks. Our findings demonstrate the importance of treating coastal and inland flood risks separately while controlling for water-related amenities, and recognizing intra-ethnic diversity within the Hispanic category to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of the social distribution of flood risks.
A Review of The Tough Kid On-Task in a Box.

When K. Daniel O’Leary (1980) asked the simple question, which is more beneficial for children, pills or skills, he would sound an alarm that would motivate behavioral researchers to search out effective programs that could serve as reasonable alternatives to the rush to medical intervention? Thirty-five years later, despite decades of well-documented behavioral research into effective interventions, we appear no closer to resolving this question than we were when O’Leary postulated it. Although behavior therapy is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, evidence suggests a lack within the medical community of recommended psychological options (Visser et al. 2015). As noted by Visser et al., as of 2015, 43 % of the 6.4 million children diagnosed with ADHD are currently treated with medication, as compared with 13 % of those diagnosed with ADHD being treated with behavior therapy.
Mechanical stretch/relaxation of cultured rat mesangial cells induces protooncogenes and cyclooxygenase

In cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells, continuous cycles of stretching and relaxation (stretch/relaxation) stimulate cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and prostaglandin production. We examined regulation of gene expression that may underlie these alterations in cell functions. Stretch/relaxation caused time-dependent induction of the immediate early genes, c-fos and zif 268/egr-1, with maximal increases occurring between 15 and 30 min. The mitogen-inducible prostaglandin G2/H2 synthase (PGH2S-2) gene was also induced within 30 min of stretch/relaxation, with concomitant increases in the immunoreactive PGH2S-2 protein. These gene inductions were preceded by transient translocation of protein kinase C activity from cytosol to membrane as well as by increases in 45Ca2+ uptake and total cellular calcium content. The stretch/relaxation-induced expression was suppressed by protein kinase C inhibition, whereas less profound inhibition was observed with inhibition of calcium influx in low (100 nM) calcium buffer. These findings indicate that in mesangial cells mechanical stress induces expression of the protooncogenes and the mitogen-inducible cyclooxygenase primarily through protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms.