cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OUTCOME MEASURES FOR ASSESSMENT OF TREATMENT OF THE DIZZY AND BALANCE DISORDER PATIENT

There are a variety of measurement tools available for assessing the treatment outcomes for patients with dizziness and imbalance. Some of these tools, however, may not be appropriate or valid for the patients in question. In this article, the various outcome measures are described and evaluated in terms of their reliability, validity, and sensitivity. There is no clearly superior outcome measure at this time, and the choice of the measurement tool depends on the patient and the aims of the treatment.
An agent‐based intelligent virtual learning environment for construction management

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the deployment of an e‐learning environment for construction courses based on enhancing virtual computing technologies using agent‐based techniques.Design/methodology/approach – This research involves designing and deploying a complex application that combines advanced visualisation, interactive management through complex virtual devices, distributed multi‐user communication and intelligent components. The proposed agent‐oriented methodology and resulting application organises construction knowledge into a structure that enables the students to undertake more self‐directed, systematic and scientific exploration.Findings – There is great potential for experimenting with a wider variety of educational technologies such as “intelligent” virtual environments. This is a concept that needs further experimentation within construction courses to enrich students' learning with practice‐based experiences. The use of ageny‐oriented objects within simulations and modeling make th...
Mobile Eco Lab

studios emphasizes economy of means, reconsideration of construction techniques, and the adaptive reuse of materials and building components. Hands-on experience provides students with a fresh perspective on what is "appropriate" design at full scale. While considering various construction strategies, students often find predetermined notions of design solutions insufficient. In response, architects-to-be learn to rely on their personal experiences and their innate sensibilities. Through the ultimate realization of their work, students apprehend a more informed architecture. The project's purpose was to explore issues of portability and mobility through the design/build studio. Inspired by Sant'Elia in his "Futurist Manifesto" catalog for the Citti Nuova exhibition, we adhered to the belief that "We no longer believe in the monumental, the heavy and static, and have enriched our sensibilities with a taste for lightness, transience and practicality .... We must invent and rebuild ex novo our modern city like an immense and tumultuous shipyard, active, mobile, and everywhere dynamic, and the modern building like a giant machine." The adopted studio language conveys a proactive design process that responds to the challenge of building for mobility. A measure of the mobile Eco Lab's success is in its daily use and deployment throughout the city of Los Angeles. The final construct, reflecting Sant'Elia's "Futurist" concerns, is built as a lightweight temporary structure: economical, experimental, and flexible. The mobile Eco Lab was built in collaboration with the Hol-
Do Fresh Osteochondral Allografts Successfully Treat Femoral Condyle Lesions

Background Fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation is an increasingly common treatment option for chondral and osteochondral lesions in the knee, but the long-term outcome is unknown.
A new species of Ceratocystis on Endothia parasitica canker of American chestnut.

In October 1976 a canker of Endothia parasitica (Murr.) P. J. & H. W. And. from American chestnut, Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh, was sent to me for examination to determine whether or not the fungus Ceratocystis microspora (Davids.) Davidson was present. Previously, C. microspora had been reported in close association with the Endothia cankers on live oaks in Williamsburg, Va. (1). On examination, this canker and seven others received during 1977, also from American chestnut from western North Carolina, were found to have C. microspora perithecia present on them (3). My study of these eight cankers, incubated in damp chambers, showed a second species of Ceratocystis to be fruiting in abundance on seven of them. The perithecia of this species were smaller and more superficial than those of C. microspora. Ascospores from mature perithecia were held at the tip of the long perithecial necks in a white spherical mass (FIG. 1), whereas ascospores at the tips of perithecial necks of C. microspora were held in an irregular light brown mass. This feature and differences in size of perithecia make the species easily distinguishable. Both species were easily isolated and grown on culture medium by transferring the spore masses with a sterile needle. The cultures were also strikingly different. Ceratocystis microspora was somewhat slower growing and perithecia developed more slowly (FIGS. 2, 3). Cultures of the second species developed a slightly raised, dense, white surface mat with black perithecia starting to develop in 2 wk and maturing in 4 to 5 wk. (FIG. 4). It is here described as a new species.
Outcome and Prognostic Factors After Adrenalectomy for Patients with Distant Adrenal Metastasis

Background The purpose of this study was to describe a single-institution experience with adrenal metastasectomy and to elucidate factors that may bear prognostic significance.
Computer-aided stereotach.

Abstract A stereotach has been designed and constructed on the principle that computer processing of the readings frees the designer to arrange an instrument for maximum convenience of manipulation, and the constructor from precise machine work except at a few critical points. A computer program easily converts readings to measurements expressed in any desired coordinate system at little cost, and with considerable economy of construction.
Collinear reaction surface for He and ArH

An LCAO‐SCF ccalculation is presented for the potential energy surface for He and ArH. The calculation was done using contracted gaussian basis sets on a Honeywell 6660 computer using the MOLE quantum chemistry program. (AIP)
Inducible nitric oxide synthase modulates hydronephrosis following partial or complete unilateral ureteral obstruction in the neonatal mouse

To investigate the role of endogenous inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the response of the developing kidney to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), neonatal iNOS null mutant (−/−) and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to partial or complete UUO. At 7 and 21 days of age, apoptosis, renin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblasts (anti-fibroblast-specific peptide 1), myofibroblasts (α-smooth muscle actin), macrophages (F4/80), and collagen were measured in kidney tissue. Compared with WT, renal parenchymal thickness was increased, with preservation of the papilla, in −/− mice with partial UUO, but decreased in −/− mice with complete UUO. Ureteral peristalsis increased with severity of pelvic dilatation in WT, and increased further in −/− mice with partial UUO. Apoptosis, fibroblasts, and macrophages were increased in −/− mice with complete UUO, but there was no effect of iNOS on other histological parameters following complete UUO. Renin was decreased in −/− mice with partial UUO. There was no effect of iNOS genotype on renal collagen accumulation at either 7 or 21 days of age. These results are consistent with an injurious role for endogenous iNOS following partial UUO by inhibiting ureteral peristalsis and increasing renal renin although renal fibrosis is not affected. In contrast, in mice with complete UUO, iNOS attenuates apoptosis and enhances renal parenchymal thickness. Alterations in the severity of ureteral obstruction may therefore influence the effect of iNOS on long-term renal injury.
Protein folding and the genetic code: An alternative quantitative model

Abstract A linear equation is presented which quantitatively accounts for the tendency of amino acids to be found at the surface of globular proteins as a function of side-chain structure. The parameters are a steric effect constant, and indicator variables one of which represents the presence or absence of an OH or NH group, the other that of a strongly basic group. The distribution of amino acids between surface and interior of globular proteins is related to the second letter of the genetic code.
Self‐adjusting robotic painting system

– Aims to introduce a self‐adjusting robotic painting process for automotive fuel containers, capable of predicting the required correction action to avoid further defect production., – Presents the development, testing and on‐site implementation of a robotic thermal machine vision system designed for evaluating coat thickness and coverage attributes. Computer simulation is used to study the effect of the painting robot's program on the film build‐up., – Effective technique for the real‐time detection of anti‐corrosive coat's pinholes and pop‐ups. A systematic study for this paint deposition scheme., – The presented detection system and the simulation program methodology could be further studied and modified for other painting applications., – Provides insights validated with on‐site results and systematic study for the automated or the manual adjustments of the robotic painting parameters., – Introduces a novel application of thermal imaging for evaluating coated surfaces. In addition, a first reported case study of automotive fuel container's painting process. Presents potential application to reduce the defects generation thus, improving quality, and reducing production cost.
Computational Study of Transmembrane Domain of Cytokine Receptor Family

Cytokine receptor family represents an important group of proteins which play an essential role in transducing signals from extracellular via the transmembrane domain to the intracellular compartment of the cell. Understanding these transmembrane signaling at the molecular level is one of the most important, challenging biophysical problems. Transmembrane signaling is thought to be transmitted through the membrane receptors which undergo a variety of conformational changes upon ligand binding, ions and cofactors. In our study, we have modeled the transmembrane domains of four major cytokine receptors: human growth hormone receptor, human prolactin receptor, human erythropoietin receptor, and human thrombopoetin receptor. We have built the models using only sequence information and have applied replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations to sample the conformational space of the TM helices. We will present possible conformational changes of each transmembrane domain based on the clustering of the sampled conformations and the representative structures from each cluster. Furthermore, we will also present the molecular dynamics simulation studies of these models in explicit lipid environments to characterize the stability, orientation, and helix-lipid interactions of the models in lipid bilayers.
Oxygen free radicals and the cerebral arteriolar response to group B streptococci.

ABSTRACTS: We used a cranial window preparation to observe the effects of direct application of group B streptococci to the surface of the brain in the adult rat. Continuous exposure to group B streptococci at concentrations of 103 and 105 organisms/mL caused progressive dilation of surface (pial) cerebral arterioles that became statistically significant (p < 0.05) after 2.5 h. These results were reproduced with heat-killed organisms at the same concentration, but not with a bacteria-free filtrate of the growth medium. In separate studies, we found that infusion of alkaline cerebrospinal fluid (pH = 7.8) into the window did not reverse vasodilation, suggesting that it was not due to progressive cerebrospinal fluid acidosis. A solution of nitroblue tetrazolium infused into the window at the end of a 3-h exposure to the organism was promptly reduced, suggesting the presence of oxygen free radicals. Treatment with i.v. polyethylene glycol-superoxide dismutase and polyethylene glycol-catalase in doses of 10 000 and 20 000 U/ kg, respectively, was itself without effect on pial arterioles, but treatment with these compounds before exposure to group B streptococci eliminated the vasodilation. These data support a role for oxygen free radicals in the pathogenesis of pial arteriolar dysfunction induced by exposure to group B streptococci.
Identification of a Nfs1p-bound persulfide intermediate in Fe-S cluster synthesis by intact mitochondria

Cysteine desulfurases generate a covalent persulfide intermediate from cysteine, and this activated form of sulfur is essential for the synthesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters. In yeast mitochondria, there is a complete machinery for Fe-S cluster synthesis, including a cysteine desulfurase, Nfs1p. Here we show that following supplementation of isolated mitochondria with [(35)S]cysteine, a radiolabeled persulfide could be detected on Nfs1p. The persulfide persisted under conditions that did not permit Fe-S cluster formation, such as nucleotide and/or iron depletion of mitochondria. By contrast, under permissive conditions, the radiolabeled Nfs1p persulfide was greatly reduced and radiolabeled aconitase was formed, indicating transfer of persulfide to downstream Fe-S cluster recipients. Nfs1p in mitochondria was found to be relatively more resistant to inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) as compared with a prokaryotic cysteine desulfurase. Mitochondria treated with NEM (1 mM) formed the persulfide on Nfs1p but failed to generate Fe-S clusters on aconitase, likely due to inactivation of downstream recipient(s) of the Nfs1p persulfide. Thus the Nfs1p-bound persulfide as described here represents a precursor en route to Fe-S cluster synthesis in mitochondria.
Kinetic analysis of the M2 proton conduction of the influenza virus

The M2 protein of the flu virus forms a proton selective channel that is necessary for viral replication. The channel has a slow rate of conduction but attains near perfect selectivity for protons. Many models have been proposed to explain the mechanism of proton conduction based on whole cell channel recordings and molecular dynamics simulations, but a detailed kinetic analysis of the channel activity has not yet been performed. We obtained detailed conduction vs pH measurements for M2 and a number of its variants using a sensitive and reproducible liposome proton flux assay. The proton transport follows Michaelis−Menten-like kinetics with two saturation steps: one pseudosaturation at pH ∼5.5, and another full saturation at pH ∼4. The heart of the mechanism is the pore-lining His37 and Trp41. NMR measurements suggest that histidine and tryptophan act in unison to transport protons down the concentration gradient. The log of apparent Km derived from the kinetics data matches closely to the histidine pKa a...
Could LDAP be the next killer DAP

About a year ago, Netscape Communications, with the support of more than 40 other companies, adopted the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Notably absent from the list of early LDAP supporters, Microsoft came on board eight months later. LDAP is a protocol that allows a program such as a browser or an e-mail package to perform directory lookups across a wide variety of directories, even if they run on different operating systems and directory environments. For example, LDAP could search the internal corporate directory stored on a corporate server or a publicly available directory. In some ways, LDAP itself is not the critical element. A protocol alone is not enough. What's missing is a useful set of directory servers that support LDAP and client software that conveniently queries those servers using LDAP. Well, as it turns out both of those things do exist. In Netscape Navigator 4.0, simply go to Edit I Search Directory, select the proper directory service, type in a person's name, press Search and voila-you get a short list of the people who might match the name in question. From the interface, you are now two clicks away from sending an e-mail message to that person. Now that is a killer DAP-it's clearly obvious just how useful this feature will be.
Germination of gibberellin sensitive Solanum (potato) botanical seeds soaked in GA3 and re-dried.

Soaking true seeds of potato species in gibberellin (GA) solution prior to sowing has been shown to enhance germination. However, it is often more convenient to sow dry seeds. Model seedlots were selected which had very high germination when soaked in GA and very low without it (i.e., very dependent on GA). These were assumed to provide a sensitive test for germination decline when GA-treated seeds are re-dried. Re-drying and storage for one week had little effect on final percent germination and no effect on the efficacy of GA for enhancing germination. There appears to be little risk in applying this technique whenever it makes seed sowing more convenient.
Focusing of an Electron Stream with Radio-frequency Fields†

Abstract A stream of electrons has been focused solely by the fields of a slow (0p⁢c) electromagnetic wave An analysis was obtained by transforming to the wave frame in which the equations of motion of electrostatic periodic focusing are valid. Using the well-known results for the static case, and retransforming to the laboratory frame, focusing behaviour and design information (circuit size, frequency, power for a given stream) wore obtained. A second but more appropriate analysis was made by transforming to the average electron frame in order to predict both fast and slow-wave results; for the axially symmetric modes considered, the slow-wave focusing requires orders of magnitude less power than for fast waves and has a more favourable field shape Several experiments were performed using a helix as the slow waveguide. The stream was launched into the helix and was collected both on the helix and by a collector at the opposite end. Typically 10 to 50% of the current would be transmitted with no wave, ris...
Active vibration control of a space truss using a lead zirconate titanate stack actuator

AbstractThis paper presents design, implementation and experimental results of active vibration control of Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) space truss using a piezoelectric ceramic stack actuator. ...
Experience with transactions in QuickSilver

All programs in the QuickSilver distributed system behave atomically with respect to their updates to permanent data. Operating system support for transactions provides the framework required to support this, as well as a mechanism that unifies reclamation of resources after failures or normal process termination. This paper evaluates the use of transactions for these purposes in a general purpose operating system and presents some of the lessons learned from our experience with a complete running system based on transactions. Examples of how transactions are used in QuickSilver and measurements of their use demonstrate that the transaction mechanism provides an efficient and powerful means for solving many of the problems introduced by operating system extensibility and distribution.
Metabolic and Endocrine correlates of cognitive function in healthy young women

Objective Obesity has been associated with cognitive decline in longitudinal studies of older individuals. We hypothesized that the cognitive sequelae of obesity may be detectable in the reproductive years. In addition, we explored the hypothesis that these associations may be mediated by the hormonal milieu. Design and Methods Of 49 young healthy lean and overweight women aged 20-45, we investigated the association between performance on a battery of cognitive tests, body composition parameters [body mass index, total fat, abdominal (visceral, subcutaneous, and total) adipose tissue, and muscle], and hormone levels (insulin, adiponectin, leptin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), estrogen, testosterone, and vitamin D). Results We found a significant negative association between both visceral adiposity and muscle, and performance in the domain of verbal learning and memory, after controlling for age and education. Other body composition parameters showed similar trends (0.05 < P < 0.10). Additionally, the degree of insulin resistance was negatively associated with executive function domain. None of the associations between the other hormones examined (adipokines, IGF-1, gonadal hormones, and vitamin D) and cognitive function were significant. Conclusion These preliminary findings suggest a possible association between obesity and cognitive function in healthy young women of reproductive age. More research is warranted into the potential modulatory effect of insulin resistance on this association.
Single-ended HEMT RF/microwave frequency doubler design using reflector networks

Microwave and RF frequency multipliers are widely used in a large number of communications, radar, civilian and military systems. This paper presents the development of active doublers operating in the S and C frequency bands. These devices are unique in that HEMTs are employed with specialized embedding networks to provide optimized performance. Conversion gains of approximately 7 dB have been attained for narrowband designs (5% bandwidth), 5 dB for medium bandwidth designs (15%), and 4 dB for wide bandwidth designs (35%). The fundamental and third harmonic rejection is approximately 40 dBc for the narrowband designs and greater than 50 dBc for the medium and wideband designs.
The global compact: the conservative politics of international tourism.

Abstract In response to any distributive outcome, politics asks, “who benefits?” and its corollary, “who loses?” Tourism, the world's largest industry, must have a politics; its presence changes the distribution of power and wealth, and promotes some values and groups over others. Yet tourism is deeply depoliticized. A few key characteristics of tourism, combined with basic aspects of the international system, create tendencies and patterns at three levels: the local, the national, and the international. The industry's elasticity means that quantitative projections are less helpful in understanding what politics is, and for identifying prospective winners and losers, than are qualitative sketches outlining how power relationships are elided in different spheres. This essay considers the current state of international tourism, and the infrastructure, national and international, that support and guide it, emphasizing the ideas and practices that keep politics out, and arguing that tourism is to a considerable degree about elites justifying, or mystifying, the status quo, and destinations playing into those expectations.
Selective desorption/ionization of sulfatides by MALDI-MS facilitated using 9-aminoacridine as matrix

Recently, we used the favorable properties of 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) as matrix for the quantitative analysis of acidic metabolites and glycerophospholipids from extracts of biological materials [Sun, G., Yang, K., Zhao, Z., Guan, S., Han, X., and Gross, R.W. (2007) A shotgun metabolomics approach for rapid analysis of negatively-charged water-soluble cellular metabolites from mouse heart tissue. Anal. Chem. 79: 6629–6640; Sun, G., Yang, K., Zhao, Z., Guan, S., Han, X., and Gross, R.W. (2008) Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometric analysis of cellular glycerophospholipids enabled by multiplexed solvent dependent analyte-matrix interactions. Anal. Chem. 80: 7576–7585.] by MALDI-MS. Herein, we extend this discovery and identified the selective desorption/ionization of sulfatides over other examined anionic lipids present in lipid extracts of biological samples by MALDI-MS using 9-AA as matrix. Through this approach, a high throughput method for the quantitative analysis of low to very low abundance sulfatide molecular species directly from crude lipid extracts has been developed. This method possessed a linear dynamic range of over 1,000-fold, a detection limit at the high attomole level, and a reproducibility of approximately 10% deviation. Many potential factors that might affect the quantitation of sulfatide species employing the method were examined and their effects were found to be negligible within experimental error. Collectively, these results demonstrate a powerful high throughput method for the measurement of sulfatides directly from extracts of biological samples, facilitating the study of sulfatide metabolism, trafficking, and homeostasis in health and disease.
Prevalence of interstitial cystitis in vulvodynia patients detected by bladder potassium sensitivity.

ABSTRACT Introduction Intravesical potassium sensitivity has been reported in 82% of vulvodynia patients, suggesting the bladder generates their pain and indicating interstitial cystitis (IC)/painful bladder syndrome deserves greater attention in differential diagnosis of vulvodynia. Aims The aims of this study were to: (i) determine the prevalence of IC as detected by intravesical potassium sensitivity; and (ii) survey for urinary, pelvic pain, and sexually associated symptoms in patients with vulvodynia. Methods Consecutive patients with vulvodynia were surveyed for urinary and pelvic pain symptoms using the pelvic pain and urgency/frequency (PUF) questionnaire, and tested for abnormal epithelial permeability using the potassium sensitivity test (PST). Rates of positive PST were determined overall and by PUF score range, and were compared in patients with intermittent vs. constant vulvodynia symptoms. Main Outcome Measures Results of intravesical PST. Results Of 122 vulvodynia patients, 102 (84%) had a positive PST and 97 (80%) had urologic symptoms. Of the 87 sexually active patients, 81 (93%) reported pain associated with sex. Patients with constant (72/87, 83%) vs. intermittent symptoms (30/35, 86%) had no significant difference in rates of positive PST. Mean PUF score was 13.2. PUF scores of 3–4 were associated with an 86% rate of positive PST; scores 5–9, 44%; 10–14, 84%; 15–19, 87%; 20–24, 86%; and 25 and above, 100%. Conclusion Most patients with vulvodynia have a positive PST and urgency/frequency, indicating pain of bladder origin (IC). IC deserves far greater consideration in the differential diagnosis of patients with vulvodynia. This represents a dramatic change for the gynecologic paradigm of vulvodynia, which in many cases appears to be referred pain from the urinary bladder. Kahn BS, Tatro C, Parsons CL, and Willems JJ. Prevalence of interstitial cystitis in vulvodynia patients detected by bladder potassium sensitivity.
Size Matters: Polytoning Rhetoric's Perverse Apocalypse

Drawing on the insights of psychoanalysis and deconstruction, this article argues that the fixation of some scholars on the status, size, and identity of rhetorical studies is symptomatic of an apocalyptic perversion. An attention to the apocalyptic tone of recent discussions about “Big Rhetoric” in conference papers and journal articles bespeaks a characteristically phallogocentric ideology of discrimination between insiders and outsiders. An examination of the ubiquity and character of this tone, I suggest, forever precludes a united rhetorical studies for two reasons: (1) we enjoy our apocalyptic too much; and (2) apocalyptic is central to the identity of rhetorical studies because it is central to disciplinarity as such. Insofar as the urgency of the apocalyptic tone is sometimes a pragmatic and political necessity, an argument is made in favor of a more playful, polytonal apocalypticism that can help us better reckon with—and sometimes avoid—rhetoric that excludes.
The Accidental Practitioner: Principles of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in the Works of Kurt Vonnegut

Just as psychology, psychiatry, and philosophy have influenced the field of literary studies, literature provides insight about the theories and practices of its sister disciplines. The purpose of ...
Dietary Intake of Fiber, Fruit and Vegetables Decreases the Risk of Incident Kidney Stones in Women: A Women’s Health Initiative Report

Purpose: We evaluated the relationship between dietary fiber, fruit and vegetable intake, and the risk of kidney stone formation.Materials and Methods: Overall 83,922 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative observational study were included in the analysis and followed prospectively. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between total dietary fiber, fruit and vegetable intake, and the risk of incident kidney stone formation, adjusting for nephrolithiasis risk factors (age, race/ethnicity, geographic region, diabetes mellitus, calcium supplementation, hormone therapy use, body mass index and calibrated caloric intake; and dietary water, sodium, animal protein and calcium intake). Women with a history of kidney stones (3,471) were analyzed separately.Results: Mean age of the women was 64±7 years, 85% were white and 2,937 (3.5%) experienced a kidney stone in a median followup of 8 years. In women with no history of kidney stones higher total dieta...
Inflation and output dynamics with state-dependent pricing decisions

This paper studies a state-dependent pricing model in which firms face a fixed cost of changing their pricing plans. A pricing plan specifies an entire sequence of time-varying future prices. Allowing firms to choose a pricing plan rather than a single price generates inflation inertia in the response of the economy to small changes in the growth rate of money. Allowing firms to choose when to change their pricing plan generates a non-linear response of inflation and output to small and large changes in the money growth rate. The non-linear solution method also reveals that the model generates an asymmetric response of output and inflation to monetary expansions and contractions.
A compact positioning and velocity RF sensor for improved inertial navigation

Navigation in GPS-denied or GPS-inhibited environments such as urban canyons, mountain areas, and indoors is often accomplished with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). For portable navigation, minaturized IMUs suffer from poor accuracy due to bias, bias drift and noise. We propose to use a compact RF motion sensor to identify zero velocity periods during which the individual IMU sensor biases can be observed. The proposed motion sensor can also be used to detect the position and velocity of the IMU relative to the ground in real time, which provides additional independent information for sensor fusion. A prototype RF motion sensor has been constructed to demonstrate the concept and experimental results show that the proposed RF motion sensor is promising in position and velocity sensing.
Screening and Scheduling Process for Patients with Elevated Creatinine Requiring IV Hydration for CT Contrast Imaging

Pearls in Radiologic and ImagingNursing are developed by perceiving a problem and discovering a solution. In Radiology Imaging, the care of patients receiving IV contrast has become very complex, requiring a focus on screening and communication with referring providers, radiology staff and radiologists. By developing a process for patients at risk for contrast-induced nephropathy we have a working legacy for improving patient safety.AtChristianaHealthCare System, radiology nurses have collaborated with radiologists to develop a process for screening and scheduling patients with elevated creatinine requiring IV hydration for CT contrast imaging. By establishing guidelines, the diagnostic imaging of our at-risk patients is not unnecessarily delayed. The development of this process has resulted in improved provider compliance and patient safety. Our process involves identifying potential candidates (i.e., elevated creatinine), obtaining a thorough, focused health history, and communicating with a designated radiologist. If IV hydration is recommended by the radiologist, the referring provider is consulted for specific hydration orders. By identifying potential patient safety issues and developing a multidisciplinary process, the RadiologyNurses have taken a leadership role in providing quality care.
A Latent Class Analysis of DSM-IV and Fagerström (FTND) Criteria for Nicotine Dependence

Background: Nicotine dependence is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Two predominant classifica tion systems, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), have been used to measure liability to nicotine dependence, yet few studies have attempted to simultaneously examine both sets of criteria. Methods: Using a sample of 624 regular smoking individuals who are offspring of Vietnam Era Twin fathers ascertained for an offspring of twin study, we applied latent class analysis to the 7 DSM-IV and the 6 FTND criteria to classify individuals by their nicotine dependence symptom profiles. Post-hoc acrossclass comparisons were conducted using a variety of smokingrelated variables and aspects of psychopathology. Whether a single class identified offspring at high genetic and environmental vulnerability was also investigated. Results: The cross-diagnosis kappa was .30. A 4-class solution fit these data best. The classes included a low DSM-low FTND class and a high DSM-high FTND class; a moderate DSMmoderate FTND class, which was distinguished by moderate levels of smoking and intermediate levels of comorbid psychopathology; and a light smoking–moderate FTND class consisting primarily of lighter smokers with a more recent onset of regular smoking. High genetic and environmental vulnerability to nicotine dependence was noted in all classes with no statistically significant across-class differences. Conclusions: In general, the DSM-IV and FTND criteria performed similarly to define a continuum of risk for nicotine dependence. The emerging class of light smokers should be further investigated to assess whether they transition to another class or remain as such.
Mechanism driven trans stereospecificity in the Pictet-Spengler reaction. Stereospecific formation of trans-1,2,3-trisubstituted-tetrahydro β- carbolines by condensation of Nb-diphenylmethyl tryptophan isopropyl esters wtm aldehydes

Abstract Stereoelectronic control in the Pictet-Spengler condensation of N b -alkylsubstituted tryptophan alkyl esters has been employed to promote 100% stereoselectivity in this process. The reaction of N b -diphenylmethyl tryptophan isopropyl ester 8 with acetaldehyde in benzene at reflux yielded the trans-diastereomer 10d to the complete exclusion of the corresponding cis isomer. This trans stereospecificity was also observed for butyraldehyde and cyclohexylcarboxaldehyde.
Field programming to achieve uniform sensitivity for on‐line detection in electrophoresis

Under constant applied electric field, an analyte band traverses an on-line detection zone in an electrophoretic separation at a velocity inversely proportional to the detection time. Because analyte bands migrate with different velocities, the sensitivity of the detection system to different species can vary significantly. One approach for overcoming this problem is to change the applied electric field, E, as a function of the separation time, tau, so that the velocity of an analyte band when it passes through the detection zone is independent of the analyte's electrophoretic mobility. A possible solution is to make E(tau) grow exponentially, but this procedure causes band compression. The preferred solution is to make both E(tau) and the distance between the starting position of the sample and the detection zone increase linearly with separation time. This approach can be implemented with either slab-gel or capillary electrophoresis.
Hip and Thigh Problems

Some common hip and thigh problems are encountered by the primary care practitioner. The problems will range from osteoarthritis (OA) of the hips in older patients to femoral stress fractures and muscle tears in younger athletic patients. As with all musculoskeletal problems, a good working knowledge of the epidemiology, anatomy, associated symptoms and examination reduce confusion and enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Caring for hip and thigh problems is enhanced with a few simple organizational steps:
Age Affects the Risk of Sexual Cannibalism in Male Crab Spiders (Misumena vatia)

In certain arthropod groups, including spiders, males seeking copulations may expose themselves to cannibalism from females that are larger and stronger than they are. Although old males are commonly believed to be particularly vulnerable to sexual cannibalism, virtually no data exist to back that supposition. Female crab spiders Misumena vatia (Thomisidae) regularly attacked prospective mates experimentally presented in pairs whose individuals differed in age. They usually attacked the older male; all but one of the seven males cannibalized in these encounters was the older member of the pair. These attacks paralleled a decline in numbers of field-observed males, probably a consequence of their increasing vulnerability. The females' responses appeared to result from differences in male behavior or condition, since virgin females, wild-captured adult (and probably previously mated) females and penultimate females all attacked males with similar frequency.
Examining the genetic and environmental associations among spelling, reading fluency, reading comprehension and a high stakes reading test in a combined sample of third and fourth grade students

The present study is an examination of the genetic and environmental effects on the associations among reading fluency, spelling and earlier reading comprehension on a later reading comprehension outcome (FCAT) in a combined sample of 3rd and 4th grade students using data from the 2011-2012 school year of the Florida Twin project on Reading (Taylor et al., 2013). A genetically sensitive model was applied to the data with results indicating a common genetic component among all four measures, along with shared and non-shared environmental influences common between reading fluency, spelling and FCAT.
Do Textiles Impact DXA Bone Density or Body Composition Results

Abstract External artifacts can confound dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements. It is often accepted that garments free of metal do not affect DXA results; however, little data exist in this regard. It is plausible that some textiles absorb radiation and thereby alter DXA results. We hypothesized that some dense or synthetic textiles, for example, reflective materials, might alter DXA-measured bone and soft tissue mass. Hologic and GE Lunar spine phantoms and a Bioclinica prototype total body phantom were imaged on a GE Lunar iDXA and Prodigy densitometer. Each phantom was scanned 10 times to establish mean values. Subsequently, 2 layers of various fabrics were placed over the entire top surface of the phantom, and 10 scans were performed without repositioning. Samples of natural, synthetic, or embellished fabric (including those with reflective material) and of varying thickness were used. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare the means between bare phantom and textile-covered phantom. Significant differences were demonstrated often, depending on the scanner, phantom, and textile used. A polyester fabric with reflective strip consistently altered measurements. For example, this fabric increased measured mean lumbar spine bone mineral density and total body bone mineral content by 0.008 g/cm 2 and 3.6 g, respectively ( p p p p
Evaluating the Clinical Applicability of the European Staging System for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

In 2011, a new European Staging System (ESS) for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) was proposed with the expressed purpose of comparing treatment and outcomes data between institutions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of ESS data capture. Forty-seven consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for PHC between 1999 and 2013 were studied. Demographic variables, components of various staging systems (including the ESS), preoperative and perioperative details, pathology, and outcomes were recorded. The mean patient age was 63.2 and 62 % were male. Preoperative imaging included high-resolution CT in all patients, MRI in 34 %, and PET in 11 %. R0 resection was accomplished in 80 % of patients. Four patients (8.5 %) and 18 patients (38.3 %), respectively, received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. During a mean follow-up of 36 months, recurrence rate was 51.3 % and 2- and 5-year survival rates were 69.4 and 33.3 %, respectively. Analysis of data capture found that tumor (T) classification was indeterminable in 7/47 patients (14.9 %). For two patients, the form (F) designation had insufficient data. The extent of vascular involvement (PV/HA) was different compared to preoperative imaging in nine patients (19.1 %). The liver remnant volume (V) was calculated in only 18 patients (38.3 %). The liver disease (D) variable did not account for four patients with inflammation/cirrhosis. In total, only 15 patients (31.9 %) had all required elements to complete the ESS. Without templated radiology, surgery, and pathology reports, the ESS cannot be applied to current clinical/research practice. Although resection continues to provide significant survival benefit to patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, lack of an accurate prognostic tool for resectability and outcomes continues to be a major impediment to progress in the field.
Abstract 1175: The tumor-associated p53 R172H mutation does not display gain-of-function properties in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly deadly malignancy, accounting for approximately 600,000 deaths worldwide every year. A common genetic change in HCC, present in 30% of cases, is mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. p53R175H (corresponding to R172H in mice) is a hotspot for mutation that demonstrates “prometastatic” gain-of-function in pancreatic cancer. Since the frequency of p53 mutation increases with tumor grade in HCC, we hypothesized that p53R172H is a gain-of-function mutation in HCC that contributes to an increase in metastasis and a decrease in tumor-free survival. To study the role of p53 mutation in HCC, we used the RCAS-TVA mouse model. Albumin-TVA, p53LSL-R172H/fl, Albumin-cre mice were crossed to Albumin-TVA, p53fl/fl, Albumin-cre mice to generate litters in which half of the progeny are p53fl/fl and half are p53R172H/fl. Injection of these litters with DF1 chicken fibroblasts producing RCAS viruses encoding the mouse polyoma virus middle T antigen (PyMT), resulted in specific infection and expression of PyMT in the liver. We found that p53R172H/fl mice did not have increased tumor incidence, nor did they display increased rates of metastasis, relative to p53fl/fl mice, suggesting that mutant p53 does not display gain-of-function properties during HCC development in vivo. Interestingly, while shRNA-mediated knockdown of p53 in R172H expressing HCC cell lines resulted in decreased cell migration, suggestive of gain-of-function properties, analysis of a panel of HCC cell lines from p53 null and R172H expressing tumors found no differences in anchorage-independent growth and cell migration between the two groups. Thus, although p53R172H expressing HCC cells depend on this mutant for their transformation, p53 mutant cells and tumors do not have enhanced properties relative to p53 null HCC cells and tumors. These data suggest that important pathway(s) impacted by mutant p53 are inhibited by alternate mechanisms in p53 null cells resulting in equivalent phenotypes. Interestingly, cell lines derived from HCCs with conditional p53 deletion exhibit decreased levels of a p63 isoform compared to cells from p53R172H mice. Since p53 mutants have been previously shown to bind and inhibit p63, reduced p63 expression in p53 deficient HCC cells may explain this observation. Elucidation of the role of p63 in regulating HCC migration and metastasis is currently underway. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1175. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1175
Authenticity, life satisfaction, and distress: A longitudinal analysis.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the reciprocal relationships between authenticity and measures of life satisfaction and distress using a 2-wave panel study design. Data were collected from 232 college students attending 2 public universities. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results of the cross-lagged panel analysis indicated that after controlling for temporal stability, initial authenticity (Time 1) predicted later distress and life satisfaction (Time 2). Specifically, higher levels of authenticity at Time 1 were associated with increased life satisfaction and decreased distress at Time 2. Neither distress nor life satisfaction at Time 1 significantly predicted authenticity at Time 2. However, the relationship between Time 1 distress and Time 2 authenticity was not significantly different from the relationship between Time 1 authenticity and Time 2 distress. Results are discussed in light of humanistic-existential theories and the empirical research on well-being.
Selective inhibition of the growth of human erythroid bursts by monoclonal antibodies against transferrin or the transferrin receptor

The relative requirements of colonies derived from erythroid (BFU-E) and myeloid (CFU-c) progenitors for transferrin were examined using monoclonal antibodies directed against the transferrin molecule (TF-6) or its cell surface receptor (TFR-A12, TFR1-2B). Growth of erythroid bursts was profoundly reduced at concentrations of all three antibodies that had no effect on CFU-c-derived colonies. When TFR1-2B was layered over cultures established one to seven days previously, further burst development was inhibited, and degeneration of early erythroid colonies was observed. Addition of erythropoietin augmented transferrin receptor expression on cells harvested after 1 to 2 weeks in culture and analyzed by flow cytometry. Recombinant human erythropoietin gave results comparable to those obtained in experiments using human urinary erythropoietin. Analysis of erythroblasts plucked directly from culture plates confirmed the presence of transferrin receptors on BFU-E-derived colonies. Thymidine incorporation was maximal early in the second week of culture and coincided with high transferrin receptor expression. These data demonstrate that transferrin must be available into the second week of culture to support the growth and differentiation of BFU-E-derived erythroid bursts, that the generation of erythroid colonies from BFU-E is more dependent on transferrin than myeloid colony formation from CFU-c, and that erythropoietin modulates the expression of transferrin receptors on growing bursts.
The Foundations of Slavery and Antislavery

For almost a century and a half the history of British antislavery was the story of its leaders. Abolitionist historiography remained serenely ensconced within the framework of Thomas Clarkson’s first narrative of the movement in 1808. Overcoming an entrenched economic interest, the abolitionist ‘Saints’ won a series of victories for humanity over brutal materialism and exploitation. Antislavery was the quintessential example of the Whig interpretation of history: a progressive political narrative more closely interwoven with religious than with economic or social development.
On the apocalyptic sublime

In this essay we argue that an eschatological discourse we term the “apocalyptic sublime” has emerged, as the postmodern alternative to traditional apocalyptic rhetoric. Drawing on the work of Frank Kermode and Jean Baudrillard, the essay isolates two key features of the apocalyptic sublime as (a) a reliance on non‐linear temporality and (b) a kind of destabilized subjectivity characteristic of that described in the sublime theories of Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant. The apocalyptic sublime is then used to explain the rhetorical dimensions of the project for a Critical Rhetoric begun by Raymie McKerrow in the late 1980s.