cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of a Hybrid Lung Cancer Screening Model on Patient Outcomes and Provider Behavior.

Abstract Background Lung cancer screening (LCS) implementation is complicated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimbursement requirements of shared decision-making and tobacco cessation counseling. LCS programs can utilize different structures to meet these requirements, but the impact of programmatic structure on provider behavior and screening outcomes is poorly described. Patients and Methods In a retrospective chart review of 624 patients in a hybrid structure, academic LCS program, we compared characteristics and outcomes of primary care provider (PCP)- and specialist-screened patients. We also assessed the impact of the availability of an LCS specialty clinic and best practice advisory (BPA) on PCP ordering patterns using electronic medical record generated reports. Results During the study period of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018, 48% of patients were specialist-screened and 52% were PCP-screened; there were no clinically relevant differences in patient characteristics or screening outcomes between these populations. PCPs demonstrate distinct practice patterns when offered the choice of specialist-driven or PCP-driven screening. Increased exposure to a LCS BPA is associated with increased PCP screening orders. The addition of a nurse navigator into the LCS program increased documentation of shared decision-making and tobacco cessation counseling to > 95% and virtually eliminated screening of ineligible patients. Conclusions Systematic interventions including a BPA and nurse navigator are associated with increased screening and improved program quality, as evidenced by reduced screening of ineligible patients, increased lung cancer risk of the screened population, and improved compliance with LCS guidelines. Individual PCPs demonstrate clear preferences regarding LCS that should be considered in program design.
Outcomes following perinatal palliative care consultation: a retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE To inform clinical practice by describing a model of perinatal palliative care delivery within a fully staffed fetal health center (FHC) inside a freestanding children's hospital. STUDY DESIGN The team conducted a retrospective chart review of the palliative care team (PaCT) database from FHC's inception in 2010 to 31 December, 2018, and surveyed the FHC neonatologists. RESULTS PaCT consults in the FHC increased from 1 in 2010 to 102 in 2018. PaCT met 430 mothers for prenatal consultation. Of the 390 live-born infants, 172 died; 48 received comfort care only from birth; and 19 survived to discharge home with hospice. At the time of review, PaCT still follows 109 children met prenatally. PaCT discharged 96 patients that no longer required PaCT services. CONCLUSIONS PaCT provides an integral service within the FHC as evidenced by the increasing volume of consultations, variety of care provided and perceived value by FHC neonatologists.
Regulation of OATP1B1 function by tyrosine kinase-mediated phosphorylation

Purpose: OATP1B1 (SLCO1B1) is the most abundant and pharmacologically relevant uptake transporter in the liver and a key mediator of xenobiotic clearance. However, the regulatory mechanisms that determine OATP1B1 activity remain uncertain, and as a result, unexpected drug–drug interactions involving OATP1B1 substrates continue to be reported, including several involving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Experimental Design: OATP1B1-mediated activity in overexpressing HEK293 cells and hepatocytes was assessed in the presence of FDA-approved TKIs, while rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics in the presence of an OATP1B1 inhibiting TKI were measured in vivo. Tyrosine phosphorylation of OATP1B1 was determined by LC/MS-MS–based proteomics and transport function was measured following exposure to siRNAs targeting 779 different kinases. Results: Twenty-nine of 46 FDA-approved TKIs studied significantly inhibit OATP1B1 function. Inhibition of OATP1B1 by TKIs, such as nilotinib, is predominantly noncompetitive, can increase systemic concentrations of rosuvastatin in vivo, and is associated with reduced phosphorylation of OATP1B1 at tyrosine residue 645. Using genetic screens and functional validation studies, the Src kinase LYN was identified as a potential regulator of OATP1B1 activity that is highly sensitive to inhibition by various TKIs at clinically relevant concentrations. Conclusions: A novel kinase-dependent posttranslational mechanism of OATP1B1 activation was identified and interference with this process by TKIs can influence the elimination of a broad range of xenobiotic substrates.
Tele-forensic interviewing can be a reasonable alternative to face-to-face interviewing of child witnesses.

OBJECTIVE: Tele-forensic interviews have the potential to aid investigations when children live far from interviewers, there is a risk of disease transmission, or when expertise is not locally available. However, it is unknown whether tele-forensic interviewing is an effective alternative to face-to-face interviewing, particularly for children most prone to suggestibility and lapses of attention. HYPOTHESES: Previous studies suggested that school-age children would provide similar amounts of information across interview modes but provided no basis for predicting how misinformation impacts accuracy across modes or how 4- and 5-year-olds would react to tele-forensic interviewing. METHOD: Children (4-8 years, N = 261, Mage = 6.42 years, 48% female) interacted with male assistants who violated a no-touching rule, parents read children a book containing misinformation about that event, and female assistants conducted interviews (usually 2 weeks after the event) face-to-face or via a video conference application. RESULTS: The children were more talkative during a practice narrative phase when interviewed face-to-face rather than on screen (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.26, 95% CI [1.06, 1.51]), and 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds said more in response to open-ended prompts when interviewed face-to-face (IRR = 1.50, 95% CI [1.08, 2.09]). Children younger than 7 years also disclosed the face touch and noncompleted handshake in response to earlier and less directive prompts when interviewed face-to-face, rs(53) = .28, p = .037, and rs(48) = .33, p = .021, respectively. Children 8 years and older, however, disclosed the face touch more readily when they spoke on screen, rs(28) = -.38, p = .036, and older 7-year-olds and 8-year-olds disclosed the noncompleted handshake more readily on screen, rs(30) = -.36, p = .042. Across interview modes, children reported comparable numbers of touch events, however, and were equally accurate on challenging source-monitoring and detail questions. CONCLUSIONS: Tele-forensic interviewing can be a reasonable alternative to face-to-face interviewing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Influence of particle non-dilute effects on its dispersion in particle-laden blast wave systems

Even though the interaction of blast waves with dense particle distributions is ubiquitous in nature and in industry, the underlying physics of the multiphase system evolution is not clearly understood. A canonical multiphase system composed of an embedded monodisperse distribution of spherical particles in a spherical, high-energy gaseous charge is studied numerically using an Eulerian–Lagrangian approach to elucidate the role of non-dilute particle effects on the dynamics of the two-phase flow system. The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is modified to model inelastic particle–particle collisions and to model the gaseous flow inter-leaving through complex structures of monodisperse dense distributions of spherical particles to obtain parameters that are fit to semi-empirical particle cloud drag laws that account for aerodynamic interactions. The study reveals that inter-particle collisions decrease the total particle kinetic energy at early stages of the particle-laden blast wave system evolution, but near-particle interaction increases the particle kinetic energy at this stage. In contrast, at later stages of evolution, collisions tend to retain more kinetic energy, while the aerodynamic interactions tend to dissipate particle kinetic energy.
Incidence of Ankylosing Spondylitis Among Male and Female United States Army Personnel.

OBJECTIVE Incidence rates of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) among males versus females are poorly understood. Results of prior research have been mixed, including findings of a 3:1 incidence ratio for males vs. females, but increasing AS rates among females. METHODS We estimated the incidence of AS in a retrospective cohort study of diverse, working-age US military service members during March 2014 - June 2017 (N = 728,556) who underwent clinical practice guideline-directed screening for chronic back pain. Incident AS cases were identified using diagnostic codes from electronic medical and administrative records. RESULTS In contrast to some prior studies, AS incidence was similar among males and females (incidence rate ratio: 1.16, p = 0.23; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.61 - 1.02; p = 0.072). AS rates increased approximately monotonically with age. Consistent with prior research, the AS incidence rate was greater in the White population than the Black population (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.66, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION In this study population, the incidence of AS was similar for the sexes. Previous observations of male predominance have typically been derived from clinic populations that are less representative of the US race/ethnicity distribution and based on disease ascertainment tools that may have identified subjects later in their disease course. Our study population also differed in being subject to organized screenings for musculoskeletal complaints. Our findings suggest that sex may not predict AS incidence in the US population.
Striving for the Im/Possible “Home”: A Tale of a Foreign-Born Scholar in U.S. Academia:

In this essay, I utilize autoethnographic storytelling to interrogate the notion of searching for an im/possible “home” as a foreign-born, yet U.S. post-graduate educated scholar in the U.S. academ...
A Pipeline to Understand Emerging Illness Via Social Media Data Analysis: Case Study on Breast Implant Illness

Background: A new illness can come to public attention through social media before it is medically defined, formally documented, or systematically studied. One example is a condition known as breast implant illness (BII), which has been extensively discussed on social media, although it is vaguely defined in the medical literature. Objective: The objective of this study is to construct a data analysis pipeline to understand emerging illnesses using social media data and to apply the pipeline to understand the key attributes of BII. Methods: We constructed a pipeline of social media data analysis using natural language processing and topic modeling. Mentions related to signs, symptoms, diseases, disorders, and medical procedures were extracted from social media data using the clinical Text Analysis and Knowledge Extraction System. We mapped the mentions to standard medical concepts and then summarized these mapped concepts as topics using latent Dirichlet allocation. Finally, we applied this pipeline to understand BII from several BII-dedicated social media sites. Results: Our pipeline identified topics related to toxicity, cancer, and mental health issues that were highly associated with BII. Our pipeline also showed that cancers, autoimmune disorders, and mental health problems were emerging concerns associated with breast implants, based on social media discussions. Furthermore, the pipeline identified mentions such as rupture, infection, pain, and fatigue as common self-reported issues among the public, as well as concerns about toxicity from silicone implants. Conclusions: Our study could inspire future studies on the suggested symptoms and factors of BII. Our study provides the first analysis and derived knowledge of BII from social media using natural language processing techniques and demonstrates the potential of using social media information to better understand similar emerging illnesses. Trial Registration:
Structural, electrical, and optical properties of CdMnTe crystals grown by modified floating-zone technique

Cadmium manganese telluride (CdMnTe or CMT), a compound semiconductor, is considered a promising material for the fabrication of high-performance room-temperature x-ray and gamma-ray detectors. The presence of material defects, e.g., high density of Te inclusions, has been a long-standing issue in CMT crystals grown by various Bridgman methods, since these defects degrade the device performance via charge-trapping. To address this issue, we employed the modified floating-zone method (MFZ) to grow CMT crystals and obtained as-grown crystals free of Te inclusions. This represents a new and distinct feature, absence of Te inclusions, compared to CMT crystals grown by Bridgman methods. White-beam x-ray diffraction topography (WBXDT) measurements demonstrated the existence of a high stress field within the MFZ-grown CMT crystals, which originates from the steep temperature gradient near the growth interface. Furthermore, we achieved a resistivity of 109 Ωcm for the MFZ-grown CMT crystals. The low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements show that the intensity of the dislocation-related Y band is much higher than that of the principal exciton peaks, (D0,X) and (A0,X), confirming that the crystalline quality is affected by the high stress field. A long-term in-situ or post-growth thermal annealing will help to release such stress to improve the crystalline quality. Open image in new window
Spatial and temporal summation of sensory and affective dimensions of deep somatic pain.

There is considerable evidence in support of differential information processing of the sensory-discriminative and motivational-affective meanings of pain. The purpose of this work was to examine whether temporal (acute, tonic, persistent) and spatial (local, regional, widespread) aspects of deep somatic pain influence the sensory and affective dimensions of pain. Acute pain consisted of a short bout of pain, lasting about 100 s. Tonic pain was the experience of experimentally maintained pain for 18 min. Both acute and tonic pain were induced by infusion of an algesic or control substance into muscle with the subject blinded with respect to the type of infusion and randomization of the application sequence. Comparing the response of experimental subjects to a group of matched cases with persistent masticatory myalgia alone or in combination with widespread musculoskeletal pain, we examine whether the experimental state is different from the matched clinical condition, and whether there is a difference between the condition being restricted to the face or not. The McGill pain questionnaire was used to assess the sensory and affective correlates of pain. The normalized sensory score for acute/unilateral face pain was different from that established for tonic/unilateral face pain (P = 0.055, borderline s.), and so was the normalized affective score (P = 0.009, s.). When comparing tonic/unilateral versus tonic/bilateral face pain, the affective scores increased with increased pain involvement (P = 0.009, s.) while the sensory sores were unaffected by the additional pain induced in the contralateral masseter muscle (P = 0.357, n.s). Notably, sensory and affective scores for tonic/bilateral and persistent/bilateral face pain were not statistically different (sensory: P = 0.169, n.s.; affective: P = 0.643, n.s). On the other hand, when contrasting persistent/bilateral face pain with persistent/ widespread musculoskeletal pain, both scores were significantly different (sensory: P < 0.001, s.; affective: P = 0.041, s.). Time in and spread of pain influenced the perceptual correlates of pain to a significant degree. The major increase in the sensory dimension occurred from 'no pain' to 'acute pain'. Affective scores showed the most significant increases from acute to tonic pain, particularly with greater spatial involvement. The significant increases in sensory scores observed when contrasting persistent facial pain alone and in combination with widespread musculoskeletal pain was attributed to the broader body experience. Because the perceptual correlates of tonic and matched persistent (chronic) pain states were similar, we concluded that it does not require months for the development of the sensory and affective meaning of persistent pain as assumed.
Chemoprevention of Hormone Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer: New Approaches Needed

Results from clinical trials have demonstrated that it is possible to prevent estrogen-responsive breast cancers by targeting the estrogen receptor with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) (tamoxifen, raloxifene, or lasofoxifene) or with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) (anastrozole, letrozole, or exemestene). Results from breast cancer treatment trials suggest that aromatase inhibitors may be even more effective in preventing breast cancer than SERMs. However, while SERMs and aromatase inhibitors do prevent the development of many ER-positive breast cancers, these drugs do not prevent ER-negative breast cancer. These results show that new approaches are needed for the prevention of this aggressive form of breast cancer. Our laboratory and clinical efforts have been focused on identifying critical molecular pathways in breast cells that can be targeted for the prevention of ER-negative breast cancer. Our preclinical studies have demonstrated that other nuclear receptors, such as RXR receptors, vitamin D receptors, as well as others are critical for the growth of ER-negative breast cells and for the transformation of these cells into ER-negative cancers. Other studies show that growth factor pathways including those activated by EGFR, Her2, and IGFR, which are activated in many ER-negative breast cancers, can be targeted for the prevention of ER-negative breast cancer in mice. Clinical studies have also shown that PARP inhibitors are effective for the treatment of breast cancers arising in BRCA-1 or -2 mutation carriers, suggesting that targeting PARP may also be useful for the prevention of breast cancers arising in these high-risk individuals. Most recently, we have demonstrated that ER-negative breast cancers can be subdivided into four distinct groups based on the kinases that they express. These groups include ER-negative/Her-2-positive groups (the MAPK and immunomodulatory groups) and ER-negative/Her2-negative groups (the S6K and the cell cycle checkpoint groups). These groups of ER-negative breast cancers can be targeted with kinase inhibitors specific for each subgroup. These preclinical studies have supported the development of several clinical trials testing targeted agents for the prevention of breast cancer. The results of a completed Phase II cancer prevention trial using the RXR ligand bexarotene in women at high risk of breast cancer will be reviewed, and the current status of an ongoing Phase II trial using the EGFR and Her2 kinase inhibitor lapatinib for the treatment of women with DCIS breast cancer will be presented. It is anticipated that in the future these molecularly targeted drugs will be combined with hormonal agents such as SERMs or aromatase inhibitors to prevent all forms of breast cancer.
Weaving Straw into Gold: Rule Bending, Localism, and Managing Inconsistencies in Organizational Rules

This article explores how microfinance institutions (MFIs) resolve tensions between the creation and the enactment of organizational rules. The study complements rich ethnography with detailed loan data to show that some loan officers frequently bend rules to better address client needs, while others enforce the rules strictly. Differences in enforcement styles are analyzed to explain the structural conditions that generate them. The article shows that officers exercise discretion productively to help clients and improve company policies. Yet, their effectiveness is contingent on being held in check by rule enforcing peers. This is because the same conditions that generate officer discretion also create a fuzzy professional identity. Thus, branch-level interactions between similar loan officers result in “localist” identities decoupled from the firm; while branches with diverse enforcement styles generate professional identities that are integrated with the firm, create amplified learning, and increase the legitimacy of discretion in rule enactment.
DPA on faulty cryptographic hardware and countermeasures

Balanced gates are an effective countermeasure against power analysis attacks only if they can be guaranteed to maintain their power balance. Traditional testing and reliability methods are used primarily only to ensure the correctness of the logical functionality and not the balance of a circuit. Due to the hardware redundancy in balanced gate designs, there are many faults which can imbalance a balanced gate without causing logical errors. As a result, traditional testing and reliability methods and architectures are unable to test and verify if a gate is completely defect and fault-free and hence balanced. Our simulations show that a few faulty balanced gates can make a circuit as vulnerable to power analysis attacks as a completely imbalanced implementation. This vulnerability opens the possibility of new methods of attacks based on a combination of fault and power attacks. A solution to the vulnerability based on a built-in differential self-balance comparator is presented.
Domain-specific impairment in cognitive control among remitted youth with a history of major depression.

Aim Impairment in neuropsychological functioning is common in major depressive disorder (MDD), but it is not clear to what degree these deficits are related to risk (e.g. trait), scar, burden or state effects of MDD. The objective of this study was to use neuropsychological measures, with factor scores in verbal fluency, processing speed, attention, set-shifting and cognitive control in a unique population of young, remitted, unmedicated, early course individuals with a history of MDD in hopes of identifying putative trait markers of MDD. Methods Youth aged 18–23 in remission from MDD (rMDD; n = 62) and healthy controls (HC; n = 43) were assessed with neuropsychological tests at two time points. These were from four domains of executive functioning, consistent with previous literature as impaired in MDD: verbal fluency and processing speed, conceptual reasoning and set-shifting, processing speed with interference resolution, and cognitive control. Results rMDD youth performed comparably to HCs on verbal fluency and processing speed, processing speed with interference resolution, and conceptual reasoning and set-shifting, reliably over time. Individuals with rMDD demonstrated relative decrements in cognitive control at Time 1, with greater stability than HC participants. Conclusion MDD may be characterized by regulatory difficulties that do not pertain specifically to active mood state or fluctuations in symptoms. Deficient cognitive control may represent a trait vulnerability or early course scar of MDD that may prove a viable target for secondary prevention or early remediation.
Technology-A: Tissue doppler imaging in coronary artery disease

Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has rapidly evolved over the last decade as a sensitive clinical tool of measuring both global and regional myocardial velocities and their relationship to the cardiac cycle with high spatial and temporal resolution. Measurement of mitral annular velocities reflects global left ventricular LV function at rest or during stress echocardiography. Regional analysis of peak segmental systolic myocardial velocities during stress improves accuracy of novice readers, of interpreting basal segments, and concordance between observers. Moreover, it has higher sensitivity and comparable specificity to standard dobutamine stress echocardiography in detecting myocardial viability. Myocardial velocity gradient, being independent of cardiac translational movement, has also shown promise for detecting resting and induced ischemia and viable myocardium. Strain rate imaging (SRI), based on tissue Doppler technology, has clinical potential of quantitative assessment of regional contractility and function during stress echocardiography. Abnormal wall motion during isovolumic contraction and relaxation periods and their clinical implications of correlating myocardial viability has been discussed. Improved data acquisition and rapid post-processing of TDI will facilitate its incorporation into standard regional myocardial assessment.
Public educational expenditures in the United States: An analytical comparison with other industrialized countries

Abstract This paper undertakes a fresh comparison of educational expenditures in the U.S. with those in other industrialized countries. Five main points are noted. First, in terms of expenditure-GNP ratio, the U.S. ranks neither “low” nor very high. Second, that fact provides no indication of “underfunding” or “overfunding” of education in the U.S. since there is no cross-country correlation between expenditure-GNP ratio and per capita income. Third, the U.S. does rank high in K-12 expenditure per student. Fourth, however, when actual K-12 expenditure per pupil is compared with that predicted from regression estimates of several reasonable models, some “underspending” is observed. Fifth, comparison of actual and predicted expenditures seems more useful and informative than consideration of country ranks for expenditures.
Effect of thermal hysteresis on the gas permeation properties of 6FDA-based polyimides

The effect of thermal hysteresis on the polymer chain packing and permeation properties of two 6FDA-based polyimide isomers was investigated. Thermal quenching resulted in a small increase in the fractional free volume of the polyimides with respect to the samples that had been annealed. Quenching from above the glass-transition temperature also resulted in larger increases in the permeabilities for both 6FDA–6FmDA and 6FDA–6FpDA with respect to annealed samples. Meta-connected 6FDA–6FmDA exhibited a larger increase in the permeability after quenching than the para-connected isomer, 6FDA–6FpDA. This larger increase in the permeability for 6FDA–6FmDA may have been due to differences in the effects of the increases in the free volume on the intersegmental resistance to chain motions. Although physical aging over a 3-month period resulted in a reduction in the permeability of quenched samples of 6FDA–6FpDA, the quenched samples maintained higher permeabilities than the annealed samples. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1174–1182, 2004
Prediction of the transport properties of paraffin hydrocarbons

Abstract The available experimental data on the transport properties of paraffins were subjeted to analysis in terms of the Chapman-Cowling theory for states at low pressure. The utility of the two-constant “Lennard-Jones ∞-6 (Sutherland), 12-6 and 9-6 potentials”, and of the three-constant Morse and Kihara potentials, was explored for predicting the behavior of the polyatomic paraffin hydrocarbon gases. From experimental viscosity data, the energies of attraction for all the potentials for the paraffins heavier than methane were found to be dependent upon temperature. Contributions to thermal conductivity from vibrational and rotational internal energy and its exchange with translational energy are explained by contributions of heat capacity. The behavior of binary mixtures of the paraffins with nitrogens was reviewed and the Chapman-Cowling mixing rules were considered from an emperical standpoint.
Emerging multiply resistant enterococci among clinical isolates I. Prevalence data from 97 medical center surveillance study in the United States

Abstract To assess the evolving problem of therapeutic drug resistances among enterococci, we organized a comprehensive national (United States) surveillance trial using 99 recruited microbiology laboratories in 48 of the 49 contiguous states or districts. All but two sites completed the protocol that generated information from nearly 2000 enterococci, usually isolated from blood cultures. All strains were speciated by the same method (API 20S) and were susceptibility tested by three methods (broth microdilution, disk diffusion, and Etest) against ampicillin, penicillin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, gentamicin, and streptomycin. Strains resistant to a glycopeptide or penicillin, or possessing high-level aminoglycoside resistance were referred to the monitor's laboratory for validation and additional susceptibility testing against other alternative antimicrobial agents. The most common species were Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium . However, antimicrobial resistance occurred most often among the E. faecium isolates. Twenty-three percent of participant centers (22 sites) reported 87 vancomycin-resistant isolates, which accounts for 4.4% of the isolates evaluated. A recent audit (March 1994) of the laboratories not reporting vancomycin resistance during the study interval (October–December 1992) revealed that 61% of sites have now recognized these strains, a threefold increase in 12–15 months. Teicoplanin remained active against 28% (Van B phenotype) of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (10 E. faecalis , 13 E. faecium , and one Enterococcus spp.). Ampicillin-resistant β-lactamase-positive strains were found only at one medical center (two strains, 0.2% of referred or validated strains); however, ampicillin-resistant strains represented 12% of all enterococcal, but nearly 60% of E. faecium strains. Aminoglycoside resistance was: gentamicin 27% and streptomycin 36% of strains. The susceptibility to alternative drugs was: ciprofloxacin 25%, erythromycin 3%, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 22%, and spectinomycin 97%. All National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards tests and interpretive criteria performed well. Other drugs worthy of therapeutic consideration include chloramphenicol, tetracyclines (especially doxycycline), novobiocin, trospectomycin or kanamycin as a co-drug, and some newer fluoroquinolones (sparfloxacin and clinafloxacin). Because of this rapidly evolving problem of drug-resistant invasive enterococcal infections, new alternative combination regimens require immediate consideration for structured clinical trials.
Raman line positions in molecular hydrogen: H2, HD, HT, D2, DT, and T2

Spontaneous Raman spectroscopy is used to determine line positions of the six isotopomers of molecular hydrogen: Hz, HD, HT, Dr , DT, and T2. State populations as low as 1.3 X 10’ are detected with the present experimental apparatus. This sensitivity makes possible measurement of the first overtone Q-branch line positions for H2 and Da and of higher rotational transitions than previous investigations. The line positions for DZ , DT, and T2 indicate that literature values for molecular parameters do not predict accurately tine positions of transitions at J values above the observed transitions from which they were determined. The results for the six molecular isotopomers show that ab initio energy levels restricted to the adiabatic approximation do not yield line positions within the experimental uncertainty whereas recent nonadiabatic calculations reproduce the present observations. Reexamination of literature results at high energies indicates discrepancies between the theoretical calculations and experimental vibrational band origins for all vibrational levels in HT, DT, and Tr . No experimental measurements are currently available that test the accuracy of nonadiabatic ab initio rotational levels at high energies. o 1987 Academic press, Inc.
Combined Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography and 18-Fluoro-2-Deoxy-d-Glucose-Positron Emission Tomography in the Diagnosis and Staging of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

We present the current optimal uses and limitations of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as it relates to the diagnosis and staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PET/CT demonstrates increased accuracy in the workup of solitary pulmonary nodules for malignancy compared with CT alone, and we discuss its benefits and limitations. We review pitfalls in measured standardized uptake values of lung lesions caused by respiratory artifacts, the lower sensitivity for detection of small lung nodules on non-breath-hold CT, and the benefits of obtaining an additional diagnostic CT for the maximum sensitivity of lung nodule detection. There are limitations of quantitatively comparing separate PET/CT examinations from different facilities with standardized uptake values. As for staging, we describe how PET/CT supplements clinical tumor-nodes-metastases (ie, TNM) staging, as well as mediastinoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound, and endoscopic ultrasound, which are the gold standard pathologic staging methods. We touch on the 7th edition TNM staging system based on the work by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, an anatomically based staging method.
Testing of small-scale cavity closure models in support of development of a 300 MW(e) Gas-Cooled fast breeder reactor☆

Abstract The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been involved in design verification and support studies of the prestressed concrete reactor vessel (PCRV) for a 300 MW(e) Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor demonstration power plant. These studies have been related to the design and testing of small-scale models of the steam generator cavity and reactor core cavity closure plugs for the PCRV. The primary objective of these studies was to determine the structural response of the plugs both to normal operating pressure and to substantial overpressurization. Three closure plug models have been tested: a 1 15- scale full-thickness steam generator cavity closure plug, a 1 15- scale half-thickness steam generator cavity closure plug and a 1 20- scale reactor core cavity closure plug. Results obtained indicate that the closure plugs have a significant overload capacity; that is, in excess of 7·5 times the design pressure of the prototype.
Numerical simulations of the early stages of high-speed droplet breakup

Experiments reported in the literature are reproduced using numerical simulations to investigate the early stages of the breakup of water cylinders in the flow behind normal shocks. Qualitative features of breakup observed in the numerical results, such as the initial streamwise flattening of the cylinder and the formation of tips at its periphery, support previous experimental observations of stripping breakup. Additionally, the presence of a transitory recirculation region at the cylinder’s equator and a persistent upstream jet in the wake is noted and discussed. Within the uncertainties inherent to the different methods used to extract measurements from experimental and numerical results, comparisons with experimental data of various cylinder deformation metrics show good agreement. To study the effects of the transition between subsonic and supersonic post-shock flow, we extend the range of incident shock Mach numbers beyond those investigated by the experiments. Supersonic post-shock flow velocities are not observed to significantly alter the cylinder’s behavior, i.e., we are able to effectively collapse the drift, acceleration, and drag curves for all simulated shock Mach numbers. Using a new method that minimizes noise errors, the cylinder’s acceleration is calculated; acceleration curves for all shock Mach numbers are subsequently collapsed by scaling with the pressure ratio across the incident shock. Furthermore, we find that accounting for the cylinder’s deformed diameter in the calculation of its unsteady drag coefficient allows the drag coefficient to be approximated as a constant over the initial breakup period.
Behaviours of overweight and obese women during pregnancy who achieve and exceed recommended gestational weight gain.

Summary Background Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with increased risk of pregnancy-related complications, postpartum weight retention, and long-term obesity. Little is known about the behavioural habits of pregnant women who achieve and exceed recommended GWG. Method In 2011, qualitative interviews were conducted in Pennsylvania with postpartum women who were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy to ascertain their behaviours and attitudes regarding dietary habits, physical activity, and self-monitoring during pregnancy. Thematic analysis identified the habits of women who achieved and exceeded recommended GWG guidelines. Results Of the 29 women interviewed, 11 had appropriate GWG and 18 had excessive GWG. Women achieving appropriate GWG reported modest increases in caloric intake if at all, with deliberate meal and snack planning, while women with excessive GWG described “eating-for-two.” Nearly all women with excessive GWG reported exercising less during pregnancy (or remaining sedentary), while women with appropriate GWG largely increased or maintained pre-pregnancy physical activity levels. About half of the sample reported self-monitoring weight gain during pregnancy, but women achieving recommended GWG tied their weight monitoring with GWG goals consistent with recommended guidelines. Conclusions Women who achieved appropriate GWG reported deliberate dietary habits and physical activity planning, with appropriate GWG goals during pregnancy. Women exceeding recommended GWG described “eating-for-two,” were sedentary, and either had no goals for GWG or intended to gain more weight than recommended.
Reduction in left ventricular cavitary attenuation and improvement in posterior myocardial contrast with higher molecular weight intravenous perfluorocarbon-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin microbubbles.

Abstract Although intravenous perfluoropropane-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin (C 3 SDA) produces myocardial contrast, the posterior myocardium cannot be visualized with epicardial or transthoracic imaging because of excessive left ventricular cavitary contrast. We hypothesized that higher molecular weight, less diffusible gases such as perfluoropentane-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin (C 5 SDA) would produce equivalent anterior myocardial contrast at lower intravenous doses with less cavitary attenuation. To test this hypothesis, we compared the anterior and posterior peak myocardial videointensity after 0.06 ml/kg intravenous injections of C 3 SDA and 0.015 to 0.030 ml/kg intravenous injections of C 5 SDA in seven open-chest dogs. The ability of C 5 SDA to detect posterior myocardial perfusion abnormalities was also tested. Despite the lower dose, intravenous C 5 SDA produced equivalent anterior myocardial contrast but significantly higher posterior myocardial contrast (2.6 ± 1.9 units peak myocardial videointensity C 5 SDA versus 0.6 ± 0.9 units C 3 SDA; p 5 SDA was also significantly improved. We conclude that increasing the molecular weight of the perfluorocarbon gas in sonicated dextrose albumin will significantly improve the detection of posterior perfusion abnormalities.
Infrared spectroscopy in bacteriological research.

The possible uses of the complex mixtures of compounds found in viruses (the tobacco mosaic virus) or in bacteria (the tubercle bacillus or extracts of these organisms), have been studied. It was found that the procedures of inoculation, growth, harvesting, and fractionation into simpler mixtures should be standardized. This resulted in characteristic composite spectra for each fraction. The following uses have been established for infrared spectroscopy in this field: (1) A control on the techniques of operation; (2) the discovery of the spectroscopic differences between strains which may or may not be recognized as biologically different; for example, spectroscopic differences between virulent and avirulent strains of the standard laboratory strain H37, or spectral differences between human and bovine varieties of tubercle bacilli and spectral differences between strains recently isolated from patients ill with pulmonary tuberculosis; (3) spectroscopic interpretation of molecular content.
The mutagenic effect of platinum compounds in Drosophila melanogaster.

The platinum compounds cis-platinum (II) diamminodichloride (cis-PDD) (an anti-tumor agent) and platinum tetrachloride (Pt Cl4) induce a significant increase in recessive sex-linked lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster male germ cells in different developmental stages.
Determination of prognostic factors for vaginal mucosal toxicity associated with intravaginal high-dose rate brachytherapy in patients with endometrial cancer.

Purpose The objective of this study was to determine the patient- and treatment-related prognostic factors associated with vaginal toxicity in patients who received intravaginal high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy alone as adjuvant treatment for endometrial cancer. Secondary goals of this study included a quantitative assessment of optimal dilator use frequency and a crude assessment of clinical predictors for compliant dilator use. Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 100 patients with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with or without lymph node dissection and adjuvant intravaginal brachytherapy between 1995 and 2009 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The most common treatment regimen used was 21 Gy in three fractions (71 patients). Symptoms of vaginal mucosal toxicity were taken from the history and physical exams noted in the patients’ charts and were graded according to the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events v. 4.02. Results The incidence of Grade 1 or asymptomatic vaginal toxicity was 33% and Grade 2–3 or symptomatic vaginal toxicity was 14%. Multivariate analysis of age, active length, and dilator use two to three times a week revealed odds ratios of 0.93 ( p = 0.013), 3.96 ( p = 0.008), and 0.17 ( p = 0.032) respectively. Conclusion Increasing age, vaginal dilator use of at least two to three times a week, and shorter active length were found to be significantly associated with a decreased risk of vaginal stenosis. Future prospective studies are necessary to validate our findings.
VERNAKALANT FOR RAPID CARDIOVERSION OF RECENT ONSET ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: A META-ANALYSIS

We intended to assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous vernakalant for rapid conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation (ROAF). We searched PubMed, Cochrane library and Embase for studies comparing intravenous vernakalant with placebo or other antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) for treatment of
Low-Energy Proton Damage to Silicon Solar Cells

The effect of low-energy (<2 MeV) proton irradiation upon the junction properties of silicon solar cells has been measured. These measurements are used to explain the large power loss observed on the ATS-1 and Intelsat II-4 satellites.
The role of carbon in photodesorption

Abstract An extensive study of UV photon-induced desoprtion, which included mass-spectrometry, surface conductivity and Auger electron spectroscopy measurements, leads us to suggest that carbon reactions have a dominant role in chemisorption and photodesorption from certain semiconductor surfaces. Carbon, which is present as a containment on such surfaces, can be oxidized by gas phase oxygen capturing an electron from the conduction band of the substrate. Photogenerated holes, created by band-gap radiation, can then break this chemisorption bond and CO 2 molecules are then desorbed. Experimental data taken on surfaces of ZnO are discussed in detail. Additional results indicate that similar effects occur on other semiconductor surfaces such as TiO 2 , CdS, the chrome-oxide surface of stainless steel, etc. It is interesting to note that metallic surfaces, carbon contaminated or not, show virtually no photodesorption activity. This behavior is not well understood at this time.
Micro-Contact Performance Characterization of Carbon Nanotube (CNT)-Au Composite Micro-Contacts

This paper presents the micro-contact performance comparison between contact pairs of Au/Au and composite contact pairs Au/Au-CNT. The Au/Au-CNT micro-contact's planar lower contact interface is an Au-CNT composite film with encapsulated CNTs. Micro-contact performance is affected by factors such as applied micro-contact force, temperature, current density, etc. At the micro-contact interface, asperities provide localized points for current flow. Increased temperature at these localized points may soften the contact metal and lead to bridge transfer. Prior work revealed that an Au/CNT contact pair performed poorly compared to an Au/Au contact pair, with two orders of magnitude difference in contact resistance. To maintain micro- contact performance and to reduce thermal effects, a Au/Au-CNT micro-contact was designed and fabricated. This design allows the micro-contact interface to remain Au/Au with the embedded CNTs acting as a thermal conduction conduit below the lower Au contact interface. The upper micro-contact support structure is an Au micromachined fixed-fixed beam with hemisphere-shaped upper contact geometry. The micro-contacts were studied under repeated cycles using an external, calibrated load, resulted in repeatable resistance of approximately 1Ω for nearly 40 million cycles. This research revealed that including a CNT composite film in the lower contact extend the operating life and lower contact resistance as compared to similarly constructed micro- contacts.
How to make conflict work for you.

Fostering an environment of collaboration allows staff room to solve conflicts among themselves.
Early White Blood Cell Dynamics After Traumatic Brain Injury: Effects on the Cerebral Microcirculation

Increasing clinical and experimental evidence suggests that traumatic brain injury (TBI) elicits an acute inflammatory response. In the present study we investigated whether white blood cells (WBC) are activated in the cerebral microcirculation early after TBI and whether WBC accumulation affects the posttraumatic cerebrovascular response. Twenty-four anesthetized rabbits had chronic cranial windows implanted 3 weeks before experimentation. Animals were divided into four experimental groups and were studied for 7 hours (groups I, IIa, and III) or 2 hours (group IIb). Intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy was used to visualize WBC (rhodamine 6G, intravenously), pial vessel diameters, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity (Na+-fluorescein) at 6 hours (groups I, IIa, and III) or 1 hour (group IIb) after TBI. Group I (n = 5) consisted of sham-operated animals. Groups IIa (n = 7) and IIb (n = 5) received fluid-percussion injury at 1 hour. Group III (n = 7) received fluid-percussion injury and 1 mg/kg anti-adhesion monoclonal antibody (MoAb) "IB4" 5 minutes before injury. Venular WBC sticking, intracranial pressure (ICP), and arterial vessel diameters increased significantly for 6 hours after trauma. IB4 reduced WBC margination and prevented vasodilation. Intracranial pressure was not reduced by treatment with IB4. Blood-brain barrier damage occurred at 1 hour but not at 6 hours after TBI and was independent of WBC activation. This first report using intravital videomicroscopy to study the inflammatory response after TBI reveals upregulated interaction between WBC and cerebral endothelium that can be manipulated pharmacologically. White blood cell activation is associated with pial arteriolar vasodilation. White blood cells do not induce BBB breakdown less than 6 hours after TBI and do not contribute to posttraumatic ICP elevation. The role of WBC more than 6 hours after TBI should be investigated further.
Stability of malonylcarnitine and glutarylcarnitine in stored blood spots.

Summary: Malonylcarnitine and glutarylcarnitine are important diagnostic metabolites in the screening of dried blood spots by tandem mass spectrometry. The stability of these compounds in spiked blood spots stored at room temperature was studied. Both showed biphasic curves. The malonylcarnitine concentration dropped to 61% in 38 days and averaged 51%±5% for the next 81 days. Glutarylcarnitine dropped to 60% in 42 days and averaged 56%±5% for the next 124 days.