cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of prostate boost with high-dose-rate brachytherapy versus intensity-modulated radiation therapy in the treatment of intermediate-high risk prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose The recently published ASCENDE-RT randomized clinical trial demonstrated improved biochemical control, albeit with increased toxicity, for a prostate boost with brachytherapy versus external beam radiation therapy alone in patients with intermediate-high risk prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the cost-effectiveness of these two modalities in the treatment of intermediate-high risk prostate cancer. Methods and materials A multistate Markov model was created to model a patient with intermediate-high risk prostate cancer. The two treatment options modeled were (1) 23 fractions of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and two fractions of high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy (brachytherapy boost) and (2) 44 fractions of IMRT (IMRT alone). Each patient received 1 year of hormone therapy, per the ASCENDE-RT protocol. Model assumptions, including clinical outcomes, toxicity, and utilities were derived from the medical literature. Costs of radiation therapy were estimated using Medicare reimbursement data. Results The estimated expected lifetime cost of brachytherapy boost was $68,696, compared to $114,944 for IMRT alone. Brachytherapy boost significantly lowered expected lifetime treatment costs because it decreased the incidence of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, cutting the use of expensive targeted therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Brachytherapy boost had an expected quality-adjusted life years of 10.8 years, compared to 9.3 years for IMRT alone. One-way sensitivity analyses of our results found brachytherapy boost to be cost-effective over a wide range of cost, utility, and cancer progression rate assumptions. Conclusions IMRT with high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost is a cost-effective treatment for intermediate-high risk prostate cancer compared to IMRT alone.
Survival of acute myelogenous leukemia patients who served in the military compared to civilians.

e18524Background: Many factors have been found to impact treatment outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (pts) including age at diagnosis, race, cytogenetic risk, and WBC count on prese...
Trust at Ground Zero: Trust and Collaboration Within the Professional Learning Community

Schools are embracing professional learning communities (PLC) as a way to enhance student learning. Trust is a critical element in fostering the type of school culture necessary for effective teacher collaboration in PLCs. This qualitative research examined how trust developed and its role in facilitating collaboration within one school’s learning community—operating under challenging conditions—as they began the implementation of PLCs. The study gathered data from focus groups with the school’s teacher teams over two years. Using constant-comparative analyses, findings grounded in the data indicated that trust played a critical role in the development of collaborative teaming within this challenging school context. Teachers developed high relational and competency trust within their teams, although not across teams or with administration, creating the cohesion necessary to support sharing instructional practices and informal collaboration. However, given the lack of professional development for PLCs, teachers were not engaged in the formal practices of PLCs. Fiedler’s (1965) Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness provided a lens from which to examine how leadership affected trust development within the school’s learning community. Findings support Fiedler’s (1965) model that in challenging contexts, a leader with a relationship-motivated orientation is less effective than a leader with a task-motivated orientation.
Present Knowledge of Hallucinogenically used Plants: A Tabular Study

Of the many plants known to have hallucinogenic activity, only a few have ever been purposefully employed in magico-medical, religious or other ceremonies. The reasons for this parsimonious use of psychoactive species is not wholly clear, but it is probable that man has learned by trial and error that some hallucinogenic species are otherwise too toxic for safety. Whatever the reason, it will be clear from the following pages that the chemistry even of those hallucinogenic plants valued highly in primitive societies is often unknown. Furthermore, it will be obvious that many of these hallucinogens have only very recently been botanically identified.
Field reconnaissance and overview of the impact of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula

Hurricane Matthew made landfall on the southwestern tip of Haiti as a strong Category 4 storm, with estimated sustained winds of 65 m/s (145 mph), on October 4, 2016. The landfall region in the western Tiburon Peninsula, approximately 400 km west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, sustained extreme damage to buildings and vegetation, with a significant number of fatalities. Between the dates of November 18–24, 2016, the authors and a team of collaborators from the USA and Haiti conducted reconnaissance to characterize the storm’s hazards and damage extent. The investigation canvassed the southern coastal communities of Les Cayes, Les Anglais, Port Salut, Chardonnieres and La Cahouane, as well as the northern coastal communities of Jeremie, Bonbon and Abricots. This paper summarizes the reconnaissance efforts, which combined coastal, structural and unmanned aerial vehicle surveys, and discusses the performance of regional construction during this event, with particular emphasis on low-rise masonry structures, the predominant residential typology in urban Haiti. It also reflects upon the broader impacts of this disaster on the affected communities and the nation as a whole—a nation that continues to struggle with its recovery from the devastating 2010 earthquake.
Molecular Modulation of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts in Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a common disease affecting majority of populations worldwide. Since 1980, there has been an increase in the number of people diagnosed as prediabetic and diabetic. Diabetes is characterized by high levels of circulating glucose and leads to most microvascular and macrovascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Bone marrow vascular disruption and increased adiposity are also linked to various complications in type II diabetes mellitus. In addition to these complications, type 2 diabetic patients also have fragile bones caused by faulty mineralization mainly due to increased adiposity among diabetic patients that affects both osteoblast and osteoclast functions. Other factors that increase fracture risk in diabetic patients are increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and drugs administered to diabetic patients. This review reports the modulation of different pathways that affect bone metabolism in diabetic conditions.
Creative Approaches to Address Online Dating in Counseling

Within the last decade, online dating has become an increasingly popular method for meeting potential partners. Online dating comes with a unique set of opportunities and challenges that may affect...
The influence of ontogeny and prey abundance on feeding ecology of age‐0 Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in southeastern Lake Michigan

A shift towards oligotrophic conditions in Lake Michigan has led to concern that altered trophic pathways are leading to lower early life survival and recruitment for Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). This study evaluated ontogenetic shifts in age‐0 Lake Whitefish diets and evaluated how feeding ecology and the amount of food eaten varied with prey abundance and composition at a site in southeastern Lake Michigan during 2014–2017. Although prey densities varied among years, cyclopoid copepods were overall the most abundant prey available. In turn, cyclopoids were the predominant prey item in diets each year, particularly for the smallest larval Lake Whitefish. However, there was a tendency for the importance of cyclopoids to decline somewhat in each diet index as fish grew and other prey such as calanoid copepods, Bosminidae, Daphniidae and/or chironomids increased in importance. High zooplankton abundance, especially high cyclopoid abundance, available to the small size groups of Lake Whitefish (<21 mm) in 2014 was associated with high food mass/fish, high number of zooplankton eaten/fish, and low incidence of empty stomachs compared with 2015–2017. As fish grew, the impact of food abundance on prey consumption diminished somewhat, indicating that the relationship between fish feeding ecology and the prey environment can change quickly with fish size during the early life period.
TFEB drives PGC-1α expression in adipocytes to protect against diet-induced metabolic dysfunction

TFEB is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that confers protection against metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis by targeting a network of genes involved in autophagy-lysosomal biogenesis and lipid catabolism. In this study, we sought to characterize the role of TFEB in adipocyte and adipose tissue physiology and evaluate the therapeutic potential of adipocyte-specific TFEB overexpression in obesity. We demonstrated that mice with adipocyte-specific TFEB overexpression (Adipo-TFEB) were protected from diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic sequelae. Adipo-TFEB mice were lean primarily through increased metabolic rate, suggesting a role for adipose tissue browning and enhanced nonshivering thermogenesis in fat. Transcriptional characterization revealed that TFEB targeted genes involved in adipose tissue browning rather than those involved in autophagy. One such gene encoded PGC-1α, an established target of TFEB that promotes adipocyte browning. To dissect the role of PGC-1α in mediating the downstream effects of TFEB overexpression, we generated mice with adipocyte-specific PGC-1α deficiency and TFEB overexpression. Without PGC-1α, the ability of TFEB overexpression to brown adipose tissue and to elicit beneficial metabolic effects was blunted. Overall, these data implicate TFEB as a PGC-1α-dependent regulator of adipocyte browning and suggest its therapeutic potential in treating metabolic disease.
Did Oldham Discover the Core After All? Handling Imprecise Historical Data with Hierarchical Bayesian Model Selection Methods

Historical seismic data are essential to fill in the gaps in geophysical knowledge caused by the low rate of significant seismic events. Handling historical data in the context of geophysical inverse problems requires special care, due to the large errors in the data collection process. Using Oldham’s data for the discovery of Earth’s core as a case study, we illustrate how a hierarchical Bayesian model selection methodology using leave‐one‐out cross validation can robustly and efficiently answer quantitative questions using even poor‐quality geophysical data. We find that there is statistically significant evidence for the existence of the core using only the P‐wave data that Oldham effectively discarded in his discussion.
Neurocognitive and Neuropsychiatric Effects of Toxocariasis

Caused by the neuroinvasive nematodes Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, human toxocariasis has a worldwide distribution with seroprevalence in humans associated with low socioeconomic status and low educational attainment. Third-stage Toxocara larvae can invade human tissues, including the brain and spine, where they can result in encephalitis, meningitis, and inflammation. Toxocara infection in animal models has been associated with cognitive and behavioural changes. In humans, preliminary cross-sectional research suggests that Toxocara seropositivity is associated with worse cognitive function in children and adults. Additional preliminary cross-sectional findings suggest associations between Toxocara seropositivity and neuropsychiatric function, including schizophrenia and neurologic conditions such as epilepsy. Given the widespread distribution of human toxocariasis and early evidence suggesting that it can be associated with cognitive and neuropsychiatric function in humans, additional research regarding the effects of toxocariasis on the human brain is required.
CHAPTER 14 – Symbolic Integration

Publisher Summary This chapter presents symbolic integration. It explains how to use Mathematica symbolic integration and discusses several nonelementary integrals. The basic methods such as partial fractions, integration with parameters, trigonometric substitutions, and combined integration are of importance and show the main symbolic tricks of the integration trade. However, there are important limitations to symbolic integration that go beyond the practical difficulties of learning all the tricks. The rules of integration are harder than the rules of differentiation because they amount to trying to use the rules of differentiation in reverse. The change of variables can make integrals with parameters, which are important in many scientific and mathematical problems, into specific integrals.
Chapter 9 – Interstellar Travel

Chapter 9, another chapter unique to this book, applies four-momentum conservation of Chapter 8 to rocket propulsion. The motion of fuel-carrying spacecraft is analyzed for massive as well as photon exhaust cases and their impracticality demonstrated. The alternative ground-based laser propulsion is covered in lengthy detail in light of the recent interest in such projects. The peculiarity of one-dimensional photon collisions is investigated and it is shown that both energy and momentum conservation are needed to come up with an equation that holds in all reference frames, unlike the equations in the existing literature. A manifestly relativistic differential equation of one-dimensional motion involving photons is derived and applied to the motion of a spacecraft equipped with a light sail from which laser photons can reflect. The position of the spacecraft as a function of speed is derived. The explicit time dependence of velocity is presented for the beginning of the voyage. It is shown that the craft has a terminal velocity determined by the characteristics of the ground-based lasers and the light sail. Nonrelativistic limits are obtained and shown to agree with those in the literature.
Non-native shrubs and calcium availability are important for birds breeding in urban forests

Global increases in urbanization requires us to better understand how species are adapting to novel ecosystems in urbanized environments. We conducted a multi-year study to compare how five bird species with different life history strategies responded to local- and landscape-scale factors within forests in an urbanizing landscape. We modeled the responses of species to factors that have been shown to influence habitat selection for forest breeding birds including soil, vegetation, food quality and availability, and land cover. We found that, within an urbanized landscape, local-scale variables related to Ca prey availability and vegetation cover explained variation in territory density for the five bird species. Specifically, territory density for Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) and Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) were positively related to non-native shrub cover and Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), Eastern Towhee, and Wood Thrush territory density were positively related to calcium rich prey availability. These results suggest that species-specific responses to vegetation structure and nutrient composition are important factors for habitat selection of birds within urban forests.
KGdiff: Tracking the Evolution of Knowledge Graphs

A Knowledge Graph (KG) is a machine-readable, labeled graph-like representation of human knowledge. As the main goal of KG is to represent data by enriching it with computer-processable semantics, the knowledge graph creation usually involves acquiring data from external resources and datasets. In many domains, especially in biomedicine, the data sources continuously evolve, and KG engineers and domain experts must not only track the changes in KG entities and their interconnections but introduce changes to the KG schema and the graph population software. We present a framework to track the KG evolution both in terms of the schema and individuals. KGdiff is a software tool that incrementally collects the relevant meta-data information from a KG and compares it to a prior version the KG. The KG is represented in OWL/RDF/RDFS and the meta-data is collected using domain-independent queries. We evaluate our method on different RDF/OWL data sets (ontologies).
The Relationship between Weekly Periodicity and COVID-19 Progression

Abstract COVID-19 is extraordinary both as once-in-a-lifetime pandemic and having abundant real-time case data, thus providing an extraordinary opportunity for timely independent analysis and novel perspectives. We investigate the weekly periodicity in the daily reported new cases and new deaths with the implied relationships to the societal and institutional responses using autocorrelation and Fourier transformation. The results show significant linear correlations between the weekly periodicity and the total cases and deaths, ranging from 50% to 84% for sizable groups of countries with population normalized deaths spanning nearly three orders of magnitude, from a few to approaching a thousand per million. In particular, the Strength Indicator of the periodicity in the new cases, defined by the autocorrelation with a 7-day lag, is positively correlated strongly to the total deaths per million in respective countries. The Persistence Indicator of the periodicity, defined as the average of three autocorrelations with 7-, 14- and 21-day lags, is an overall better indicator of the progression of the pandemic. For longer time series, Fourier transformation gives similar results. This analysis begins to fill the gap in modeling and simulation of epidemics with the inclusion of high frequency modulations, in this case most likely from human behaviors and institutional practices, and reveals that they can be highly correlated to the magnitude and duration of the pandemic. The results show that there is significant need to understand the causes and effects of the periodicity and its relationship to the progression and outcome of the pandemic, and how we could adapt our strategies and implementations to reduce the extent of the impact of COVID-19.
Establishing Evidence for Clinical Utility of a Neuroimaging Biomarker in Major Depressive Disorder: Prospective Testing and Implementation Challenges.

Abstract Background Although a number of neuroimaging biomarkers for response have been proposed, none have been tested prospectively for direct effects on treatment outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective test of the clinical utility of the use of an imaging biomarker to select treatment for patients with major depressive disorder. Methods Eligible participants (n = 60) had a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder and were assigned to either escitalopram or cognitive behavioral therapy based on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography activity in the right anterior insula. The overall study remission rate after 12 weeks of treatment, based on the end point Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, was then examined for futility and benefit of the strategy. Results Remission rates demonstrated lack of futility at the end of stage 1 (37%, 10/27), and the study proceeded to stage 2. After adjustment for the change in stage 2 sample size, the complete remission rate did not demonstrate evidence of benefit (37.7%, 95% confidence interval, 26.3%–51.4%, p = .38). However, total remission rates (complete and partial remission) did reach significance in post hoc analysis (49.1%, 95% confidence interval, 37.6%–60.7%, p = .020). Conclusions The study shows some evidence for a role of the right anterior insula in the clinical choice of major depressive disorder monotherapy. The effect size, however, is insufficient for the use of insula activity as a sole predictive biomarker of remission. The study also demonstrates the logistical difficulties in establishing clinical utility of biomarkers.
A Fluidic Diode and Its Application to a Valveless Micropump

In this work, topology optimization was used to design a fixed-geometry fluidic diode of high diodicity, defined as the ratio of pressure drop of reverse flow to forward flow. Next, the fluidic diode was used in a valveless micropump. A three-dimensional and unsteady numerical analysis of fluid flow inside the micropump with the optimized diode was conducted by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Performance of a nozzle-diffuser type diode in the valveless micropump was also evaluated under the same conditions, for comparison. Both types of micropumps were fabricated and tested. The results show that the micropump with the designed fluidic diode can reach a flow rate of up to 33.5 ml/h, which is consistent with the simulation results and 2.2 times that of the nozzle-diffuser type micropump.
When Women and Children Made the Policy Agenda — The Sheppard–Towner Act, 100 Years Later

When Women and Children Made the Policy Agenda One hundred years ago, the Sheppard–Towner Maternity and Infancy Protection Act launched a striking policy experiment. Had the program survived, the c...
MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC Trucks on Multi-Lane Highways: Change Certain Provisions Relating to Trucks Using Multi-Lane Highways To Allow the Department of Transportation To Designate Usage Lanes

The Act changes the Georgia Code relating to driving on the right side of roadways, overtaking and passing, and following too closely. The Act changes certain provisions relating to trucks using multi-lane highways. The Act also authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate certain usage lanes for trucks traveling on multi-lane highways.
Investigation of the Kinetic Energy Characterization of Advanced Ceramics

Abstract : The US Army Research Laboratory conducted an initial study to characterize the material properties and armor performance of low-density ceramic composite tiles manufactured by the Ukrainian National Academy of Science, under a US Army International Technology Center contract. These ceramic formulations were compared with standard armor-grade boron carbide and silicon carbide tiles versus the 12.7-mm armor-piercing APM2 projectile.
On Hamiltonian Triangulations in Simple Polygons (Extended Abstract)

An n-vertex simple polygon P is said to have a Hamiltonian Triangulation if it has a triangulation whose dual graph contains a Hamiltonian path. Such triangulations are useful in fast rendering engines in Computer Graphics. We give a new characterization of polygons with Hamiltonian triangulations. and use it to devise O(n log n)-time algorithms to recognize such polygons.
Incorporation of 3 H-uridine into RNA of toad bladder epithelial cells. Method of determination.

Abstract A quantitative method for the determination of 3H-uridine incorporation into PCA-insoluble RNA of epithelial cells harvested from the urinary bladder of the toad, Bufo marinus, has been developed. Information has been provided on 3H-uridine incorporation concerning: (1) the distribution and recovery of 3H-uridine (unquenched counts/minute) from fractions of whole bladder homogenates, (2) the effect of serial extraction of whole-bladder sediment with 0.3 n PCA on the removal of labile PCA-soluble 3H-uridine and (3) the measurement of 3H-uridine incorporation at 0–2°, 8°, room temperature and 24° into PCA-insoluble RNA extracted from whole bladder and from epithelial cells isolated from whole bladder. Evaluation of the method provided the following information: (1) there is no significant difference (p 0.90) between the orcinol and ultraviolet methods for quantitating the nucleic acid content in PCA-insoluble RNA extracts of isolated epithelial cells, (2) one 0.3 n PCA washing of the sediment from either whole bladder or epithelial cells removes more than 99% of the unincorporated 3H-uridine but only 88% of the extractable UV-positive material, (3) approximately one third of the orcinol-positive, DNA-negative material appeared in the PCA-soluble fraction and two-thirds in the acid-insoluble fraction of the epithelial cell, (4) from simultaneous measurements in serially extracted PCA-soluble fractions of the epithelial cell, the ultraviolet-positive material exceeded the orcinol-positive material by a factor of 5 and (5) the reproducibility by replicate analysis of RNA extracted from PCA-insoluble fractions of toad bladder proved to be ± 7%.
Hypoxia-Dependent Retinal Toxicity of NLCQ-1 (NSC 709257) in BALB/c Mice. Comparison with Tirapazamine

Bioreductive drugs can cause retinal toxicity, mediated by extensive apoptosis in the outer retina of rodents and monkeys. In the present study, we have investigated whether or not the novel and promising hypoxia-selective cytotoxin 4-[3-(2-nitro-1-imidazolyl)-propylamino]-7-chloroquinoline hydrochloride (NLCQ-1, NSC 709257) can cause hypoxia-dependent retinal toxicity in BALB/c mice alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (CPM), one of the anti-cancer agents that acts synergistically with NLCQ-1 against mouse tumours and human xenografts. The bioreductive agent tirapazamine (TPZ) was included for comparison purposes. Retinal damage was quantified by morphometric analysis of histological sections following IP treatment of female BALB/c mice. No retinal toxicity was observed with 10 or 22 mg/kg of NLCQ-1 or 23 mg/kg TPZ alone, whereas statistically significant retinal toxicity was observed with the higher TPZ dose of 52 mg/kg (p < 0.001). Thus, a normalized photoreceptor layer thickness (NPT) value of 0.50 ± 0.04, 0.48 ± 0.03 and 0.33 ± 0.06 was determined for untreated, NLCQ-1 and TPZ-treated mice at the highest dose, respectively. Marginal retinal toxicity was observed with the lower dose of TPZ in combination with CPM.
Congenital Heart Disease: Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction represents a wide spectrum of disease, including subvalvar aortic stenosis, valvar aortic stenosis, supravalvar aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, and interrupted aortic arch. In some cases, these disorders may manifest in the fetal and early neonatal period, requiring early medical management or urgent surgical or catheter-based intervention. Patients presenting later often have chronic left ventricular pressure overload, compensatory hypertrophy with altered ventricular diastolic properties, and arterial hypertension. Most of these conditions are easily diagnosed by physical examination, electrocardiography, chest radiography, and two-dimensional echocardiography with Doppler. Diagnostic catheterization may be helpful if the diagnosis is in question, for precise determination of pressure gradients, or for providing further anatomic detail via angiography. The threshold for invasive therapy varies with the location of the obstruction and its natural history. Catheter-based intervention is commonly utilized for valvar aortic stenosis and coarctation, with success rates varying based on disease type and location. Surgical intervention is indicated for interrupted aortic arch, certain types of valvar aortic stenosis and coarctation deemed not suitable for catheter-based intervention, and for subvalvar and supravalvar aortic stenosis of adequate severity. Lifelong follow-up is generally recommended, as recurrence requiring reintervention may occur.
Similarity in Several Properties of Psychrophilic Bacteria Grown at Low and Moderate Temperatures

Several properties of psychrophilic pseudomonads were studied with cells grown in batch culture in nutrient broth at 2 and 30 C. No differences were observed in the size, catalase activity, deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or protein content of cells grown at either temperature. The importance of comparing physiologically similar cells is discussed.
Accuracy of digital periapical radiography and cone-beam computed tomography in detecting external root resorption

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital intraoral radiography in diagnosing simulated small external root resorption cavities. Materials and Methods : Cavities were drilled in 159 roots using a small spherical bur at different root levels and on all surfaces. The teeth were imaged both with intraoral digital radiography using image plates and with CBCT. Two sets of intraoral images were acquired per tooth: orthogonal (PA) which was the conventional periapical radiograph and mesioangulated (SET). Four readers were asked to rate their confidence level in detecting and locating the lesions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of each modality in detecting the presence of lesions, the affected surface, and the affected level. Analysis of variation was used to compare the results and kappa analysis was used to evaluate interobserver agreement. results : A significant difference in the area under the ROC curves was found among the three modalities (P = 0.0002), with CBCT (0.81) having a significantly higher value than PA (0.71) or SET (0.71). PA was slightly more accurate than SET, but the difference was not statistically significant. CBCT was also superior in locating the affected surface and level. conclusion : CBCT has already proven its superiority in detecting multiple dental conditions, and this study shows it to likewise be superior in detecting and locating incipient external root resorption. (Imaging Sci Dent 2015; 45: 153-8)
Nanoporous membranes with electrochemically switchable, chemically stabilized ionic selectivity

Nanopore size, shape, and surface charge all play important roles in regulating ionic transport through nanoporous membranes. The ability to control these parameters in situ provides a means to create ion transport systems tunable in real time. Here, we present a new strategy to address this challenge, utilizing three unique electrochemically switchable chemistries to manipulate the terminal functional group and control the resulting surface charge throughout ensembles of gold plated nanopores in ion-tracked polycarbonate membranes 3 cm2 in area. We demonstrate the diazonium mediated surface functionalization with (1) nitrophenyl chemistry, (2) quinone chemistry, and (3) previously unreported trimethyl lock chemistry. Unlike other works, these chemistries are chemically stabilized, eliminating the need for a continuously applied gate voltage to maintain a given state and retain ionic selectivity. The effect of surface functionalization and nanopore geometry on selective ion transport through these functionalized membranes is characterized in aqueous solutions of sodium chloride at pH = 5.7. The nitrophenyl surface allows for ionic selectivity to be irreversibly switched in situ from cation-selective to anion-selective upon reduction to an aminophenyl surface. The quinone-terminated surface enables reversible changes between no ionic selectivity and a slight cationic selectivity. Alternatively, the trimethyl lock allows ionic selectivity to be reversibly switched by up to a factor of 8, approaching ideal selectivity, as a carboxylic acid group is electrochemically revealed or hidden. By varying the pore shape from cylindrical to conical, it is demonstrated that a controllable directionality can be imparted to the ionic selectivity. Combining control of nanopore geometry with stable, switchable chemistries facilitates superior control of molecular transport across the membrane, enabling tunable ion transport systems.
Kinship care: Issues in permanency planning

Abstract Kinship care represents one of the newest paradigms in program options in public child welfare services and is one of the fastest growing segments in the child welfare system. This paper assesses the implementation of the goal of permanency planning articulated in the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), with a group of children placed with relatives by the child welfare system at one year of age or less. The paper compares the outcomes of permanency between infants placed with relatives and children placed in foster care in a middle sized urban/rural county in Upstate NY between April 1993 and April 1994, and followed until April 1996. The aim is to assess the viability of the outcome goal of permanency planning for these children, and identify barriers to the achievement of the permanency goal. The strategies used to address the permanency goal will also be discussed in light of the conditions of case closures and in view of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), that emphasizes the outcome of permanency and shortens the time span to achieve this for all children under care. The implications for service delivery are also discussed.
Bladder augmentation in dogs using the tissue capsule formed around a perivesical tissue expander.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Enterocystoplasty provides needed improvement in bladder storage parameters in many patients but it also generates significant morbidity. We evaluated the unusual potential alternative of using the capsule that forms around a standard silicone tissue expander placed perivesically to augment the bladder in dogs.Materials and Methods: Six mongrel dogs underwent baseline videourodynamics and assessment of serum electrolytes, followed by placement of a 250 to 500 cc perivesical silicone tissue expander. Four months after implantation the tissue expander was removed and the fibrous capsule around the expander was biopsied. The capsule was opened and anastomosed to the bladder to augment storage. Serum electrolytes were determined 2 and 4 weeks after augmentation. Videourodynamics were repeated after 3 to 5 months, that is at sacrifice. The harvested bladders underwent histological evaluation.Results: Five dogs underwent augmentation as described, while in an additional dog that underwent intra...
Investigation of Boussinesq dynamics using intermediate models based on wave–vortical interactions

Nonlinear coupling among wave modes and vortical modes is investigated with the following question in mind: can we distinguish the wave–vortical interactions largely responsible for formation versus evolution of coherent, balanced structures? The two main case studies use initial conditions that project only onto the vortical-mode flow component of the rotating Boussinesq equations: (i) an initially balanced dipole and (ii) random initial data in the vortical modes. Both case studies compare quasi-geostrophic (QG) dynamics (involving only nonlinear interactions between vortical modes) to the dynamics of intermediate models allowing for two-way feedback between wave modes and vortical modes. For an initially balanced dipole with symmetry across the -axis, the QG dipole will propagate along the -axis while the trajectory of the Boussinesq dipole exhibits a cyclonic drift. Compared to a forced linear (FL) model with one-way forcing of wave modes by the vortical modes, the simplest intermediate model with two-way feedback involving vortical–vortical–wave interactions is able to capture the speed and trajectory of the dipole for roughly ten times longer at Rossby and Froude numbers . Despite its success at tracking the dipole, the latter intermediate model does not accurately capture the details of the flow structure within the adjusted dipole. For decay from random initial conditions in the vortical modes, the full Boussinesq equations generate vortices that are smaller than QG vortices, indicating that wave–vortical interactions are fundamental for creating the correct balanced state. The intermediate model with QG and vortical–vortical–wave interactions actually prevents the formation of vortices. Taken together these case studies suggest that: vortical–vortical–wave interactions create waves and thereby influence the evolution of balanced structures; vortical–wave–wave interactions take energy out of the wave modes and contribute in an essential way to the formation of coherent balanced structures.
Migration of male hamadryas baboons into anubis groups in the Awash National Park, Ethiopia

Among “savanna” baboons, males are the dispersing sex, and females are philopatric. Despite clear evidence for migration of adult males at Erer-Gota, Ethiopia (Abegglen, 1984), it is generally believed that a different pattern-dispersal only by female transfer-is found in hamadryas baboons,Papio hamadryas hamadryas (Pusey and Packer, 1987; Pusey, 1988; Stammbach, 1987). Since the late 1960's, there have been isolated observations of hamadryas males migrating into anubis groups in the Awash National Park, Ethiopia (Nagel, 1973; Kawai and Sugawara, 1976; Sugawara, 1982). Since 1983, we have observed 11 individually identified adult hamadryas immigrants in four anubis groups above the Awash Falls and have trapped and tagged 9 of them. One subadult male was also captured and marked. Repeated visits to the study site allow us to document long-term residence of these “cross-migrant” males in their host groups. The longest-resident male has been in the same group for 5 years or more; a conservative estimate of the average length of residence is 3 years. We estimate that 25 hamadryas males have moved into this ozne over the last 15 years. Although larger than the hamadryas males captured in 1973, all but one of our cross-migrants appear phenotypically hamadryas. By comparing, the ages of our cross-migrants with Abegglen's account of the typical hamadryas male life-history, we have found that the adult hamadryas males seem to immigrate at ages consistent with having left their
Illuminating Parkinson's therapy with optogenetics

Controlling transplanted dopamine neurons with light helps define their mechanism of action.
Stability study of a periodic system by a period-to-period mapping

Abstract Stability characteristics of period dynamical systems are investigated by the Poincare map ( point mapping ) analysis approach. The approach is based on a method for obtaining an analytical expression for the period-to-period mapping description of the dynamics of the system and its dependence on system parameters. Stability and bifurcation conditions are expressed analytically and functional relations between various system parameters are determined. The approach is applied to investigate the parametric stability of a double pendulum. Excellent agreement with direct numerical results, assumed to be the “exact solution” for the purpose of this study, was obtained. Analytical stability studies of systems with multiple degrees-of-freedom is an important feature of the proposed approach since most existing analysis methods are applicable to single degree-of-freedom systems.
Implications for Mother and Infant, Challenge for the Nurse

A review of postterm pregnancy and the postmature newborn is presented. It includes definitions, problems encountered, guidelines for identification of high risk, and the psychological impact on the pregnant woman. A final section summarizes the special challenge postterm pregnancies present to the nurse.
The effect of N-bromosuccinimide upon trypsinogen activation and trypsin catalysis.

Abstract Modification of trypsinogen with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) significantly alters the appearance and the time required for the development of the activation difference spectrum. The kinetic properties of the activated modified trypsinogen (ATGM) were compared with similarly modified trypsin (TM). Neither ATGM nor TM showed significant changes in the binding parameters Ks,app and Ki evaluated for mixture of l -arginine methyl ester (L-AM) and benzamidine. There was a sharp decrease in kapp for ATGM with increasing extent of NBS modification. This apparent decrease in the catalytic efficiency can be explained by a loss in active site concentration, based upon inhibition measurements with soybean trypsin inhibitor. These results were in contrast with those for modified trypsin, where there was a decrease in kapp with increasing extent of NBS modification, but no loss in active site concentration until the ratio of moles NBS per mole protein had exceeded 2:1. Additional kinetic characterization of the ATGM and TM with tosyl- l -arginine methyl ester ( l -TAM) and activation of chymotrypsinogen gave results which paralleled those for kapp with l -AM. Both ATGM and TM exhibited substrate activation with l -TAM.
Effect of heat inactivation of lipoxygenase on lipid oxidation in lake herring (coregonus artedii)

The role of lipoxygenase in causing lipid oxidation in lake herring was studied. Lipid oxidation was measured by assaying for 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and lipoxygenase activity was measured by a spectrophotometric (470 nm) method. Lipoxygenase activity was highest in light muscle, lowest in skin and intermediate in dark muscle. Light muscle contained the highest percentage of phospholipids (PL) and the least total lipid. The percentage of PL was lowest and total lipids were highest in the skin. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were found in larger amounts in PL than in triglycerides. Heat treatment rapidly inactivated lipoxygenase. After a 5-min heating period, lipoxygenase was totally inactivated in most cases. TBARS data indicated that samples heated at 80°C for 1.5–2.0 min were more stable than samples heated at 80°C for 2.5–5.0 min, suggesting that heat accelerated nonenzymatic oxidation.
Segmentalized consciousness in schizophrenia

Segmentalized consciousness in schizophrenia reflects a loss of the normal Gestalt organization and contextualization of perception. Grays model explains such segmentalization in terms of septohippocampal dysfunction, which is consistent with known neuropsychological impairment in schizophrenia. However, other considerations suggest that everyday perception and its failure in schizophrenia also involve prefrontal executive mechanisms, which are only minimally elaborated by Gray.
The Molybdenum Site of Sulfite Oxidase: A Comparison of Wild-Type and the Cysteine 207 to Serine Mutant Using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the molybdenum and sulfur K-edges has been used to probe the active site of wild-type and cysteine 207 → serine mutant human sulfite oxidases. We compare the active site structures in the Mo(VI) oxidation states: the wild-type enzyme possesses two MoO ligands at 1.71 A and three Mo−S ligands at 2.41 A. The mutant molybdenum site is a novel trioxo site with MoO bond lengths of 1.74 A, with two Mo−S ligands at 2.47 A. We conclude that cysteine 207 is a ligand of molybdenum in wild-type human sulfite oxidase, and that, in the mutant, the Mo is ligated to an extra oxo group rather than the hydroxyl of the substituent serine 207.
Knowledge Is Insufficient for Self-Care Among Heart Failure Patients With Psychological Distress

Baseline data from 612 patientswith HF enrolled in the REMOTE-HF trial were analyzed. Using median splits on the HF KnowledgeScale and the European HF Self-Care Behavior Scale, patients were divided into four groups: (a) lowknowledge and good self-care, (b) low knowledge and poor self-care, (c) high knowledge and goodself-care, and (d) high knowledge and poor self-care. Characteristics of the groups were compared usingANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and chi-square tests, followed by pairwise tests with Bonferroni correc-tion. Variables significant in the univariate analyses were evaluated as predictors of self-care usinghierarchical multiple linear regression. The potential moderating effect of knowledge was tested withinteraction terms.
Cotton response to placement and rate of starter fertilizer

Abstract Application of starter fertilizer at‐planting is a convenient method of applying phosphorus (P) and pre‐plant nitrogen (N) to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). In addition, the placement of starter fertilizer in‐furrow requires no extra tanks or pumps, and can be tank mixed with at‐planting insecticides, fungicides, or plant growth regulators. Over a four‐year period, tests were initiated to determine the effect of 10–34–0 starter fertilizer applied in‐furrow and in a 5 cm to the side and 5 cm below the seed placement (5 cm x 5 cm). Lint yields were measured all four years. Stand counts, Chambers’ skip index, and plant heights were measured the final year. Placement of starter fertilizer in‐furrow was shown to decrease yields compared to a 5 cm x 5 cm placement and a check two out of four years. Plant stands, skip indexes and plant heights were adversely affected by an in‐furrow placement as well. A 5 cm x 5 cm placement did not significantly differ in terms of yield in any year from the check. Pla...
Induction of TGF-β1 by the matricellular protein SPARC in a rat model of glomerulonephritis

Induction of TGF-β1 by the matricellular protein SPARC in a rat model of glomerulonephritis. Background SPARC has been implicated as a counteradhesive and antiproliferative protein associated with deposits of extracellular matrix in renal disease. Method We have examined the effect of recombinant SPARC containing a C-terminal His tag (rSPARC) in an acute model of mesangial cell injury that is induced in the rat by an antibody against the Thy1 antigen on the mesangial cell membrane. The recombinant protein was administered 24 hours after the induction of nephritis and was infused through day 4. Results rSPARC was localized to the renal glomeruli of rats treated with anti-Thy1 antibody. Type I collagen and fibronectin, as well as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), were increased at day 5 in rats treated with rSPARC ( N = 4, P Conclusions rSPARC stimulates expression of TGF-β1 both in vitro and in vivo. Given the closely regulated expression of SPARC, TGF-β1, and type I collagen in several animal models of glomerulonephritis, we propose that SPARC could be one of the major mediators of the induction of TGF-β1 in renal disease.
Identifying And Assessing The Job-Related Social Skills Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders

Adolescents and young adults (ages 15 to 25) with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) experience difficulties maintaining competitive employment, in large part because of social skills deficits specific to interacting with work supervisors and co-workers in the employment settings. However, only a few studies have sought to identify the types of social interactions and behaviors exhibited by these persons in competitive work placements. This research first described job-related social behaviors for persons with EBD by following the behavioral analytic model and then used this information to develop measures of these skills. This model consisted of four sequential steps: situational analysis (job-related social interactions were identified through structured interviews of workers with EBD, professionals, and employers), generation of alternatives (possible behavioral responses to the interactions were identified by adolescents and young adults with EBD and peers without EBD), response evaluation (prof...