cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Presenting Symptoms of Chiari Type I Malformation

Clinical and radiographic predictors of neurologic symptoms were investigated in a population-based retrospective study of 51 children identified with Chiari I malformation at the University of California, and Kaiser Department of Radiology, San Francisco.
Arenedicarboximides as Versatile Building Blocks for Fluorescent Photoinduced Electron Transfer Saccharide Sensors

Within the last decade a considerable amount of effort has been directed towards the detection of saccharides by fluorescent chemosensors.1–3 Such studies have shown that the response which signals an interaction between carbohydrate and receptor is frequently communicated by changes in fluorescence intensity either through chelation enhanced-quenching (CHEQ) or chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF).4,5 While significant advances continue in the areas of chemosensors for saccharides, invariably, one or more of the requisite conditions necessary for biologists to measure these analytes goes unmet. For carbohydrate measurements, conditions such as neutral pH as well as selectivity in an aqueous testing environment are essential. In addition to these physiological requirements, for effective photoinduced electron transfer (PET), the signaling properties of the chemosensor must also meet certain criteria. Three critical prerequisites of the fluorescent sensor that must be satisfied for carbohydrate recognition have been outlined by Shinkai: strong fluorescence intensity, large pH dependent change in I max, and shift of the pH-I max profile to lower pH region in the presence of saccharides.6
Regular Classroom Teachers' Responses to Inappropriate Behavior of the Mainstreamed Handicapped Child.

Regular class elementary teachers were assessed as to their responses to inappropriate behaviors of a mainstreamed handicapped child. Subjects were asked to respond to a brief scenario describing a misbehaving child who was either presented as a mainstreamed handicapped student or a nonhandicapped student. With the exception of the child's special education status, all other descriptive information on each target child was identical.Data indicated that teachers' responses were significantly lower in each of the three areas examined when addressing the misbehavior of the handicapped child as opposed to misbehavior of a nonhandicapped child. When the child was handicapped, the regular classroom teacher was significantly more willing to (a) use corporal punishment, i.e., spanking, (b) have the child reassigned, and (c) predict future academic failure.Ramification of these findings on mainstreaming and teacher training are discussed.
INITIAL RESULTS FROM THE EARLY FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE MEDTRONIC NATIVE OUTFLOW TRACT TRANSCATHETER PULMONARY VALVE

The Medtronic native outflow tract Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (nTPV) was designed for patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) being considered for pulmonary valve replacement. Three investigative sites participated in this 1st FDA approved early feasibility study (EFS) using an
Normalizing cyberracism: a neutralization theory analysis

AbstractWhite Supremacists use the Internet to discuss ideological arguments, which rationalize their beliefs and/or behavior by denying its implications, responsibility, or to contextualize it in higher order responsibilities to conform to normal expectations. The rationalization exemplified by their arguments can be simultaneously normalizing and neutralizing via framing processes that serve to legitimize deviant and criminal behaviors. These processes act as tools to not only maintain participation of current ideological followers, but also to persuade potential members who are pursuing their curiosity about White Supremacist ideology. Discourse on the web forum Stormfront was found to contain six types of argument frameworks: racial difference, cultural superiority, empiricism, verifiability, word choice, and racial superiority. Each of these categories was analyzed for neutralization framing techniques under pre-established metaframes and collective action frames, which collectively fall under the ar...
A Novel Peroxisome Proliferator Response Element Modulates Hepatic Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Gene Transcription in Response to PPARδ Activation

The hepatic expression of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) gene is regulated primarily at the transcriptional level by a sterol-regulatory element (SRE) in its proximal promoter region which is the site of action of SRE-binding protein 2 (SREBP2). However whether additional cis-regulatory elements contribute to LDLR transcription has not been fully explored. We investigated the function of a putative peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-response element (PPRE) sequence motif located at -768 to -752 bases upstream of the transcription start site of human LDLR gene in response to PPARδ activation. Promoter luciferase reporter analyses showed that treating HepG2 cells with PPARδ agonist L165041 markedly increased the activity of a full-length LDLR promoter construct (pLDLR-1192) without any effects on the shorter promoter reporter pLDLR-234 that contains only the core regulatory elements SRE-1 and SP1 sites. Importantly, mutation of the PPRE sequence greatly attenuated the induction of the full-length LDLR promoter activity by L165041 without affecting rosuvastatin (RSV)-mediated transactivation. EMSA and ChIP assay further confirmed the binding of PPARδ to the LDLR-PPRE site. Treating HepG2 cells with L165041 elevated the mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR without affecting the LDLR mRNA decay rate. The induction of LDLR expression by PPARδ agonist was further observed in liver tissue of mice and hamsters treated with L165041. Altogether, our studies identify a novel PPRE-mediated regulatory mechanism for LDLR transcription and suggest that combined treatment of statin with PPARδ agonists may have advantageous effects on LDLR expression.
Preservation of aortic valve in type A aortic dissection complicated by aortic regurgitation

Two hundred fifty-two patients underwent operation for type A aortic dissection at Stanford University Medical Center from 1963 to 1987 and Duke University Medical Center from 1975 to 1988. Sixty-seven percent had an acute type A dissection and 33% had a chronic type A dissection. In addition to repair or replacement of the ascending aorta, 121 patients (48%) required an aortic valve procedure. Valve resuspension was performed in 46 (39 acute type A and 7 chronic type A), with an operative mortality rate of 13% ± 5% (±70% confidence limits), and aortic valve replacement in 75 (36 acute type A and 39 chronic type A), with an operative mortality rate of 20% ± 5% (p = not significant versus resuspension). The operative mortality rate for patients requiring only repair or replacement of the ascending aorta was 32% ±4%. Indications for valve replacement included coexistent (nonacute) aortic valve disease, Marfan’s syndrome, annuloaortic ectasia, and cases in which successful resuspension could not be accomplished. The overall actuarial survival rate for all patients was 59% ± 3% (±1 standard error of the mean), 40% ± 4%, and 25% ± 5% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Survival rates at these same times for patients with valve resuspension were 67% ±8%, 52% ± 10%, and 26% ± 19%, respectively; for patients who required aortic valve replacement, these survival rates were 70% ± 5%, 39% ± 8%, and 21% ±11%; finally, patients who received only an ascending aortic procedure had survival probabilities of 51% ± 5%, 37% ± 6%, and 23% ± 6% (p = not significant versus resuspension versus aortic valve replacement). Multivariate analysis showed advanced age (p
Antiangiogenic Therapy for Normalization of Tumor Vasculature and Microenvironment

Surpassing several setbacks, the clinical development of antiangiogenic agents has accelerated remarkably over the past 3–4 years. As a result, there are currently three direct blockers of the VEGF pathway approved for use in cancer, and two others for age-related wet macular degeneration. Other agents that block the VEGF pathway are currently in advanced stages of clinical development and have shown promising results. With these exciting developments come critical questions regarding the use of these new molecularly targeted agents, alone or in combination with standard cytotoxic or targeted agents.
Scattering the spotlight on microparticles.

Bloodborne microparticles are submicron vesicles released from cells within the vascular compartment. Pathologic alterations of microparticle populations have been explored in a large number of conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to dengue fever.[1, 2] Despite wide ranging interest in the field of microparticles and their potential as biomarkers for disease states, their use in clinical practice is essentially nonexistent. A number of obstacles thus far have prohibited the translation of published observations into more generalizable clinical applications, not the least of which remains a lack of consensus regarding appropriate methodology for the measurement of microparticles. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The male of the orb-weaving spider Plebs mitratus (Simon, 1895) and a redescription of the female (Araneae, Araneidae)

The orb-weaving spider genus Plebs Joseph & Framenau, 2012 currently has only two representatives in India: Plebs himalayaensis (Tikader, 1975) from the Himalayas and Plebs mitratus (Simon, 1895) from the Nilgiris and Anamudi Shola National Park (World Spider Catalog 2016), both are found in high altitude mountainous habitats (Joseph & Framenau 2012). Both species were known only from females (World Spider Catalog 2016), although Sherriffs (1918, 1919) provided a description of an immature male of P. mitratus. In the present paper, we provide the first description of the adult male of P. mitratus, together with the detailed redescription of its female demonstrating considerable intraspecific variation.
Lessons learned from BATTLE-2 in the war on cancer: the use of Bayesian method in clinical trial design

In the past decade, the therapeutic landscape for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has evolved considerably with the advent of targeted therapy. It has become the standard of care to match patients with relevant targeted therapeutics according to their molecular abnormalities (1). Treatment of patients with EGFR -mutant NSCLC with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) serves as the paradigm of precision medicine in lung cancer. In the U.S., three first- or second-generation EGFR-TKIs (erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib) are available for use in the first-line treatment of EGFR -mutant NSCLC (2). Osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR-TKI, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients whose disease has progressed after an earlier generation EGFR-TKI and whose tumors have a secondary mutation (T790M) (2). The list of genetic aberrations for which effective targeted therapeutics are available includes ALK and ROS1 translocations (3,4), and continues to expand due to an improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of NSCLC. However, due to the ever-growing number of targeted therapeutics and their putative targets, the simultaneous development of a molecularly targeted agent and a predictive biomarker is not often achievable using data from traditional non-randomized early-phase clinical trials (5), which raises the need for innovative approaches to clinical trial design.
Skin Toxicity in Palliative Radiation Therapy

Radiation is a frequently used tool in the palliation of patients with metastatic cancer. Skin toxicity is a common, dose-related, side effect of radiation. There are multiple treatment- and patient- related factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing radiation-related skin toxicity. Acute reactions defined as occurring during or shortly after radiation therapy, include erythema, hyperpigmentation, dryness, pain, itchiness, hair loss, and desquamation. Late reactions, occurring months to years after radiation, include telangiectasias, fibrosis, hypo- or hyperpigmentation, dryness, ulcers, and difficulty with wound healing. Recommendations for prevention of acute toxicity include washing with gentle soap and prophylactic use of a hydrocortisone cream. Other interventions for prevention and treatment do not have robust data supporting their use and there is a wide practice variation between providers. In addition to the classic skin toxicity from radiation, patients can develop radiation recall dermatitis, which causes symptoms similar to an acute reaction in a previously irradiated field after administration of a systemic agent.
DNA methylation in serum as an independent marker of outcome and treatment response in TBCRC 005: A prospective study in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.

518 Background: Accurate markers are needed to assess the effect of therapies early in MBC. Emerging studies suggest that methylated tumor DNA in blood can predict poor prognosis. In the TBCRC 005 ...
Per se Being and Potential/Actual Being

Aristotle divides being into four types: per se being, accidental being, being as truth, and potential/actual being. Of these, per se being and potential/actual being are the central focus of his metaphysics, as we explained in the introduction. In this beginning chapter, I seek to interpret why the distinction between per se being and potential/actual being is significant. I start by explaining what per se being is, and proceed to discuss what potential/actual being is and how it is distinct from per se being. Toward the end of this chapter, I show that both per se being and potential/actual being are included in the focal structure of being which is the substantial subject of the science of being as being.
Contextual Factors Related to African American Adolescent Career Development

African American adolescents’ career development has gained increased attention in light of various barriers affecting their educational and career development goals. The author examined relationships among career decision self-efficacy, ethnic identity, and academic self-concept of 104 African American high school students enrolled in Upward Bound programs. Participants responded to measures of career decision self-efficacy, ethnic identity, and academic self-concept. Results indicated that career decision self-efficacy was significantly and positively correlated with ethnic identity and academic self-concept. In addition, academic self-concept was found to be a stronger predictor of career decision self-efficacy than was ethnic identity. The results of this study may assist counselors, teachers, administrators, and parents to understand career decision self-efficacy as it relates to ethnic identity, academic self-concept, and demographic variables. This research supports the need for continued career-related interventions within the schools designed to focus on factors related to ethnic minorities to help foster their career development.
Meeting Seed Demand for Landscape-Scale Restoration Sustainably: The Influence of Seed Harvest Intensity and Site Management

Native seed is often collected en masse from remnant ecosystems to supply landscape-scale restoration. Successful large-scale restoration depends on sustained seed yields but also on donor population persistence. Native plants that reproduce solely by seed are especially sensitive to harvesting practices. We addressed the challenge of procuring sufficient seed from remnant sources to restore landscapes while also maintaining remnant populations of native plants. We evaluated: 1) the sustainability of seed harvest at varying intensities in Rudbeckia hirta, a seedreliant plant; and 2) the contribution of fire in promoting sustainability of seed donor populations. We planted seedlings of R. hirta in a field experiment that manipulated management type (burned or unburned) and harvest intensity (0, 50%, or 100% seed removed), and measured changes in seedling recruitment and seed production among treatments. Moderate intensity harvest and burning did not significantly reduce seedling recruitment, but high intensity harvest with burning reduced recruitment by 95% compared to controls. Seed production nearly doubled in burned treatments. In unburned prairie, recruitment is negligible, and harvest intensity does not have an effect on recruitment. For harvest-sensitive prairie species, a strategy incorporating moderate intensity seed harvest with burning is most likely to provide seed for large-scale restoration sustainably.
Care of the Geriatric Surgery Patient: The Surgeon’s Perspective

Providing high-quality surgical care for the older adult patient is a complex and challenging endeavor. Interdisciplinary collaboration and attention to detail are key throughout all of the perioperative phases. The geriatric surgical patient is at high risk for devastating complications which can lead to functional/cognitive decline and totally alter the patient’s way of life forever. It is incumbent upon the surgeon to learn what the patient’s healthcare goals are, both in general and for the proposed procedure, and to be sure that the procedure goals and the patient’s goals align. An interdisciplinary team including the surgeon, primary care/geriatric physician, anesthesiologist, nutritionist, physical therapist, pharmacist, and social worker must work together to ensure that the patient is properly screened and prepared prior to the surgery. Intraoperatively, the patient’s anesthetic and analgesic plans are carefully constructed to decrease the likelihood of predictable complications. Postoperatively, the interdisciplinary team works together to implement interventions such as cognitive reorientation, early mobilization, and fall prevention, which are designed to decrease the risk of complications such as delirium and functional decline. There must also be a strong emphasis on effective communication, family/patient engagement and education, and early, thorough transition planning. While guidelines for the optimal care of the geriatric surgical patient are available, guidelines alone are not sufficient to improve care. Outcomes that matter most to the geriatric patient must be measured, and the results of this measurement used to guide performance improvement in a structured manner.
Adsorption and Reaction of Formic Acid on a Pseudomorphic Palladium Monolayer on Mo(110)

The adsorption and reaction of formic acid, HCOOH, on monolayer and multilayer palladium supported on a Mo(110) surface have been studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). On multilayer palladium, formic acid adsorbs molecularly at 100 K and desorbs primarily intact upon heating to 200 K. A small amount of the adsorbed formic acid in the first adsorbed layer undergoes decomposition to form CO, H{sub 2}O and H{sub 2}. No other surface reaction intermediates were identified using HREELS. In constrast to multilayer palladium, monolayer palladium exhibits a higher reactivity toward the decomposition of formic acid to form a surface formate species, as verified with HREELS. However, monolayer palladium shows a relatively low reactivity toward formate decomposition. The formate species is stable on the surface up to 350 K and exhibits an activation energy and preexponential factor for decomposition of 125 KJ/mol and 4.7 x 10{sup 18} respectively. Increasing the Pd thickness to three layers restores the bulk Pd surface chemistry of formic acid. 42 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.
Locomotion of Tissue Culture Cells Considered in Relation to Ameboid Locomotion

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of locomotion in tissue culture cells. To propel itself forward, a cell must somehow exert rearward forces on something in its immediate environment. In the case of tissue culture cells, this traction is exerted through adhesions to such substrata as glass, plastic, plasma clots, collagen fibers, or other materials. Traction can be detected by the distortions that it produces in culture substrata, as long as these are mechanically weak enough to be visibly distorted by traction; substrata that are used to study traction include plasma clots, collagen gels, silicone rubber membranes, pools of highly viscous silicone fluid, and other inert, insoluble, and viscous liquids. There is a positive correlation between adhesive strength, including in particular the formation of focal adhesions, and the abilities of different cell types to distort flexible substrata. Likewise there is a strong positive correlation with cytoskeletal organization; cells with well-developed stress fibers can be relied upon to exert strong traction, and drugs which disrupt cytoskeletal organization always weaken the traction.
ENRICHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EFFECTOR POPULATIONS MEDIATING NK, NC, ADCC, AND SPONTANEOUS MACROPHAGE CYTOTOXICITY IN MURINE PERITONEAL EXUDATE CELL PREPARATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on characterization of effector populations mediating natural killer (NK), natural cytotoxic (NC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and spontaneous macrophage cytotoxicity in murine peritoneal exudate cell preparations. The studies described address two questions: (1) are the lysis of the NK susceptible YAC-1 and the NC-susceptible Meth-A tumor cell lines the function of the same population that manifests ADCC and SK killing and (2) is it possible to separate or enrich the various populations and thus facilitate their characterization. In a study described in the chapter, resident noninduced peritoneal cells were obtained from 8–12 week (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F1 mice by lavage. Viable nucleated cells were suspended in mouse tonicity phosphate buffered saline (320 m0sm) and separated by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity according to the method of Miller and Phillips. After sedimentation, 35 ml fractions were collected, washed, counted, and appropriately diluted. NK, NC, and ADCC cell functions were tested. Significant enrichment and separation of cytotoxic effector populations can be achieved using velocity sedimentation. Velocity sedimentation may represent a valuable pre-enrichment method for secondary characterization studies.
Problems in the Semiclassical Quantization of Integrable and Nonintegrable Classical Dynamical Systems

The problem of semiclassical quantization ╌ the determination of quantum energy levels and wave functions from classical dynamical input ╌ has been solved for a large class of integrable systems where classical trajectories are confined to Lagrangian manifolds which are topologically N-tori in the 2N dimensional phase space. In this paper we explore two cases where this quantization procedure breaks down. This occurs if the dynamics are nonintegrable, or if the classical tori have a complex structure on a scale small compared to Planck’s constant, ħ. In both cases the empirically correct procedure is to smooth the classical dynamics before applying a quantization procedure. The concepts are illustrated using the nonintegrable two-dimensional Henon-Heiles system, where it is shown that excellent results are obtained.
Addiction: Neurobiological Mechanism

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by the compulsive use of drugs. Animal studies of drug addiction and human brain imaging studies have revealed compromised neurochemical and cellular mechanisms in the brain reward systems, brain stress systems, and orbitofrontal/prefrontal cortex function as key elements in the development of addiction. Molecular studies have identified transduction and transcription factors that may mediate the dependence-induced neurocircuitry changes, and genetic studies suggest roles for the genes encoding some of the neurochemical elements identified in the neurocircuitry of addiction. Decreased reward, increased anti-reward, and decreased executive function are hypothesized to form the basis of vulnerability to addiction.
Impact of oncologists’ attitudes toward end-of-life care on Patient’s access to palliative care.

e21644Background: It is unclear how oncologists’ attitudes toward end-of-life (EOL) care affect their patients' access to primary and specialists/secondary palliative care.This study examined the a...
A 31-Year-Old Man With Airflow Obstruction, Intrathoracic Adenopathy, and Pulmonary Nodules

Case Presentation A 31-year-old white man presented for evaluation of productive cough and dyspnea on exertion of 2 months' duration. Associated symptoms included wheezing, chest tightness, and postnasal drip. He was recently treated for pneumonia with a 7-day course of levofloxacin because of an abnormal chest radiograph demonstrating bilateral infiltrates, but his symptoms failed to improve. He had a medical history of mild intermittent asthma and was on no active treatment. He was a nonsmoker. He was born in the United States. He denied any recent travel within or outside the United States, sick contacts, or illicit drug use. He did not have any pets and denied exposure to mold, hot tubs, a down comforter, or pillows. He worked in a vocational program and his hobbies included refinishing wood floors.
Achievement of long term gene expression via adenoviral vector-mediated delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for in vivo editing and gene knock-in

Background & Aim Despite its many utilities, adenoviral vectors have been of limited value for applications which require long term gene expression, such as inherited serum deficiency states. A range of technical methods have been proposed to realize long term gene expression from adenoviral vectors (Ad), however, these techniques have not gained wide employ. Nonetheless, Ads possess unique functional capacities that have qualified them to address the stringent requirements of in vivo gene therapy applications. Based on such utilities, we have exploited the emerging technology of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to accomplish functional gene knock-in as a means to achieve long term corrective expression via adenoviral vectors. Methods, Results & Conclusion This technical goal is made possible by the unique ability of adenovirus to accomplish efficient and selective in vivo gene transfer. Whereas CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been shown to be compatible with adenoviral vectors, our study here is unique in exploiting Ads’ key vector capacities to achieve efficient CRISPR/Cas9 in vivo gene editing for functional knock-in of a corrective gene. To date, we have edited the ROSA26 locus in murine liver cells by inducing mutations resultant from non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) as well as successfully generating targeted insertions of a 2 kb reporter cassette of the GFP. Secondly we have shown in vivo utility of both NHEJ activity and obtained preliminary data on rates of targeted insertion of our reporter cassette. Targeted integration was achieved through co-injection of a vector containing GFP reporter cassette, flanked by ROSA26 specific sequences, and a vector encoding a ROSA26 specific guideRNA and the Cas9 endonuclease. Lastly, we tracked serum levels of episomal and integrating expression in vivo using a donor vector isogenic to our GFP reporter donor and determined integration affords extended gene expression. Serum correction models of Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and FIX deficiency hemophilia are being studied. By conferring upon adenovirus the ability to achieve long term gene expression, we have dramatically expanded the range of its potential applications. Our new platform technology thus represents a novel paradigm shift for vector design with true field-wide ramifications.
Patients’ understanding and adherence to oral anti-cancer medication (OAM): Results of an institutional pilot study.

e18280Background: Advancements in biopharmaceuticals have led to increasing availability and use of OAM. While oral medications allow patients (pts) to receive treatment at home, OAM use introduces...
Robust Regression and Outlier Detection

(1989). Robust Regression and Outlier Detection. Technometrics: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 260-261.
Methods for mechanical delivery of viral vectors into rhesus monkey brain

Abstract Background Modern molecular tools make it possible to manipulate neural activity in a reversible and cell-type specific manner. For rhesus monkey research, molecular tools are generally introduced via viral vectors. New instruments designed specifically for use in monkey research are needed to enhance the efficiency and reliability of vector delivery. New method A suite of multi-channel injection devices was developed to permit efficient and uniform vector delivery to cortical regions of the monkey brain. Manganese was co-infused with virus to allow rapid post-surgical confirmation of targeting accuracy using MRI. A needle guide was designed to increase the accuracy of sub-cortical targeting using stereotaxic co-ordinates. Results The multi-channel injection devices produced dense, uniform coverage of dorsal surface cortex, ventral surface cortex, and intra-sulcal cortex, respectively. Co-infusion of manganese with the viral vector allowed for immediate verification of injection accuracy. The needle guide improved accuracy of targeting sub-cortical structures by preventing needle deflection. Comparison with existing method(s) The current methods, hand-held injections or single slow mechanical injection, for surface cortex transduction do not, in our hands, produce the density and uniformity of coverage provided by the injector arrays and associated infusion protocol. Conclusions The efficiency and reliability of vector delivery has been considerably improved by the development of new methods and instruments. This development should facilitate the translation of chemo- and optogenetic studies performed in smaller animals to larger animals such as rhesus monkeys.
Smoking Cessation Methods Among Homeless Youth in a Midwestern City

Abstract Introduction Nearly three times as many homeless youth smoke cigarettes in the United States (US) compared to the general population of youth. Few studies have focused on how to help homeless youth quit smoking. As part of a series of studies to develop a smoking cessation intervention for homeless youth, this study aimed to describe methods used in past quit attempts by homeless youth. Methods Recruited from a drop-in center in the Midwestern US, the analytic sample was comprised of 32 unaccompanied homeless youth aged 14–24 who smoked combustible tobacco at some point in the past week. In-person qualitative interviews were conducted to understand prior quit attempt experiences of homeless youth. Results Twenty-two youth (69%) were willing to quit smoking in the next 30 days. Most previous quit attempts were unassisted (78%). Participants frequently reported engaging in distracting behaviors (e.g., video games) or thoughts (e.g., remaining positive). Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was another popular method (38%), but with mostly negative reactions. While less common, vaping and use of cannabis to substitute cigarettes was reported in a notable faction of youth (28%), primarily 18–24 years of age. Conclusions Youth are primarily engaging in non-evidence-based strategies to quit smoking. Existing evidence-based treatments are often underutilized or not used according to instructions, and youth who do use evidence-based treatments do not find them useful. Future research should explore effective cessation treatment among homeless youth that can ideally be provided at shelters and drop-in centers. Implications Existing evidence-based treatments are underutilized by homeless youth in this study. Most homeless youth are willing to quit in the next month and are interested in trying behavioral counseling and monitored use of NRT. Drop-in centers may be an effective location from which to develop and offer targeted smoking cessation interventions for homeless youth.
Do Standards Matter? What is Their Value?

Standards allow us to manage expectations for a diverse range of goods and services across the globe. From coordinating international global telecommunications across 24 different time zones to ensuring access to safe drinking water, standards allow us to work, communicate, collaborate, and live with certain expectations about safety and efficacy. When standards are fit-for-purpose, they raise the quality of products and services without requiring us to think about how that quality is assured. The result is that the successful implementation of standards for certain products can counterintuitively make it easy to overlook their importance when creating policies and regulations for next-generation products, such as generic drugs vis-a-vis biosimilars. Here we review the value of public standards as applied to the pharmaceutical industry. Using case studies, we demonstrate how standards for complex products, such as biologics, can be created and managed to ensure their optimal value to society while minimizing the burden to the industry. We also discuss the sustainability of standard development and whether there is sufficient transparency to maintain their role in the public trust. Finally, we assess the ability of standards to promote access to reasonably priced and high-quality biosimilars while enabling efficient product development and review.
Use of the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care "6 Clicks" Basic Mobility Inpatient Short Form and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale to Predict Hospital Discharge Disposition After Stroke.

Objective Therapists in the hospital are charged with making timely discharge recommendations to improve access to rehabilitation after stroke. The objective of this study was to identify the predictive ability of the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care "6 Clicks" Basic Mobility Inpatient Short Form (6 Clicks mobility) score and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score for actual hospital discharge disposition after stroke. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from an academic hospital in the United States for 1543 patients with acute stroke and a 6 Clicks mobility score. Discharge to home, a skilled nursing facility (SNF), or an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) was the primary outcome. Associations among these outcomes and 6 Clicks mobility and NIHSS scores, alone or together, were tested using multinomial logistic regression, and the predictive ability of these scores was calculated using concordance statistics. Results A higher 6 Clicks mobility score alone was associated with a decreased odds of actual discharge to an IRF or an SNF. The 6 Clicks mobility score alone was a strong predictor of discharge to home versus an IRF or an SNF. However, predicting discharge to an IRF versus an SNF was stronger when the 6 Clicks mobility score was considered in combination with the NIHSS score, age, sex, and race. Conclusion The 6 Clicks mobility score alone can guide discharge decision making after stroke, particularly for discharge to home versus an SNF or an IRF. Determining discharge to an SNF versus an IRF could be improved by also considering the NIHSS score, age, sex, and race. Future studies should seek to identify which additional characteristics improve predictability for these separate discharge destinations. Impact The use of outcome measures can improve therapist confidence in making discharge recommendations for people with stroke, can enhance hospital throughput, and can expedite access to rehabilitation, ultimately affecting functional outcomes.
Using a Narrative Approach to Analyze Longitudinal Mixed Methods Data

Despite growing interest in longitudinal mixed methods research designs, more strategies for analyzing and integrating these data are needed. This article contributes to the field of mixed methods ...
Pulmonary embolism and gastrointestinal leak following bariatric surgery: when do major complications occur?

Abstract Background Complications following bariatric surgery are uncommon but potentially life threatening. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the timing of gastrointestinal leaks (GIL) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Setting Retrospective analysis of the nationwide American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2006 to 2011. Methods Data on patient demographic characteristics, baseline co-morbidities, procedural events, and postoperative occurrences were analyzed. Thirty-day morbidity was assessed. Median (interquartile range) and frequencies are reported. Results We identified 71,694 bariatric surgery patients; median age was 45 years (range 36–54 yr), and median body mass index was 44.8 kg/m 2 (range 40.8–50.3 kg/m 2 ). Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was performed in 39,480 patients, laparoscopic adjustable band in 21,104, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 3225, open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in 4243, duodenal switch in 1064, revisional surgery in 1182, and other procedures in 1396 patients. Of these patients, 95.2% had no complications. GIL was found in 441 (.6%), deep vein thrombosis in 184 (.3%), and PE in 134 (.2%). These complications occurred 10 (5–15), 13 (7–20), and 11 (4–19) days after surgery, respectively. GIL and PE developed after discharge in 275 (62.4%) and 96 (71.6%), respectively. Only 35 (26.1%) of the patients who developed PE had deep vein thrombosis. There were no differences in patient characteristics between the groups of early PE versus postdischarge PE. Patients diagnosed with in-hospital GIL were more obese with more severe systemic disease compared with patients with postdischarge diagnosis. Conclusions The majority of GILs and PEs after bariatric surgery occur after discharge. This finding goes against the routine use of contrast studies to rule out GIL. The risk of PE remains after discharge from bariatric surgery.
Galactic Structure with the APS Catalog of the Poss I

The maturity of all-sky surveys hold great promise for galactic structure studies. Surveys such as the APS Catalog of POSS I allow large scale studies of stellar distributions where the data is very complete to a reasonably faint magnitude, uniformly reduced, and independently calibrated. The APS data covers a large portion of the sky, allowing studies where the primary source of uncertainty is no longer small-number statistics.
CONSTRUCTION OF SORTING PLANS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the construction of sorting plans. Sorting a set of objects means arranging the objects in such a way that a certain ordering relationship between them is satisfied. An algorithm leading to a correct arrangement of these objects is called a sorting algorithm. Given an ordering relationship according to which a set of objects is to be arranged, a procedure can be determined that can yield the desired result. The chapter discusses the problem of designing sorting algorithms. It explains how to merge a sorted list of seven integers and a sorted list of three integers.
The impact of privatization on land inheritance among Samburu pastoralists in Kenya.

Privatization of communal land among a community of pastoralists in northern Kenya creates a gap in social institutions relating to land inheritance. This analysis shows that the emergence of a new rule for inheritance is a complex social process and that new rules do not arise automatically. Using theories of institutions and collective action, this study examines the process through which rules of inheritance are emerging in Siambu since land privatization. Drawing on in-depth interviews, observations and household surveys, this study reveals why collective action around inheritance norms has been difficult to achieve. In the absence of such action, no single norm of inheritance has emerged. Rather, several different practices currently co-exist. A considerable amount of evidence suggests that livestock inheritance rules that favour eldest sons will become the norm for land as well, but there are also reasons to doubt this outcome. What this case demonstrates is that institutional gaps are not necessarily or automatically filled; institutions do not simply arise when needed. When collective action fails, multiple practices and norms may co-exist leading to a certain degree of institutional instability.
Potential of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy for Analysis of Silage Composition

Abstract A wide range of ensiling conditions were simulated to test the capability of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy to determine the chemical composition of undried silages. Fifty-seven different grass and legume silages were produced by adding varying amounts of water, sucrose, and formate to hays differing in species, maturity, cutting, or location. The material was ensiled for 21 d in airtight, evacuated plastic bags prior to analysis. Standard errors of calibration (as received basis) and coefficients of determination were, respectively: DM (1.80, .98); total N (.070, .98); insoluble N (.035, .98); acetate (.064, .78); butyrate (.078, .70); lactate (.328, .82); pH (.208, .77). The results indicate that near infrared reflectance has the potential to measure true DM, total N, and insoluble N in ensiled forages.
Queueing disciplines for integrated fast packet networks

The authors focus on the problem of internodal link queueing in integrated fast packet networks. The queueing discipline used to multiplex packets onto an internodal link is an important element in the overall bandwidth management of an integrated fast packet network. The characteristics of and quality of service required by different traffic classes are reviewed and used as the basis for comparing alternative queueing disciplines. A hybrid weighted round-robin and head-of-line priority discipline are shown to provide appropriate allocation of the internodal link bandwidth among different traffic classes, while allowing decay differentiation within a traffic class. >
Thermal residual stresses in metal matrix composites: A review

Recently, metal matrix composites (MMCs) have generated a considerable interest in the materials field because of their attractive physical and mechanical properties. However, during the fabrication of MMCs, thermal residual stresses are reportedly developed in the matrix as a result of the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficients between the reinforcement and the matrix. It is well established that these residual stresses have a significant effect on the composite properties. For example, due to the presence of thermal residual stresses, it is almost never possible to achieve the maximum elastic response of the composites. In addition, yield stress and fracture toughness of the composites are significantly affected by thermal residual stresses. In this paper, a critical review of the published literature on thermal residual stresses in MMCs and their effect on composite properties are presented. Also, experimental and numerical techniques that are currently available to measure and estimate thermal residual stresses are reviewed and discussed.
Information Technology and Evidence-based Practices: A Commentary on ''Evidence-Based Implementation Strategies: Results of a Qualitative Study''

Congratulations to Rapp and his colleagues (2008) for a helpful explication of important factors in the implementation of evidence-based practices in Kansas. This article is the latest to appear from the National Evidence-based Practices Project (http://www.mentalhealthpractices.com). The steady flow of articles from that project will significantly expand the field’s empirical knowledge regarding the implementation of effective psychosocial interventions in mental health centers. As Rapp and his colleagues make clear, mental health agencies routinely underestimate the amount of effort required to implement a new evidencebased practice at high fidelity. The various steps the agencies took in Kansas were quite remarkable—resources set aside for the intervention, training time, agency leadership, staff travel for out-of-state visits to exemplary programs, hiring and replacing staff to find the right people, and so forth. Successful implementation involved a substantial commitment of leadership, time, and energy. What does this story tell us about generalizability? Absent charismatic leadership, skillful trainer-consultants, an established graduate social work program with excellence in training social workers to be supervisors, a small-population state less fettered with complex bureaucracies, and other factors supporting implementation, could this approach be replicated elsewhere, with similar success? McHugo et al. (2007) report moderate success across several evidence-based practices and several states. Nevertheless, it is clear that most states lack the infrastructure
Band structure of magnetic semiconductors

The band structure of materials in which both localized and itinerant outer electrons are simultaneously present is discussed. The Franck-Condon Principle is applied, and small and large polaron formation is taken into account. A scheme for estimating the densities-of-states of perfect crystals and doped or non-stoichiometric crystals is suggested, based on the ionic many-body states as a starting point. Screening, covalency, crystalline-field and overlap effeacrtes quantitatively considered. In particular, the band structures of both pure and Li-doped NiO are derived and found to be in agreement with the experimental observations. It is shown that conclusions which are based on ordinary donor and acceptor techniques fail to account for the effects of doping even in a qualitatively correct manner, due to the neglect of important correlation effects.
Ethics, Decision Analysis, and Public Risk

In any analysis of a decision problem involving public risks, ethical implications are introduced. In some cases, these ethical implications may be introduced simply because an analysis is being done. Additional ethical implications may be inherently part of the methodology being utilized or introduced into the specific analysis of the decision problem. In this paper, we investigate where and how ethical implications enter when using the methodology of decision analysis to examine problems involving public risks. We conclude that the methodology of decision analysis is sufficiently robust to allow for numerous different ethical viewpoints to be accounted for in any specific analysis. Stated alternatively, decision analyses of public risks can be conducted in a manner consistent with utilitarianism, deontological theories, libertarianism, egalitarianism, and so forth. However, any specific analysis has embedded within it numerous ethical implications. This suggests that the careful ethical scrutiny of analyses involving the methodology of decision analysis should be placed on the specific application and not on the methodology per se or on the fact that an analysis is undertaken.
Highly functional biobased polyols and their use in melamine–formaldehyde coatings

Highly functional sucrose soyate polyol (SSP) resins were synthesized by ring-opening epoxidized sucrose soyate with methanol or ethanol and were subsequently crosslinked with a melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resin in the presence of an acid catalyst or blocked acid catalyst. The biobased polyols were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Brookfield viscosity, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The thermal properties of the biobased MF coatings were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. As controls, a soybean oil polyol (SBOP) with lower functionality and a commercial polyester polyol were studied for comparison. Overall, MF coatings formulated with SSPs showed superior properties to coatings formulated with SBOP and comparable properties to the commercial polyester which was attributed to the high hydroxyl functionality.