cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Concussion Recovery through Oculomotor Testing (I13.004)

OBJECTIVE- To examine oculomotor performance acutely post-concussion and at full return to play in student-athletes with diagnosed concussion. BACKGROUND- Oculomotor assessment has not traditionally been included in concussion assessment and management. Recently, the King Devick (KD) test has been introduced as a sideline oculomotor assessment in concussion evaluation, but has received limited attention across the recovery process. It is unknown whether oculomotor deficits continue to persist throughout concussion recovery. DESIGN/METHODS- Ten NCAA division 1 athletes, (70[percnt] Male, age: 19 ± 1.6 years old, height: 183.1±10.1 cm, weight: 92.7±26.7 kg) performed the KD during preseason (baseline), 24-48 hours post injury (acute), and at the time of return to play (RTP) following standard KD procedures. A Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to determine differences in KD time at the three time points (baseline, acute, RTP) and the a-priori alpha level set at .05. RESULTS- There were no significant differences between scores at any time points following concussion (Baseline: 40.3 + 6.6s, Acute: 43.1 + 10.4s, RTP: 41.1 + 7.4s; p = .434). Exploratory post-hoc identified no difference between Baseline and Acute (p=1.00). Post-concussion, 2 participants exceeded the suggested reliable change of 5 seconds acutely and at RTP. Performance improved in 6 participants acutely and in 7 at RTP. CONCLUSIONS- The mean KD time did not change from baseline to acute or RTP. Although time may increase immediately post-injury, participants returned to baseline performance of oculomotor function as assessed by the KD test as early as 24-48 hours post-injury. It is currently unknown if these results identify a learning effect with repeat administration of KD or indicate oculomotor recovery within 2 days post-concussion. While a larger sample size is required to verify these results, early indications suggest KD is not a sensitive assessment 2 days post-concussion. Study Supported by NCAA/DoD Grant: W81XWH-14-2-0151 Disclosure: Dr. DiFabio has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oldham has nothing to disclose. Dr. DeWolf has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kaminski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Buckley has nothing to disclose.
Where Should The Buck Stop: Federal And State Responsibilities In Health Care Financing Reform

Surrounding the discussion of managed competition and its innovative model, health insurance purchasing cooperatives (HIPCs), are a number of issues relating to specific facets of health care finan...
Abstract 1696: Mitochondrial haplotype alters metastasis in a non-cell autonomous manner

Mitochondrial Nuclear Exchange (MNX) mice, created by transferring the nucleus from an oocyte from strain x into an enucleated oocyte of strain y, showed that mammary tumor formation and metastasis can be regulated by inherited mitochondrial polymorphisms (PMID26471915). Besides genetic (cell autonomous) changes observed, we asked whether mitochondrial polymorphisms in non-cancer compartments could exert effects on tumor formation or metastasis. Tumor cells were injected into syngeneic wild type mice and tumor growth and metastasis were compared to similarly injected cells into MNX mice sharing the same nuclear but different mtDNA backgrounds. Orthotopic tumor growth rates were equal for all of the cell lines tested. However, the ability to form experimental lung metastases following i.v. injection were dramatically altered. Compared to injections into wild-type, syngeneic mice, E0771 mammary carcinoma and B16-F10 melanoma cells (both syngeneic to C57BL/6J), formed significantly (P MNX(C3H/HeN) and K1735-M2 melanoma cells (syngeneic to C3H/HeN) formed significantly fewer lung metastases in C3H/HeN mtMNXC57BL/6J . These results have been replicated at least three times using >10 mice per experiment. Interestingly, C57BL/6J mitochondria confer resistance to metastasis in both cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous experiments. Basal metabolic differences comparing mouse embryonic fibroblasts isolated from wild-type and MNX mice are among mechanisms being explored. Together, our findings highlight the striking influences that mitochondrial haplotypes can exert on tumorigenicity and metastasis via both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Support: Susan G. Komen for the Cure (SAC11037), Natl Fndn Cancer Res, Steiner Family Fund for Metastasis Research, Kansas Bioscience Authority, CA134981, P30-CA168524 Citation Format: Amanda E. Brinker, Carolyn J. Vivian, Danny R. Welch. Mitochondrial haplotype alters metastasis in a non-cell autonomous manner. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1696.
Public service motivation, prosocial behaviours, and career ambitions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the behavioural consequences of public service motivation (PSM) and how motivation relates to an individual’s call to serve both inside and outside of the workplace. More specifically, this study examines whether and how PSM relates to prosocial behaviours – volunteering and giving – and career ambitions to work in the government or non-profit sector among public affair graduate students. Design/methodology/approach – Logistic regression is used to examine the PSM link using a composite of the 40-item scale, each of the six dimensions – commitment to the public interest, civic duty, social justice, attraction to policymaking, compassion, and self-sacrifice – and the five-item scale from the Merit Principles Survey. The analyses draw upon data from a unique online survey of 122 graduate students in Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy programmes. Findings – The results indicate that people with higher levels of PSM are more likely to ...
China — The 800-Pound Gorilla

In the last several decades there has been a remarkable expansion in the product line of Chinese restaurants in America and Europe. The traditional Cantonese cuisine that dominated menus in the 1950s and the 1960s has given way to cooking in the Mandarin, Szechwan, and Hunan styles. The differences in cuisine reflect the immense size of China, and regional differences in basic foodstuffs — the Cantonese chefs work around rice dishes; seafood is an important component of the menus. Mandarin cooking is northern with wheat as the basic starch. Meats were important in the cuisines of Hunan and of Szechwan; and because the meats were not always fresh, hot spices were added to distract from the taste of the basic ingredients. The north–south wheat–rice distinction more or less parallels the Yangtze River, which bisects China; 500 million people live north of this river and 800 million south of it.
The widespread misuse of effect sizes

Abstract Objectives Studies comparing multiple groups (i.e., experimental and control) often examine the efficacy of an intervention by calculating within group effect sizes using Cohen’s d. This method is inappropriate and largely impacted by the pre-test variability as opposed to the variability in the intervention itself. Furthermore, the percentage change is often analyzed, but this is highly impacted by the baseline values and can be potentially misleading. Thus, the objective of this study was to illustrate the common misuse of the effect size and percent change measures. Design Here we provide a realistic sample data set comparing two resistance training groups with the same pre-test to post-test change. Methods Statistical tests that are commonly performed within the literature were computed. Results Analyzing the within group effect size favors the control group, while the percent change favors the experimental group. The most appropriate way to present the data would be to plot the individual responses or, for larger samples, provide the mean change and 95% confidence intervals of the mean change. This details the magnitude and variability within the response to the intervention itself in units that are easily interpretable. Conclusions This manuscript demonstrates the common misuse of the effect size and details the importance for investigators to always report raw values, even when alternative statistics are performed.
Silicon Derived from Glass Bottles as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Full Cell Batteries

Every year many tons of waste glass end up in landfills without proper recycling, which aggravates the burden of waste disposal in landfill. The conversion from un-recycled glass to favorable materials is of great significance for sustainable strategies. Recently, silicon has been an exceptional anode material towards large-scale energy storage applications, due to its extraordinary lithiation capacity of 3579 mAh g−1 at ambient temperature. Compared with other quartz sources obtained from pre-leaching processes which apply toxic acids and high energy-consuming annealing, an interconnected silicon network is directly derived from glass bottles via magnesiothermic reduction. Carbon-coated glass derived-silicon (gSi@C) electrodes demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance with a capacity of ~1420 mAh g−1 at C/2 after 400 cycles. Full cells consisting of gSi@C anodes and LiCoO2 cathodes are assembled and achieve good initial cycling stability with high energy density.
Carbon isotopic composition of intact branched GDGT core lipids in Greenland lake sediments and soils

Abstract Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) are the basis of the MBT and CBT indices used as proxies for past changes in temperature and soil pH. Although these compounds were initially thought to originate solely from anaerobic soil bacteria, there is now convincing evidence that they are also produced within aquatic environments. However, the specific source organism(s) remain unknown. We utilize here spooling wire microcombustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (SWiM-IRMS) to measure the δ13C composition of intact brGDGTs from a series of lake sediments and soils, including samples exhibiting in situ production of brGDGTs. The results show close parallels between the δ13CbrGDGT values and OM in the downcore profiles for sediment sequences from two lakes. In addition, the δ13CbrGDGT values were consistently more negative than those of OM for the lakes and soil samples from the surrounding watershed. The values are consistent with a mixture of heterotrophic sources and preferential utilization of 13C-depleted carbon sources. The δ13C values of individual brGDGT components confirm in situ production of brGDGTs within lacustrine dysoxic environments and suggest that their association with an elevated CH4 level during the summer may reflect methanotrophy.
Additional Comments on “The Effect of Random Material Density on Reactor Criticality”

(1990). Additional Comments on “The Effect of Random Material Density on Reactor Criticality”. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 104, No. 2, pp. 198-198.
Modeling and Design Optimization of Multifunctional Membrane Reactors for Direct Methane Aromatization.

Due to the recent increase of natural gas production in the U.S., utilizing natural gas for higher-value chemicals has become imperative. Direct methane aromatization (DMA) is a promising process used to convert methane to benzene, but it is limited by low conversion of methane and rapid catalyst deactivation by coking. Past work has shown that membrane separation of the hydrogen produced in the DMA reactions can dramatically increase the methane conversion by shifting the equilibrium toward the products, but it also increases coke production. Oxygen introduction into the system has been shown to inhibit this coke production while not inhibiting the benzene production. This paper introduces a novel mathematical model and design to employ both methods in a multifunctional membrane reactor to push the DMA process into further viability. Multifunctional membrane reactors, in this case, are reactors where two different separations occur using two differently selective membranes, on which no systems studies have been found. The proposed multifunctional membrane design incorporates a hydrogen-selective membrane on the outer wall of the reaction zone, and an inner tube filled with airflow surrounded by an oxygen-selective membrane in the middle of the reactor. The design is shown to increase conversion via hydrogen removal by around 100%, and decrease coke production via oxygen addition by 10% when compared to a tubular reactor without any membranes. Optimization studies are performed to determine the best reactor design based on methane conversion, along with coke and benzene production. The obtained optimal design considers a small reactor (length = 25 cm, diameter of reaction tube = 0.7 cm) to subvert coke production and consumption of the product benzene as well as a high permeance (0.01 mol/s·m2·atm1/4) through the hydrogen-permeable membrane. This modeling and design approach sets the stage for guiding further development of multifunctional membrane reactor models and designs for natural gas utilization and other chemical reaction systems.
Hepatobiliary Hands of Hopkins.

Objective This historical perspective documents the role that John L. Cameron played in advancing hepatobiliary research, education, and surgery at Johns Hopkins in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Summary of background data Dating back to William S. Halsted in the 19th century, leaders of the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins have been interested in hepatobiliary disease and surgery. John L. Cameron had broad hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) interests when he completed his surgical training. Over the next 3 decades, he focused on the pancreas. As a result, many faculty and trainee hepatobiliary careers were launched. Methods This perspective is based on 18 years of service as a surgical resident and faculty member at Johns Hopkins. An extensive literature search on the hepatobiliary publications of Halsted, Trimble, Blalock, Longmire, Zuidema, and Cameron was undertaken for this manuscript. Numerous hepatobiliary publications from Johns Hopkins from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s were also reviewed. Results John L. Cameron's early biliary interests included stones, infections, malignancies, and strictures. He was innovative with respect to portal hypertension and Budd-Chiari surgery and supportive when liver transplantation emerged in the 1980s. Volume-outcome studies in the 1990s included hepatic and complex biliary surgery. He supported and encouraged studies of biliary lithotripsy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, clinical pathways, hepatobiliary cysts, and gallstone pathogenesis. Conclusion Lessons learned by many who worked with John L. Cameron included the importance of mentorship, innovation, friendship, and collaboration. He taught leadership and change management by example. He fostered a multidisciplinary approach and encouraged randomized controlled trials.
History of Mechanical Circulatory Support

This introduction focuses on the role of the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and the Texas Heart Institute (THI) in the evolution and development of heart replacement and circulatory assist technology. This is appropriate because both the first successful LVAD and the first successful artificial heart were implanted at these institutions in Houston, Texas. In addition, the initial experimental work on the continuous-flow pumps now in use (Jarvik, HeartMate II, HeartWare, Impella) began at our institute. My experience has been unique in this regard, as I have been personally involved in this journey from 1963 to the present. My only absence was during 1968–1970, when I served with an assault helicopter company engaged in active combat in the central highlands of Vietnam. In this same period (April 1969), Dr. Denton Cooley “relocated” Dr. DeBakey’s artificial heart from BCM’s labs to THI-St. Luke’s Hospital and successfully implanted it as the first bridge to transplant with an artificial heart (or any device) (Fig. 1.1). Thereafter, Dr. DeBakey and Dr. Cooley did not speak to each other for more than 30 years. My friends who were in Houston at the time assured me that Vietnam was probably a safer place for me to be.
Challenges and Approaches to Purchasing from Minority-Owned Firms: A Longitudinal Examination

Historically, large corporations and minority-business enterprises (MBEs) have encountered many impediments as they have worked together. As a result, the government has adopted public policy to he...
When the Wages of Sin Is Death: Sexual Stigma and Infant Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Over the past three decades, population scholars have become interested in gender bias, women’s autonomy, and gender equity. This work has significantly expanded our understanding of population processes and dynamics, and productively focused our attention on some of the ways in which gender matters for demographic outcomes. Building on these approaches, this chapter examines the consequences of one aspect of gender systems—namely the social control of female premarital sexuality—on child survival. I find that women’s conformity to gendered norms concerning premarital sex affects the survival of their children in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We Smoked a Gator!”: An Exploration of College Football Fans’ Instagramming of Food

The ritual of tailgating is a staple of college football Saturdays, particularly for fans of teams in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Fan traditions help infuse pregame gatherings around the stadiums with team spirit, as fans frequently theme their food and drink to represent their chosen team. New social media platforms—particularly photo-sharing platforms such as Instagram—have taken tailgates to the virtual space. Through interviews with participants who partake in the phenomenon, this study sought to ascertain what fans of SEC teams gain from the process of social media participation. Utilizing the critical framework of symbolic interactionism, this exploratory study examines meaning attached to the ritual and symbolism of team-specific food and drink. By sharing pictures of food and drink with supporters of their favorite team, SEC fans create a virtual community, united by fan allegiance and food and drink fellowship, realizing personal benefits such as sharing nostalgia and developing a sense of community.
Distributed Probabilistic Search and Tracking of Agile Mobile Ground Targets Using a Network of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

As technologies in digital computation, sensing, wireless and wired communications, embedded systems, and micro-electro-mechanical systems continue to advance in the coming years, it is certain that we will see a variety of distributed sensor networks (DSNs) being deployed in an increasing number of systems such as power distribution systems, engineering structures and buildings, smart homes, environmental monitoring systems, biomedical systems, military systems, and others. In addition, unlike the traditional networks of sensors, the mobility afforded by autonomous systems, embedded systems, and humans who carry smart sensing devices will contribute in creating new and exciting future sensor networks. These future networks of sensors that take advantage of man-machine interactions will also introduce new applications yet unknown to us. In this paper, we present the origin and time line of DSN development, analyze the benefits and challenges of DSNs, and present a mobile sensor network in the form of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) team using distributed mission area probability maps to search and track mobile ground targets. We propose a novel update strategy for the probability map used by UAVs to store probability information of dynamic target locations in the search area. Two update laws are developed to accommodate maps with different scales. Simulation results are used to demonstrate the validity of the proposed probability-map update strategy.
Computer simulation of electrostatic confinement of plasmas

Particle-type (Lagrangian) numerical simulation models were used to simulate the electrostatic device in one and two dimensions. The one-dimensional model imposed azimuthal symmetry and constrained the particles to radial flow. With this model, energetic particles had either to pass through the center or form a virtual electrode before reaching the center. A two-dimensional model was used to study angular velocity effects. (MOW)
Mobilization of Neural Stem Cells in the Adult Central Nervous System

In spite of our increased knowledge of adult neurogenesis, Cajal’s dogma of no new neurons is still fundamentally correct when viewed in the context of the brain’s intrinsic repair mechanisms. In the embryo, neurogenesis operates to generate all of the basic brain structures and circuitry. At birth, all areas of the brain down-regulate neurogenesis and, in the adult, most areas have stopped producing neurons altogether with fine tuning of the neuronal morphology and synaptic connections as the only evidence for plasticity. Evidence for persistent neurogenesis within several anatomically distinct loci in the adult brain has started to question this dogma. In spite of this evidence, the paucity of large scale neuron replacement following disease or injury leaves the dogma relatively intact. Looking forward, it seems clear that successful therapeutic mobilization of neural progenitor cells will depend on the precise modulation of local signaling responsible for recruitment of endogenous stem cells, the fate choice and migration of these cells, and their integration into the preexisting circuitry of the adult brain.
Effect of Aminopyridine and Related Drugs on Catecholamine Release

ABSTRACT 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 1 mM) increased noradrenaline (NA) output from the perfused cat spleen at 5 Hz by about fivefold. Enhancement of NA release by 4-AP was reversible. Output of NA induced by potassium (140 mM) was not affected. NA output was doubled at low concentrations (0.1-0.3 mM) of 4-AP, but maximal effect was obtained at 1-3 mM. At 10 mM, it induced spontaneous release of NA which was insensitive to calcium. Insignificant outputs obtained at 5 Hz in 0.1 and 0.3 mM calcium-Krebs solution were markedly enhanced by 4-AP. 4-AP enhanced release at all calcium concentrations up to 5 mM, but maximum output was obtained at 2.5 mM. 4-AP at pH 8.5 was more effective in enhancing NA release than at pH 7.4. In normal spleens the NA output per stimulus at 30 Hz was about four- and eightfold greater than at 5 and 1 Hz, respectively. Reduction of calcium concentration in the Krebs solution to 0.25 mM, while reducing outputs at all frequencies, resulted in an output at 30 Hz, which was nearly ten- and thirtyfold greater than that at 5 and 1 Hz. TEA (10 mM), which markedly enhances NA output, reversed the frequency response so that the maximum output occurred at 1 instead of at 30 Hz. Lowering the calcium concentration to 0.1 mM in the Krebs solution containing TEA, while reducing outputs at all frequencies, increased the output at 30 Hz by about fivefold over the output at 1 Hz. 4-AP, like TEA, enhanced output at lower frequencies (1 and 5 Hz) but did not appreciably affect the output at 30 Hz. The output was always greater at 5 Hz than at 1 Hz. On lowering the calcium concentration to 0.25 mM, the frequency-output relationship became steeper than the controls. 4-AP (1 mM) also enhanced the response to nicotine (50 μM) and it effectively antagonized the suppressant effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX) or calcium-free solution on release induced by nicotine. Lanthanum (1 mM) blocked the restoration of release by 4-AP in calcium-free solution. 4-AP, TEA and guanidine temporarily reversed the inhibition of NA release by guanethidine, an antihypertensive agent, during nerve stimulation or nicotine administration. Since guanethidine does not block conduction of impulses in the preterminal portion of the adrenergic neuron but blocks their propagation in the terminals, the excitation may spread to this portion of the nerve only electrotonically. Since 4-AP, TEA and guanidine are known to mobilize calcium, they may allow greater than normal amounts of calcium to enter the neuron during electrotonic depolarization to restore transmission even in the presence of guanethidine. It is suggested that 4-AP inactivates potassium current in sympathetic nerves and prolongs the duration of the action potential, thereby allowing a greater influx of calcium into the neurone to enhance release of NA. Restoration of nicotine response by 4-AP in calcium-free solution may suggest that 4-AP may mobilize a pool of tightly bound calcium presumably associated with the neuronal membrane. (Supported by USPHS Grant No. HL 22170.)
The Economics of Immigration Reform

In this article, I draw upon economic theory and recent empirical work on the economic and fiscal effects of immigration to evaluate some recent proposals for immigration reform in terms of their effects on the economic welfare of natives in the United States. In particular, I consider the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act, a bill that would cut immigration to half of its current level. President Donald Trump has endorsed the RAISE Act and has insisted that many of its provisions be part of any legislation legalizing the status of unauthorized immigrants granted relief under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. I compare this restrictionist proposal to the comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the Senate in 2013, which would have liberalized admissions to the United States. I conclude that economic analysis militates in favor of liberalizing our immigration restrictions, as proposed in 2013, instead of imposing the drastic new restrictions proposed in the RAISE Act.
Two-pebbling and odd-two-pebbling are not equivalent

Abstract Let G be a connected graph. A configuration of pebbles assigns a nonnegative integer number of pebbles to each vertex of G . A move consists of removing two pebbles from one vertex and placing one pebble on an adjacent vertex. A configuration is solvable if any vertex can get at least one pebble through a sequence of moves. The pebbling number of G , denoted π ( G ) , is the smallest integer such that any configuration of π ( G ) pebbles on G is solvable. A graph has the two-pebbling property if after placing more than 2 π ( G ) − q pebbles on G , where q is the number of vertices with pebbles, there is a sequence of moves so that at least two pebbles can be placed on any vertex. A graph has the odd-two-pebbling property if after placing more than 2 π ( G ) − r pebbles on G , where r is the number of vertices with an odd number of pebbles, there is a sequence of moves so that at least two pebbles can be placed on any vertex. In this paper, we prove that the two-pebbling and odd-two-pebbling properties are not equivalent.
Streptococcus mitis Expressing Pneumococcal Serotype 1 Capsule.

Streptococcus pneumoniae’s polysaccharide capsule is an important virulence factor; vaccine-induced immunity to specific capsular polysaccharide effectively prevents disease. Serotype 1 S. pneumoniae is rarely found in healthy persons, but is highly invasive and a common cause of meningitis outbreaks and invasive disease outside of the United States. Here we show that genes for polysaccharide capsule similar to those expressed by pneumococci were commonly detected by polymerase chain reaction among upper respiratory tract samples from older US adults not carrying pneumococci. Serotype 1-specific genes were predominantly detected. In five oropharyngeal samples tested, serotype 1 gene belonging to S. mitis expressed capsules immunologically indistinct from pneumococcal capsules. Whole genome sequencing revealed three distinct S. mitis clones, each representing a cps1 operon highly similar to the pneumococcal cps1 reference operon. These findings raise important questions about the contribution of commensal streptococci to natural immunity against pneumococci, a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
Portable, non-powered, suction-generating device for management of life-threatening aerodigestive tract foreign bodies: Novel prototype and literature review.

Abstract Objective To present a novel approach for the emergent, pre-hospital management of life-threatening aerodigestive tract foreign body aspiration using a portable, non-powered, suction-generating device (PNSD), in the context of a literature review of emergent pre-hospital management of patients with foreign body airway obstruction. Methods The PubMed and MEDLINE databases were comprehensively screened using broad search terms. A literature review of pre-hospital management and resuscitative techniques of foreign body airway obstruction was performed. Further, independent measurements of PNSD pressure generation were obtained. Application of a PNSD in cadaveric and simulation models were reviewed. A comparative analysis between a PNSD and other resuscitative techniques was performed. Results Physiologic data from adult and pediatric human, non-human, and simulation studies show pressure generation ranging from 5.4 to 179 cm H2O using well-established resuscitative maneuvers. Laboratory testing demonstrated that a protypic PNSD demonstrated peak airway pressures of 434.23 ± 12.35 cm H2O. A simulation study of a PNSD demonstrated 94% reliability in retrieving airway foreign body, while a similar cadaveric study demonstrated 98% reliability, with both studies approaching 100% success rate after multiple attempts. Several case reports have also shown successful application of PNSD in the emergent management of airway foreign body in elderly and disabled patients. Conclusion PNSDs may play an important role in the emergent, non-operative, pre-hospital management of upper aerodigestive tract foreign body aspiration, particularly in settings and populations with high choking risk. Further characterization of effectiveness and safety in larger cadaveric or simulation studies mimicking physiologic conditions is indicated.
Use of Electronic Health Records to Develop and Implement a Silent Best Practice Alert Notification System for Patient Recruitment in Clinical Research: Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: Participant recruitment, especially for frail, elderly, hospitalized patients, remains one of the greatest challenges for many research groups. Traditional recruitment methods such as chart reviews are often inefficient, low-yielding, time consuming, and expensive. Best Practice Alert (BPA) systems have previously been used to improve clinical care and inform provider decision making, but the system has not been widely used in the setting of clinical research. Objective: The primary objective of this quality-improvement initiative was to develop, implement, and refine a silent Best Practice Alert (sBPA) system that could maximize recruitment efficiency. Methods: The captured duration of the screening sessions for both methods combined with the allotted research coordinator hours in the Emerald-COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) study budget enabled research coordinators to estimate the cost-efficiency. Results: Prior to implementation, the sBPA system underwent three primary stages of development. Ultimately, the final iteration produced a system that provided similar results as the manual Epic Reporting Workbench method of screening. A total of 559 potential participants who met the basic prescreen criteria were identified through the two screening methods. Of those, 418 potential participants were identified by both methods simultaneously, 99 were identified only by the Epic Reporting Workbench Method, and 42 were identified only by the sBPA method. Of those identified by the Epic Reporting Workbench, only 12 (of 99, 12.12%) were considered eligible. Of those identified by the sBPA method, 30 (of 42, 71.43%) were considered eligible. Using a side-by-side comparison of the sBPA and the traditional Epic Reporting Workbench method of screening, the sBPA screening method was shown to be approximately four times faster than our previous screening method and estimated a projected 442.5 hours saved over the duration of the study. Additionally, since implementation, the sBPA system identified the equivalent of three additional potential participants per week. Conclusions: Automation of the recruitment process allowed us to identify potential participants in real time and find more potential participants who meet basic eligibility criteria. sBPA screening is a considerably faster method that allows for more efficient use of resources. This innovative and instrumental functionality can be modified to the needs of other research studies aiming to use the electronic medical records system for participant recruitment.
Non-canonical amino acid labeling in proteomics and biotechnology

Metabolic labeling of proteins with non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) provides unique bioorthogonal chemical groups during de novo synthesis by taking advantage of both endogenous and heterologous protein synthesis machineries. Labeled proteins can then be selectively conjugated to fluorophores, affinity reagents, peptides, polymers, nanoparticles or surfaces for a wide variety of downstream applications in proteomics and biotechnology. In this review, we focus on techniques in which proteins are residue- and site-specifically labeled with ncAAs containing bioorthogonal handles. These ncAA-labeled proteins are: readily enriched from cells and tissues for identification via mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis; selectively purified for downstream biotechnology applications; or labeled with fluorophores for in situ analysis. To facilitate the wider use of these techniques, we provide decision trees to help guide the design of future experiments. It is expected that the use of ncAA labeling will continue to expand into new application areas where spatial and temporal analysis of proteome dynamics and engineering new chemistries and new function into proteins are desired.
Resistance to blood flow through the vascular bed of the dog forelimb. Local effects of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, acetate, hypertonicity and hypotonicity.

Abstract Evidence is presented which indicates that, in the foreleg of the dog, the local effect of acute slight elevation in the blood concentration of potassium, magnesium or acetate is active arteriolar dilation whereas the local effect of slight elevation of calcium concentration is active arteriolar constriction. Increase or decrease in the concentration of sodium seems to have little effect independent of that due to change of blood tonicity. Increase in blood tonicity produces dilation whereas decrease in tonicity produces constriction. These caliber changes may be passive, due to dehydration or overhydration of the arteriolar wall, or active, due to increase or decrease in the concentration of ions within the smooth muscle cell. These findings may be relevant to the problem of arterial hypertension.
First-principles theory for Schottky barrier physics

We develop a first-principles theory for Schottky barrier physics. The Poisson equation is solved self-consistently with the electrostatic charge density over the entire barrier using the density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure converged locally, allowing computation of a Schottky barrier entirely from DFT involving thousands of atomic layers in the semiconductor (SC). The induced charge in the bulk consists of conduction and valence band charges from doping and band bending, as well as charge from the evanescent states in the gap of the SC. The Schottky barrier height (SBH) is determined when the induced charge density and the induced electrostatic potential reach self-consistency. Tests on the GaAs-graphene and Si/Al heterostructures yield SBH, width, along with depletion and inversion layers obtained self-consistently as functions of temperature and bulk doping.
A Single Center 11 Year Experience with 202 Pancreas Transplants in the New Millennium: Evolving Trends.

Our single center experience with pancreas transplantation (PTx) over an 11+ year period is reviewed. Methods We retrospectively studied outcomes in 202 consecutive PTxs in 192 patients at our center. All patients received either rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) or alemtuzumab (Alem) induction with tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil and tapered steroids or early withdrawal. 179 PTxs (89%) were performed with portal-enteric and 23 with systemic-enteric drainage. Results From 11/01 to 3/13, we performed 162 simultaneous kidney-PTxs (SKPT), 35 sequential PTxs after kidney, and 5 PTx alone (40 solitary PTxs, SPT). 186 PTxs (92%) were primary and 16 were pancreas retransplants. With a mean follow-up of 5.5 years, overall patient (86% SKPT versus 87% SPT), kidney (74% SKPT versus 80% SPT), and pancreas graft survival (both 65%) rates were comparable. Causes of PTx loss were also similar between SKPT and SPT; the rates of early thrombosis were 8.6% and 5%, respectively. Acute rejection rates were similar between groups (SKPT 29% versus SPT 28%, p= not significant). A randomized trial of Alem versus rATG induction in SKPT demonstrated lower rates of acute rejection and infection in the Alem group. Consequently, Alem induction has been used exclusively in all PTxs since 2009. Early steroid elimination has been feasible in most patients. Surveillance PTx biopsy-directed immunosuppression has contributed to equivalent long-term outcomes in SKPT and SPT. Good results have been achieved in African-American patients and in patients with a type 2 diabetes phenotype. Conclusions Excellent 5-year outcomes following PTx can be achieved as >86% of patients are alive, >87% of surviving patients are dialysis-free, 80% of surviving patients remain insulin-free, and 88% of surviving patients have detectable C-peptide levels.
An Open Trial of a Mind-Body Intervention for Young Women with Moderate to Severe Primary Dysmenorrhea.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a mind-body intervention for moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Design Open trial (single arm). Setting Academic medical school. Subjects A total of 20 young adult women with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea were included across four separate intervention groups. Methods All participants received five 90-minute sessions of a mind-body intervention and completed self-report measures of menstrual pain, depression, anxiety, somatization, and pain catastrophizing at baseline, post-treatment, and at one-, two-, three-, and 12-month follow-up. Self-report of medication use and use of skills learned during the intervention were also collected at all follow-up points. Results Participants reported significantly lower menstrual pain over time compared with baseline. No changes in anxiety, depression, or somatization were observed, although pain catastrophizing improved over time. Changes in menstrual pain were not associated with changes in medication use or reported use of skills. Conclusions A mind-body intervention is a promising nondrug intervention for primary dysmenorrhea, and future research should focus on testing the intervention further as part of a randomized clinical trial.
In vivo applications of diffuse optical spectroscopy and imaging

In a sense, quantitative biomedical optics methods seek to enhance and quantify the visual perception of color and brightness of light transmitted through or reflected by biological tissues. This is especially the case for diffuse optical spectroscopy and imaging, which are based on the spectral dependence, spatial distribution, and temporal characteristics of the detected optical signals. The “color” of tissue is determined by the spectral features of its absorbing and scattering constituents, with hemoglobin playing an important role, given its abundance and the relationship between its oxygen saturation and its absorption spectrum. For example, human skin color is determined by the amount of melanin in the skin, by the hemoglobin in cutaneous circulation, and by other chromophores, such as β-carotene and bilirubin, that may be indicative of pathological conditions. The dilatation or contraction of skin arterioles (for example as a result of warm or cold environments), and the resulting enhancement or reduction in cutaneous blood flow, affects the color of the skin, which, for fair-skinned people, may tend toward white (pallor: vascular constriction), red (erythema: vascular dilatation), or blue/purple (cyanosis: inadequate blood flow). Of note, the blue appearance of superficial veins is due to a combination of the reduced level of venous blood oxygenation, the scattering properties of the skin and blood constituents, and the visual perception of color contrast (Kienle et al., 1996). The spatial distribution of light transmission through tissue can be affected by an inhomogeneous distribution of chromophores. For example, tumor angiogenesis or hematomas are associated with a focal increase in the concentration of blood in tissue, which results in a localized increase in light absorption. Temporal characteristics of the detected optical signal may be directly associated with time-varying and dynamic physiological processes (arterial pulsation, respiration-modulated blood pressure, blood flow, etc.), thus yielding potentially valuable diagnostic information, and can also be used to monitor the evolution of metabolic and physiological conditions or drug delivery to tissues. This chapter describes a representative sampling of in vivo applications of diffuse tissue spectroscopy and imaging, demonstrating how the quantitative methods described in Chapters 10–14 find practical applications in a number of research and clinical areas.
Ventral Hippocampus Projections to Prelimbic Cortex Support Contextual Fear Memory.

Learning from and remembering salient features of the environment is essential for survival. Fear conditioning is a well studied experimental model that can be used to delineate the neural mechanisms through which cued and contextual components of associative learning contribute to fear memory.
Simulations of an ultracold, neutral plasma with equal mass for every charge

The results of a theoretical investigation of an ultracold, neutral plasma composed only of equal mass positive and negative charges are reported. In our simulations, the plasma is created by the fast dissociation of a neutral particle; each dissociation leads to one positive ion and one negative ion with the same mass as the positive ion. The temperature of the plasma is controlled by the relative energy of the dissociation. We studied the early time evolution of this system where the initial energy was tuned so that the plasma is formed in the strongly coupled regime. In particular, we present results on the temperature evolution and three body recombination. In the weakly coupled regime, we studied how an expanding plasma thermalizes and how the scattering between ions affects the expansion. Because the expansion causes the density to drop, the velocity distribution only evolves for a finite time with the final distribution depending on the number of particles and initial temperature of the plasma.
Increased T-cell receptor repertoire diversity to predict better overall survival in gastrointestinal malignancies.

474Background: Severe treatment-induced lymphopenia is a poor prognostic factor for multiple solid malignancies. Emerging data suggests that increased TCR repertoire is associated with improved sur...
A Survey of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia on the Use, Monitoring, and Antagonism of Neuromuscular Blockade.

BACKGROUND Although the package insert clearly states that "the safety and efficacy of sugammadex in pediatric patients have not been established," we hypothesized that sugammadex is used widely in pediatric anesthetic practice supplanting neostigmine as the primary drug for antagonizing neuromuscular blockade (NMB). Additionally, we sought to identify the determinants by which pediatric anesthesiologists choose reversal agents and if and how they assess NMB in their practice. Finally, because of sugammadex's effects on hormonal contraception, we sought to determine whether pediatric anesthesiologists counseled postmenarchal patients on the need for additional or alternative forms of contraception and the risk of unintended pregnancy in the perioperative period. METHODS We e-mailed a questionnaire to all 3245 members of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) requesting demographic data and attitudes regarding use of NMB agents, monitoring, and antagonism practices. To address low initial response rates and quantify nonresponse bias, we sent a shortened follow-up survey to a randomly selected subsample (n = 75) of SPA members who did not initially respond. Response differences between the 2 cohorts were determined. RESULTS Initial questionnaire response rate was 13% (419 of 3245). Overall, 163 respondents (38.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 34.2-43.8) used sugammadex as their primary reversal agent, and 106 (25.2%; 95% CI, 21.2-30.0) used it exclusively. Respondents with ≤5 years of practice used sugammadex as their primary reversal agent more often than those with ≥6 years of practice (odds ratio [OR]: 2.08; 95% CI, 1.31-3.31; P = .001). This increased utilization remained after controlling for institutional restriction and practice type (adjusted OR [aOR]: 2.20; 95% CI, 1.38-3.54; P = .001). Only 40% of practitioners always assess NMB (train-of-four), and use was inversely correlated with years of practice (Spearman ρ = -0.11, P = .04). Anesthesiologists who primarily used sugammadex assess NMB less routinely (OR: 0.56; 95% CI, 0.34-0.90; P = .01). A slim majority (52.8%) used sugammadex for pediatric postmenarchal girls; those with less experience used it more commonly (P < .001). Thirty-eight percent did not discuss its effects on hormonal contraception with the patient and/or family, independent of anesthesiologist experience (P = .33) and practice location (P = .38). No significant differences were seen in demographics or practice responses between initial and follow-up survey respondents. CONCLUSIONS Sugammadex is commonly used in pediatric anesthesia, particularly among anesthesiologists with fewer years of practice. Failure to warn postmenarchal adolescents of its consequences may result in unintended pregnancies. Finally, pediatric anesthesia training programs should emphasize objective monitoring of NMB, particularly with sugammadex use.
Spectroscopic and biochemical characterization of metallo-β-lactamase IMP-1 with dicarboxylic, sulfonyl, and thiol inhibitors.

Abstract In an effort to probe the biophysical mechanisms of inhibition for ten previously-reported inhibitors of metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) with MBL IMP-1, equilibrium dialysis, metal analyses coupled with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), native state mass spectrometry (native MS), and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-VIS) were used. 6-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) picolinic acid (1T5PA), ANT431, D/ l -captopril, thiorphan, and tiopronin were shown to form IMP-1/Zn(II)/inhibitor ternary complexes, while dipicolinic acid (DPA) and 4-(3-aminophenyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (3AP-DPA) stripped some metal from the active site of IMP but also formed ternary complexes. DPA and 3AP-DPA stripped less metal from IMP-1 than from VIM-2 but stripped more metal from IMP-1 than from NDM-1. In contrast to a previous report, pterostilbene does not appear to bind to IMP-1 under our conditions. These results, along with previous studies, demonstrate similar mechanisms of inhibition toward different MBLs for different MBL inhibitors.