cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interprofessional Education through a Novel Peer-Assisted Learning Model

Interprofessional Education (IPE) may be challenging program components to incorporate into the competency-rich Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) curriculum. Models of IPE are varied but they all have, at their foundation, two or more professions learning about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration to optimize healthcare processes and patient outcomes. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated a strong positive relationship between inclusion of IPE in health education curricula and success in entry-level careers. Incorporating IPE into the curriculum, without loss of other key competencies, requires creativity and necessitates collaboration with content experts from other healthcare fields. This presentation summaries the process and preliminary results of a pilot project involving MLT students as part of an interprofessional team of peer-assisted learning (PAL) tutors, reinforcing physiological processes and clinical diagnostic procedures through laboratory activities in a freshman undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology course. Drawing on this innovative PAL model, as well as other IPE strategies, two new MLT programs in Virginia are implementing learning techniques to meet IPE expectations using collaborative models. In addition, this approach to early IPE strives to promote a culture of interprofessionalism which is introduced in pre-professional courses, reinforced in program curricula, and ultimately mastered throughout the professional career.
Hope, optimism, self-efficacy, and posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analytic review of the protective effects of positive expectancies.

Objective The present meta-analysis consolidated research examining how positive expectancies (e.g., hope, self-efficacy, and optimism) may protect against the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method Articles were identified by searching PILOTS, PsycINFO, PubMed, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databases. Results Aggregated results from 154 studies indicated that positive expectancies were associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms. This relationship was stronger for coping-specific self-efficacy (k = 38, r = -.49; -.54 to -.43) and hope (k = 20, r = -.34; -.39 to -.28) compared with general self-efficacy (k = 45, r = -.25; -.30 to -.20) and optimism (k = 59, r = -.29; -.33 to -.25) when examining cross-sectional studies, and results were consistent in prospective studies. Age and gender did not moderate the cross-sectional relationships. Conclusions These findings indicate that positive expectancies predict post-trauma resilience. Future research should identify moderators and examine positive expectancies as mechanisms of change in therapy.
The Expert Perfonmance Model of Neandertal Cognition

Using a combined model from cognitive anthropology and cognitive psychology, the authors present the Expert Performance Model of technical cognition. The model emphasizes the combined action of working memory and long-term memory in which an expert develops rapid access to large procedural encodings held in long-term memory. Such expertise takes years to acquire, and thus apprenticeship is a general requirement of technical cognition. With this model in hand, the authors provide an account of Neandertal technical cognition using Marjorie’s core from Maastricht Belvedere as a primary example. Neandertals were expert stone knappers. Expertise is also the primary form of cognition used by modern humans in technical tasks. In this respect, Neandertals and modern humans are almost indistinguishable. The only apparent difference in expertise lies in the domain of innovation, where an enhanced working memory capacity provided modern humans with an apparent advantage.
Art at the Crossroads: The Contested Position of Indigenous Arts in Ghana's Post-Colonial Education Systems

In Ghana, as in many areas of the world, the meanings attached to indigenous art forms are based on larger philosophical foundations. Those meanings are at the crux of the ongoing struggle in the minds of many Ghanaians over the appropriateness of Ghana's traditional arts in their contemporary education system. The indigenous arts are caught in the crossfire between the need to protect and project the country's unique cultural heritage and the adoption of a perceived modernity. This article reports an investigation of the presence and absence of indigenous arts in Ghana's current art educational policies and practices in light of the disparate yet related forces of change that continue to affect them: the British/missionary model of education inherited from the colonial era, Western science, urbanization, cultural commodification, and Christianity. The multiple perspectives and contradictory attitudes revealed in this study contribute to ambivalent educational policies and practices which are re-locating indigenous arts from spheres of "traditional" practice to "modern" spheres of entertainment and commodity.
Another version of the truth.

Within the neurointerventional community, there has been growing interest in the intersection between idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH; sometimes referred to as pseudotumor cerebri) and venous sinus stenosis. Beginning in 2002,1 venous sinus stenting has emerged as an attractive alternative to ventriculoperitoneal shunting or optic nerve sheath fenestration in the treatment of medically refractory IIH. Since then, many aspects of the venous sinus–IIH relationship have been investigated, including the effect of anesthesia and physiological parameters on venous sinus pressure measurements,2–4 the cost of different surgical IIH treatments,5 the degree of venographic stenosis leading to intracranial venous hypertension,6 recommendations for selection of patients for stenting and the benefits of this treatment,7–10 among others. However, the term IIH has broadened in both scientific and clinical domains to encompass nearly any clinical syndrome of elevated intracranial pressure not explained by existing diagnoses, leading to a lack of clarity regarding the underlying cause of this rare but important disorder. Recently, Fargen introduced a timely and …
Evolutionary Problems in the Synthesis of Proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the evolutionary problems in the synthesis of proteins. The study of the evolution of protein molecules involves the determination of the amino acid sequence of a number of related proteins in an organism or of the same protein in related organisms. It is believed that the ribosome is a necessary component of any protein synthetic system. These particles play a passive role in the protein synthetic process, and their function is analogous to that of a large enzyme-like unit acting to bring together messenger RNA and the amino acid–sRNA complex. Ribosomes are found in all living cells, and there is a similarity between the ribosomes obtained from a wide variety of living organisms. From the information available, it seems likely that the same protein synthetic mechanism is used throughout all living systems. During evolution, the original macromolecular RNA molecules might have eventually become coated with protein to form the structure that is functionally active at present.
An Exploratory Study of Parenting in Public Places: What Can We Learn from Parents’ Activity Locations and Physical Punishment?

In this exploratory study, we examine how abusive parenting behaviors cluster across activity space locations in order to assess whether these clusters may be places where parenting norms are learned. We used survey data from Sacramento, California, to identify activity space locations for physical punishment and administrative data to identify physical abuse clusters. We find that physical punishment clusters occur primarily in stores and do not overlap with physical abuse clusters. Alcohol outlet density within the clusters was significantly different. Findings from this study allow us to think about those venues or microcontexts that might be the most risky for children to experience physical punishment and parents to engage in punitive parenting. Furthermore, this study may provide insight into ways practitioners and prevention experts can engage in harm reduction program planning to reduce maltreatment.
Untargeted metabolomics yields insight into ALS disease mechanisms

Objective To identify dysregulated metabolic pathways in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) versus control participants through untargeted metabolomics. Methods Untargeted metabolomics was performed on plasma from ALS participants (n=125) around 6.8 months after diagnosis and healthy controls (n=71). Individual differential metabolites in ALS cases versus controls were assessed by Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, adjusted logistic regression and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), while group lasso explored sub-pathway-level differences. Adjustment parameters included sex, age and body mass index (BMI). Metabolomics pathway enrichment analysis was performed on metabolites selected by the above methods. Finally, machine learning classification algorithms applied to group lasso-selected metabolites were evaluated for classifying case status. Results There were no group differences in sex, age and BMI. Significant metabolites selected were 303 by Wilcoxon, 300 by logistic regression, 295 by PLS-DA and 259 by group lasso, corresponding to 11, 13, 12 and 22 enriched sub-pathways, respectively. ‘Benzoate metabolism’, ‘ceramides’, ‘creatine metabolism’, ‘fatty acid metabolism (acyl carnitine, polyunsaturated)’ and ‘hexosylceramides’ sub-pathways were enriched by all methods, and ‘sphingomyelins’ by all but Wilcoxon, indicating these pathways significantly associate with ALS. Finally, machine learning prediction of ALS cases using group lasso-selected metabolites achieved the best performance by regularised logistic regression with elastic net regularisation, with an area under the curve of 0.98 and specificity of 83%. Conclusion In our analysis, ALS led to significant metabolic pathway alterations, which had correlations to known ALS pathomechanisms in the basic and clinical literature, and may represent important targets for future ALS therapeutics.
Is CFTR an exchanger?: Regulation of HCO3-Transport and extracellular pH by CFTR.

The disease, cystic fibrosis, is caused by the malfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Expression of functional CFTR may normally regulate extracellular pH via control of bicarbonate efflux. Reports also suggest that the CFTR may be a Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. If true, this could be very important for treatment of CF given the airway host defense system is quite sensitive to pH, and acidic pH been found to increase mucus viscosity. We compared evidentiary support of four possible models of CFTR's role in the transport of bicarbonate: 1) CFTR as a Cl-channel that permits bicarbonate conductance, 2) CFTR as an anion Cl-/HCO3- exchanger (AE), 3.) CFTR as both a Cl-channel and an AE, and 4.) CFTR as a Cl-channel that allows for transport of bicarbonate and regulates an independent AE. The effect of stimulators and inhibitors of CFTR and AEs were evaluated via iodide efflux and studies of extracellular pH. This data, as well as that published by others, suggest that while CFTR may support and regulate bicarbonate flux it is unlikely it directly performs Cl-/HCO3- anion exchange.
Arterial or cuff pressure: Clinical predictors among patients in shock in a critical care resuscitation unit.

Abstract Objectives Blood pressure (BP) measurement is essential for managing patients with hypotension. There are differences between invasive arterial blood pressure (IABP) and noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurements. However, the clinical applicability of these differences in patients with shock [need for vasopressor or serum lactate ≥ 4 millimole per liter (mmol/L)] has not been reported. This study investigated differences in IABP and NIBP as well as changes in clinical management in critically ill patients with shock. Methods This was a retrospective study involving adult patients admitted to the Critical Care Resuscitation Unit (CCRU). Adult patients who received IABP upon admission between 01/01/2017–12/31/2017 with non-hypertensive diseases were eligible. The primary outcome, clinically relevant difference (CRD), was defined as difference of 10 mm of mercury (mmHg) between IABP and NIBP and change of blood pressure management according to goal mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥ 65 mmHg. We performed forward stepwise multivariable logistic regression to measure associations. Results Sample size calculation recommended 200 patients, and we analyzed 263. 121 (46%) patients had shock, 23 (9%) patients had CRD. Each mmol/L increase in serum lactate was associated with 11% higher likelihood of having CRD (OR 1.11, 95%CI 1.002–1.2). Peripheral artery disease and any kidney disease was significantly associated with higher likelihood of MAP difference ≥ 10 mmHg. Conclusion Approximately 9% of patients with shock had clinically-relevant MAP difference. Higher serum lactate was associated with higher likelihood of CRD. Until further studies are available, clinicians should consider using IABP in patients with shock.
“Paying tribute to one of Africa’s [genuine] literary heavyweights: Eustace James Taiwo Palmer”

With works such as An Introduction to the African Novel, The Growth of the African Novel, Studies on the English Novel and several others, Eustace Palmer has been rightly lauded as a pioneering and...
Have I saved enough to social distance? The role of household financial preparedness in public health response

Behavioral responses such as social distancing are important in the fight to contain COVID‐19 transmission, yet motivating such responses is an overwhelming, resource‐intensive task. Using multi‐wave data from 23,735 US adults collected in May/September 2020, and January 2021, this study examines how financial preparedness in the form of savings influences the relationship predicted by the Health Belief Model between the degree of concern for COVID‐19 and engagement in social distancing. Findings indicate that general concern for COVID‐19 is related to the decision to engage in social distancing for individuals who have less saved. Curiously, higher levels of financial preparedness are associated with a lower likelihood of social distancing at least among people who had been laid off during the pandemic. The findings suggest a tradeoff between protecting one's standard of living and their health. Government and public health agencies should consider financial preparedness in the design of public health communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Consumer Affairs is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Bacterial Infections in the Immunocompromised Host

This chapter focuses on bacterial infections in specific settings where fundamental relationships relevant to the persistence of bacterial infections in the human host may be observed and studied. Neonates usually acquire bacterial pathogens transplacentally through the umbilical vein or by aspiration from amniotic fluid or cervical secretions. The complement system is able directly to lyse some gram-negative bacteria even in the absence of specific antibodies, but circulating levels of complement in the sera of neonates are lower than those in adults. Both the infected fetus and the neonate are able to produce protective IgM antibodies in response to bacterial antigens, but the levels in serum are lower than those in adults. The primary T-cell deficiencies produce defects in the cytokine production that is required to activate macrophages to kill intracellular bacteria. A primary defect of superoxide synthesis or adhesion of neutrophils is related to severe infection with pyogenic bacteria. The extreme example of acquired immune deficiency is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which produces AIDS. Persistent infections modulate all aspects of immune response, including both adaptive and natural immune functions, and have long-term consequences for immune defense. Although encounters with bacteria are a normal aspect of neonatal life, infants are also more susceptible to bacterial infections than are adults.
Spreading the Net: The Consolidation Process of Large Transnational Advertising Agencies in the 1980s and early 1990s

This article examines the recent ongoing consolidation processes of mega-agencies on the global level and the structure of the international advertising industry to illustrate the dominant power of these large transnational advertising agencies (TNAAs) from the political economic perspective. It discusses motivations behind TNAA expansion, analyses the market share of the world's top ten agencies over a thirty-year period from 1960 to 1989, and examines the current structure of some regional advertising markets, specifically Europe, Latin America and Asia. Findings reveal that the international expansion of TNAAs is motivated by market forces and that major TNAAs continue to perpetuate and dominate the global industry with leverage such as integrated networks, capital and research resources within the conglomerates. Implications of mega-merger movements and TNAA's dominance in the international industry are discussed.
Correlation of aflatoxin contamination with zinc content of chicken feed

Feed samples from chicken houses in five commercial chicken operations were analyzed for Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, and aflatoxin content. Mean aflatoxin content of these samples was 14 ppb (14 ng/g) as opposed to 1.2 ppb in samples taken when the feed was made. Aflatoxin content of the feed samples correlated (r = 0.325) significantly (P < 0.05) with Zn content but not with Mn, Fe, or Cu, all of which correlated significantly with Zn. Zn content of unamended feed (<20 ppm [20 mug/g]) is normally supplemented with a mineral premix containing Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu to meet the nutrient requirements of chickens (40 ppm of Zn). The mean zinc concentration of the feed samples (117 ppm) was about threefold greater than the nutrient requirement and ranged from 58 to 162 ppm in individual samples. These field survey results parallel earlier reports of augmented production of aflatoxin in monocultures of aflatoxigenic fungi in corn and other ingredients supplemented with Zn. These results suggest that stricter control of Zn levels during manufacture could reduce aflatoxin contamination of feed consumed by chickens.
Modern trends in steganography and steganalysis

Only recently, researchers working in steganography realized how much the assumptions made about the cover source and the availability of information to Alice, Bob, and the Warden influence some of the most fundamental aspects, including the way a steganographic system is built and broken and how much information can be securely embedded in a given object. While for simple artificial sources the problem of embedding messages undetectably has been resolved, it remains vastly open for empirical covers, examples of which are digital media objects, such as digital images, video, and audio. The fact that empirical media is fundamentally incognizable brings serious complications but also gives researchers plenty of opportunities to uncover very interesting and sometimes quite surprising results. An example is the square root law of imperfect steganography that states that the size of secure payload in empirical objects increases only with the square root of the cover size. Since steganographic methods designed to be undetectable with respect to a given model are usually easy to attack by going outside of the model, modern steganography works with complex models of covers in which the embedding distortion is minimized, hoping that it will be difficult for the Warden to work "outside of the model." The problem of cover source model is equally important in steganalysis. However, while working with complex models in steganography is feasible, learning a relationship between cover and stego objects in a high-dimensional model space can be quite challenging due to the rapidly increasing complexity of classifier training, lack of training data, and loss of robustness. In my talk, I will provide a retrospective view of the field, point out some of the recent achievements as well as bottlenecks of future development in source model building and machine learning.
Memory Gaps and Memory Errors

Memory is a reconstructive process, relying on pre-existing shared knowledge to help us comprehend and interpret what we experience. A reliance on prior knowledge is a vital aid to communication and comprehension, but, as a consequence, results in the modification of some details in an event, the addition of other details, or even the fabrication of entire new events. We review classic research that first demonstrated the phenomenon of reconstructive memory and the capability of prior knowledge to influence what people remember. We next discuss cutting-edge research involving memory gaps and memory errors, including autobiographical memories, distinguishing true from false memories, memory conformity, and potential adaptive reasons for memory errors. Finally, we point to directions for the future research. Keywords: reconstructive memory; memory errors; false memories
Cutting Edge: Dual Function of PPARγ in CD11c+ Cells Ensures Immune Tolerance in the Airways

The respiratory tract maintains immune homeostasis despite constant provocation by environmental Ags. Failure to induce tolerogenic responses to allergens incites allergic inflammation. Despite the understanding that APCs have a crucial role in maintaining immune tolerance, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using mice with a conditional deletion of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in CD11c + cells, we show that PPARγ performs two critical functions in CD11c + cells to induce tolerance, thereby preserving immune homeostasis. First, PPARγ was crucial for the induction of retinaldehyde dehydrogenase ( aldh1a2 ) selectively in CD103 + dendritic cells, which we recently showed promotes Foxp3 expression in naive CD4 + T cells. Second, in all CD11c + cells, PPARγ was required to suppress expression of the Th17-skewing cytokines IL-6 and IL-23p19. Also, lack of PPARγ in CD11c + cells induced p38 MAPK activity, which was recently linked to Th17 development. Thus, PPARγ favors immune tolerance by promoting regulatory T cell generation and blocking Th17 differentiation.
Linear and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis, Logistic Regression, and Partial Least Squares Regression

In this chapter, we review, for the most part, linear methods for classification. The only exception is quadratic discriminant analysis, a straightforward generalization of a linear technique. These methods are best known for their simplicity. A linear decision boundary is easy to understand and visualize, even in many dimensions. An example of such a boundary is shown in Figure 11.1 for Fisher iris data. Because of their high interpretability, linear methods are often the first choice for data analysis. They can be the only choice if the analyst seeks to discover linear relationships between variables and classes. If the analysis goal is maximization of the predictive power and the data do not have a linear structure, nonparametric nonlinear methods should be favored over simple interpretable techniques. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), also known as Fisher discriminant, has been a very popular technique in particle and astrophysics. Quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) is its closest cousin.
Organizational Search: Analysis of the Factors Affecting Search in Complex Organizations

Search is vital to organizational adaptation. It refers to an organization's scanning behavior, its ability to seek, identify, and choose new strategic options. Search can be viewed as both a process and a capability that enables organizations to see, create, or react to environmental contingencies. The absence of effective search ensures that organizations may never see or react successfully to external stimuli with important implications for organizational performance. This paper examines the factors that affect search in organizations. Specifically, it analyzes the effects of strategic choice, environmental determinism, core competence, organizational performance, organizational learning, power, incentives and organizational structure on search. The paper then summarizes and synthesizes key findings and offers conclusions regarding decisions or actions that can improve the search capabilities of organizations.
Equilibrium phases in 304L stainless stell obtained by sputter-deposition

X-ray and magnetic data showed that sputter-deposits of 304L stainless steel made at temperatures from 1°C to as high as 500°C contained ferrite. Ferrite normally does not form in 304L stainless steel without subzero temperature treatment or severe deformation below about 80°C even though the bcc phase is calculated to be stable to approximately 340°C. The phases obtained suggest that sputter-deposition can be used to determine the low temperature regions of phase diagrams. The deposits contained the bcc phase for substrate temperatures below 375°C, fcc and bcc phases between 375° and 500°C, and the fcc phase at 800°C. An unidentified, but apparently stable phase was also produced at 500° and 800°C. The two-phase deposits had equiaxed grains and higher hardness (750 Dph) than the single-phase bcc deposits (<560 Dph), which had columnar grains. Deposits produced above 375°C had randomly oriented grains, but the single-phase, bcc deposits had a predominance of (110) planes parallel to the substrate.
The Metabolic Effects of Growth Hormone and Their Physiological Significance

Publisher Summary The participation of the pituitary gland in the regulation of body growth was implicated a number of years ago on the basis of clinical observations. Thus, on the basis of pathological findings, acromegaly and dwarfism have been attributed to a hyperfunction and hypofunction of the anterior pituitary gland, respectively. The first experimental evidence for this pituitary function was provided by the classical studies of Aschner, who produced dwarfism by the removal of the pituitary gland from puppies. This observation was subsequently confirmed and extended in tadpoles and rats. A further great advance in relating the pituitary gland to growth was attained by Evans and Long, who produced gigantism in normal rats by long-continued daily administration of saline extracts of ox anterior pituitary. These findings were further advanced by Smith, who showed that the impairment of growth in hypophysectomized animals could be rectified by daily implants of the anterior pituitary or pituitary extracts. In the chapter, the effects of growth hormone on protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism are reviewed and the physiological significance of the interrelationship of these effects is discussed.
Highly unsteady flows in curved pipes

In the present research, highly unsteady flow in curved pipes is numerically studied while significantly varying the Wormersley Number and high Dean Number. The major new method introduced in the paper is the prediction of the flow pressure gradient based on fluid acceleration and on errors in the local mean flow velocity. This improved algorithm increases the efficiency of our calculations by more than an order of magnitude.
Inhibitory action of a new sympathomimetic amine (DU-21220) on the nongravid uterus

Abstract The effects of DU-21220, a new epinephrine derivative, on uterine activity and the cardiovascular system of 40 nonpregnant women was investigated. DU-21220, whether administered orally or by intravenous infusion, was found to be a potent myometrial inhibitor. The only consistent cardiovascular effect was a dose related rise in heart rate.
Development of a fabric winding system for the automated manufacture of prefabricated wind turbine blade roots

In the rapidly expanding wind energy market, manufacturing processes of composite components must be continually improved to keep up with high demand and increasing part size. This research focuses on improving the offline production of the root section of wind turbine blades. In this research, a system is developed and tested to replace the two-part manual layup of the prefabricated root with an automated fabric winding machine. The system is designed to wind a limited number of long, stitched plies semi-helically around a male mold at a lower cost and higher quality than current processes. A prototype machine is created that pulls two types of Non-Crimp Fabric from supply rolls onto a rotating mandrel that matches the interior surface of a scaled down blade root. The prototype system proves Non-Crimp Fabric plies can be wound and a male mold can be used as a suitable replacement for a female mold by creating several successful prototype root sections. Process times and labor costs between the current manual layup and the winding method are also compared and show a significant reduction in glass layup, further proving the feasibility of the new system.
Methods for the development of cell lines from insects

This paper describes techniques for the development of continuous cell lines from insect embryos and other tissues. Methods include how to obtain aseptic primary tissues, how to dissociate the tissue, and then how to maintain the primary culture until cells grow consistently. The relative advantages of different tissues (embryos, ovaries, etc.) in establishing insect cell lines are discussed and several insect tissue culture media are described.
Semiclassical approximations to quantum time correlation functions

Abstract Over the last 40 years several ad hoc semiclassical approaches have been developed in order to obtain approximate quantum time correlation functions, using as input only the corresponding classical time correlation functions. The accuracy of these approaches has been tested for several exactly solvable gas-phase models. In this paper we test the accuracy of these approaches by comparing to an exactly solvable many-body condensed-phase model. We show that in the frequency domain the Egelstaff approach is the most accurate, especially at high frequencies, while in the time domain one of the other approaches is more accurate.
Nature and spatial distribution of sulfur species in a sulfated barium-based commercial lean NOx trap catalyst

Abstract We report observations of the nature and spatial distribution of sulfur species on a sulfated Ba-based commercial lean NOx trap (LNT) catalyst. The monolithic catalyst was sulfated in a bench flow reactor during 60/5-s NOx-storage/reduction cycling to achieve a total sulfur loading of 3.4 g L−1 of catalyst. Washcoat composition, structure and sulfur distribution were analyzed with electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction. The most significant washcoat elements of catalytic relevance were Pt, Pd, Rh, Ba, Ce, Zr, Mg, Al, and these were present mainly in four distinct domains: (i) Mg/Al mixed oxide with Pt, Ce; (ii) Al oxide with Rh, Pd; (iii) Ce/Zr mixed oxide with Pt, Pd, Ba (high Ba content); (iv) Ce/Zr mixed oxide with Pt, Pd, Ba (low Ba content). Sulfur was present in the form of sulfates that decreased in concentration along the LNT axis from front to back. Barium showed the highest sulfur affinity leading to a plug-like axial progression of its sulfation. The sulfation of Al, Mg/Al, and Ce/Zr oxides was less vigorous with a more axially dispersed and less penetrating front.
A follow-up analysis of the pattern and predictors of dropout from the waiting list for liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for the current organ allocation policy.

Since our interim report of the intention-to-treat outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we have performed a follow-up analysis of an expanded cohort of 70 patients to further assess whether the observed pattern and predictors of dropout are consistent with the rationale behind current HCC-adjusted Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) organ allocation scheme. All except one patient had pretransplantation staging meeting our proposed expanded criteria—a single lesion ≤6.5 cm, or three or fewer lesions none >4.5 cm and total tumor diameter ≤8 cm. Thirty-eight patients received OLT. The cumulative probabilities of dropout at 6, 12, and 18 months were 7.2%, 37.8%, and 55.1%, respectively. The respective dropout probabilities would have been 11.0%, 57.4%, and 68.7% if the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) criteria for exclusion (single lesion ≤5 cm or three or fewer lesions none >3 cm) were applied. Predictors of dropout with either criteria included three tumor nodules and a single lesion >3 cm at initial presentation, whereas preoperative chemoembolization or ablation therapies were associated with a lower risk for dropout only when applying the UNOS criteria for patient exclusion. In the subgroup with two or three lesions or a solitary tumor >3 cm, the cumulative probabilities of dropout were nine-fold higher than those with a single lesion ≤3cm (P = .004). In conclusion, the low dropout rate in the first 6 months and the differing dropout risks based on tumor characteristics support further refinements in the HCC-adjusted MELD organ allocation scheme. (Liver Transpl 2003;9:684-692.)
Electrical and Electrochemical Properties of Nanocomposite Thin Films Formed by Exchange-Precipitation Route from Nanocrystals and Organic Cross-Linkers

The structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of nanoparticle thin films derived by a one-step exchange-crosslinking-precipitation route were characterized by microscopic, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Thiolate-encapsulated gold nanocrystals of 2-nm and 5-nm core sizes and alkyldithiol crosslinkers were studied as a model system. The mixing of the two components in solutions allowed sequential exchanging, crosslinking and precipitation of dithiol-crosslinked nanocrystal thin films. The films were specularly reflecting and electronically continuous, and have potential applications in catalysis and molecular recognition.
Logarithmic correction of the electric susceptibility in paraelectric tris-sarcosine calcium chloride

The dielectric constant tris-sarcosine calcium chloride [${(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_{3}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{H}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H})}_{3}$\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}Ca${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$] has been measured with a relative precision of \ensuremath{\sim}0.0005 from the transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ to ${T}_{c}+60$ K. Over more than 2 orders of magnitude of reduced temperature [$\frac{(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c})}{{T}_{c}}$], it follows accurately the logarithmically corrected mean-field behavior of uniaxial dipolar ferroelectrics. It is shown unambiguously that these corrections are superior to a power law. Close to ${T}_{c}$ ($Tl{T}_{c}+0.3$ K), the dielectric constant becomes affected by roundoff effects. Previous results on tris-sarcosine calcium chloride are reviewed in the light of these new findings.
Seasonal Variation in Corticosterone in Free-Living and Captive Eastern Red-spotted Newts Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens

Abstract Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA, or HPI —interrenal in amphibians) function and the typical stress response system can be altered in many ways. Glucocorticoids (GC) are modulated seasonally in a variety of vertebrate taxa, and long-term captivity also modifies the HPA/I axis. Our experiment investigated the functioning of the HPI axis in free-living and long-term captive Eastern Red-spotted Newts. Free-living newts were collected and blood sampled throughout and after the breeding season in 2006–2007, and 2010. Captive newts arrived in the laboratory in December 2006 and their blood was also sampled in pre-, late-, and postbreeding season in 2007. Contrary to most other amphibians exhibiting seasonality in plasma corticosterone (CORT, the predominant GC in amphibians) levels, the peak in CORT in free-living newts was not related to the breeding season. As expected, captive newts had higher baseline levels of plasma CORT than free-living newts. However, whereas stress-induced CORT levels were ...
Family functioning, psychosocial stress, and goal attainment in brain injury rehabilitation.

The study investigated the impact of family functioning (as measured by the Family Assessment Device) on goal attainment (as measured by a Goal Attainment Scale) and psychosocial distress (as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory–18) among survivors of acquired brain injury in a community re-entry rehabilitation setting. The bivariate analysis suggests that participants had significantly greater goal attainment scores if they were members of families with stronger general functioning (r = .27, p < .05), stronger defined family roles (r = .28, p < .05), a greater capacity to respond emotionally to each other (r = .29, p < .05), and proactively solved family problems (r = .28, p < .05).
Dynamic Light Scattering in Turbid Media—Clinical Applications

By extending dynamic light scattering from single scattering limit to high-order multiple scattering, we measure the dynamics of biological tissues averaged over some deep scattering volume. Clinical applications including tumor blood flow assessment are presented.
Contact lenses: Handle with care for iris recognition

Many iris recognition systems operate under the assumption that non-cosmetic contact lenses will not affect match quality and the convenience using iris biometrics. We show results opposing this belief with a study of 51 contact lens wearing subjects and 64 non contact lens wearing subjects. Our experimental results show that contacts lens wearers are 14 times more likely to be falsely rejected by the IrisBEE iris recognition system at a Hamming distance threshold of 0.32 than non contact lens wearers. We further classify contact lens wearers into four categories according to the type of lens and its visibility in the iris image. The false reject rate varies with different types of contacts and the artifacts they produce on iris images. This is the first work that we are aware of to look at the effects of prescription contact lenses on iris biometrics.
A historical and practical review of first trimester aneuploidy screening.

Summary There have been tremendous advancements over the past three decades in prenatal screening for aneuploidy and we have changed our practice from screening by maternal age alone to ‘combined’ first trimester screening and circulating cell-free fetal DNA. We currently use the nuchal translucency and biochemical markers of free β-hCG and PAPP-A to determine the risk of fetal aneuploidy. The primary goal is to identify higher risk women for fetal aneuploidy early in pregnancy and give them the option to pursue invasive testing in a timely manner if desired.
A freshwater bioprobe: Periostracum of the Asian Clam, Corbicula fluminea (Müller) combined with laser microprobe mass spectrometer

A freshwater bioprobe, combining the Asiatic Clam, Corbicula fluminea (Muller) and the laser microprobe mass spectrometer (LAMMA), can determine anthropogenic chemical contamination of freshwater systems. Laser generated mass spectra from the periostracal layers of clams contaminated with either a salt, potassium bromide, or an aromatic compound, phenol, produce distinctive mass spectral signatures that are different from uncontaminated clams. Uncontaminated clams have characteristic signatures with distinctive spectral peaks less than m/z 41; while exposed clams have many strong peaks well above this m/z. This freshwater bioprobe, using LAMMA to analyze the surface of clams, can be used as a screening tool for monitoring the water-treatment systems, for determining the source of contaminated baseflow and return flow discharge to streams, and for monitoring the water chemistry of a body of water. This system exploits the facility of using the shell instead of soft tissue with the LAMMA and has potential to detect anthropogenically-derived chemical stress.
Tests concerning a nested mixed model with heteroscedastic random effects

Abstract The purpose of this article is to present tests concerning the fixed and random effects for a two-fold nested mixed model under the following conditions: 1. (i) The nesting effect is fixed. 2. (ii) The nested effect is random with an unknown variance component assumed to depend only on the levels of the nesting effect. 3. (iii) All random effects, including the random errors, are independently distributed as normal variates. 4. (iv) The subclass frequencies in the last stage are equal (last-stage uniformity). An example is given to illustrate the proposed tests.
Infrared saturation in sulfur hexafluoride

The saturation of absorption of a CW infrared laser beam by SF6 has been measured as a function of pressure of SF6 and added buffer gases (He, Kr, and C2H6). The results are interpreted by means of a four-state linear kinetic model for saturation of vibrational energy levels by intense infrared radiation, which predicts equalization of upper and lower level populations at power densities of approximately 10 W/cm2. Vibrational and rotational deactivation cross sections are derived from these data with the aid of this model, which suggests that previously observed pulse transparency effects may be interpreted in terms of this same model.
Efficient use of robots in the undergraduate curriculum

In this paper we describe how a single Khepera II robot was used for an assignment in a senior level course on graphical user interface implementation. The assignment required each student to implement a graphical user interface for remotely controlling a Khepera II robot. From the author's point of view, the focus of the project was how to efficiently and effectively allow the 35 students enrolled in the course to have access to the robot for the purposes of testing and debugging. Furthermore, two of the students were enrolled through the distance education program and were remotely located. The intent was to see if an assignment making use of the robot would stimulate student interest, and whether it could be done with a minimal investment in hardware, lab, and instructor resources. The students were surveyed at the conclusion of the assignment in order to assess the effectiveness of the assignment. The results of this survey are presented, along with plans for future work.
Agricultural trade liberalization, multifunctionality, and sugar in the south Florida landscape

Abstract This paper explores the applicability of the concept of “multifunctionality” to the south Florida sugar-producing region. Multifunctionality is being promoted in the European Union in response to neoliberal trade pressures in agriculture. It is seen as a way to address social and ecological concerns such as farm abandonment and biodiversity loss through domestic agricultural policies that conform to the GATT/World Trade Organization. I have two objectives in this paper. First, I seek to investigate multifunctionality as one response to neoliberal pressures for agricultural reform. In doing this, I identify two types of multifunctionality, a “weak” and a “strong” version. Second, I want to explore the possibility for multifunctionality to serve as a vehicle for resistance to GATT/WTO in other regions. I do this through a study of arguably the most maligned agricultural zone in the world, the sugar-producing region of south Florida. The specific geographic focus is the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), the federally designated, 700,000-acre zone south of Lake Okeechobee that is home to the Florida “Sugar Bowl.”
Splenectomy: a new treatment option for ALL tumors expressing Hox-11 and a means to test the stem cell hypothesis of cancer in humans.

Splenectomy: a new treatment option for ALL tumors expressing Hox-11 and a means to test the stem cell hypothesis of cancer in humans
The value of the tender muscle sign in detecting motor recovery after peripheral nerve reconstruction.

Purpose Squeezing a denervated muscle a few weeks after nerve repair produces a characteristic response in patients. This response is observed before any clinical evidence of motor recovery. We called this response the tender muscle sign (TMS) and wanted to determine whether this sign was related to the recovery of motor power. Methods We studied 31 adults with unilateral brachial plexus injuries who underwent 50 procedures for reinnervation of the supraspinatus, deltoid, and biceps. Follow-up was monthly for the first year and at 3-monthly intervals thereafter. Average duration of follow-up was 3.3 years. The TMS was sought at each visit. The presence of the TMS, when it was first observed, and time to Medical Research Council (MRC) grade 1 and 3 recoveries were recorded. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of TMS for motor recovery were calculated. Results The TMS was always detected earlier than palpable muscle contraction. It was significantly associated with recovery of MRC grade 1 and 3 motor power. The sensitivity of TMS for MRC grade 1 recovery was 96% and specificity was 100%. For MRC grade 3 recovery, it had 97% sensitivity and 27% specificity. The positive predictive value was 100% for MRC grade 1 recovery and 83% for MRC grade 3. The negative predictive value was 50% for MRC grade 1 recovery and 75% for MRC grade 3. Conclusions Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of nocioceptive receptors in human skeletal muscle. The reinnervation of these receptors by the regenerating axons results in cramp-like tenderness when the muscle is squeezed. This response is specific to a reinnervated muscle and cannot be elicited in denervated or normally innervated muscle. The TMS is a simple, clear, and early indicator of muscle reinnervation that is useful in monitoring motor recovery after nerve regeneration. Type of study/level of evidence Diagnostic IV.
A Comparison of Intensive Care Unit Physician Staffing Costs at the 3 Mayo Clinic Sites

OBJECTIVES To determine the provider cost of administering intensive care unit (ICU) services, comparing 3 different staffing models for ICU coverage, and to compare the costs of using house staff vs nonphysician providers (NPPs). METHODS Data were collected on total staff composition and number of beds in ICUs from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2004, at the 3 Mayo Clinic sites: Rochester, Minn; Jacksonville, Fla; and Scottsdale, Ariz. Institutional or national average staff salaries were used to determine total staffing costs per ICU bed per year at each site. Medicare medical education reimbursements were also taken into account. RESULTS Costs per ICU bed for physician staffing were $18,630 in Rochester, $37,515 in Jacksonville, and $38,010 in Scottsdale. When NPPs were substituted for house staff, the costs per bed were $72,466 in Rochester, $61,291 in Jacksonville, and $49,909 in Scottsdale. Incremental costs per ICU bed using NPPs were $53,836 in Rochester, $23,776 in Jacksonville, and $11,899 in Scottsdale. CONCLUSION Use of residents and fellows in ICU staffing at a major tertiary health center is more cost-efficient than use of NPPs. This finding could have implications for the cost of physician services in nonteaching community hospitals and the methods by which care is provided.