cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unintentionally Retained Foreign Objects: A Descriptive Study of 308 Sentinel Events and Contributing Factors.

Objective Unintentionally retained foreign objects (URFOs) remain the sentinel events most frequently reported to The Joint Commission. The objective of this study was to describe reports of URFOs, including the types of objects, anatomic locations, contributing factors, and harm, in order to make recommendations to improve perioperative safety. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken of events involving URFOs reported to The Joint Commission from October 2012 through March 2018. Inclusion criteria were events meeting Joint Commission definitions of URFO and sentinel event. Exclusion criteria were sponges used intraoperatively and guidewires. Event reports included patients undergoing surgery, child birth, wound care, and other invasive procedures. Results A total of 308 events involving URFOs were reported: instruments (102), catheters and drains (52), needles and blades (33), packing (30), implants (14), specimens (6), and other items (71). Many of the instruments were used in minimally invasive or orthopedic surgery. Items were most frequently retained in the abdomen or the vagina. Most URFOs occurred in the operating room. A total of 1,156 contributing factors were identified, most frequently in the categories human factors, leadership, and communication. In the majority of reports, the harm was categorized as unexpected additional care/extended stay. Five patients died as a result of the URFO. Conclusion We describe events involving URFOs voluntarily reported to The Joint Commission. The variety of retained items, the departments involved, and the large number of contributing factors demonstrate the complexity of patient care and the need for a multifaceted plan for prevention. We make recommendations based on these findings.
The staged z-pinch as a potential high gain fusion energy source: An independent review, a negative conclusion

Previously published calculations predict that the “staged z-pinch” (SZP) can achieve 400 MJ of fusion yield on a Z-class machine. The SZP is touted to need no external preheat mechanism and no external pre-magnetization method. Instead, it is claimed that the imploding liner can adequately “shock preheat” the fuel and magnetic field diffusion through the liner can adequately magnetize the fuel. In this paper, we analyze a number of published SZP calculations and demonstrate that the calculations have major errors—the computer code used to do the calculations does not appear to be accurately solving the physical model it is intended to solve. A variety of independent analyses lead to this conclusion. This conclusion is confirmed by detailed one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) calculations conducted on different computer codes using a variety of proposed SZP operating parameters. Although using parameters similar or identical to the published calculations, our MHD calculations do not reach fusion conditions; there is no conceivable modification of the parameters that would lead to high-gain fusion conditions using these other codes. Our analyses and a review of the magnetized target parameter space leads to further conclusion that the SZP should not be considered to be a potential high-gain fusion source.
Characterization of mixture epoxy syntactic foams highly loaded with thermoplastic and glass microballoons

Syntactic foams comprising glass or thermoplastic microballoons have gained considerable attention in recent years due to mechanical and thermal properties that are advantageous for naval and aeros...
Invasive range expansion of the small carpenter bee, Ceratina dentipes (Hymenoptera: Apidae) into Hawaii with implications for native endangered species displacement

The small carpenter bee, Ceratina (Neoceratina) dentipes, is an invasive species throughout the South Pacific and has been identified as one of three alien Ceratina species established in Hawaii. Invasive bees are thought to be exacerbating declines of Hawaii’s native yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus) but, outside of the honey bee (Apis mellifera), relatively little empirical work has been done to track the origins and avenues of introduction for these species. Extant research addressing C. dentipes is limited, but suggests that it is a rapidly moving invasive, morphologically similar to both native and non-native bees within its introduced ecosystems, and may be capable of parthenogenic reproduction. Ceratina dentipes thus represents a potentially serious conservational challenge for terrestrial ecosystems throughout the Pacific. Here, we perform the first comprehensive phylogeographic assessment of C. dentipes, drawing from invasive populations across Hawaii and the South Pacific, and from native populations in Southeast Asia. Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction and analyses of molecular variation both indicate that C. dentipes is very recently introduced in Hawaii. Analyses also reveal that invasive populations of C. dentipes likely originated in Borneo or mainland Southeast Asia before being widely and rapidly dispersed, most likely through anthropogenic transport.
Inactivation of aerosolized surrogates of Bacillus anthracis spores by combustion products of aluminum- and magnesium-based reactive materials: Effect of exposure time

Targeting bioweapon facilities may release biothreat agents into the atmosphere. Bacterial spores such as Bacillus anthracis (Ba) escaping from direct exposure to the fireball potentially represent...
Simultaneous multislice MRI thermometry with a single coil using incoherent blipped‐controlled aliasing

PURPOSE To increase volume coverage in real-time MR thermometry for transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) ablation, without multiple receive coils. THEORY AND METHODS Multiband excitation and incoherent blipped-controlled aliasing were implemented in a 2DFT pulse sequence used clinically for tcMRgFUS, and an extended k-space hybrid reconstruction was developed that recovers slice-separated temperature maps assuming that heating is focal, given slice-separated pretreatment images. Simulations were performed to characterize slice leakage, the number of slices that can be simultaneously imaged with low-temperature error, and robustness across random slice-phase k-space permutations. In vivo experiments were performed using a single receive coil without heating to measure temperature precision, and gel phantom FUS experiments were performed to test the method with heating and with a water bath. RESULTS Simulations showed that with large hot spots and identical magnitude images on each slice, up to three slices can be simultaneously imaged with less than 1∘ C temperature root-mean-square error. They also showed that hot spots do not alias coherently between slices, and that an average 86% of random slice-phase k-space permutations yielded less than 1∘ C temperature error. Temperature precision was not degraded compared to single-slice imaging in the in vivo SMS scans, and the gel phantom SMS temperature maps closely tracked single-slice temperature in the hot spot, with no coherent aliasing to other slices. CONCLUSIONS Incoherent controlled aliasing SMS enables accurate reconstruction of focal heating maps from two or three slices simultaneously, using a single receive coil and a sparsity-promoting temperature reconstruction.
Chapter Nineteen Approaches to Teaching a Great Books Core at an Orthodox College

If we are to consider seriously the possibility of an Orthodox college in North America, then it is worth considering how it might best deliver a core curriculum that is based on the kinds of texts commonly designated as “great books.” That there ought to be a core, and that it should be based on classic texts, are assumptions for which I will not argue at any length. Concerning the former, it seems to me rather evident that twentieth century experiments in abandoning a core curriculum altogether have been unsatisfactory, not only in making higher education a hit and miss proposition for the students, and resulting in highly unpredictable outcomes, but leaving the faculty with virtually nothing in common upon which they can reliably build in delivering non-core classes. And that this core should be based upon Great Books seems to me especially compelling at a college meant to express Orthodox Christianity, which has sustained such a powerful and characteristic respect for tradition. Beyond this, Great Books expose students to the greatest minds, both challenging them, and teaching them humility. Moreover, the very stature of what we unfashionably call “Great Books” typically consists in their richness and multi-dimensionality. (For example a very long, and very interesting, book could be written recounting the many differing interpretations of Plato’s Republic during the last two and a half millennia.) Learning not just to cope with this element, but to thrive within it seems to me the best way to teach young minds to deal with a world that does is not often susceptible to clear-cut interpretations, and with problems that rarely admit of simple solutions. The question of how much of the curriculum should consist of Great Books courses, I think it best to leave open for now, although I will say that I think it should probably be well under half.
Use of the intubating laryngeal mask airway in the emergency department: A ten-year retrospective review.

Abstract Background Extraglottic devices, such as the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA), facilitate ventilation and oxygenation and are useful for emergency airway management, especially as rescue devices. In the operating room setting the ILMA has been highly successful. However, its performance in the ED has not been described. We sought to describe the indications for and success of the ILMA when used in the ED. Methods We performed retrospective, observational study of patients who had an LMA® Fastrach™ (hereafter termed ILMA) placed in a single ED between 2007 and 2017. Patients were identified by keyword search of ED notes in the electronic medical record. Trained abstractors reviewed charts and videos to determine patient characteristics, indication for ILMA placement, success of oxygenation and ventilation, intubation methods and success, and complications related to the device. Results During the study period 218 patients had an ILMA placed in the ED. The ILMA was used as a primary device in 118 patients (54%), and as a rescue device in 100 patients (46%). The median number of ILMA uses per faculty physician during the study period was 3. The ILMA oxygenated and ventilated successfully in 212 instances (98%), including 96 times (96%) when used as a rescue airway. Failure of oxygenation was due to tracheal injury (2), abnormal laryngeal inlet anatomy (2), or poor operator technique (1). Intubation through the ILMA was successful in 159 of 192 patients (83%), including a success rate of 81% (112 of 139 patients) with blind intubation. Conclusion The ILMA was highly successful in oxygenation, with reasonable intubation success, even when used infrequently by emergency physicians. The ILMA should be considered a valuable primary and rescue intubation device in the ED.
Improving patch quality by enhancing key components of automatic program repair

The error repair process in software systems is, historically, a resource-consuming task that relies heavily in developer manual effort. Automatic program repair approaches enable the repair of software with minimum human interaction, therefore, mitigating the burden from developers. However, a problem automatically generated patches commonly suffer is generating low-quality patches (which overfit to one program specification, thus not generalizing to an independent oracle evaluation). This work proposes a set of mechanisms to increase the quality of plausible patches including an analysis of test suite behavior and their key characteristics for automatic program repair, analyzing developer behavior to inform the mutation operator selection distribution, and a study of patch diversity as a means to create consolidated higher quality fixes.
"Tenemos que ser la voz": Exploring Resilience among Latina/o Immigrant Families in the Context of Restrictive Immigration Policies and Practices.

Abstract Research investigating associations between immigration policies and practices and indicators of mental health among Latina/o immigrant families has identified a number of risk factors for this population, such as family separation. The role of protective factors tied to the mental health of Latina/o immigrants, however, often has been neglected. This study explored internal and external sources of resilience that may protect Latina/o immigrant families against the potentially negative effects of restrictive immigration policies and practices on psychological well-being. Six focus groups (N = 50) were conducted with Latina/o immigrant parents of varying residency statuses (i.e., undocumented, permanent residents, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and U.S. citizens). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: Social Support, Faith, and Civic Commitment and Action. Across groups, Latina/o parents referenced family, peer, and community support, as well as their spiritual faith and involvement in advocacy efforts as coping mechanisms. Overall, results suggest that Latina/o immigrant parents of varying residency statuses rely on both internal and external sources of resilience to protect themselves and their families when navigating restrictive immigration policies and practices. This research is particularly timely in light of the increasingly restrictive nature of immigration policies in the U.S. and the growing literature on the influence these may have on immigrant well-being. Intervention efforts should build upon existing strengths, such as providing opportunities for Latina/o immigrant families to participate in political activism.
Prevalence and Correlates of Homelessness Among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth.

Youth homelessness is a serious national challenge affecting millions of young people every year. However, due to their relatively small population size, together with limitations related to data and research efforts on homelessness to date, prevalence estimates and evidence of homelessness experiences among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) youth have been scarce. This is particularly the case at the national level. We report findings on the prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of AIAN youth experiencing homelessness that are based on a nationally representative survey on homelessness among adolescents and young adults, age 13 to 25. The overall national survey sample included 25,492 respondents. During a 12-month period, approximately 10.2% of AIAN households with 13–17 year olds reported youth homelessness or runaway experiences that lasted at least one night. For AIAN 18–25 year olds, the 12-month population prevalence of homelessness experiences was 12.2%. AIAN young adults had three times the prevalence rate of homelessness as their White non-Hispanic peers. Furthermore, most AIAN youth experiencing homelessness, like most AIAN people overall, reside in predominantly urban counties. Controlling for other variables, lower educational attainment, and parenting (especially if unmarried) were associated with higher likelihood of homelessness. There is a clear and urgent need for tailored, culturally-responsive homelessness prevention and intervention strategies, along with focused housing and support investments, for AIAN young people and the communities in which they live. The federal government and local jurisdictions need to take policy actions to address high rates of AIAN youth homelessness in urban and suburban communities, in addition to policies centered on AIAN reservations and rural communities.
Ethnography and Consultee-Centered Consultation: Perfectly Aligned

Consultee-Centered Consultation (CCC) is built upon the use of a constructivist, interactive approach to support conceptual change in consultees. Constructivism is foundational in ethnographic trad...
Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis Infection in Cattle in North Dakota,1995-2005.

The objective of this study was to evaluate trends and risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) shedding in cattle in North Dakota. The North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory records of fecal culture-positive MAP cases diagnosed from 1995 to 2005 were examined. Epidemiological data on clinical history, age, sex, breed, herd size and county of origin were extracted. Additionally, data on producers enrolled in North Dakota's Voluntary Johne's Disease Control Program were obtained from the North Dakota State Veterinarian's office. Data were analyzed using Geographic Information Systems Arc Info 9.1 software, Epi Info version 6 and SAS version 9.2. Of the 53 counties in North Dakota, 42 (79%) reported MAP infection (range 1-86, median 6) in both beef (n=204) and dairy cattle (n=175). Also, there was a correlation between distribution of cases by county and distribution of producers participating in the ND Johne's Disease Voluntary Control Program; participating counties had more MAP cases reported than counties without participants. The number of MAP cases reported increased during the study period with seasonal trends, as shedding was higher in winter and spring than summer and fall. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses indicated that large herds, female, beef animals and animals greater than four years of age were more likely to be categorized as high shedders of MAP than herds without these attributes.
A Review of “Multi-dimensional Education: A Common Sense Approach to Data-Driven Thinking“

Corrigan, Grove, and Vincent describe their practical and integrated model for using data to inform school improvement initiatives. The model integrates seven dimensions of education (community eng...
The Jurisprudence of Notice and Comment

What does it mean to say that an administrative agency is a "source" of law? Agencies constantly generate what we regard as law, making and remaking legal obligations at a frenetic pace. Yet many (if not most) of the rules agencies make lack the force of law and identifying those that have it is often an exceptionally difficult task. It is a task, indeed, that courts are usually not suited to performing, at least not under their present circumstances. In this article, I argue that the nature of modern legislation and our march toward bureaucratic governance and informal process have combined to render the bulk of lawmaking in our society unrecognizable in our conventional picture of legality. If legal rules are, as many modern positivists maintain, really just so many 'exclusionary reasons' by which legal actors guide their conduct, agency rules that are never enacted as such are becoming more and more of the law's content. Notice and comment was neither the beginning nor the culmination of our lawmaking's departure from easily recognizable forms. But it is perhaps the best means by which to measure the rise of a more functional concept of law in the society we actually have.
Cartilage Restoration of the Hip

The management of articular cartilage defects within the hip represents a challenging problem. Surgical options currently available for the treatment of these injuries remain limited. Although restoration procedures for chondral and osteochondral lesions in the knee have been well published previously, there is a paucity of data available to guide surgeons in the selection, technical performance, and anticipated outcomes of these procedures within the hip. The purpose of this review is to outline the indications, surgical techniques, and outcomes for available cartilage restoration procedures of the hip, including microfracture, osteochondral autograft transfer, and osteochondral allograft transplantation.
Structural instability of mutant beta-cell glucokinase: implications for the molecular pathogenesis of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (type-2).

The catalytic function and thermal stability of wild-type and mutant recombinant human pancreatic β-cell glucokinase was investigated. The mutants E70K and E300K, which are thought to be the cause of impaired insulin production by the pancreatic β-cell and decreased glucose uptake by the liver of patients with maturity-onset diabetes of the young, were found to be functionally indistinguishable from the wild-type, i.e. their k cat , S 0.5 , inflection point and h were normal. However, these two mutants showed markedly reduced stability under a variety of test conditions. Glucokinase instability, not low enzyme catalytic activity, may be the cause of diabetes mellitus with E70K and E300K mutants.
Histopathology of Pleuronectes platessa L. from Aber Wrac'h and Aber Benoit, Brittany, France: long‐term effects of the Amoco Cadiz crude oil spill

. Organ samples were collected from plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., captured in the highly oiled Aber Wrac'h and Aber Benoit at five intervals during the period 1978-1980, following the Amoco Cadiz crude oil spill. Reference plaice were obtained along the western and southern coasts of Brittany. Tissue samples were fixed, processed and stained by routine histologic procedures for qualitative and quantitative histopathological examination. The predominant lesions and conditions which characterized fish from the oiled estuaries were: fin and tail necrosis, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of gill lamellar mucous cells, gastric gland degeneration, decreased hepatocellular vacuolation (lipid), increased concentration of hepatic macrophage centres and lateral trunk muscle fibre degeneration. Dilation of Bowman's space, glomerular hypertrophy and abdominal muscle fibre degeneration were pronounced at the last sampling interval. Other types of lesions were seen at a lower frequency: hyperplasia and fusion of gill lamellar epithelium, telangiectasis of gill capillaries, hepatopancreatic degeneration and hepatic necrosis. Fish muscle and liver collected for biochemical analysis to detect the presence or absence of petroleum hydrocarbons were negative for Amoco Cadiz oil fractions. At the same time oysters, Crassostrea gigas Thunberg, collected from the oiled estuaries throughout the study period, showed high levels of Amoco Cadiz oil fractions. These data, along with the type and frequency of lesions observed, suggested that the plaice had been chronically-exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons of Amoco Cadiz origin. Some relief from chronic pollutant exposure was indicated by a decrease in gill mucous cell concentration at the last sampling interval. An increase in abdominal muscle fibre degeneration and an increase in the frequency of dilation of Bowman's space with glomerular hypertrophy at the last sampling interval suggested a latent response to the polluting agent.
Response of aquatic macrophytes to human land use perturbations in the watersheds of Wisconsin lakes, U.S.A.

Abstract Aquatic macrophyte communities were assessed in 53 lakes in Wisconsin, U.S.A. along environmental and land use development gradients to determine effects human land use perturbations have on aquatic macrophytes at the watershed and riparian development scales. Species richness and relative frequency were surveyed in lakes from two ecoregions: the Northern Lakes and Forests Ecoregion and the Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plain Ecoregion. Lakes were selected along a gradient of watershed development ranging from undeveloped (i.e., forested), to agricultural to urban development. Land uses occurring in the watershed and in perimeters of different width (0–100, 0–200, 0–500, and 0–1000 m from shore, in the watershed) were used to assess effects on macrophyte communities. Snorkel and SCUBA were used to survey aquatic macrophyte species in 18 quadrats of 0.25 m2 along 14 transects placed perpendicular to shore in each lake. Effects of watershed development (e.g., agriculture and/or urban) were tested at whole-lake (entire littoral zone) and near-shore (within 7 m of shore) scales using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and linear regression. Overall, species richness was negatively related to watershed development, while frequencies of individual species and groups differed in level of response to different land use perturbations. Effects of land use in the perimeters on macrophytes, with a few exceptions, did not provide higher correlations compared to land use at the watershed scale. In lakes with higher total watershed development levels, introduced species, particularly Myriophyllum spicatum, increased in abundance and native species, especially potamids, isoetids, and floating-leaved plants, declined in abundance. Correlations within the northern and southeastern ecoregions separately were not significant. Multivariate analyses suggested species composition is driven by environmental responses as well as human development pressures. Both water chemistry and land use variables loaded positively with the first CCA axis indicating that these factors are correlated. Land use pressures in Wisconsin are greater in the southeastern portion of the state where lakes have higher concentrations of water chemistry variables including alkalinity, conductivity, pH, calcium, magnesium, and nitrogen. This creates a complex gradient that influences species composition of macrophyte communities from lake to lake.
A comparison of a wavelet functions for pitch detection of speech signals

The authors compare the relative performances of linear phase wavelets and minimum phase wavelets for the estimation of pitch periods using an event detection algorithm based upon the dyadic wavelet transform (D/sub y/WT). They apply the D/sub y/WT to detect the glottal closure, which they define as an event, and estimate the pitch period by measuring the time interval between two such events. Comparative examples are given of applying the D/sub y/WT using both linear phase and minimum phase wavelets on synthetic as well as actual speech data to evaluate their relative performance in pitch detection. The D/sub y/WT pitch detector using a spline wavelet gives the best results. >
Strings, trees, and patterns

Abstract In this paper we study subtree isomorphism and its relationships with some important symbolic problems. Recently, a linear time algorithm for ordered subtree isomorphism was given by Makinen. We note that a subtree of a rooted tree T, in Makinen's paper, refers to the tree rooted at any vertex in T. We consider ordered subtree isomorphism when a broader definition of subtree is used, viz., a subtree of T is any connected subgraph, including v, of the tree rooted at any vertex v in T. We give some evidence to show that a linear time algorithm for this problem is unlikely. We also give an almost linear time reduction from the important problem of pattern matching to ordered subtree isomorphism. Finally, we present simpler linear time algorithms for ordered and unordered subtree isomorphism (with the more restrictive definition of subtree).
Smoothing of K edge X-ray fine structure in alloys of transition metals with aluminium

Abstract Measurements of the transition metal K-edge fine structure have been made for a number of fcc and bcc random solid solution alloys containing aluminum. In each case, structures corresponding to unoccupied p states lose contrast as the aluminum content increases. The spectra are compared with theoretical band structures calculated by us using the average- t -matrix method.
Systematic relationships of the Antillocorini of the Western Hemisphere (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

. The status of the tribe Antillocorini as it occurs in the Western Hemisphere is discussed. An evaluation of characters useful in systematic analysis is included together with an evaluation of the plesiomorphic and apomorphic character states. The phylogenetic relationships of the genera are discussed and a cladogram included. A key is given to all known genera found in the Western Hemisphere. The following new taxa are described: Paradema gen.n.; Paradema bathydemoides sp.n. (Venezuela), P.engiernani sp.n. (Panama), P.longisetosa sp.n. (Argentina), P.oculata sp.n. (Coiumbia, Guyane) (type-species), P.pameroides sp.n. (Brazil), Caeneusia obrienorum sp.n. (Peru), Antillodema gen.n. (to include Antillocoris obscurus Barber comb.n. (type-species) and Bathydema maculosa Slater and Baranowski comb.n.), Paurocoris gen.n., P.yvgodzinskyi sp.n. (type-species) (Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela), P.punctata (Distant) transferred to Paurocoris from Bathydema, Trachinocoris gen.n., T.crassus sp.n. (Brazil), Terenocoris gen.n., T.nitidus sp.n. (Peru).
INSPECTION, PREDICTION AND DECISION-MAKING IN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT: FRAMEWORK, MODELS AND COMPUTATION

Decision-making models provide highway agencies with a plan for optimal decisions about mainte-nance and repair activities. The objective of these models is to minimize the total expected cost of maintaining a system of facilities incurred by an agency and the users over a given planning horizon. Recent models take into account measurement error in the inspection process and optimize the inspection schedule. Other state-of-the-art models include uncertainty in performance forecasting. Our research develops a model that jointly determines when to inspect and what maintenance activity to. perform, while taking into account both uncertainty in the measurements and feedback in the estimation of the deterioration rate. A computational implementation is performed in order to study empirically the relative significance of uncertainties in the deterioration rate and the state of the system.
Dissemination of community engagement in engineering and computing

Community engagement is a pedagogy that integrates engagement with a community, local or global, with academic content. In engineering and computer science the engagement is often the design, delivery and support of projects for NGO's, human service agencies, educational institutions and governmental agencies. Community engagement has been supported in the literature for enhancing learning and motivation. It has been shown to influence retention and interest in engineering and computing, in particular among underrepresented population. Community engagement has been classified in the U.S. under a broader umbrella as "Learning Through Service" (LTS) experiences, which encompass a broad set of engagement activities with a goal of achieving academic learning outcomes that range from volunteerism to service-learning. One successful LTS model is the EPICS program, which has been implemented in over 30 universities. Most programs have been successful, however, some have not. Using a framework of complex change, this paper describes how the program has been institutionalized at the original university and the approaches used to disseminate the model to other institutions to identify key elements of program dissemination.
Persistence of pulmonary hypertension by echocardiography predicts short-term outcomes in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objectives To describe the natural history of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the risk of death and pulmonary morbidity associated with the persistence of PH through the neonatal hospitalization for these infants. Study design We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) cared for at University of California San Francisco (2002-2012). Infants with other major anomalies or syndromes were excluded (n = 43). Clinical echocardiograms were performed weekly for up to 6 weeks or until PH resolved off respiratory support or until hospital discharge. Echocardiograms were re-read by a blinded reviewer and categorized by severity of elevation in estimated pulmonary arterial pressure. PH was defined as ≥2/3 systemic blood pressure. Severity was determined by a hierarchy of ductus arteriosus level shunt, interventricular septal position, and tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity. Results Of 140 infants with ≥1 echo, 98 resolved their PH prior to death/discharge. Mean time to resolution was 18 days (median 14 days, IQR 8, 21 days). Those with persistence of PH had a higher rate of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( P P P Conclusions The majority of infants with CDH resolve PH between 1 and 3 weeks of life. At 2 weeks of age, severity of PH by echocardiogram strongly predicts short-term pulmonary morbidity and death. Further evaluation of physiological alterations during that time may lead to novel therapies for severe CDH.
Reach and effectiveness of DVD and in-person diabetes self-management education.

Objectives: To evaluate the reach and effectiveness of a diabetes self-management DVD compared to classroom-based instruction.Methods: A hybrid preference/randomized design was used with participants assigned to Choice v. Randomized and DVD v. Class conditions. One hundred and eighty-nine adults with type 2 diabetes participated. Key outcomes included self-management behaviours, process measures including DVD implementation and hypothesized mediators and clinical risk factors.Results: In the Choice condition, four times as many participants chose the mailed DVD as selected Class-based instruction (38.8 v. 9.4%, p<0.001). At the 6-month follow-up, the DVD produced results generally not significantly different than classroom-based instruction, but a combined Class plus DVD condition did not improve outcomes beyond those produced by the classes alone.Discussion: The DVD appears to have merit as an efficient and appealing alternative to brief classroom-based diabetes education, and the hybrid design is recomm...
Estimation of Steroid Solubility: Use of Fractional Molar Attraction Constants

The fractional molar attraction constant (fp), an empirical constant related to the solubility parameter, was defined and chosen to be related to the solubilizing capacity of solvents for a given steroid because it was thought to assess the relative polarity of solvent molecules. Experimental solubilities for two steroids are reported which indicate that fp may be a useful parameter for solubility estimations.
Effects of dietary omega 3 fatty acids on vascular contractility in preanoxic and postanoxic aortic rings.

BACKGROUNDVasomotor reactivity may contribute to the pathophysiology of ischemic injury. The atherosclerotic vessel may be particularly susceptible to vasoconstriction because of the damaged endothelial layer with resultant loss of vasodilatory factors. While dietary omega 3 fatty acids have been proposed to protect against vascular occlusion, it is not clear to what extent this results from alterations in the function of platelets or from changes intrinsic to the blood vessel itself.METHODS AND RESULTSThe effects of dietary supplementation with fish oils on vascular contractility were examined in endothelialized and de-endothelialized aortic rings under pre- and postanoxic conditions. De-endothelialization was defined functionally by the loss of acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in norepinephrine-preconstricted aortic rings from rats fed normal rat chow. Three groups of rats were fed diets containing either 20% menhaden oil or 20% beef tallow, both supplemented with 3% corn oil or 23% corn oil for longe...
Film formation on a weakly attractive substrate within the lattice-gas model

Adsorption of a dense film on a weakly attractive substrate is studied using a lattice-gas model in the mean-field approximation. The model and method of solution are much the same as those employed by de Oliveira and Griffiths. In the present theory, the particles of the gas interact via either a Lennard-Jones (6-12) potential or a nearest-neighbor potential, and a gas particle interacts with the substrate through a (9-3) potential. For sufficiently weak substrate potentials no film is found. For sufficiently strong ones a film forms and grows with increasing vapor pressure or chemical potential either continuously or in one-atomic-layer steps as found by de Oliveira and Griffiths. For potentials of intermediate strength, there is a discontinuity in the film thickness from a partial layer to an arbitrarily large number of layers, depending on the temperature, as the vapor pressure is increased. The phase diagram in these cases is strikingly similar to that found by Ebner and Saam from a density-functional theory of nonuniform fluids; there is, however, a sizable difference in the substrate potential strengths at which the large discontinuity in film thickness appears.
86 RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY DATA OF INVASIVE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B |[lpar]|HIB|[rpar]| INFECTIONS IN SWITZERLAND

In Switzerland reporting of invasive HiB infections is mandatory for physicians (meningitis and septicemia) and laboratories (blood and CSF isolates) since Dec. 1987. We report on data of 529 prospectively collected cases from 1988 to 1990. Meningitis and epiglottitis were the 2 most frequent types of infections, representing 54% and 31% of all HiB diseases in the age group 0-15 years respectively. The annual incidence (0-4 years) of meningitis was 23/100′000, 13 for epiglottitis and 42 for all HiB infections. The peak incidence rates were observed between 6-12 months for meningitis and between 24-36 months for epiglottitis. Under the age of 6 months no epiglottitis was reported, whereas 5.6% of the meningitis patients were younger than 6 months. 10% of all HiB infections occurred in children between 5 and 15 years. The case fatality rate was higher for meningitis (2.5%) than for epiglottitis (1.2%). The retrospective studies in the canton of Zurich documented slightly higher incidence and case fatality rates and very similar age distributions for the above mentioned infections. The results warrant an immunization programme, which will be surveyed by the actual reliable reporting system.
Hiring discrimination against people with disabilities under the ADA: characteristics of charging parties.

Introduction This article describes findings from a causal comparative study of the characteristics of Charging Parties who filed allegations of Hiring discrimi- nation with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) between 1992 and 2005. Methods Charging Party Characteristics derived from 19,527 closed Hiring allegations are compared and contrasted to 259,680 closed allegations aggregated from six other prevalent forms of discrimination including Discharge and Constructive Discharge, Reasonable Accommodation, Disability Harassment and Intimidation, and Terms and Conditions of Employment. Tests of Proportion distributed as chi-square are used to form comparisons along a variety of factors including age, gender, impairment, and ethnicity. Results Most allegations of ADA job discrimination fall into the realm of job retention and career advancement as opposed to job acquisition. Hiring allegations, however, tend to be filed by Charging Parties who are dispropor- tionately male, younger or older applicants, white, and coping with physical or sensory disabilities. Conclusion Prevailing theories about stigma suggest that negative attitudes are more prevalent toward persons with behav- ioral disabilities. However, this study provides clear evidence that one behavioral manifestation of negative attitudes, Hiring discrimination, is more often directed at persons with physical or sensory impairments. More outreach regarding ADA rights appears indicated for individuals who share the aforementioned characteristics.
Bcr-Abl kinase domain mutations, drug resistance, and the road to a cure for chronic myeloid leukemia

Mutations in the kinase domain (KD) of BCR-ABL are the most prevalent mechanism of acquired imatinib resistance in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Here we examine predisposing factors underlying acquisition of KD mutations, evidence for acquisition of mutations before and during therapy, and whether the detection of a KD mutation universally implies resistance. We also provide a perspective on how the second-line Abl inhibitors dasatinib and nilotinib are faring in the treatment of imatinib-resistant CML, especially in relation to specific KD mutations. We discuss the growing importance of the multi-inhibitor–resistant 315T>I mutant and the therapeutic potential that a 315T>I inhibitor would have. Last, we assess the potential of Abl kinase inhibitor combinations to induce stable responses even in advanced CML and interpret the emerging data in the context of CML pathogenesis.
Electro-optic search for threshold divergence of the CDW diffusion constant in blue bronze

Abstract We have used the electro-optic response to search for critical divergence of the charge-density-wave (CDW) diffusion constant in blue bronze at the CDW depinning onset. No divergence is observed, setting ( V crit / V on - 1 ) 0.06 as a limit for the critical voltage. The measured diffusion constant implies an elastic constant consistent with the measured phason velocity, suggesting that CDW polarization involves gradual, rather than soliton-like, changes in phase.
Lexical activation (and other factors) can mediate compensation for coarticulation

Abstract A key dispute in theories of spoken word recognition is whether activation of a lexical representation can affect the perception of sublexical components, such as phonemes. Elman and McClelland (1988) provided evidence for such top–down processing by showing that a prelexical process (compensation for coarticulation) could be affected by lexical activation. However, Pitt and McQueen (1998) reported that the observed compensation effects were in fact due to the transitional probability of certain phonemic sequences, rather than lexical activation. Part I of the current study shows that perceptual grouping must be considered in assessing compensation effects, reopening the question of whether lexical activation can drive compensation. Part II shows that when perceptual grouping is taken into account, lexically mediated compensation can indeed be observed, confirming the interactive nature of speech processing. Collectively, the results make it clear that compensation for coarticulation is affected by a number of factors, making it difficult to isolate lexical influences on the phenomenon.
Characteristics of noncontraceptive hormone users.

Abstract Because noncontraceptive hormone use is not randomly distributed in the population, selection factors for hormone use need to be critically examined to clarify the nature of the relationship between hormone exposure and disease endpoints. The characteristics of hormone users were examined using sociodemographic and health-related information obtained in a telephone survey of 2,137 women (ages 40–52), randomly selected from a driver's license list of Pittsburgh area women. Results showed that 6% of the women surveyed reported current noncontraceptive hormone use, and that 71% of the users had undergone hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy, hereafter called the surgical group. Among all women, hormone users were older and thinner than nonusers, and the frequency of use was two times as high among whites than among blacks. Because rates of use varied dramatically by surgical status, separate univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted for women with and without a hysterectomy/oophorectomy. Body mass index was inversely related to hormone use, and alcohol consumption was positively related to hormone use among both groups. Whites had higher rates of hormone use than blacks among women with hysterectomy/oophorectomy, and a higher level of education was positively related to hormone use among nonsurgical women. The findings show that the distribution of hormone use varies markedly in the community by surgical status, body mass index, race, education, and alcohol use.
Image processing of tracer particle motions as applied to mixing and turbulent flow—II. Results and discussion

Abstract The results of the application of digital image processing of tracer particle motions recorded on stereoscopic motion picture films are discussed. Effects of threshold level on particle identification, data on location and velocity error analyses of the particles and results of the particle tracking and matching are investigated.
Inhibitors of Ca2+ channels, calmodulin and protein kinases prevent A23187 and other inductions of metallothionein mRNA in EC3 rat hepatoma cells

Abstract The role of calcium in the induction of MT mRNA has been studied in EC3 rat hepatoma cells, using various inducers (A23187, TPA, norepinephrine, and 2-chloroadenosine) and inhibitors (H7 : PK-A and PK-C; W7:calmodulin; verapamil: calcium channel blocker; and TMB-8; cytosolic calcium chelator). The inhibitions of inductions observed in this study were consistent with calcium playing an important role in MT mRNA induction by itself and via crosstalk among the PK-A, PK-C, and calmodulin- dependent protein kinase pathways. Calcium has an important role in the complicated second messenger pathways which result in the positive interaction of transcription factors with the promoters of MT genes.
Clevidipine for acute hypertension in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a pilot study

Purpose: Clevidipine is a novel, ultra-short acting dihydropyridine. We hypothesized that clevidipine would rapidly control elevated blood pressure (BP) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Materials and Methods: This prospective open-label pilot study evaluated the efficacy and safety of clevidipine in reducing blood pressure (BP) to a pre-specified range and within 30 min before or after clipping or coiling of the aneurysm. Results: We enrolled five patients who received eight clevidipine infusions, including 1587 systolic or diastolic BP data points. The mean SBP upper and lower goals were set at 154 and 122 mmHg. The primary end point of achieving SBP control within <30 min was reached in all patients within 14.2 ± 6.4 min at an infusion rate of 10.8 ± 9.1 mg/h. The mean pre-infusion, during infusion and post-infusion SBP measurements were 165.5 ± 2.55, 146.4 ± 2.48 and 159.3 ± 11.5 mmHg ( p < 0.05 for pre- vs infusion comparison), respectively. After reaching the primary end poi...
The Effects of Differential Diffusion on Nanoparticle Coagulation in Temporal Mixing Layers

The effects of size-independent diffusive transport on nanoparticle growth is studied by performing direct numerical simulation of nanoparticle coagulation in temporal mixing layers. The flow field is obtained by solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, while the evolution of the particle field is obtained by using a nodal approach to approximate the aerosol general dynamic equation. Simulations are performed where particles diffuse according to their size and also where all particles have the same diffusivity. For the latter, the model assumes that all particles of different sizes have the same diffusivity as the smallest particles. The advantage of the second approach is the length scales that need to be resolved are larger, facilitating more affordable computations. Simulations are performed at two volume fractions to assess the effects of the models under different growth rates. The results indicate the use of size-independent diffusion coefficients predicts particle sizes and geometric sta...
A unique presentation of Takayasu's arteritis in a 39-year-old male with chest pain, vertigo, and blindness

Takayasu's arteritis is a rare form of aortic vasculitis, typically described in young Asian females. In this article, we report a unique presentation of type V Takayasu's arteritis in a Hispanic male. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of Takayasu's arteritis presenting with the triad of angina, amaurosis fugax, and subclavian steal syndrome. On diagnostic imaging, he was found to have left subclavian and axillary artery stenosis requiring balloon angioplasty. The patient responded to the combination of medical and surgical treatment with full recovery.