cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Structured Presentation Formatting and NSQIP Guidelines Improves Quality of Surgical Morbidity and Mortality Conference.

BACKGROUND Surgical Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conference lacks a standardized structure across institutions. We compared implementation of structure and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program's (NSQIP) definitions to organize our M&M and identify cases for discussion versus the usually used method at many centers of case identification by an attending surgeon or resident. METHODS AND MATERIALS A prospective study was performed, over a 10-wk period, to compare the identification of adverse events and the educational value of our M&M conference before and after implementation of structured NSQIP-defined presentations. Chart review was performed by a trained surgical clinical reviewer and trained NSQIP resident of all cases over the study period to identify NSQIP-defined occurrences. All presented M&Ms were evaluated for adequate reporting of adverse events and areas for improvement on a three-point scale. Surveys were administered before and after intervention to assess educational value to resident and faculty on a five-point Likert scale. Survey and presentation data were compared using Student's t-tests. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS Before intervention, 15% of NSQIP-defined occurrences were identified compared with 81% after intervention (P < 0.01). Thirty-three percent of deaths (1 of 3) before intervention were identified versus 100% (4 of 4) identified after intervention. Surveys obtained from faculty, residents, and students of individual presentations found improved clarity and educational content in cases presented (2.6-2.8) and improved identification of etiology (2.5-2.8), learning points (2.1-2.7), and opportunities for prevention of future adverse events (2.1-2.6) (all P < 0.01). Residents and faculty overall found that the postintervention model better identified adverse events (3.0-3.7, P = 0.02), opportunities for prevention (2.8-3.3, P = . 04), and promoted improved transparency (2.9-3.8, P < 0.01). Eighty-five percent of participants supported the changes in M&M conference. CONCLUSIONS Incorporation of a clearly defined structure using NSQIP definitions for morbidity and identification of every mortality in our M&M conference standardized identification of adverse events thus improving conference quality. Consideration of the use of this structure should be given to other surgical departmental M&Ms.
Wireless Sensing for Healthcare Solutions

The purpose of this work is to establish a critical analysis of how information communication technologies can simplify problems within the healthcare industry. The end goal is to investigate the merit of IoT and wireless body area network systems (WBANs), what devices work well within them, and whether or not hospitals and patients could benefit from these systems as replacements for legacy technology.
Magnetic-Structure-Stabilized Polarization in an Above-Room-Temperature Ferrimagnet.

Mn2FeMoO6 is prepared from stoichiometric mixtures of MnO, Fe, Fe2O3, and MoO3 (Pt capsule, 8 GPa, 1623 K, 30 min) and characterized by powder synchrotron XRD, powder neutron diffraction, XANES, second harmonic generation measurements, magnetic and electrical measurements, and DFT calculations.
Use of Functional Assessment to Define Therapeutic Goals and Treatment

This article summarizes the presentations and discussions from a workshop, "Using Functional Assessment to Define Therapeutic Goals and Treatment," which took place on November 30 to December 1, 2017. This workshop brought together transdisciplinary leaders in the fields of function and disability and clinical investigators engaged in research on geriatric populations to outline opportunities and challenges for incorporating measures of function in clinical research. Topics addressed included reliable and clinically feasible measures of function and key domains of health (eg, musculoskeletal, cognitive, and sensory) that are most strongly associated with patients' perceptions of well-being, independence, and quality of life across a wide array of diseases and interventions. The workshop also focused on the importance of function in medical decision making to inform communications between specialty physicians and patients about prognosis and goals of care. Workshop participants called for more research on the role of function as a predictor of an intervention's effectiveness and an important treatment outcome. Such research would be facilitated by development of a core set of simple, short, functional measures that can be used by all specialties in the clinical setting to allow "big data" analytics and a pragmatic research. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1782-1790, 2019.
Optimal Decision Tree with Noisy Outcomes

A fundamental task in active learning involves performing a sequence of tests to identify an unknown hypothesis that is drawn from a known distribution. This problem, known as optimal decision tree induction, has been widely studied for decades and the asymptotically best-possible approximation algorithm has been devised for it. We study a generalization where certain test outcomes are noisy, even in the more general case when the noise is persistent, i.e., repeating the test on the scenario gives the same noisy output, disallowing simple repetition as a way to gain confidence. We design new approximation algorithms for both the non-adaptive setting, where the test sequence must be fixed a-priori, and the adaptive setting where the test sequence depends on the outcomes of prior tests. Previous work in the area assumed at most a constant number of noisy outcomes per test and per scenario and provided approximation ratios that were problem dependent (such as the minimum probability of a hypothesis). Our new approximation algorithms provide guarantees that are nearly best-possible and work for the general case of a large number of noisy outcomes per test or per hypothesis where the performance degrades smoothly with this number. Our results adapt and generalize methods used for submodular ranking and stochastic set cover. We evaluate the performance of our algorithms on two natural applications with noise: toxic chemical identification and active learning of linear classifiers. Despite our logarithmic theoretical approximation guarantees, our methods give solutions with cost very close to the information theoretic minimum, demonstrating the effectiveness of our methods.
Early Biomechanical Knowledge

While arthritis of the knee was a well-recognized problem, it was only around 1950 that solutions became available, namely, osteotomy and tibial plateau spacers, as well as all-metal hinges for the more severe cases. These treatments were not reliable however, evidenced by residual pain and limited function. To invent an artificial knee with similar function to the normal anatomic knee required an understanding of the basic knee mechanics. Research on functional anatomy took place in Europe in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but the manuscripts were not widely available. Experiments on the function of knee ligaments were carried out in the 1940s. Also in the 1940s, extensive gait analysis studies showing the ground-to-foot force patterns and the three-dimensional motions at the knee were carried out in San Diego. In the 1960s further studies on the structure and function of the knee were carried out in England. Finally, in the late 1960s, data became available of the forces acting in the knee in activity, carried out by Paul and Morrison at Strathclyde University. This was at the time that the first metal-plastic article knees were being invented. From that time, there was a steady expansion of work in this field carried out by surgeons, engineers, and materials scientists. There was a recognition that a successful artificial knee was a real possibility.
Abstract 1170: Socioeconomic disparities in patients with esophageal cancer at time of diagnosis: A national cancer data base analysis

Introduction: There have been noted to be significant gender and socioeconomic disparities in the incidence, prognosis, and clinical outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study was to characterize disparities amongst patients with esophageal cancer at time of diagnosis, as stratified by their stage, as there is a paucity of published data in this realm. Methods: We identified patients in the National Cancer Data Base diagnosed with esophageal cancer, from 2004 to 2016 and grouped them by stage: early stage (stage I-III) and advanced stage (stage IV). These groupings were then compared based on various patient demographics and socioeconomic factors, including age, gender, insurance status, education, and income. p-values were determined by chi-square test. Results: 102,540 patients (79.5% male; 84.0% Caucasian) were included in our analysis. There was a statistically significant increase in the diagnosis of de novo metastatic disease seen with younger age (⇐59 years), male gender, lack of insurance coverage, residential communities with lower education, and lower income ( Conclusion: Data from the National Cancer Data Base supports the association of younger age and lower socioeconomic status with higher stage at diagnosis in patients with esophageal cancer, highlighting the need for increased awareness and education in these at-risk subgroups. Citation Format: Meena Sadaps, Neal Mehta, Wei Wei, Katherine Tullio, Amit Bhatt, Alok Khorana. Socioeconomic disparities in patients with esophageal cancer at time of diagnosis: A national cancer data base analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1170.
Abstract D086: Assessing patient-level knowledge of precision medicine in a community health center setting

Factors influencing cancer treatment decisions require comprehension of genetic tests, risk stratification, and treatment options. This comprehension in turn requires understanding of numeracy, genetic literacy, health literacy, and medical trust, all important for acceptance and implementation of precision medicine. Using a mixed methods approach, we sought to identify patient-level factors influencing the understanding of cancer risk and precision medicine among community health center patients. At a community health center in Nashville, Tennessee we enrolled 26 English-speaking patients between the ages of 40-79 years who were either a cancer patient (n=4), had a family member with cancer (n=20), and/or were previously a caregiver for a cancer patient (n=15). The participants enrolled in one of four focus groups, and also completed surveys to assess patient-level understanding of precision medicine, numeracy, and health literacy. We used a three-item health literacy screening questionnaire and the Subjective Numeracy Scale to assess health literacy and numeracy, respectively. Participants were median age 60, 89% African American and 77% female, with 35% having a high school degree or less and 35% a household income of ≤$15,000. While health literacy was generally high (≤15% reported low confidence in filling out medical forms, understanding medical information, or needing help to read the information), 42% felt that genes or genetics had little impact on health and most reported little familiarity with precision medicine (69%), pharmacogenetics (77%), biomarkers (81%) or biobanks (81%). The majority of participants reported that trust in their providers was extremely or very important when receiving genetic tests (77%) and over 60% felt receiving genetic test results was extremely important. Numeracy levels were moderate, with nearly half reporting some discomfort working with fractions and 38% finding numerical information only occasionally useful. The findings suggest that many patients lack familiarity with precision medicine concepts relevant for understanding cancer treatment decisions. Future efforts in digital technologies may be able to help bridge the gap in patient understanding and allow medically underserved populations to have equitable opportunities for precision medicine. Citation Format: Melinda C Aldrich, William J Blot. Assessing patient-level knowledge of precision medicine in a community health center setting [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D086.
Hepatitis B surface antibody titres and hepatitis B reactivation with direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C.

HBV reactivation can occur while undergoing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV). The role of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) has not been systematically explored. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to explore the role of the presence of HBsAb on the risk of HBV reactivation related to DAA therapy. We reviewed MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and Cochrane Central for studies on DAA therapy and data on HBsAb in patients with resolved hepatitis B (hepatitis B surface antigen-negative and hepatitis B core antibody-positive). We identified twenty-nine reports: thirteen case reports with HBV reactivation (10 HBsAb-negative and 3 HBsAb-positive patients) and sixteen cohort studies totalling 2528 patients with resolved HBV infection (1429 HBsAb negative, 1099 HBsAb positive). Reactivation was found in 12 (0.8%) HBsAb-negative and 7 (0.6%) HBsAb-positive individuals of cohort studies. All but two HBV reactivation occurred in patients with HBsAb titre <30 iU/L. The presence of HBsAb showed a trend towards delayed reactivation (median 12 weeks vs 9.5 weeks; P = .07). Importantly, with the exception of a patient with escape variant and an HIV-infected individual, no HBsAb-positive individual demonstrated clinical reactivation. HBsAb presence seems to protect from clinical HBV reactivation related to DAA therapy. The most pronounced prevention for reactivation may require titres greater than 30 iU/L.
Virtual Teaching of Preventive Cardiology: A Student Experience.

Preventive cardiology is a subspecialty of Internal Medicine focused on reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk through medical management of known risk factors and identification of genetic predispositions. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) provides a preventive cardiology course designed to engage students in targeted, multidisciplinary care to address the increasing ASCVD prevalence. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, OHSU transitioned this course to a virtual platform to allow students to continue their medical education. Course adaptations include utilization of video-conferencing platforms and cloud-based storage websites, allowing students access to didactic materials, instructional sessions, and engage with patients in a telehealth setting. As the first cohort of students to complete this course, we share our experience with the virtual platform, including the virtual course structure, student role, and benefits and limitations of this model. Through our experience, we have found that adaptation to a virtual platform provides a feasible and effective means through which to continue preventive cardiology education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Families Redefined: Kinship Groups that Deserve Benefits

In Families Redefined, the authors recognize that numerous families extant today include those founded on kinship relationships. Kinship relationships are non-conjugal consensual adult relationship based on emotional and economic interdependence. Similar to marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships, these relationships deserve and require legal protections and benefits to sustain them.This article examines 1) the nature of kinship families, 2) the benefits accorded to married couples, 3) kinship families that lack protection and benefits, 4) the impact of denying kinship protection and benefits, 5) the use of contract law in kinship relationship and 6) using legislation to benefit kinship relationships. The article advocates for the expansion of legal concepts of family to include kinship relationships by comparing the treatment of these issues in various states and nations. In this manner, the authors support a new definition of family that goes beyond conjugal arrangements.
Effect of a trematode infection on growth, reproduction, and mortality of shorthead sculpin

Shorthead sculpin (Cottus confusus Bailey and Bond, 1963) in Birch Creek, Idaho, were infected with the trematode Euryhelmis cotti (Simon, 1972). Our objective was to determine if intensity of infection had an influence on growth, reproduction, and mortality of shorthead sculpin at two sites in Birch Creek. Prevalence of trematode infection was 100 % at the upstream site compared to 32 % prevalence at the downstream site; intensity of infection was at least 15 times greater in shorthead sculpin at the upstream site. von Bertalanffy growth models differed significantly between sites; the growth coefficient (K) was higher for sculpin at the upstream site. Gonadosomatic index for both males and females was significantly higher for sculpin found upstream. Females at the upstream site also had significantly more eggs per clutch compared to females at the downstream site. Annual mortality was significantly higher upstream (A = 57 %; 95 % CI = 52–62 %) compared to downstream (A = 42 %; 95 % CI = 38–46 %). Consequently, the density of sculpin was lower at the upstream site (13 fish/100 m2) compared to the downstream site (54 fish/100 m2). We did not find evidence to suggest that growth and reproduction of shorthead sculpin were influenced by infection of E. cotti, but rather were influenced primarily by density dependent factors. Mortality was higher for shorthead sculpin at the upstream site with high prevalence and intensity of infection. However, we do not know if higher mortality was a direct consequence of trematode infection or merely correlated with trematode infection.
Extracting Anharmonic Coupling Constants from Beta-Barium Borate

Multidimensional terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for understanding nonlinear excitation, coherent energy flow, and coupling between collective degrees of freedom on ultrafast time scales. With extreme vibrational excitation using high-field THz light, 2D THz spectroscopy can reveal how anharmonic mode coupling results in coherent energy transfer. We explore phononic coupling between modes in β-barium borate and attempt to extract the coupling constants.
Trends in cancer screening volumes at an urban health center during the COVID-19 pandemic

10551Background: The Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted cancer screening for reasons including healthcare resource preservation, infection control efforts, and patient factors. There ...
Volunteer Identity and Identification in Cross-Sector Partnerships

We contribute to the discussion of interactional volunteer management, by expanding its concepts through the lens of an individual’s volunteer identity and identification to a non-traditional volun...
The Role of Ablative Radiotherapy to Liver Oligometastases from Colorectal Cancer

This review describes recent data supporting locoregional ablative radiation in the treatment of oligometastatic colorectal cancer liver metastases. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) demonstrates high rates of local control in colorectal cancer liver metastases when a biologically equivalent dose of > 100 Gy is delivered. Future innovations to improve the efficacy of SBRT include MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) to enhance target accuracy, systemic immune activation to treat extrahepatic disease, and genomic customization. Selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) with y-90 is an intra-arterial therapy that delivers high doses to liver metastases internally which has shown to increase liver disease control in phase 3 trials. Advancements in transarterial radioembolization (TARE) dosimetry could improve local control and decrease toxicity. SBRT and SIRT are both promising options in treating unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer liver metastases. Identification of oligometastatic patients who receive long-term disease control from either therapy is essential. Future advancements focusing on improving radiation design and customization could further improve efficacy and toxicity.
Estrogen Potentiates Inositol 1, 4, 5–Trisphosphate Receptor–Mediated Calcium Signaling in Rod Bipolar Cells

Purpose: Homeostasis and control of the intracellular calcium concentration are critical for multiple physiological and functional processes in neurons as well as for neuronal viability. Inositol–1, 4, 5–trisphosphate(IP3) receptors (IP3Rs) are major intracellular calcium channels releasing calcium from intracellular stores, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, and contribute to calcium–mediated neuronal functions. IP3Rs are gated by their ligand IP3 and are subject to modulation by a plethora of intracellular signaling substances including the cytosolic calcium concentration itself. Besides their well–documented function in non–excitable cells, endogenously produced steroid hormones have been shown to modulate normal neuronal function as well as to contribute to neuroprotection. In the present study, we investigated the effect of estrogen / 17 s–estradiol (E2) on IP3Rs and subsequently on homeostasis and control of the intracellular calcium concentration in rod bipolar cells of the mouse retina. Besides identifying mechanisms of action underlying neuronal calcium signaling in the retina, the study determined potential novel therapeutic strategies for treating retinal neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: Rod bipolar cells were exposed to E2 and the expression and distribution of IP3Rs, estrogen receptors and related signaling molecules was determined with immunochemistry. Functional effects of E2 exposure were analyzed with optical imaging of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in acutely isolated rod bipolar cells and single channel electrophysiology of IP3Rs. Results: Estrogen receptors and IP3Rs were colocalized intracellularly in rod bipolar cells. E2 treatment of rod bipolar cells led to a robust phosphorylation of IP3Rs and in parallel a significantly potentiated IP3R channel activity. In isolated rod bipolar cells, IP3R–mediated intracellular Ca2+ signals were detected after E2 treatment that showed a significant correlation with the E2–mediated changes in the biophysical properties of IP3Rs. Conclusions: Data from the present study suggest that steroid hormones control the intracellular calcium concentration in retinal neurons through activation of kinases that target IP3Rs. Furthermore, steroid hormones appear capable of influencing the gain and sensitivity of calcium signaling pathways indicating potential roles in retina neuroprotection. Supported by a grant from The UNT Health Science Center Intramural Research Program (MS, PK), and NIH grants AG22550 (JWS, MS, PK), and EY14227 (PK).
Exploring Genetic, Genomic, and Phenotypic Data at the Rat Genome Database

The laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus, is an important model of human health and disease, and experimental findings in the rat have relevance to human physiology and disease. The Rat Genome Database (RGD, http://rgd.mcw.edu) is a model organism database that provides access to a wide variety of curated rat data including disease associations, phenotypes, pathways, molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular components for genes, quantitative trait loci, and strains. We present an overview of the database followed by specific examples that can be used to gain experience in employing RGD to explore the wealth of functional data available for the rat.
Computer-assisted instruction in literacy skills for kindergarten students and perceptions of administrators and teachers

The perceptions of administrators and teachers of a computer-assisted instructional program in literacy skills were collected by a survey. The survey participants were kindergarten teachers and administrators from four elementary schools in the same, fast-growing, suburban school district in Texas. Literacy assessments were given to all kindergarten students in the district in the fall, winter, and spring of the 2005-2006 school year. This study included a quasi-experimental research design to determine if students using the computer-assisted instructional program improved more on the district literacy assessments than students who did not use the program. The treatment group members were the 449 kindergarten students of the survey participants. The treatment group worked in The Imagination Station program for a nine-week trial period. The control group members were 1385 kindergarten students from thirteen other schools in the same school district. The study found that teachers and administrators perceived that their students’ improvement in literacy skills after using the program was good. The quasi-experimental portion of the study found that there was a statistical difference between the treatment and control groups on the composite literacy assessment score. The group membership variable could explain 1.4% of the variance in the students’ literacy assessment scores. Based on the small effect size, there was no practical difference between the groups.
Relationship between Gate Bias and Hot-Carrier Induced Instabilities in P-Channel MOSFETs

The stability of short p-channel MOSFETs with respect to hot-carrier phenomena is a growing area of concern for VLSI [1-5], It is generally accepted that Instabilities in p-channel transistors are maximized at stress bias conditions that cause the peak gate current to flow [1-3] rather than the peak substrate current as in the case of n-channel devices. However, contrary observations have been reported [4,5]. This paper presents the results of a detailed study of the effects of stress bias conditions on shifts in several important device parameters. The results indicate that for certain parameters, maxima in the magnitude of observed shifts can correspond to peaks in both gate and substrate currents. This observation is important for future reliability studies of short p-channel MOSFETs.
Prevalence of Childhood Exposure to Violence, Crime, and Abuse: Results From the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence

Importance It is important to estimate the burden of and trends for violence, crime, and abuse in the lives of children. Objective To provide health care professionals, policy makers, and parents with current estimates of exposure to violence, crime, and abuse across childhood and at different developmental stages. Design, Setting, and Participants The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) includes a representative sample of US telephone numbers from August 28, 2013, to April 30, 2014. Via telephone interviews, information was obtained on 4000 children 0 to 17 years old, with information about exposure to violence, crime, and abuse provided by youth 10 to 17 years old and by caregivers for children 0 to 9 years old. Main Outcome and Measure Exposure to violence, crime, and abuse using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. Results In total, 37.3% of youth experienced a physical assault in the study year, and 9.3% of youth experienced an assault-related injury. Two percent of girls experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse in the study year, while the rate was 4.6% for girls 14 to 17 years old. Overall, 15.2% of children and youth experienced maltreatment by a caregiver, including 5.0% who experienced physical abuse. In total, 5.8% witnessed an assault between parents. Only 2 significant rate changes could be detected compared with the last survey in 2011, namely, declines in past-year exposure to dating violence and lifetime exposure to household theft. Conclusions and Relevance Children and youth are exposed to violence, abuse, and crime in varied and extensive ways, which justifies continued monitoring and prevention efforts.
Mutational and gene dosage analysis of calcium-activated potassium channels in Drosophila: Correlation of micro- and macroscopic currents

In Drosophila, two Ca2(+)-activated K+ currents, ICF and ICS, have previously been distinguished in conventional voltage clamp experiments. The slowpoke (slo) mutation eliminates ICF specifically. We report that in patch clamp recordings a single-channel Ca2(+)-activated K+ current is readily distinguished from other channel activities in normal larval muscle membrane, whereas no such current is observed in slo muscles. This single-channel current thus correlates with the macroscopic ICF. No obvious differences in amplitude or properties were detected between normal (+/+) and heterozygous (slo/+) ICF channels in whole-cell voltage clamp recordings or single-channel patch clamp recordings. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that slo is a structural gene for the ICF channels only under certain conditions. The selective effect of the slo mutation may reflect a defect in a regulatory mechanism that is specific for the functioning of the ICF channel protein.
Emergency Medicine and the Academic Health Center

The last 3 to 5 years have witnessed a tremendous change in direction for the academic health center. The major trends in this regard are increased importance of managed care, cost consciousness, development of a clinical system, pressure to downsize graduate medical education, and increased competition.
Understanding and Using the Rorschach Inkblot Test to Assess Post-Traumatic Conditions

Partially, in response to recent and current military conflicts, many forensic and clinical researchers and practitioners have devoted increasing interest to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the individual variations in response to trauma. Such efforts have produced a considerable amount of research and opinion supporting the assessment of post-traumatic conditions with the Rorschach Inkblot Test. Based on PTSD and Rorschach research and an appreciation as the Rorschach as a performance test, five interpretive considerations are presented (1) cognitive constriction, (2) trauma-related imagery, (3) trauma-related cognitive disturbances, (4) stress response, and (5) dissociation. These five provide a conceptual starting point for the understanding and application of the test to post-traumatic conditions. Implications for the clinical and forensic evaluation of post-traumatic conditions and for research are presented.
HIV and prostate cancer: a systematic review of the literature.

Malignancy occurs with increased frequency in the HIV-positive population. The true incidence of prostate cancer in this population is unknown. In the few cases that have been presented in the literature, prostate cancer in HIV-positive men appears to behave much like it does in HIV-negative men. Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and the second leading cause of cancer death. Approximately 800 000 men in the United States are HIV positive, and innovative therapies have dramatically improved survival. HIV disproportionately impacts ethnic groups with increased risk of prostate cancer and has been associated with increases in the incidence of certain malignancies. Despite the high prevalence of both diseases, there is relatively little literature about prostate cancer in HIV-positive patients. There is no consensus on how to screen or treat this patient population. We review the literature with regards to incidence, screening, treatment, and outcomes of this poorly characterized population. We briefly discuss the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy and testosterone supplementation in the development of prostate cancer. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE key words ‘HIV,’ ‘prostate,’ ‘prostate cancer’ and ‘AIDS.’ Manual bibliographic review of cross-referenced items was also performed. A total of 176 unique abstracts and publications were reviewed; many authors provided data on the incidence of HIV and various malignancies including prostate cancer. Twelve unique publications providing detailed information on 60 patients with HIV and prostate cancer were identified. Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in HIV-positive men. With improved therapies for HIV and increasing survival, the importance for screening and treating prostate cancer is increasing. Acute outcomes of treatment do not demonstrate increased acute morbidity; however long-term outcomes have not been reported.
What Wasn't Taught

A knot of dread formed in my stomach as 11:00 a.m. neared. I had nothing to offer: I had never been to India, and I certainly didn't know anything about treating tuberculosis.
"I wouldn't be this firm if I didn't care": preventive clinical counseling for reproductive health.

Abstract Objective This qualitative study of health care clinicians serving women at heightened risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy was undertaken to explore concepts underlying reproductive health counseling messages in clinical encounters. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 clinicians, including physicians and advanced practice nurses serving primarily low-income patients in high-risk communities throughout the U.S. Results Most of the clinicians describe their influence on patients and protective behaviors as derived from medical authority and the presentation of information. The use of a parental style of authority, particularly for young or vulnerable patients, and emotional appeals to evoke negative emotions, such as fear, were also used to motivate protective behaviors. Many clinicians highlighted the importance of empathy, and understanding the cultural and social context of health behaviors. A few clinicians described innovative efforts to empower women to protect themselves and exert more control in relationships. Conclusion Some of the reproductive health counseling approaches described by clinicians are not consistent with leading health behavior change theories or patient-centered counseling. Practical implications To improve counseling, these messages and concepts need to be evaluated for effectiveness, and possibly used to inform the development of novel theories for use in reproductive health counseling.
Gas phase reaction of NO2 with alkenes and dialkenes

The kinetics of the gas phase reactions of NO2 with a series of organics have been studied at 295 ± 2 K. It was observed that only 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene and the conjugated dialkenes studied reacted at observable rates, with rate constants which ranged from 1.5 × 10−20 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene to 1.3 × 10−17 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for α-phellandrene. These rate constants are compared with the available literature data and the mechanisms of these reactions are discussed.
Localization and characterization of rat and chicken histones

Abstract Histones from six organs of the adult rat and spleen and liver histones of embryonic and adult chickens were prepared from isolated nuclei. A rigourous statistical analysis of these proteins resolved on acrylamide gels and measured densitometrically revealed no differences either qualitatively or quantitatively except that spleen has an electrophoretic variant not possessed by other organs. Ribosomal basic proteins were compared to histones by “split gel electrophoresis”. They share two components and contain several unique components. The implications of these findings with respect to switching mechanisms in protein synthesis are discussed.
Discovery of an α-Amino C–H Arylation Reaction Using the Strategy of Accelerated Serendipity

Serendipity has long been a welcome yet elusive phenomenon in the advancement of chemistry. We sought to exploit serendipity as a means of rapidly identifying unanticipated chemical transformations. By using a high-throughput, automated workflow and evaluating a large number of random reactions, we have discovered a photoredox-catalyzed C–H arylation reaction for the construction of benzylic amines, an important structural motif within pharmaceutical compounds that is not readily accessed via simple substrates. The mechanism directly couples tertiary amines with cyanoaromatics by using mild and operationally trivial conditions.
The reach of a youth-oriented anti-tobacco media campaign on adult smokers.

Abstract Background It remains unclear whether youth-targeted anti-tobacco media campaigns reach adults. We examined the reach of the youth-oriented Florida “truth” campaign to (a) determine the extent to which adult smokers were aware of the campaign and (b) test if that awareness was associated with an intention to quit smoking in the next 30 days. Methods Data included 781 adult smokers who in 2001 participated in a 20-min telephone survey designed to examine the effects of the “truth” campaign in Florida. Participants were asked numerous questions aimed at measuring their awareness of the campaign and about their tobacco use. Results Awareness of the campaign was mixed with 21% confirming the “truth” campaign theme, 45% the “truth” logo, 62% “truth” advertising events, and 68% the “truth” advertising theme. Awareness of industry manipulation was the only variable significantly associated with smokers’ intentions to quit (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.34–2.05) in the multivariate model. Conclusions The “truth” anti-tobacco campaign targeted 12–17 year olds in an effort to prevent them from starting to smoke. Despite the awareness, the campaign did not have the “unintended consequence” of influencing adults’ intentions to smoke. To change the behavior of adults it is not sufficient to have a youth-focused program.
Dynamics of the Evaporative Dewetting of a Volatile Liquid Film Confined within a Circular Ring

The dewetting dynamics of a toluene film confined within a copper ring on a deformable PMMA film is studied. The toluene film experiences evaporation and dewetting, which leads to the formation of a circular contact line around the center of the copper ring. The contact line recedes smoothly toward the copper ring at a constant velocity until reaching a dynamic “stick” state to form the first circular polymer ridge. The average receding velocity is found to be dependent on the dimensions of the copper ring (the copper ring diameter and the cross-sectional diameter of the copper wire) and the thickness of the PMMA films. A model is presented to qualitatively explain the evaporative dewetting phenomenon.
Characterizing the sources, range, and environmental influences of radon 222 and its decay products

Recent results from our group directly assist efforts to identify and control excessive concentrations of radon 222 and its decay products in residential environments. We have demonstrated directly the importance of pressure-induced flow of soil gas for transport of radon from the ground into houses. Analysis of available information from measurements of concentrations in U.S. homes has resulted in a quantitative appreciation of the distribution of indoor levels, including the degree of dependence on geographic location. Experiments on the effectiveness of air cleaning devices for removal of particles and radon decay products indicate the potential and limitations of this approach to control.
NEURAL NETWORK METHOD TO ANALYZE DATA COMPRESSION IN DNA AND RNA SEQUENCES

Neural network computations on RNA sequences are used to demonstrate that data compression is possible in these sequences. The result implies that a certain discrimination should be achievable between structured vs random regions. The technique is illustrated by computing the compressibility of short RNA sequences such as tRNA. The method should be valuable in measuring the information content of DNA, including noncoding DNA, which has been shown to display certain properties resembling natural language attributes.
Models for Predicting Elementary Students' Pronunciation of Vowel Digraphs

This study investigated the relationship between type, token frequencies, and graphemic context effects in predicting elementary students' pronunciations of vowel digraphs commonly used in reading tests. Three models were constructed to predict pronunciation responses: a final consonant model, a type-token model, and an invariant principal response model. For each of six selected vowel digraphs, six synthetic words were constructed according to orthographical constraints of English. Students of high and low reading ability in grades two, four, and six pronounced each of the 24 synthetic words. Results indicated the final consonant and principal response models to be superior.
Deterrence, expected cost, uncertainty and voting: Experimental evidence

We conduct laboratory experiments to investigate the effects of deterrence mechanisms under controlled conditions. The effect of the expected cost of punishment of an individual’s decision to engage in a proscribed activity and the effect of uncertainty on an individual’s decision to commit a violation are very difficult to isolate in field data. We use a roadway speeding framing and find that (a) individuals respond considerably to increases in the expected cost of speeding, (b) uncertainty about the enforcement regime yields a significant reduction in violations committed, and (c) people are much more likely to speed when the punishment regime for which they voted is implemented. Our results have important implications for a behavioral theory of deterrence under uncertainty.
INTERPRETATION OF A T = 2 sigma COMMUTATOR.

We analyze the circumstance in which the $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ commutator, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\mathrm{ik}}$, has isospin $T=2$ as well as $T=0$ components. We assign these along with ${\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}{A}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{k}$ to a mixture of (\textonehalf{},\textonehalf{}) and (1, 1) representations, and we use a recent theoretical result to make the assignment quantitative. We add to the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner Hamiltonian in order to account for the $T=2$ effect. The modification we present as an example is (8, 8) transforming, constructed to provide the (1, 1) structure in ${\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}{A}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{k}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\mathrm{ik}}$.
Platelet activating factor stimulates a receptor-coupled membrane GTPASE in guinea pig eosinophils

The platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor of the guinea pig peritoneal eosinophil was characterized by radioligand ([3H]WEB 2086) binding and measurement of PAF-stimulated membrane GTPase activity. Specific binding of [3H]WEB 2086 was rapid, reversible and saturable, with an equilibrium KD of 20.4 nM at 0 degrees C, and was displaced competitively by unlabelled PAF with a KI of 3.26 nM and a pseudo-Hill coefficient significantly less than unity (0.44). The affinity of PAF for these binding sites was reduced by the nonhydrolysable GTP analogue 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp), suggesting the coupling of PAF receptors to intracellular effectors through a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein). PAF stimulated a membrane-associated GTPase, indicating the formation of a G protein alpha subunit-GTP complex upon agonist occupation of the PAF receptor. The EC50 for PAF stimulation was 25.5 nM and the Hill coefficient was significantly less than unity (0.56), while the response to 1 microM PAF was antagonised by WEB 2086 with an IC50 of 128 nM and a slope factor not significantly different from unity (0.91), suggesting the coupling of multiple classes of PAF receptors to the G protein. The activation of GTPase by PAF was insensitive to inhibition by cholera toxin; basal GTPase activity was increased by pertussis toxin and no further stimulation was attainable with PAF.
Contribution of accommodation and disparity‐vergence to transient nearwork‐induced myopic shifts

Many investigations have attempted to demonstrate a relationship between sustained near-vision and the aetiology of environmentally-induced myopia, but it remains unclear whether myopic development relates to the actions of either accommodation or vergence. The present study investigated the effect of varying the disparity-vergence demand during a near-vision task while maintaining the accommodative stimulus constant. We required 20 young subjects to perform a near task (viewing distance = 20 cm) for 20 min through base-in, zero power and base-out prisms. The magnitude of the prisms for each individual corresponded to one-third their near vergence range. Pre- and post-task measurements of refractive state were determined objectively using an infrared optometer, with post-task readings being recorded over the initial 50 s following task completion. The results indicated no significant difference between the transient far-point shift for the three disparity-vergence conditions. However, combining data across conditions, a significant, mean shift in the myopic direction of 0.14 D was observed during the 10-20 s period immediately following task completion which dissipated within 20-50 s post-task. These findings suggest that the transient post-task myopic shift was not related to the output of disparity-vergence.
Experimental investigation of stabilization mechanisms in turbulent, lifted jet diffusion flames

Simultaneous planar-laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) provide a comprehensive view of the molecular mixing and velocity fields in the stabilization region of turbulent, lifted jet diffusion flames. The Mie scattering medium for PIV is a glycerol-water fog, which evaporates at elevated temperatures and allows inference of the location of the high-temperature interface at the flame base. The jet Reynolds numbers vary from 4400 to 10,700. The mixing and velocity fields upstream of the flame base evolve consistently with nonreacting jet scaling. Conditional statistics of the fuel mole fraction at the instantaneous high-temperature interface show that the flame stabilization point does not generally correspond to the most upstream point on the interface (called here the leading point), because the mixture there is typically too lean to support combustion. Instead, the flame stabilization point lies toward the jet centerline relative to the leading point. Conditional axial velocity statistics indicate that the mean axial velocity at the flame front is {approx}1.8S{sub L}, where S{sub L} is the stoichiometric laminar flame speed. The data also permit determination of the scalar dissipation rates, {chi}, with the results indicating that {chi} values near the high-temperature interfaces do not typically exceed the quenchingmore » value. Thus, the flame stabilization process is more consistent with theories based on partial fuel-air premixing than with those dependent on diffusion flame quenching. We propose a description of flame stabilization that depends on the large-scale organization of the mixing field. (author)« less
Identification of a polysaccharide ester linkage in humic acid

Abstract Studies involving dissolution and methylation procedures, infrared spectroscopy, and 14 C analyses were made on hymatomelanic acids extracted from forested and grassland soils. Methylated and nonmethylated hymatomelanic acids were found to possess similar infrared absorption characteristics. 14 C-labelled ethanol extraction of suitable soil organic matter preparations yielded hymatomelanic acid which was nonradioactive. This indicated that the ester linkage was not an artifact of extraction with ethanol. By means of dissolution and reprecipitation, hymatomelanic acid was separated into fraction A, with humic acid characteristics, and fraction B, a polysaccharide. It was concluded that hymatomelanic acid is a naturally occurring ester compound composed of humic substances in ester linkages with polysaccharides.