cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3918: PEA3 is a novel transcriptional activator of Notch-1 and Notch-4 in breast cancer: Opportunity for a new combination strategy

Women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer have the worst overall prognosis and frequently present with metastatic tumors. To date, there are no targeted therapies available to combat this aggressive form of breast cancer due to the lack of expression of well-known targets such as ERα, PR, or HER2/neu. Therefore, there is an immediate need to identify novel targets that are responsible for the proliferation, survival, and invasive phenotype. Notch-1 and Notch-4, both potent breast oncogenes, are overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancers-associated with the poorest overall survival. PEA3 (polyomavirus enhancer activator 3), a member of the Ets family of transcription factors, is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer and also correlates with aggressive behavior and poor overall survival. Here, we provide new evidence for transcriptional regulation of Notch in triple negative breast cancer and other subtypes of breast cancer. With focus on triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), our results show that PEA3 is a transcriptional activator of both Notch-1 and Notch-4 as determined by using a PEA3 siRNA and measuring both transcripts and proteins. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed enrichment of PEA3 within the promoter regions of both Notch-1 and Notch-4. Notch-1 recruitment appears to be AP-1 independent, whereas PEA3 recruitment on the Notch-4 promoter is dependent upon c-JUN. Furthermore, results showed that either c-Jun or Fra-1 were required for Notch-4 transcription while c-FOS was a repressor. Importantly, the combined inhibition of Notch signaling (via a gamma-secretase inhibitor, GSI) and PEA3 (via siRNA) arrested the cells in G1, decreased cell viability, reduced tumorgenicity in vitro, and increased apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that PEA3 is a novel transcriptional activator of both Notch-1 and Notch-4. PEA3-mediated Notch-1 transcription is AP-1 independent while Notch-4 transcription requires both PEA3 and AP-1 most probably composed of the c-Jun: Fra-1 complex. Moreover, both PEA3 and Notch signaling are essential for proliferation and survival of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Thus, dual targeting of both PEA3 and Notch pathways might provide a new therapeutic strategy for triple-negative breast cancer as well as additional therapeutic targeting in other breast cancer subtypes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3918.
Chemical Syntheses and Biocytinase Specificity for Sulfoxides and Sulfone of d-Biocytin

SummaryThe sulfoxides and sulfone of biocytin have been synthesized by treatment of biocytin in acetic acid with hydrogen peroxide at equimolar or tenfold higher concentrations, respectively. The derivatives were characterized by microanalyses, melting points, infrared spectra, and chromatographic mobilities. The d-sulfoxide predominates from chemical synthesis and is probably the compound which was found earlier in human urine. Biocytinase in rat blood can catalyze cleavage of both sulfoxide and sulfone forms
STUDY ON ACID LEAK-OFF IN NATURALLY-FRAC-TURED RESERVOIRS

When acid fluids flow in artificial fractures, some larger pores or natural fractures are dissolved by acid to enlarge into wormholes so that acid mainly leaks through wormholes. Therefore, it must be considered the effects of acidizing wormholes on acid leak-off in naturally-fractured reservoirs. Based on the characteristics of acid flowing in naturally-fractured reservoirs, the model of acidizing wormhole growth, the model of acid flowing and reaction in wormholes and the model of acid flowing in the matrix are developed. The computing method of acid leak-off with the effects of acidizing wormholes is put forward. The effects of net fracture pressure, wormhole population and acid viscosity to wormhole growth and acid leak-off are studied by case calculation that has important meanings for controlling the leak-off of acid fracturing
Atolls, Islands, and Archipelagos: The California OER Council and the New Landscape for Open Education in California

California’s three public higher education systems (University of California, California State University, the California Community College System) enroll nearly 3 million undergraduate students and employ almost 100 thousand faculty. In 2012, the California State Legislature directed the three systems to create an online library of open educational resources to encourage the use of free or affordable textbooks and other materials throughout California’s public higher education system. Composed of faculty representatives from each of the three systems, the California Open Educational Resources Council (CAOERC) was formed and charged in January, 2014, with collecting, peer-reviewing, helping to curate, publicizing, and cultivating the adoption of these open educational resources. As we end the first phase of this massive effort, our paper will: 1) outline what we’ve learned about scale and collaboration among California’s three distinct higher education systems; 2) present the results of CAOERC’s ongoing research (via surveys and focus groups) about open textbook use and adoption; 3) briefly discuss issues of OER sustainability in the context of cooperation among state, university, and non-profit sectors.
Changes in Renal Function with Aging

Despite losing 20%-25% of their original kidney volume, older individuals maintain body fluid hemostasis under most circumstances; however, their ability to withstand environmental, disease-related, or iatrogenic stresses becomes progressively narrowed. Glomerular filtration rates fall with each decade, accompanied by limitations on sodium conservation, potassium ion secretion, and acid excretion. Medications used by older patients are a common cause of hyperkalemia through a number of pathophysiologic mechanisms. In addition, water homeostasis frequently fails due to defects in thirst, urinary concentrating ability, and free water excretion, resulting in hypernatremia or hyponatremia in many sick older patients.
A Model for Diverse Learning Environments

Drawing from converging areas of scholarship in higher education on the diversity dynamics of an institution and its surrounding contexts, this chapter explores how different aspects of the institution—all of which are influenced by and contribute to the campus climate for diversity—play important roles in achieving student outcomes that also enhance social transformation for a just society. The authors present a model to guide research and practice in creating the conditions for student success in diverse learning environments.
Entrepreneurial Opportunity and Cognition

Opportunity has long been a fascinating and important concept to entrepreneurship researchers while remaining an elusive aspect of the entrepreneurial experience. Thus, it affords the most emphasis to the entrepreneur and how she recognizes and exploits opportunity. Pioneering entrepreneurship scholars identified opportunity, namely opportunity and cognition, as critical to the entrepreneur and her behavior, and as a result two perspectives or orientations arose.
Trade Agreements in ROW

There are numerous trade agreements in the rest of the world (ROW), some having important environmental provisions. These include those of Australia, New Zealand and several African and Asian countries, such as China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, etc. Some of these, those with countries in the Americas and Europe, have already been examined. This chapter highlights a number of FTAs in these diverse areas of the world which have become very active in trade negotiations with some innovative approaches to the topic. Included in these are the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its associated Asian Free Trade Area (AFTA).
Why Eyes? Cautionary Tales from Law’s Blindfolded Justice

For thousands of years, in many parts of the world, sight was valorized, and obscured vision equated with disability, vice, and caprice. More recently, blindfolds have become emblematic of impartial judging, freed from bias. This chapter analyzes the political, technological, and social movements that have supported the shifting appraisals of the blindfold's import and utilities. The lessons from law are that neither blindfolds nor sight provide a panacea for the challenges of rendering fair judgment.
PRECISION MANAGEMENT OF LOCALIZED PROSTATE CANCER

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The vast majority of men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer die of other causes, highlighting the importance of determining which patient has a risk of death from prostate cancer. Precision management of prostate cancer patients includes distinguishing which men have potentially lethal disease and employing strategies for determining which treatment modality appropriately balances the desire to achieve a durable response while preventing unnecessary overtreatment.Areas covered: In this review, we highlight precision approaches to risk assessment and a context for the precision-guided application of definitive therapy. We focus on three dilemmas relevant to the diagnosis of localized prostate cancer: screening, the decision to treat, and postoperative management.Expert commentary: In the last five years, numerous precision tools have emerged with potential benefit to the patient. However, to achieve optimal outcome, the decision to employ one or more of these tests must be conside...
Legal Briefs: Was the Intracardiac Thrombus Secondary to an Unnecessary Umbilical Venous Catheter?

A 2,400-g, 34 6/7-week-gestation male infant was delivered by normal spontaneous vaginal delivery to a 32-year-old gravida 1, para 0 mother. Labor was induced secondary to maternal hypertension. Complications during pregnancy included severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and known Rh incompatibility. The mother did not receive Rho(D) immune globulin for unclear reasons. On admission, her Rh titer was 1:32. A brief period of positive pressure ventilation was needed at birth. The infant’s Apgar scores were 1, 8, and 8 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively. The direct Coombs test result was positive. The complete blood cell count (CBC) was normal, except for a hematocrit of 36.9% (0.37). The mother’s blood type was B Rh negative and the infant’s was O Rh positive. A cord bilirubin concentration was ordered but not measured. The plaintiff neonatologist was critical of this omission. A peripheral intravenous line was placed, with 10% dextrose infused at a maintenance rate. At 5 hours, the nurse noticed that the infant was pale and jaundiced. At 8 hours, the nurse measured a transcutaneous bilirubin concentration, which was found to be 8 mg/dL (137 μmol/L). Phototherapy was started. Four hours later, a serum bilirubin concentration was measured, and found to be 9 mg/dL (154 μmol/L). The plaintiff neonatologist was critical of not conducting a timely evaluation of the bilirubin levels and not starting intensive phototherapy immediately. A second phototherapy unit was added and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) was administered. Intensive phototherapy with blue spectrum lights and a portable phototherapy device were added. Feedings were started. Nasal swab culture was performed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and repeated daily. On the following day (day 1), the serum bilirubin concentration was 7.6 mg/dL (130 μmol/L). The infant was feeding 10 mL every 3 hours. When the mother was breastfeeding, the infant was …
Exploration of the Effects of Telerehabilitation in a School-Based Setting for At-Risk Youth

This study explored the efficacy and feasibility of a motion-capture program that may be utilized for telerehabilitation purposes. Two children attending a school for at-risk children received 20 sessions of Timocco, with sessions lasting for 30 minutes, under the guidance of research assistants. The researchers employed a mixed methods design to analyze quantitative data and qualitative interviews. Both children improved their fine and gross motor coordination, as measured on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Short Form. To explore feasibly, qualitative verbal reports of the child participants and research assistants were obtained. The children and research assistants reported positive experiences with the utilization of this platform. A collaborative, consultative telerehabilitation model may be a promising delivery mode of services for improving motor skills in children, with frequent input from the child, aide or teacher, and clinician. Further exploration is needed for telerehabilitative service delivery for at-risk children.
Pediatric skull fractures and intracranial injuries (Review)

The determination of plausibility of an injury arising from a fall leading to head trauma is a great challenge especially in young children. The present review is aimed to discuss important developments in the filed of head trauma cases especially in children. We explored various studies pertaining to head trauma injuries in children by exploring mainly PubMed, Google scholar and some library periodicals available in our library. Studies in the recent past explored the head injuries as a result of a low height fall. However, there are great amount of difficulties in assessment of height with certainty that caused head injuries like skull fracture or intracranial injury. Biomechanical thresholds have been estimated for young children for injuries such as skull fracture, but they have not been assessed against the injuries observed in a clinical setting. So, this review discusses current aspects of pediatric head injuries ranging from a minor head injury to a skull fracture. The present review concludes that recording full details of cause of head trauma such as fall height is essential for proper treatment planning and efficient management.
Immobilization of Recombinant E. coli Cells in a Bacterial Cellulose-Silk Composite Matrix To Preserve Biological Function.

Strategies for the encapsulation of cells for the design of cell-based sensors require efficient immobilization procedures while preserving biological activity of the reporter cells. Here, we introduce an immobilization technique that relies upon the symbiotic relationship between two bacterial strains: cellulose-producing Gluconacetobacter xylinus cells; and recombinant Escherichia coli cells harboring recombinase-based dual-color synthetic riboswitch (RS), as a model for cell-based sensor. Following sequential coculturing of recombinant cells in the cellulose matrix, final immobilization of E. coli cells was completed after reconstituted silk fibroin (SF) protein was added to a “living membrane” generating the composite bacterial cellulose-silk fibroin (BC-SF) scaffold. By controlling incubation parameters for both types of cells, as well as the conformations in SF secondary structure, a variety of robust composite scaffolds were prepared ranging from opaque to transparent. The properties of the scaffol...
Function of the Egg's Extracellular Matrix

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses function of the egg's extracellular matrix and focuses on the two egg-associated structures—that is, cumulus layer and zona pellucida, specifically in regard to their involvement in the process of fertilization. Before membrane fusion between mammalian gametes can occur, the sperm must first negotiate two major extracellular layers that surround the egg. These layers are the cumulus layer, which is made up of cumulus cells, hyaluronic acid, and a number of minor components; and the zona pellucida, which is a matrix made up of three to five glycoproteins that are secreted by the developing oocyte. The cumulus oophorus plays many essential roles in maturation, ovulation, and fertilization of the mammalian oocyte. The chapter reviews the functions of the cumulus as related to the overall success of fertilization and look specifically at three interrelated functions of the cumulus matrix: (1) production of soluble factors, (2) transport into the oviduct for fertilization, and (3) creation of a selective barrier or filter for sperm. Many studies have suggested that the cumulus matrix is a chemical and mechanical barrier to sperm progress toward the oocyte. The zona pellucida plays critical roles in sperm recognition and adhesion, initiation of acrosomal exocytosis, sperm penetration of the matrix, and, subsequently, protection of the fertilized egg and embryo. The structure of the zona pellucida, especially the carbohydrate composition of the individual glycoproteins and the precise arrangement of those molecules, is important in determining biological function. Following sperm-egg fusion and egg activation, the zona pellucida undergoes molecular changes, collectively known as the zona reaction, which function to block polyspermy.
A note on solution of nonlinear programming problems with imprecise function and gradient values

A model for introducing imprecisions in function and gradient values is developed and computational results are presented showing how the performance of some nonlinear programming algorithms degrades as the level of precision in the function and gradient values decreases.
C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) production in equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells identified by newly generated monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract Chemokines are soluble molecules directing immune cell trafficking and homing, mediating inflammation, and initiating immune responses to infection. In horses, the analysis of chemokines has been limited by the lack of specific antibodies. We generated mAbs specific for the equine C-C motif chemokine ligands (CCL) CCL2 (MCP-1), CCL3 (MIP-1α), CCL5 (RANTES) and CCL11 (eotaxin) using hybridoma technology. Antibody specificity was confirmed by intracellular staining of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells transfected with expression vectors encoding for CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, or CCL11. Transfectants were stained with the anti-CCL mAbs. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed the specificity of the different mAbs for the respective chemokine. In addition, equine PBMC were stained after isolation, culture in medium, or stimulation with LPS, or PMA and ionomycin. CCL2 was detected in few cluster of differentiation (CD)14+ monocytes in PBMC stimulated with PMA and ionomycin for 2 h. CCL3 was produced by CD14+ monocytes after 4–6 h culture in medium. After stimulation with PMA and ionomycin for 12–24 h, CCL3 was also expressed in lymphocytes, mainly in CD4+ T cells. Stimulation with LPS reduced the percentage of CCL3+ monocytes in PBMC. CCL5 was detected in PBMC ex vivo in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Culture of PBMC for longer than 6 h or stimulation with PMA and ionomycin reduced the percentage of CCL5+ cells. CCL11 was produced by CD4+ T cells in PBMC after stimulation with PMA and ionomycin for 4–24 h. After LPS stimulation of PBMC, CCL2, CCL5, and CCL11 production were comparable to culture in medium alone. ELISAs for each of the four chemokines were developed using pairs of anti-equine CCL mAbs. Supernatants from PMA and ionomycin stimulated PBMC contained detectable amounts of CCL2, CCL3 and CCL5, while CCL11 secretion could be stimulated from equine tracheal epithelial cells in response to IL-4. The newly generated mAbs for equine CCL chemokines facilitate the quantitative analysis of intracellular chemokine production by flow cytometry and soluble chemokines by ELISA. The CCL mAbs are valuable tools to improve the evaluation of innate immune responses in horses.
Simulating PCI-Express Interconnect for Future System Exploration

The PCI-Express interconnect is the dominant interconnection technology within a single computer node that is used for connecting off-chip devices such as network interface cards (NICs) and GPUs to the processor chip. The PCI-Express bandwidth and latency are often the bottleneck in the processor, memory and device interactions and impacts the overall performance of the connected devices. Architecture simulators often focus on modeling the performance of processor and memory and lack a performance model for the I/O devices and interconnections. In this work, we implement a flexible and detailed model for the PCI-Express interconnect in a widely known architecture simulator. We also implement a PCI-Express device model that is configured by a PCI-Express device driver. We validate our PCI-Express interconnect performance against a physical Gen 2 PCI-Express link. Our evaluation results show that the PCI-Express model bandwidth is within 19.0% of the physical setup. We use our model to evaluate different PCI-Express link widths and latency and show its impact on the overall I/O performance of an I/O intensive application.
Meningeal lymphatics in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Recent research from the Kipnis laboratory (1-3) has highlighted the significance of meningeal lymphatics, which were originally identified in the dura mater of rat (4). These investigators underscored the crucial role of the meningeal lymphatics in brain immune surveillance and the clearance of metabolic wastes. They have also mapped out the path and the types of macromolecules that efflux through the meningeal lymphatics when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drains out towards the deep cervical lymph nodes (dCLNs). In addition, they have modeled Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in mice utilizing amyloid β (Aβ) clearance as a measure of functionality of the meningeal lymphatics.
Export competitiveness - Fuel Price nexus in Developing Countries: Real or False Concern?

This paper investigates the impact of domestic fuel price increases on export growth in a sample of 77 developing countries over the period 2000-2014. Using a fixed-effect estimator and the local projection approach, we find that an increase in domestic gasoline or diesel price adversely affects real non-fuel export growth, but only in the short run as the impact phases out within two years after the shock. The results also suggest that the negative effect of fuel price increase on exports is mainly noticeable in countries with a high-energy dependency ratio and countries where access to an alternative source of energy, such as electricity, is constrained, thus preventing producers from altering energy consumption mix in response to fuel price changes.
Integrated Optimization of Intelligent Structures

An intelligent or smart structure is a system that consists of a structural system, sensors, actuators and some sort of signal processing to allow the structure to respond in a desired manner to stimulus. These active systems have the ability to adapt to different design conditions, thus providing a greater design flexibility, as opposed to a pure passive structure.
Enhanced vs Standard Parents as Teacher Curriculum on Factors Related to Infant Feeding among African American Women.

OBJECTIVES To determine the comparative impact of the standard Parents as Teachers (PAT) to the nutrition and physical activity enhanced version (PATE) of the perinatal educational curriculum on compliance with infant feeding recommendations and changes in maternal infant feeding knowledge and beliefs. METHODS Women at least 18 years of age, 0.05). Participants' knowledge and beliefs about infant feeding were generally in agreement with expert recommendations at baseline, with few changes over time or between arms. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest the need for further intervention focused on translating knowledge into action to improve diets of weaning infants in this region of the United States.
Effect of darifenacin on fecal incontinence in women with double incontinence

To evaluate change in fecal incontinence symptom severity after 8 weeks of darifenacin therapy in patients with double incontinence-urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and fecal incontinence. Important secondary outcomes included fecal incontinence symptom distress and impact on quality of life, fecal incontinence episodes, global impression of improvement and overactive bladder symptom distress and impact. Prospective open-label cohort study of women presenting primarily with UUI, diagnosed with double incontinence and electing antimuscarinic therapy for UUI. Women ≥ 18 years with moderate or greater bothersome UUI and fecal incontinence of liquid/solid stool with St. Marks (Vaizey) score ≥ 12 were included. Subjects were treated with darifenacin 15 mg daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was change in fecal incontinence symptom severity using the St. Marks (Vaizey) score after 8 weeks. Sample size was based on the minimally important difference of the St. Marks, −5, and standard deviation, ± 8.5; 30 subjects provided 80% power and type I error of 0.05, including a 15% attrition rate. Thirty-two women were consented with mean baseline St. Marks (Vaizey) score of 18.0 ± 3.0. Mean age was 66.5 ± 10.3 years. Twenty-eight subjects (29/32, 87.5%) completed assessments. St. Marks (Vaizey) score significantly improved from 18.0 to 11.0 [mean difference − 7.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): −8.7, −5.3], and 19 subjects (19/32,67.9%) met the minimally important difference. Statistically significant improvements were also noted in fecal incontinence frequency, quality of life, and overactive bladder symptom bother and quality of life (all p < 0.01). Darifenacin can be considered a highly effective early intervention in women suffering from double incontinence. Bladder Antimuscarinic Medication and Accidental Bowel Leakage (BAMA), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03543566 , NCT03543566.
Racial/ethnic differences in positive childhood experiences across a national sample.

Abstract Background Examination of racial/ethnic differences in positive childhood experiences (PCEs) is needed, as the absence of supportive factors may hinder children from healthy processing and mitigation of adversity. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of PCEs in a nationally representative sample of children and determine whether PCE exposure differed across race and ethnic groups. Participants and Setting Data were drawn from the nationally representative 2017–2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) (n = 33,747). Methods Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used in order to calculate frequencies, proportions, and unadjusted associations for each variable. Multivariable regression models were used to examine the association between race/ethnicity and PCEs. Results All racial-ethnic minority groups of children had a lower likelihood of mentorship, living in a safe neighborhood, or living in a supportive neighborhood, than their Non-Hispanic White counterparts. Non-Hispanic Black children had a lower likelihood of having a mentor for advice or guidance (aOR 0.50; 95 % CI 0.38−0.62), living in a safe neighborhood (aOR 0.62; 95 % CI 0.52−0.73), and living in a supportive neighborhood (aOR 0.75; 95 % CI 0.64−0.87) than Non-Hispanic white children. Conclusions The information from this study highlights the negative disparities borne by racial/ethnic minority populations. Findings can be used to inform policymakers, program developers, and stakeholders on where to target interventions and how to bring together families and communities to not only confront adversity in childhood, but also to leverage community and family-level assets to create PCEs for all children.
The Impact of Preoperative Oral Health on Buccal Mucosa Graft Histology.

Purpose:Previous studies have elucidated the unique macroscopic and histological properties of buccal mucosa that make it a viable and durable graft for urethral augmentation. However, no prior lit...
Initial Adjustment to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Associated Shutdown in Children and Adolescents With Chronic Pain and Their Families

Objectives: Youth with chronic pain often struggle to function in multiple domains due to pain and associated psychosocial distress. In 2020, schools and businesses shut down and people were encouraged to remain at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eliminating or reducing stress due to functional difficulties. This study assessed whether pain and associated psychosocial outcomes improved in youth with chronic pain during the shutdown, compared with before the pandemic. Methods: Patients who completed clinical outcome measures during a multidisciplinary evaluation before the pandemic were readministered the same measures (PROMIS Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disturbance, PCS, PedsQL) during the shutdown. At follow-up, patients also completed measures of adjustment to COVID-19 and their parents completed a measure of pandemic effects. Results: Participants included 47 patients ages 8-18 and a parent/guardian. The pandemic impacted families in both positive (e.g., more quality time with family) and negative ways (e.g., social isolation, disruption in care). Pain intensity and pain catastrophizing significantly decreased during the shutdown (ps<.01). Change in pain catastrophizing was correlated positively with change in psychological stress (p=.004) and anxiety (p=.005) and negatively with change in quality of life (p=.024). Discussion: Pain and pain catastrophizing decreased initially during the shutdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Change in catastrophizing was associated with change in stress and anxiety. It may be that the reduction in functional demands contributed to this change. Functional difficulties should be addressed in treatment, including pain coping and also environmental modification to support optimal functioning in youth with chronic pain.
Treatment of Infections of the Ears, Nose, and Throat and Nasal Carriage

Despite the widespread use of quinolones to treat infections of the ears, nose, and throat, well-controlled studies are uncommon. Malignant (necrotizing) external otitis is an invasive infection of the external auditory canal and skull base, whose typical host is the elderly patient with diabetes mellitus. With the advent and widespread use of quinolones for all ear infections, patients with malignant external otitis are being diagnosed and treated earlier in the course of the disease, thus changing the clinical spectrum of this infection. Oral ciprofloxacin has been used successfully for individuals with auricular perichondritis. Potential limitations of oral quinolones for the treatment of soft-tissue infections of the auricle are suggested by reports of phototoxic lesions induced by quinolones in the auricular skin of mouse models. Cumulative evidence supports the utility of quinolones for treatment of chronic ear infections with multiresistant bacterial. Infections of the ear, nose, and throat are among the most common outpatient maladies in the world. Oral quinolones are the drugs of choice for the treatment of disease caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including malignant external otitis and auricular perichondritis. Similarly, there appears to be little rationale for the use of quinolones as initial therapy for otitis media, sinusitis, or pharyngotonsillitis. In fact, pneumococcal bacteremia following ciprofloxacin therapy for acute otitis media has been reported.
Performance Comparison of Different Cache-Replacement Policies for Video Distribution in CDN

Content Distribution Network(CDN) is one of the key components of the Internet nowadays. Many users, served by same ISP/node, request same data resulting in higher Internet traffic. Caching of data has been popular mechanism to avoid fetching the same data repeatedly from a source. There exist different caching algorithms and strategies and much of work has been done to measure their performance for general data. Although both CDN and cache replacement policies have been actively looked into by the research community, the interplay of them is still less well-understood. Moreover, performance comparison for the data as a video content has not been done much in depth. In this paper, we investigate the interaction between CDN and cache replacement algorithms for video/movie distribution in a CDN. Issues covered include 1)comparative impact of different cache replacement policies on a CDN and 2) the effect of cooperative caching versus hierarchical caching schemes. By extensive simulations, we observed that LFU is the most efficient cache-replacement algorithm and cooperative caching is better than hierarchical caching in terms of user experienced latency and CDN system cost.
A Hash Partition Strategy for Distributed Query Processing

This paper describes a hash partitioning strategy for distributed query processing in a multi-database environment in which relations are unfragmented and replicated. Methods and efficient algorithms are provided to determine the sets of relations that can be hash partitioned, the copies of the relations to be partitioned and the partition sites, how the relations are to be partitioned and where the fragments are to be sent for processing. For a given query, there are usually more than one set of relations that can be hash partitioned. Among the alternatives, our algorithm picks the plan that gives the minimum response time. The paper also presents a simulation study that compares the hash partition strategy to the PRS strategy. The study shows that our strategy outperforms the PRS strategy.
Materializing Strategy: The Blurry Line between Strategy Formulation and Strategy Implementation

In order to materialize strategy – to bring it into existence both theoretically and practically – strategy makers must have an appreciation for the material through which their strategy will be implemented. In this paper, I argue that a lens that focuses on the materiality of strategy making helps scholars to understand that strategy formulation and strategy implementation are not two distinct sets of activities that occur in sequence. Instead, effective strategies can only be made if executives and other strategy makers begin to think about the kinds of technologies that will enable workers to implement their strategy. I illustrate the importance of this line of thinking through a brief case of an attempt to develop new strategy at a mid-sized US-based plumbing fixture company.
The isolation and identification of a new hetero ring system

Abstract A novel heterocyclic structure, [1,2] benzoxathiolo [2,3- b ] [1,2] benzoxathiole-6- S IV-3.9-diol (IIIa), has been identified as a product from fusion of resorcinol with the fungicide captan. Mass, NMR, UV and IR spectral properties, as well as chemical evidence, are reported in support of structure IIIa.
Stereochemical Studies on the Addition of Allylsilanes to Aldehydes. The SE' Component

Model compounds ul-1 and lk-1 have been studied to determine both the position of the silicon electrofuge and the relative orientation of the double bonds in the transition structure of the allyl- metal-aldehyde condensation. The use of the deuterium label allows an unbiased assessment of the syn versus anti SE' pathways. The synthesis of configurational proof of model systems ul-1 and lk-1 are discussed as well as the cyclization of the model system. Cyclization of model 1 was found to proceed with high selectivity via an anti SE' pathway regardless of the proximal/distal ratio for all Lewis acids studied. Reactions promoted by fluoride ion favored the proximal product, but both syn and anti pathways were observed.
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Atomic spectroscopy has played a major role in the development of our current database for mineral nutrients and toxicants in foods. When atomic absorption spectrometers became widely available in the 1960s, the development of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) methods for accurately measuring trace amounts of mineral elements in biological samples paved the way for unprecedented advances in fields as diverse as food analysis, nutrition, biochemistry, and toxicology (1). The application of plasmas as excitation sources for atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) led to the commercial availability of instruments for inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) beginning in the late 1970s. This instrument has further enhanced our ability to measure the mineral composition of foods and other materials rapidly, accurately, and precisely. More recently, plasmas have been joined with mass spectrometers (MS) to form inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer ICP-MS instruments that are capable of measuring mineral elements with extremely low detection limits. These three instrumental methods have largely replaced traditional wet chemistry methods for mineral analysis of foods, although traditional methods for calcium, chloride, iron, and phosphorus remain in use today (see Chap. 12).
Substance Abuse Treatment for Criminal Offenders: An Evidence-Based Guide for Practitioners

This comprehensive book looks at what interventions work in assessing and treating substance-abusing criminal offenders. This volume is packed with practical information on both traditional and cutting-edge approaches to treating offenders, including women, juveniles, and those with the dual diagnoses of substance abuse and a mental disorder.
Select utilization of obese donors in living donor liver transplantation: Implications for the donor pool

Living donor liver transplantation evolved in response to donor shortage. Current guidelines recommend potential living donors (LD) have a body mass index (BMI) 30 (n = 16) and BMI 30 may undergo donor hepatectomy with acceptable morbidity and excellent recipient results. Updating current guidelines to include select LD with BMI >30 has the potential to safely increase the donor pool.
University Students and Local Museums: Developing Effective Partnerships with Oral History

This is a descriptive paper that details the collaboration between a group of twenty-one DePaul University students and the Exhibitions Committee of the Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC) in the spring of 2010. The students were all junior and senior Anthropology Majors participating in a course on applied-anthropology, or the applications of anthropological methods and perspectives outside of an academic setting. CAMOC is a significant, volunteer-driven Chicago museum devoted to the collection, study, and exhibition of materials relating to the Chinese-Americans and Chinese-Canadians who settled in the regions between the coasts of these nations. The museum first opened its doors in 2005, and in 2008 suffered a devastating fire resulting in the loss of most of the collections and exhibits. DePaul students partnered with the Exhibitions Committee to collect, archive, and display oral histories of community members to assist in their rebuilding efforts. The presentation of this particular project focusing on three significant ideas: (1) The importance of developing a project that can be brought to fruition in the course of a single collaborative episode, (2) The types of infrastructure that should be provided by the partners in such a collaboration, and (3) The necessity of creating a project that can simultaneously address the needs of a small museum and the educational goals for student participants.
The Effects of Distraction on Cognitive Task Performance During Toddlerhood

We investigated the effects of distraction on attention and task performance during toddlerhood. Thirty toddlers (24- to 26-month-olds) completed different tasks (2 of each: categorization, problem solving, memory, free play) in one of two conditions: No Distraction or Distraction. The results revealed that the distractor had varying effects on performance scores depending on the task: The problem solving and memory tasks were more susceptible to distraction. In addition, the two conditions showed different patterns of attention over time. Toddlers in the No Distraction condition were more attentive, and their attention remained consistently high across the session. Toddlers in the Distraction condition increased their attention to the task and decreased their attention to the distractor in the second half of the session. This study demonstrates how the presence of distraction influences toddlers’ performance on individual cognitive tasks and contributes to our understanding of distractibility and endogenous attention during toddlerhood. This work also has implications for how environmental noise, such as background television, may influence cognitive development.
Hispanic parents' reading language preference and pediatric oral health-related quality of life

Objectives This study compared scores and psychometric properties from self-identified Hispanic parents who completed Pediatric Oral Health-related Quality of life (POQL) parent report-on-child questionnaires in Spanish or English. The study hypothesized that there were no differences in psychometric properties or POQL scores by parent reading language preference, controlling for dental needs, child's place of birth, age, insurance and use of care. Methods POQL scores were computed, and the internal consistency, feasibility, factor structure and construct validity of the Spanish language version assessed. Results Hispanic parents (N = 387) of 8-14 year old children (mean age 10.2) completed the survey; 237 in Spanish and 150 in English. Internal consistency scores were higher (Cronbach α range = .86-.93) among Hispanic parents who completed the questionnaire in Spanish than in English (.66-.86). POQL scores from parents who completed questionnaires in Spanish were higher (worse) overall (6.03 vs. 3.82, P = 0.022), as were physical (11.61 vs. 6.54, P = 0.001) and role functioning domains (1.87 vs. 0.82, P = 0.029). Items for crying, pain, and eating were higher (P < 0.05) for the Spanish than the English completers. However, POQL scores were associated only with need for care (P = 0.05), parent reports of dental visit in the last year (P = 0.05) and worse oral health than a year ago (P = 0.002), controlling for reading language (not significant) and visit in last year in the final multivariate linear regression.
A probabilistic approach to the assessment of uranium resources

This paper presents a probabilistic approach to the estimation of uranium resources that allows for the integration of geologic observations with the experience and judgment of geologists. The paper focuses on estimating roll-front type deposits. The approach is based on a quantitative material balance model of ore formation that describes the quantity of uranium resources in terms of several key parameters constituting the quantity of uranium entering a host, and the fraction of the entering uranium that has been precipitated. The parameters cannot necessarily be measured in the field, but they can be inferred from available information and interpretation of field observations. The key to this approach is eliciting these inferences from geologists, representing the uncertainties inherent in drawing the geologic inferences as probability distributions, and combining the distributions to arrive at a probability distribution for uranium resources in a region. This paper presents the model, procedures for eliciting subjective probabilities and updating the distribution over resources within a Bayesian framework, and a demonstration of the procedure by obtaining estimates for three roll-front type deposits in Wyoming.
An examination of two procedures for assessing the speech perception of phonologically disordered children

Speech perception is an important variable in children's production of speech sounds, yet commercially available tests of speech-sound discrimination have been criticized for their lack of validity and clinical value. The present study was undertaken to examine two alternative procedures for assessing children's perception of their own error sounds to determine if the procedures have clinical applicability and if they elicit comparable results. Implications of results are discussed.
Effect of Condenser Design on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Stainless Alloys in Boiling Chloride Solutions

Abstract The design of condensers used to reflux boiling chloride solutions for stress corrosion tests on stainless alloys was shown to have a significant effect on time to cracking. This effect resulted from the different steady-state concentrations of oxygen produced by various types of condensers. The condenser that provided the least amount of preheating before returning the condensate to the solution established the largest concentrations of air (oxygen) in the boiling solution and the shortest times to failure by stress corrosion cracking (SCC). This was demonstrated with magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions on type 304 stainless steel (UNS S30400), Carpenter 20 Cb-3 (UNS N08020), and Incoloy 825 (UNS N08825). In MgCl2, the effect of oxygen on stress corrosion depended upon the concentration of the solution. The effect was maximum in the range from 24% to 32% and decreased or disappeared at higher concentrations depending upon the alloy. These findings can be used to asses...
A Course in Microprocessors Based on the 16/32 Bit 68000 ??P

A junior year, second semester course in microprocessors (??P) was developed in the Computer Engineering Area at Roger Williams College in the Spring, 1984. A hands-on approach was emphasized, and many experiments were performed in conjunction with the popular Motorola Educational Computer Board (ECB) with a 68090 ??P to provide the students experiences in software and hardware interfacing. A final project required design, testing, and presentation by students in groups of three. The purpose of this paper is to give a detailed description of the experiments and the equipment used which can provide a guide for a second-level course in ??P.
Assertion and its Constitutive Norms

Alston, Searle, and Williamson advocate the restrictive model of assertion, according to which certain constitutive assertoric norms restrict which propositions one may assert. Sellars and Brandom advocate the dialectical model of assertion, which treats assertion as constituted by its role in the game of giving and asking for reasons. Sellars and Brandom develop a restrictive version of the dialectical model. I explore a non-restrictive version of the dialectical model. On such a view, constitutive assertoric norms constrain how one must react if an interlocutor challenges one’s assertion, but they do not constrain what one should assert in the first place. I argue that the non-restrictive dialectical perspective can accommodate various linguistic phenomena commonly taken to support the restrictive model.1