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Partnered sexual interactions can provoke distressing emotional experiences for individuals with a history of childhood adversity impeding the experience of sexual arousal. Some theorize that such histories impair the ability to feel close to any person, leading to difficulty connecting with intimate partners and sexual dissatisfaction. In contrast, it is possible that alleged deficits in closeness are due to contextual factors. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether the same deficits were present during Orgasmic Meditation (OM), a form of partnered sexual interaction that specifically promotes closeness. Couples (N due to contextual factors. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether the same deficits were present during Orgasmic Meditation (OM), a Participants reported higher positive (happy, amused, sexually aroused) and lower negative (anxiety, anger) emotions after OM. Those reporting more childhood adversity, especially sexual abuse, reported higher sexual arousal relative to those who had less childhood adversity. We conclude that effects of adverse childhood on perceived closeness and arousal can be mitigated contextually. Persons with a history of trauma may struggle responding sexually with a partner. This study suggests a structured sexual context is associated with increased sexual arousal in persons with, relative to persons without, a trauma history. Providing safety signals in intimate contexts may facilitate sexuality in trauma victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The background to 'Science as a Vocation' in Max Weber's own work. • Weber's rare yet highly perceptive statements on the origins of modern science • What made Weber so outstanding a scholar In his 1917 lecture for Munich students (most often entitled in English translation "Science as a Vocation"), Max Weber addressed numerous issues: not only how "profession" and "calling" are related in science and scholarship, but also Entzauberung ("disenchantment"); rationality and its limits; ultimate values; and the field of tension between science and religion. The present essay locates these themes in Weber's oeuvre from 1911 onward, and analyses how they resonate and culminate in Weber's address in 1917. It is in 1911 that he decided to engage with the problem that was to stand central in his thinking until his death in 1920: the nature and causes of certain specific turns in the course of European history which, so he argued, have proven to be of "universal significance." Special attention is given in the present essay to how Weber dealt in this connection with the rise of modern science and the rise of modern tonal harmony. A concluding section explains what, over a century later, makes reading Weber still so rewarding an experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance, the ability to complete an ecologically relevant task, serves as a link between underlying morphology and the maximum functional capacity and fitness of an individual. Performance can vary within species due to environmental context and the trait of interest, but this is less understood compared with variation across species. Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) populations are separated by waterfall barriers that result in repeated selection for predator avoidance in high predation environments and resource competition in low predation environments. An array of locally adapted traits results from these shifts, however, the role of these local adaptations in prey capture performance traits remains unclear. We examined biting kinematics in replicate populations of adult female guppies collected from natural high and low predation habitats. We expected that competition in low predation populations would drive performance differences compared with fish from high predation populations. Using high‐speed videos of fish feeding on an agar substrate, we did not find support for differences in jaw or approach kinematics between populations, suggesting a lack of local adaptation in our sample. To gain further insight, we examined four representative, whole‐body morphometric traits previously shown to be divergent in guppies. Again, differences were not discovered in our sample, which may indicate limitations in the use of shape traits. We suggest that female guppies are kinematic generalists and that selection on prey capture may act on traits other than performance, such as feeding behaviors (e.g., consumption rates, kinematic integration, and prey preference). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for work-function evaluation is proposed, based on recording the shift of x-ray photoelectron signals from a surface irradiated by low-energy electrons. The method is capable of measuring samples with very low conductivity, poor back contacts, and high dielectric constants. The method is also applicable to magnetic materials and can be particularly effective for studies of multilayer and heterogeneous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented which addresses the end of the author's tenure as the editor at the History of Science Society (HSS), and it his mentions his concerns about peer review (refereeing), as well as information about the views and sentiments of authors. The manuscript review process is examined, along with the history of science, editor-author relations, and copy editing.

Analyzed the linear stability of a Stefan-like problem for moving steps within the context of Burton, Cabrera and Frank's theory of crystal growth. Explanation on first-order perturbation equations; Solution of the perturbation equations; Conclusions.

Presents information on a study that presented solutions for the growth rate of pertubations in the locations of moving steps on a growing or evaporating crystal. Stability equation; Results and discussion on the study.

The sol-gel technique has been utilized for the preparation of sorbent glass material incorporated with the ligand 2,2'-(imidazolidine-1,3-diylbis (methylene))bis(3,5-di- tert-butylphenol). Two procedures were used for the synthesis of the silica based material: (i) one step process under acidic conditions, (ii). A two steps procedure, using an acidic catalyst for the hydrolysis stage, and condensation of the silanol groups under basic conditions. The preparation conditions affect the morphological properties of the matrices and thus their sorption properties. The efficiency of Cu, Ni and Cd removal from aqueous solutions have been studied using batch experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented that discusses issue articles on science historian Joseph Needham and his multi-volume work "Science and Civilisation in China" ("SCC"), noting articles jointly published in the magazine "Technology and Culture."

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses articles within a special section of the journal about the topic of translation in the history of science

Background: Walkway codes and standards are created through consensus by committees based on a number of factors, including historical precedence, common practice, cost, and, sometimes, empirical data. The authors maintain that codes and standards that can have an impact on human safety and welfare should give consideration in their formulation to the results of pertinent scientific research.Purpose: This article extends a companion one in examining many elements of common walkway codes and standards related specifically to lighting, warnings and markings. It indicates which elements are based on or supported by empirical data; and which elements could benefit from additional scientific research.Practical Applications: This article identifies areas in which additional research leading toward scientific based codes and standards may be beneficial in enhancing the safety of pedestrian walkway surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current mainstay of the treatment of thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is long-term anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin. Non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs), which include rivaroxaban, have been shown to be effective and safe compared with warfarin for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in major phase III prospective, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but the results may not be directly generalizable to patients with APS. Aims: The primary aim is to demonstrate, in patients with APS and previous VTE, with or without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), that the intensity of anticoagulation achieved with rivaroxaban is not inferior to that of warfarin. Secondary aims are to compare rates of recurrent thrombosis, bleeding and the quality of life in patients on rivaroxaban with those on warfarin. Methods: Rivaroxaban in antiphospholipid syndrome (RAPS) is a phase II/III prospective non-inferiority RCT in which eligible patients with APS, with or without SLE, who are on warfarin, target international normalized ratio (INR) 2.5 for previous VTE, will be randomized either to continue warfarin (standard of care) or to switch to rivaroxaban. Intensity of anticoagulation will be assessed using thrombin generation (TG) testing, with the primary outcome the percentage change in endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) from randomization to day 42. Other TG parameters, markers of in vivo coagulation activation, prothrombin fragment 1.2, thrombin antithrombin complex and D-dimer, will also be assessed. Discussion: If RAPS demonstrates i) that the anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban is not inferior to that of warfarin and ii) the absence of any adverse effects that cause concern with regard to the use of rivaroxaban, this would provide sufficient supporting evidence to make rivaroxaban a standard of care for the treatment of APS patients with previous VTE, requiring a target INR of 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented to this issue which discusses the international scope of the journal and the History of Science Society, the inclusion of reviews of books not written in English, and editorial insights into what makes an article acceptable to the journal.

The Assyrians, who ruled at the height of their power between Egypt and the Persian Gulf (745-630 BC), are known from historical records to have been cruel and unrelenting towards their enemies. However, osteological evidence for this behavior is scarce. We herein present a case of an adult male skeleton, dated to the Iron Age IIB period (second half of the 8th century BC), who manifests traumatic injuries to the skull, left forearm, vertebrae, and ribs. Using modern forensic methods, the injuries were studied, and the consequences that led to these injuries reconstructed. Three possible scenarios are presented: (i) wounds inflicted during a chaotic battle; (ii) wounds caused by the chasing and capturing of a victim; and (iii) a commonly practiced violent attitude of Assyrian soldiers towards a captive combatant. Combining all the evidence at hand, the latter scenario appears more likely. This skeleton may therefore be one of the sole tangible physical evidence for the veracity of the Assyrians' post-battle behavior, as depicted in ancient texts and reliefs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background: Although the southern Levant is commonly perceived as having been a violent region throughout history, few studies have explored the pattern and intensity of skull trauma through time in the general population. The aim of this study is to follow changes in traumatic injury patterns in the southern Levant, over an extensive period of 6,000 years. Methods: 783 archaeological skulls from the Tel Aviv University osteological collection were examined for evidence of trauma. The specimens were divided into three periods: Chalcolithic-Bronze-Iron Age (4300-520 BCE), Hellenistic-Roman-Byzantine Period (332 BCE-640 CE), and Early and Late Arab Period (640-1917 CE). The characteristics of injury on each skull were recorded. Results: A high frequency (25%) of traumatic lesions to the skull was evident among historic populations of the southern Levant, a rate that did not fluctuate significantly over 6,000 years. The most common pattern of trauma was minor circular depressed injuries. Most of the injuries were located on the parietal or frontal bones. Traumatic lesions were more frequent in males than in females, and in mature individuals than in adolescents and children, during all periods. Conclusions: The rate of trauma in the southern Levantine populations was shown to be considerably higher than in other archaeological populations worldwide. The fact that no significant differences in trauma rates were found over time implies that socio-economical shifts (from agrarian to urban populations) had little impact on the local populations' aggressive behavior. In contrast, changes in type of injury, from blunt force trauma to sharp force trauma and eventually projectile trauma, reflects changes in weaponry over time. The accumulated characteristics of cranial trauma pattern (type, location, side, size, sex, age) suggest that most of the individuals studied were not engaged directly in warfare. Rather, most injuries seem to be due to blows given during interpersonal violent encounters. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Deep venous thrombosis ( DVT) is a potentially serious medical disorder, which may result in pulmonary embolism and death. Compression ultrasound is the investigation modality of choice for the diagnosis of DVT of the lower limb. Diagnosis of proximal thrombosis involving the pelvic veins is difficult and is usually made only after the thrombus extends into the veins of the lower limb. We present six cases of incidental uterine vein thrombosis diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound. Our aim is to describe the technique of the examination of pelvic veins and criteria that could be used to diagnose uterine vein thrombosis. We also highlight difficulties in the management of women diagnosed with asymptomatic uterine vein thrombi as there is little evidence to guide clinicians in choosing between different treatment options. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses several concepts aimed at preventing another financial crisis on the scale of the Global Financial Crisis of the early 21st century, including information on government programs which provided assistance to financial institutions such as Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. The U.S. government's regulatory response to the Global Financial Crisis is examined, including an analysis of the nation's Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

An essay is presented on evolution of modern science. The author poses a question whether the scientific revolution is a product of the west. He concludes that the Arabic knowledge along with the Islamic and the Chinese civilization have also contributed in the growth of science.

The article presents the report of the Répertoire International de la Presse Musicale (RIPM) to the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML). The report includes information on RIPM's publications including the full-text RIPM Online Archive and the online RIPM Retrospective Index to Music Periodicals, and states that RIPM successfully applied for grant funding from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

This systematic investigation of the neurocognitive correlates of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in a single case also reports agnosia for object orientation in the context of persistent CRPS. We report a patient (JW) with severe long-standing CRPS who had no difficulty identifying and naming line drawings of objects presented in 1 of 4 cardinal orientations. In contrast, he was extremely poor at reorienting these objects into the correct upright orientation and in judging whether an object was upright or not. Moreover, JW made orientation errors when copying drawings of objects, and he also showed features of mirror reversal in writing single words and reading single letters. The findings are discussed in relation to accounts of visual processing. Agnosia for object orientation is the term for impaired knowledge of an object's orientation despite good recognition and naming of the same misoriented object. This defect has previously only been reported in patients with major structural brain lesions. The neuroanatomical correlates are discussed. The patient had no structural brain lesion, raising the possibility that nonstructural reorganisation of cortical networks may be responsible for his deficits. Other patients with CRPS may have related neurocognitive defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder of genetic origin, characterised by relative proficiency in language in the face of serious impairment in several other domains. Individuals with WS display an unusual sensitivity to noise, known as hyperacusis. In this study, we examined the extent to which hyperacusis interferes with the perception of speech in children and adults with WS. Participants were required to discriminate words which differed in one consonant of a cluster when these contrasts were embedded in a background of noise. Although the introduction of noise interfered with performance on a consonant cluster discrimination task equally in the WS and control groups, the severity of hyperacusis significantly predicted individual variability in speech perception within the WS group. These results suggest that alterations in sensitivity to input mediate atypical pathways for language development in WS, where hyperacusis exerts an important influence together with other non-auditory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neurohypophysial hormone oxytocin acts as a central nervous system neurotransmitter/neuromodulator. We evaluated the effects of oxytocin on behavioural responses to stress, as well as associated biophysiological responses, in a controlled, prospective animal model. The long-term effects of exogenous oxytocin microinjected to the hippocampus of male rats were assessed. Animals were exposed to predator scent stress and treated 1 h or 7 days later with oxytocin or vehicle. Behaviours were assessed with the elevated plus-maze and acoustic startle response tests, 7 days after microinjection and freezing behaviour upon exposure to a trauma-related cue on day 8. These data served for classification into behavioural response groups. Trauma cue response, circulating corticosterone and oxytocin, hippocampal expression of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors, and oxytocin receptor mRNA levels were assessed. The interplay between oxytocin, corticosterone and norepinephrine was assessed. Microinfusion of oxytocin both immediately after predator scent stress exposure or 7 days later, after exposure to trauma cue significantly reduced the prevalence rates of extreme responders and reduced trauma cue freezing responses. Post-exposure treatment with oxytocin significantly corrected the corticosterone stress response, decreased glucocorticoid receptor expression and increased mineralocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus compared to vehicle treatment. High-dose corticosterone administration together with norepinephrine caused release of plasma oxytocin and hippocampal oxytocin receptor. Oxytocin is actively involved in the neurobiological response to predator scent stress processes and thus warrants further study as a potential therapeutic avenue for the treatment of anxiety-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticoagulation with oral vitamin K antagonists (VKA) is the mainstay of the treatment of venous and/or arterial thromboembolism in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), although the optimal intensity of anticoagulation remains controversial. The limitations of existing anticoagulants have driven a search for novel agents. Dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa®), a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI), and rivaroxaban (Xarelto®), the first in a new class of drugs, the oral direct factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors, are both fixed-dose orally administered agents. They are now licensed in the UK and Europe for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients undergoing elective total hip replacement (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR). Prospective randomized clinical trials suggest that these agents, and also apixaban, a further oral direct anti-Xa inhibitor, may have potential in other areas including the treatment of acute VTE, prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndromes. Here, we summarize current indications for these agents and address the potential for their use in patients with thrombotic APS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuropsychological literature on the processing of emotions in Parkinson's disease (PD) reveals conflicting evidence about the role of the basal ganglia in the recognition of facial emotions. Hence, the present study had two objectives. One was to determine the extent to which the visual processing of emotions and objects differs in PD. The other was to assess the impact of cognitive load on the processing of these types of information. Thirty-one patients with idiopathic PD (IPD) under dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) were compared to 30 control subjects on emotion and object recognition tasks. Recognition of objects was more accurate and faster than recognition of facial expressions of emotion, for both groups of subjects. In a second experiment using an N-back procedure with the same stimuli-a more demanding task with a higher cognitive load-patients with IPD were as accurate as control subjects in detecting the correct sequential presentation of stimuli, but were much slower in their decision responses. This indicates that IPD patients under DRT are not impaired in encoding emotion or object information, but that they have difficulty with the processing demands of the N-back task. Thus, patients with IPD appear to be more sensitive to cognitive load than to type of information, whether facial emotions or objects. In this perspective, one must consider that a deafferented dopaminergic system has problems processing more complex information before one can posit the existence of deficits affecting a specific type of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 27, 210–216 (2010) Aims To assess pharmacy claims and self-report data as measures of medication adherence and to describe baseline characteristics of subjects in the Improving Diabetes Outcomes Study. Methods Multi-ethnic, lower-income, insured adults ( n = 526) in New York City with Type 2 diabetes were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, behavioural intervention study delivered by telephone. Baseline data were examined, including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), objective measures of diabetes medication adherence [claims data medication possession ratio (MPR)], and two self-report measures [Morisky Medication-taking Scale and the medication-taking item of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA)]. Associations of highest tertile HbA1c (≥ 9.3%) with lowest tertile MPR (< 42%) were assessed with logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounders. Subset analyses were performed based on assessment of potential interaction. Results Participants (mean ± sd age 56 ± 7 years) had median (interquartile range) HbA1c 8.6% (8.0–10.0). Correlations of baseline MPR with Morisky score and SDSCA medication-taking item were strongly significant (both ρ = 0.21, P < 0.001). Lowest MPR was significantly ( P = 0.008) associated with highest HbA1c in the group as a whole and among the subset taking two or more oral glucose-lowering agents (OGLA) ( P = 0.002), but not among the subset taking only one ( P = 0.83). Self-report adherence measures were not significantly associated with HbA1c in either the whole group or either subset. Conclusions These results support the validity of MPR as an adherence measure for OGLA among insured diabetes patients with poorly controlled HbA1c, especially those taking two or more OGLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrospective clinical reports suggesting that traumatic stress populations display an increased propensity for glucose metabolism disorders were examined in a controlled prospective animal model. Stress-induced behavioural and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response patterns were correlated to central and peripheral parameters of glucose metabolism and signalling, and to body measurements in Sprague–Dawley rats exposed to predator scent stress. Forty days post-exposure, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, oral glucose tolerance test, body weight and white adipose tissue mass, systemic corticosterone levels and brain expression of insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-sensitive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein levels were evaluated. In a second experiment inbred strains with hyper- (Fischer) and hypo- (Lewis) reactive HPA axes were employed to assess the association of metabolic data with behavioural phenomenology versus HPA axis response profile. For data analysis, animals were classified according to their individual behavioural response patterns (assessed at day 7) into extreme, partial and minimal response groups. The exposed Sprague–Dawley rats fulfilling criteria for extreme behavioural response (EBR) (20.55%) also exhibited significant increases in body weight, abdominal circumference and abdominal white adipose tissue mass; a hyperglycaemic oral glucose tolerance test; and fasting hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and hypercorticosteronemia, whereas minimal responders (MBR) and control animals displayed no such disturbances. Hippocampal and hypothalamic expression of IR and GLUT4 protein were significantly lower in EBR than in MBR and control rats. The inbred strains showed no metabolic differences at baseline. Exposed Fischer rats displayed hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, whereas Lewis rats did not. A significant protracted disorder of glucose metabolism was induced by exposure to a stress paradigm. This metabolic response was associated with the characteristic pattern of HPA axis (corticosterone) response, which underlies the behavioural response to stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Are you following best practices to prevent errors? Is your facility doing all it should? Read these revealing survey responses for answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alterations of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism in the brain have been associated with modifications of stress-related behavior in animal models. It has been generally assumed that these behavioral changes are due to the neuronal nitrosative activity. On the other hand, glial NO production has been demonstrated mainly as a slow reaction to brain insults through the activity of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoform (NOS2). Recently we uncovered increased NOS activity in astrocytes of mice with a NOS2 mutation. Interestingly, these mice revealed a behavioral phenotype suggestive of increased susceptibility to stress. In the present study we investigated the responses of these mutants to stress by exposing them to predator scent. Seven days later, mutant mice exhibited significantly higher anxiety-like behavior in the elevated-plus maze, increased acoustic startle responses, and higher plasma corticosterone levels compared with their controls. Systemic administration of a NOS inhibitor prior to the stress exposure reversed these stress-related effects without affecting controls'' behavior. These findings are in agreement with previous studies showing an association between increased NO levels and enhanced anxiety-like responses. In addition, mutant mice performed better in the Morris water maze prior to stress exposure, but the two animal groups performed alike in an object-recognition test. Taken together, our results suggest the involvement of astrocytic-derived NO in modulating behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives. Conflict between sensory–motor central nervous processing generates somaesthetic disturbances, including pain, in healthy volunteers (HVs). Such conflict has been proposed as a potential cause of pain that occurs in the absence of injury or when the pain response is disproportionate to the injury. Fibromyalgia (FMS) exemplifies the former state. We hypothesized that the artificial generation of such conflict would exacerbate somaesthetic perceptions including pain in FMS greater than in HVs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Répertoire international de la presse musicale (RIPM) has evolved from an annotated index of important nineteenth-century music journals to a project that will offer detailed and complex full-text access to a large number of music periodicals published between 1800 and 1950. The authors discuss the background of the project, the funding, and the technology; make comparisons with similar indexing projects, and conclude with an overview of the forthcoming RIPM Online Archive of Music Periodicals (full-text). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learn how adapting processes for prescribing, preparing, and administering can help reduce errors associated with certain high-alert medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to update the reader on advances in the understanding of haematological conditions that may arise in neurological practice. Thrombophilia, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, sickle cell and clonal disorders associated with neuropathy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new instrument was developed and assessed for internal consistency, validity and test-retest reliability. A total of 151 women undergoing IVF/GIFT in California rated concern levels about anesthesia, surgery, recovery time, side-effects, finances, missing work, pain, insufficient information and delivering a healthy baby. Validity was assessed by comparing CART to the Infertility Reaction Scale and Bipolar Profile of Moods States, and reliability was investigated by calculating correlations between repeat CARTs. Factor analysis identified three domains: procedural concerns; missing work; and achieving a successful delivery. CART is a new, valid and reliable instrument, which measures concerns during IVF/GIFT not previously identified by existing instruments. Copyright © 2007 SAGE Publications Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charge redistribution that occurs within dipolar molecules as they self-assemble into organized organic monolayer films has been studied. The extent of charge transfer is probed by work function measurements, using low-energy photoelectron spectroscopy (LEPS), contact potential difference (CPD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), with the latter providing fine details about the internal charge distribution along the molecule. In addition, two-photon photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to investigate the electronic structure of the adsorbed layers. We show that charge transfer acts to reduce the dipole−dipole interaction between the molecules but may either decrease or increase the molecule-to-surface dipole moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate whether infants who died of SIDS were more likely to have higher acute and lifetime average exposures to outdoor carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) than comparison healthy infants. Methods: A total of 169 case and 169 matched control infants born between 1988 and 1992, were studied. CO and NO2 concentrations, averaged for all days within the infant's lifespan, and the last 30 days, 7 days 3 days and 1 day of life were obtained from air pollutant data provided by the California Air Resources Board. Results: Based on monthly aggregated data, average CO and particularly NO2 were associated with SIDS count, even after adjustment for seasonal trends. SIDS outcome was not significantly associated with high average outdoor CO levels for any time period. However, high average outdoor NO2 levels on the last day of the infant's exposure period were significantly associated with SIDS; the adjusted odds ratio was 2.34 (95% CI 1.13 to 4.87). Conclusions: SIDS may be related to high levels of acute outdoor NO2 exposure during the last day of life. Further studies ore needed to replicate this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes OSF Healthcare's recent journey in patient safety. It discusses the involvement of its 6 hospitals in collaboration with each other and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. OSF focused on a strategy for decreasing adverse drug events (ADEs). They worked on impacting 4 major areas: safety culture, high-risk medication, dispensing of medication, and medication reconciliation. By doing this, OSF decreased its rate of ADEs per 1000 units of medication administered from 3.84 to 1.39 over the course of 20 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Read what nurses have to say about making and reporting medication errors and disclosing them to patients -- and learn how you can reduce the risk for your patients and yourself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Evidence exists to suggest that working with computer terminals and keyboards is associated with the development and exacerbation of a range of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Research has suggested that psychosocial factors may be of more importance than computer use factors in the development of MSDs in the computing workplace. Method: A questionnaire-based study was undertaken to test this hypothesis in a sample of 67 call center workers. A Spearman''s rho was performed on the data, as well as χ2 tests on the individual variables. Results: It was found that overall, computer use factors were significantly associated with self-reporting of MSD symptoms, whereas psychosocial factors had no such association. However, certain individual psychosocial factors emerged as having a significant association with MSD symptoms. Discussion: The findings suggest that specific areas of call center work have associations with poor worker health and possible long-term MSD problems. These areas appear to be workload and particular management–worker relations, rather than computer use. Summary: This suggests that the relationship among computer use, psychosocial factors, and MSD is a complex area that would benefit from more research. Impact on industry: This study raises issues about the importance of psychosocial and organizational factors and employee welfare in the call center working environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is known that CsxWO3, 0.3&ges;x&ges;0.19, is a 3D superconductor. Below x=0.19 a transition from a metal to an insulator occurs and for x=0.10, for example, no superconductivity is observed. We find, however, that for x&les;0.05 superconductivity reappears. For x=0.005 nominal concentration we observe a critical transition Tc to the superconducting state at 5.9 K. This is observed in magnetic measurements, where a pronounced Meissner effect is present. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transport measurements indicate that the SC state is confined to mesoscopic islands, some 10 nm thick on the surface of the CsxWO3 doped crystals. The bulk of the crystal is practically pure WO3. Thus during the high temperature crystal growth process, there is a redistribution of the Cs dopant as it migrates to the surface of the WO3 crystals. From these observations, we conclude that upon reduction of the Cs nominal concentration below x=0.05, a 2D superconductor is formed, while for x&ges;0.19, the CsxWO3 bronze is a 3D superconductor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Learn the best defense against medication errors -- understanding the roles that human factors and systems play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to use secondary analysis of prevalence data from a prospective cohort study to ascertain the accuracy of self-reported stroke among veterans. The study comprised a community-dwelling population of 88 elderly veterans (from five counties in the Northern Piedmont of North Carolina, USA) who received health care at the local Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical center and were respondents at the North Carolina site of the NIH-funded Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) project. Self-report of stroke from the baseline interview of the EPESE project; and occurrence of stroke as verified by the national VHA hospital discharge database and the patients' medical records was measured. Results showed that self-report of stroke had a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 100%; the predictive value of a positive report was 100%. Veterans' self-reports of stroke are sufficiently accurate to use in preliminary epidemiological studies and health services research of cerebrovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: The heterogeneity between the trials and the limited data result in considerable uncertainty about the value of long term anticoagulation compared with antiplatelet treatment. The risks of bleeding and the higher cost of anticoagulation make it an even less convincing treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustained release polymeric gene delivery systems offer increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased amounts of plasmid DNA (pDNA) uptake, and the possibility of control in dosing and sustained duration of pDNA administration. Furthermore, such a system lacks the inherent problems associated with viral vectors. Biodegradable and biocompatible poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) polymer was used to enacapsulate pDNA (alkaline phosphatase, AP, a reporter gene) in submicron size particles. Gene expression mediated by the nanoparticles (NP) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo in comparison to cationic-liposome delivery. Nano size range (600 nm) pDNA-loaded in poly(DL-lactideco-glycolide) polymer particles with high encapsulation efficiency (70%) were formulated, exhibiting sustained release of pDNA of over a month. The entrapped plasmid maintained its structural and functional integrity. In vitro transfection by pDNA-NP resulted in significantly higher expression levels in comparison to naked pDNA. Furthermore, AP levels increased when the transfection time was extended, indicating sustained activity of pDNA. However, gene expression was significantly lower in comparison with standard liposomal transfection. Seven days after i.m. injections in rats, naked pDNA and pDNA-NP were found to be significantly more potent (1-2 orders of magnitude) than liposomal pDNA. Plasmid DNA-NP treatment exhibited increased AP expression after 7 and 28 days indicating sustained activity of the NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents developments in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Details on the antiphospholipid reactivity; Pathogenesis of APS; Indications for laboratory testing for antiphospholipid antibodies; Approach recommended for the detection of lupus anticoagulant.