cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family Power: The Assessment of a Decade of Theory and Research, 1970-1979.

"family power" was initially sparked, in large part, by Blood and Wolfe's Husbands and Wives (1960) and their elaboration of a "resource theory of family power." Subsequent efforts by family scholars, and other social scientists, have involved testing and retesting this resource theory model, and derivative models, as well as elaborating the theoretical and methodological issues in family power research.
Surgical Management of Pancreatic Lymphoma

• The clinical and pathologic records of 12 patients with pancreatic lymphoma were reviewed retrospectively to determine distinguishing clinical features. Radiologically, all patients had large abdominal masses in the region of the pancreas. Preoperative percutaneous cytologic biopsy specimens failed to make the diagnosis, and two specimens were interpreted incorrectly as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis was difficult to make in two cases, even at laparotomy. Four patients underwent a biliary bypass, and two underwent a concomitant gastric or duodenal bypass. Two patients died postoperatively. Four patients responded well to chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, and two did not have any recurrences at 3 and 7 years postoperatively. Although rare, lymphoma should be considered in patients with undiagnosed pancreatic masses. The diagnosis may only be made with appropriate preoperative or intraoperative suspicion, and treatment may be rewarding, particularly in comparison with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. ( Arch Surg. 1989;124:1287-1289)
Atherosclerosis: an intracellular deficiency in essential fatty acids.

Abstract Essential fatty acids are shunted into an intracellular cholesteryl ester pool when the endothelium is injured. An intracellular essential fatty acid deficiency occurs. The consequences of this process are enormous. Less arachidonic acid is available for the synthesis of prostacyclin enhancing both endothelial injury and platelet aggregation. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are not available for the control of cell proliferation through the oxidant stress which is induced by hydroperoxy fatty acids. Smooth muscle cells proliferate and the atherosclerotic lesion develops.
Identification and Characterization of Chemoattractants for Epidermal Cells

We have detected and partially characterized factors that promote the directed migration of mouse epidermal cells in a modified Boyden chamber assay. Smooth muscle cells grown in culture were found to secrete a potent chemoattractant for epidermal cells. This activity was further characterized and compared to the chemotactic activities found in would fluid and conditioned medium from 3T3 L1 cells and with interleukin 1. The migration of epidermal cells during would healing in vivo might be regulated by such factors.
Comparative trial of oral clotrimazole and nystatin for oropharyngeal candidiasis prophylaxis in orthotopic liver transplant patients

A prospective randomized study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of clotrimazole troches and nystatin suspension to prevent oral candidiasis in immunosuppressed orthotopic liver transplant patients. Thirty-four patients received either clotrimazole troches, 10 mg, five times daily, or nystatin suspension, 500,000 units, four times daily. Prophylaxis was initiated after extubation after transplantation and continued throughout the hospitalization. One of 17 patients in each treatment group developed clinical and microscopic evidence of an oropharyngeal Candida infection. This gave an intragroup and an overall infection rate of 5.9%. It appears that either nystatin or clotrimazole may be used for candidiasis prophylaxis in orthotopic liver transplant patients.
Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of the cyanotic newborn: identification of the pulmonary artery in transposition of the great arteries.

Abstract During M mode echocardiographic evaluation of cyanotic newborn infants, one may find two ventricles and two great vessels, but not have proof of their identity. Identification of the great vessels is important in evaluation of possible transposition of the great arteries. In a series of 68 cyanotic neonates pulsed Doppler echocardtography was applied to test the hypotheses that (1) a patent ductus arterlosus in present in most cyanotic neonates, (2) the great vessel that receives diastolic ductal flow is the pulmonary artery, and (3) specific noninvasive identification of pulmonary artery will allow diagnosis or exclusion of transposition of the great arteries. On M mode examination, the relations of the great vessels were normal in 43 infants; in all, pulsed Doppler echocardiography detected a patent ductus arteriosus flowing into a normally positioned pulmonary artery. The cyanosis in these 43 patients was later proved to be of pulmonary origin. In eight infants, the relation of the great vessels suggested transposition, and in all eight, Doppler echocardiography detected a patent ductus flowing into the posterior great vessel, proved at angiocardiography to be the transposed pulmonary artery. In 17 patients, the relation of the great vessels was front to back, neither “normal” nor suggestive of classic d transposition. A patent ductus arterlosus, detected with pulsed Doppler echocardiography in all 17, flowed into the anterior great vessel in the 14 normal infants, and flowed into the transposed pulmonary artery in the 3 with proved transposition. It is concluded that ductal patency is prevalent in cyanotic neonates, and that pulsed Doppler echocardiographic detection of ductal flow can define the pulmonary artery; such definition is most helpful in resolving the question of transposition in infants with a relation of the great vessels that is neither normal nor suggestive of transposition.
Laboratory method for deep distillation of petroleum crudes and heavy products

Laboratory distillation methods used to fractionate heavy petroleum residual stocks in investigating crude oils from new oil fields have been improved by changing from spherical flasks to a Manovyan flask, which consists of a horizontal cylinder with a neck with two curved bends in opposite directions. In the new experimental set up there is much less danger of forming foam and entraining liquid drops with vapor flow. A metrological certification of the new procedure confirmed the possibility of successful performance in all aspects of the method under laboratory conditions.
THE SIMPLICITY OF THE LIVING GOD: AQUINAS, BARTH, AND SOME PHILOSOPHERS

The traditional notion of divine simplicity is frequently misunderstood. Philosophers of religion who defend it and theologians who dismiss it agree on its Greek, rather than biblical, heritage. On the contrary, a particularly Christian account of divine simplicity, as reflected for example in Thomas, maintains a Creator-creature distinction as understood in light of Trinity and Incarnation. Stump and Kretzmann's discussion of simplicity appears to follow Aquinas, but misses the character of this distinction, and so treats a human idea of “the simple” instead of Thomas's living source of being. The true modern follower of Thomas on simplicity is not Stump and Kretzmann, but Barth.
The use of sulfamic acid as a primary standard in nonaqueous titrimetry

Abstract A method has been developed for the standardization of a typical nonaqueous base lithium methoxide, with an inorganic primary standard, sulfamic acid. 'T'his acid was found to dissolve readily in four independant basic solvents, dimethyl formamide, ethylenediamine, n -butylamine and dimethyl sulfoxide. Sulfamic acid could be titrated in each of these solvents, by both visual and potentiometric means with lithium methoxide dissolved in benzene-methanol. No gels nor precipitates resulted in the course of the titrations and the accuracy of the method was comparable to that obtained using benzoic acid as the primary standard. Conductometric titrations were also performed using sulfamic acid dissolved in two systems, dimethyl formamide and glacial acetic acid. In the latter solvent it was possible to titrate sulfamic acid with perchloric acid in glacial acetic acid.
Isolated osteoclasts and their presumed progenitor cells, the monocyte, in culture

Osteoclasts were isolated from the endosteal surface of day 19 embryonic chick tibias by mild trypsinization. Osteoclast enrichment was achieved by passing cell suspensions through Nitex screening of selective sizes, including the eventual selective retention of osteoclasts on 12 micrometers polycarbonate filters or by sequential sieving through Nitex screens and fractionation on Percoll gradients. The enrichment procedures produced osteoclast populations of 50-75% based on morphological criteria with the latter isolation method providing populations with less matrix debris. The results of light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopic observations indicate that osteoclasts can be maintained in culture for up to 10 days with retention of osteoclast morphology. This morphology includes a specialized ruffled plasma membrane, large numbers of mitochondria, lysosomes, as well as a multinucleated cytoplasm. Furthermore, acid phosphatase and butyrate esterase histochemical measurements support these morphological observations. In addition, chick hatchling circulating monocytes were isolated and purified by Ficoll-hypaque gradient centrifugation with subsequent adhesion to glass petri dishes. With time in culture, these cells form multinucleated cells, but lack the ultrastructural complexity of the isolated osteoclasts. This report describes a unique culture system to study osteoclast function and illustrates the similarities and differences of this system to the monocyte-to-giant cell culture system.
Fabrication and characterization of microfiltration blended membranes

AbstractWoven Kevlar fabric supported polypropylene (PP)–thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blended microfiltration membranes were synthesized using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) technique. Microporosity in the fabricated membranes was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The PP–TPU blending was confirmed through the Fourier transform infrared spectra of pure resins and blended polymer membranes. Surface roughness, pore geometry, and adhesion between the blended polymer and fabric were influenced with increasing TPU blending concentration in the PP solution. The proposed polymers were found compatible with each other and properly blended to form membranes; most importantly, the TPU helped to transform hydrophobic PP membrane into hydrophilic PP–TPU membrane. Water and methanol flux through the fabricated membranes were measured, and it was found that the permeation through the membranes depended upon the type of membrane.
Involvement of neuronal β2 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in nicotine reward and withdrawal: implications for pharmacotherapies.

Summary What is known and objective Tobacco smoking remains a major health problem. Nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of nicotine administration. Pharmacotherapies for nicotine addiction target brain alterations that underlie withdrawal symptoms. This review will delineate the involvement of the β2 subunit of neuronal nAChRs in nicotine reward and in generating withdrawal symptoms to better understand the efficacy of smoking cessation pharmacotherapies. Comment Chronic nicotine desensitizes and upregulates β2 subunit-containing nAChRs, and the prolonged upregulation of receptors may underlie symptoms of withdrawal. Experimental research has demonstrated that the β2 subunit of neuronal nAChRs is necessary for generating nicotine reward and withdrawal symptoms. What is new and conclusion Smoking cessation pharmacotherapies act on β2 subunit-containing nAChRs to reduce nicotine reward and withdrawal symptom severity.
In-plane edge somigliana dislocation dipoles and quadrupoles

Abstract The physical nature of an in-plane-edge Somigliana dislocation (SD) has been described. The stress fields of SD dipoles and of a SD quadrupole are given in terms of linear isotropic elasticity. The results may be applied e.g. dislocation problems, to inclusions, to the modeling of martensitic transformations and to other topics of plasticity.
Renal tissue damage following ESWL.

The authors report on two cases of severe renal damage following ESWL, which necessitated removal of the kidney.
Training industrial engineers with an interfunctional computer simulation game

Abstract The role of engineering is changing, many firms operate in a team environment. In response to this change, a computer simulation game was developed which integrated engineering and business students.
Radiologic Complete Response with Sirolimus and Sorafenib in a Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient who Relapsed After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Background No standard therapies have been established for the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation.
Parametric motion of complex-time singularity toward real collapse

Abstract Motion of complex-time singularities for solutions of a system of three interacting point vortices is studied, by varying initial conditions until collapse occurs. When collapse occurs, the complex-time singularities converge to a point on the real axis. A heuristic scaling law between the initial displacement of one vortex and the position of the nearest complex-time singularity to the origin is tested numerically. The exponent of the scaling law is related to one of the eigenvalues of the linearized stability problem for the motion of the vortices in a regularized (blown-up) frame.
Evaluation of a drowning prevention campaign in King County, Washington.

Objectives—A three year drowning prevention campaign focused on increasing the use of life vests among children 1‐14 years old. An evaluation was conducted to determine campaign awareness, change in ownership and use of life vests by children, and predictors of life vest use. Setting—King County, Washington. Methods—Four telephone surveys were conducted with parents before, during, and after the campaign. Results—The campaign was recalled by 50% of families surveyed. From before to after the campaign, reported life vest use by children on docks, beaches, or at pools increased from 20% to 29% (p<0.01) and life vest ownership for children increased from 69% to 75% (p=0.06). Among parents aware of the campaign, reported child life vest use increased from 20% to 34% (p<0.001) and ownership increased from 69% to 80% (p<0.01). Among families unaware of the campaign, neither life vest use nor ownership changed significantly. Children were more often reported to wear life vests if a parent knew of the campaign, was confident fitting the vest, was younger than 40 years, felt the child could not swim well, and owned a life vest for the child. Conclusions—A community-wide drowning prevention campaign resulted in a significant, although modest, increase in reported life vest use and ownership among children. (Injury Prevention 1999;5:109‐113)
Demographic, residential, and socioeconomic effects on the distribution of nineteenth-century African-American stature

Nineteenth-century mulattos were taller than their darker-colored African-American counterparts. However, traditional explanations that attribute the mulatto stature advantage to only socioeconomic factors are yet to tie taller mulatto statures to observable phenomenon. Vitamin D production may also explain part of the nineteenth-century mulatto–black stature differential. Mulattos were taller than darker-pigmented blacks across the stature distribution, and higher melanin concentrations in darker black stratum corneums reduced the amount of vitamin D synthesized. The interaction with sunlight in darker-complexioned blacks was associated with larger stature returns for darker-complexioned blacks than their mulatto counterparts.
Recurrence of perinatal lethal osteogenesis imperfecta in sibships: Parsing the risk between parental mosaicism for dominant mutations and autosomal recessive inheritance

Purpose: Recurrence of lethal osteogenesis imperfecta in families results from either dominant (parental mosaicism) or recessive inheritance. The proportion of these two mechanisms is not known, and determination of the contribution of each is important to structure genetic counseling for these families. Methods: We measured the recurrence rate of lethal osteogenesis imperfecta after the birth of an affected infant. We determined the rate of parental mosaicism in a subset of families in which we had identified dominant mutations. In 37 families in which two or more affected infants were born, we identified mutations and determined the proportion that resulted from recessive inheritance. Results: The recurrence rate after the first affected pregnancy was 1.3%. The rate of parental mosaicism in families in which a dominant mutation was identified in a first affected child was 16%. In 37 families with two affected infants, 26 had dominant mutations, seven had recessive mutations, and we failed to find mutations in four. The overall recurrence rate for couples after two or more affected infants was 32%; 27% for families with parental mosaicism, 31% for recessive mutations, and 50% for families with no identified mutation. Conclusions: In most populations, recurrence of lethal osteogenesis imperfecta usually results from parental mosaicism for dominant mutations, but the carrier frequency of recessive forms of osteogenesis imperfecta will alter that proportion. Mutation identification is an important tool to assess risk and facilitate prenatal or preimplantation diagnosis.
Diffusion of changes in organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the advisability of innovation diffusion theory for enhancing the adoption/execution success rate in leading organizational change. Design/methodology/approach – The study design involved an interpretive discussion of innovation diffusion theory and related research, followed by a review of influential models of organizational change management (CM). Through analysis and synthesis of the essential ideas and processes derived from both schools, this study conceptualized an integrated change diffusion model with practical and research implications. Findings – The study findings were presented via an organizational change diffusion model and its phases with major considerations. Leading change should be a systematic but responsive process as visualized by a sequential but recursive flow of the phases; change could sustain with the spontaneous function of organizational dynamics; before-during-after diagnosis and evaluation would be fundamental to the success ...
Evaluation of antiarrhythmic therapy using Holter monitoring.

Premature ventricular complexes and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia mark a person with structural cardiac disease as a high--risk candidate for sudden cardiac death. Such ventricular arrhythmias are considered potentially lethal and should be distinguished from both those that are benign and those that cause hemodynamic consequences (i.e., lethal or malignant arrhythmias). Noninvasive Holter monitoring is the principal technique for detecting and evaluating the presence of potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias. These arrhythmias undergo a high degree of spontaneous variability. Thus, to define a therapeutic drug effect, a reduction in the frequency of premature ventricular complexes of at least 75% and a reduction in the frequency of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia by at least 90% are required to eliminate the likelihood of spontaneous variability as the cause of this change in the frequency of arrhythmia. To define proarrhythmia, a different algorithm must be applied. When using antiarrhythmic drugs, a quantitative ventricular arrhythmia baseline for both frequency and type of arrhythmia must be established so that after therapeutic intervention repeat Holter monitoring can determine whether efficacy, inefficacy or proarrhythmia had occurred. Holter monitoring clearly reveals differential antiarrhythmic response rates among classes of antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with benign or potentially lethal arrhythmias. However, preliminary data have not clearly defined the relation between antiarrhythmic pharmacotherapy and a reduction in sudden cardiac death. The results of large-scale clinical trials that have only recently been undertaken must be assessed to determine whether sudden cardiac death can be prevented by adequately suppressing potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias.
The Role of Step Atom Density on the Binding and Reaction of Surface Species

Temperature-programmed desorption was used to examine the adsorption and reaction of CO, H2, O2, NO, CH3OH, and C2H4on several surfaces of platinum to see if there is a correlation between the atom density of step atoms and reactivity. Small variations in the desorption activation energy of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, ethylene, and methanol were found the changing crystal face. However, on platinum surfaces, there was no correlation between the desorption activation energy and the step atom density. Reactivity was found to vary greatly with the crystal face. However, no correlation was found between the step atom density and the reactivity for the hydrogenolysis of ethylene to methane, for the decomposition of methanol to carbon monoxide, for the hydrogenolysis of methanol to methane, for the oxidation of methanol to carbon dioxide, for the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde, or for the decomposition of nitric oxide to nitrogen and oxygen. Only for the self-hydrogenation of ethylene to ethane on platinum surfaces did the reactivity have any correlation with step atom density, and this correlation did not carry through to steady-state experiments. From our study, it appears that the active site for reaction is often not simply a step site. Rather, the active site consists of a special arrangement of step and terrace atoms that are aligned correctly to produce high reactivity.
Identification of the breakage rate and distribution parameters in a non-linear population balance model for batch milling

Non-linear population balance models (PBMs), which have been recently introduced due to the limitations of the classical linear time-invariant (LTINV) model, account for multi-particle interactions and thus are capable of predicting many types of complex non-first order breakage kinetics during size reduction operations. No attempt has been made in the literature to estimate the non-linear model parameters by fitting the model to experimental data and to discriminate various models based on statistical analysis. In this study, a fully numerical back-calculation method was developed in the Matlab environment to determine the model parameters of the non-linear PBM. Not only does the back-calculation method identify the parameters of complicated non-linear PBMs, but also it gives the goodness of fit and certainty of the parameters. The performance of the back-calculation method was first assessed on computer-generated batch milling data with and without random error. The back-calculation method was then applied to experimental batch milling data exhibiting non-first order effects using both the LTINV model and two separate non-linear models. The back-calculation method was able to correctly determine the model parameters of relatively small sets of batch milling data with random errors. Applied to experimental batch milling data, the back-calculation method with a two-parameter non-linear model yielded parameters with reasonable certainty and accurately predicted the slowing-down phenomenon during dry batch milling. This study encourages experimenters to use advanced non-linear population balance models along with the back-calculation method toward estimating the breakage rate and distribution parameters from dense batch milling data sets.
APFIM/TEM characterization of solute partitioning in a model Ni-Mo-Al-Ta superalloy

Abstract A combined APFIM/TEM study of a model nickel-based Ni-Mo-Al-Ta superalloy has been performed to investigate the partitioning behaviour of Mo and Ta. Phase composition measurements on uncrept and failed creep-tested samples show that Mo partitions preferentially to the γ phase and Ta to the γ' phase. Composition profiles across γ' interfaces showed no evidence for Mo or Ta segregation, apparently ruling this out as the mechanism responsible for the enhanced creep life of this alloy. DO 22 -ordered platelet precipitates were observed adjacent to the γ' cuboidal precipitates. The presence of these DO 22 -ordered platelet precipitates would be an obstacle to dislocations and to the growth of the γ' precipitates and hence might explain the good creep properties of alloys of this composition.
Lens Development in a Dominant X-linked Congenital Cataract of the Mouse

Xcat is a recently identified mouse mutation causing X-linked dominant congenital cataract. The mutation is of particular interest as a possible animal model for the human X-linked cataract syndrome. Using light microscopy, we examined the histological changes of mutant lenses at selected intervals between embryonic (E) day 14 and postnatal (P) day 21. At E14, primary fiber formation completely fills the former lens vesicle in both normal and mutant mice, but in affected animals the primary fibers are irregularly arranged and show small foci of cellular disintegration. Progressive degeneration of primary fibers occurs from E15 to E18 and, during late gestation, secondary lens fibers also begin to degenerate. The lens epithelium and newly differentiated fibers, however, show no evident abnormality. Postnatally, most of the lens substance becomes amorphous; the cataractous process terminates in rupture of the posterior lens capsule by P21. Analysis of crystallin and cytoskeletal proteins of postnatal cataractous lenses revealed no significant abnormalities when compared to normal lenses. The observed sequence of histological changes indicates that the Xcat mutation affects the differentiation of lens fiber cells at some point after their initial elongation.
Purification of Vanadium by External Gettering

Vanadium metal has been purified with respect to carbon, oxygen and nitrogen by allowing these impurities to diffuse to and react with a surface layer rich in titanium. The nitrogen concentration was reduced from 100 ppm to less than 1 ppm, the carbon concentration was reduced from 240 ppm to less than 2 ppm and the oxygen concentration was reduced from 290 ppm to 6 ppm. The resistance ratio was increased from 52 to more than 685, a value that would indicate a total interstitial impurity concentration of 11 ppm. The diamond pyramid hardness was between 44 and 50 after purification. The internal friction peaks due to these interstitial solutes had almost completely disappeared in the purified metal. The purification can be done at any temperature at which the interstitial solutes are able to diffuse rapidly enough. Both 1000 and 1200 °C were found to be satisfactory with somewhat higher purity obtained at 1000 °C. This method is quite versatile and can be applied to specimens more than one cm thick if sufficient time is allowed for diffusion.
Basic needs, agropolitan development, and planning from below

Abstract Current treatment of ‘basic needs’ programmes as mere adjuncts to main-stream growth strategies leads to but another version of the well-known strategy of redistribution with growth. The result is emphasis on short-run improvements in consumption levels of target groups below the ‘poverty line’ while primary allocations and effort are devoted to growth in GNP. Distinct from this main-line approach, a normative theory is proposed in which production and distribution would be encompassed within the context of face-to-face political decision-making in appropriately sized ‘agropolitan’ districts. Decision on economic activities would thus be subordinated to a territorial will in an act of reciprocal entitlement between individual and community.
Phytenic acid: Identification of five isomers in chemical and biological products of phytol

Abstract 1. 1. Previous studies in the rat indicated that the olefinic acid phytenic acid is an intermediate in the conversion of phytol to phytanic acid. Since phytol is a trans- Δ 2 structure, the phytenic acid product might be expected to retain the same configuration. This study was made to determine which isomers of phytenic acid are formed from phytol by chemical means and by metabolism in the rat. 2. 2. Chemical oxidation of phytol produced virtually only one phytenic acid isomer (trans- Δ 2 ), but dehydrobromination of 3-bromophytanic acid produced 5 isomers. Likewise, the same 5 isomers were found in the intestinal lymph of rats —both conventional and germ-free — that had been fed phytol. Phytenic acid of the lymph was present largely in complex lipids. Saponification caused isomerization of added trans -2-phytenic acid (methyl ester); however, direct transmethylation (with methanol-H 2 SO 4 ) did not cause appreciable isomerization. Using the latter method, all 5 isomers were found in the lymph in differing quantities, which indicates that they were all formed during the absorption of phytol. 3. 3. The individual isomers of phytenic acid were isolated by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography, and were identified by ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy before and after hydrogenation and oxidative cleavage, respectively. They proved to be the trans - and cis- Δ 2 , the trans - and cis- Δ 3 , and the 3-methylene compounds.
Collaborative network-based virtual reality: the past, the present, and the future of the virtual solar system project

This paper and presentation describe an ongoing research and development effort to create a virtual reality environment in which students cohabitate, collaborate, and co-construct shared meanings of astronomical phenomena in an undergraduate introductory astronomy course. Initial versions of this environment addressed face-to-face and asynchronous methods of collaboration. The most recent iteration of our work incorporates the use of advanced networking technologies to enable synchronous collaboration between students in two primary collaborative learning activities: co-construction and co-habitation of virtual models of the solar system. Co-construction refers to multiple students working together to construct a common virtual model. Co-habitation refers to the ability to simultaneously experience the same virtual model from either common or multiple perspectives.
Generalization and exclusive allocation of credit in unsupervised category learning

A new way of measuring generalization in unsupervised learning is presented. The measure is based on an exclusive allocation, or credit assignment, criterion. In a classifier that satisfies the criterion, input patterns are parsed so that the credit for each input feature is assigned exclusively to one of multiple, possibly overlapping, output categories. Such a classifier achieves context-sensitive, global representations of pattern data. Two additional constraints, sequence masking and uncertainty multiplexing, are described; these can be used to refine the measure of generalization. The generalization performance of EXIN networks, winner-take-all competitive learning networks, linear decorrelator networks, and Nigrin's SONNET-2 network are compared.
The necessary role of mTORC1 in central nervous system axon regeneration

Permanent loss of vital functions after central nervous system (CNS) injury, e.g., blindness in traumatic optic nerve (ON) injury or paralysis in spinal cord injury, occurs in part because axons in the adult mammalian CNS do not regenerate after injury. Growth failure is due to the diminished intrinsic regenerative capacity of mature neurons and the inhibitory environment of the adult CNS. Neutralizing extracellular inhibitory molecules genetically or pharmacologically yields only limited regeneration and functional recovery, highlighting the critical importance of neuron-intrinsic factors. To explore the intrinsic regenerative signaling molecules, a relatively simple but robust in vivo model that replicates CNS traumatic injury and permits straightforward interpretation is required. Mouse retinal ganglion cell (RGC) and ON provide a valuable in vivo neural injury system to study intrinsic growth mechanisms in adult CNS neurons (Figure 1). Retina and ON are CNS structures that are essential for visual functions. RGC is the only neuronal type to relay visual information from retina to brain. The ON is formed by the projection axons sent exclusively from RGCs; it has the simplicity of a unidirectional axon pathway, which insures that any nerve fibers observed distal to a complete crush injury have regenerated and do not represent spared axons that underwent collateral sprouting or efferent axons from the brain to the retina. Its easy access allows adeno-associated viruses to be injected directly into the vitreous chamber of the eye and express transgenes specifically and efficiently in adult RGCs. This spatially and temporally controlled genetic manipulation allows us to overcome developmental issues associated with germ line manipulation and to test interventions that can potentially be translated to therapies. Exploiting the anatomical and technical advantages of the RGC/ON crush model to understand the intrinsic mechanisms of regenerative failure led us to the finding that deletion of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) promoted significant ON regeneration (Park et al., 2008). PTEN, a lipid phosphatase, is a major negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway. Similar axon regeneration phenotypes after PTEN deletion have been reported for mouse cortical motor neurons (Liu et al., 2010), drosophila sensory neurons (Song et al., 2012) and C. elegans motor neurons (Byrne et al., 2014), presumably through activating PI3K-mTORC1-controlled cell growth (Figure 2). Direct activation of mTORC1 also promotes axon regeneration in dopaminergic neurons (Kim et al., 2011) and peripheral nerves (Abe et al., 2010), further support for the critical role of mTORC1 in axon regeneration.
State of the Science of Oncology Vascular Access Devices

Objective To present an overview of long-term vascular access devices (VADs), current maintenance care, controversies of care, and the need for VAD research. Data Sources Current research and published literature. Conclusion Over the last four decades, VADs have become a standard part of caring for patients in all clinical settings. Despite the common use of VADs, current standardized procedures for maintenance care and managing complications are not available. Implications for Nursing Practice The key to establishing evidence-based practice is to create a network of researchers, clinicians, and policy makers in a consortium to secure funding and implement multisite research. Only through research will traditional practice be challenged.
Final results of the multicenter, prospective Axium MicroFX for Endovascular Repair of IntraCranial Aneurysm Study (AMERICA)

Background We previously performed a multicenter prospective single-arm trial of 100 patients treated with Axium MicroFX Coils (ev3; Plymouth, Minnesota, USA), AMERICA: Axium MicroFX for Endovascular Repair of IntraCranial Aneurysm study. Initial angiographic and clinical outcomes were excellent. The final results are presented herein. Methods AMERICA is a multicenter, prospective single-arm trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the ev3 Axium MicroFX coil system in 100 separate aneurysms between April 2010 and October 2012. Trial endpoints were 3–6 month angiographic occlusion and clinical status, as reported by treatment center. Results Mean follow-up was 157.9 days (median 153.5, range 1–445, SEM 9.3 days). At last follow-up imaging, 90.6% of all aneurysms, 90% of unruptured aneurysms, and 93.3% of ruptured aneurysms had Raymond grade I or II occlusion. Progression to further occlusion (lower Raymond occlusion grade) occurred in 29/85 aneurysms (34.1%). Aneurysm recurrence occurred in 11/85 aneurysms (12.9%). Ninety-nine per cent of patients treated electively and 68.7% of ruptured patients had a modified Rankin score of 0–2. Delayed adverse events (AEs), occurring after discharge and during the follow-up period, occurred in 10% of patients. In total, two AEs (one severe and one moderate) were potentially related to the device, thereby providing a 2% device-related AE rate. Conclusions In this prospective, multicenter series of 100 aneurysms treated with Axium MicroFX PGLA (polyglycolic/polylactic acid) coils, 3–6 month angiographic occlusion and clinical outcomes were excellent. This study suggests that Axium MicroFX PGLA coils are safe and effective in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.
25 MV X-ray beam characteristics from a 35 MeV linear accelerator.

Abstract This manuscript presents characteristic dosimetry measurements for the 25 MV X-ray beam from the Varian Associates Clinac ® 35 linear accelerator. The quality of the beam is expressed by its attenuation as a narrow beam in lead. Percentage depth dose tables are given as a function of field size for square fields. Tissue-phantom ratios are tabulated for square field sizes. A study of the variation of the dose in the buildup region demonstrates that surface dose and the depth of maximum dose is a strong function of the field size. Other beam parameters measured and discussed include field flatness and symmetry, penumbra, and applicability of inverse square law.
Attitudes Toward Pornography in a Southern Community

* * * The Supreme Court has determined that obscene speech should not be protected under the First Amendment, but an unambiguous definition of obscenity is required if negative legal sanctions are to be enforced without jeopardizing due process. According to current guidelines, a media presentation of sexually explicit materials must exceed limits of sexual candor to be defined obscene. However, establishing such limits requires articulation of a normative standard for a specified population—a population defined by the court as being a community. The present research is designed to identify such limits of sexual candor within a community in the South. The results demonstrate the existence of ambiguity in the articulation of community standards. First, little consistency is found between personal standards and the perceptions of community standards. This lack of consistency presents a problem for jury deliberation since a single frame of reference is not available to guide jurors in reaching decisions on obscenity. Second, both perceptions of community standards and personal standards are significantly influenced by extracommunity factors of sex, age, race, education, religiosity, and moral rigidity. Existence of such effects raises the additional question of jury bias in the event that there is an overrepresentation of any one segment of the community on a jury.
Static magnetic field deformation by a ferromagnetic body

The complete moving hysteresis (CMH) Preisach model is used to calculate the deformation of a homogeneous field by a magnetizable body. The static field deformations when the squareness is set equal to zero are compared to the results obtained from boundary-element method calculations presented previously. For nonzero squareness, the effect that the presence of an irreversible magnetization makes on the static magnetic field is compared and presented. The addition of the CMH Preisach model made it possible to solve the complete hysteretic field problem. The CMH model illustrated its ability to maintain a magnetization after a 5-Oe applied field is removed. >
Current regimens and novel agents for mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Conventional treatment with immunochemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation or intensive immunochemotherapy alone has improved outcomes, but the disease remains incurable. Recent advances in basic and translational research have significantly enhanced our understanding of disease pathogenesis and have sparked the development of novel therapies. Novel agents include the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide, the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase pathway inhibitor idelalisib and the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib. Preliminary results from clinical trials, especially from studies of ibrutinib, have proven these agents to be effective. In ongoing studies, these agents are being integrated into conventional immunochemotherapy regimens to hopefully improve patient outcomes.
XMLTable Index - An Efficient Way of Indexing and Querying XML Property Data

Efficiently storing and querying XML has been widely studied in research and industrial settings. Major RDBMS vendors now support XML as a native datatype in their systems and provide physical means of storing schema agnostic XML data. Typically this data is stored in CLOBs, BLOBs, or tree forms, with path or value indices used to efficiently process XQuery and SQL queries. However, in many use case queries derived from industrial XML applications, we find that it is very common to query XML based on a group of related property data and to query on the master-detail relationships using the SQL XMLTable construct. We propose an indexing mechanism called the XMLTable Index which is more efficient than the path and value index approach for this class of queries, and provides a way to efficiently process these queries over any physical XML storage form. The XMLTable Index complements the path/value index approach, and can be enhanced in its capabilities by using it in conjunction with path, value, text and other domain indices.
Exaggerated Impact of ATP-Sensitive K+ Channels on Afferent Arteriolar Diameter in Diabetes Mellitus

Experiments were performed to determine the involvement of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channels) in the renal afferent arteriolar dilation that occurs during the hyperfiltration stage of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). IDDM was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) injection, and adequate insulin was provided to maintain moderate hyperglycemia. Sham rats received vehicle treatments. Two weeks later, afferent arteriolar function was assessed using the in vitro blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron technique. Baseline afferent arteriolar lumen diameter was greater in STZ rats (25.9 +/- 1.1 microm) than in sham rats (20.8 +/- 1.0 microm). Glibenclamide (3 to 300 microM) had virtually no effect on afferent arterioles from sham rats; however, this K(ATP) antagonist caused concentration-dependent afferent arteriolar constriction in kidneys from STZ-treated rats, restoring lumen diameter to 20.6 +/- 1.7 microm (P > 0.05 versus sham baseline). In both groups of rats, pinacidil (a cyanoguanidine K(ATP) agonist; 0.3 to 300 microM) evoked concentration-dependent afferent arteriolar dilation, indicating the functional expression of K(ATP) channels; however, lumen diameter was increased by 73% in STZ kidneys but only by 48% in sham kidneys. The gliben-clamide-sensitive afferent arteriolar dilator response to 1 microM PCO-400 (a benzopyran K(ATP) agonist) was also accentuated in STZ kidneys. These observations suggest that increases in both the functional availability and basal activation of K(ATP) channels promote afferent arteriolar vasodilation during the early stage of IDDM, changes that likely contribute to the etiology of diabetic hyperfiltration.
Contrast Extravasation on CT Angiography Predicts Hematoma Expansion and Mortality in Acute Traumatic Subdural Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The presence of active contrast extravasation at CTA predicts hematoma expansion and in-hospital mortality in patients with nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. This study aims to determine the frequency and predictive value of the contrast extravasation in patients with aSDH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 157 consecutive patients who presented to our emergency department over a 9-year period with aSDH and underwent CTA at admission and a follow-up NCCT within 48 hours. Two experienced readers, blinded to clinical data, reviewed the CTAs to assess for the presence of contrast extravasation. Medical records were reviewed for baseline clinical characteristics and in-hospital mortality. aSDH maximum width in the axial plane was measured on both baseline and follow-up NCCTs, with hematoma expansion defined as >20% increase from baseline. RESULTS: Active contrast extravasation was identified in 30 of 199 discrete aSDHs (15.1%), with excellent interobserver agreement (κ = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.7–0.9). The presence of contrast extravasation indicated a significantly increased risk of hematoma expansion (odds ratio, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.0–10.1; P = .0001) and in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 7.6; 95% CI, 2.6–22.3; P = 0.0004). In a multivariate analysis controlled for standard risk factors, the presence of contrast extravasation was an independent predictor of aSDH expansion (P = .001) and in-hospital mortality (P = .0003). CONCLUSIONS: Contrast extravasation stratifies patients with aSDH into those at high risk and those at low risk of hematoma expansion and in-hospital mortality. This distinction could affect patient treatment, clinical trial selection, and possible surgical intervention.
IR Studies on Carrageenan of Ahnfeltia concinna, a Marine Red Alga

The principal polysaccharide of Ahnfeltia concinna gave IR absorptions at 1240, 930, 845–850, and 805 cm−1, all typical of a carrageenan. The polysaccharide was separated into soluble and insoluble fractions with potassium chloride.
Bullying, Social Hierarchies, Poverty, and Health Outcomes

This Bioethics Special Supplement started out with a narrow focus on bullying. We thought that the issues associated with bullying among children and teenagers deserved the attention of bioethicists. We were specifically interested in why bullying has traditionally been treated as an almost normative childhood experience, something that is just a part of growing up, and that children should learn to deal with it on their own. The model for this benign neglect of the seriousness of bullying activities is illustrated in an anecdote recounted by Koo.1 In 1885 at King’s Boarding School in the United Kingdom, a 12-year-old boy was killed from bullying behaviors by his older classmates. The boys responsible were not punished because the bullying behavior was seen as normal and acceptable among schoolboys.1 Although attitudes about bullying have changed, there is still a tacit acceptance of behavior that in most other social contexts would be considered at least illegal if not criminal. Olweus,2 a pioneering researcher into the phenomenon of bullying, points out that the hallmark of bullying is not just that it is aggression by the powerful against the powerless, but that the aggression is repeated in a systematic, patterned way. Smith and Sharp3 focused on the ways that bullying is “a systematic abuse of power.” They point out that bullying is not done for personal gain, but instead is done primarily for the emotions and status that accompany the process of humiliating a weaker person. Bullies do not usually rob or rape their victims. They do not directly profit from bullying. If there is a gain for the bully, it is a gain in prestige, in admiration, or in the fear that it engenders in others. Another essential component of bullying is that it is repetitive. Bullies hound their victims. … Address correspondence to John Lantos, MD, Children’s Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108. E-mail: jlantos{at}cmh.edu