cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feudalism in Russia

IN approaching the problem of feudalism, the student of Russian history is in a much more difficult position than those of his colleagues who deal with feudalism in the countries of Central and Western Europe. While the student of the history of Romano-Germanic countries has to deal with a definite complex of social phenomena and institutions, the student of Russian history has first to clear the ground in order to be able to ascertain whether the same complex of social trends did exist in Russia at all. The study of feudalism in Romano-Germanic countries has age-long traditions behind it; the study of Russian feudalism began but recently. Until the close of the nineteenth century, students of Russian history were not so much interested in historical parallels with Western Europe; moreover, most of them were apt to discard the possibility of the existence in Russia of feudalism as an organized system of institutions. Such an attitude can be partly explained by the fact that the attention of the leading Russian historians of the second half of the nineteenth century (Solovyov, Klyuchevski) concentrated round the history of Eastern (Muscovite) Russia. It was only when some of them started studying the social history of Western (Lithuanian) Russia in more detail that they were confronted with social trends, the similarity of which to the institutions of RomanoGermanic Europe was so obvious that some comparison between mediaeval Russia and the west became essential. The publication of M. K. Lyubavski's monograph on the provincial administration of the Lithuanian-Russian State (1892) was an important landmark in this connection. This was followed by his second monograph on the LithuanianRussian Seim (1900).2 But the first scholar who discussed the problem of Russian feudalism on more general lines was N. P. Pavlov-Silvanski, in his study 'Feudal Relations in Mediaeval Russia' (1901). He set forth the thesis of a complete similarity between the feudal institutions of mediaeval Russia and those of mediaeval Europe. The ideas suggested in his first study were later elaborated by him in detail in his main work, Feudalism in Russia of the Appanage Period (1910).8 After the appearance of Pavlov-Silvanski's works more attention was devoted
Rapid phenotypic change and diversification of a soil bacterium during 1000 generations of experimental evolution

Evolutionary pathways open to even relatively simple organisms, such as bacteria, may lead to complex and unpredictable phenotypic changes, both adaptive and non-adaptive. The evolutionary pathways taken by 18 populations of Ralstonia strain TFD41 while they evolved in defined environments for 1000 generations were examined. Twelve populations evolved in liquid media, while six others evolved on agar surfaces. Phenotypic analyses of these derived populations identified some changes that were consistent across all populations and others that differed among them. The evolved populations all exhibited morphological changes in their cell envelopes, including reductions of the capsule in each population and reduced prostheca-like surface structures in most populations. Mean cell length increased in most populations (in one case by more than fourfold), although a few populations evolved shorter cells. Carbon utilization profiles were variable among the evolved populations, but two distinct patterns were correlated with genetic markers introduced at the outset of the experiment. Fatty acid methyl ester composition was less variable across populations, but distinct patterns were correlated with the two physical environments. All 18 populations evolved greatly increased sensitivity to bile salts, and all but one had increased adhesion to sand; both patterns consistent with changes in the outer envelope. This phenotypic diversity contrasts with the fairly uniform increases in competitive fitness observed in all populations. This diversity may represent a set of equally probable adaptive solutions to the selective environment; it may also arise from the chance fixation of non-adaptive mutations that hitchhiked with a more limited set of beneficial mutations.
Below stairs at Arbury Hall: Sir Richard Newdigate and his household staff, c.1670-1710

This article reconstructs the experience of domestic service among the menservants and maids employed in a late seventeenth-century gentry household, that of Sir Richard Newdigate, second baronet of Arbury Hall in the parish of Chilvers Coton, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire. By correlating the remarkable 1684 ‘census-type listing’ (by name, by age, by occupation, by relationship to household head) of the inhabitants of Chilvers Coton not only with the rentals generated as part of Newdigate's ‘great survey’ of his manors in 1681–4, but also with the account books in which Newdigate recorded the tasks performed by, and the wages and rewards paid to, each servant throughout the period 1678–1710, it is possible to ascertain the size, structure and participation rate of the household staff; the range of jobs undertaken and the skills thought requisite to perform them; and the relationship between work, remuneration and other types of reward among the domestic labour force.
EUS-guided FNA cytology of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PanNET): a retrospective study of 132 cases over an 18-year period in a single institution.

Objective To determine the diagnostic accuracy and pitfalls of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PanNET). Methods A search of our laboratory information system was performed from July 1992 to June 2010 to identify all FNA cytology and corresponding surgical specimens in which the diagnosis of PanNET was rendered or considered. Results One hundred and thirty-two cases diagnosed by EUS-guided FNA were collected. Histological correlation was available for 77 (58%) of FNAs; 55 patients may have been treated elsewhere or had no surgery because of advanced disease or co-morbidity. Among 56 cases diagnosed as PanNET on FNA, 54 (96%) were confirmed histologically; the remaining two were poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with focal neuroendocrine features in one case and no tumour was found in the other. Follow-up histology of nine patients diagnosed as suspicious for PanNET on FNA showed four PanNETs, two pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDA), one solid pseudopapillary tumour (SPT) and two cases of chronic pancreatitis. Nine cases rendered by FNA as atypical (n = 3), no atypical cells identified (n = 4) or unsatisfactory (n = 2) were PanNETs on histology. Lastly, three cases of oncocytic variant of PanNET were misdiagnosed on FNA as either adenocarcinoma (n = 2) or as suspicious for carcinoma (n = 1). Conclusions Overall, 54 of the 70 histologically confirmed PanNET cases (77%) were correctly diagnosed by preoperative FNA as PanNET. FNA cases designated as no atypical cells identified and unsatisfactory (7/132, 5%) were attributable to sampling error. Diagnostic pitfalls in our study mainly included PDA, SPT and chronic pancreatitis.
Nikon EUVL development progress summary

Extreme Ultra Violet Lithography (EUVL) is considered as the most promising technology below hp45nm node, following ArF immersion lithography. In this paper we would like to present significant progress on the development of EUV exposure tool with recent encouraging data of mirror polishing accuracy and evaluation results of Nikon reticle protection concept. EUV exposure tool consists of major important modules such as EUV light source, projection optics, and so on. As far as EUVL optics development is concerned, through the development of high-NA small-field EUV exposure system (HiNA), our mirror polishing and metrology technologies of aspheric mirror surface and multi-layer coating technology have been remarkably improved and enable us to fabricate high-precision aspheric mirrors which meet the specification for EUV pre-production tools called EUV1. In the EUVA (Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography System Development Association) project, we have developed new polishing technologies such as ion-beam figuring and new high-precision interferometers for aspheric surface metrology. Wave front sensor systems have been also developed partly in EUVA project. Installation of a new wave front sensor system which can be used for evaluating the full-field projection optics with EUV light has already been started in New SUBARU synchrotron facility in University of Hyogo. EUV1 tool system design and its detailed design of all modules such as full-field projection optics module, illumination optics module, vacuum body module, vacuum compatible reticle/wafer stage modules, reticle/wafer loader modules have been completed. The results of development and prototyping of major modules such as vacuum stage modules and vacuum body module have been reflected in the actual tool design. Nikon has been also heavily involved in the infrastructure development such as mask handling development. In order to meet industry demands, Nikon has been already getting into EUV1 module fabrication phase. Nikon announces that EUV1 tool is scheduled to be delivered in 1st half of 2007.
Tradeoffs between costs and greenhouse gas emissions in the design of urban transit systems

Recent investments in the transit sector to address greenhouse gas emissions have concentrated on purchasing efficient replacement vehicles and inducing mode shift from the private automobile. There has been little focus on the potential of network and operational improvements, such as changes in headways, route spacing, and stop spacing, to reduce transit emissions. Most models of transit system design consider user and agency cost while ignoring emissions and the potential environmental benefit of operational improvements. We use a model to evaluate the user and agency costs as well as greenhouse gas benefit of design and operational improvements to transit systems. We examine how the operational characteristics of urban transit systems affect both costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The research identifies the Pareto frontier for designing an idealized transit network. Modes considered include bus, bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), and metro (heavy) rail, with cost and emissions parameters appropriate for the United States. Passenger demand follows a many-to-many travel pattern with uniformly distributed origins and destinations. The approaches described could be used to optimize the network design of existing bus service or help to select a mode and design attributes for a new transit system. The results show that BRT provides the lowest cost but not the lowest emissions for our large city scenarios. Bus and LRT systems have low costs and the lowest emissions for our small city scenarios. Relatively large reductions in emissions from the cost-optimal system can be achieved with only minor increases in user travel time.
Distributed particle filters for wireless sensor network target tracking

We propose two distributed particle filters to estimate and track the moving targets in a wireless sensor network. The observations by the sensors are divided into a set of disjoint uncorrelated cliques. The first distributed algorithm runs the local particle filters sequentially at each clique. The second distributed algorithm runs the local particle filters in parallel to obtain the local sufficient statistics, and then send these statistics to a centralized location through multi-hops to obtain the final estimates. The two distributed algorithms are both almost surely convergent. In addition, we proposed to use the local Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to approximate the posteriori distribution obtained from the local particle filter. By propagating the GMM parameters rather than belief, we achieve significant bandwidth and power consumption reduction. Very promising simulation results are reported as well.
Genetic divergence within the Drosophila mayaguana subcluster, a closely related triad of Caribbean species in the repleta species group

The mayaguana triad of the Drosophila repleta species group includes D. mayaguana, D. straubae ,a ndD. parisiena, the latter two of which are very similar when examined morphologically. Many morphological characters used to define these taxa are quantitative and overlap substantially among some forms—it is only through suites of such characters that species can be identified. We apply Population Aggregation Analysis and tree building methods to five rapidly evolving gene regions—the mitochondrial AT rich region and the nuclear acetylcholinesterase, hunchback, mastermind ,a ndestigial loci to test the morphological species delineations within the morphocryptic mayaguana triad. We find that D. mayaguana is diagnosable using DNA sequences, but the other two species form a non-diagnosable paraphyletic assemblage. A single ecological factor, oviposition substrate, is an important diagnostic character distinguishing D. straubae from D. parisiena, highlighting the importance of examining a diverse array of data (morphological, molecular, ecological, and behavioral) when defining species limits.
Compact and Low Power Consumption Hybrid Integrated Wavelength Tunable Laser Module Using Silicon Waveguide Resonators

Silicon photonics is expected to reduce size and cost of photonic devices and realize large scale photonic integrated circuits for telecom and datacom applications. In this paper, we demonstrate a compact wavelength tunable laser module using hybrid integrated semiconductor optical amplifier and silicon waveguide resonators. The power consumption of the laser module is 1 W to obtain +8 dBm fiber coupled power under the module temperature of 70°C. Such integration technology broadens design flexibility of silicon-based photonic devices and their applications.
Information in the nonstationary case

Information estimates such as the direct method of Strong, Koberle, de Ruyter van Steveninck, and Bialek (1998) sidestep the difficult problem of estimating the joint distribution of response and stimulus by instead estimating the difference between the marginal and conditional entropies of the response. While this is an effective estimation strategy, it tempts the practitioner to ignore the role of the stimulus and the meaning of mutual information. We show here that as the number of trials increases indefinitely, the direct (or plug-in) estimate of marginal entropy converges (with probability 1) to the entropy of the time-averaged conditional distribution of the response, and the direct estimate of the conditional entropy converges to the time-averaged entropy of the conditional distribution of the response. Under joint stationarity and ergodicity of the response and stimulus, the difference of these quantities converges to the mutual information. When the stimulus is deterministic or nonstationary the direct estimate of information no longer estimates mutual information, which is no longer meaningful, but it remains a measure of variability of the response distribution across time.
A robust reliable stabilization scheme for single input, single output systems using transcendental methods

Abstract A stabilization scheme reliable against a single controller failure, originally proposed by Vidyasagar and Viswanadham, is analysed. A connection between the problem of robust-reliable stabilization and the problem of stabilization by a stable minimum phase compensator is established via interpolation theory.
RNAi-induced silencing of embryonic tryptophan oxygenase in the Pyralid moth, Plodia interpunctella

Gene silencing through the introduction of double-stranded RNA (RNA interference, RNAi) provides a powerful tool for the elucidation of gene function in many systems, including those where genomics and proteomics are incomplete. The use of RNAi technology for gene silencing in Lepidoptera has lacked significant attention compared to other systems. To demonstrate that RNAi can be utilized in the lepidopteran, Plodia interpunctella, we cloned a cDNA for tryptophan oxygenase, and showed that silencing of tryptophan oxygenase through RNAi during embryonic development resulted in loss of eye-color pigmentation. The complete amino acid sequence of Plodia tryptophan oxygenase can be accessed through NCBI Protein Database.
Analysis of structure and properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers

The structures of four semicrystalline PET fibers were analyzed with full-pattern (two-dimensional Rietveld) x-ray diffraction refinement, SAXS, and TMA, and compared to some of their known mechanical properties. The classical two-phase model of crystal and amorphous phases were unable to correlate structure and properties. We found that there must be a third phase, an oriented, intermediate phase, located mainly between the fibrils. About 1/3 of the intensity of fiber diffraction of the analyzed samples was contributed from such intermediate phase. For some fiber properties the intermediate phase plays a similar role as proposed for «taut tie molecules»
Analysis of clinical value of CT in the diagnosis of pediatric pneumonia and mycoplasma pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infectious disease of the lung causing mortality. Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) is an atypical bacterial pneumonia that damages several organs. Lung computed tomography (CT) has been utilized in its identification. The aim of the present study was to examine the value of computed tomography diagnosis for pediatric MP. The present study prospectively analyzed the clinical and imaging data of 1,280 cases of pediatric MP in the out- and inpatient departments from March, 2010 to March, 2014; analyzed the morphology and distribution of the pneumonic lesion in the lungs; and summarized the value of CT diagnosis for pediatric MP. In the included children, there were 688 cases of lesions in the unilateral lobe, 592 cases of lesions in the bilateral lobes, 1,101 cases of extensive patchy opacity, 496 cases of mottled opacity, 432 cases of increased lung marking, 256 cases of streak opacity, 192 cases of ground-glass opacity, 992 cases of thickened bronchial wall in the lesions, 128 cases of lymphadenopathy in the hilar lymph nodes and mediastinal lymph nodes, and the lung CT showed 32 cases of pulmonary cavity and 144 cases of pleural effusion. In conclusion, the CT signals of pediatric MP had several types with some children exhibiting complicated changes. The child's clinical manifestation and symptoms should thus be considered in the diagnosis to improve the diagnostic rate.
A simplified performance-based specification for asphalt pavements

Louisiana's current specification for asphalt pavements relies on the volumetric properties of asphalt mixtures for quality control (QC) and quality acceptance (QA). Realising the lack of fundamental correlation between the volumetric properties and the long-term pavement performance, developing a performance-based specification, which can complement the current specification with direct performance predictors, is needed. The objective of this paper is to introduce a simplified performance-oriented specification approach developed for new and rehabilitated asphalt pavements in Louisiana. The loaded wheel tracking (LWT) test-measured rut depth and semi-circular bending (SCB) test-measured fracture property (Jc) were selected as the field performance predictors for rutting and cracking, respectively. These laboratory-measured performance predictors were compared to the actual field performance of 10 pavement sections across Louisiana to establish the performance guidelines. Maximum LWT rut depths of 10 and ...
A 5-D Localization Method for a Magnetically Manipulated Untethered Robot Using a 2-D Array of Hall-Effect Sensors

This paper introduces a new 5-D localization method for an untethered meso-scale magnetic robot, which is manipulated by a computer-controlled electromagnetic system. The developed magnetic localization setup is a 2-D array (8 × 8) of mono-axial Hall-effect sensors, which measure the perpendicular magnetic fields at their given positions. We introduce two steps for localizing a magnetic robot more accurately. First, the dipole-modeled magnetic field of the electromagnet is subtracted from the measured data in order to determine the robot's magnetic field. Second, the subtracted magnetic field is twice differentiated in the perpendicular direction of the array, so that the effect of the electromagnetic field in the localization process is minimized. Five variables regarding the position and orientation of the robot are determined by minimizing the error between the measured magnetic field and the modeled magnetic field in an optimization method. The resulting position error is 2.1 $\pm$ 0.8 mm and angular error is 6.7 $\pm$ 4.3 $^\circ$ within the applicable range (5 cm) of magnetic field sensors at 200 Hz. The proposed localization method would be used for the position feedback control of untethered magnetic devices or robots for medical applications in the future.
On a problem of Erdős and Rado

We give some improved estimates for the digraph Ramsey numbersr(Kn*,Lm), the smallest numberp such that any digraph of orderp either has an independent set ofn vertices or contains a transitive tournament of orderm.
Indirect methods for estimating the normal range.

Normal ranges for laboratory tests are customarily determined by results of test values from healthy persons. Patients’ laboratory test results recently have been analyzed by statistical and computer technics in an effort to obtain indirect estimates of the normal ranges. The present study was designed to examine the accuracy of normal ranges estimated indirectly by the following methods: normal probability graphs, truncated normal graphs, Pryce’s convention, average of normals unadjusted and adjusted procedures, and composite normal distributions. The estimated ranges were evaluated using the normal ranges determined concurrently on healthy adults as a standard of reference. The results revealed that the indirect estimates based on test results from adult hospital patients were quite inaccurate, because the estimated means were shifted significantly toward pathologic values and the estimated standard deviations were unacceptably wide.
The pluralisms of American "religious pluralism"

Religious pluralism is an important fact, as well as a significant factor, in our society and in our world. However, like many so-called facts, what religious pluralism really means depends not so much on the fact of religious pluralism itself, but upon how one interprets the meaning and significance of this fact. For example, our understanding of the fact of religious pluralism depends, in part at least, upon what is meant by "religious." If "religious" is identified with Christianity or a belief in God, then our conception of religious pluralism includes only those individuals and communities that fit under the umbrella of Chris
Abstract 3106: Collagen-mediated chromatin remodeling promotes chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, is associated with a pronounced collagen-rich stromal reaction that has been shown to contribute to chemo-resistance. We have previously shown that PDAC cells grown in the collagen microenvironment are resistant to gemcitabine-induced proliferation- and checkpoint-arrest (Dangi-Garimella et al, Cancer Research 2011). The effects were mediated by ERK1/2-dependent expression of high mobility group A2 (HMGA2), a well-known chromatin remodeling protein. We have now found that relative to cells grown on tissue culture plastic, PDAC cells grown in 3D collagen display increased acetylation of lysines K9 and K27 on histone H3 along with a reduction in the levels of the heterochromatin binding protein HP1-α, suggesting that cells in collagen have a more open chromatin state. Decreasing HMGA2 expression or inhibiting ERK1/2 activity attenuates the effect of collagen on K9 and K27 acetylation. 3D collagen also promotes expression of the histone acetyl transferase (HAT) enzymes PCAF and GCN5 through increased HMGA2 expression and ERK1/2 activation. Additionally, human PDAC tumors display higher histone acetylation near fibrotic regions that also have increased HMGA2 expression. Finally, cells in 3D matrix demonstrate increased H2AX and a reduced tailing with the comet assay following gemcitabine treatment, suggesting that there is increased DNA repair associated with the more open chromatin state when cells are in the 3D collagen microenvironment. Downregulation of HATs along with inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation attenuates gemcitabine-induced H2AX detected in 3D collagen. Overall, our results increase our understanding of how growth in 3D collagen contributes to chemo-resistance and identify potential therapeutic targets against this deadly cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3106. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3106
Cardiocyte contractile performance in experimental biventricular volume- overload hypertrophy

Previous studies have shown that the right ventricle (RV) appears to tolerate volume overloading better than does the left ventricle (LV). To determine whether this dichotomous response is due to intrinsic differences in the contractile performance of volume hypertrophied RV vs. LV cardiac muscle cells, or cardiocytes, we characterized the contractile performance of cardiocytes isolated from an experimental feline model of biventricular volume overload (n = 7 cats), wherein a peripheral arteriovenous fistula (AVF) produced an identical duration and degree of volume overload for both ventricles; sham-operated cats served as the appropriate controls (n = 7). Cardiocyte contractile function was defined by laser diffraction measurement of sarcomere motion. For the AVF cats, there was a 2.4-fold increase in cardiac output, a significant increase in the RV and LV weight-to-body weight ratios, and a significant increase in cell surface area for the RV and LV cardiocytes. Despite this, cardiocyte contractile function in the AVF cats was entirely normal. Thus there was no significant difference between RV and LV cardiocytes from control cats in the extent or velocity of sarcomere shortening either in 1 cP superfusate or in higher viscosity superfusates, and comparison of RV and LV cells from the AVF cats to those from sham-operated cats again revealed no significant differences. Furthermore, cardiocyte relengthening properties showed no significant differences between AVF and control groups. In summary, this study shows that contractile dysfunction is not an inherent property of either RV or LV cardiac muscle cells hypertrophying in response to substantial volume overloading when preload is increased but afterload is normal.
Survey on Nutrient Supplements Adding to Infants Aged 4～12 Months in Rural Area of Shunyi District of Beijing City

[Objective]To understand the status of nutrient supplements adding to infants aged 4～12 months in rural area of Shunyi District of Beijing City.[Methods]On-site questionnaire survey was adopted to investigate the main feeders of 137 4～12 months old infants who were selected by cluster random sampling about the intake of nutrient supplements.[Results]The adding rate of nutrient supplements was 89.1%,the main nutriments were vitamin A,vitamin D,calcium,with adding rate of 83.2%,83.2%,78.1%,respectively.The adding rate of vitamin A,vitamin D and calcium in infants aged 4～9 months was significantly lower than that of infants aged 10～12 months,the differences were significant(Vitamin A,D χ2 = 4.410,P= 0.036;calcium χ2=5.253,P=0.022).The adding quantity of the above 3 nutrient supplements on 101 infants aged 4～9 months per person per day was 348 μg,9.7 μg,91 mg,respectively which met the standards of Chinese residents Distary Reference Intakes(DRIS) of 87.0%,97.0%,22.0%.While comparatively,for the 36 10～12 months old infants,the adding quantity of the above 3 nutrients supplement per person per day was 540 μg,8.8 μg,138 mg,respectively which also met the standards of DRIS of 108.0%,88.0%,23.0%.Whether supplementing vitamin A,vitamin D and calcium or not was significantly different between infants feeders with different awareness of nutrient supplements(vitamin A,vitamin Dt=-4.076,P= 0.000;calciumt=-3.750,P=0.000).[Conclusion]For 137 infants aged 4～12 months in Shunyi District,the nutrient supplements are not balanced.The average level of vitamin A is higher than DRIS,while the average level of calcium is lower than DRIS.
State minimization of SP-DEVS

If there exists a minimization method of DEVS in terms of behavioral equivalence, it will be very useful for analysis of huge and complex DEVS models. This paper shows a polynomial-time state minimization method for a class of DEVS, called schedule-preserved DEVS (SP-DEVS) whose states are finite. We define the behavioral equivalence of SP-DEVS and propose two algorithms of compression and clustering operation which are used in the minimization method.
Patient delay in seeking help for potential breast cancer

BACKGROUND Patient delay in seeking medical attention could be a contributing cause in a substantial number of breast cancer deaths. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with long delay in order to identify specific groups in need of more intensive education regarding the signs of breast cancer and the importance of early treatment. METHODS A study of 162 women with potential breast cancer symptoms was done in the area of Worcester, MA. Two methods of analysis were used. A case-control approach was used where the outcome variable was categorized into two groups of longer and shorter delay, and a survival analysis was used where the outcome variable was treated as a continuous variable. RESULTS It was found that women with increasing symptoms were more likely to delay than women whose symptoms either decreased or remained the same. Women performing monthly breast self-examination and/or receiving at least bi-annual mammograms were much less likely to delay than women who performed breast self-examination or received mammograms less often. It was also found that women using family practitioners were less likely to delay than women using other types of physicians. CONCLUSIONS Patient delay continues to be a major problem in breast cancer, as 16% of the women here delayed at least two months before seeking help. This study presented a new and improved method for defining patient delay, which should be explored further in larger studies.
Total correction of transposition of the great arteries: Conduction disturbances in infants younger than three months of age

Although total physiological correction of d-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) is technically feasible in infants, the optimal age for correction has remained controversial because of concern regarding major life-threatening arrhythmias and the long-term results of the intra-atrial baffle procedure. During a 3 year period, 54 children aged 4 days to 5 years, including 24 infants aged 3 months or younger, underwent the baffle procedure. Thirty-two children had simple transposition and underwent only placement of a pericardial baffle; no deaths occurred in this group. Twenty-two had complex transposition requiring in addition closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) and/or resection of outflow tract obstruction; there were four hospital and two late deaths in this group. A single operative approach was used in all patients. Sinus rhythm was present at discharge in 85 percent of the infants and 76 percent of the older children. Three factors--age, mode of cardiopulmonary support, and complexity of the lesion--influenced these results.
Consumers’ Participation in the Service Postencounter and their Attributions for their Performance: The Case of University Students

Different Levels of customer participation are inevitable in services production and delivery. The current conceptualization of the service delivery process focuses mainly on the relationship between the provider and the customer during the service encounter.
Enrollment of Specialty Mental Health Clinics in a State Medicaid Program to Promote General Medical Services

Objective:To promote integrated general medical care for individuals with serious mental illness, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) established regulations allowing specialty mental health clinics to provide Medicaid-reimbursable health monitoring (HM) and health physicals (HP). This study examined clinics’ enrollment in this program to understand its potential to reach individuals with serious mental illness.Methods:Information on enrollment and characteristics of clinics (N=500) was obtained from OMH administrative databases. Clinic enrollment in the HM/HP program was examined for the program’s first five years (2010–2015). Logistic regression models accounting for the clustering of multiple clinics within agencies were used to examine characteristics associated with enrollment.Results:A total of 291 of 500 (58%) licensed clinics in New York State in 2015 enrolled in the HM/HP program, potentially reaching 62% of all Medicaid enrollees with serious mental illness seen in specialty mental ...
Water Distribution, Dynamics, and Interactions with Alzheimer’s β-Amyloid Fibrils Investigated by Solid-State NMR

Water is essential for protein folding and assembly of amyloid fibrils. Internal water cavities have been proposed for several amyloid fibrils, but no direct structural and dynamical data have been reported on the water dynamics and site-specific interactions of water with the fibrils. Here we use solid-state NMR spectroscopy to investigate the water interactions of several Aβ40 fibrils. 1H spectral lineshapes, T2 relaxation times, and two-dimensional (2D) 1H–13C correlation spectra show that there are five distinct water pools: three are peptide-bound water, while two are highly dynamic water that can be assigned to interfibrillar water and bulk-like matrix water. All these water pools are associated with the fibrils on the nanometer scale. Water-transferred 2D correlation spectra allow us to map out residue-specific hydration and give evidence for the presence of a water pore in the center of the three-fold symmetric wild-type Aβ40 fibril. In comparison, the loop residues and the intramolecular strand–s...
Risk Factors for Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a complex disease process that requires hospitalization both for diagnostic workup and clinical management. It is important to identify the underlying cause of AP, as the respective management can greatly vary. The main causes of acute pancreatitis are alcohol and gallstones, followed by idiopathic, hypertriglyceridemia, hereditary, autoimmune, infection, medication/toxin, malignancy, trauma/surgery, and iatrogenic-related pancreatitis. Certain AP causes lead to recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) and eventually to chronic pancreatitis (CP). CP is characterized by chronic upper abdominal pain and pancreatic insufficiency. Alcohol continues to represent the most common cause of CP. Due to the diverse etiologies of pancreatitis, the respective risk factors and management strategies are discussed in detail in the following chapter.
Out of the Horrors of War: Disability Politics in World War II America: Jennings, Audra Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania 296 pp., $55.00, ISBN 978–0812248517 Publication Date: September 2016

In Out of the Horrors of War, Audra Jennings examines the goals, successes, and failures of the American Federation of the Physically Handicapped (AFPH), one of the first cross-disability rights gr...
Self-Awareness and Radical Healing

This chapter, “Self-awareness and radical healing,” examines the development of the mind, body, heart, spirit, and social consciousness so that students are more equipped to grapple with understandings of self, other, and purpose in the world. The chapter explores positionality (how one sees the world and is seen in the world according to race, class, culture, gender, ability, citizenship, sexual identity and orientation, etc.), identity development, intersectionality, interconnectedness, actualizing a love ethic, mindfulness and self-realization practices, personal trauma and the traumas of injustice, and the role of radical healing for individuals and communities.
Brain Iron Mediates the Relationship Between Cognition and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status in Youth

Non-heme iron is a critical metabolic cofactor essential for healthy development. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world, with greater prevalence of non-heme iron deficiency among individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES). However, it remains unknown how brain iron accumulation during development may impact cognition. Brain iron can be measured in vivo using R2* weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we used R2* MRI to quantify iron in the basal ganglia (BG) in a large sample of youth ages 8-23 imaged as part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (N=1,147, 54% female). Mean R2* signal within each bilateral BG region was modeled using generalized additive models with penalized splines to capture both linear and nonlinear developmental effects. As expected from prior reports, R2* increased in the BG throughout youth (all regions pfdr<0.001). Across all ages, lower R2* levels in the caudate (pfdr<0.02) was associated with diminished cognitive performance. Lower neighborhood SES was associated with both diminished cognition (p<0.001), as well as lower R2* in the caudate (pfdr=0.02). Critically, the relationship between cognition and SES was significantly mediated by caudate R2* (p=0.007). Taken together, these results suggest that brain iron is important for facilitating cognitive development in youth, and may provide a mechanism by which public health interventions focused on improving nutrition in low SES neighborhoods might aid cognitive development.
Marketing Approaching for the Standards of Approved Textbooks in Study Plans of Jordanian Universities

The present study aimed at identifying the extent of the existence of marketing approaching for the Standards of Approved textbooks in study plans of Jordanian Universities. The sample consisted of (232) staff members. The descriptive, analytical method, and (T-Test) were used for the dual comparisons in testing the hypotheses. Results showed that there was marketing approaching in the four standards (General standards in the marketing of approved textbooks, the publisher responsibility variable, Standards concerning the rights and responsibilities of the parties who are involved in the exchange of approved textbooks, standards variable which is related to the elements of marketing mix of the approved textbooks) for the accredited textbooks in Jordanian universities study plans. In light of the findings, it was recommended that special emphasis should be given to commitment of publishers "textbooks distributors" by the general standards of textbooks marketing.
Principles of Diagnosis

The approach to a patient with skin disease does not differ markedly from the approach to any other patient. Data are collected from a history and physical examination (and sometimes from the laboratory), a differential diagnosis is generated, and the best diagnosis is selected.
Progress Toward Radiation-Pressure-Enabled Traceable Laser Sources

Radiation pressure has recently been shown to have practical application for multi-kilowatt laser power measurement. One key advantage lies in its ability to measure without absorbing the laser beam. This enables a new measurement paradigm where laser power can be measured traceable to the SI without perturbing the beam. Combining this measurement scheme with a laser constitutes a “traceable source” where laser output power is traceable to the SI in real time. This greatly simplifies the calibration process for multi-kilowatt laser power meters and yields a path to high-accuracy laser-based material processing.
Dopamine effects on frontal cortical blood flow and motor inhibition in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by dysfunction in frontal cortical and striatal networks that regulate action control. We investigated the pharmacological effect of dopamine agonist replacement therapy on frontal cortical activity and motor inhibition. Using Arterial Spin Labeling MRI, we examined 26 PD patients in the off- and on-dopamine agonist medication states to assess the effect of dopamine agonists on frontal cortical regional cerebral blood flow. Motor inhibition was measured by the Simon task in both medication states. We applied the dual process activation suppression model to dissociate fast response impulses from motor inhibition of incorrect responses. General linear regression model analyses determined the medication effect on regional cerebral blood flow and motor inhibition, and the relationship between regional cerebral blood flow and motor inhibitory proficiency. We show that dopamine agonist administration increases frontal cerebral blood flow, particularly in the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Higher regional blood flow in the pre-SMA, DLPFC and motor cortex was associated with better inhibitory control, suggesting that treatments which improve frontal cortical activity could ameliorate motor inhibition deficiency in PD patients.
Malignant Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast: Association Between Race, Clinical Features, and Outcomes.

Abstract Background We sought to investigate associations between race, clinical characteristics, and outcomes among patients with malignant phyllodes of the breast. Methods Malignant phyllodes cases were identified using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database. We used chi-square tests to compare characteristics between racial groups and multinomial logistic regression to calculate relative risk ratios (RRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the likelihood of having particular characteristics by race. Survival analyses included Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier functions. Results Among 1202 patients included, mean age was 51.7 y and 55.2% were white. Compared to whites, blacks were younger (mean age 45.7 versus 55.1 y; P 100 mm (RRR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.56-4.05) than tumors ≤ 50 mm in size. Compared to whites, Hispanics were younger (mean age 46.7 versus 55.1 y; P 100 mm (RRR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.03-2.52) than tumors ≤ 50 mm in size, and more likely to have tumors that extended beyond the breast tissue (RRR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.05-3.31), compared to whites. Survival was similar for blacks (HR = 1.48; 95% CI: 0.80-2.76), Hispanics (HR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.54-1.93), and Asians (HR = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.63-2.01) compared to whites. Conclusions Further research into factors contributing to extensive disease at presentation among minorities is warranted.
Variation in Acer saccharum Marshall (Sugar Maple) Bark and Stemflow Characteristics: Implications for Epiphytic Bryophyte Communities

Past studies have demonstrated successions of epiphyte communities on trees of progressively larger diameters, suggesting the existence of temporal resource-gradients associated with aging/growing phorophyte hosts. The objective of this study was to identify possible resource gradients associated with the diameter/age of Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) in northern New York. We determined epiphytic bryophyte cover by species on 102 Sugar Maples (min–max = 11–84 cm diameter at breast height) from 12 Adirondack northern hardwood forest stands. We extracted a 12.6-cm2 bark sample from each tree to analyze in the laboratory for moisture-holding capacity, surface-moisture availability, drying rates, and leachate cation and nitrogen concentrations. We collected throughfall and stemflow from 15 trees (19–79 cm dbh) at a separate site over the course of a growing season and analyzed samples for cation and nitrogen concentrations. Bark mass per unit surface area (g cm-2) was positively correlated with tree diameter, reflecting increasing bark thickness with age. Bark moisture-holding capacity (H2O as % dry mass) was independent of tree diameter, but bark surface-moisture availability (g H2O cm-2 bark) increased with diameter as a result of thickening bark. Bark drying rates were negatively correlated with bark mass (thickness). Cation (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+) concentrations in bark leachate were all positively correlated with tree diameter, but NH4+ and DON concentrations varied independently of tree diameter, and NO3- concentrations were typically below detection limits. Stemflow became enriched 10- to 20-fold with dissolved cations but not with dissolved nitrogen. Percent cover of several mesophytic and calciphilic epiphytes (e.g., Anomodon rugelii, Brachythecium laetum, Neckera pennata, and Porella platyphylla) were positively correlated with cation concentration in bark leachate, bark thickness, and moisture availability, and negatively correlated with bark drying rate. The results of this study are consistent with hypotheses that increased moisture and nutrient availability and slower drying rates of bark on large-diameter trees may account for increasing total cover and species richness of bryophtyes and increasing dominance of mesophytic and calciphilic bryophytes on larger trees. We extend McCune's similar gradient hypothesis with an analogous set of nutrient-based gradients, and offer an alternative mechanism for McCune's original time-based moisture gradient.
Analytical techniques for cell fractions. XXI. Two-dimensional analysis of serum and tissue proteins: multiple isoelectric focusing.

Abstract Two-dimensional electrophoresis, using isoelectric focusing in one dimension and electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate in the second, yields the highest resolution separation of proteins and protein subunits thus far obtained. For general research use, for genetic screening, and for clinical studies, it is important to be able to make these analyses easily, relatively rapidly, and reproducibly. This paper describes a device and methods for casting up to 20 isoelectric focusing gels in parallel, for running them in the same apparatus, and for recovering them in preparation for the second-dimension separations.
Genomic profiling: Shared decision making and emotional well-being among patients with metastatic genitourinary cancers.

31Background: Little is known regarding patients’ beliefs concerning genomic profiling (GP) and its potential association with emotional well-being. We examined essential components of shared decis...
Algorithmic Foundations of Realizing Multi-Contact Locomotion on the Humanoid Robot DURUS

This paper presents the meta-algorithmic approach used to realize multi-contact walking on the humanoid robot, DURUS. This systematic methodology begins by decomposing human walking into a sequence of distinct events (e.g. heel-strike, toe-strike, and toe push-off). These events are converted into an alternating sequence of domains and guards, resulting in a hybrid system model of the locomotion. Through the use of a direct collocation based optimization framework, a walking gait is generated for the hybrid system model emulating human-like multi-contact walking behaviors – additional constraints are iteratively added and shaped from experimental evaluation to reflect the machine’s practical limitations. The synthesized gait is analyzed directly on hardware wherein feedback regulators are introduced which stabilize the walking gait, e.g., modulating foot placement. The end result is an energyoptimized walking gait that is physically implementable on hardware. The novelty of this work lies in the creation of a systematic approach for developing dynamic walking gaits on 3D humanoid robots: from formulating the hybrid system model to gait optimization to experimental validation refined to produce multi-contact 3D walking in experiment.