cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioelectrical impedance phase angle as a prognostic indicator in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an easy-to-use, non-invasive and reproducible technique to evaluate changes in body composition and nutritional status. Phase angle, determined by BIA, has been found to be a prognostic indicator in several chronic conditions, such as HIV, liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, and in patients undergoing dialysis. The present study investigated the prognostic role of phase angle in advanced pancreatic cancer. We evaluated a case series of fifty-eight stage IV pancreatic cancer patients treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America w at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Zion, IL, USA) between January 2000 and July 2003. BIA was conducted on all patients using a bioelectrical impedance analyser that operated at 50 kHz. The phase angle was calculated as capacitance (Xc)/resistance (R) and expressed in degrees. The Kaplan‐ Meier method was used to calculate survival. Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to evaluate the prognostic effect of phase angle independent of other clinical and nutritional variables. The correlations between phase angle and traditional nutritional measures were evaluated using Pearson and Spearman coefficients. Patients with phase angle ,5·08 had a median survival time of 6·3 (95 % CI 3·5, 9·2) months (n 29), while those with phase angle .5·08 had a median survival time of 10·2 (95 % CI 9·6, 10·8) months (n 29); this difference was statistically significant (P¼ 0·02). The present study demonstrates that phase angle is a strong prognostic indicator in advanced pancreatic cancer. Similar studies in other cancer settings with larger sample sizes are needed to further validate the prognostic significance of the phase angle. Pancreatic cancer: Bioelectrical impedance analysis: Phase angle: Survival time
Affine projections of polynomials: extended abstract

An m-variate polynomial f is said to be an affine projection of some n-variate polynomial g if there exists an nm matrix A and an n-dimensional vector b such that f(x)=g(Ax+b). In other words, if f can be obtained by replacing each variable of g by an affine combination of the variables occurring in f, then it is said to be an affine projection of g. Some well known problems (such as the determinant versus permanent and matrix multiplication for example) are instances of this problem. Given f and g can we determine whether f is an affine projection of g? The intention of this paper is to understand the complexity of the corresponding computational problem: given polynomials f and g find A and b such that f=g(Ax+b), if such an (Ab) exists. We first show that this is an NP-hard problem. We then focus our attention on instances where g is a member of some fixed, well known family of polynomials so that the input consists only of the polynomial f(x) having m variables and degree d. We consider the situation where f(x) is given to us as a blackbox (i.e. for any point aFm we can query the blackbox and obtain f(a) in one step) and devise randomized algorithms with running time poly(mnd) in the following special cases. Firstly where g is the Permanent (respectively the Determinant) of an nxn matrix and A is of rank n2. Secondly where g is the sum of powers polynomial (respectively the sum of products polynomial), and A is a random matrix of the appropriate dimensions (also d should not be too small).
Substrate-dependent growth of atmospheric pressure chemically vapor deposited silicon dioxide from dichlorosilane and oxygen

Abstract Silicon dioxide film growth from dichlorosilane and oxygen displayed a strong substrate dependence. Films were deposited on silicon and various glass substrates. The presence of sodium in the substrate enhanced film growth rates by as much as an order of magnitude over growth rates on alkali-free substrates. The high mobility of sodium in the growing films caused there to be a significant concentration of sodium at the film-gas interface when sodium was present in the substrate. An explanation is proposed in which sodium catalyzes the decomposition of dichlorosilane.
Age- and Sex-Specific Nociceptive Response to Endothelin-1

Abstract Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a chemical mediator released by the body at sites of injury and disease. This study tests the hypothesis that ET-1–induced nociception changes with age and sex. Intraplantar ET-1 (1.1 and 3.3 nmol) produced age-specific paw flinching and licking (postnatal day 7 > 21 > 60). The onset and duration of the nociceptive responses was dependent on age. Postnatal day (P) 21 and 60 rats displayed an immediate onset of behavior that subsided with time, whereas the P7 rats had a delayed behavioral response that onset at 20 minutes after ET-1 administration and continued beyond the 75 minute observation period. P7 males showed greater paw flinching compared with females. In addition to spontaneous nociceptive behaviors, ET-1 produced mechanical allodynia in all ages. As with spontaneous nociception, ET-1–induced mechanical allodynia was of a longer duration in the younger aged rats compared with adult rats. These findings show that ET-1 produces both spontaneous nociceptive behaviors and evoked mechanical allodynia in both young and adult rats but that the temporal profile and the size of the responses are age- and sex-dependent. These findings are the first description of age- and sex-specific ET-1–induced nociception. Perspective Endothelin-1 is a vasoactive peptide released into the systemic circulation after stress and cold pain as well as locally in tissue after injury and disease. These findings suggest greater pain to stimuli that release endogenous endothelin in younger versus older organisms. This developmental approach to studying ET-1–induced pain further illustrates the need for understanding pain mechanisms as a function of the development of the organism so as to better treat pain across the life span.
The economics of biomass energy: A case study from Hawaii

Abstract The thesis that the cost-effective conversion of Hawaii's biomass sources to electricity can be best accomplished by a central power plant is developed and empirically tested using a multiperiod linear programming model. The results also suggest that it is cheaper to produce electric power from a biomass-fueled plant than from a fuel oil-based facility.
Boosting text extraction from biomedical images using text region detection

In this paper, we show that domain-optimized text detection in biomedical images is important for boosting text extraction recall via off-the-shelf OCR engines. Methodologically, we contrast OCR performance when processing raw biomedical images, compared to preprocessing those images, and performing OCR on detected image text regions only. To quantify OCR extraction results, we rely on a gold standard image text corpus with manually identified image text strings. To demonstrate the positive effect on biomedical image retrieval, we apply image text detection and extraction to a large corpus of biomedical images in the Yale Image Finder system. We show that improved text extraction results in the retrieval of a larger number of relevant images for a set of domain-relevant keyword searches.
Generalization of a Semantic-Syntactic Structure:

Two experiments examined the development of generative responding and the generalization of these responses with young children. In both experiments a model emitted personified sentences attributing human actions or characteristics to a nonhuman noun, and subjects were reinforced for emitting responses that were personified but were different from the model's and thus "generative." In Experiment I each response by the model was followed by a response of the subject to the same noun. In Experiment 2 the model emitted personified responses to five nouns, and the subject was then reinforced for personified responses to five different nouns. Both experiments developed generative responding, although this developed more quickly in Experiment 2. In Experiment 2 responding during "probes" appeared more controlled by the reinforcement contingencies and less by the model's "incorrect" responses than in Experiment 1. Most significantly, in Experiment 2, unlike Experiment 1, generative responding persisted during ge...
The influence of chlorambucil on IUD-induced uterine neutrophils.

Abstract The present investigation was designed to study the effect of chlorambucil on IUD-induced uterine neutrophils on day five of gestation and the number of implantation sites on day 10 of pregnancy in order to get a better understanding of the relationship between uterine neutrophils and implantation in IUD animals. A silk IUD (No. 3-0) was placed in one uterine horn of adult Holtzman rats, and they were divided into groups according to treatment. In group I the animals received chlorambucil for five consecutive days and were autopsied on the fifth day of treatment. In group II the rats were treated in a similar manner but were mated the day following the last drug treatment and killed on the fifth and 10th days of gestation. The control rats in groups III and IV were treated as in the previous groups except that the vehicle was administered instead of the drug. Regardless of treatment, no implantation sites were observed in the IUD horns but they were present in the control horns. On the fifth day of gestation in the chlorambucil-treated rats, the number of neutrophils was significantly greater than at the end of the five-day drug treatment. The observations show that chlorambucil is not effective in maintaining the suppression of neutrophils throughout the preimplantation period. The data add further support to the concept that neutrophils have a major role in suppressing implantation in the IUD uterine horns.
The multiple vigilance test

The multiple vigilance test is a 30-min signal detection task designed to assess performance. Sixty target and 180 nontarget stimuli are presented with random interstimulus intervals ranging from 4 to 11 sec. Subjects respond by pressing the spacebar (or microswitch in an alternate version of the program) when they see the masking pattern transformed into the target. This vigilance test is used in conjunction with measures of physiological sleepiness (Multiple Sleep Latency Test) and subjective sleepiness (Stanford Sleepiness Scale). This behavioral information concerning manifest sleepiness provides a more complete picture of a subject’s state of alertness. The assessment of vigilance during long, monotonous, nonstimulating tasks is clinically important in patients with disorders of sleep and arousal.
Gasdynamic effects of shock-flame interactions in an explosive gas

Stationary states produced by shock-flame interaction in detonative gas under constraint of constant cross-sectional area of tube
Matriptase-3 is a novel phylogenetically preserved membrane-anchored serine protease with broad serpin reactivity.

We report in the present study the bioinformatic identification, molecular cloning and biological characterization of matriptase-3, a novel membrane-anchored serine protease that is phylogenetically preserved in fish, birds, rodents, canines and primates. The gene encoding matriptase-3 is located on syntenic regions of human chromosome 3q13.2, mouse chromosome 16B5, rat chromosome 11q21 and chicken chromosome 1. Bioinformatic analysis combined with cDNA cloning predicts a functional TTSP (type II transmembrane serine protease) with 31% amino acid identity with both matriptase/MT-SP1 and matriptase-2. This novel protease is composed of a short N-terminal cytoplasmic region followed by a transmembrane domain, a stem region with one SEA, two CUB and three LDLRa (low-density lipoprotein receptor domain class A) domains and a C-terminal catalytic serine protease domain. Transcript analysis revealed restricted, species-conserved expression of matriptase-3, with the highest mRNA levels in brain, skin, reproductive and oropharyngeal tissues. The full-length matriptase-3 cDNA directed the expression of a 90 kDa N-glycosylated protein that localized to the cell surface, as assessed by cell-surface biotin labelling. The purified activated matriptase-3 serine protease domain expressed in insect cells hydrolysed synthetic peptide substrates, with a strong preference for Arg at position P1, and showed proteolytic activity towards several macromolecular substrates, including gelatin, casein and albumin. Interestingly, activated matriptase-3 formed stable inhibitor complexes with an array of serpins, including plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, protein C inhibitor, α1-proteinase inhibitor, α2-antiplasmin and antithrombin III. Our study identifies matriptase-3 as a novel biologically active TTSP of the matriptase subfamily having a unique expression pattern and post-translational regulation.
New Organizational Forms for Enhancing Innovation: The Case of Internal Corporate Joint Ventures

Organizations have increasingly turned to alternative organizational forms such as joint ventures and internal corporate ventures to enhance innovation. The present study examines the use of a similar, newly-developing organizational form for purposes of innovation; namely, the internal corporate joint venture ICJV, which has characteristics of both traditional joint ventures and internal corporate venturing. This study presents an industry-specific analysis of innovation across 53 ICJV's hospital/physician group combinations, using qualitative and quantitative analyses to identify those factors most strongly associated with the degree of innovativeness in these new organizations. The empirical findings suggest three factors most significantly associated with innovation in the ICJV's in our sample: 1 age similarity among organizational members, 2 the sponsoring organization's orientation towards innovation, and 3 ICJV participation in integrative activities with the sponsoring organization. The study concludes by suggesting that greater attention be devoted to studying "nested innovation," i.e., innovation within a new organizational form that is itself an administrative innovation.
Clonal evolution in relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia revealed by whole-genome sequencing

Most patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) die from progressive disease after relapse, which is associated with clonal evolution at the cytogenetic level. To determine the mutational spectrum associated with relapse, we sequenced the primary tumour and relapse genomes from eight AML patients, and validated hundreds of somatic mutations using deep sequencing; this allowed us to define clonality and clonal evolution patterns precisely at relapse. In addition to discovering novel, recurrently mutated genes (for example, WAC, SMC3, DIS3, DDX41 and DAXX) in AML, we also found two major clonal evolution patterns during AML relapse: (1) the founding clone in the primary tumour gained mutations and evolved into the relapse clone, or (2) a subclone of the founding clone survived initial therapy, gained additional mutations and expanded at relapse. In all cases, chemotherapy failed to eradicate the founding clone. The comparison of relapse-specific versus primary tumour mutations in all eight cases revealed an increase in transversions, probably due to DNA damage caused by cytotoxic chemotherapy. These data demonstrate that AML relapse is associated with the addition of new mutations and clonal evolution, which is shaped, in part, by the chemotherapy that the patients receive to establish and maintain remissions.
Patterning Hybrid Surfaces of Proteins and Supported Lipid Bilayers

Two methods for patterning surfaces with supported lipid bilayers and immobilized protein are described. First, proteins are used to fabricate corrals for supported lipid bilayers. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) stamps are used to deposit arbitrarily shaped patterns of thin layers of immobilized protein onto glass surfaces. This is followed by vesicle fusion into the regions that are not coated with proteins. Second, supported bilayer membranes are blotted to remove patterned regions of the membrane,1 and the blotted regions are filled in or caulked with protein from solution. In both cases, the lipid bilayer regions exhibit lateral fluidity, but each region is confined or corralled by the protein. These two methods can be combined and used iteratively to create arrays with increasing lateral complexity in both the fixed protein and mobile-supported membrane regions for biophysical studies or cell-based assays.
Conceptual design of aeroelastic structures by topology optimization

A topology optimization methodology is presented for the conceptual design of aeroelastic structures accounting for the fluid–structure interaction. The geometrical layout of the internal structure, such as the layout of stiffeners in a wing, is optimized by material topology optimization. The topology of the wet surface, that is, the fluid–structure interface, is not varied. The key components of the proposed methodology are a Sequential Augmented Lagrangian method for solving the resulting large-scale parameter optimization problem, a staggered procedure for computing the steady-state solution of the underlying nonlinear aeroelastic analysis problem, and an analytical adjoint method for evaluating the coupled aeroelastic sensitivities. The fluid–structure interaction problem is modeled by a three-field formulation that couples the structural displacements, the flow field, and the motion of the fluid mesh. The structural response is simulated by a three-dimensional finite element method, and the aerodynamic loads are predicted by a three-dimensional finite volume discretization of a nonlinear Euler flow. The proposed methodology is illustrated by the conceptual design of wing structures. The optimization results show the significant influence of the design dependency of the loads on the optimal layout of flexible structures when compared with results that assume a constant aerodynamic load.
Optimization of Germanium (Ge) $\hbox{n}^{+}/\hbox{p}$ and $\hbox{p}^{+}/\hbox{n}$ Junction Diodes and Sub 380 $^{\circ}\hbox{C}$ Ge CMOS Technology for Monolithic Three-Dimensional Integration

In this paper, we optimize and investigate Ge n+/p and p+/n junction diodes formed by Co metal-induced dopant activation technique at the activation temperature range between 300 °C and 420 °C in terms of on/ off-current ratio. Combining this low-temperature n+/p and p+/n junction formation technique with a low-temperature gate stack comprised of Al/Al2O3/GeO2 by ozone oxidation technique, we demonstrate n- and p-channel Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), respectively, at sub-360 °C and 380 °C. This low-temperature Ge MOSFET process can be utilized to integrate Ge complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices above interconnect layers for monolithic 3-D integrated circuits.
Regional Responses of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Homoptera: Adelgidae) to Low Temperatures

Abstract Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, is an exotic forest pest threatening the health of New England’s eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere. Research indicates that the northern spread of this insect may be slowed or prevented by cold temperature. We conducted laboratory studies to assess the coldhardiness of A. tsugae, collected at sites within plant hardiness zones 5a (Northern), 6a (Central), and 6b (Southern) in January, February, and March. Adelgids were exposed to −15, −20, −25, −30, and −35°C for 2, 4, or 8 h, and comparisons in survival were made with insects held at 0°C. For all months and sites, mortality increased as temperature decreased, and no survival occurred among those from the Central and Southern sites exposed to −30 and −35°C. In January and February, ≤3% of the adelgids collected from the Northern site survived −30°C, and none survived −35°C in January or March. Adelgids from all sites entered the winter with similar levels of coldhardiness, but those fro...
Impasse of the Angels: Scenes from a Moroccan Space of Memory

Impasse of the Angels: Scenes from. Moroccan Space of Memory. Stefania Pandolfo. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997. xi. 389 pp., notes, index.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY

This article reviews the diagnostic testing used in the evaluation of several common neuro-ophthalmologic entities including optic nerve disease, pseudotumor cerebri, anisocoria, ptosis, and ocular motor palsies. Emphasis is placed on these bedside tests that help to establish the diagnosis of these common clinical problems. The utility of the cocaine and Tensilon (edrophonium chloride) tests as well as the role of neuroimaging in these conditions are reviewed.
Application-driven synthesis of core-based systems

We developed a new hierarchical modular approach for synthesis of area-minimal core-based data-intensive systems. The optimization approach employs a novel global least-constraining most-constrained heuristic to minimize the instruction cache misses for a given application, instruction cache size and organization. Based on this performance optimization technique, we constructed a strategy to search for a minimal-area processor core, and an instruction and data cache which satisfy the performance characteristics of a set of target applications. The synthesis platform integrates the existing modeling, profiling, and simulation tools with the developed system-level synthesis tools. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated on a variety of modern real-life multimedia and communication applications.
The Relationship of Symptomatology and Medication to Electrodermal Activity in Schizophrenia

An electrodermal assessment procedure using mild innocuous tones, task-relevant tones, and loud white noise was administered to a sample of schizophrenic patients (n = 77). The present study investigated the relationship of schizophrenic symptomatology and anticholinergic level of neuroleptic medication to electrodermal variables. Each patient was evaluated for positive (florid) and negative (defect) symptoms. The neuroleptics that patients received were rated according to their anticholinergic effect. No significant differences in symptomatology were observed between electrodermal responders and nonresponders; however, nonresponders showed a nonsignificant tendency to have more positive and negative symptoms than responders. Both negative symptoms and anticholinergic levels were significant predictors of lower tonic levels of skin conductance. Patients receiving high anticholinergic neuroleptics showed significantly reduced measures of electrodermal responsivity and tonic levels. Thus, both symptomatology and type of neuroleptic are related to electrodermal measures, with the anticholinergic effect of neuroleptic medication being more pronounced.
Expression and functional characterization of a soluble form of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1.

Abstract vascular cell adhesion molecular 1 (VCAM1) is a leukocyte adhesion molecule induced on human endothelium in vitro and in vivo by inflammatory stimuli. A truncated cDNA for VCAM1 was constructed, stably expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, and the secreted recombinant soluble form of VCAM1 (rsVCAM1) purified to homogeneity by immunoaffinity chromatography. Immunobilized rsVCAM1 is a functional adhesion protein, and selectively binds only VLA4-expressing cells, including human B and T lymphocytes, NK cells, and certain lymphoblastoid cell lines. T cell subset analyses indicate preferential binding of CD8+ memory cells. rsVCAM1 should prove valuable for the further study of the role of VCAM1 during inflammatory and immune responses in vivo .
Quantifier Float and Wh-Movement in an Irish English

The English of northwestern Ireland allows quantifier float of a previously undocumented kind in wh-questions. The quantifier all, though construed with a fronted wh-pronoun, may appear in a position considerably to the right of that pronoun. It is argued that all so stranded marks a position through which a wh-phrase has passed or in which a wh-phrase originates. The construction then provides visible evidence for intermediate derivational stages. This evidence is used to develop a new argument for successive cyclicity and to argue for overt object shift in English and for an origin site for subjects strictly within VP and below the object shift position.
Tuberculosis in Adolescents A Case Commentary

The resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States has placed a substantial segment of the adolescent population at high risk, particularly those adolescents residing in metropolitan areas. Physicians providing health care to adolescents must be aware of the risk factors for TB and of the epidemiology of this insidious disease. Active alliances must be established among health-care professionals in the community to ensure effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs.
Approach to the Patient with Nephrolithiasis; The Stone Quiz

Calcium oxalate stones are the most common type of stones in patients with idiopathic nephrolithiasis. A calcium phosphate stones are more typical of patients with renal tubular acidosis, chronic urinary tract infection and primary hyperparathyroidism. A non-contrast enhanced helical computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen is the diagnostic procedure of choice with superior sensitivity and specificity of almost 100% compared to the KUB and abdominal ultrasound. Patients should be instructed to strain their urine and bring in any stone that passes for analysis. Stone identification enables better planning of subsequent therapy. The likelihood of stone passage is 95% for stones up to 5 mm in size. Stones larger than 5 mm in diameter that do not pass in several days merit referral to an urologist for lithotripsy, or lithotomy. No specific work-up or drug therapy is typically provided for patients who have passed a single stone. Long term management of patients who have passed their first stone includes recommendations to avoid a diet high in salt or animal protein and maintenance of a fluid intake greater than 2 liters per day. A low calcium diet is also an important risk factor for calcium nephrolithiasis. A low dietary calcium intake reduces the concentration of calcium in the intestinal lumen which can lead to increase in gastrointestinal absorption and urinary excretion of oxalate. Patient with recurrent disease should receive a complete evaluation to treat the identified risk factors and prevent stone formation.
Laboratory project in wireless FSK receiver design

This paper describes a wireless local area network laboratory project that provides senior and first-year graduate students in microwave engineering courses the opportunity to design, build, and test several passive microstrip components and integrate them into a working system. Students design filters, couplers, amplifiers, diode detectors, quarter-wave transformers, antennas, and stub matching networks in weekly labs that parallel-lectures in a one-semester microwave engineering course. This paper also describes simple inexpensive prototyping and testing methods that have been used in this course. Laboratory materials and technical details of the design are provided on the web for students and educators.
Statistically evaluating person-oriented principles revisited

We are grateful for the four thought-provoking and informative Commentaries provided by expert scholars in personoriented and idiographic research. The Commentaries of Peter Molenaar; Eun Young Mun, Marsha Bates, and Evgeny Vaschillo; Nicholas Ialongo; and Alexander von Eye offer alternative perspectives on the extent of person-oriented theories’ testability using person-oriented methods in developmental psychopathology and the usefulness of this endeavor. For example, Mun et al. advocated person-oriented methods for exploratory data analysis rather than testing personoriented principles. In contrast, Ialongo emphasized using such methods to test one principle, whereas Molenaar emphasized testing all principles, with additional suggestions for how methods reviewed can do so. Von Eye also emphasized testing all existing principles, in addition to testing several new principles. This Authors’ Response focuses on comparing and contrasting these perspectives with each other and our own. It is our hope that this reply helps to move this dialog from the confines of this special section to the developmental psychopathology research community at large.
Persistence of Golgi matrix distribution exhibits the same dependence on sar1p activity as a Golgi glycosyltransferase

We investigated the relative distributional persistence of Golgi "matrix" proteins and glycosyltransferases to an endoplasmic reticulum exit block induced by expression of a GDP-restricted Sar1p. HeLa cells were microinjected with plasmid encoding the GDP-restricted mutant (T39N) of Sar1p to block endoplasmic reticulum exit and then scored for the distribution of GM130 (Golgi matrix protein of 130 kDa), a cis located golgin; p27, a member of the p24 family of proteins; giantin, a protein that interacts indirectly with GM130; and the Golgi glycosyltransferase, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-2 (GalNAcT2). All of these proteins lost their compact, juxtanuclear distribution and displayed characteristics of endoplasmic reticulum/cytoplasmic accumulation with the same dependence on plasmid concentration. The kinetics of redistribution of GM130 and GalNAcT2 were identical. Expression of Sar1pT39N displaced the COPII coat protein Sec13p from endoplasmic reticulum exit sites consistent with disruption of these sites. This occurred without disturbing the overall distribution of endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Furthermore, the reassembly of a juxtanuclear Golgi matrix as assayed by the distribution of GM130 following washout of the Golgi disrupting drug, brefeldin A, was blocked by microinjected Sar1pT39N plasmids. We conclude that the persistence, i.e. stability and maintenance, of Golgi matrix distribution and its reassembly following drug disruption are exquisitely dependent on Sar1p activity.
Implications of Using the Electronic Response System in a Large Class

Most students come to today's classrooms with technological dependence and a desire for instant gratification. As faculty struggle to engage and teach this generation of students, there is an increase in technology use in classrooms. One tool commonly used to engage these learners is the electronic response system (ERS), which allows students to answer questions anonymously during class and to receive instant feedback. This study examined ERS implications in a large classroom setting within the content area of social science. Although test scores did not improve significantly, benefits to educators and students are identified.
Can hip protector use cost-effectively prevent fractures in community-dwelling geriatric populations?

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective of a hip protector (HP) program over the remaining lifetime of individuals initially living at home. DESIGN: A state-transition Markov model considering outcomes of HP use in cohorts stratified by age, sex, and functional and residential status. Costs, transition probabilities, HP adherence, and efficacy were derived from published sources. SETTING: Community and nursing homes in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Hypothetical cohort of individuals aged 65 and older without a hip fracture and initially living at home. INTERVENTION: HP program. MEASUREMENTS: Fractures, life years, and dollars saved, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER). RESULTS: HP use prevented fractures and increased life expectancy in all cohorts. HP use saved costs and improved QALYs in women initiating HP use at age 80 and in men at age 85. In women initiating HP use at age 75, the HP ICER was 19,000 dollars/QALY. In men initiating HP use at age 80, HP use saved costs but slightly decreased QALYs. In younger cohorts, HP use was neither cost saving nor QALY improving. In sensitivity analyses, if there was no QALY loss from wearing a HP, the ICER was less than 50,000 dollars/QALY for all age and sex cohorts. If HP cost was reduced 50%, HP use was cost saving for women initiating HP use at age 75. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, the HP ICER was less than 50,000 dollars/QALY in 68% of simulations for women initiating HP use at age 75 and 61% of simulations for men initiating at age 85. CONCLUSION: HP use saved costs and QALYs for older age cohorts of both sexes. Additional research on the quality-of-life effects and obstacles to wearing HP is warranted. Language: en
Modulation of hybrid organic–perovskite photovoltaic performance by controlling the excited dynamics of fullerenes

We present a synergistic approach to modulate organic–perovskite interfaces and their photovoltaic behaviors by tuning the properties of n-contact fullerenes layered atop of perovskite. Fullerenes with excited charge transfer are found to not only suppress fullerene photoluminescence, but also enhance molecular polarization and transport capabilities. This results in optimized perovskite–fullerene contact.
Perceptions of Competence and the European Economic Crisis: A Micro-Level Analysis

This study provides micro-level evidence for the new theories of accountability under globalization. We analyze the micro-level logic that underpins political accountability in democratic countries with highly globalized economies. We contend that voters discount current economic conditions in evaluating incumbent leaders if they perceive the incumbent leader moving the country in the right direction. We test this argument with survey data from eight European countries in 2012, while controlling for potential alternative explanations associated with pocketbook, sociotropic, and clarity-of-responsibility factors. We find that valence considerations related to future directions in the country sustain positive evaluations of leaders’ performance even in the face of negative evaluations of the economy.
Orally administered extract from Prunella vulgaris attenuates spontaneous colitis in mdr1a(-/-) mice.

AIM: To investigate the ability of a Prunella vulgaris (P. vulgaris) ethanolic extract to attenuate spontaneous typhlocolitis in mdr1a-/- mice. METHODS: Vehicle (5% ethanol) or P. vulgaris ethanolic extract (2.4 mg/d) were administered daily by oral gavage to mdr1a-/- or wild type FVBWT mice from 6 wk of age up to 20 wk of age. Clinical signs of disease were noted by monitoring weight loss. Mice experiencing weight loss in excess of 15% were removed from the study. At the time mice were removed from the study, blood and colon tissue were collected for analyses that included histological evaluation of lesions, inflammatory cytokine levels, and myeloperoxidase activity. RESULTS: Administration of P. vulgaris extracts to mdr1a-/- mice delayed onset of colitis and reduced severity of mucosal inflammation when compared to vehicle-treated mdr1a-/- mice. Oral administration of the P. vulgaris extract resulted in reduced (P < 0.05) serum levels of IL-10 (4.6 ± 2 vs 19.4 ± 4), CXCL9 (1319.0 ± 277 vs 3901.0 ± 858), and TNFα (9.9 ± 3 vs 14.8 ± 1) as well as reduced gene expression by more than two-fold for Ccl2, Ccl20, Cxcl1, Cxcl9, IL-1α, Mmp10, VCAM-1, ICAM, IL-2, and TNFα in the colonic mucosa of mdr1a-/- mice compared to vehicle-treated mdr1a-/- mice. Histologically, several microscopic parameters were reduced (P < 0.05) in P. vulgaris-treated mdr1a-/- mice, as was myeloperoxidase activity in the colon (2.49 ± 0.16 vs 3.36 ± 0.06, P < 0.05). The numbers of CD4+ T cells (2031.9 ± 412.1 vs 5054.5 ± 809.5) and germinal center B cells (2749.6 ± 473.7 vs 4934.0 ± 645.9) observed in the cecal tonsils of P. vulgaris-treated mdr1a-/- were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) from vehicle-treated mdr1a-/- mice. Vehicle-treated mdr1a-/- mice were found to produce serum antibodies to antigens derived from members of the intestinal microbiota, indicative of severe colitis and a loss of adaptive tolerance to the members of the microbiota. These serum antibodies were greatly reduced or absent in P. vulgaris-treated mdr1a-/- mice. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory activity of P. vulgaris ethanolic extract effectively attenuated the severity of intestinal inflammation in mdr1a-/- mice.
Effect Of Legal Counsel Activity On The Cost Of Municipal Bond Offerings

The authors examine the relationship between interest cost to the issuer of municipal bonds and legal counsel associated with the offering. Modeling interest cost with explanatory variables reflecting legal counsel, issue characteristics, and conditions in the financial markets, the authors conclude that offerings in which an active bond counsel participated had average interest costs statistically significantly lower than those without such counsel. Offerings involving issuer = s counsel and activity of underwriter = s counsel experienced statistically higher average interest costs than otherwise. The authors note that their results are consistent with the certification hypothesis.
The emissive mode and X-ray microanalysis

Etude de l'emission d'electrons secondaires et de rayons X apres irradiation par un faisceau electronique, en particulier dans un dispositif de microscopie electronique a balayage
Use of Risk Assessment for Development of Microbial Standards

A single-hit exponential model and a β-distributed “infectivity probability” model were used to evaluate the potential health risks from drinking water containing low levels of protozoan cysts and viruses, respectively. The models were based on dose response curves developed from human feeding studies and assumed consumption of 2 L/day. The US EPA has suggested that one infection/10,000/year is an acceptable risk for infectious agents acquired through potable water. Based on this risk, acceptable levels of viruses and cysts were determined using the probability models. Thus poliovirus and rotavirus levels should not be more than 0.1 and 0.3 pfu/100L respectively per day. Giardia levels should be below 0.2 cysts/100L. To achieve a 1:10,000 annual risk, the geometric average should not exceed 10 −3 organisms/100L. As monitoring treated water for these levels would be difficult, source waters may be monitored. Geometric averages of 1-100 organisms/100L require 3-5 logs of treatment reduction to achieve the 1:10,000 risk. The risk models for viruses and protozoa can be used to evaluate the occurrence of pathogens in source water and determine the appropriate treatment needed to obtain specific levels of safety for drinking water.
Crossing boundaries: multi-level introspection in a complex robotic architecture for automatic performance improvements

Introspection mechanisms are employed in agent architectures to improve agent performance. However, there is currently no approach to introspection that makes automatic adjustments at multiple levels in the implemented agent system. We introduce our novel multi-level introspection framework that can be used to automatically adjust architectural configurations based on the introspection results at the agent, infrastructure and component level. We demonstrate the utility of such adjustments in a concrete implementation on a robot where the high-level goal of the robot is used to automatically configure the vision system in a way that minimizes resource consumption while improving overall task performance.
“Those Suspended Pangs”: Romantic Reviewers and the Agony of Byron's Mazeppa

In his late verse-tale Mazeppa, Byron offered a spectacular depiction of torture that outraged or confounded most of his periodical reviewers. Seeming to shift attention from the internal agonies of heart and mind to the external agonies of a pained body, the “revolutionary” poem challenged the era's poetic conventions along with its understandings of human nature. Responding with disgust, indifference, and displacement, reviewers forcefully reiterated proscriptive definitions of sympathy and staged rhetorically the dramatic failure of the poet's new experiment, rendering both ludicrous and perverse Byron's monstrous ambition to bring debased physical agony into the higher spheres of poetic sentiment. Examining both the poem and its reviews through a set of sustained readings, this article troubles assumptions held by many contemporary romantic scholars and humanitarian activists. The reception of Byron's poem demonstrates, first, that romantic forms and themes can give vivid expression to neglected or re...
Positive interferon-gamma release assay leading to a diagnosis of mycobacterium tuberculosis pericarditis in pregnancy

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis during pregnancy is associated with increased complications. The wide range of presentations among patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis can make diagnosis and treatment difficult. CASE We present the case of a patient with Mycobacterium tuberculosis pericarditis presenting in pregnancy with recurrent pericardial effusions. The diagnosis of active tuberculosis was made and treatment initiated after a positive interferon-gamma release assay and granulomatous pericardial pathology despite negative tuberculin skin testing. Culture of pericardial tissue obtained by pericardectomy confirmed the diagnosis 1 month after initiation of treatment. CONCLUSION This case report demonstrates the use of interferon-gamma release assay in diagnosing tuberculosis among high-risk pregnant patients. Although limited by expense and minimal experience in pregnancy, these assays may be useful to screen for tuberculosis in high-risk pregnant populations.
The convergence of psychoanalysis and neuroscience: illusion and reality

(1986). The Convergence of Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience. Contemporary Psychoanalysis: Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 479-519.
Pudendal block anesthesia in obstetrics and gynecology.

(1952). Pudendal Block Anesthesia in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 135-138.
Technological Change and Aging

Publisher Summary Technological developments have the potential to greatly enhance the well being of older persons, compensate for health and mobility impairments, and promote social interaction and social support. Recent developments in communications technology are having profound effects on social interaction. Email, instant messaging, Internet telephony, two-way video communications, news groups, and chat rooms enable persons to reestablish, initiate, maintain, or extend social relationships. New technologies are particularly well suited to accessing sources of information, such as health-related information. By virtue of their flexibility, new technologies also have the potential to contribute to the intellectual enrichment of older persons. Distance-learning courses offered via two-way interactive television and online courses open up educational opportunities for older adults who may be unable to enroll in traditional courses. Newly emerging technologies have the capacity to facilitate information gathering by older adults and transmit information about their status and conditions. Such applications are particularly relevant because efforts to slow the rate of growth of health-care costs have resulted in a shift in the locus of care from the hospital to the home and other community-based settings.
Postoperative delirium is associated with increased intensive care unit and hospital length of stays after liver transplantation

Abstract Background Delirium is increasingly recognized as a common and important postoperative complication that significantly hinders surgical recovery. However, there is a paucity of data examining the incidence and impact of delirium after liver transplantation. Methods Retrospective case series in a tertiary care center examining all ( n = 144) adult patients who underwent liver transplantation during a 6-y period. Results Delirium occurred in 25% of the patients with an average duration of 4.56 d. Patients who developed delirium were older ( P = 0.007), had higher preoperative model for end-stage liver disease score ( P = 0.019) and longer pretransplant hospital length of stay (LOS; P = 0.003). Patients with delirium were also more likely to have alcohol ingestion as an etiology of the liver failure ( P = 0.033). Delirious patients had a trend toward increased ventilator days ( P = 0.235) and significantly longer postoperative hospital ( P = 0.001) and intensive care unit LOS ( P = 0.001). Delirium was also associated with an increased frequency of hospital acquired infections including urinary tract infections ( P = 0.005) and pneumonias ( P = 0.001). Conclusions Delirium is a common occurrence among liver transplant patients associated with increased complications and LOSs. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the specific risk factors in this complex population and to determine if delirium has an impact on long-term outcomes.
Dehydrogenative Borylation and Silylation of Styrenes Catalyzed by Copper-Carbenes

Readily available copper precatalysts, (NHC)CuOtBu (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene), catalyze dehydrogenative borylation and silylation of styrenes with moderate to high yields, using ketone additives as sacrificial oxidants. This method provides access to trisubstituted vinylboronates and vinylsilanes without requiring noble metal catalysis.
Randomized controlled trial to dismantle exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy (ERRT) for trauma-related nightmares

Objective The aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary dismantling study of exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy (ERRT) for nightmares. Method Participants (N = 70) were randomized to 1 of 2 conditions: ERRT with nightmare exposure and rescripting (full protocol; EX) or ERRT without nightmare exposure and rescripting (NEX). Participants completed follow-ups at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months posttreatment. Results Both conditions yielded statistically significant improvements with medium to large effect sizes on primary outcomes related to nightmares (i.e., nights with nightmares, nightmares per week, and nightmare severity). Both conditions also yielded statistically significant improvements on secondary outcomes with medium to large effect sizes on fear of sleep, sleep quality, insomnia severity, daytime sleepiness, posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity, and depression severity. The conditions did not differ at any time point. Conclusions Findings indicate that ERRT with and without nightmare exposure and rescripting can significantly alleviate nightmares and related distress. The addition of nightmare exposure and rescription did not contribute incrementally to outcomes in this sample. It is possible that the dose of exposure was not sufficient to result in group differences or that the treatment components included in both conditions (i.e., psychoeducation about trauma, nightmares, and sleep; sleep habit modification; and relaxation training) may adequately treat factors that maintain nightmares for some individuals. Theoretical implications of findings are discussed. The reduction of symptoms of other conditions following this brief intervention provides further evidence for the primary role of nightmares and sleep disturbances posttrauma. (PsycINFO Database Record