cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: Impact of preoperative risk

Background It is unknown whether purported benefits of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting are patient-specific within the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database or dependent on center volume or operating surgeon. Methods The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database was queried for all patients undergoing nonemergency, isolated coronary artery bypass between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010, who had Predicted Risk of Mortality scores and participant/surgeon identifiers. Of these 876,081 patients ("all sites"), 210,469 underwent surgery at participant sites that had performed more than 300 off-pump and 300 on-pump coronary artery bypass operations during the 6-year study period ("high-volume sites"). Operative mortality, stroke, acute renal failure, mortality or morbidity, and prolonged postoperative length of stay were analyzed with conditional logistic models for all sites and for high-volume sites, stratified by participant center and surgeon, and adjusted for 30 variables that comprise the Society of Thoracic Surgeons coronary artery bypass grafting risk models. Results Off-pump coronary artery bypass was associated with a significant reduction in risk of death, stroke, acute renal failure, mortality or morbidity, and postoperative length of stay compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass after adjustment for 30 patient risk factors in the overall sample. This held true within high-volume centers. In the overall sample, there was a significant ( P Conclusions Off-pump coronary artery bypass was associated with reduced adverse events compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass after adjustment for 30 patient risk factors and center and surgeon identity. Patients with higher Predicted Risk of Mortality scores had the largest apparent benefit.
Economic scheduling in smart grid with nondispatchable and dispatchable loads

A smart grid is expected to be more flexible and more reliable than traditional electric power grids. Smart grid technology combines, photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, fuel cells, energy storages and electric vehicles charging from the grid and discharging back to the grid. Electric vehicles are one of the key pieces of the renewable energy economy of the future, but they do come with a few challenges- charging electric vehicles can add considerably to a home's overall electricity use, and - when scaled up to thousands or millions of homes - that charging places a lot of extra demand on an electrical grid. This paper presents an economical insight into the management of renewable energy generation and charging/discharging of electric vehicles. This analysis will make use of an approach that will not only reduce the operational cost of renewables and capital cost of energy storages, it will also save cost for electric vehicle owners.
Solubility product phenomena in hydroxyapatite-water systems

Activity products were determined from solubility measurements for a number of commercial and laboratory-prepared samples of basic calcium phosphate. The solid—water ratio was varied several fold, with and without the addition of sodium chloride or potassium hydroxide. The activity product calculated for hydroxyapatite was not constant but varied widely with the ratio of solid—water. The solubility was less when more of the solid had been dissolved. An increase in ionic strength by “spectator” ions, such as NaCl, leads to a decrease in solubility. This “salting out” effect observed by addition of NaCl at constant slurry density is not general. The increase in ionic strength resulting from the use of different slurry densities alone enhanced the solubility, which is the more common “salting in” effect. The molar ratio of calcium to total phosphate in the extracts was not constant at the hydroxyapatite level (1.667). It approached this value as a large fraction of the material dissolved. A calculation of the fraction of solids dissolved under limiting conditions showed that at high solid—water ratio far less than 1% of the material was dissolved at the lowest solid—water ratio the solution corresponded approximately to a crystal layer of one unit cell thickness. It was possible to reconcile these observations with the formation of a surface complex derived from the hydrolysis of the PO4≡ ions in the terminal planes of the crystal. The release of ions by this reaction and a simultaneous formation of the surface complex, Ca2(HPO4)(OH)2, account for the apparent “solubility” of hydroxyapatite. Published results are discussed in terms of this concept.
Analog and Digital, Continuous and Discrete

Representation is central to contemporary theories regarding the mind/brain. But the nature of representation—both in the mind/brain and more generally—is a source of ongoing controversy. One way of categorizing representational types is to distinguish between the analog and the digital: the received view is that analog representations vary smoothly, while digital representations vary in a step-wise manner. In other words, ‘digital’ is synonymous with ‘discrete’, while ‘analog’ is synonymous with ‘continuous’. I argue that this characterization is inadequate to account for the ways in which representation is (and should be) used in cognitive science; in its place, I suggest an alternative taxonomy. I will defend and extend David Lewis’s account of analog and digital representation, distinguishing analog from continuous representation, as well as digital from discrete representation. I will argue that the distinctions available in this fourfold account better accord with representational features of interest in cognitive science than the received analog/digital dichotomy.
Do Job Demands Undermine Parenting? A Daily Analysis of Spillover and Crossover Effects.

Using data collected over 14 consecutive days, we examined the impact of work hours and job demands on parent-child interactions for mothers and fathers in nonprofessional couples. Wives and husbands evaluated their interactions with their children similarly, such that changes in a spouse’s evaluation of parent-child interactions typically matched those reported by the other spouse. Greater daily work hours were related to less time spent on child care and less time spent on leisure with children, but higher positive interactions with children were reported. Greater wife perceived job demands were associated with husbands having more positive interactions with children. The findings add to our limited understanding of daily experiences of work-family issues for parents within nonprofessional, dual-earner households.
THE EFFECT OF MINERAL OIL ON FOOD UTILIZATION I. CALORIC VALUE OF FOOD

Food consumption records and fecal weight data have been obtained on albino rats receiving diets with and without mineral oil. These data indicate that, at the levels of mineral oil studied, no caloric loss of food is experienced with the ingestion of mineral oil since: The levels of mineral oil studied were comparable on the basis of food consumption to doses of medicinal mineral oil commonly prescribed for the relief of constipation in humans.
A Rare Find The Süleymaniye’s Futūḥ Miṣr

The earliest and most complete Arabic history of the Islamic conquest of Egypt is Ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥakam’s Futūḥ Miṣr (The Conquest of Egypt). The first, and only complete edited edition of this work, was produced in 1922 by Charles Torrey. He based this work on the only four known manuscripts to exist. One at the British Library, two at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, and a fourth in Leiden. The copy held by the British Library was the most complete of the four, and thus Torrey used it as the main source of his edition. Unknown to Torrey and all other Western scholars, was yet a fifth manuscript, held at the Suleymaniye Library in Istanbul. In comparison to the other four manuscripts, this copy is superior in almost every way. This article is meant to introduce the Suleymaniye’s manuscript and compare it with the other known copies in order to demonstrate similarities, key differences, shared lineage, and to prove why it is superior to its counterparts.
Environment model for mobile robots indoor navigation

An autonomous mobile robot must be able to combine uncertain sensory information with prior knowledge of the world. Moreover these operations have to be performed fast enough to be able to react to the changes in the world. This paper presents a model-driven system for a real-time indoor mobile robot. As the robot is constantly in motion information from an Environment Model is used to anticipate information-rich features and to direct selective sensing. Uncertain sensor information is combined with prior World Model knowledge to reduce uncertainty and the remaining uncertainty is directly represented by flexible ranges of values. We present a hall-following robot based on this system which exhibits real-time navigation performance. It does this despite primitive and relatively slow sensing motor control and communications capabilities. This system combines sensing action and cognition which are the major building blocks for any autonomous system.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rupture of the Urinary Bladder in Children. The Importance of the Double Lesion

We report 10 cases of rupture of the urinary bladder in children. Only one patient was a girl. The rupture was caused by a road accident in 6 cases and occurred "spontaneously" in 4. Rupture of the bladder may be difficult to diagnose. In many patients the vesical rupture is not the only abnormality in the urinary tract and a thorough investigation is necessary. The majority of the bladder ruptures in these children were intraperitoneal, which contrasts with the reported experience in adults.
Effect of sex steroids on β-endorphin levels at rest and during submaximal treadmill exercise in anovulatory and ovulatory runners

Abstract Objective: To examine the interaction between circulating β-endorphin levels and sex steroids during sustained submaximal exercise in runners who are either anovulatory and oligomenorrheic (AO) or ovulatory and eumenorrheic (EO). Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: General clinical research center at an academic medical center. Patient(s): Three AO and four EO runners. Intervention(s): The athletes underwent 60 minutes of submaximal treadmill exercise on three separate occasions. Anovulatory and oligomenorrheic runners underwent exercise at baseline and after physiologic estrogen and combined estrogen and progesterone replacement. Ovulatory and eumenorrheic runners underwent exercise in the follicular and luteal phases and after GnRH agonist desensitization. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum cortisol, β-endorphin, progesterone, estrogen, and gonadotropin levels at rest and during exercise. Result(s): Serum levels of E2 increased in response to exercise in both EO and AO runners during sex steroid replacement. Baseline peripheral β-endorphin and cortisol levels were not different between the EO and AO groups. A significant increase in β-endorphin levels in response to exercise occurred only in the EO group after GnRH agonist desensitization. Conclusion(s): Alterations in menstrual cyclicity and ovulation in conditioned runners probably are not due to an increase in opioid tone. The hypothalamic-gonadotropic axis appears to be intact in AO runners, as measured by the gonadotropic response to exogenous exposure to estrogen and progesterone. Sex steroid administration had no effect on basal β-endorphin levels, but this probably was not due to preexisting increased opioid tone.
Past-Year Violence Typologies Among Patients with Cocaine-Related Chest Pain

This study examines a consecutive cohort of patients (n = 219) presenting to an urban Emergency Department (ED) for cocaine-related chest pain (June 2002 to February 2005). Patients were interviewed regarding violence, substance use, and psychosocial factors. Significant markers of violence were increases in: past-year medical service use, binge drinking, marijuana use, cocaine diagnosis, but not cocaine use days. Rates and correlates of violence differed by relationship type (intimate partner, nonpartner) and role context (victimization, perpetration). Understanding these correlates has public health implications, both for preventing future violence and its associated ED service utilization, and for future interventions in cocaine users presenting to the ED.
Reverse osmosis cellulose acetate membranes.I. Rate of hydrolysis

Abstract Measurements of hydrolysis rates of homogeneous porous and dense cellulose acetate membranes were analyzed in terms of external and internal mass transfer, and intrinsic chemical reaction. These results indicate that the external mass transfer controls the overall rate for porous membranes, while internal mass transfer and/or chemical reaction control the rate for dense membranes. By extending this analysis to asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes, the hydrolysis rate in the dense layer is shown to be much slower than the rate in porous layer.
Historical perspectives and current aspects of pork meat quality in the USA

Abstract The condition of pale, soft and exudative (PSE) pork meat was recognized and documented by 1960, and the condition of porcine stress syndrome (PSS) was understood within the decade of the 1960s. The two are associated, with PSS animals having a high probability of producing PSE meat. Both are economically important with potential death losses, especially during transport, due to PSS, and PSE meat being viewed as of inferior quality by consumers and also having less value for further processing. An enormous amount of research has been directed at the problem and is presented in the manuscript as a time-line approaching a half-century of effort. Surveys of incidence showed, in pork produced in the USA, that 18% was PSE in 1963 and 16% was PSE in 1992. Fortunately, molecular/genetic understanding and tools are now available to attack the problem, but solving it may require further impetus — such as strong and unified resolution by producers, industry associations and governmental agencies.
Norepinephrine release in the amygdala in response to footshock and opioid peptidergic drugs

These experiments used in vivo microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography to examine, in rats, norepinephrine (NE) release in the amygdala induced by footshock and systemic administration of drugs affecting the opioid peptidergic system. A microdialysis probe was inserted into a previously implanted guide cannula aimed at the amygdala and the rat was placed in a box with a stainless-steel grid floor through which a single footshock was delivered. Samples were collected and analyzed at 15-min intervals. Footshock stimulation increased NE levels and the magnitude of the increase varied with footshock intensity. Relative to baseline levels, intensities of 0.3, 0.7 and 1.2 mA (3 s) induced increases of 41, 64 and 97%, respectively. NE levels returned to baseline within 30 min after footshock stimulation. The opioid peptidergic antagonist naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) administered immediately after footshock (0.55 mA for 1 s) potentiated NE release. In contrast, the opioid peptidergic agonist β-endorphin (10 μg/kg, i.p.) administered after the footshock blocked the footshock-induced increase in NE levels. The magnitude of NE release was less when the drugs were administered without prior footshock and when the injections were given 30 min after footshock. The findings are consistent with previous evidence that acute, mildly stressful stimulation induces the release of NE in the amygdala as well as with extensive pharmacological evidence indicating that amygdala NE released by arousing stimulation is involved in regulating memory storage and that the opioid peptidergic system influences memory storage by modulating the release of NE in the amygdala.
TARGETED ENFORCEMENT AND ADVERSE SYSTEM SIDE EFFECTS: THE GENERATION OF FUGITIVES IN PHILADELPHIA*

Research on targeted enforcement in high-crime places has focused on direct crime-reduction impacts, possible displacement of crime, and more recently, diffusion of benefits to adjacent areas. Studies have ignored other unanticipated negative effects that a place-oriented enforcement intervention may have on the justice system overall. Using the generation of fugitive defendants as one possible example of an important system side effect, this study proposes hypotheses relating to adverse, generalized, system side effects of a place- and crime-focused intervention, and it tests for target area and targeted crime-type effects, nontarget area and nontargeted crime-type effects, and overall system effects. The analysis employs a multiple interrupted time-series design [auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)] to test the impact of one widely publicized, geographically targeted drug-enforcement strategy in Philadelphia (Operation Sunrise, formally launched in June 1998) on the incidence of bench warrants as a measure of fugitives (weekly aggregate bench warrants series for the period January 1994–May 2005; N= 590 observations). The findings appear to support all hypotheses as they relate to the example of the generation of fugitives, and suggest a generalized system adverse side effect from the circumscribed place- and crime-focused intervention. The implications of the findings for both research and policy relating to targeted enforcement interventions are discussed.
WS05 Regulatory efforts to minimize the selection of resistant bacteria

Objective Antimicrobial resistance is not only here, it is here to stay and it poses major threats to the effective use of antimicrobial drugs in humans and other animals. Nevertheless, a defeatist attitude is not acceptable. There is much that can and must be done to retard or prevent the emergence and spread of resistance. Clinicians and scientists from many disciplines have roles to play in combating resistance and we veterinary pharmacologists arguably have the most important role of all. As Schentag (1996) indicated 10 years ago, ‘‘The design of appropriate dosage regimens may be the single most important contribution of clinical pharmacology to the resistance problem’’. However, progress has not been rapid and as recently as 2003 Drusano commented, ‘‘One area in which there is little investigation is the use of proper dosing to help prevent emergence of resistance’’ and, again in 2005, Drusano et al. commented ‘‘little attention has been focussed on delineating the correct dose to suppress the amplification of less susceptible mutant bacterial sub-populations’’. In this Workshop we address, with the help of internationally recognised authorities, antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine, from the perspectives of basic mechanisms, epidemiology and pre-clinical and population PK-PD modelling in dosage design. In addition, we review prudent use, clinical aspects and the contribution of regulatory efforts to minimise the selection of resistant microorganisms.
Molecular Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Can We Target?

Numerous signaling pathways, such as Ras/Raf/MAPK, have been implicated in hepatic carcinogenesis. There are at least 35 combination therapy studies for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ongoing, and numerous reagents are being tested targeting novel signaling cascades. The management of HCC has changed substantially in recent times, and the successful development of sorafenib has prompted further expansion on molecular targeted therapies to potentially inhibit different pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis.
High-Resolution Characterization of the Region Around Manganese Sulfide Inclusions in Stainless Steel Alloys

Abstract The region between manganese sulfide (MnS) inclusions and the matrix in several stainless steels (SS) was carefully characterized using high-resolution scanning transmission electron micro...
Polyribosome degradation as a sensitive assay for endolytic messenger-ribonuclease activity.

Abstract A method is described whereby picogram amounts of pancreatic RNase can be accurately measured using polyribosomes as substrate. The method involves incubating isolated polysomes in RNase, separating them on gradients, and calculating the number of interribosomal bonds for each profile. The decrease in number of interribosomal bonds is proportional to the amount of enzyme added from 20 to 200 pg of pancreatic RNase per assay when conducted at 2°C for 20 min. Sensitivity can be increased by increasing the temperature or the duration of the incubation. Since the method of analysis of the reaction product is unaffected by exonuclease activity, the assay is specific for endonucleases. It can, therefore be used to assay for the presence of endonucleases as contaminants in preparations of exonucleases and to determine the mode of action of nucleases. The method has been used to measure the amount of soluble and polysome-associated RNase in pea stem tissue.
Tamsulosin for voiding dysfunction in women

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect countless individuals worldwide with an increased prevalence among those ≥60 years of age. As the world’s population ages, the prevalence of LUTS will continue to increase, diminishing the quality of life of many men and women. For men, alpha-1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR) blockers are used as first-line therapy to mitigate bothersome LUTS, but for women with LUTS, few treatments have been adequately studied. However, new research has emerged evaluating the use of tamsulosin and other α1-AR blockers in female LUTS. Thus, the purpose of this review is to evaluate clinical trials using tamsulosin for the treatment of LUTS in women to determine if tamsulosin is an appropriate treatment option. A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (1966-May 2012) and EMBASE (1980-May 2012) databases was performed. Additional articles were retrieved by manual review of the references cited in publications from the database search. Five published clinical trials and two abstracts were identified. All seven trials presented in this review demonstrated statistically significant primary outcomes with use of tamsulosin in female LUTS, especially in women with predominant voiding dysfunction. Such efficacy measures included a reduction in urinary symptoms as well as improvements in quality of life and sleep quality. Tamsulosin was found to be safe and well tolerated in all studies reviewed. Consistent positive findings across multiple clinical studies suggest that in women with LUTS, particularly those with voiding dysfunction, tamsulosin may be an effective and safe treatment option.
Three Kinds of Order Effects in Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis

Question and response order effects are known to occur in survey research instruments. Choice-based conjoint analysis presents respondents with multiple sets of concepts fully specified in terms of a number of attributes. Respondents choose one “full-profile” concept from each of the many “choice sets.” Thus there are three plausible order effects with respect to choice-based conjoint analysis: choice set order, profile order within choice sets, and attribute order within profiles. Three empirical studies show that statistically significant choice set order, profile order, and attribute order effects occur. Some of these order effects are significant from a practical standpoint, but none occur in a predictable way. Analysts are advised to rotate, across respondents, profile and attribute order to offset the order biases. Directions for future research are suggested.
Information sharing and strategic signaling in supply chains

Information sharing in procurement occurs in rich and varied industry contexts in which managerial decisions are made and organizational strategy is formulated. We explore how information sharing ought to work in procurement contexts that involve investments in inter-organizational information systems (IOS) and collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) practices. How and under what circumstances does a firm that plays the role of a supply chain buyer decide to share information on key variables, such as point-of-sale consumer demand data with its supplier, up the supply chain? This is a key issue that crosses the boundary between supply chain management and information systems (IS) management. The answers that we provide are based on our use of a game-theoretic signaling model of buyer and supplier strategy in the presence of uncertainties about final consumer demand. We also explore the connection between operational costs that are associated with the firm’s information sharing and information withholding strategies. Our results provide normative guidance to supply chain buyers about how to interpret different demand uncertainty scenarios to improve their decisions and generate high value. From the IS management perspective, we show the impacts on the firm of different information sharing approaches that are made possible by present day technologies.
Ionospheric plasma flow past a semi-infinite cylinder

Abstract The ionospheric flow regime in which the flow velocity is well above the ambient ion thermal velocity, but far below the ambient electron thermal velocity, is considered. The flow is parallel to the axis of a conducting semi-infinite cylinder and is directed toward the end disk. Taylor's heuristic method is employed to obtain the approximate spatial dependence of the electric potential and the ion density and velocity. An expression is obtained from these parameters for the net current to the end disk.
The Christian Church in Cilician Armenia: Its Relations with Rome and Constantinople to 1198

The national church of Armenia has enjoyed an autonomous status within the community of Christian churches since the late fourth century. At that time King Pap broke its ties with Caesarea of Cappadocia, the city in which Gregory the Illuminator, the apostle of Armenia, had received his mandate and consecration. Thereafter the hierarchy of the church was chosen within the nation according to its own rules. The head of the church, the catholicos, was the chief bishop of the Armenians and, like the kingship, the catholicate became an hereditary office according to a custom established by Gregory himself.
Nitrogen loss inhibitors evaluated for humid-region wheat production

Applied N fertilizer can be lost from the crop root zone by several pathways, reducing agronomic efficiency and cansing environmental problems. One approach that has been suggested to reduce N losses is to mix compounds with the N fertilizer that inhibit some steps in the loss pathway. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of five potential inhibitors (ammonium polyphosphate [APP], ammonium thiosulfate [ATS], dicyandiamide [DCD], monoammonium phosphate [MAP], and KCl), singly and in combinations, on yield and N uptake of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a humid climate. A total of four experiments were established over 2 yr in which spring N topdress applications were made either as urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution or as UAN solution mixed with inhihitors. All treatments gave a total spring application rate of 60 lb N/acre. Yields exceeded 90 bu/acre in three of the experiments and reached 70 bu/acre in the fourth. Nitrogen rate treatments were also applied in each experiment to determine the N-responsiveness of each site. Large yield responses to applied N occurred at three of the experimental locations. Treatments that reduced fertilizer N losses would thus be expected to translate into increased yield at those three locations. However, none of the inhibitors tested increased yield or N uptake in any experiment despite ideal conditions for N loss (ammonia volatilization the first year, leaching and denitrification loss the second year), good uniformity in our experiments, and our use of eight replications for selected treatments in the second year. In one experiment with 100 bu/acre yields, we could have detected a 3.3 bu/acre yield increase, which would have required only 8 lb/acre additional N to achieve. This implies that no inhibitor reduced N loss by as much as 8 lb/acre in this experiment, which was conducted on a sandy soil and received 8 in. of rain within 4 wk of treatment application. While it is possible that some treatments gave yield increases below our limits of detection, even if this happened it would be cheaper in almost all cases to achieve this yield increase by applying a small amount of additional N than by using an inhibitor
Are Guidelines Effectively Guiding Antihypertensive Therapy

i r r c m d During the past decade, various guidelines were formuated to refine and simplify the definition of hypertension nd improve its treatment to prevent the adverse cardiovasular sequelae associated with increased blood pressure BP).1–4 With clinical trials showing the efficacy of BP owering, lower and lower target goals were recommended.1,5 ecent guidelines also recommended that the concomitant urden of other cardiovascular risk factors and evidence of arget-organ involvement be taken into consideration when efining therapeutic BP goals. However, it is clear that hypertension guidelines are not ell implemented in clinical practice, judged using hyperension control rates. A recent Framingham Study investiation reported that 5 of 10 treated hypertensive persons in he community did not achieve recommended systolic BP oals.6 A survey of secular trends in the prevalence of elf-reported hypertension using serial National health and utrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (1991 to 994 vs 1999 to 2000) suggested an increase in prevalence, ith only 31% of patients with hypertensive achieving adquate BP control.7 An investigation of hypertension mangement in male veterans with diabetes mellitus highlighted he need for more aggressive antihypertensive therapy beause 73% had a BP 140/90 mm Hg. Patients with diaetes received less intensive therapy than those without iabetes, and this could not be attributed to potential disraction by the need to treat the diabetes itself.8 Compliance ith guidelines concerning treatment of patients with dysipidemia with and without hypertension was also suboptial.9 The aforementioned data emphasize the need to better nderstand the reasons for the high failure rate of adequate ontrol of hypertension. Physician inertia is 1 potential ontributory factor that may be promoted by multiple comlex sets of guidelines, each targeting a specific risk factor. t may be challenging for the average primary care physiian to keep up with multiple iterations of guidelines, let lone remember and implement each. The most recent of hese guideline modifications10 recommended a revision of he Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on revention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High lood Pressure (JNC-7) with reclassification of BP by cat-
Hierarchical octree approximations for boundary representation-based geometric models

Abstract The advent of solid modelling systems, in principle, permits the automation of any kind of geometric application. An octree representation, which approximates geometric models by variably sized solid cubes, is a popular representation structure that is used in a variety of applications such as finite element mesh generation, motion planning, interference detection, etc. In theory, octree approximation of objects can be derived from any solid modelling systems, but the efficiency of the process is closely related to the representation of the original solid model. Efficient algorithms for deriving an octree representation of CSG-based modelling systems are known; this paper describes a new algorithm to efficiently compute octree approximations from B-rep solids.
Research Note: Single and Combination Effects of Administering Salinomycin and Aflatoxin to Broiler Chicks

Abstract A factorial design (2 by 3) was used to evaluate the interaction between aflatoxin (0, 2.5, and 5 mg per kg) and salinomycin [0, 60 g per ton (909 kg)]. There were four replicates of 10 chicks per treatment. The chicks were maintained in batteries from 0 to 3 wk of age, with feed and water available for ad libitum intake. Aflatoxin at both levels (2.5 and 5 mg per kg) with and without salinomycin decreased body weight. The efficiency of feed utilization was affected only at the 5 mg per kg level of aflatoxin. Feeding 5 mg per kg of aflatoxin alone decreased the hemoglobin level. The inclusion of salinomycin (60 g per ton) in the diet with 2.5 or 5 mg per kg of aflatoxin initiated no significant change in body weight or feed efficiency. No significant interaction was observed between aflatoxin and salinomycin on any of the parameters measured.
Consciousness: some basic issues--A neurophilosophical perspective.

This paper concentrates on the basic properties of "consciousness" that temporal coding is postulated to relate to. A description of phenomenal consciousness based on what introspection tells us about its contents is offered. This includes a consideration of the effect of various brain lesions that result in cortical blindness, apperceptive and associative agnosia, and blindsight, together with an account of the manner in which sight is regained after cortical injuries. I then discuss two therories of perception-Direct Realism and the Representative Theory. This includes a discussion of the concept of the body-image, phantom limbs, the alleged projection of sensations, the ontological status of phenomenal space, the homunculus argument, the validity of topographic coding, the difference between the stimulus field and the visual field, and two theories of brain-mind relationship-the Identity Theory and the Bohr-Heisenberg theory of brain-mind complementarity. Finally I suggest that the binocular rivalry obtained in the case of the stroboscopic patterns that result from intermittent photic stimulation of one eye, when used in animal expeiments with unit recording, offers a good experimental method of investigating the binding problem.
Risk for coronary artery disease and morbid preeclampsia: a commentary.

Purpose A predisposition to coronary artery disease (CAD) may put women at risk for preeclampsia. Morbid preeclampsia (early, severe, recurrent, and with neonatal morbidity) represents the subset of preeclampsia of greatest public health concern. Methods We review here the published links between preeclampsia and CAD. Results Many risk factors are common to both CAD and preeclampsia. These include obesity; elevated blood pressure; dyslipidemia; insulin resistance; and hyperglycemia, together termed “Syndrome X”; as well as endothelial dysfunction; hyperuricemia; hyperhomocysteinemia; and abnormalities of inflammation, thrombosis, and angiogenesis. After pregnancy, women with preeclampsia are more likely to experience later life CAD. Conclusions Both the association between CAD risk factors and preeclampsia and the association between preeclampsia and later CAD appears to be more pronounced among the subset of women with morbid preeclampsia. Thus, women at elevated risk for CAD may be at particularly high risk for morbid preeclampsia and women with morbid preeclampsia may be those at highest risk for later life CAD.
Empiric antimicrobial therapy in the febrile granulocytopenic patient.

In the normal individual, about 100 billion polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) enter the bloodstream daily from the bone marrow. About half of the intravascular neutrophils are adherent (marginated) to the endothelium of small vessels and the remainder are circulating. Without unusual disturbances, the half-life of the intravascular neutrophil is about six hours. Although the number of circulating neutrophils seems enormous, it represents only 5% of the total body content of these cells, the major portion residing in the bone marrow. 1 It is remarkable that quantitation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in a drop of peripheral blood can be highly predictive of an individual's resistance and response to infectious diseases, especially those caused by bacteria. Neutrophil activity is complex and its role in host defense is dependent upon factors other than quantity. Nevertheless, when the absolute neutrophil count is maintained at values less than 1000/cu mm, increased susceptibility to infection occurs and is at a rate that is inversely proportional to the neutrophil count. When the count is decreased to values of 500 neutrophils/cu mm or less, the frequency of serious bacterial infection reaches a point where special attention must be directed to the patient at the earliest sign of infection. Because neutropenia impairs the acute inflammatory response, the usual local signs and symptoms of infection may be absent. Therefare, fever is often the only sign of infection in the severely neutropenic patient. Experience has shown that febrile episodes during periods of severe neutropenia are often life-threatening and require the immediate administration of antibiotics before the causative agents can be identified. It must be kept in mind that granulocytopenia is rarely an isolated risk factor in the cancer patient. Chemotherapeutic agents and radiation, while affecting the neutrophil count through myelosuppression, may also cause damage to the important barriers of mucosal surfaces and skin, thus providing portals of entry for infection in a host with impaired defenses. The immune system is complex and often affected at various sites with modern anticancer drugs. The frequent use of broad spectrum antibiotics, indwelling central venous catheters and urinary catheters, and exposure to the microbial flora of the hospital further increase the risk of infection.
Responsive Polymers in Biology and Technology

Modern synthetic polymer chemistry has revolutionized the world of polymer materials. Among macromolecular systems of various chemical and architectural profiles the polymers exhibiting property of responsiveness to external signals have emerged as one of the most promising kind of materials in advanced materials science and owe versatile applications in biology and technology. The internal structural designs of these materials enable them to undergo a large and measurable transition in their physicochemical characteristics upon responding to a minor change in the external environment including experimental conditions. The present article reviews the state-of-the-art of the applications of various stimuli responsive polymers and describes their structure-property relationships. The article provides an account of different aspects of stimuli responsive macromolecular systems that include types of systems responsive to various stimuli such as pH, temperature, electric and magnetic fields, different biomolec...
Chlamydia trachomatis infection results in a modest pro-inflammatory cytokine response and a decrease in T cell chemokine secretion in human polarized endocervical epithelial cells

The endocervical epithelium is a major reservoir for Chlamydia trachomatis in women, and genital infections are extended in their duration. Epithelial cells act as mucosal sentinels by secreting cytokines and chemokines in response to pathogen challenge and infection. We therefore determined the signature cytokine and chemokine response of primary-like endocervix-derived epithelial cells in response to a common genital serovar (D) of C. trachomatis. For these studies, we used a recently-established polarized, immortalized, endocervical epithelial cell model (polA2EN) that maintains, in vitro, the architectural and functional characteristics of endocervical epithelial cells in vivo including the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. PolA2EN cells were susceptible to C. trachomatis infection, and chlamydiae in these cells underwent a normal developmental cycle as determined by a one-step growth curve. IL1α protein levels were increased in both apical and basolateral secretions of C. trachomatis infected polA2EN cells, but this response did not occur until 72h after infection. Furthermore, protein levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines IL6, TNFα and CXCL8 were not significantly different between C. trachomatis infected polA2EN cells and mock infected cells at any time during the chlamydial developmental cycle up to 120h post-infection. Intriguingly, C. trachomatis infection resulted in a significant decrease in the constitutive secretion of T cell chemokines IP10 and RANTES, and this required a productive C. trachomatis infection. Examination of anti-inflammatory cytokines revealed a high constitutive apical secretion of IL1ra from polA2EN cells that was not significantly modulated by C. trachomatis infection. IL-11 was induced by C. trachomatis, although only from the basolateral membrane. These results suggest that C. trachomatis can use evasion strategies to circumvent a robust pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine response. These evasion strategies, together with the inherent immune repertoire of endocervical epithelial cells, may aid chlamydiae in establishing, and possibly sustaining, an intracellular niche in microenvironments of the endocervix in vivo.
β-Amyloid neurotoxicity: A discussion of in vitro findings

Abstract Significant advances in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research require definitive, reproducible findings from all employed paradigms. Recently, the existing in vitro data addressing the possible contribution of β-amyloid protein to AD neuropathology have been the subject of controversey. We summarize and interpret existing data and discuss relevant methodological issues. We suggest that in vitro data support the conclusion that β-amyloid peptides decrease the viability of cultured neurons and that this effect can be enhanced by subsequent insults.
"Pawn Ball Megakaryocytes": from the marvellous medici and dear Old Saint Nick to the unsanctified marrow of myelodysplasia.

The worlds of biology and medicine in general, and the discipline of hematology in particular, enjoy a rich lexicon full of fascinating etymologies. The term "Pawn Ball Megakaryocytes" has been used to describe a peculiar type of abnormal cell that can be found in bone marrow samples taken from some patients with the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The three-ball pawnbroker's symbol that these megakaryocytes resemble is ancient and may have derived from the insignia of the Medici family or the symbol of Saint Nicholas of Myra. The murky history of the symbol and its significance for myelodysplasia are reviewed.
Income inequality and health

TYPE="ORG" OID="af2" CNY="US">Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago
Comparison of a reduced radiation fluoroscopy protocol to conventional fluoroscopy during uncomplicated ureteroscopy.

Objectives Although the long-term effects of radiation exposure are not completely predictable, the principle of keeping radiation exposure “as low as reasonably achievable” should be used. The purpose of this study was to compare fluoroscopy times before and after the implementation of a protocol designed to reduce fluoroscopy usage during ureteroscopy. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 300 consecutive ureteroscopy patients at a single institution. Patients undergoing simple ureteroscopy without ancillary procedures or balloon dilation were further evaluated to determine the effect of a reduced fluoroscopy protocol. The protocol included several measures, including use of a laser-guided C-arm, use of a designated fluoroscopy technician and substitution of visual for fluoroscopic cues during ureteroscopy. Fluoroscopy times were compared between groups using a paired t test with P Results Ureteroscopy cases before protocol implementation (n = 30) were compared with procedures after implementation (n = 30). Stone size and location were similar between groups. Protocol implementation significantly reduced the mean fluoroscopy exposure from 86.1 seconds (range 30-300) to 15.5 seconds (range 0-54; P Conclusions The reduced fluoroscopy protocol resulted in an 82% reduction in fluoroscopy time without altering patient outcomes. These simple radiation-reducing techniques add no technical difficulty and improve safety for the patient, surgeon, and operating room staff by lowering radiation exposure.
Puzzling Problems in Computer Engineering

University faculty have designed an engaging puzzle-based freshman seminar intended to motivate and retain computer engineering students.
Treatment costs, cost offset, and cost-effectiveness of collaborative management of depression

Objective This report estimates the treatment costs, cost-offset effects, and cost-effectiveness of Collaborative Care of depressive illness in primary care. Study Design Treatment costs, cost-offset effects, and cost-effectiveness were assessed in two randomized, controlled trials. In the first randomized trial (N = 217), consulting psychiatrists provided enhanced management of pharmacotherapy and brief psychoeducational interventions to enhance adherence. In the second randomized trial (N = 153), Collaborative Care was implemented through brief cognitive-behavioral therapy and enhanced patient education. Consulting psychologists provided brief psychotherapy supplemented by educational materials and enhanced pharmacotherapy management. Results Collaborative Care increased the costs of treating depression largely because of the extra visits required to provide the interventions. There was a modest cost offset due to reduced use of specialty mental health services among Collaborative Care patients, but costs of ambulatory medical care services did not differ significantly between the intervention and control groups. Among patients with major depression there was a modest increase in cost-effectiveness. The cost per patient successfully treated was lower for Collaborative Care than for Usual Care patients. For patients with minor depression, Collaborative Care was more costly and not more cost-effective than Usual Care. Conclusions Collaborative Care increased depression treatment costs and improved the cost-effectiveness of treatment for patients with major depression. A cost offset in specialty mental health costs, but not medical care costs, was observed. Collaborative Care may provide a means of increasing the value of treatment services for major depression.
Halting combustion waves with a fire break

A simple model for the propagation of an exothermic reaction is proposed in which the reactant ignites at a specified temperature. It is shown that the model supports waves of permanent form and the speed and stability of such waves is determined. Finally the behavior of this wave as it encounters a break in the fuel is considered. In particular results are obtained for the size of the break required to halt the wave.
Treating Women and Their Partners Expands Clinical Scope

Women's health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) are now finding that their practices may include men, who present for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Male partners of female family planning patients increasingly are being treated by the same health care provider. As more WHNPs find that their practice includes men, they must broaden their assessment skills. Gaining these skills may require participation in workshops to learn physical assessment of male organs, as well as the psychosocial aspects of male sexuality, counseling, and education. The ability to care for the sexual health care needs of male partners allows WHNPs to gain more insight into the multifactorial aspects of sexual relationships, and to expand their scope of clinical practice. Ultimately, by treating both women and their male partners, it may also mean better health care and health practices for women, as well. The following explores the practices of one program in North Philadelphia, in which male patients are treated by WHNPs.