cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life History and Reproductive Biology

Channel catfish were originally native to Mexico and states bordering the Gulf of Mexico as well as states within the Mississippi Valley. The species has been introduced throughout the United States and in many other countries during the past century; thus the channel catfish is widely distributed.
Erfolgreiche Bewältigung des Unplanbaren durch „anderes“ Handeln

Eine Leitwarte in der chemischen Industrie. Ein buroahnlicher, nuchtern eingerichteter Raum. Zwei Manner sitzen entspannt auf bequemen Burostuhlen und betrachten auf sechs Monitoren, die vor ihnen stehen, eine Vielzahl von Daten und schematischen Darstellungen einzelner Teile einer chemischen Anlage. Es scheint, dass es kaum etwas zu tun gibt. Es herrscht eine ruhige Atmosphare. Hin und wieder betatigen die Manner die vor ihnen liegenden Tastaturen und es wechseln die Bilder auf den Monitoren. Doch plotzlich entsteht eine Unruhe und die Korperhaltung der Manner wird angespannt. Ihr Blick richtet sich konzentriert auf die Monitore und in unregelmasigen Abstanden bedienen sie haufig die Tastatur. Nach ungefahr zehn Minuten sitzen die Manner wieder entspannt auf ihren Stuhlen. Auf die Frage, was hier gerade passiert sei, antwortet einer der Manner: „Da lief etwas schief!“ Aber es gab weder einen Alarm noch eine Fehlermeldung. „Das ist es ja gerade. Man muss dem System zuvorkommen, sonst schaltet es ab. Man merkt es irgendwie. Ich hatte ein unruhiges Gefuhl. Man muss voll dabei sein und versuchen, gegenzusteuern. Die Anlage tut etwas und wir tun etwas. Da kann man nicht nach Schema-F vorgehen.“
The “Past” and the “Delayed-Choice” Double-Slit Experiment

Publisher Summary Partway down the optic axis of the traditional double­slit experiment stands the central element, the doubly-slit screen. This chapter discusses the question whether the photon—or the electron—shall have come through both the slits or only through one of them after it has already transversed that screen. The possibility to use the receptor at the end of the apparatus to record well-defined interference fringes is known. One can determine the lateral kick given to the receptor by each arriving quantum and can record the fringes or the kicks but not both. The arrangement for the recording of the one automatically rules out the recording of the other. It is easy to complicate the double-slit interference pattern. For that purpose, it is enough to have a complicated single-slit diffraction pattern and let the waves from two such slits interfere. It is not necessary to understand every point about the quantum principle in order to understand something about it.
Blood flow distribution and the endothelial surface layer in the diabetic retina

Diabetic retinopathy is known as a microvascular complication of hyperglycemia, with a breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, loss of pericytes, formation of microhemorrhages, early decreases in perfusion and areas of ischemia, with the latter speculated to induce the eventual proliferative, angiogenic phase of the disease. Our animal models of diabetic retinopathy demonstrate similar decreases in retinal blood flow as seen in the early stages of diabetes in humans. Our studies also show an alteration in the retinal distribution of red blood cells, with the deep capillary layer receiving a reduced fraction, and with flow being diverted more towards the superficial vascular layer. Normal red blood cell distribution is dependent on the presence of the endothelial surface layer, specifically the glycocalyx, which has been reported to be partially lost in the diabetic retina of both humans and animals. This review addresses these two phenomena in diabetes: altered perfusion patterns and loss of the glycocalyx, with a possible connection between the two.
Pre-service teachers learning through service-learning in a low SES school

ABSTRACTBackground and purpose: The purpose of this research was to understand the experiences of pre-service teachers in a service-learning program. The research questions that guided this researc...
The International Consequences of National Action Against Shark Finning

Every year, humans kill more than 70 million sharks. Arguably the most devastating practice to shark populations is shark finning, the process by which sharks are caught, their fins cut off, and the carcass thrown back in the ocean dead or dying. A delicacy in China and other Asian countries, shark fin soup is an expensive dish and the primary commercial motivation for shark finning. The disproportionate value of this small part of the shark's body places many shark species in danger of extinction. The decline in shark populations has already demonstrated dire consequences for our oceans' ecosystems. The United States should take measures to control and slow the shark fin trade, and allow shark populations to recover. State and federal laws that prohibit shark finning and the shark fin trade are already in place in the United States and the trend toward a nationwide ban on shark fins is growing. However, more can be done. The U.S. could take measures that would have greater international impact than the current national laws. Such measures could have international trade consequences and present conflicts with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Such conflicts should be anticipated when taking national action against the shark fin trade in order to avoid disputes before the WTO. Because of the danger shark finning poses to shark populations, several shark species need to be listed under CITES. This is a necessary step in the direction of global shark conservation.
First report of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) infecting Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) in Florida, USA.

Samples of galled roots, resembling those induced by root-knot nematodes, and rhizosphere soil were collected from potted plants of Ulmus parvifolia cvs. Allee and Drake in Lake County, Florida. Nematode species were identified using both molecular analysis and morphology of perineal patterns. Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. javanica were identified from U. parvifolia cv. Allee. Meloidogyne arenaria and M. javanica were identified from U. parvifolia cv. Drake. This is a first report of these nematode species infecting Chinese Elm in Florida. Samples of galled roots, resembling those induced by root-knot nematodes, and rhizosphere soil were collected from potted plants of Ulmus parvifolia cvs. Allee and Drake in Lake County, Florida. Nematode species were identified using both molecular analysis and morphology of perineal patterns. Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. javanica were identified from U. parvifolia cv. Allee. Meloidogyne arenaria and M. javanica were identified from U. parvifolia cv. Drake. This is a first report of these nematode species infecting Chinese Elm in Florida.
Impact of influenza on pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness during streptococcus pneumoniae infection in aged murine lung

Changes in innate and adaptive immune responses caused by viral imprinting can have a significant direct or indirect influence on secondary infections and vaccine responses. The purpose of our current study was to investigate the role of immune imprinting by influenza on pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in the aged murine lung. Aged adult (18 months) mice were vaccinated with the pneumococcal polyvalent vaccine Pneumovax (5 mg/mouse). Fourteen days post vaccination, mice were instilled with PBS or influenza A/PR8/34 virus (3.5 × 102 PFU). Control and influenza-infected mice were instilled with PBS or S. pneumoniae (1 × 103 CFU, ATCC 6303) on day 7 of infection and antibacterial immune responses were assessed in the lung. Our results illustrate that, in response to a primary influenza infection, there was diminished bacterial clearance and heightened production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL6 and IL1β. Vaccination with Pneumovax decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production by modulating NFҡB expression; however, these responses were significantly diminished after influenza infection. Taken together, the data in our current study illustrate that immune imprinting by influenza diminishes pneumococcal vaccine efficacy and, thereby, may contribute to increased susceptibility of older persons to a secondary infection with S. pneumoniae.
The intersection of cerebral fat embolism syndrome and traumatic brain injury: a literature review and case series.

To review the historical, clinical, radiographic, and outcome characteristics of individuals diagnosed with an acquired brain injury (ABI) due to cerebral fat embolism syndrome (CFES) with and with...
Comparison of Zeroth-Order Deterministic Local and Delay Pandemic Models

Delay differential equations are set up for zeroth-order pandemic models in analogy with traditional SIR and SEIR models by specifying individual times of incubation and infectiousness prior to recovery. Independent linear delay relations in addition to a nonlinear delay differential equation are found for characterizing time-dependent compartmental populations. Asymptotic behavior allows a link between parameters of the delay and traditional models for their comparison. In analogy with transformation of the traditional equations into linear form giving populations and time in parametric form, approximation of the delay equations results in a simple accurate finite recursive solution. Otherwise, straightforward numerical solution is effected in terms of linearized boundary conditions specifying the distribution of instigators as to their initial infection progress--in contrast to traditional models specifying only initial average infectious and exposed populations. Examples contrasting asymptotically-linked traditional and delay models are given.
Physical Punishment as a Predictor of Early Cognitive Development: Evidence from Econometric Approaches.

This study estimates the effect of physical punishment on the cognitive development of 1,167 low-income Colombian children (Mage = 17.8 months old) using 3 analytic strategies: lagged-dependent variables, a difference-in-differences-like approach (DD), and a novel strategy combining matching with a DD-like approach. Across approaches, physical punishment at ages 9-26 months predicted reductions in children's cognitive development of 0.08-0.21 SD at ages 27-46 months. These results, plus null results of falsification tests, strengthen the argument that physical punishment leads to slower cognitive growth and illustrate the utility of alternative statistical methods to reduce problems of selection bias in developmental research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Sulfate removal using colloid-enhanced ultrafiltration: performance evaluation and adsorption studies

Colloid-enhanced ultrafiltration (CEUF), i.e., micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) and polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF), was investigated to remove sulfate ions from aqueous solution in batch experiments, using cetyltrimethylammonium (CTAB) and poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) as colloids, respectively. Ultrafiltration performance was evaluated under different initial concentrations of sulfate (0–20 mM) and CTAB/PDADMAC (0–100 mM). The highest retention rate (> 99%) was found in dilute sulfate solutions. At high sulfate concentrations (e.g., 10 mM), a dosage of 50 mM CTAB or PDADMAC can retain approximately 90% of sulfate ions. Though concentration polarization behavior was observed, membrane characterization indicated that the fouling was reversible and membranes can be reused. Furthermore, adsorption equilibrium and kinetics studies show that Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics can describe the sulfate-colloid interaction, indicating that the surface of absorbents are heterogeneous and the rate-controlling step is chemisorption. Both MEUF and PEUF show potential as effective separation techniques in removing sulfate from aqueous solutions. Under the same conditions examined, PEUF shows advantages over MEUF in its higher retention at lower polymer-to-sulfate ratios, cleaner effluent, and higher adsorption capacity, but compromises on severer flux decline and a tendency of membrane fouling. To overcome this disadvantage, membranes with higher molecular weight cut-off can be used.
1.5-Stage Exchange Arthroplasty for Total Knee Arthroplasty Periprosthetic Joint Infections.

Abstract Background Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a challenging problem. The purpose of this study was to outline a novel technique to treat TKA PJI. We define 1.5-stage exchange arthroplasty as placing an articulating spacer with the intent to last for a prolonged time. Methods A retrospective review was performed from 2007 to 2019 to evaluate patients treated with 1.5-stage exchange arthroplasty for TKA PJI. Inclusion criteria included: articulating knee spacer(s) remaining in situ for 12 months and the patient deferring a second-stage reimplantation because the patient had acceptable function with the spacer (28 knees) or not being a surgical candidate (three knees). Thirty-one knees were included with a mean age of 63 years, mean BMI 34.4 kg/m2, 12 were female, with a mean clinical follow-up of 2.7 years. Cobalt-chrome femoral and polyethylene tibial components were used. We evaluated progression to second-stage reimplantation, reinfection, and radiographic outcomes. Results At a mean follow-up of 2.7 years, 25 initial spacers were in situ (81%). Five knees retained their spacer(s) for some time (mean 1.5 years) and then underwent a second-stage reimplantation; one of the five had progressive radiolucent lines but no evidence of component migration. Three knees (10%) had PJI reoccurrence. Four had progressive radiolucent lines, but there was no evidence of component migration in any knees. Conclusions 1.5-stage exchange arthroplasty may be a reasonable method to treat TKA PJI. At a mean follow-up of 2.7 years, there was an acceptable rate of infection recurrence and implant durability.
Effects of animacy and sentence type on silent reading comprehension in aphasia: An eye-tracking study.

Abstract The present study examined how healthy aging and aphasia influence the capacity for readers to generate structural predictions during online reading, and how animacy cues influence this process. Non-brain-damaged younger (n = 24) and older (n = 12) adults (Experiment 1) and individuals with aphasia (IWA; n = 11; Experiment 2) read subject relative and object relative sentences in an eye-tracking experiment. Half of the sentences included animate sentential subjects, and the other half included inanimate sentential subjects. All three groups used animacy information to mitigate effects of syntactic complexity. These effects were greater in older than younger adults. IWA were sensitive to structural frequency, with longer reading times for object relative than subject relative sentences. As in previous work, effects of structural complexity did not emerge on IWA's first pass through the sentence, but were observed when IWA reread critical segments of the sentences. Thus, IWA may adopt atypical reading strategies when they encounter low frequency or complex sentence structures, but they are able to use animacy information to reduce the processing disruptions associated with these structures.
NemChR-DB: a database of parasitic nematode chemosensory G-protein coupled receptors.

Abstract Nematode Chemosensory G-Protein Coupled Receptors have expanded within nematodes, where they play important roles in foraging and host-seeking behaviour. Nematode Chemosensory G-Protein Coupled Receptors are most highly expressed during free-living stages when chemosensory signalling is required for host detection and nematode activation in various parasitic nematodes, and therefore position Nematode Chemosensory G-Protein Coupled Receptors at the transition from infective to parasitic stages, making them important regulators to study in terms of host-seeking and host specificity. To facilitate the analysis of Nematode Chemosensory G-Protein Coupled Receptors, here we describe an integrative database of nematode chemoreceptors called NemChR-DB. This database enables users to study diverse parasitic nematode chemoreceptors, functionally explore sequence entries through structural and literature-based annotations, and perform cross-species comparisons.
Efficient computation of baryon interpolating fields in Lattice QCD

In this work we present an efficient construction of baryon interpolating fields for lattice QCD computations of two and three point functions. These are essential building blocks of computations of nucleon parton distribution functions (PDFs), generalized parton distribution functions (GPDs) and transverse momentum dependent distributions functions (TMDs). Lattice QCD computations of these quantities can provide additional input to assist with the global fits on experimental data for determining TMDs, GPDs and PDFs.
MODERN APPROACHES TO TEACHING SIGHT SINGING AND EAR TRAINING

Sight singing and ear training are difficult subjects to teach. Over the past decade, however, many new technological tools were developed that support educational endeavors. Several of those tools, SmartMusic, SingSnap, EarTrainer (MusicDictation.app), and YouTube, were used at the beginning college-level aural skills courses to enhance sight singing and ear training instruction, especially in the context of enhancing audiation skills. This article summarizes their use within aural skills courses and present experimental and anecdotal evidence of increased sight singing and ear training skills. More specifically, experimental (test) data as well as anecdotal (essay) evidence showed that (1) students were much higher motivated to complete exercises compared to ‘traditional’ aural skills exercises, (2) in a shorter period of time, students performed much better than in ‘traditional’ exercises of at least the same difficulty, (3) the students’ audiation abilities increased much more as a result of the exercises, compared to ‘traditional’ exercises, and (4) students showed a greater increase in solfege proficiency, compared to ‘traditional’ exercises. The teaching approaches we have discussed also led to a greater independence from in-person instruction.
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist survey on abortion training and service provision

Following a collaborative workshop at the 39th Annual Pregnancy Meeting, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Reproductive Health Advisory Group identified a need to assess the attitudes of maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists about abortion services and the available resources at the local and regional levels. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of practicing maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists in the United States regarding abortion. An online survey was distributed to associate and regular members of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine to assess their personal training experience, abortion practice patterns, factors that influence their decision to provide abortion care, and their responses to a series of scenarios about high-risk maternal or fetal medical conditions. Frequencies were analyzed and univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted on the survey responses. Of the 2751 members contacted, 546 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine members completed all (448 of 546, 82.1%) or some (98 of 546, 17.9%) of the survey. More than 80% of the respondents reported availability of abortion services in their state, 70% reported availability at their primary institution, and 44% reported provision as part of their personal medical practice. Ease of referral to family planning subspecialists or other abortion providers, institutional restrictions, and the lack of training or continuing education were identified as the most significant factors contributing to the respondents’ limited scope of abortion services or lack of any abortion services offered. In the univariable analysis, exposure to formal family planning training programs, fewer years since the completion of residency, current practice setting not being religiously affiliated, and current state categorized as supportive by the Guttmacher Institute’s abortion policy landscape were factors associated with abortion provision (all P values
Global Pandemics and the Economics of Global Value Chains: COVID-19 and the Production of Medical Devices

Pandemics change the dynamics of GVCs in fundamental ways, notably in those producing the medical devices needed to fight them. I outline a modified rationale for globally-integrated production in this sector and show how considerations of costs, skills and resources that drive GVC structure in other industries are transformed in medical-device GVCs. I present the trade-off between the benefits of global integration and the imperative of speed of response and secured supply as giving rise to multiple arrangements of the production and supply of medical devices that combine local, regional and global production. I outline implications for theory and policy.
Are people with social anxiety disorder happier alone

Quality contact with other people serves as a reliable mood enhancement strategy. We wondered if the emotional benefits of socializing are present even for those with a psychological disorder defined by social distress and avoidance: social anxiety disorder (SAD). We conducted two ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies and analyzed 7243 total surveys. In both studies, community adults diagnosed with SAD and healthy controls received five surveys each day for 2 weeks. Consistent with research on positivity deficits in SAD, between-person analyses in both studies suggest that, on average, participants with SAD reported lower positive and higher negative affect in social and non-social situations than healthy controls. Within-person analyses, however, revealed that in both studies participants with SAD and healthy controls reported higher positive affect when with others than when alone; no differences were found for negative affect for those with SAD. The difference in positive affect between social and nonsocial situations was smaller for participants with SAD in Study 1, suggesting that people with SAD may experience diminished reward responding when socializing. Our results suggest that even those with a mental illness defined by interpersonal distress can and do derive positive emotions from social interactions.
Electoral Competence, Epistocracy, and Standpoint Epistemologies. A Reply to Brennan

Jason Brennan’s recent epistemic argument for epistocracy relies on the assumption that voter competence requires knowledge of economics and political science. He conjectures that people who would ...
Ukraine: Democratization, Corruption, and the New Russian Imperialism

A definitive contemporary political, economic, and cultural history from a leading international expert, this is the first single-volume work to survey and analyze Soviet and post-Soviet Ukrainian history since 1953 as the basis for understanding the nation today. * Integrates late-Soviet and post-Soviet history to explain the continuity of the legacies of the USSR on contemporary Ukraine * Provides alternative and original insights into Ukrainian politics that provide an original perspective different from standard frameworks * Includes an extensive range of interviews with leading Ukrainian politicians, civic activists, and businesspersons as well as Western policymakers and leaders of the Ukrainian diaspora who provide unique insights into contemporary Ukrainian politics * Shares biographical entries that reflect the author's three decades of personal involvement in contemporary Ukraine * Draws on a wide range of primary and original sources * Features original and previously unseen photographs
Developmental Regulation of Alkaline Phosphatase in Dictyostelium discoideum

The kinetics of accumulation of alkaline phosphatase activity were determined in cells of wild-type and morphologically aberrant mutant strains of Dictyostelium discoideum induced to develop synchronously on membrane supports. The enzyme specific activity increased slowly in wild-type cells until culmination when a dramatic rise in specific activity occurred. The patterns of accumulation in the mutant strains, as well as previous electrophoretic analysis, suggest that the two phases of accumulation may result from the synthesis of distinct isozymes. The rapid accumulation of alkaline phosphatase was found to require concomitant protein synthesis. Ribonucleic acid synthesis, on the other hand, could be inhibited during the 8 hr immediately preceding culmination without affecting the amount of enzyme accumulated. When ribonucleic acid synthesis was inhibited earlier in development, the accumulation of alkaline phosphatase was reduced. Comparison of these results with work on other developmentally controlled enzymes suggests that both transcriptional and translational control occurs during development of D. discoideum. The accumulation of alkaline phosphatase was shown to require specific cellular topography during culmination, suggesting that intercellular interactions which allow synthesis of alkaline phosphatase occur at that stage.
Limiting diffusion currents in hydrodynamic voltammetry: I. Fixed disk and ring electrodes in laminar uniform flow

Abstract A circulatory electrolysis cell assembly with which well-defined hydrodynamic conditions can be obtained at the surface of the indicator electrode, has been devised for the study of mass transfer rate at solid electrodes in flowing solutions. In a range of linear flow velocities between 15 and 150 cm s−1, ferric ion at the disk and ring platinum microelectrodes has yielded well-defined current-voltage curves with negligible fluctuations on the limiting current regions. An explicit theoretical expression for the limiting diffusion current at the disk and ring electrode immersed in a laminar uniform flow has been derived. The theoretical predictions for the dependence of the limiting diffusion current upon the various experimental variables, i.e. the bulk concentration of depolarizer, the linear flow velocity, the surface area of disk electrode, the diameter of cylindrical resin and the inner diameter of the ring electrode, have been verified experimentally. Finally, the value of the diffusion coefficient of ferric ion has been calculated from the data for about 100 runs, and is in good agreement with the value by the diaphragm cell method.
Virulent and Avirulent Encapsulated Variants of Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract There are at least two serologically distinct capsular types of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Until now, unequivocal evidence for encapsulation of the Smith diffuse variant was lacking. However, the data presented in this paper provide definitive details of encapsulation of the Smith strain. A marked difference in ld50 values for the two serologically distinct capsular types of S. aureus was demonstrated. The paradoxical behavior of these two strains suggested that the host was resistant to one and was susceptible to the other. A survey of the carriage incidence in mice for staphylococci and staphylococcal capsular antibodies disclosed the presence of staphylococci and capsular antibodies in these animals. The capsular antibodies detected were reactive against only one of the capsular types of S. aureus. None of the sera from the mice surveyed possessed capsular antibodies against the Smith diffuse variant, but the average incidence for the capsular antibodies against the wound mucoid type was 46%. We postulated that the susceptibility of the mice to the Smith diffuse variant was caused by the absence of protective, type-specific capsular antibodies. Conversely, the resistance of the mice to the wound mucoid staphylococci may have been a result of the presence of type-specific capsular antibodies.
Antigenic studies of Candida. II. Antigenic relation of Candida albicans group A and group B to Candida stellatoidea and Candida tropicalis.

Abstract Hasenclever, H. F. (U. S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md.), William O. Mitchell, and Joseph Loewe. Antigenic studies of Candida. II. Antigenic relation of Candida albicans group A and group B to Candida stellatoidea and Candida tropicalis. J. Bacteriol. 82:574–577. 1961.—Previous work in our laboratory has shown the presence of two antigenic groups within the species Candida albicans. These groups have been designated as groups A and B. Subsequent studies have been conducted to show the antigenic relationship of these groups with Candida stellatoidea and Candida tropicalis. Antisera to two strains each of C. albicans group A, C. albicans group B, C. stellatoidea, and C. tropicalis were used in this investigation. Individual suspensions from each of nine strains of C. stellatoidea and from ten strains each of the other groups and species were used to test the agglutinative properties of unadsorbed and adsorbed antisera. Separate samples of antisera to each immunizing strain were reciprocally cross adsorbed with the other immunizing strains and tested for agglutination. The results indicated that C. albicans group A and C. tropicalis were antigenically identical and C. albicans group B and C. stellatoidea were antigenically indistinguishable.
Distinct patterns of expression of two VAMP genes within the rat brain

VAMPs are synaptic vesicle-specific proteins composed of a carboxy- terminal hydrophobic membrane anchor and an approximately 100 amino acid domain oriented towards the cytoplasm. In rat, two 77% homologous VAMP genes are expressed in the CNS. To precisely localize the neurons expressing these 2 forms of VAMP, we have used RNA blotting and in situ hybridization histochemistry with RNA probes specific for the 3′ untranslated regions of the transcripts. These experiments revealed that the 2 genes are expressed in distict, but slightly overlapping, patterns in the rat brain. VAMP-1 expression is localized to a limited number of nuclei, particularly those involved in modulating somatomotor functions, while VAMP-2 expression is more ubiquitous, being found in nuclei associated with autonomic, sensory, and integrative roles. These data suggest that the specific structural features of individual VAMPs may play an important role in synaptic vesicle metabolism.
Assessing the Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of Admission of Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) to a Neurovascular Step Down Unit. (P5.141)

OBJECTIVE: Assessing the safety and cost-effectiveness of admission of ICH with an ICH score < 2 to a neurovascular step down unit. BACKGROUND: To demonstrate the safety of admission to a neurovascular step down unit for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and an ICH score < 2. DESIGN/METHODS: A retrospective review examined patients hospitalized for ICH between October 2011 and January 2013 at a single tertiary care center. All patients with an ICH score 3, brain tumor, traumatic ICH, hereditary coagulopathy, intubation upon admission, primary IVH, and comfort care admission. RESULTS: 118 patients were identified and 50 were excluded based on the aforementioned criteria. 68 patients were included. 30 patients were admitted to the Progressive Care Unit (PCU). The mean age was 67.7, GCS was 14.5, ICH score was 0.70, ICH volume was 6.56 cc, number of hospital days was 3.7, hospital cost was $10,648.80, and NIHSS was 5.3. 38 patients were admitted to the NCCU. The mean age was 67.4, GCS was 13.9, ICH score was 0.95, ICH volume was 11.41 cc, NIHSS was 7.1. The mean number of hospital days was 8.38 (mean ICU days = 4.63; PCU days = 3.65). The mean cost of days in the ICU was $19,892.63 and PCU was $12,695.46. The mean cost savings obtained if the patients were admitted to the PCU instead of the ICU was $6,581.47 per patient. No adverse events or transfers from the PCU to NCCU occurred CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an ICH score < 2 had decreased length of stay, were safe, and were cost-effectively managed in a PCU compared to a NCCU. Study Supported by: None Disclosure: Dr. Hafeez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Behrouz has nothing to disclose.
What can normal gait biomechanics teach a designer of lower limb prostheses

Compensating a limb loss with prosthesis is a challenging task due to complexity of the human body which cannot be fully matched by the available technical means. Designer of lower limb prostheses wants to know what specification of the device could provide the best approximation to the normal locomotion. Deep understanding of the latter is essential, and gait analysis may be a valuable tool for this. Once prosthesis is built, gait analysis may help in comparing the wearer's performance with the new device and with the prior art, and in verification of the hypotheses being put forward during the development process. In this lecture, we will discuss some synergies of normal gait. We will focus on the required biomechanical properties of a prosthetic leg that can allow the prosthesis's inclusion in normal gait synergy without demanding excessive compensatory movements. We will consider contribution of leg joints to generation of propulsion for adequate design of lower limb prostheses especially those with power supply.
Charge-coupled-device response to electron beam energies of less than 1 keV up to 20 keV

Recent developments of backside treatment for the backside-illuminated scientifc CCD imagers have shown near-theoretical efficiency even at the short wavelength region of the spectrum. By using SEM performance comparisons of backside-treated and untreated CCDs to an electron flux varying from 1 to 100 pA and beam energy ranging from less than 1 keV up to 20 keV are obtained. The theoretical analysis, the SEM testing procedure, and the quantum efficiency measurement results are presented. It is shown, for example, that the average quantum efficiency increases from less than 1 percent for an untreated CCD to nearly 40 percent for a backside-treated CCD at a beam energy of 1 kev.
Performance analysis of the FAVR meteor burst communication system

The feedback adaptive variable-bit-rate system (FAVR) is a means of maximizing the throughput and minimizing the waiting time of a meteor-burst communication channel. It is shown that high reliability in automatic bit-rate identification can be realized with a small reduction in throughput as compared with an ideal variable bit-rate system. It is concluded that high throughput is achieved because the signal power is most effectively utilized and there is no overhead for conveying the bit-rate information. The system provides minimum waiting time because it makes use of weak bursts as well as strong bursts. >
An alternative theory of real exchange rate determination: theory and empirical evidence for the Mexican economy, 1970-2004

The recent history of the Mexican economy has shown that its worst economic crises have been due to balance of payments problems, which eventually lead to foreign exchange rate crises (1976-1977, 1982, 1986-1988 and, 1994-1995). Although conventional exchange rate models hold that in the long-run real exchange rates will move in such a way as to make countries equally competitive, such an argument is far from being true because in reality countries are unequally competitive. In the case of Mexico (Mex), a clear and thorough assessment of real exchange rate determination and its relationship with the balance of payment, especially with the current account, which has been negative since the late forties despite currency devaluations, is necessary.
Ultrasonic control of UF membrane fouling by natural waters: Effects of calcium, pH, and fractionated natural organic matter

Abstract Ultrasound at a frequency of 20 kHz and a power of 16 W was applied to a cross-flow ultrafiltration system to investigate the ultrasonic control of surface-water fouled ceramic membranes. Ultrasound was effective in improving the normalized permeate flux of a surface water, from 0.21 in the absence of ultrasound to 0.70 with the aid of ultrasound. Moreover, with ultrasound a stable permeate flux was obtained throughout the 2 h filtration process. Calcium and pH had little impact on the extent of membrane fouling in the absence of ultrasound; however, ultrasound was more effective at minimizing fouling at lower calcium concentration and moderate pH values, presumably due to weaker foulant–foulant and foulant–membrane interactions at these conditions. Fractionation of natural organic matter (NOM) showed that, in the absence of ultrasound, the hydrophilic fraction contributed greatest to fouling while the hydrophobic fraction contributed less. Also, the extent and rate of fouling caused by the hydrophilic NOM was not sensitive to the change of pH or calcium concentration in feed water. The ultrasonic control of membrane fouling caused by hydrophilic NOM was effective at both calcium concentrations (40 and 180 mg/L) investigated. Ultrasonic control of fouling by hydrophilic NOM was more effective at higher pH, presumably due to greater charge repulsion between the membrane and amino acids and peptides in the hydrophilic fraction.
A two-dimensional intake manifold flow simulation

Abstract A computer flow model of an intake manifold of a four cylinder engine has been developed using a computational fluid dynamic code. This code is base on the Conchas-Spray code developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The flow inside the intake manifold is assumed to be two-dimensional, unsteady, compressible, and turbulent. A simple subgrid scale (SGS) turbulence model and hypothetical boundary conditions are employed in the simulation. Atmospheric pressure is specified at the inlet and the velocities are specified at the outlets of the manifold, together with the law of the wall at all the wall boundaries. Numerical results of the simulation are presented in the form of velocity, pressure, density, and temperature fields. The model is designed in such a way that different manifold geometries may be simulated with ease. A simulation of a concept manifold “the loop-manifold” is also presented.
Mathematical modelling of spatial price equilibrium for multicommodity consumer flows of large markets using variational inequalities

Abstract This paper presents an additional application of patient/customer flow models within a large geographical domain to that which were presented in previous articles. Some additional calibration results are also provided for an origin-constrained model using real data from a hospital database for the state of Massachusetts. The equivalence of an equity objective function model that was presented in earlier papers is made to the spatial price equilibrium (SPE) problem. The corresponding mathematical formulations for the latter and an optimization algorithm for its solution are presented for patient/client/customer flows. Finally a Cournot-Nash oligopolistic model in which a few hospitals are competing in spatially separated markets is also formulated, as well as its corresponding solution using the mathematical principle of variational inequalities (VI). Conclusions and future directions of the research are discussed.
Optimization of Conditions for In Vitro Culture of the Microphallid Digenean Gynaecotyla adunca

In vitro cultivation of digeneans would aid the development of effective treatments and studies of the biology of the parasites. The goal of this study was to optimize culture conditions for the trematode, Gynaecotyla adunca. Metacercariae of the parasite from fiddler crabs, Uca pugnax, excysted in trypsin, were incubated overnight to permit fertilization, and were cultured in different conditions to find those that resulted in maximum worm longevity and egg production. When cultured in media lacking serum, worms lived longer in Hanks balanced salt solution and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle medium/F-12 (DME/F-12) than in RPMI-1640 but produced the most eggs in DME/F-12. Worm longevity and egg production increased when worms were grown in DME/F-12 supplemented with 20% chicken, horse, or newborn calf serum but the greatest number of eggs was deposited in cultures containing horse or chicken serum. Horse serum was chosen over chicken serum due to the formation of a precipitate in chicken serum. The optimal concentration of horse serum with respect to egg production ranged from 5 to 20%. Infectivity of eggs deposited by worms in culture was tested by feeding eggs to mud snails, Ilyanassa obsoleta. None of these snails produced G. adunca cercariae.
A contemporary comparison of the effect of shunt type in hypoplastic left heart syndrome on the hemodynamics and outcome at stage 2 reconstruction

Objective We compare the hemodynamics and perioperative course of shunt type in hypoplastic left heart syndrome at the time of stage 2 reconstruction and longer-term survival. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the echocardiograms, catheterizations, and hospital records of all patients who had a stage 1 reconstruction between January 2002 and May 2005 and performed a cross-sectional analysis of hospital survivors. Results One hundred seventy-six patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and variants underwent a stage 1 reconstruction with either a right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduit (n = 62) or a modified Blalock–Taussig shunt (n = 114). The median duration of follow-up is 29.1 months (range, 0-57 months). By means of Kaplan–Meier analysis, there is no difference in survival at 3 years (right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduit: 73% [95% confidence limit, 59%–83%] vs modified Blalock–Taussig shunt: 69% [95% confidence limit, 59%–77%]; P = .6). One hundred twenty-four patients have undergone stage 2 reconstruction (78 modified Blalock–Taussig shunts and 46 right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduits). At the time of the stage 2 reconstruction, patients with right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduits were younger (153 days [range, 108–340 days]; modified Blalock–Taussig shunt, 176 days [range, 80–318 days]; P = .03), had lower systemic oxygen saturation (73% [range, 58%–85%] vs 77% [range, 57%–89%], P P P = .02). However, no difference was observed in common atrial pressure or the arteriovenous oxygen difference. Conclusion Interim analyses suggest no advantage of one shunt type over another. This report raises concern of late ventricular dysfunction and outcome in patients with a right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduit.
Resolving inherently safer design conflicts with decision analysis and multi-attribute utility theory

Abstract The 1984 Bhopal tragedy involved the toxic and reactive chemical methyl isocyanate (MIC). The enormous human toll of this tragedy spurred the development of the concept of inherently safer design (ISD), and several published studies have since demonstrated the application of ISD concepts to the Bhopal process. In 2008, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigated a fatal explosion at a chemical plant in West Virginia, for which a potential (unrealized) outcome was the loss-of-containment of the large inventory of MIC stored onsite. The CSB asked the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to investigate the application of ISD concepts to the design of the West Virginia plant. The NAS study indicated that one of the primary difficulties in evaluating and choosing between ISD alternatives was the need to satisfy conflicting design objectives. The NAS panel suggested Multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) as a basis for evaluating ISD alternatives, but they did not illustrate its use in this report. Here, we illustrate the use of MAUT as a decision analysis tool for evaluating ISD alternatives, and show that the MAUT technique is an effective tool for resolving ISD conflicts. We demonstrate how to use MAUT to evaluate ISD alternatives by formulating utility functions and weights for the decision objectives. We also examine how the final ranking of alternatives varies with the weights.
A second look at self-employment and the earnings of immigrants

Portes and Zhou (1996) present evidence to suggest that self-employment may impact the economic fortunes of immigrant groups by generating a relatively large number of very high earners. The present analysis seeks to extend and clarify the very high earner thesis using 1990 U.S. census data. Findings across 41 immigrant samples are generally consistent with expectations. However, in the majority of cases the effect of self-employment is due in whole or substantial part to the earnings of professional specialists. Findings are consistent with a very high earner model of nonprofessional specialist self-employment in eleven immigrant subsamples.
Why We Laugh

Contemplating why we find some things funny, the authors provide cognitive and evolutionary perspectives on humor and its importance to humans.
Observations on Minority Education, Cultural Preservation and Economic Development in China

(1995). Observations on Minority Education, Cultural Preservation and Economic Development in China. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education: Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 161-178.
Bronchial thermoplasty: therapeutic success in severe asthma associated with persistent airflow obstruction.

Introduction. Severe persistent asthma is a disabling condition associated with significant morbidity and rising mortality worldwide. The recent advent of bronchial thermoplasty (BT) has offered a revolutionary therapeutic option for the treatment of severe persistent asthma. This minimally invasive bronchoscopic procedure focuses on anatomical manipulation of bronchial smooth muscle to attenuate airway hyperresponsiveness. Case report. This case report describes treatment of a 42-year-old female with BT for her debilitating asthma. Following a complicated treatment course of BT, she attained significant relief from her symptoms and had noticeably improved functionality. Conclusion. This case represents BT success and a change to the traditional paradigm governing the treatment of refractory asthma.