cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of cardiac arrest centers - extending lifesaving post-resuscitation therapies: the Arizona experience -

The post-cardiac arrest syndrome is a complex, multisystems response to the global ischemia and reperfusion injury that occurs with the onset of cardiac arrest, its treatment (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the re-establishment of spontaneous circulation. Regionalization of post-cardiac arrest care, utilizing specified cardiac arrest centers (CACs), has been proposed as the best solution to providing optimal care for those successfully resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A multidisciplinary team of intensive care specialists, including critical care/pulmonologists, cardiologists (general, interventional, and electrophysiology), neurologists, and physical medicine/rehabilitation experts, is crucial for such centers. Particular attention to the timely initiation of targeted temperature management and early coronary angiography/percutaneous coronary intervention is best provided by such CACs. A State-wide program of CACs was started in Arizona in 2007. This is a voluntary program, whereby medical centers agree to provide all resuscitated cardiac arrest patients brought to their facility with state-of-the-art post-resuscitation care, including targeted temperature management for comatose patients and strong consideration for emergent coronary angiography for all patients with a likely cardiac etiology for their cardiac arrest. Survival improved by more than 50% at facilities that became CACs with a commitment to provide aggressive post-resuscitation care to all such patients. Providing aggressive, post-resuscitation care is the next real opportunity to increase long-term survival for cardiac arrest patients.
Transmission Properties Of Optical Fiber Waveguides

Guided optical communications using glass optical fiber waveguides is a rapidly growing field. In this paper a discussion of the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber will be given. This will include first a description of rays and modes in the waveguide. Attenuation, long the benchmark for judging fibers has its sources broadly grouped into two categories, absorption and scattering. These will be further subdivided into their contributing factors and discussed, giving a summary of the current status of attenuation reduction. The information carrying capacity is potentially limited by two things, differing group velocity for each mode and finite spectral width of the transmitted light. These will be discussed, showing the effect that material properties and the radial index gradient have on information bandwidth. In the multimode waveguide energy may be transferred between modes during transmission. This can be beneficial by causing the information capacity to decrease only as the (fiber length)12 rather than directly as the fiber length as in the case of no mode coupling. It can also be detrimental since there is an additional attenuation associated with mode coupling. This effect will have an impact on fiber parameters as well as on fiber packaging and will be discussed.© (1975) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reactions of substituted (methylthio)benzylidene Meldrum's acids with secondary alicyclic amines in aqueous DMSO. Evidence for rate-limiting proton transfer.

The replacement of the methylthio group of substituted methylthiobenzylidene Meldrum's acids (2-SMe-Z) by secondary alicyclic amines occurs by a three-step mechanism. The first step is a nucleophil...
Genetic Aspects of Increase in Rat Liver Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Induced by Phenobarbital

In the supernatant fraction of homogenized rat liver, the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase that is dependent on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (E.C. 1.2.1.3) is increased up to tenfold after administration of phenobarbital for 3 days. The effect is genetically controlled and is inherited as an autosomal dominant characteristic. The mechanism is apparently unrelated to other druginduced increases in enzyme activity such as that which occurs in the hepatic microsomal systems for drug metabolism.
Increased methane emissions from an invasive wetland plant under elevated carbon dioxide levels

Abstract Wetlands function as important climate regulators by providing conditions for the large-scale production and release of methane from vegetation. Several studies have suggested an apparent link between two global warming gases that result in higher emissions of methane from rice paddies and wetlands subjected to elevated levels of atmospheric CO2. We show that an increase in the relative abundance of methane-producing archaea isolated from the rhizosphere of a highly invasive plant was associated with enhanced plant biomass from CO2-stimulated roots. Methane emissions from a cattail invasive to North America Typha angustifolia (narrow leaf cattail) increased 148% under an enriched atmosphere of CO2 (700 ppm). Root biomass also increased under elevated CO2 for T. angustifolia and was correlated with methane flux, suggesting that future CO2 stimulation may lead to higher methane emissions from Typha-dominated wetlands.
Comparison of Parking Requirements in Zoning and Form-Based Codes

There is growing recognition of the negative effects of rapid suburbanization, also known as urban sprawl, which has dominated the development of urban areas for the past several decades. Both land use and transportation policies have contributed to this form of development, creating communities devoid of nearby services and with a characterless urban form and dependence on automobiles for travel. To address these issues, urban planners, architects, developers, and policy makers are considering form-based codes to guide and regulate urban development that creates complete and compact neighborhoods. Whereas form-based codes address urban form and land use, this study focuses on how parking requirements inhibit or support efforts to reduce urban sprawl and automobile dependency. Form-based codes are growing in popularity, and this paper investigates specifically parking policies in these types of land use regulations. This study finds that parking policies in the Miami 21 form-based code and Duany Plater-Zy...
Poverty and forest degradation: introduction to the special issue

This special issue focuses on the poor and their role in forest degradation. The idea that the poor are both agents of forest degradation and victims of forest loss is not new. Neither is the observation that unsustainable rates of forest use by smallholder farmers arises as a result of a complex interplay of incentives, constraints, and institutional forces. For researchers and policy makers concerned with natural resource use in low-income settings, theory is often useful, but rarely adequate to explain behavioural patterns. Unambiguous theoretical findings tend to flow only from substantial sets of simplifying assumptions, and such assumptions, measured against the observed facts of smallholder agriculture, seem largely untenable. Unfortunately much empirical research on the topic suffers from an opposite problem. In settings where, at any point in time, everything matters and nothing is held constant, econometric findings are frequently weak. The combination of heterogeneity of circumstance, homogeneity of market signals, and limitations on smallholder response generally overwhelms the statistical power of small data sets, often collected with different purposes in mind.
Structure of Graphite

A RECENT communication by Gibson1 sought to show that X-ray powder photographs of graphite contained 'extra' reflexions that could not be explained on the basis of the co-existence of the hexagonal and rhombohedral structures described by Lipson and Stokes2. It is of some importance that the crystal structure of graphite should be correctly specified3, and, because of our experience in examining by X-ray methods graphites from many different sources, we have thought it useful to investigate the validity of the observations made by Gibson. Besides the particular problem of the structure of graphite, there are also involved some questions of X-ray technique on which comment appears called for.
Stalin's populism and the accidental creation of Russian national identity

This article argues that the formation of a mass sense of Russian national identity was a recent, contingent event that first began to take shape under Stalin. Surveying the new literature on Russian nationalism, it contends that elite expressions of “Russianness” and bureaucratic proclamations of “official nationality” or russification should not be conflated with the advent of a truly mass sense of grassroots identity. Borrowing from an array of theorists, it argues that such a sense of identity only becomes possible after the establishment of necessary social institutions – universal schooling, a modern army, etc. Inasmuch as these institutions come into being only after the formation of the Soviet Union, this article focuses on how a mass sense of Russian national identity began to form under a rapid and unpredictable series of ideological shifts that occurred during the Stalinist 1930s and 1940s. This article's major contribution is its description of this development as not only contingent, but acci...
Predicting helical segments in proteins by a helix‐coil transition theory with parameters derived from a structural database of proteins

A novel helix-coil transition theory has been developed. This new theory contains more types of interactions than similar theories developed earlier. The parameters of the models were obtained from a database of 351 nonhomologous proteins. No manual adjustment of the parameters was performed. The interaction parameters obtained in this manner were found to be physically meaningful, consistent with current understanding of helix stabilizing/destabilizing interactions. Novel insights into helix stabilizing/destabilizing interactions have also emerged from this analysis. The theory developed here worked well in sorting out helical residues from amino acid sequences. If the theory was forced to make prediction on every residue of a given amino acid sequence, its performance was the best among ten other secondary structural prediction algorithms in distinguishing helical residues from nonhelical ones. The theory worked even better if one only required it to make prediction on residues that were "predictable" (identifiable by the theory); > 90% predictive reliability could be achieved. The helical residues or segments identified by the helix-coil transition theory can be used as secondary structural contraints to speed up the prediction of the three-dimensional structure of a protein by reducing the dimension of a computational protein folding problem. Possible further improvements of this helix-coil transition theory are also discussed.
Contraction of Pulses

Abstract Cohen, L., Contraction of Pulses, Digital Signal Processing12 (2002) 405–415 We give an explicit criterion for when a pulse will first contract before eventually spreading. The contraction time is explicitly given and it is shown that the important quantity is the initial correlation between position and group velocity. A simple physical model is presented that explains why sometimes pulses contract before eventually expanding.
Measures on schwartz distribution space and applications to P(φ)2 field theories

Gaussian and non-Gaussian measures on ℒ ' ( R 2 ) arising in the P ( φ ) 2 field theory model are investigated. Estimates relevant to the model are proved, and a formula is obtained for the difference of two measures. A general form of Wick's theorem is also proved.
Extremals for Logarithmic Hardy-Littlewood-Sobelov Inequalities on Compact Manifolds

Let M be a closed, connected surface and let Γ be a conformal class of metrics on M with each metric normalized to have area V. For a metric g \(\in\) Γ, denote the area element by dV and the Laplace–Beltrami operator by Δg. We define the Robin mass m(x) at the point x \(\in\) M to be the value of the Green’s function G(x, y) at y = x after the logarithmic singularity has been subtracted off. The regularized trace of Δg−1 is then defined by trace Δ−1 = ∫M m dV. (This essentially agrees with the zeta functional regularization and is thus a spectral invariant.) Let \(\Delta_{S^{2},V}\) be the Laplace–Beltrami operator on the round sphere of volume V. We show that if there exists g \(\in\) Γ with trace Δg−1 < trace\(\Delta_{S^{2},V}^{-1}\) then the minimum of trace Δ−1 over Γ is attained by a metric in Γ for which the Robin mass is constant. Otherwise, the minimum of trace Δ−1 over Γ is equal to trace \(\Delta_{S^{2},V}^{-1}\). In fact we prove these results in the general setting where M is an n-dimensional closed, connected manifold and the Laplace–Beltrami operator is replaced by any non-negative elliptic operator A of degree n which is conformally covariant in the sense that for the metric g we have \(A_{F^{2/n}g} = F^{-1}A_{g}\). In this case the role of \(\Delta_{S^{2},V}\) is assumed by the Paneitz or GJMS operator on the round n-sphere of volume V. Explicitly these results are logarithmic HLS inequalities for (M, g). By duality we obtain analogs of the Onofri–Beckner theorem.
Sex Differences and the Role of Sex Steroids in Renal Injury

Purpose: There is growing evidence that significant sex differences exist in the response of the kidney to injury. In this review we explored the cumulative clinical knowledge and experimental evidence of this phenomenon.Materials and Methods: The current clinical evidence of increased male susceptibility to acute and chronic renal injury, and experimental data elucidating potential mechanisms of this phenomenon were reviewed.Results: Renal damage induced by nephron reduction, patient age and renal ischemia is tolerated differently by the sexes. Sex differences in disease susceptibility have historically been attributed to the protective effects of estrogen but recent evidence suggests that male hormones also have an important role in these differences. Vascular mediators, such as endothelin, nitric oxide and angiotensin II, appear to be influenced by sex and sex steroids. Additionally, inflammatory mediators, such as transforming growth factor-β1, tumor necrosis factor-α and p38 mitogen activating protei...
A Versatile RNA Vector for Delivery of Coding and Noncoding RNAs

The discovery that RNA viruses, lacking any DNA intermediate, can be engineered to express both coding and noncoding RNAs suggests that this platform may have therapeutic value as a delivery vehicle. Here we illustrate that a self-replicating, noninfectious RNA, modeled on influenza virus, provides one such example of a versatile in vivo delivery system for silencing and/or expressing a desired RNA for therapeutic purposes.
Analysis of Multiple Scalar Large-Eddy Simulation/Probability Density Function Formulation for Turbulent Spray Combsustion

A large eddy simulation (LES)/probability density function (PDF) method is proposed for modeling turbulent spray combustion. The PDF method has the advantage that the chemical source term appears closed but requires models for the small scale mixing process. The transport equation for the joint-scalar PDF is high dimensional and solved using a Lagrangian technique. A stable and consistent numerical algorithm for the LES/PDF approach is presented. An evaporating spray experiment is used to verify the numerical implementation. To understand the modeling issues in the PDF method, direct numerical simulation of a spray ame and an equivalent gaseous ame are carried out. It is demonstrated that currently used models for the scalar time scale are reasonably accurate in the spray ame.
Construction Work Force Characteristics and Community Service Impact Assessment

: Findings of a national survey of the Corps of Engineers construction work force are presented. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information about the construction work force for use in estimating the demand on local community services associated with building Corps projects. Information on numbers of workers and dependents in-migrating to construction sites, the residential location preferences and commuting patterns of this group, and the intentions of this group to remain in local areas after project construction is presented in this paper. An example showing how this information can be used in a community service impact assessment is provided.
Textured soft diets and feeding techniques among the elderly mentally ill

The elderly mentally ill with advanced stages of dementia are nutritionally at risk in both how they are fed and what they eat. This risk increases with a behaviour feeding problem or swallowing difficulties. Nevertheless it is common practice in institutions to alter the texture of the diet to a mechanically soft, minced or liquidized form. By such an alteration, these patients may be at a greater risk of developing swallowing problems than if a textured soft diet were used. The textured soft diet consists of soft food (soft enough to be mashed with a fork) but not liquidized. Mixed dishes with large pieces of food or food with different consistencies are excluded. Sticky foods may also cause problems with some patients. Correct feeding techniques are important, i.e. correct positioning, a relaxed environment, patient orientation, appropriate utensils and careful control of amount and rate of feeding. Multi-disciplinary team work (involving the nursing staff, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and dietitian) is therefore needed to prevent nutritional problems arising from feeding difficulties. A pilot study was undertaken to establish if these principles were being put into practice in a general psychiatric hospital. Having identified a number of poor practices, a brief staff training programme was implemented.
Radioactive Iodine in the Treatment of Medullary Carcinoma of the Thyroid

To determine the value of adjunct 131I therapy in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT), two groups of patients with histologically proved MCT were studied. Group A consisted of 15 patients (6 men and 9 women) treated by surgery, followed by an ablative dose of 131I, and group B included 84 patients (39 men and 45 women) treated by surgery alone. Patients in group A were followed for 1.5-14 yr (median, 53 months), and those in group B were followed for 1-27 hr (median, 75 months). Seven patients (46.6%) from group A and 36 patients (42.9%) from group B developed recurrence or metastasis. The 5- and 10-yr survival rates were 87.5% and 75% for group A and 89% and 74% for group B; the difference was not significant (P greater than 0.05). The changes in serum calcitonin levels in 4 patients of group A were not different from those in patients who did not receive 131I. We conclude that 131I has no value as an adjunct to surgery in the management of MCT.
Contribution of bradykinin to the cardioprotective effects of ACE inhibitors

Bradykinin, through its B 2 receptor, stimulates endothelial release of a number of vasodilators, such as nitric oxide, prostacyclin, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors enhance the effects of local bradykinin by decreasing its degradation and by increasing B 2 receptor sensitivity. Clinical and experimental studies demonstrate that blockade of the B 2 receptor attenuates the antihypertensive, antihypertrophic, and antiatherosclerotic effects of ACE inhibitors. Thus, the evidence strongly supports a role for bradykinin in mediating the cardiovascular benefits of ACE inhibitors.
A Formulation of Fuzzy Automata and Its Application as a Model of Learning Systems

Based on the concept of fuzzy sets defined by Zadeh, a class of fuzzy automata is formulated similar to Mealy's formulation of finite automata. A fuzzy automaton behaves in a deterministic fashion. However, it has many properties similar to that of stochastic automata. Its application as a model of learning systems is discussed. A nonsupervised learning scheme in automatic control and pattern recognition is proposed with computer simulation results presented. An advantage of employing fuzzy automaton as a learning model is its simplicity in design and computation.
Heat Transfer Downstream of a Leading Edge Separation Bubble

Experiments for flow about a two-dimensional blunt body with a circular leading edge are described. Measurements of the free-stream and boundary-layer velocity distributions are presented and indicate that a small separation “bubble” existed where the leading edge joined the body. In particular, it was found that the laminar leading edge boundary layer separated and reattached shortly downstream as a turbulent boundary layer with a low-momentum thickness Reynolds number. Heat transfer measurements around the body are also presented and show almost an order of magnitude increase across the bubble. Downstream of the bubble, however, the heat transfer could be correlated by a slightly modified turbulent flat plate equation using the separation point as the virtual origin of the heated turbulent boundary layer.
Multi-port FinFET SRAM design

Multi-port SRAMs are essential for caches and shared data structures, especially in modern multi-core SoCs. The FinFET device, which offers high threshold voltage and high on/off current ratio, is a promising candidate for multi-port SRAMs for fast read/write speed, high cell density, and low power consumption. In this paper, we perform the first study of multi-port FinFET SRAMs, including the double-ended multi-port FinFET SRAM and three single-ended multi-port FinFET SRAMs with isolated read ports. We evaluate the static noise margin, leakage current, and read/write performance of these structures with the predictive technology model for FinFETs. Our results show that single-ended multi-port FinFET SRAMs with isolated read ports offer improved read stability and flexibility over the double-ended structure at the expense of write performance. By increasing the size of the access transistors, we show that the single-ended structures can achieve equivalent write performance to the double-ended structure for 9% area overhead.
Adverse effects of first-degree AV-block in patients with sinus node dysfunction: data from the mode selection trial.

Background Patients with a pacing indication and first-degree atrioventricular (AV)-block pose a clinical challenge. The prognostic impact of first-degree AV-block in patients with sinus node dysfunction and the impact of pacing in this setting are not known. Methods In the Mode Selection Trial (MOST), 2,010 patients with sinus node dysfunction were randomized to either dual-chamber (DDD-R) or ventricular (VVI-R) pacing and followed for a median of 33 months. We report on clinical outcomes in patients with first-degree AV-block (PR interval > 200 ms) compared with patients who had a normal PR interval at baseline. Results Patients with first-degree AV-block (n = 378) were older (median [Q1, Q3]; 76 [70, 82] years vs 73 [66, 79] years, P< 0.0001), more often male (57% vs 49%, P = 0.0049), and had more comorbidity, such as hypertension (66% vs 60%, P = 0.034) and heart failure (24% vs 17%, P = 0.0050) than patients with normal AV-conduction (n = 1,159). In multivariable analyses, patients with first-degree AV-block were at greater risk of death, stroke, or heart failure hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.61, P = 0.013). A trend towards a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation was seen (HR 1.24, 95% CI 0.98–1.55, P = 0.069). No significant interactions between pacing arm and prolonged versus normal PR were found for any endpoint, and hazard ratios were consistent across subgroups. Conclusions First-degree AV-block is associated with more advanced disease but is still an independent predictor of poor clinical outcome. Neither DDD-R nor VVI-R pacing, as employed in MOST, eliminate the negative effects associated with first-degree AV-block.
An Empirically Supported Program to Prevent Suicide in a College Student Population.

In the fall of 1984, the University of Illinois instituted a formal program to reduce the rate of suicide among its enrolled students. At the core of the program is a policy that requires any student who threatens or attempts suicide to attend four sessions of professional assessment. The consequences for failing to comply with the program include withdrawal from the university. In the 21 years that the program has been in effect, reports on 2,017 suicide incidents have been submitted to the Suicide Prevention Team. The rate of suicide at locations within Champaign County (where the university is located) have decreased from a rate of 6.91 per 100,000 enrolled students during the 8 years prior to the program's start to a rate of 3.78 during the first 21 years of the program. This represents a reduction of 45.3 percent. This reduction occurred against a backdrop of stable rates of suicide both nationally and among 11 peer institutions within the Big Ten. The implications for programs and policies at institutions of higher education are discussed.
Two Extensions of Data Assimilation by Field Alignment

Classical formulations of data-assimilation perform poorly when forecast locations of weather systems are displaced from their observations. They compensate position errors by adjusting amplitudes, which can produce unacceptably "distorted" states. Motivated by cyclones, in earlier work we show a new method for handling position and amplitude errors using a single variational objective. The solution could be used with either ensemble or deterministic methods. In this paper, extension of this work in two directions is reported. First, the methodology is extended to multivariate fields commonly used in models, thus making this method readily applicable. Second, an application of this methodology to rainfall modeling is presented.
Automatic Network Management for Mobile Devices

Mobile devices increasingly find themselves immersed in a sea of potential wireless network connectivity. Our prior work [2] showed that, in urban areas, users encounter multiple 802.11 access points on virtually every scan. Not all of these are usable, however, and the connection quality provided by each varies widely with regard to bandwidth and latency to the network core, and with regard to allowed port traffic. Many devices now featuremultiple radios as well. Each of these is appropriate for different situations and tasks. For example, a user may subscribe to GPRS service as a fall-back, low bandwidth, high latency connection for times when 802.11 coverage is unavailable. Bluetooth and ZigBee (IEEE 802.14.5) radios are ideal for short range, low power, point-to-point communication between devices in a users personal area network (PAN).
The natural biochemical changes during ventricular fibrillation with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the onset of postdefibrillation pulseless electrical activity

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to document the biochemical changes during ventricular fibrillation (VF) with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to identify factors associated with postdefibrillation pulseless electrical activity (PD-PEA). Background It has been reliably estimated that as much as 60% of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death can be attributed to the onset of PD-PEA (Niemann JT, Cruz B, Garner D et al. Immediate countershock versus CPR before countershock in a 5-minute swine model of ventricular fibrillation arrest. Ann Emerg Med 2000;36:543-6). Previous attempts to treat reversible causes of pulseless electrical activity have not been successful clinically (Niemann JT, Stratton SJ, Cruz B, Lewis RJ. Outcome of out-of-hospital postcountershock asystole and pulseless electrical activity versus primary asystole and pulseless electrical activity. Crit Care Med 2001;29:2366-70). Methods This investigation used 22 studies on 14 anesthetized pigs breathing 100% oxygen. Ventricular fibrillation was induced with a right ventricular catheter electrode, and the chest was compressed with a pneumatically driven Chest Thumper (Michigan Instruments) (80-100 lb at 60/min). The electrocardiogram and aortic pressure were recorded continuously. Arterial pH, Po 2 , Pco 2 , Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Cl − , SaO 2 , glucose, hematocrit, and hemoglobin level were measured at selected times. Ventricular defibrillation was achieved with transchest electrodes. Results Typically, during VF with CPR, mean aortic pressure was 20 to 25 mm Hg. In all cases aortic Po 2 decreased to about 20% of the initial value in 10 minutes, and aortic blood K + increased by 50% in 6 minutes. By 5 to 8 minutes, the incidence of PD-PEA was 50%. Conclusion Ventricular fibrillation duration, arterial K + , and arterial Pco 2 were statistically correlated with the onset of PD-PEA in this study. In addition, trends suggest an association of mean arterial blood pressure and arterial Po 2 with the onset of PD-PEA.
Development of a comparative genomic hybridization microarray and demonstration of its utility with 25 well-characterized 1p36 deletions

Chromosomal abnormalities, such as deletions and duplications, are characterized by specific and often complex phenotypes resulting from an imbalance in normal gene dosage. However, routine chromosome banding is not sensitive enough to detect subtle chromosome aberrations (<5-10 Mb). Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) is a powerful new technology capable of identifying chromosomal imbalance at a high resolution by co-hybridizing differentially labeled test and control DNAs to a microarray of genomic clones. We used a previously assembled contig of large-insert clones that span 10.5 Mb of the most distal region of 1p36 to design a microarray. The array includes 97 clones from 1p36, 41 clones from the subtelomeric regions of all human chromosomes, and three clones from each of the X and Y chromosomes. We used this microarray to study 25 subjects with well-characterized deletions of 1p36. All array CGH results agree with the deletion sizes and locations of the breakpoints in these subjects as determined previously by FISH and microsatellite analyses. Terminal deletions, interstitial deletions, derivative chromosomes and complex rearrangements were also identified. We anticipate that array CGH will change the diagnostic approach to many congenital and acquired genetic diseases such as mental retardation, birth defects and cancer.
Volatile Compounds on the Leaf Surface of Intact and Regrowth Tarbush ( Flourensia cernua DC) Canopies

Shrub expansion into desert grasslands is a serious problem resulting in loss of forage and rangeland productivity. Flourensia cernua DC (tarbush) is one such shrub contributing to the decline of Chihuahuan Desert grasslands. Our previous research has shown tarbush consumption by sheep and goats to be negatively related to leaf surface concentration of individual terpenes and epicuticular wax. Concentrations of compounds such as terpenes often change with plant age and phenology. Our objective was to examine the effect of altering the vegetative state of tarbush on volatile chemicals. Ninety tarbush plants were randomly selected, and all biomass within 10 cm of the soil surface was removed from 45 plants during winter dormancy. Leaves were collected the following summer during active growth from the canopy of intact controls and resprouts. Leaf surface volatiles were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and subjected to univariate analysis of variance and stepwise discriminate analysis. Of the 87 compounds present on tarbush leaves, 35 were greater in canopy samples and 16 were greater in regrowth samples based on univariate analysis (P < 0.05). Mean concentration of total volatiles on canopy leaves tended to be less (P = 0.062) than that of regrowth (3,642 vs. 4,684 μg/g DM). Nine compounds in the discriminant analysis (α-muurolene, iso-borneol, unknown#6, p-cymen-8-ol, unknown#7, sabinene, β-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, and α-copaene) explained 95% of the variation between canopy and regrowth samples. Lower cumulative concentration of volatile compounds in canopy than regrowth samples suggests repsrouts may be less vulnerable to herbivory than intact tarbush.
Clonal growth of Lithospermum caroliniense (Boraginaceae) in contrasting sand dune habitats.

The occurrence of clonal growth of distylous Lithospermum caroliniensewas investigated in a population in the Nebraska Sandhills, an area where sand dunes have been relatively stable for at least 1500‐3000 yr, and compared to a population occurring at the Indiana Dunes, an area of active sand dune formation. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated the occurrence of significant clonal propagation of genetically based floral morphs at Arapaho Prairie, but not for the Indiana Dunes. Apparent clonal growth in the Sandhills population had no overall negative effect on pollen deposition or fecundity relative to the Indiana population, although in some large clones the proportion of compatible pollen grains on stigmas was lower. Clonal growth may have occurred in the Sandhills population because of the greater age and stability of the Nebraska Sandhills; infrequent establishment of seedlings permits detection of clonal growth using the spatial pattern of floral morphs. At the Indiana dunes, repeated cycles of dune formation provide conditions favoring establishment of seedlings, and sand dune succession results in disappearance of L. caroliniense before the development of clones. Clonal growth can influence spatial patterns of morphs or mating types within sexually dimorphic or self-incompatible species (Levin, 1974; Ornduff and Weller, 1975; Wyatt and Hellwig, 1979; Barrett and Thomson, 1982; Sakai and Burris, 1985; Aspinwall and Christian, 1992; Husband and Barrett, 1992). During reproduction, such pattern is unlikely to be adaptive, because transfer of pollen from one self-incompatibility morph to another, or from staminate to pistillate plants in the case of dioecious species, will probably be impeded by the presence of large clones. Even moderate establishment from seed within a clone, however, would prevent the development of spatial pattern as seedlings of the opposite sex, floral morph, or mating type reached reproductive age. In this paper we investigate the occurrence of spatial pattern of reproductive morphs in populations of Lithospermum caroliniense, the effects of clone size on pollen deposition and fecundity, and potential causes for clonal growth. Lithospermum caroliniense(Walt.) MacM. (Boraginaceae) is a herbaceous perennial occurring on sand dunes in the eastern United States. Lithospermum caroliniense has a heterostylous breeding system: plants produce ei1
Composition of Forage and Grain from Second-Generation Insect-Protected Corn MON 89034 Is Equivalent to That of Conventional Corn (Zea mays L.)

Insect-protected corn hybrids containing Cry insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis have protection from target pests and provide effective management of insect resistance. MON 89034 hybrids have been developed that produce both the Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 proteins, which provide two independent modes of insecticidal action against the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) and other lepidopteran insect pests of corn. The composition of MON 89034 corn was compared to conventional corn by measuring proximates, fiber, and minerals in forage and by measuring proximates, fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antinutrients, and secondary metabolites in grain collected from 10 replicated field sites across the United States and Argentina during the 2004-2005 growing seasons. Analyses established that the forage and grain from MON 89034 are compositionally comparable to the control corn hybrid and conventional corn reference hybrids. These findings support the conclusion that MON 89034 is compositionally equivalent to conventional corn hybrids.
Optimal Feature Selection for Artifact Classification in EEG Time Series

Identifying artifacts or non-brain electrical signals in EEG time series is often a necessary but time-consuming preprocessing step, as many EEG analysis techniques require that the data be artifact free. Because of this, reliable and accurate techniques for automated artifact detection are desirable in practice. Previous research has shown that coefficients obtained from autoregressive (AR) models can be used as feature vectors to classify among several different artifact conditions found in EEG. However, a statistical method for identifying significant AR features has not been presented. In this work we propose a method for determining the optimal AR features that is based on penalized multinomial regression. Our results indicate that the size of the feature vector can be greatly reduced with minimal loss to classification accuracy. The features selected by this algorithm localize to specific channels and suggests a possible BCI implementation with increased computational efficiency than with using all available channels. We also show that the significant AR features produced by this approach correlate to known brain physiological properties.
A training program to enhance recognition of depression in nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings: Description and evaluation

Low levels of symptom recognition by staff have been "gateway" barriers to the management of depression in long-term care. The study aims were to refine a depression training program for front-line staff in long-term care and provide evaluative knowledge outcome data. Three primary training modules provide an overview of depression symptoms; a review of causes and situational and environmental contributing factors; and communication strategies, medications, and clinical treatment strategies. McNemar's chi-square tests and paired t-tests were used to examine change in knowledge. Data were analyzed for up to 143 staff members, the majority from nursing. Significant changes (p < .001) in knowledge were observed for all modules, with an average change of between 2 and 3 points. Evidence was provided that participants acquired desired information in the recognition, detection, and differential diagnosis and treatment strategies for those persons at significant risk for a depressive disorder.
843 Refractory Case of Kawasaki Disease with Hemolytic Anemia: Correlation with Mycoplasmatic Infection

Introduction Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a systematic disease, usually affecting children 6months-5 years old. Optimal therapy is intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) (single dose) and aspirin, in order to prevent development of coronary artery aneurysms. Fever persists in 10–15% of the patients and KD is considered refractory then. Case Report A 15 months old boy, with unremarkable medical history, was admitted with manifestations and laboratory findings of KD. Initially, IVIG (2g/kg) and aspirin (80mg/kg/24h) were given. Fever insisted and there was a further increase of the PLTs and hemolytic anemia was added. A second dose IVIG (2g/kg) was repeated. As fever remained, pulse IV solu-medrol (30/mg/kg/24h) was given in 3 days. There was a new recur of the fever and of the laboratory findings, thus a third dose of IVIG (2mg/kg) was administered, with complete recession of all manifestations. The extended laboratory investigation revealed positive IgM antibodies for Mycoplasma pneumonia. During the boy’s hospitalization, cardiologic echograms where normal. Conclusions Refractory KD cases might respond to 2 or 3 doses of IVIG (2g/kg), with the addition of pulse IV solu-medrol or other immunoregulator agents (e.g. infliximab). Since the disease is very rare, there are few controlled available data about the benefits of treatment. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is considered as a trigger factor for KD, by producing superantigens, and can also trigger hemolytic anemia. Though refractory KD is considered as high risk for development of coronary aneurysms, in the case herein, coronary arteries remained intact during all follow up visits.
Measuring surgical outcomes in subaxial degenerative cervical spine disease patients: minimum clinically important difference as a tool for determining meaningful clinical improvement.

BACKGROUND Although the concept of minimum clinically important difference (MCID) as a measurement of surgical outcome has been extensively studied, there is lack of consensus on the most valid or clinically relevant MCID calculation approach. OBJECTIVE To compare the range of MCID threshold values obtained by different anchor-based and distribution-based approaches to determine the best clinically meaningful and statistically significant MCID for our studied group. METHODS Eighty-eight consecutive patients undergoing surgery for subaxial degenerative cervical spine disease were analyzed from a prospective blinded database. Preoperative, 3-, and 6-month postoperative patient reported outcome (PRO) scores and blinded surgeon ratings were collected. Four calculation methods were used to calculate MCID threshold values: average change, change difference, minimum detectable change, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Three anchors were used to evaluate meaningful improvement postsurgery: health transition item, patient overall status, and surgeon ratings. RESULTS On average, all patients had a statistically significant improvement (P < .001) postoperatively for neck disability index (score 27.42 preoperatively to 19.42 postoperatively), physical component of the Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36) (33.02-42.23), mental component of the SF-36 (44-50.74), and visual analog scale (2.85-1.93). The 4 MCID approaches yielded a range of values for each PRO: 2.23 to 16.59 for physical component of the SF-36, 0.11 to 16.27 for mental component of the SF-36, and 2.72 to 12.08 for neck disability index. In comparison with health transition item and patient overall status anchors, the area under the ROC curve was consistently greater for surgeon ratings for all 4 PROs. CONCLUSION Minimum detectable change together with surgeon ratings anchor appears to be the most appropriate MCID method. Based on our findings, this combination offers the greatest area under the ROC curve (threshold above the 95% confidence interval). The choice of the anchor did not significantly affect this result.
Rosenman, Thucydides, and the New Deal

7ITHUCYDIDES, in Book I of The Peloponnesian War, compares certain speeches included in his history to those actually delivered. On some occasions he had been present; on other occasions, he had had to rely on reports. In all instances it had been quite impossible "to carry them [the speeches] word for word in one's memory," and Thucydides adopted the scheme of having his "speakers say what was in my opinion demanded of them by the various occasions, of course adhering as closely as possible to the general sense of what they really said."1 Pericles' funeral oration, and less familiar speeches designed for Brasidas, Nicias, Gylippus, and a host of others-many of whom are remembered only through the words Thucydides would have them say-have provided source material for historians for almost 2,400 years. Subsequent generations held Thucydides' judgment in respect, and no other available sources seemed so authoritative and complete. During the twentieth century, despite the availability of recording devices and the New York Times, Judge Samuel I. Rosenman emerged as the Thucydides of the New Deal. Although Franklin D. Roosevelt deliberately set in motion the machinery which established Rosenman's position, it is highly improbable that the President ever anticipated the full impact which Rosenman would assert upon New Deal historiography. During January 1937, Roosevelt directed Rosenman's editorial talents toward the preparation of a multivolume edition of the President's speeches and other public papers for the years through 1936. Roosevelt's private letters, papers, and memoranda were not to be included in the volumes. As conceived by the President, the publication was part of a larger decision to establish a library at Hyde Park, which would ultimately serve as a repository for all Roosevelt's papers and a center for the study of his administration and personal
A new tribal classification of Nyctaginaceae

Recent phylogenetic work shows that existing tribal concepts within Nyctaginaceae are incompatible with the principle of recognizing monophyletic taxa. We review the history of supergeneric classification in Nyctaginaceae, clarify issues pertaining to priority of certain generic names, and discuss the application of the conserved family name to the tribe Nyctagineae. Pisoniella and Phaeoptilum are moved from tribe Nyctagineae to Pisonieae and Bougainvilleeae, respectively, while tribe Abronieae, containing Abronia and Tripterocalyx, is submerged into Nyctagineae. Two distinctive genera, Caribea and Colignonia, are assigned to their own tribes, recognizing both their uniqueness and the uncertainty of their phylogenetic relationships. Finally, subtribes are not recognized in tribe Nyctagineae. Updated descriptions are provided for each tribe and one new tribe, Caribeaeae Douglas & Spellenberg, is recognized. Plant habit and general geographic distribution seem to be at least as pertinent as the often-homoplasious morphological details which had been emphasized in previous classifications.
Free energy landscapes for S-H bonds in Cp*2Mo2S4 complexes.

An extensive family of thermochemical data is presented for a series of complexes derived from Cp*Mo(μ-S)2(μ-SMe)(μ-SH)MoCp* and Cp*Mo(μ-S)2(μ-SH)2MoCp*. These data include electrochemical potentials, pKa values, homolytic solution bond dissociation free energies (SBDFEs), and hydride donor abilities in acetonitrile. Thermochemical data ranged from +0.6 to −2.0 V vs FeCp2+/o for electrochemical potentials, 5 to 31 for pKa values, 43 to 68 kcal/mol for homolytic SBDFEs, and 44 to 84 kcal/mol for hydride donor abilities. The observed values for these thermodynamic parameters are comparable to those of many transition metal hydrides, which is consistent with the many parallels in the chemistry of these two classes of compounds. The extensive set of thermochemical data is presented in free energy landscapes as a useful approach to visualizing and understanding the relative stabilities of all of the species under varying conditions of pH and H2 overpressure. In addition to the previously studied homogeneous re...
American Indians and the History of U.S. Foreign Relations

Professor Miller agrees with the conclusions of these three professor-authors that U.S. foreign affairs scholars have almost completely overlooked Indian nations and individual Indian actors. It appears that this omission has occurred primarily because of the statement by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1831 that tribes are "domestic dependent nations." In contrast, though, foreign affairs and foreign relations scholars should focus intently on the relations between American Indian nations and the United States because they were truly "foreign relations." As Miller wrote in 1993, the "United States-tribal relations were the major foreign policy concern of the United States for many decades after the Revolution." Thus, the United States' diplomatic and government-to-government relationships with the Indian nations is most properly a matter of American foreign relations study rather than merely an issue of American domestic history.