cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling the Impact of Delaying Bariatric Surgery due to COVID-19: a Decision Analysis.

We developed a decision analysis model to evaluate risks and benefits of delaying scheduled bariatric surgery during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Our base case was a 45-year-old female with diabetes and a body mass index of 45 kg/m2. We compared immediate with delayed surgery after 6 months to allow for COVID-19 prevalence to decrease. We found that immediate and delayed bariatric surgeries after 6 months resulted in similar 20-year overall survival. When the probability of COVID-19 infection exceeded 4%, then delayed surgery improved survival. If future COVID-19 infection rates were at least half those in the immediate scenario, then immediate surgery was favored and local infection rates had to exceed 9% before surgical delay improved survival. Surgeons should consider local disease prevalence and patient comorbidities associated with increased mortality before resuming bariatric surgery programs.
Descriptive Review of Pediatric Heart Failure on Transport

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a challenging diagnosis in pediatrics as the clinical syndrome overlaps with common, benign pediatric diagnoses, putting patients at risk for late recognition. The incidence or outcomes of transport of the pediatric patient with heart failure are unknown. This small high-risk cohort, at risk of arrhythmia, hemodynamic instability and possible cardiac arrest, presents challenges to transport in both diagnosis and management. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed (4/2013-4/2015) for patients transported with diagnoses related to heart failure. Demographics pre-transport, transport, and initial hospital interventions were collected. …
Affinity Capture of p97 with Small-Molecule Ligand Bait Reveals a 3.6 Å Double-Hexamer Cryoelectron Microscopy Structure.

Recent progress in the development of affinity grids for cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) typically employs genetic engineering of the protein sample such as histidine or Spy tagging, immobilized antibody capture, or nonselective immobilization via electrostatic interactions or Schiff base formation. We report a powerful and flexible method for the affinity capture of target proteins for cryo-EM analysis that utilizes small-molecule ligands as bait for concentrating human target proteins directly onto the grid surface for single-particle reconstruction. This approach is demonstrated for human p97, captured using two different small-molecule high-affinity ligands of this AAA+ ATPase. Four electron density maps are revealed, each representing a p97 conformational state captured from solution, including a double-hexamer structure resolved to 3.6 A. These results demonstrate that the noncovalent capture of protein targets on EM grids modified with high-affinity ligands can enable the structure elucidation of multiple configurational states of the target and potentially inform structure-based drug design campaigns.
Greensplaining environmental justice: A narrative of race, ethnicity, and justice in urban greenspace development

While urban greenspaces play an important role in shaping the cultural and social dimensions of cities, these spaces are also inherently political, often serving to perpetuate the exclusion and sub...
An early warning system for wave-driven coastal flooding at Imperial Beach, CA

Waves overtop berms and seawalls along the shoreline of Imperial Beach (IB), CA when energetic winter swell and high tide coincide. These intermittent, few-hour long events flood low-lying areas and pose a growing inundation risk as sea levels rise. To support city flood response and management, an IB flood warning system was developed. Total water level (TWL) forecasts combine predictions of tides and sea-level anomalies with wave runup estimates based on incident wave forecasts and the nonlinear wave model SWASH. In contrast to widely used empirical runup formulas that rely on significant wave height and peak period, and use only a foreshore slope for bathymetry, the SWASH model incorporates spectral incident wave forcing and uses the cross-shore depth profile. TWL forecasts using a SWASH emulator demonstrate skill several days in advance. Observations set TWL thresholds for minor and moderate flooding. The specific wave and water level conditions that lead to flooding, and key contributors to TWL uncertainty, are identified. TWL forecast skill is reduced by errors in the incident wave forecast and the one-dimensional runup model, and lack of information of variable beach morphology (e.g., protective sand berms can erode during storms). Model errors are largest for the most extreme events. Without mitigation, projected sea-level rise will substantially increase the duration and severity of street flooding. Application of the warning system approach to other locations requires incident wave hindcasts and forecasts, numerical simulation of the runup associated with local storms and beach morphology, and model calibration with flood observations.
Disrupting the Pedagogy of Hypocrisy: How Do We Move Beyond Teaching Students How to Survive White Supremacy?

This article discusses the ways that four educators experience the impacts of white supremacy in classroom spaces. We discuss the ways we navigate the tension created when we desire to foster antiracist spaces but are required to work within an academic system that is underpinned by white supremacy. Using tenets of Griot storytelling, we describe our points of origin, provide narrative examples of student interactions, and detail the reflexive lenses through which we processed these interactions. Our narratives specifically seek to center Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and discuss the ways that our training and education has limited our ability to support them in academic spaces. We conclude with an invitation for the reader to sit with us in this space of tension, and some reflexive questions to consider as we exist in this space together. We hope to offer this as a way to continue dismantling the internalizations of supremacy. We also offer this as an opportunity to move away from the problem-solving mentality often applied to issues of racism in favor of fostering a continued, collective healing from the wounds created for all of us by white supremacist systems.
Experimental Studies of the Impact of Anode Pre-heating

The adverse impact of anode setting on the current efficiency (CE) is well known in the aluminum industry, although few published studies exist. When a cold anode is lowered into the bath, it immediately quenches a layer of frozen bath on the bottom surface that may extend to the metal pad. It takes time, energy, and bath motion to melt this layer. Until then, the anode current distribution is uneven and the bath motion is disrupted around the newly set anodes. These effects are hypothesized to lead to higher noise and lower CE.
Effects of violent television programmes on advertising effectiveness among young children: Findings from a field experiment of kindergarten samples in South Korea

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of violent TV programmes on the effectiveness of advertising aimed at children. Using an experimental method, this study found that violent programmes elicit a high level of excitation among kindergarten attendees, which substantially enhances their advertising effectiveness. When advertising was viewed within a violent programme, children showed better ad recall and more favourable attitudes towards the ad than when advertising was viewed in a non-violent programme. Higher purchase intention and brand preference were also found among subjects who viewed the ad embedded in a violent programme.
The GNARL Implementation of POSIX/Ada Signal Services

This paper describes the application-level interfaces for POSIX signal handling supported by the GNu Ada'95 Runtime Library (GNARL), and their implementation. GNARL maps some signals to exceptions, and allows others to be handled via protected procedures, task entries, or the POSIX.5b synchronous signal-awaiting operations. Measurements of the relative performance of the latter three mechanisms are also reported.
Properties of feline leukemia virus. II. In vitro labeling of the polypeptides.

Abstract Radioactive labeling of proteins from guanidine-hydrochloride disrupted feline leukemia virus was done in vitro by attaching [3H]methyl groups to protein amino groups with reductive alkylation. When in vitro labeled disrupted virus was analyzed by gel filtration in the presence of 6 M guanidine-hydrochloride the expected six major and one minor protein peaks were detected. When the same preparation was analyzed by immunodiffusion, the three antigens tested were found to have retained their antigenic activity.
Increased type VI collagen gene expression in the post-MI human myocardium (1152.11)

Cardiac fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are responsible for post-myocardial infarction (MI) remodeling via regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) formation. Accelerated post-MI remodeling leads to excessive ECM deposition and fibrosis which can contribute to impaired contractile function, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Type VI collagen has been shown to induce myofibroblast differentiation in cultured cardiac fibroblasts and could contribute to accelerated post-MI remodeling. Type VI collagen is elevated in the myocardium 7 days, 14 days, and 20 weeks post-MI in the rat. The absence of type VI collagen improved cardiac function post-MI in a knock out mouse model. The purpose of this study was to determine if collagen VI gene expression was elevated in human myocardium post-MI. Autopsy samples were obtained from subjects who had died within seven days of an MI (acute MI group) and subjects who had died of a non-heart related issue with no documented prior MI (control group). Quantitative real time PCR re...
American Muslim Women: Narratives of Identity and Globalisation

During the past 50 years, advanced industrial societies such as the United States have been moving toward a greater secular orientation. At the same time, large numbers of Muslims from Asia and the Middle East have settled in the United States, bringing with them non-Western perspectives of gender and family. Muslim women immigrants’ perspectives tend to be marginalized in the U.S. Westernized, secular, female dynamic. This chapter gives voice to feminist counternarratives by first- and second-generation U.S. Muslim women in an attempt to document and analyze how these women negotiate new racial and gendered politics within the adopted society. Many interrelated themes emerged during analysis of these intergenerational interviews. In this chapter, the theme of gendered socialization is emphasized.
Oncogenicity of an endogenous C-type virus chemically activated from mouse cells in culture.

Abstract RNA C-type viruses are known to exist in an unexpressed form in all mouse cells. These endogenous viruses can be activated from cells in tissue culture under certain experimental conditions. The biologic activity in vivo of one class of chemically-activated C-type virus has been studied. This virus is shown to induce a specific tumor, lymphatic leukemia, in mice of a low leukemic incidence strain.
Young Children With ADHD: Early Identification and Intervention

Early Identification and Intervention. Describes empirically-supported early intervention with children aged 2 - 5 years who have or are at risk of ADHD.
Prevalence and descriptive analysis of congenital heart disease in parturients: obstetric, neonatal, and anesthetic outcomes.

Abstract Study objective The study objectives are to (1) assess prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD), (2) describe outcomes of pregnancies in women with CHD, (3) compare outcomes in women with and without CHD, and (4) characterize neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by CHD. Design This was a retrospective cohort study of women who delivered at the University of Colorado Hospital. Diagnosis of CHD was identified based on history of cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, or subacute bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis during labor and confirmed with echocardiogram when available. Comprehensive retrospective review of anesthetic, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes was performed. Setting University of Colorado Hospital. Patients 18,226 women. Interventions Medical record review. Measurements Valvular abnormalities, New York Heart Failure Association classification scores, types of CHD, maternal age, race, gravidity, parity, maternal prepregnancy body mass index, cigarette use, type of delivery, type of analgesia used, early initiation of neuraxial analgesia, arrhythmias, need for peripartum diuretics, prolonged maternal hospital stay, preterm birth, small for gestational age, neonatal CHD, neonatal or maternal intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and maternal or neonatal death. Main results We identified 117 pregnancies in 110 women with CHD. Parturients with CHD were more likely to have operative vaginal delivery ( P P = .003), and had prolonged hospital stays. Occurrence of CHD in neonates was 6%. Moderate-to-severe valvular disease was associated with increased rates of operative vaginal delivery, early initiation of neuraxial labor analgesia, cardiac complications (including arrhythmia and use of diuretics), prolonged hospital stay, and maternal ICU admission. However, most deliveries and births were uncomplicated; and there were one case each of maternal mortality and fetal death after birth. Conclusion Operative abdominal deliveries and neonatal ICU admissions are more common in women with CHD, but these pregnancies are generally well tolerated with low mortality rates.
Results from MBARI's integrated mapping system

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has developed an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for deep ocean seafloor mapping. The MBARI Mapping AUV is a 21" diameter, torpedo-shaped Dorado class vehicle equipped with a 200 kHz multibeam sonar, 110 kHz and 410 kHz chirp sidescan sonars, and a 2-16 kHz sweep chirp sub bottom profiler. The multibeam sonar incorporates a circular receive array conformal to the vehicle hull, providing 1 degree /spl times/ 1 degree beam resolution over a 150 degree swath. Navigation and attitude data are provided by an inertial navigation system integrating a laser ring gyro, accelerometers, and a 300 kHz Doppler velocity log (DVL). The vehicle is tracked during missions using an ultra-short baseline navigation system. The vehicle will also include acoustic modem and long-baseline navigation capabilities. A central cylindrical pressure housing contains all of the mapping sonar electronics. The main vehicle control and acoustic communications electronics are housed in a separate pressure housing in the vehicle tail section. Propulsion and steering are provided by a tailcone including an articulating propeller. Li-ion or Li-polymer battery packs allow for a 12 hour mission duration. The assembled package is rated to 6000 m depth. The mapping payload is also designed for ROV mounting, enabling low altitude (< 20 m) high precision missions in topographically challenging sites. The Mapping AUV has now been operated in both autonomous and ROV modes in and around the upper Monterey Canyon, successfully collecting high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and subbottom profile data. Near bottom surveys of the canyon axis achieve bathymetric coverage with a lateral resolution of 1 m and a vertical precision of 0.3 m. The subbottom profiler images subsurface structure to depths of 60 m in soft sediments.
Two models better than one.

The study by Shaheen and colleagues ( Gut 2004; 53 :1736–44) is the results of a decision analysis model which determined the cost effectiveness of various management strategies for high grade dysplasia in Barrett’s oesophagus. We were surprised to note that the authors of this article did not reference our analysis which was published in July 2003.1 Our model and analysis had conclusions that were identical to those published by Shaheen et al . Similarities included the finding that endoscopic ablation (photodynamic therapy in our model) results in the greatest number of quality adjusted life years with similar incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICER) compared with endoscopic surveillance. Also, both of our analyses found that endoscopic surveillance was less expensive than endoscopic ablation but associated with shorter survival. The authors …
Histologic Changes Associated With Electrosurgical Injury

tures of traumatic injuries on–coagulative-type cell necrosis, more severe in the at than the mucosa abundant capillary ingrowth with rapid white cell n in deposition at the injury site followed by fibroblastic ion reconstruction of the injured muscle coat by 96 hours tures of electrosurgical injuries of capillary ingrowth of fibroblastic muscle coat ction of white cell infiltration except in focal areas at the rder of the injury oagulation necrosis Fig. 1
A local characterization of the Johnson scheme

Within the Johnson schemeI(m, d) we find the graphK(m, d) ofd-subsets of anm-set, two such adjacent when disjoint. Among all connected graphs,K(m, d) is characterized by the isomorphism type of its vertex neighborhoods providedm is sufficiently large compared tod.
Coming to Terms with “Pacifism”: The French Case, 1901–1918

This article addresses the shifting meaning of “pacifism” in the idiom of French political culture from the time the word was first introduced until the end of the First World War. “Le pacifisme” was intended as a way to forge a common identity for the different groups that composed the growing international peace movement at the turn of the twentieth century. Particular circumstances in France during that time influenced how its meaning was appreciated by the French authorities and general public, including the French peace movement's own indeterminate organizational structure and the manipulative mode of discourse employed by French nationalists during a period of intense political polarization. The turmoil of the First World War ensured that the ambiguity that already characterized the use of the word “pacifism” emerged as a full-blown transformation in the word's meaning within French political discourse.
Control of product quality for batch nylon 6,6 autoclaves

The focus of this paper is on improving the monitoring and control of end-use quality variables in batch nylon 6,6 autoclaves. Relatively few on-line measurements and frequent disturbances often result in a significant amount of variability in the product quality variables for this system. To lessen the sensitivity to these disturbances, a fundamental model of the nylon autoclave process is developed from first principles and is subsequently used to develop and test practical reactor control configurations. Various PID implementations are evaluated according to their robustness to typical process disturbances. The model is also used to formulate strategies designed to detect process disturbances and monitor the development of the quality variables on-line. The process monitoring results are then used in conjunction with inferential quality control strategies to improve robustness to typical process disturbances.
Hardware-In-The-Loop On-ramp Simulation Tool to Debug and Test the Universal Ramp Metering Software

Abstract An on-ramp simulation system that can be used to debug and test the Universal Ramp Metering Software (URMS) is presented. The tool includes a simple car following microscopic traffic model for the on-ramp and a Controller Interface Device (CID), which interfaces a standard personal computer with a 2070 traffic controller. The CID consists of the low cost and commonly available National Instruments (NI) USB-6501 24-Channel Digital I/O device and a basic circuit that interfaces the 5-Volt TTL logic from the Digital I/O board to the 2070 controller. The resulting hardware-in-the-loop simulation tool systematically reads the phase states from the controller and changes detector states based on the cars trajectories as displayed on the on-ramp simulator. With this tool it is possible to check the performance of the 2070 controller running the URMS as if the traffic controller was operating on a standard on-ramp managed by Caltrans. Finally, the real-time nature of this tool is discussed based on a quantitative analysis of the simulator performance running on the Windows XP operating system.
Discrimination of collagen types by methionine-specific stain

Chloroglycyl- l -methioninatoplatinum (II) (Pt-GLM) specifically labels methionine residues in collagen. Rat Type I and calf Type III collagen segment long spacing aggregates show differences in Pt—GLM bands, in agreement with known methionine positions. Reconstituted fibers formed from the same two collagens again demonstrate some differences in band pattern, which can be understood in terms of the amino acid sequences and the known packing of molecules in the fiber. Native collagen fibers have been extracted from rat and chick tendon (predominantly Type I collagen). These have been stained with Pt—GLM and studied in the Johns Hopkins STEM and a CTEM. Density profiles along the collagen fibers have been obtained, and those for successive 670- repeats averaged, by computer programs. The position of peaks in the average density profiles for these various fibers show very good correlation with the known locations of Met residues. The band patterns and density profiles for native and reconstituted Type I fibers are very similar and differ from those of reconstituted Type III fibers.
MIMO radar based on reduced complexity compressive sampling

In their previous work, the authors considered a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar implemented by a set of randomly dispersed nodes within a small scale network. Exploiting the sparseness of targets in the angle-Doppler space, compressive sampling was exploited for obtaining joint angle-Doppler information on potential targets based on a small number of observations. That approach achieves the superior resolution of MIMO radar with far fewer samples than required by conventional approaches. However, it involves a discretization of the angle-Doppler space, and as the discretization step decreases in order to achieve high resolution, complexity increases. In this paper, a scheme to reduce the complexity of the aforementioned approach for the case of slowly moving targets is considered. The complexity reduction is achieved by decoupling angle and Doppler estimation. An approach is also proposed for identifying angle estimates that correspond to jammers.
Public Education Finance Systems in the United States and Funding Policies for Populations with Special Educational Needs

This research investigates state finance policies for public education using survey methodology. The purpose is to update previous work and the existing knowledge base in the field as well as to provide a compendium of finance and policy options that are used across the states to finance public elementary and secondary schools. Chief state school officers or their designee were queried; data were provided for all 50 states and posted on the web for verification. This article presents the findings together with crosscutting themes including major state apportionment policies for K-12, special student populations, capital outlay provisions and transportation funding.
Niacin dosing: Relationship to benefits and adverse effects

Because of the original observation by Altschul et al., that nicotinic acid (niacin), not nicotinamide, in pharmacologic doses lowered human serum cholesterol levels, an avalanche of reports have been published over the past 45 years on the plasma lipid-regulating properties of this drug and its beneficial cardiovascular effects. A myriad of studies that have examined efficacy, safety, adverse effects, and pharmacologic properties of niacin rendered convincing evidence that niacin, used alone or combined with other agents, has favorable effects on serum lipoprotein regulation and on containment of atherothrombotic cardiovascular diseases. However, because of the unusual side effect profile of niacin and the availability of various formulations of this drug, niacin must be used prudently and with careful instruction and monitoring of patients. This review summarizes the pertinent and recent literature on niacin that impacts its therapeutic use. We also discuss some controversial issues and personal clinical experience and opinions on this topic.
Picosecond time-resolved spectral shifts in emission: dynamics of excited state interactions in coumarin 102

Abstract The temporal behavior of the spectral emission from coumarin 102 in several liquids is studied as a function of temperature using picosecond techniques. Kinetics of the disappearance of a blue edge emission and the formation of a red edge emission are related. Strong correlations with viscosity suggest that the reorientation time is a key parameter.
Environmental resource management on the Munduruku savanna

For 13 years, the Munduruku were observed living in the savanna region located in South America in the Brazilian state of Para. The area is near the point where the states of Para, Amazonas, and Mato Grosso join their borders, and is utilized by about 200–300 Munduruku Amerindians. Their subsistence staple is manioc (a cassava), with fruits and meat included in the diet. Gold mining by Brazilians is a disruptive element in the resource management of the savanna habitat on the rim of the Amazon Basin. Direct and indirect results of mining interference are described. A study of the manner in which the Munduruku on the Cururu River (a tributary of the Tapajos) have handled the potentially disruptive rubber tapping suggests possible ways of reversing the interference. Several courses of action are discussed.
A study of νCN and δCN of some quaternary ammonium compounds

Abstract Infrared spectra of seven quaternary ammonium halides of diverse structure were examined in 4000−250 cm −1 region. Absorption bands of medium to strong intensity were noted in 900–980 cm −1 region and of weak intensity in 400–480 cm −1 region. The bands were common to all compounds. The bands were thought to be the CN stretching vibrations and deformation modes respectively.
The operational meaning of maturity criteria.

The fact that specific radiographic criteria represent different proportions of attained maturity in males and females, in individuals of different geographical origin, in undernourished as opposed to over-nourished subjects and in genetic or chromosomal extremes together indicates the operational complexity of “skeletal maturity” and indicates the need to separate those aspects of skeletal development that are not sex-hormone dependent from those whose timing is directly dependent upon gonadal status.
Phosphonate-modified Gd-DTPA complexes. III: The detection of myocardial infarction by MRI

The potential of a phosphonate-modified-Gd-DTPA for MR image enhancement of myocardial infarction has been demonstrated in imaging experiments on rats. The agent, 1-hydroxy-3-aminopropane-1,1-diphosphonate-modified-Gd-DTPA (Gd-DTPA-HPDP) accumulates in two models of myocardial infarction, (i.e., drug-induced diffusely infarcted whole hearts and in focal acute myocardial infarction from a left coronary artery ligation). The time course of the accumulation of the agent in the focal model of infarction and subsequent washout has also been followed in vitro. Results of this kinetics demonstrate that the agent first perfuses all normal fluid spaces and then slowly diffuses into the occluded zone where it is retained for a prolonged period, in sufficient quantities to be useful as an MRI contrast agent. Wash-out of the agent from normal myocardium is fast and complete with MR signal returning to background in minutes. The specificity of Gd-DTPA-HPDP for soft-tissue calcification and its retention within the infarcts permitted imaging at 1 to 2 h postinjection, (after unbound material has cleared the normal tissues). Infarcted tissue appeared as regions of increased signal intensity in T1-weighted images (> 200% enhancement), and correlated with histopathology. Unmodified Gd-DTPA was not retained under identical conditions. Gd-DTPA-HPDP permits a more accurate infarct delineation than is possible with the unmodified agent.
Redox Reactions of Reduced Flavin Mononucleotide (FMN), Riboflavin (RBF), and Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) with Ferrihydrite and Lepidocrocite

Flavins are secreted by the dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Shewanella and can function as endogenous electron transfer mediators. To assess the potential importance of flavins in Fe(III) bioreduction, we investigated the redox reaction kinetics of reduced flavin mononucleotide (i.e., FMNH2) and reduced riboflavin (i.e., RBFH2) with ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite. The organic reductants rapidly reduced and dissolved ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite in the pH range 4–8. The rate constant k for 2-line ferrihydrite reductive dissolution by FMNH2 was 87.5 ± 3.5 M–1·s–1 at pH 7.0 in batch reactors, and k was similar for RBFH2. For lepidocrocite, k was 500 ± 61 M–1·s–1 for FMNH2 and 236 ± 22 M–1·s–1 for RBFH2. The surface area normalized initial reaction rates (ra) were between 0.08 and 77 μmol·m–2·s–1 for various conditions in stopped-flow experiments. Initial rates (ro) were first-order with respect to iron(III) oxide concentration, and ra increased with decreasing pH. Poorly crystalline 2-line ferrihydri...
Properties And Applications Of Layered Grating Resonances

Resonances in the scattering of light from layered structures occur due to the coupling of light into guided modes in the layers. In the case of layered gratings these resonances appear as large enhancements in the grating efficiency at certain angles. The angular width of these resonances is governed by the grating and by the absorption of the layers. The position of the resonance is controlled by the indices and thickness of the layers and by the wavelength of the light and the period of the grating. All these properties, including the mode coupling constants can be derived from the scattering matrix for the layered structure. Possible applications are briefly discussed.
ON INVARIANT SKEW-TENSORS.

Throughout this note V will denote a real n-dimensional vector space with a positive-definite inner product, its value for u, v ? V being denoted by (u, v). Let ? p V be the space of contravariant skew-tensors over V of degree p. The inner product in V induces a positive-definite inner product in ? P V, where (u 1 ? … ? u p , v 1 ? … ? v p ) = (1/p!) · determinant (u i , v j ).
Newer-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents: Heal Thyself

The first generation of drug-eluting stents was approved in the United States for treatment of coronary artery disease nearly a decade ago. These stents allow local delivery of the drugs sirolimus and paclitaxil, which inhibit the cell cycle and prevent renarrowing of the stented vessel, or restenosis. This results in reduced need for target lesion revascularization as compared with that of bare metal stents. However, with this good news comes some bad news. In rare cases, drug-eluting stents are accompanied by a higher rate of thrombosis 1 month or even a year after implantation. This devastating complication has been linked to delayed re-endothelialization of the stent, believed to be in part due to the polymer that adheres the drug to the metal surface of the stent. Newer drug-eluting stents use different biopolymers, believed to be more inert, and are made of a cobalt chromium alloy that results in great flexibility and thinner stent struts. Otsuka et al. now provide the first large-scale pathologic description of next-generation drug-eluting stents in humans, comparing the newer cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCr-EES) with first-generation drug-eluting stents. The authors evaluated a total of 204 lesions from 149 autopsy cases, in which the implants had been in place between 3 months to 3 years. Baseline characteristics were similar among the groups. Although the intimal thickness and atherosclerosis that developed in the presence of the stent did not differ among stent types, the newer CoCr-EES resulted in far fewer uncovered stent struts (2.6%) than those of the older stents (18.0 and 18.7%). The CoCr-EES stents were also associated with less inflammation and less fibrin than were the first-generation drug-eluting stents. This report is consistent with results from randomized clinical trials that suggest that newer drug-eluting stents cause less late and very late stent thrombosis than do first-generation designs. The marked improvement in stent strut coverage with CoCr-EES implantation is consistent with the working hypothesis that stent thrombosis results in part from delayed healing. That new stent designs can improve re-endothelialization without sacrificing efficacy against pathologic restenosis suggests that these processes are indeed separable. Thus, additional improvements in both efficacy and safety are likely possible for this relatively new, but clearly beneficial, technology. F. Otsuka et al., Pathology of second-generation everolimus-eluting stents versus first-generation sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents in humans. Circulation , published online 25 October 2013 (10.1161/​CIRCULATIONAHA.113.001790). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/early/2013/10/23/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.001790.abstract
Shared leadership and gender: all members are equal … but some more than others

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of shared leadership on the gap between male and female leadership influence in groups. Design/methodology/approach – The leadership influence of 231 members from 28 committees was studied using a social networks methodology. Gender differences in committee members’ directive and supportive leadership influence were analyzed through two ANCOVA tests. Findings – Results confirm significant differences between men and women’s leadership influence, as rated by their peers, using directive and supportive leader behaviors. Surprisingly, shared leadership has no significant effect on reducing this gender gap. Research limitations/implications – Results cannot be extrapolated to all other types of groups, since the committees studied have very unique characteristics due to their low typical mutual interaction. Practical implications – Organizations may need to consider complementary strategies in their group leadership design to prevent the emergence o...
Radiation quality factor analysis of planar phased arrays

The energy storage and radiation quality factor of infinite planar phased arrays are studied for several cases of practical interest, including dipole arrays in free space and over a ground plane, as well as more general infinite phased arrays modeled with planar currents that excite only a small number of Floquet modes. The radiation Q is computed in a manner analogous to the classic Chu result for finite sized antenna elements [1], by calculating the stored electric and magnetic energies contained in a unit cell volume of the array (minus the energy density associated with the radiation field), and by calculating the radiated power from each unit cell. This is done using a full-wave moment method approach, with the appropriate Green's function for the geometry under consideration [2] (i.e., free-space, or over a ground plane). For lossless arrays in free space, in the absence of grating lobes, it is known that radiated power is contained only in the (0,0) Floquet mode, and that stored energy is contained only in higher order Floquet modes. This is in contrast to the Chu results for finite antennas, where each spherical wave mode contains some radiated power and some stored energy. The result is slightly different for arrays over a ground plane, where the (0,0) Floquet mode may contribute to the stored energies in the volume between the ground plane and the current elements. Both the radiated power and stored energies are evaluated in terms of the two-dimensional spectral domain Floquet mode series representation and the Fourier transform of the element current. Mode-by-mode correspondence of each Floquet mode contribution to the element input impedance is demonstrated, as is satisfaction of the complex Poynting theorem. The exact quality factor results are compared with approximate values based on the input impedance vs frequency from an independent calculation.
Locating Agency in the Classroom: A Metaphor Analysis of Teacher Talk in a College Developmental Reading Class.

This study employed a metaphor analysis approach to investigate instructor language as it relates to the positioning of agency within a college developmental reading course context. Agency, or the socioculturally mediated potential to act, is a crucial part of self-regulated, self-efficacious learning and contributes to identity formation and affirmation. Understanding where agency is being positioned via classroom discourse can have important implications for the teaching and learning transaction, including the construction of students’ implicit theories about their literacy practices and their roles as active learners. As a type of discourse analysis, metaphor analysis allows for an unobtrusive, highly ecologically valid method of determining the underlying conceptualisations about a given topic that are held by participants in discourse communities. The article concludes with pedagogical implications.
Development of a high-speed texture measurement system

A high-speed measurement system has been successfully developed to measure the pavement surface texture. This device is based on the laser triangulation measurement using a position sensitive device (PSD) as detector. In this paper we will discuss the basic design and implementation of the system. This system has a sampling rate of 175kHz, which greatly increases the ability of texture profiling and provides more quantitative information for the pavement measurement. The proper accuracy of dynamic measurement (0.02mm) guarantees correct detection in the particular applications on the pavement surface quality inspection. The flexible-hardware design enhances the system's performance under various practical situations, especially the high-response frequency, which makes the system control more prompt in handling the suddenly changed slopes and colors. The resolution in both static and dynamic measurement, the temperature shifting, the noise level, and the good repeatability indicates that the system has a good functionality at a very low cost. The experiment results illustrate that the system not only facilitates the high-speed macro/micro texture profiling, but also provides great potential to the wide industrial applications that need fast measurement.
Goal attainment scaling as a clinical measurement technique in communication disorders: a critical review

Abstract Evaluation of client progress is an important topic in communicative disorders research and clinical literature. Goal attainment scaling (GAS) is a technique for evaluating individual progress toward goals. Despite recognition of GAS as a clinical-outcome assessment technique in other clinical professions, the current debate on measuring client progress and outcome measurement in communication disorders has largely ignored GAS. The purpose of this paper is threefold: (a) to introduce GAS to the field of communication disorders, (b) to offer a critical review, and (c) to explore directions for harnessing the value of GAS for the field. In addition to the ability of GAS to evaluate individualized longitudinal change, it offers the following positive attributes: (a) grading of goal attainment, (b) comparability across goals and clients through aggregation, (c) adaptability to any International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health levels and domains, (d) versatility across populations and interventions, (e) linkage tied to expected outcomes, (f) facilitator of goal attainment, and (g) a focal point for team energies. The unique value of GAS could render this technique as a welcomed addition to the present set of options available to clinicians interested in assessing progress and evaluating change. Reliability and validity of GAS will be discussed. Finally, directions for harnessing the potential of GAS for communication disorders are offered for clinical practice and clinical-outcome research. Learning outcomes (1) As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to delineate the steps involved in GAS. (2) As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to describe the positive attributes of GAS as a method for assessing client progress. (3) As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to identify issues that enhance the reliability and validity of GAS.
Creation of a game-based digital layer for increased museum engagement among digital natives

The combined hardships of economic downturn and a target audience that is increasingly defined by their affinity for active participation in their surroundings have left many nonprofit museums struggling to remain relevant in the 21st Century. We have partnered with Discovery Place, a hands-on science museum in Charlotte, North Carolina in order to create an easy-to-integrate software solution to help them better engage their audience. Our project is the creation of a three-part digital layer to increase museum engagement for all visitors, but particularly those considered digital natives. We have created two systems to be implemented in the museum, one to appeal to traditional visitors and one to better engage large groups of students. In the future, these two systems will be tied to an online meta-game to complete our digital layer by bringing the enhanced museum experience home for visitors.
The accuracy of prenatal ultrasonography in detecting congenital anomalies

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of prenatal ultrasonography in detecting congenital anomalies. Study design: We studied all, singleton births or fetal deaths with one or more congenital defects delivered during the study period who had had one or more ultrasonographic examinations performed at or after 16 weeks' gestation and a random sample of defect-free newborns similarly examined by ultrasonography. Congenital anomalies reported on either the infants' posidelivery medical record or the fetal autopsy report were our standard. -Prenatal ultrasonographic findings reported during gestation and therefore "blind" to the postdelivery outcome were then compared with the standard. Results: The overall sensitivity of ultrasonography in detecting defects was 53%. The overall specificity was 99%. Ultrasonography proved to be highly sensitive (89%) for prevalent lethal malformations. However, serious cardiac defects, microcephalus, and many musculoskeletal deformities were missed by ultrasonography. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is sensitive in detecting many lethal malformations. However, a negative prenatal ultrasonographic examination does not provide absolute assurance that a fetus is defect free.
Decay of classical Yang-Mills fields

The classical Yang-Mills equations in four-dimensional Minkowski space are invariant under the conformal group. The resulting conservation laws are explicitly exhibited in terms of the Cauchy data at a fixed time. In particular, it is shown that, for any finite-energy solution of the Yang-Mills equations, the local energy tends to zero ast→∞.
Volumetric MRI, pathological, and neuropsychological progression in hippocampal sclerosis.

Objective: To examine the relationships between age at onset and duration of seizure disorder with severity of hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and cognitive functioning in patients with HS and unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: Twenty-six subjects had left temporal lobe seizure onset; 20 had right temporal onset. Measures were age at seizure onset, duration of seizure disorder divided by age (seizure duration), history of febrile convulsion (FC), ratio of the smaller hippocampal volume to the larger (HF) as determined by volumetric MRI, and pathologic HS grade. Results: Results showed that pathologic HS grade and HF were positively related to seizure duration, and negatively related to seizure onset. When subjects were divided into onset prior to age 10 versus later, subjects with earlier onset had higher mean pathologic HS grade and smaller (more asymmetric) mean HF. When subjects were divided into seizure duration Conclusions: Unilateral HS patients with earlier seizure onset and longer duration of epilepsy have more severe HS and greater hippocampal volume asymmetry. This suggests that HS may be a progressive disorder with risk for cognitive dysfunction.
Tape Recorder Effects on Jitter and Shimmer Extraction

To test for possible contamination of acoustic analyses by record/reproduce systems, five sine waves of fixed frequency and amplitude were sampled directly by a computer and recorded simultaneously on four different tape formats (audio and FM reel-to-reel, audio cassette, and video cassette using pulse code modulation). Recordings were digitized on playback and with the direct samples analyzed for fundamental frequency, amplitude, jitter, and shimmer using a zero crossing interpolation scheme. Distortion introduced by any of the data acquisition systems is negligible when extracting average fundamental frequency or average amplitude. For jitter and shimmer estimation, direct sampling or the use of a video cassette recorder with pulse code modulation are clearly superior. FM recorders, although not quite as accurate, provide a satisfactory alternative to those methods. Audio reel-to-reel recordings are marginally adequate for jitter analysis whereas audio cassette recorders can introduce jitter and shimmer...
Cooling of a Vertical Shrouded Fin Array by Natural Convection: A Numerical Study

An analysis is made of the laminar natural convection in a vertical shrouded fin array, in which the flow is induced from the surroundings by the chimney effect. This involves the calculation of developing flow in a duct. The results are obtained numerically for representative values of the parameters describing the system geometry and ducts of different lengths. The axial development of various flow quantities, such as the Nusselt number and the bulk temperature, has been presented. In addition, the overall flow and heat transfer characteristics have been discussed.
Kinetics of the reaction of OH radicals with a series of ethers under simulated atmospheric conditions at 295 K

Ethers are being increasingly used as motor fuel additives to increase the octane number and to reduce CO emissions. Since their reaction with hydroxyl radicals (OH) is a major loss process for these oxygenated species in the atmoshpere, we have conducted a relative rate study of the kinetics of the reactions of OH radicals with a series of ethers and report the results of these measurements here. Experiments were performed under simulated atmospheric conditions; atmospheric pressure (≃ 740 torr) in synthetic air at 295 K. Using rate constants of 2.53 × 10−12, and 1.35 × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for the reaction of OH radicals with n-butane and diethyl ether, the following rate constants were derived, in units of 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1: dimethylether, (0.232 ± 0.023); di-n-propylether, (1.97 ± 0.08); di-n-butylether, (2.74 ± 0.32); di-n-pentylether, (3.09 ± 0.26); methyl-t-butylether, (0.324 ± 0.008); methyl-n-butylether, (1.29 ± 0.03); ethyl-n-butylether, (2.27 ± 0.09); and ethyl-t-butylether, (0.883 ± 0.026). Quoted errors represent 2σ from the least squares analysis and do not include any systematic errors associated with uncertainties in the reference rate constants used to place our relative measurements on an absolute basis. The implications of these results for the atmospheric chemistry of ethers are discussed.