cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Case of Rapid Development of Methicillin‑Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Mechanical Aortic Root Abscess Despite Appropriate Antibiotic Use.

A 74-year-old male with a past medical history of mechanical aortic valve replacement presented with abdominal pain and fever. Blood cultures revealed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the patient was started on target antibiotics. Initial transthoracic echocardiogram and transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) did not show any vegetations or significant valvular regurgitation. No other sources of infection were identified. Five days after the initial TEE, a repeat TEE revealed new areas of thickening and echolucency seen anterior to the mechanical aortic valve, suggestive of aortic root abscess (AoRA). It also extended down the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa and was associated with mitral valvular vegetation. Due to worsening clinical status and persistent bacteremia on appropriate antibiotics, a high index of suspicion for infective endocarditis (IE) remained after the initial TEE. As such, the repeat TEE was obtained only five days after and demonstrated clear evidence of rapidly growing endocarditis and abscess formation. This case uniquely demonstrates how rapid MRSA endocarditis may progress and emphasizes its high mortality. This case highlights the importance of a low threshold for repeat imaging when the index of suspicion for endocarditis remains high despite negative imaging.
Feasibility of portable capnometer for mechanically ventilated preterm infants in the delivery room.

This study aimed to determine whether a specific portable capnometer (EMMA™) can facilitate the maintenance of an appropriate partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in intubated preterm infants in the delivery room. This study included preterm infants with a gestational age of 26 + 0 to 31 + 6 weeks who required intubation in the delivery room. We prospectively identified 40 infants who underwent the EMMA™ monitoring intervention group and 43 infants who did not undergo monitoring (historical control group). PaCO2 was evaluated either at admission in the neonatal intensive care unit or at 2 h after birth. The proportion of infants with an appropriate PaCO2 (35–60 mmHg) was greater in the intervention group than in the control group (80% vs. 42%; p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the rate of accidental extubation (5.0% vs. 7.0%, p = 1.00) or in the proportion of infants with an appropriate PaCO2 among infants whose birth weight was < 1000 g (54% vs. 40%, p = 0.49). However, among infants whose birth weight was ≥ 1000 g, the PaCO2 tended to be more appropriate in the intervention group than in the control group (93% vs. 44%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The EMMA™ facilitated the maintenance of an appropriate PaCO2 for mechanically ventilated preterm infants, especially infants with birth weight ≥1000 g, in the delivery room.
The role of social connectedness in buffering the effects of discrimination on post-trauma cognitions in forcibly displaced Muslims.

INTRODUCTION Among trauma-exposed, forcibly displaced Muslims, very little is known about how social connectedness, or perceived interpersonal connection and belonging, may alter the relationship between discrimination and negative posttraumatic cognitions. Discrimination may aggravate trauma psychopathology (Helms et al., 2010); however, social connectedness may buffer its negative effects (Juang & Alvarez, 2010). OBJECTIVE We examined whether higher religious and racial/ethnic discrimination would be associated with stronger negative posttraumatic cognitions and whether stronger social connectedness may adaptively buffer this relationship. METHOD Trauma exposed individuals (N = 99) who identified as Muslim and as a refugee, asylum seeker, or internally displaced person participated in the study. Measures of discrimination, social connection, and posttraumatic cognitions were completed. RESULTS Higher discrimination was moderately associated with stronger negative trauma-related cognitions (r = .40, p < .001) and with lower social connectedness (r = -.32, p = .001). Social connectedness moderated the relationship between discrimination and posttraumatic cognitions, such that at lower levels of social connectedness there was a stronger relationship between discrimination and posttraumatic cognitions (-2SD: b = .32, -1SD: b = .23, M: b = .14), this was not present at higher levels of social connectedness. CONCLUSIONS Connectedness to one's minority group may be an important protective factor by modulating the effects of discrimination on posttrauma adjustment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Thermal Analysis of PZT Thin Films Using Digital Image Correlation

Due to its excellent ferroelectric properties, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is widely used for both sensing and actuation components in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The development of residual stress during thermal processing of PZT can be a major reliability issue and can often result in thin film failure. For this work, the mechanical material behavior of sol–gel PZT thin films is investigated using digital image correlation to determine the effects of surface adhesion and stabilizing chemical additives. Specifically, for each PZT sol–gel variation, the strain development, failure strain, and cracking response are determined as a function of thermal loading.
Music, Language and Cognition: Which Doesn’t Belong?

When the topic of “Music, Language and Cognition” was first proposed to me by the organizers of this Colloquium, I at once was reminded of the game where a child is shown, for example, pictures of an apple, a banana and trumpet and asked “Which one doesn’t belong?” I assume you all know the answer.
Research Modules for Undergraduates in Machine Learning for Automatic Gesture Classification

In this paper we describe ongoing undergraduate research projects that allow us to shift emphasis from teaching to a more active form of student participation. More specifically our projects are on automatic gesture recognition using the Kinect 3D sensor from Microsoft Research and machine learning systems. We have observed the following benefits for our undergraduate students: learning a topic area in AI relatively early; developing proficiency in laboratory practice, specifically, systematic data collection and programming on multiple platforms; learning to use appropriate methodology; applying knowledge to a real situation; learning to analyze data and transform it to various representations; appreciation of scientific experiments and learning what scientific research actually entails.
A Public Health Perspective on a National Precision Medicine Cohort: Balancing Long-term Knowledge Generation With Early Health Benefit

The new US precision medicine initiative 1 has been made possible by improvement and price reduction in genome sequencing, as well as advances in multiple sectors of biotechnology. The initiative includes 2 components: a focus on cancer intended to spur development of new targeted cancer treatments, and a proposal for establishing a national cohort of at least 1 million people to explore genetic and environmental determinants of health and disease. The success of this initiative requires a public health perspective to help ensure generalizability, assess methods of implementation, focus on prevention, and provide an appropriate balance between generation of long-term knowledge and shortterm health gains. Althoughprecisionmedicinefocusesonindividualized
Fish species and community distributions as proxies for seafloor habitat distributions: The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary example (Northwest Atlantic, Gulf of Maine)

Defining the habitats of fishes and associated fauna on outer continental shelves is problematic given the paucity of data on the actual types and distributions of seafloor habitats. However many regions have good data on the distributions of fishes from resource surveys or catch statistics because of the economic importance of the fisheries. Fish distribution data (species or communities) have been used as a proxy for the distribution of habitats to develop precautionary conservation strategies for habitat protection (e.g., marine protected areas, fishing gear restrictions). In this study we assessed the relationships between the distributions of fish communities and species derived from trawl survey data with the spatial distribution of sediment types determined by sampling and acoustic reflectance derived from multibeam sonar surveys in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Fish communities were correlated with reflectance values but all communities did not occur in unique sediment types. This suggests that use of community distributions as proxies for habitats should include the caveat that a greater number of communities within an area could indicate a greater range of habitat types. Single species distributions showed relationships between abundance and reflectance values. Trawl catches with low abundances had wide variations in reflectance values while those with high abundances had narrower ranges indicating habitat affinities. Significant non-random frequency-dependent relationships were observed for 17 of 20 species although only 12 of 20 species had significant relationships based on rank correlation. These results suggest that species distributions based on trawl survey data can be used as proxies for the distribution of seafloor habitats. Species with known habitat associations can be used to infer habitat requirements of co-occurring species and can be used to identify a range of habitat types.
Characteristics of the Electrocardiogram in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Background Electrocardiograms (ECGs) are routinely obtained in patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) before and after surgical implantation with a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD). As the number of patients with CHF is increasing, it is necessary to characterize the changes present in the ECG of patients with LVADs. Methods ECGs of 43 patients pre- and postimplantation of a HeartMate II LVAD were compared to characterize the presence of an LVAD using the following six criteria (LVADS2): low limb-lead voltage, ventricular pacing, artifact (electrical), duration of the QRS > 120 milliseconds, ST-elevation in the lateral leads, and splintering of the QRS complex. Additionally, 50 ECGs of non-LVAD patients coded as “lateral myocardial infarction (MI)” and 50 ECGs coded as “ventricular pacing” were chosen at random and scored. Odds ratios were calculated using Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression models were built to predict the presence of an LVAD in all patients. Results Univariate analysis of the pre- and post-LVAD ECGs confirmed that all criteria except the “Duration of QRS > 120 milliseconds” characterized the ECG of a patient with an LVAD. Electrical artifact and low limb-lead voltage yielded the greatest association with an LVAD-ECG. Conclusions The ECG of a patient with end-stage CHF significantly changes with LVAD implantation. The LVADS2 criteria provide a framework towards characterizing and establishing a new baseline of the ECG in a patient with a continuous-flow LVAD.
A new exercise for dysmenorrhea.

Abstract 1. 1. A new therapeutic exercise for dysmenorrhea has been described. It consists of two components: (a) trunk twisting and bending, and (b) trunk extension with backward leg raising. This new exercise is much simpler to perform, requires little or no supervision, and could easily be incorporated into routine gymnastic activities. 2. 2. A comparison of results in dysmenorrheic high school girls treated by Billig or Mosher exercises and those treated by a new exercise shows the latter to be equallyas effective as the Billig or Mosher.
Metodologías de las publicaciones en la Revista de Investigación Clínica en los últimos 20 años

OBJECTIVE To characterize the clinical research methods published in the Revista de Investigacion Clinica for the past 20 years. DESIGN Comparative study of methods used in the RIC articles published in 3-years periods representing three decades (1972-74, 1982-84, 1992-94). RESULTS Out of 273 original papers, 218 (80%) were of clinical research. There was an increased percentage of longitudinal vs cross-sectional studies, with cohort and randomized clinical trials showing the largest increase. The total number of research manuscripts also increased. CONCLUSION The clinical research methods of the papers in the RIC have shown an increased rate of designs with a higher scientific value.
Mary McCarthy's Disembodied Authorship: Class, Authority, and The Twentieth-Century Intellectual

In 1963, Mary McCarthy, a longtime member of the New York intellectual elite, published The Group, a best-selling novel that chronicles the disappointed lives of ambitious college graduates as they...
Shared paternity revealed by genetic analysis in cooperatively breeding tropical wrens

POSTPONEMENT of dispersal and breeding to assist in rearing others' young may be favoured if helpers' contributions to the production of close kin exceed their likely reproductive success had they dispersed1,2. Young adult stripe-backed wrens (Campylo-rhynchus nuchalis) remain in natal groups and greatly enhance reproductive success of close kin. Long-term behavioural observations suggest that only the dominant male and female in a group breed3; however, extra-pair parentage has been confirmed biochemically in apparently monogamous birds4,5, including some social species6,7. DNA fingerprinting of wren groups shows that behaviourally dominant males sometimes share paternity with auxiliary males previously thought to be nonproductive, whereas dominants are the only reproductives among females. Reproduction by auxiliary males (but not females) helps explain the long tenure of males in helper status and the contrasting combativeness of females in competition for breeding positions outside the natal group8,9, but reproduction by auxiliaries cannot alone explain helping behaviour.
Childhood Nutrition: Perceptions of Caretakers in a Low-Income Urban Setting.

The incidence of overweight and obese children, especially those from low-income and minority backgrounds, continues to rise. Multiple factors contribute to the rising rates. In order to gain an understanding of factors contributing to obesity in low-income families, a qualitative study was conducted with the purpose of gaining knowledge of low-income urban caretakers' understanding and attitudes regarding children's nutrition. A focused ethnography was used as a means of understanding behavior within the context of a person's cultural environment. The sample was 17 caretakers of children in the 1st-3rd grades. Four focus groups were conducted. Two themes emerged from caretakers' perceptions: knowing the right things children should eat and balancing healthy nutrition with unhealthy choices. Four categories emerged regarding influences on food choices: tradition, finances, time constraints, and role models. Lastly, five barriers and three facilitating factors emerged. Implications of the study findings for school nurses include the need, when implementing healthy eating programs for school children, to gain information from caretakers about their perceptions of childhood nutrition.
Improving Memory for Facts The “Keyword” Method

The “keyword” technique is particularly useful in helping to improve learning and memory skills of special education students.
SIMULATION OF THE ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING ORGANIZATIONAL SLACK: A FACTORIAL DESIGN

This paper investigates, through simulation models, the factors that affect organizational slack in a monopoly company under varying conditions of budget information, managerial behavior, and economic growth. The impact of organizational slack on corporate economic variables was identified in the models. The analysis of individual factors and the interactions among factors was based on the output of the factorial design. The implications of the findings for decision-making are discussed.
Randomized Trial of Behavior Therapy for Adults With Tourette Syndrome

Context Tics in Tourette syndrome begin in childhood, peak in early adolescence, and often decrease by early adulthood. However, some adult patients continue to have impairing tics. Medications for tics are often effective but can cause adverse effects. Behavior therapy may offer an alternative but has not been examined in a large-scale controlled trial in adults. Objective To test the efficacy of a comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics in adults with Tourette syndrome of at least moderate severity. Design A randomized controlled trial with posttreatment evaluations at 3 and 6 months for positive responders. Setting Three outpatient research clinics. Patients Patients (N = 122; 78 males; age range, 16-69 years) with Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder were recruited between December 27, 2005, and May 21, 2009. Interventions Patients received 8 sessions of comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics or 8 sessions of supportive treatment for 10 weeks. Patients with a positive response were given 3 monthly booster sessions. Main Outcome Measures Total tic score on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale and the Clinical Global Impression–Improvement scale rated by a clinician masked to treatment assignment. Results Behavior therapy was associated with a significantly greater mean (SD) decrease on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (24.0 [6.47] to 17.8 [7.32]) from baseline to end point compared with the control treatment (21.8 [6.59] to 19.3 [7.40]) (P Conclusion Comprehensive behavior therapy is a safe and effective intervention for adults with Tourette syndrome. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00231985
Sire Evaluation for Economic Merit

Abstract Procedures for selecting sires are compared in terms of making maximum genetic progress in economic merit. A quadratic index, a simplified form of the quadratic index and a linear index to evaluate economic merit, and a restricted index to improve milk as much as possible while holding milk fat percentage constant, all result in nearly equal expected genetic progress in economic merit. Selection for milk production results in less expected genetic progress in economic merit, the extent of the decrease depending on the economic value of milk production at a given base test and on the test differential. Evaluation of sires for economic merit depends on the economic values and on the means of milk production and test. The simplified form of the quadratic index appears to be a useful index, since sire economic merit index values can be calculated for any mean levels of milk production and test and for any economic values, once index values for milk and test have been found.
Trained to avoid primary care.

While reading e-mail message 39, I suddenly felt tears in my eyes; tears not for my patient, but for myself. I had chosen a career in medicine to dedicate myself to healing the lives of others, and...
Cyclic Polyketide Peroxides and Acyclic Diol Analogues from the Sponge Plakortis lita

The sponge Plakortis lita from Papua New Guinea is a source of three cyclic peroxidesethyl plakortide Z (3), ethyl didehydroplakortide Z (4), and methyl didehydroplakortide Z (5)and three acyclic diol analoguesethyl seco-plakortide Z (6), epi-ethyl seco-plakortide Z (7), and ethyl didehydro-seco-plakortide Z (8). The absolute stereochemistry at the three chiral sites of 3 was assigned by preparing 6, which was investigated using the refined Mosher's method. Compounds 4, 5, and 6 were also concluded to have the same absolute stereochemistry as 3. The cyclic peroxides were generally cytotoxic, while the acyclic analogues were devoid of activity. Compound 3 was equally active in vitro against solid tumor and L-1210 leukemia cell lines. Alternatively, 4 was observed in vitro to be moderately solid-tumor selective but did not exhibit in vivo activity against solid tumors in mice.
Hypothyroidism among former workers of a nuclear weapons facility.

Background Ionizing radiation alters thyroid function, and workers at a nuclear weapons facility may be exposed to above environmental levels of radiation. Methods Hypothyroid status was determined for 622 former workers of a nuclear weapons facility located in Texas, using a combination of measured thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and thyroid medication history, as part of an on-going health surveillance program. We classified 916 unique job titles into 35 job categories. Results According to the most stringent TSH definition used in this study (0.3–3.0 IU/ml), 174 (28.0%) former workers were considered to be hypothyroid; of these 66 (41.8%) were females and 108 (23.3%) were males. In logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, and smoking status, only having worked as a material handler (n = 18) exhibited an elevated risk of developing hypothyroidism compared to other jobs (OR 3.88, 95% CI 1.43–11.07). This is one of the jobs with suspected exposure to radiation. No excess risk of hypothyroidism was observed for any of the other job categories. Conclusions There is suggestive evidence that only material handlers at this nuclear weapons facility may have elevated risk of hypothyroidism; further evaluation of thyroid health in this population is warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:955–964, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Standing waves of wall vibration

Abstract The forced vibrations of an infinite chain of coupled masses with long-range interactions is analyzed. Calculations explain the standing wave patterns observed by Spreen and Argyle in an array of plane parallel 180° domain walls pinned by a pair of cracks in a garnet film.
Potential Role of Mechanical Stress in the Etiology of Pediatric Heart Disease: Septal Shear Stress in Subaortic Stenosis

Abstract Objectives. The objective of this study was to show elevations in septal shear stress in response to morphologic abnormalities that have been associated with discrete subaortic stenosis (SAS) in children. Combined with the published data, this critical connection supports a four-stage etiology of SAS that is advanced in this report. Background. Subaortic stenosis constitutes up to 20% of left ventricular outflow obstruction in children and frequently requires surgical removal, and the lesions may reappear unpredictably after the operation. The etiology of SAS is unknown. This study proposes a four-stage etiology for SAS that I) combines morphologic abnormalities, II) elevation of septal shear stress, III) genetic predisposition and IV) cellular proliferation in response to shear stress. Methods. Morphologic structures of a left ventricular outflow tract were modeled based on measurements in patients with and without SAS. Septal shear stress was studied in response to changes in aortoseptal angle (AoSA) (120° to 150°), outflow tract convergence angle (45°, 22.5° and 0°), presence/location of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) (3-mm VSD; 2 and 6 mm from annulus) and shunt velocity (3 and 5 m/s). Results. Variations in AoSA produced marked elevations in septal shear stress (from 103 dynes/cm2for 150° angle to 150 dynes/cm2for 120° angle for baseline conditions). This effect was not dependent on the convergence angle in the outflow tract (150 to 132 dynes/cm2over full range of angles including extreme case of 0°). A VSD enhanced this effect (150 to 220 dynes/cm2at steep angle of 120° and 3 m/s shunt velocity), consistent with the high incidence of VSDs in patients with SAS. The position of the VSD was also important, with a reduction of the distance between the VSD and the aortic annulus causing further increases in septal shear stress (220 and 266 dynes/cm2for distances of 6 and 2 mm from the annulus, respectively). Conclusions. Small changes in AoSA produce important changes in septal shear stress. The levels of stress increase are consistent with cellular flow studies showing stimulation of growth factors and cellular proliferation. Steepened AoSA may be a risk factor for the development of SAS. Evidence exists for all four stages of the proposed etiology of SAS. (J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;30:247–54)
Seismic response analysis of above-ground pipelines

A procedure for computing the seismic response of above-ground, cross-country pipelines is described. The procedure accounts for the effects of initial static loads, slipping of the pipe on its supports and out-of-phase ground motions at different points along the pipe. The idealization, assumptions and theory are described, and an example illustrating the influence of several parameters on the response is presented.
Lip Muscle Activity Related to Speech Rate and Loudness

Changes in suprasegmental speech parameters may require adjustments in oral motor control that are reflected in the activity of perioral musculature. In order to evaluate possible patterns of difference, perioral surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were obtained from 20 adults who read a paragraph aloud at habitual rate and at self-judged proportionately slower and faster rates, at habitual loudness and at proportionately softer and louder levels, and in a "precise" manner. EMG amplitude analysis showed significant task effects, with higher average amplitudes for fast, loud, and precise speech and lower average amplitudes for slow and soft speech. These results are compatible with a model of multidimensional reorganization of speech motor control for suprasegmental changes applied to connected speech.
A decomposition approach for manufacturing system design

Successful manufacturing system designs must be capable of satisfying the strategic objectives of a company. There exist numerous tools to design manufacturing systems. Most frameworks, however, do not separate objectives from means. As a result, it is difficult to understand the interactions among different design objectives and solutions and to communicate these interactions. The research described in this paper develops an approach to help manufacturing system designers: (1) clearly separate objectives from the means of achievement, (2) relate low-level activities and decisions to high-level goals and requirements, (3) understand the interrelationships among the different elements of a system design, and (4) effectively communicate this information across a manufacturing organization. This research does so by describing a manufacturing system design decomposition (MSDD). The MSDD enables a firm to simultaneously achieve cost, quality, delivery responsiveness to the customer, and flexibility objectives. The application section illustrates how the MSDD can be applied in conjunction with existing procedural manufacturing engineering.
Deep-tow observations at the mounds abyssal hydrothermal field, Galapagos Rift

Abstract Small 5–20 m high mounds of lithified sediment were discovered in 1972 during a deep-tow survey 20–30 km south of the spreading axis of the Galapagos Rift, at a depth of 2.7 km. They were reexamined with an improved deep-tow instrument in 1976. The features are 20–50 m wide, conical in section and generally elongate in plan, and arranged in parallel chains that are commonly 1–2 km long, and aligned parallel to the rise flank's fault-block relief. Their rough sides, sloping at 35–45° from sharp crests, are encrusted with thick deposits of manganese oxide. Manganese crusts also occur on the sea floor in 10–20 m wide stripes of high acoustic reflectivity which extend discontinuously for several kilometers, generally on the crests of low rises (sometimes linking the cones and ridges of a chain). Although they are structures of the 30 m thick sediment blanket rather than of the volcanic bedrock, many chains and stripes overlie minor bedrock faults, and their plan patterns mimic those of minor faults and fissures exposed and mapped at the present spreading axis. These landforms and bands of mineralization are interpreted as the result of precipitation around the discharge vents of an active hydrothermal circulation in the oceanic crust, though no plumes of modified bottom water were found above them. They seem to form only after the basaltic crust has been completely buried with sediment, even along the scarps at fault-block boundaries which are the likely sites of discharge on younger crust. Their existence demonstrates the ability of localized discharges to vent through a thin blanket of pelagic sediment, and their shapes and distribution patterns emphasize the importance of zones of fracturing for controlling the site and scale of circulation in the bedrock.
ETIOLOGY OF OROYA FEVER VIII. EXPERIMENTS ON CROSS-IMMUNITY BETWEEN OROYA FEVER AND VERRUGA PERUANA.

Nine monkeys (Macacus rhesus) and a chimpanzee which had recently recovered from an infection with the Oroya strain of Bartonella bacilliformis were tested for immunity against the verruga strain of Bartonella bacilliformis as well as against the homologous strain. Complete immunity to both strains was demonstrated. The result establishes the identity of the strains and is in agreement with the result of comparative serological study. The criteria of recovery include not only the subsidence of febrile reactions and local lesions but also a negative result of cultural tests of blood and lymphatic gland tissue. Recovery may occur as early as 1 month after inoculation, but in most instances a period of 2 to 5 months is required for the completion of convalescence.
Re-evaluation of the role of postoperative radiotherapy and the impact of radiation dose for non-small-cell lung cancer using the National Cancer Database.

Background The role of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) after surgical resection of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. Although pertinent randomized evidence is lacking, historical studies have shown a survival detriment, partially attributed to antiquated radiotherapy techniques and supratherapeutic doses, whereas more recent nonrandomized data have suggested a survival benefit for PORT in appropriate patients. This analysis reassesses the impact of PORT in a modern cohort of patients with particular attention to radiotherapy details. Methods Patients treated with margin-negative (R0) surgical resection of NSCLC with complete adjuvant treatment information were identified within the National Cancer Database. Overall survival (OS) was compared between patients based upon pathologic stage of disease, histologic subtype, and details of adjuvant therapy delivered. Results We identified 30,552 patients treated for stages II–IIIA NSCLC in National Cancer Database between 1998 and 2006. Histology was adenocarcinoma in 16,482, squamous cell in 9847, large cell in 1715 and other in 2562. Overall, 3430 patients (11.2%) received PORT, and 23.8% of N2 patients received PORT. There was a detriment in 5-year OS with PORT for pathologically N0 (48 versus 37.7%, p p p p p = 0.784). PORT with doses of 45 to 54 Gy remained significantly associated with improved OS on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio for death 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.76–0.94, p Conclusions PORT delivered with modern techniques with appropriate doses continues to demonstrate a survival benefit in patients with positive mediastinal nodal metastases, and therefore should remain a standard of care for this population.
Congruency and Engagement Test in an Event Marketing Sponsorship Context

Intercept survey data collected at a medium-size Midwestern ethnic festival are used to assess how top-of-mind and aided brand recall are influenced by ethnic congruence among attendees, brand sponsors, and the event, and by the use of passive or engaging sponsor tactics. The results are contextualized by the Elaboration Likelihood Model. Attendees who identify as ethnically congruent are shown to perform significantly better on the aided brand recall instrument. Engaging tactics are shown to produce higher brand recall than passive tactics, as well as more favorable evaluations and higher purchase intent.
Interaction of a conjugated phenylene ethynylene trimer with a Au(1 1 1) surface

Abstract The interaction of 4-[ 4 ′ -(phenylethynyl)-phenylethynyl]-benzenethiols (PPBSH) with Au(1 1 1) surfaces has been studied using density functional theory and a cluster model. For PPBSH perpendicular to the surface, the threefold hollow is the most favorable site, but the energy difference between this and the least favorable site is only about 9 kcal/mol. The most stable form of PPBSH on the surface is bent, therefore, PPBSH should only be perpendicular to the surface at higher coverages.
Serotonergic stimulation of pituitary-adrenocortical activity in rats: Evidence for multiple sites of action

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) elevated serum corticosterone concentrations when administered either intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intraventricularly. Inhibition of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase outside of the blood-brain barrier antagonized the corticosterone response, but only when the 5-HTP was given i.p. Stimulation of the pituitary-adrenocortical system by fenfluramine was not affected by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine pretreatment, whereas the stimulation produced by quipazine administration was blocked by lesions of the basomedial hypothalamus. These results suggest that serotonergic drugs can act at multiple sites (i.e., both central and peripheral) to evoke a pituitary-adrenocortical response.
Actin-cytoskeleton and glial cell transformation: dissecting the morphological and molecular dynamics of tumorigenesis using light microscopy

A glioma produces some of the most rapidly growing, angiogenic, and invasive primary brain tumor cells known. A lack of understanding about the intricately coupled molecular mechanisms that result in cell transformation is responsible, in part, for the minimal progress made in treating this disease over the past century. To begin dissecting molecular interrelationships in time and space within living normal and transformed cells, a morphological assay is being developed wherein patient-derived tumor cells are allowed to attach to a substrate, spread, change shape, and locomote. During this process (approximately 6.5 h), low magnification phase contrast images of the cells are recorded at 1 min intervals. Quantitative image analyses of these time-lapse images are used to measure dynamic parameter such as projected cell area, shape, and displacement for each cell. Although there is considerable cellular heterogeneity, patterns of patient-specific tumor cell behavior are beginning to emerge. In addition, the assay is being used to test the effects of drugs that alter specific intracellular processes (e.g., cytochalasin, 2-deoxyglucose, and chemotherapeutic drugs). To dissect tumor cell physiology into its molecular components, I have focused on the actin-cytoskeleton because it is involved in the temporal and spatial orchestration of ions, metabolites, macromolecules, and organelles that underlies the interconnected processes of tumor cell growth, motility, and differentiation. I have used fluorescent analogs of actin and its associated proteins in conjunction with multimode-based light microscopy of living cells to measure the complex interrelationships responsible for motility in patient-derived normal and transformed glia. I have simultaneously measured the dynamics of actin assembly and focal contact formation using new fluorescent analogs of actin and vinculin in single migrating human glioblastoma cells and used this information to begin developing a molecular model of tumor cell migration. By engineering new protein-based reagents and fluorescence spectroscopic methodologies we will be able to measure and manipulate a greater number of molecular processes and therefore further refine the model. The ultimate goal of this work is to use living cells to diagnose and design treatment for primary brain tumors in a more patient-specific manner.
Essential amino acid metabolism in molting and non-molting sparrows in different nutritional states

Abstract We investigated the abilities of sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys , to adjust their rates of oxidation of endogenously derived essential amino acids and to retain these indicator amino acids (IAA) in tissue proteins in response to either a dietary deficiency of total protein, threonine or sulfur amino acids (SAA). Tissue proteins of birds were uniformly labeled with either 1- 14 C-phe or 1- 14 C-val by injecting birds IM with a tracer dose of labeled amino acid 21 days before dietary treatments began. Oxidation rates and retention of IAA in tissue proteins were compared between well-nourished birds and those fed deficient diets during two phases of their annual cycle, molt and winter maintenance. Non-molting birds fed diets low in protein or in threonine and molting birds fed diets low in protein reduced oxidation rates and increased retention of IAA after 9 days of dietary treatment as compared with well-nourished birds. In contrast, non-molting birds fed diets low in SAA showed no adjustments in oxidation or retention of IAA and molting birds fed diets low in SAA showed increased rates of oxidation and lower retention of IAA as compared with well-nourished control birds. In those birds able to adjust to dietary deficiencies, decreased oxidation and increased retention rates closely approximated earlier reported decreases in muscle protein degradation rates in response to malnutrition. Reduced protein degradation rates may be the preeminent compensatory mechanism in protein sparing during malnutrition, whereas adjustment in oxidation and reutilization of endogenously derived amino acids seems to play only a small role. Differing responses of birds to SAA deficiency as compared with protein or threonine deficiency probably result from depletion of glutathione pools and a resulting disturbance to the normal economy of protein metabolism.
From Deduction to Deed: Kant's Grounding of the Moral Law

In the Critique of Practical Reason, Kant presents the moral law as the sole ‘fact of pure reason’ that neither needs nor admits of a deduction to establish its authority. This claim may come as a surprise to many readers of his earlier Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. In the last section of the Groundwork, Kant seemed to offer a sketch of just such a ‘deduction of the supreme principle of morality’ (GMS 4: 463). Although notoriously obscure, this sketch shows that Kant hoped to base the moral law in the freedom that rational agents can claim as members of the ‘intelligible world’ that transcendental idealism makes available to us. In contrast, the second Critique abandons all aspirations of deriving morality from more basic notions of freedom and practical rationality.
Quantitative in vivo measurement of early axonal transport deficits in a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease using manganese-enhanced MRI.

Impaired axonal transport has been linked to the pathogenic processes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in which axonal swelling and degeneration are prevalent. The development of non-invasive neuroimaging methods to quantitatively assess in vivo axonal transport deficits would be enormously valuable to visualize early, yet subtle, changes in the AD brain, to monitor the disease progression and to quantify the effect of drug intervention. A triple transgenic mouse model of AD closely resembles human AD neuropathology. In this study, we investigated age-dependent alterations of the axonal transport rate in the triple transgenic mouse olfactory system, using fast multi-sliced T1 mapping with manganese-enhanced MRI. The data show that impairment in axonal transport is a very early event in AD pathology in these mice, preceding both deposition of Aβ plaques and formation of Tau fibrils.
Securing wireless medical devices

Portable Wireless Devices (PWDs) and Portable Medical Devices (PMDs) are rapidly becoming an integral part of our lives, and even our bodies. Security issues raise great concerns among customers, manufacturers, regulating bodies and civil rights organizations. Another grave concern of PWDs manufacturers is extending the battery life of these systems by reducing power consumption and computing requirements. For this reason, simple but yet highly secure cryptosystems are absent from present day PWDs. The research presented herein addresses this dilemma by combining the most secure cryptography system available -the onetime pad cipher- with a novel key distribution and authentication scheme. The result is a system with military-grade security and PWD-grade power and processing capabilities.
Evaluation of Microbial Activity for Long-Term Performance Assessments of Deep Geologic Nuclear Waste Repositories

repository. In this paper, we develop a general approach for a systematic evaluation of microbial impact on the long-term performance of the repository, based on the consideration of environmental constraints on microbial processes. We then apply this approach to both the Yucca Mountain (YM) repository and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). We demonstrate that the effect of microbial activity on the near-field chemistry in the Yucca Mountain repository is negligible because of limited nutrient supply and harsh environmental conditions created by waste emplacement. Whereas for the WIPP, we show that, due to the presence of a large quantity of organic materials and a significant amount of nutrients in the wastes, a significant microbial activity can potentially be stimulated and its impact on repository performance can be evaluated with carefully designed incubation experiments.
Perianal Paget's disease treated with wide excision and gluteal skin flap reconstruction: report of a case and review of the literature.

Background Paget’s disease of the anus is a rare perianal disorder. The condition is often associated with underlying invasive carcinoma and the prognosis is poor when underlying adenocarcinoma is present.
Seasonal size variation in the predatory cladoceran Bythotrephes cederstroemii in Lake Michigan

SUMMARY 1 Dry weight, body length and spine length were measured for the exotic cladoceran Bythotrephes cederstroemii collected from offshore and inshore stations in southeastern Lake Michigan. Average dry weight of each developmental stage exhibited seasonal variation by a factor of more than 5. 2 Mean dry weight of Bythotrephes was closely correlated with water temperature. Contrary to the inverse relationship between water temperature and body size frequently observed for other invertebrates, the dry weight of Bythotrephes increased at higher ambient temperatures. 3 No significant correlation was observed between abundances of major zooplankton taxa and the dry weight of Bythotrephes. An indirect effect of temperature on prey consumption may cause seasonal variation in dry weight of Bythotrephes in Lake Michigan. 4 Distances between adjacent pairs of barbs, added to the caudal spine with each moult, are significantly shorter in Bythotrephes which produce resting eggs. Less material investment in the exoskeleton of sexually reproducing females was observed in favour of growth and reproduction.
Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) Should Not Be Standard of Care for Postoperative Management

Neurologic dysfunction is a problem in patients with congenital heart disease. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) may provide a real-time window into cerebral oxygenation. Enthusiasm for NIRS has increased in hopes of reducing neurologic dysfunction. However, potential gains need to be evaluated relative to cost and potential detriment of intervention before routine implementation. Responding to data in ways that seem intuitively beneficial can be risky when the long-term impact is unknown. Many centers, and even entire countries, have adopted NIRS as standard of care. Available data suggest that multimodality monitoring, including NIRS, may be a useful adjunct. However, the current literature on the use of NIRS alone does not demonstrate improvement in neurologic outcome. Data correlating NIRS findings with indirect measures of neurologic outcome or mortality are limited. Although NIRS has promise for measuring regional tissue oxygen saturation, the lack of data demonstrating improved outcomes limits the support for wide-spread implementation.
Toward an MRI-based method to measure non-uniform cartilage deformation: An MRI-cyclic loading apparatus system and steady-state cyclic displacement of articular cartilage under compressive loading

Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have shown potential for measuring non-uniform deformations throughout the volume (i.e. three-dimensional (3D) deformations) in small orthopedic tissues such as articular cartilage. However, to analyze cartilage deformation using MRI techniques, a system is required which can construct images from multiple acquisitions of MRI signals from the cartilage in both the underformed and deformed states. The objectives of the work reported in this article were to 1) design an apparatus that could apply highly repeatable cyclic compressive loads of 400 N and operate in the bore of an MRI scanner, 2) demonstrate that the apparatus and MRI scanner can be successfully integrated to observe 3D deformations in a phantom material, 3) use the apparatus to determine the load cycle necessary to achieve a steady-state deformation response in normal bovine articular cartilage samples using a flat-surfaced and nonporous indentor in unconfined compression. Composed of electronic and pneumatic components, the apparatus regulated pressure to a double-acting pneumatic cylinder so that (1) load-controlled compression cycles were applied to cartilage samples immersed in a saline bath, (2) loading and recovery periods within a cycle varied in time duration, and (3) load magnitude varied so that the stress applied to cartilage samples was within typical physiological ranges. In addition the apparatus allowed gating for MR image acquisition, and operation within the bore of an MRI scanner without creating image artifacts. The apparatus demonstrated high repeatability in load application with a standard deviation of 1.8% of the mean 400 N load applied. When the apparatus was integrated with an MRI scanner programmed with appropriate pulse sequences, images of a phantom material in both the underformed and deformed states were constructed by assembling data acquired through multiple signal acquisitions. Additionally, the number of cycles to reach a steady-state response in normal bovine articular cartilage was 49 for a total cycle duration of 5 seconds, but decreased to 33 and 27 for increasing total cycle durations of 10 and 15 seconds, respectively. Once the steady-state response was achieved, 95% of all displacements were within +/- 7.42 microns of the mean displacement, indicating that the displacement response to the cyclic loads was highly repeatable. With this performance, the MRI-loading apparatus system meets the requirements to create images of articular cartilage from which 3D deformation can be determined.
Prostaglandin sparing of dietary arachidonic acid in the mosquito Culex pipiens

Abstract Larvae of Culex pipiens were reared in synthetic dietary media containing suboptimal levels of arachidonic acid such that emerging adults had reduced flight abilities. When pupation commenced, but with most individuals still larvae, pairs of treatments identical with respect to arachidonic acid concentrations were supplemented with either a prostaglandin solution or the ethanolic water vehicle lacking prostaglandin, and daily thereafter the flight ability of emerged adults was assessed. Supplementation with prostaglandin F 2a significantly improved the ability to fly at emergence, whereas prostaglandin E 2 used over the same range of concentrations produced no significant change in flight ability. Though prostaglandin F 2a in combination with suboptimal levels of arachidonic acid improved flight, it failed to bring flight performances up to the levels attained with optimal concentrations of arachidonic acid in the diet, indicating that though the prostaglandin spared arachidonic acid, it could not substitute for all arachidonic acid functions. These results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that dietary arachidonic acid is required by mosquitoes for multiple physiological purposes among which is the provision of a precursor for prostaglandin generation.