cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of ALS patients based on MIP & FVC at first visit (P4.434)

Objective: Characterize ALS patients based on MIP/FVC at first visit Background: According to AAN 2009 practice parameters initiation of NIPPV is indicated with a FVC ≤ 50% OR when MIP ≤60 cmH20. We hope to replicate earlier studies to establish that MIP is a more sensitive indicator of hypoventilation than FVC. Further characterize patients based on MIP/FVC at first visit and analyze the effect of NIPPV use on class 1 subjects. Design/Methods: A retrospective database cohort study of 264 ALS patients 2014–2017. Demographics analysis with Kruskal-Wallis for nominal and Fischer’s exact for categorical variables. Patients categorized by FVC & MIP at first visit [C1: FVC≥50, MIP≥60, C2: FVC≥50, MIP≤60; C3: FVC≤50, MIP≤60]. Multi-visit analysis conducted for time to MIP≤60 & FVC≤50 for those not meeting NIPPV criteria at first visit. Longitudinal regression analysis of ALSFRS and Appel Score for C1 subjects using a time dependent model performed to evaluate the effect of NIPPV. Statistical significance set at P Results: 264 ALS (61.4yrs ± 11.9; 40% F; 21.2% bulbar, 18.7 mos. ± 15.2 disease duration; 81.2% riluzole). First visit, 8.7% met NIPPV criteria by FVC≤50 vs 58.33% by MIP≤60. For remaining (n=158), 74 reach FVC≤50% at 11.8 mos. ± 9.1 vs. 126 reaching MIP≤60 at 3.83 mos. ± 7.3, with FVC lagging by 7.94±7.8 mos. Greater proportion of older age, female gender, bulbar status, and faster pre-diagnosis progression noted in class II, III (MIP≤60) p Conclusions: MIP is sensitive, early indicator for NIPPV initiation. Older females with bulbar disease and faster rate of progression are likely to present at first visit meeting criteria for NIPPV by MIP, independent of FVC. NIPPV use significantly changed ALSFRS and Appel scores in class 1. Disclosure: Dr. Akkineni has nothing to disclose. Dr. Simpson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Holland has nothing to disclose. Dr. Peterson has nothing to disclose.
Sequestering Carbon in Ravine-prone and Eroded Landscapes

Ravine lands, the most severe form of water erosion leading to formation of badlands, occupy about 4 Mha (1.22%) of land area in India. These lands have strongly impacted economic, social, cultural, and environmental features of the region. This article describes the cause-effect relationship, suggests some preventive and control measures, and assesses the potential of soil carbon sequestration. Formation of ravine lands is triggered by tectonic activity, climate change, or drastic change in land use. In India, ravines are formed in the semiarid climate with short (3-month) monsoonal rains and a long dry season. On the basis of morphological features (depth, width, density, etc.), ravines can be categorized into shallow, medium, and deep. An effective restoration/rehabilitation necessitates characterization of ravines using satellite imagery and other remote sensing techniques validated by ground-truthing. For an effective control measure, runoff into the ravine land must be diverted using techniques of safe disposal and a perennial vegetation cover established. Deep ravines must also be afforested to stabilize further growth. Medium and shallow ravines can be bulldozed for agricultural forestry land use. Carbon sequestration in soil and biomass, with a technical potential of 2.6–5.3 TgC year−1, can generate another income stream for farmers (US$300–640 million year−1) and promote the adoption of best management practices for both preventative and control measures.
Case Study of a Shoe-String SoTL Center

This paper provides a case study of a faculty-driven, cost-effective center focused on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) at a small private liberal arts college. Prior work on teaching and learning centers has focused on large institutions. Our case study shows that a “teaching commons” (Huber & Hutchings, 2006) can be created at a small college (approximately 1600 students) with relatively little expense. Thanks to a grant from the Teagle Foundation, we were able to establish a SoTL center focused on the dissemination and production of SoTL. The center sponsors a biweekly lunch series (with 25% of the faculty attending each session), learning communities, and a summer grant program. Participation in SoTL activities has been excellent with 69% of faculty attending at least one SoTL event during the 2010-2011 academic year. The SoTL center has been instrumental in building assessment oriented skills and structural support for teaching effectiveness.
Dietary inflammatory index is positively associated with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a Korean adult population.

Abstract Objective To our knowledge, only a few studies have explored the relationship between the inflammatory potential of diet and serum inflammatory markers in Korean adults. The likely novel aim of this study was to examine the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in a Korean adult population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using the data set from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2015. Korean adults ≥19 y of age with hs-CRP values were included in this study. After excluding individuals with missing variables for covariates, the final analytic sample for the study was 3014 adults (1295 men and 1719 women). DII scores were calculated from a 1-d 24-h dietary recall, and hs-CRP was measured using the immunoturbidimetric method. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to test the effect of the DII score on serum hs-CRP as dichotomous (>2 versus ≤2 mg/L). Results A significant association was observed between increasing DII scores and elevated hs-CRP. Korean adults in the highest quintile of the DII (indicating the most proinflammatory diet), compared with the lowest quintile of the DII (indicating the most anti-inflammatory diet), had increased odds of having elevated hs-CRP concentrations (>2 mg/L; AOR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.07–2.69; Ptrend Conclusion Higher DII scores were positively associated with elevated hs-CRP levels in Korean adults. Because inflammation affects the risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other inflammation-related conditions, future studies are warranted to examine the effect of the DII on other inflammatory biomarkers and chronic disease outcomes among the Korean population.
HOW HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL COMPARISONS INFLUENCE INTERPRETATIONS OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The ways in which managers use performance information is among the most salient topics in the study of public management. Drawing inspiration from several recent studies on the use of performance ...
Facile in Vitro Biocatalytic Production of Diverse Tryptamines

Tryptamines are a medicinally important class of small molecules that serve as precursors to more complex, clinically used indole alkaloid natural products. Typically, tryptamine analogues are prepared from indoles through multistep synthetic routes. In the natural world, the desirable tryptamine synthon is produced in a single step by l-tryptophan decarboxylases (TDCs). However, no TDCs are known to combine high activity and substrate promiscuity, which might enable a practical biocatalytic route to tryptamine analogues. We have now identified the TDC from Ruminococcus gnavus as the first highly active and promiscuous member of this enzyme family. RgnTDC performs up to 96 000 turnovers and readily accommodates tryptophan analogues with substituents at the 4, 5, 6, and 7 positions, as well as alternative heterocycles, thus enabling the facile biocatalytic synthesis of >20 tryptamine analogues. We demonstrate the utility of this enzyme in a two-step biocatalytic sequence with an engineered tryptophan synthase to afford an efficient, cost-effective route to tryptamines from commercially available indole starting materials.
Multiphase Procedure to Design District Metered Areas for Water Distribution Networks

AbstractDividing a water distribution network into subsystems can improve the efficiency and ease of achieving management goals. Subsystems or district metered areas (DMAs) are isolated control zon...
Knee Extension Does Not Reliably Reduce Acute Type II Tibial Spine Fractures: MRI Evaluation of Displacement During Extension Versus Resting Flexion

Background:Type II tibial spine avulsion (TSA) fractures have traditionally been managed by first attempting to achieve closed reduction with extension and immobilization, with surgical indications...
Single-Sided Magnetic Particle Imaging Device With Field-Free-Line Geometry for In Vivo Imaging Applications

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) has shown great promise to surpass the existing in vivo imaging modalities in some clinical applications. However, one of the challenges to MPI being translated into clinical practice has been the ability to scale up the selection-field coils to surround a human body while being able to generate and drive a sufficiently strong magnetic field gradient. These requirements impose safety concerns as well as prohibitively high-power consumption in the devices with a large cylindrical volume. Therefore, we consider an alternative approach such as a single-sided topology, in which all the hardware is located on one side of the imaging volume accommodating larger subjects. Moreover, different from the previously implemented field-free point single-sided scanners, we realized a field-free-line geometry providing, in principle, a higher signal with a factor of 10 and benefiting from a more robust back-projection image-reconstruction technique. In this work, we present and characterize a first prototype of a single-sided MPI device with the field-free-line geometry suited for the in vivo imaging of the small animals as well as the regions of interest in humans.
Patient Perspectives on Treatment Options for Older Women With Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

Importance Women aged 70 years or older with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer have an excellent prognosis, but because of their age and comorbidities, they are at higher risk for treatment-related adverse events. Despite studies demonstrating the safety of omitting previously routine therapies, including sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and postlumpectomy radiotherapy, these treatments continue to be used at high rates. Physicians cite patient preference as one factor associated with overuse. However, little is known about how women view potential de-escalation of therapies. Objective To evaluate older women’s preferences for SLNB and radiotherapy in the setting of guidelines recommending them or allowing for their omission. Design, Setting, and Participants This qualitative study was performed from October 2019 to January 2020. Midwestern women aged 70 years and older who had never received a diagnosis of breast cancer were recruited online and interviewed. Guided by an interpretive description approach, interviews were analyzed to produce a thematic description. Data analysis was performed from January to March 2020. Exposures Participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios in which they received a diagnosis of low-risk, hormone receptor–positive breast cancer and were given treatment options in accordance with current guidelines. Main Outcomes and Measures The interviews elicited perspectives on breast cancer treatment, including surgery, SLNB, chemotherapy, and postlumpectomy radiotherapy. Results The median (interquartile range) age of the 30 participants was 72.0 (71.0-76.5) years. Most of the women were White (26 participants [87%]), lived in metropolitan areas (29 participants [97%]), and were college educated (20 participants [67%] had a 4-year degree or higher). Overall, women expressed the belief that age-based guidelines were appropriate on the basis of decreased recurrence risk and increased frailty in older patients. However, many participants stated that these guidelines should not apply to healthy older women with a long life expectancy. Some participants struggled to understand that the basis for treatment de-escalation in older patients is a favorable, not poor, prognosis. Women who said they would undergo SLNB (12 participants [40%]) perceived the procedure as low risk and providing peace of mind. Most participants (22 participants [73%]) expressed a preference for omitting postlumpectomy radiotherapy because of the perceived risks, lack of benefit, and inconvenience. Conclusions and Relevance Positive reframing of the excellent prognosis driving national recommendations for de-escalation may reduce breast cancer overtreatment in older women. Strategies for reducing SLNB use will likely require education on the risks vs benefits and addressing patient preferences for peace of mind. In contrast, efforts to reduce radiotherapy use may need to address clinician or organizational factors.
The effect of hemicellulose on the interparticle frictional behavior of lignocellulosic biomass particulates

Abstract Lignocellulosic biomass material sourced from plants and herbaceous sources is considered as a prospective feedstock of inexpensive, potentially carbon-neutral energy. Lignocellulosic biomass is structurally built on cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which are present in varying concentrations based on the feedstock type and play distinct and not well understood mechanical functions in the flow behavior. The frictional characteristics of lignocellulosic biomass particulates influence their flow behavior in biorefineries. Thus, it is important to fundamentally investigate the relative contribution of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin to the frictional behavior. However, these three biopolymers are interwoven into a complex matrix in the lignocellulosic biomass, thus making it hard to quantify the contribution of each biopolymer. In this study, we selectively remove hemicellulose from switchgrass and investigate the effects of its diminishing concentration on the coefficient of friction. We observed that the angle of repose and, therefore, the coefficient of friction for a loose assembly of the control and treated switchgrass samples decrease with decreasing hemicellulose content. This indicates the frictional resistance to flow for biomass particulate assemblies is at least proportional to the hemicellulose content. We also established that the observed changes in the frictional behavior were not due to particle morphological characteristics.
The quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses assessing the treatment and management of male infertility.

Background Male factor infertility (MFI) is a common medical condition which requires high-quality research to guide clinical practice; however, systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) often vary in quality, raising concerns regarding the validity of their results. We sought to perform an objective analysis of SRs and MAs in MFI treatment and management and to report on the quality of published literature. Methods A comprehensive search in PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase was used to identify relevant publications. Primary search terms were male infertility, male sterility, and male subfertility. Two authors independently performed searches, screened citations for eligibility, extracted data for analysis, and graded methodological quality using the validated AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) instrument, a validated tool used in the critical appraisal of SRs/MAs. Results Of 27 publications met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Mean AMSTAR score (± SD) among all publications was 7.4 (1.9) out of 11, reflecting "fair to good" quality. Non-pharmacological medical treatment for MFI was the most commonly assessed intervention (n = 13, 48.1%). No publications met all AMSTAR criteria. While the number of SRs/MAs has increased over time (P = 0.037), the quality of publications has not significantly changed (P = 0.72). SRs/MAs of the Cochrane Library had higher AMSTAR score than non-Cochrane SRs/MAs (8.5 vs 6.3, P = 0.002). Conclusions The methodological quality of SRs/MAs should be assessed to ensure high-quality evidence for clinical practice guidelines in MFI treatment and management. This review highlights a need for increased effort to publish high-quality studies in MFI treatment and management.
Association of SGLT2 inhibitors with arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in patients with type 2 diabetes or heart failure: A meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials.

Background Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce hospitalizations and death from heart failure (HF), but their effect on arrhythmia expression has been poorly investigated. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of SGLT2is with arrhythmias in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or HF. Methods We searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov. Two independent investigators identified randomized double-blind trials that compared SGLT2is with placebo or active control for adults with T2DM or HF. Primary outcomes were incident atrial arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Results We included 34 randomized (25 placebo-controlled and 9 active-controlled) trials with 63,166 patients (35,883 SGLT2is vs 27,273 control: mean age 53–67 years; 63% male). Medications included canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, or ertugliflozin. Except for 1 study of HF, all patients had T2DM. Follow-up ranged from 24 weeks to 5.7 years. The cumulative incidence of events was low: 3.6, 1.4, and 2.5 per 1000 patient-years for atrial arrhythmias, VAs and SCD, respectively. SGLT2i therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of incident atrial arrhythmias (odds ratio 0.81; 95% confidence interval 0.69–0.95; P = .008) and the "SCD" component of the SCD outcome (odds ratio 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.54–0.97; P = .03) compared with control. There was no significant difference in incident VA or the "cardiac arrest" SCD component between groups. Conclusion SGLT2is are associated with significantly reduced risks of incident atrial arrhythmias and SCD in patients with T2DM. Prospective trials are warranted to confirm the antiarrhythmic effect of SGLT2is and whether this is a class or drug-specific effect.
Two new Painlev´e integrable KdV–Calogero-Bogoyavlenskii-Schiff (KdV-CBS) equation and new negative-order KdV-CBS equation

In this work, we develop two new (3+1)-dimensional KdV–Calogero–Bogoyavlenskii–Schiff (KdV-CBS) equation and (3+1)-dimensional negative-order KdV-CBS (nKdV-nCBS) equation. The newly developed equations pass the Painleve integrability test via examining the compatibility conditions for each developed model. We examine the dispersion relation and derive multiple soliton solutions for each new equation.
Teaching medical students about the impacts of climate change on human health

Abstract Climate change is among the greatest threats to human health, yet most medical schools fail to adequately teach students about its impact. To address this educational gap, we designed and implemented a new elective course for Stanford medical students, “The Impact of Climate Change on Human Health.” Students (40/74, 54% response rate) evaluated its effectiveness by completing a pre/post-course survey that measured changes in their beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge about the health effects of climate change. We found significant increases in students' beliefs about the need for climate change education and related physician responsibilities. Intentions to change personal behaviors and apply new knowledge in future clinical practice also significantly increased. Our findings illustrate the importance of a medical school course on climate science and health. Additionally, we describe the curriculum design and program evaluation of our course.
Explicit bit minimization for motion-compensated video coding

Compares methods for choosing motion vectors for motion-compensated video compression. The primary focus is on videophone and videoconferencing applications, where very low bit rates are necessary, where the motion is usually limited, and where the frames must be coded in the order they are generated. the authors provide evidence, using established benchmark videos of this type, that choosing motion vectors to minimize codelength subject to (implicit) constraints on quality yields substantially better rate-distortion tradeoffs than minimizing notions of prediction error. They illustrate this point using an algorithm within the p/spl times/64 standard. They show that using quadtrees to code the motion vectors in conjunction with explicit codelength minimization yields further improvement. They describe a dynamic-programming algorithm for choosing a quadtree to minimize the codelength. >
Coalescence in Bellman-Harris and multi-type branching processes

For branching processes, there are many well-known limit theorems regarding the evolution of the population in the future time. In this dissertation, we investigate the other direction of the evolution, that is, the past of the processes. We pick some individuals at random by simple random sampling without replacement and trace their lines of descent backward in time until they meet. We study the coalescence problem of the discrete-time multi-type Galton-Watson branching process and both the continuoustime single-type and multi-type Bellman-Harris branching processes including the generation number, the death time (in the continuous-time processes) and the type (in the multi-type processes) of the last common ancestor ( also called the most recent common ancestor) of the randomly chosen individuals for the different cases (supercritical, critical, subcritical and explosive).
An RNA polymerase from the ocean improves in vitro RNA synthesis (560.1)

Phages in the ocean harbor the greatest diversity of protein on the earth. Since a large portion of these proteins must play roles in nucleic acids metabolism, one would expect numerous novel mecha...
Treatment of bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan with chondroitinases from Flavobacterium heparinum and Proteus vulgaris.

Abstract A colorimetric procedure was developed for assaying the enzyme activity of chondroitinase AC from Flavobacterium heparinum and of chondroitinase ABC from Proteus vulgaris when chondroitin 4-sulfate is used as a substrate. The enzymatic digestion product, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-d-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-4-O-sulfo-d-galactose, is oxidized with periodic acid to yield, among other products, formylpyruvic acid. The latter compound reacts with thiobarbituric acid to yield a chromophore with an absorption maximum at 549 nm. Both enzymes were used to remove chondroitin sulfate from bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan. The protein-keratan sulfate core isolated after limit digestion of proteoglycan with chondroitinase AC contains about 44% protein, 38% keratan sulfate, and 18% of the enzymatically modified oligosaccharide attachment region between the chondroitin sulfate chains and protein core: gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid-(galactosyl)2-xylose. Limit digestion of proteoglycan with chondroitinase ABC leaves a residual disaccharide on the chondroitin sulfate chains in the core preparation. Both monomeric and aggregated preparations of proteoglycan were treated with chondroitinase AC and the resulting core fractions were studied in the ultracentrifuge. A single, fairly symmetrical peak with a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 S was observed for the core prepared from monomeric proteoglycan. In addition to this monomeric peak, the core prepared from aggregated proteoglycan exhibited a faster sedimenting, broad peak with a sedimentation coefficient of about 18 S. The results indicate that the noncovalent interactions which are essential for the aggregation of proteoglycans do not require the presence of the chondroitin sulfate portion of the macromolecules.
Amino Acid Sequence of Cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris

Abstract The amino acid sequence of cytochrome c3 of Desulfovibrio vulgaris, strain Hildenborough (NCIB 8303) has been established from the amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides and compositions, NH2- and COOH-terminal residues and partial sequences of peptides from a chymotryptic digest of the protein. Cytochrome c3 which contains three heme groups per molecule, is shown to have four pairs of cysteine residues. Two cysteine pairs are typical of c-type heme binding sites in that the cysteine residues are separated by 2 residues with the second cysteine followed by a histidine residue. The other two cysteine pairs are separated by 4 residues, indicating that at least one heme group is attached in an atypical manner.
A variational approach to understanding white dwarf evolution

We have used a variational approach to map out the effects that uncertainties in the theoretical model parameters have upon the derived ages near the observed cutoff in the white dwarf luminosity function. We find that although there are a number of parameters whose uncertainties imply uncertainties in Δτ−4.5 of order ±0.5 Gyr, none of the parameters we explored causes a shift in the age so large as to bring into question the value of the technique. On the contrary, because our internal theoretical uncertainties are fairly small and getting smaller with time, we feel that our results underscore the power of using the observed white dwarf luminosity function for studying the history of star formation in our galaxy.
Comparison of two multisheet transmission windows for millimeter-wave radiometers

The design and performance of a triple-sheet Mylar window and a Teflon-and-foam window are studied theoretically and experimentally to determine which window produces the smaller brightness temperature variations and, therefore, leads to better accuracy of radiometers operating at frequencies of 20-90 GHz. Theoretical brightness temperatures due to emission and reflection by the windows are calculated and compared; experimental measurements obtained by using the clear atmosphere as a radiation source are also compared. Both theory and experiment indicate that the Teflon-and-foam window produces smaller brightness temperature variations at these operating frequencies. Effects of the windows on integrated water vapor and liquid measurements are also examined; errors are significant for the triple-sheet Mylar window but are negligible for the Teflon-and-foam window. It is observed that use of the Teflon-and-foam design results in acceptably small errors in radiometric measurements of water vapor and cloud liquid. >
Automated inspection of circular parts

Abstract Automated vision inspection systems are the most versatile non-contact inspection systems. They are fast, compact, and remarkably accurate, thereby making 100% on-line inspection possible in modern manufacturing systems. Roundness in one of the basic geometric elements in engineering design and manufacturing. As a result its inspection is an important part of the inspection of many industrial parts. This paper discusses least-squares and minimax mathematical models and algorithms to determine the out-of-roundness error in automated roundness inspection. These errors are measured with respect to an ideal circle of specified radius.
An optical disk-based information retrieval system

A microcomputer‐based optical disk system provides the user with a capability for combined full text search and image retrieval. Conceived initially to demonstrate a potential tool to assist lawyers in adjudicatory proceedings, the system appears to have potential for addressing a broad spectrum of record management requirements.
Abnormal Neuronal Migration and Gliomatosis Cerebri in Epidermal Nevus Syndrome

A detailed neuropathologic examination of the brain of a child with the typical epidermal nevus syndrome revealed a primary disturbance of development of the brain. The developmental disturbance consisted of an abnormal or incomplete migration of neurons to form the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. The normal architectonic pattern of the cortical layer formation of the cerebrum and cerebellum was also disturbed. In addition, there was an abnormality in the proliferate activity of astroglial cells resulting in gliomatosis cerebri. It is suggested that the basic abnormality underlying various neurologic derangements in epidermal nevus syndrome is the result of a defect in specific development events, such as neuronal migration and cortical differentiation.
A new load-balancing strategy for the solution of dynamical large-tree-search problems using a hierarchical approach

We describe a new load-balancing strategy, applied here to the protein structure prediction problem, for improving the efficiency of the hierarchical approach when dealing with coarse-grained problems associated with large tree searches. Unlike other load-balancing strategies that reassign load from the heavily loaded processors to the lightly loaded or idle ones, the proposed strategy changes the virtual communication tree among the processors as the computational tree changes. The strategy incurs minimal overhead and is scalable.
The accuracy of estimating the sobriety of drinking drivers

The mere act of driving with a blood alcohol level (BAL) of 10% + is punishable in many states. In addition, under the so-called dram shop law the proprietor of an establishment or a host at a private party at which liquor is served to a person who subsequently commits an alcohol-related offense may be prosecuted and held liable for damages incurred by that individual. It is apparent that an increasingly larger number of law enforcement personnel and private citizens will be required to Judge the sobriety of others. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy of such estimates. BAL data were obtained from 1,115 drivers at a roadside survey during which each interviewer was required to estimate the sobriety of the driver. At highway patrol sobriety checkpoints the number of drivers arrested was compared with the number of drivers in the sample estimated to possess BALs of .10% or higher. Both sources correctly identified approximately 21% of those drivers with BALs of .10% or higher.
Thermally and mechanically activated dislocation glide: Experimental results and theoretical analysis

The results of room temperature stress rate change tests conducted on OFE copper are presented. The data exhibit apparent inelastic strain rate discontinuity at the point of stress rate change, indicating the presence of mechanical activation of dislocation glide. However, a new description of deformation that includes thermal and mechanical activation of glide is used to demonstrate that the current testing conditions could not have led to a measurable amount of mechanical activation. Further, a model of deformation that includes only thermal activation is shown to adequately describe the rapid strain rate decay observed in OFE copper following a stress rate decrease. This model indicates that the time resolution of 1 ms required to measure this decay is greater than the experimentally achieved time resolution of 28 ms. Together, these observations demonstrate that mechanical activation of dislocation glide was not detected in the present experiments. The analyses can also be used to predict the conditions under which mechanical activation may be observable.
Adjacent 2-pixel event discrimination in 3-D position sensitive imaging CdZnTe detectors using the UM VAD ASIC

In a pixelated 3-D position sensitive CdZnTe gamma-ray imaging detector, 2-pixel side-neighbor events make up about 50 percent of 2-pixel events. These side-neighbor events can originate from either Compton scattering or charge sharing. Distinguishing between these two categories of events will be of interest for advanced data processing, such as event classification or improvement for Compton imaging efficiency. A digitizer UM_VAD ASIC developed in collaboration with Gamma-Medica IDEAS has been used for pixelated 3-D position sensitive CdZnTe detectors. Because this ASIC digitizes pulse waveforms outputted by the preamplifier, it has achieved better depth separation uncertainty, about 0.3mm compared to Imm FWHM from the GMI VAS 2.3/TAT4 ASIC. It is also possible to use the signals from the pixels neighboring the collecting pixel to determine the subpixel position of an electron cloud interaction. This work focuses on the development of a method to distinguish between 2-pixel side-neighbor events caused by Compton scattering and those caused by charge-sharing. The sub-pixel position information is used in addition to the depth separation of the two interactions to provide better discrimination capability. The experimental results and the algorithm have been verified through Geant4 simulations.
Kangaroo Care as a Neonatal Therapy

Abstract A review of the effects of Kangaroo Care on preterm infants is presented according to how Kangaroo Care, skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest contact between the infant and a parent, addresses the six key elements of a developmentally appropriate therapy. Kangaroo Care has been found to satisfy all requirements and have both short- and long-term beneficial effects, with recent findings showing select sustained effects for 10 and 16 years. Kangaroo Care is now considered a fundamental component of developmentally appropriate therapy for hospitalized preterm infants.
Quelles perspectives pour le dosage des fructosamines en 2014

Resume Le terme de fructosamines designe l’ensemble des proteines glyquees presentes dans le plasma. Leur dosage peut etre realise par une methode colorimetrique simple et automatisable, mais souffre d’interferences, rendant sa prescription relativement confidentielle. Cette determination est neanmoins utile pour l’evaluation de l’equilibre glycemique a plus court terme que l’HbA1c (1 a 3 semaines au lieu de 4 a 8 semaines), et dans les situations ou le dosage de l’HbA1c est pris en defaut (hemoglobinopathies, anomalies du metabolisme erythrocytaire, hemolyse). Le dosage de l’albumine glyquee, qui represente une forme particuliere de fructosamines, suscite un interet en raison de son developpement plus recent et de sa meilleure specificite. Son utilisation au cours du suivi du diabete comme marqueur predictif de certaines complications, notamment cardiovasculaires, est a l’etude. Il fait egalement partie des nouveaux biomarqueurs proposes pour le depistage et le diagnostic du diabete. L’albumine glyquee et les fructosamines constituent donc des outils biologiques potentiellement utiles, dont les applications cliniques meritent d’etre reevaluees.
The mature erythrocyte surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum is not required for knobs or cytoadherence

Intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum parasites at the trophozoite and schizont stages synthesize a > 200-kDa protein, the mature erythrocyte surface antigen (MESA), that is localized at the membrane of infected red blood cells and manifests size polymorphism and antigenic diversity among parasite isolates. Because MESA is localized in the host cell membrane, we examined parasites with differing knob and cytoadherence phenotypes to determine whether MESA expression correlated with knob formation and cytoadherence. A cloned line of P. falciparum that was cultured with repeated selection for the knobbed and cytoadherent phenotypes did not express MESA, due to at least partial deletion of the single-copy MESA gene. In contrast, parasites from the same clone that were cultured without this selection lost the knobbed and cytoadherent phenotypes, but continued to express MESA. These results indicate that MESA is apparently not required for differentiation and multiplication of erythrocyte stage P. falciparum parasites in vitro, or for knob formation and cytoadherence. We speculate that MESA may have a role in evasion of the host immune response by P. falciparum.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE DEVELOPING SPERMATID IN THE DOMESTIC CHICKEN

The kinetic apparatus, the acrosome and associated structures, and the manchette of the spermatid of the domestic chicken have been studied with the electron microscope. The basic structural features of the two centrioles do not change during spermiogenesis, but there is a change in orientation and length. The proximal centriole is situated in a groove at the edge of the nucleus and oriented normal to the long axis of the nucleus and at right angles to the elongate distal centriole. The tail filaments appear to originate from the distal centriole. The plasma membrane is invaginated along the tail filaments. A dense structure which appears at the deep reflection of the plasma membrane is identified as the ring. The fine structure of the ring has no resemblance to that of a centriole and there is no evidence that it is derived from or related to the centrioles. The tail of the spermatid contains nine peripheral pairs and one central pair of tubular filaments. The two members of each pair of peripheral filaments differ in density and in shape: one is dense and circular, and the other is light and semilunar in cross-section. The dense filaments have processes. A manchette consisting of fine tubules appears in the cytoplasm of the older spermatid along the nucleus, neck region, and proximal segment of the tail. The acrosome is spherical in young spermatids and becomes crescentic and, finally, U-shaped as spermiogenesis proceeds. A dense granule is observed in the cytoplasm between acrosome and nucleus. This granule later becomes a dense rod which is interpreted as the perforatorium.
The effect of a rabbit ACTH preparation on adrenal steroid biosynthesis.

Abstract Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) fractions were prepared from both rabbit and steer pituitaries. The preparations assayed at 48 and 25 Units per mg, respectively, by the in vitro rat adrenal slice assay procedure using an Armour ACTHar standard. Each preparation showed one major band on acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The mobilities of these major bands at pH 9.3, when compared with a highly purified commercial pig-ACTH preparation, were in the relative order of rabbit>steer>pig. Comparison of the rabbit-ACTH preparation and pig-ACTH with regard to their ability to stimulate cortisol production by rabbit adrenal tissue homogenates after 2-days injection (26–40 Units, IM, twice daily) showed that the rabbit-ACTH preparation markedly increased cortisol production, but only to the extent of 10% that observed in tissue stimulated with pig-ACTH. In separate experiments the steer-ACTH preparation appeared to stimulate cortisol production to approximately the same degree as observed for the pig-ACTH. These results suggest that although rabbit-and steer-ACTH have similar electrophoretic mobilities, both of which are significantly greater than pig-ACTH at pH 9.3, the ability of the rabbit-ACTH preparation to stimulate 17α-hydroxylation is much less than either the steer- or pig-ACTH preparations.
First Report of the Pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia solani on Salvinia molesta and S. minima in Florida.

Salvinia molesta Mitchell (giant salvinia) and S. minima Baker (common salvinia) are exotic aquatic ferns that have invaded drainage basins in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Oklahoma (2). These ferns rapidly colonize bodies of water and form thick mats, displace native species, disrupt recreational activities like boating and fishing, block drainage and irrigation intakes, interfere with electricity generation, and degrade water quality (1). Patches of water-soaked lesions were observed on the pinnules and rachises of screenhouse-grown S. molesta plants in Florida. Mycelia spread centrifugally from these patches and caused diseased plants to disintegrate and sink. Brown-to-black sclerotia were formed on and around the disintegrated plants. A fungus was consistently isolated from symptomatic tissues of S. molesta plants. Seven-day-old cultures turned buff-colored and produced sclerotia on potato dextrose agar, while cultures on wat...
SOLDERING WITH GOLD ALLOYS IN ANCIENT SOUTH AMERICA: EXAMINATION OF TWO SMALL GOLD STUDS FROM ECUADOR

This paper presents the results of electron microprobe analysis of two gold studs, and their associated gold alloy solders. from La Tolita in Ecuador. Metallographic and compositional data are presented and the types of solders used are discussed.
Client Games: Defense Attorney Perspectives on Their Relations with Criminal Clients

In this study, relations between criminal defense lawyers and their clients are explored from the attorneys' perspective using interviews with 155 defense counsel from nine felony trial courts. Attorneys claim public clients are more skeptical and less willing to accept their professional authority than private clients and that they need to take extra steps to gain their cooperation. The accountability of attorneys is investigated in relationship to the need to establish “client control.” This problem is resolved through a gamelike situation leading to the apparent paradox that attorneys share decision-making power with public clients contrary to their expectations.
Stabilization of strained multilayers by thin interlayers

Strained multilayers composed of two misfitting layers and a third, thin interlayer are considered. With appropriate intermediate lattice parameters for the interlayer, the latter is shown to stabilize the structure with respect to misfit dislocation formation. Cases of misfit corresponding both to balanced biaxial stress and to pure shear stress in the interface are treated.
Effects of pentobarbital, lysergic acid diethylamide and chlorpromazine on matching behavior in the pigeon

A report is given of the effects of three drugs on matching-to-sample behavior in pigeons. Pentobarbital produced considerable initial decrements in accuracy, with relatively fast recovery to normal levels. With lysergic acid diethylamide, an initial period of inactivity, during which the birds did not respond to the experimental task, was followed by essentially normal performance. Chlorpromazine effects showed considerable variability both within and across subjects.
Chromatographic comparison of the UVA sensitizers present in brunescent cataracts and in calf lens proteins ascorbylated in vitro.

Abstract The water-insoluble (WI) fraction from aged human lenses contains yellow chromophoric sensitizers, which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) when irradiated with UVA light. The WI proteins from type I to V brunescent cataract lenses were assayed for UVA-dependent superoxide anion synthesis. Rates varied from 8.4–15 nMol h−1mg protein−1, but there was no significant difference in specific activity between cataract types. When calf lens soluble proteins were incubated with ascorbic acid for 4 weeks and dialyzed, they were capable of generating 30–40 nMol h−1mg protein−1superoxide anion when irradiated with UVA light. Two preparations each of brunescent cataract WI proteins and bovine lens proteins ascorbylated in vitro were extensively digested with proteolytic enzymes and the released amino acids separated by normal phase HPLC. The elution profiles of the digests were very similar based upon the absorbance at 330 nm and fluorescence at 350 nm excitation/450 nm emission. Each peak was pooled and analyzed for the UVA-dependent generation of both superoxide anion and singlet oxygen. Every peak exhibited sensitizer activity, and the UVA-dependent ROS generation was roughly proportional to the absorbance at 330 nm. In addition, the ratio of superoxide anion to singlet oxygen generated was similar with both preparations. These data argue that it is the brown, fluorescent compounds which accumulate during aging and cataract formation that are responsible for the UVA-dependent ROS formation, and that these browning products may be similar to the advanced glycation endproducts produced by ascorbylation of lens proteins under oxidative conditions. This work also presents an initial report of a chromatographic method to separate the UVA-sensitizers present in each of these protein preparations without the use of acid or base hydrolysis.
Retinal Makes Concerted Conformational Changes During Early Stages of Rhodopsin Activation

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a biomedically important class of integral membrane proteins. Many details of their activation mechanism are still unknown. Notably, the role played by protein-ligand interactions remains elusive. In the present work, we combined microsecond-scale all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with solid-state 2H NMR to study the behavior of rhodopsin-the mammalian dim-light receptor-in the presence of either 11-cis or all-trans retinal. In order to validate our simulations, we directly calculated the theoretical 2H NMR lineshape for retinal bound to rhodopsin in aligned bilayers [1]. To do this we applied 2H NMR lineshape theory [2] with an iterative refinement procedure. These results corroborate our previous work, [3,4] revealing a highly dynamic ligand. Our data showed that retinal made a dramatic conformational change as the protein transitioned between the dark state and the Meta-I intermediate. A concerted elongation of the ligand defined this change. Simultaneously, (i) the ligand became more torsionally dynamic, (ii) conserved residues in the binding pocket reorganized, and (iii) there was a substantial influx of water into the G protein binding cleft. These changes occur only in simulations containing the all-trans form of retinal, revealing an intriguing picture of the early stages of GPCR activation. Importantly, our results reconcile two disparate experimental crystal structures, where retinal was found in the opposite orientation. [1] Martinez-Mayorga, K., et al., (2006) JACS128,16502. [2] Nevzorov, A., et al., (1999) JACS121, 7636. [3] Struts, A., et al., (2007) JMB372, 50. [4] Struts, A., et al., (2011) PNAS108, 8263.
Assessment of the accuracy and reproducibility of right ventricular volume measurements in patients with congenital heart disease

Methods Data from 24 patients (mean age 19 years; range: 0.2 to 51 years) with CHD who underwent CMR were reviewed. Patients with ventricular level shunts and more than mild tricuspid regurgitation were excluded. Cine steady state free precession imaging was acquired in stacked axial and short-axis slices. RV contours were traced manually. Argus software was used to compute the end systolic volume (ESV) and end diastolic volume (EDV) using Simpson's method, and stroke volume (SV) by subtracting ESV from EDV. RV SV was also measured directly by phase contrast (PC) imaging, acquired in the main pulmonary artery. Flow measurements were made using Argus software. Measurements were made twice by one skilled observer to assess intra-observer variability. A second skilled observer repeated these measurements in a blinded fashion to assess inter-observer variability. Agreement between PC SV and SV measured in the axial and short-axis planes was assessed using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Interand intra-observer variability was also assessed using Lin's CCC.
Recent in vivo surgical robot and mechanism developments

The surgical landscape is quickly changing because of the major driving force of robotics. Well-established technology that provides robotic assistance from outside the patient may soon give way to alternative approaches that place the robotic mechanisms inside the patient, whether through traditional laparoscopic ports or through other, natural orifices. While some of this technology is still being developed, other concepts are being evaluated through clinical trials. This article examines the state of the art in surgical robots and mechanisms by providing an overview of the ex vivo robotic systems that are commercially available to in vivo mechanisms, and robotic assistants that are being tested in animal models.