cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrafast microwave-assisted synthesis of highly nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon

Abstract Highly doped porous carbons are highly promising for a variety of applications, but it is challenging to obtain high heteroatom content with well-defined pore morphology without using an inorganic template. Here, we describe a simple microwave accelerated approach to generate high surface area, ordered mesoporous carbons with controllable nitrogen content directly on a nickel foam framework. Cooperative assembly of phenolic resin (resol) and Pluronic F127 coated on the nickel foam provides a route to hierarchically structured composites to promote efficient transport, while melamine provides the nitrogen source. The strong interaction of microwaves with nickel rapidly and locally heats the precursors to yield nitrogen doped mesoporous carbon with high surface areas attached to the nickel foam within 3 min. As the microwave power is increased, the total nitrogen incorporated into the framework increases with a preference for pyridinic nitrogen. With this microwave assisted synthesis, the nitrogen content within the mesoporous carbons can approach 20 at%, while a relatively large average pore size (~7.5 nm) is obtained from the Pluronic template without any swelling agents or inorganic scaffold. To illustrate their potential, these nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbons are demonstrated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with stable performance over 5000 cycles. This solid state microwave fabrication methodology produces highly nitrogen doped ordered mesoporous carbons with characteristics difficult to obtain with traditional soft templating and this methodology should be extendable to a wide range templates and heteroatom dopants.
Punishment on Pause: Preliminary Evidence That Mindfulness Training Modifies Neural Responses in a Reactive Aggression Task

Reactive aggression, a hostile retaliatory response to perceived threat, has been attributed to failures in emotion regulation. Interventions for reactive aggression have largely focused on cognitive control training, which target top-down emotion regulation mechanisms to inhibit aggressive impulses. Recent theory suggests that mindfulness training (MT) improves emotion regulation via both top-down and bottom-up neural mechanisms and has thus been proposed as an alternative treatment for aggression. Using this framework, the current pilot study examined how MT impacts functional brain physiology in the regulation of reactive aggression. Participants were randomly assigned to 2 weeks of MT (n = 11) or structurally equivalent active coping training (CT) that emphasizes cognitive control (n = 12). Following training, participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a retaliatory aggression task, a 16-trial game in which participants could respond to provocation by choosing whether or not to retaliate in the next round. Training groups did not differ in levels of aggression displayed. However, participants assigned to MT exhibited enhanced ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) recruitment during punishment events (i.e., the aversive consequence of losing) relative to those receiving active CT. Conversely, the active coping group demonstrated greater dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) activation when deciding how much to retaliate, in line with a bolstered top-down behavior monitoring function. The findings suggest that mindfulness and cognitive control training may regulate aggression via different neural circuits and at different temporal stages of the provocation-aggression cycle. Trial Registration: identification no. NCT03485807.
A Single Microbiome Gene Alters Murine Susceptibility to Acute Arsenic Exposure

Environmental toxicant exposure contributes to morbidity and mortality of many human diseases. With respect to arsenic, microbially driven chemical transformations dictate its toxicity and mobility in virtually every environment yet studied, so a general hypothesis is that the human gut microbiome determines disease outcome following exposure. However, the complex nature of the gut microbiome and the myriad of potential interactions with human cells/tissues make it challenging to quantify the influence of specific arsenic-active functions-a requisite step in developing effective disease prevention and/or clinical intervention strategies. To control both mammalian and microbial function during toxicant exposure, we genetically defined the gut microbiome of mice using only Escherichia coli strain, AW3110 (▵arsRBC), or the same strain carrying a single genome copy of the Fucus vesiculosus metallothionein gene (AW3110::fmt); a cysteine-rich peptide that complexes with arsenite, facilitating bioaccumulation and reducing its toxic effects. AW3110::fmt bioaccumulated significantly more arsenic and gnotobiotic mice colonized by this strain excreted significantly more arsenic in stool and accumulated significantly less arsenic in organs. Moreover, AW3110::fmt gnotobiotic mice were protected from acute toxicity exposure (20 ppm AsIII) relative to controls. This study demonstrates-in a highly controlled fashion-that a single microbiome function (arsenic bioaccumulation) encoded by a single gene in a single human gut microbiome bacterium significantly alters mammalian host arsenic exposure. The experimental model described herein allows for a highly controlled and directed assessment of microbiome functions, and is useful to quantify the influence of specific microbiome-arsenic interactions that help mitigate human disease.
Acute nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis in a Greyhound after albuterol toxicosis

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical features of rhabdomyolysis due to albuterol toxicosis in a Greyhound. CASE SUMMARY A 4-year-old neutered male Greyhound was presented for albuterol toxicosis leading to severe hypokalemia and respiratory paralysis. After 3 hours of mechanical ventilation, pigmenturia and marked enlargement, firmness, and pain of the left thigh muscles were noted. Severe hyperkalemia and cardiac arrhythmias were identified after turning the patient. After discontinuation of mechanical ventilation, other muscles became involved, and the patient developed acute kidney injury and concern for multiple organ dysfunction syndrome over the next 5 days. On day 6, the patient was euthanized, and necropsy revealed myocardial and skeletal muscle necrosis, myoglobinuria, and acute tubular degeneration. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of albuterol toxicosis leading to rhabdomyolysis.
Complicated Intubations are Associated with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between desaturation Study Design A retrospective chart review was performed on VLBW infants intubated in the neonatal intensive care unit during the first week of life between January 2017 and July 2020. Descriptive tables were generated for two outcomes including BPD and PIVH. Multivariable logistic regression was performed for each outcome including significant predictors that differed between groups with a p-value of Results A total of 146 patients were included. Patients with BPD or PIVH had a lower gestational age, and patients with BPD had a lower BW. Patients with BPD had a greater number of intubation attempts in the first week of life (4 vs. 3, p Conclusion The odds of developing BPD for VLBW infants were higher with increased intubation attempts and intubation encounters. In a post hoc analysis, the odds of developing BPD were also higher with desaturation during intubation. Further research is needed to determine mechanisms of the relationship between complicated intubations and the development of BPD. Key Points
Simulated Changes in Tropical Cyclone Size, Accumulated Cyclone Energy and Power Dissipation Index in a Warmer Climate

Detection, attribution and projection of changes in tropical cyclone intensity statistics are made difficult from the potentially decreasing overall storm frequency combined with increases in the peak winds of the most intense storms as the climate warms. Multi-decadal simulations of stabilized climate scenarios from a high-resolution tropical cyclone permitting atmospheric general circulation model are used to examine simulated global changes from warmer temperatures, if any, in estimates of tropical cyclone size, accumulated cyclonic energy and power dissipation index. Changes in these metrics are found to be complicated functions of storm categorization and global averages of them are unlikely to easily reveal the impact of climate change on future tropical cyclone intensity statistics.
Defects in Non-Crystalline Oxides

The study of defects in crystals traces its beginnings to the early 19th century and has been intensively pursued for the past 50 years, leading to a tremendously detailed body of knowledge concerning “color centers” in materials with long range order.1,2 On the other hand, non-crystalline oxides have been actively developed for their aesthetic and utilitarian qualities since at least the second millennium B.C.,3,4 and they have now reached a new peak of technological importance with the recent advent of fiber optics and metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures to name a few. Yet full application of the most modern techniques of solid state science to the problem of defects in oxide glasses has been confined mostly to the last two decades, and but a few review articles have been written on the subject.5–7 Understandably, the broadening and overlapping of both optical and electron spin resonance (ESR) bands due to random local distortions, coupled with the intrinsic inability to exploit crystal symmetry, has discouraged most color center scientists from dealing with glasses. However, the ESR method in particular is now proving to be a surprisingly powerful tool for unraveling the electronic structures of magnetic defects in non-crystalline oxides and other glassy solids.
Las bases estéticas de la ciudadanía

Dado que el ejercicio de la ciudadania es uno de los fundamentos de la democracia y de la modernidad, en este ensayo nos preguntamos acerca de los cambios en las bases esteticas de la ciudadania. Entre tales cambios destacamos la transformacion de las ciudades y de la experiencia urbana, los cambios en nuestras practicas culturales cotidianas, el peso que han adquirido las representaciones en nuestra percepcion, imaginacion y nuestra relacion con la nacion y el mundo. Si bien tales cambios ofrecen nuevas posibilidades y resultan nuevas formas de subjetividad y actuacion social, en su conjunto no llegan a constituir un enriquecimiento del ejercicio de la ciudadania, sino mas bien lo contrario.
Mechanism of fumaric acid accumulation in Rhizopus nigricans.

It is doubtful that the glyoxylate bypass plays a significant role in the accumulation of fumaric acid by fungi, as has been postulated. In high glucose media, which favor fumarate production, isocitrate lyase (threo-Ds isocitrate glyoxylate lyase), which is the key enzyme of the glyoxylate bypass, is strongly repressed. The specific activity of this enzyme remains low as long as glucose is present in the medium, even though fumarate formation proceeds at a high level. In addition, the activity of isocitrate lyase is inhibited by phosphoenolpyruvate, which would be formed from glucose. Alternatively, evidence is presented that bulk accumulation of fumaric acid under aerobic conditions in high glucose media takes place through a C3 plus C1 carbon dioxide fixation. CO2 fixation was measured by the direct incorporation of NaHC14O3 into fumaric acid, and by demonstrating that the specific radioactivity of fumaric acid formed from uniformly labeled C14-glucose was decreased in the presence of nonradioactive carbonate. The extent of decrease in specific radioactivity is in accord with a C3 plus C1 CO2 fixation mechanism.
Size-Consistency, Self-Interaction Correction, and Derivative Discontinuity in Density Functional Theory

Three size-consistency principles of electronic structure theory are set forth. “Separability” and “extensivity” are respected even by local or semilocal density functional approximations, which succeed for that and other reasons. The strong tendency of a separated subsystem to reject fractional electron number is a consequence of the derivative discontinuity of the energy; this “integer preference” is probably not respected by any practical density functional approximation. However, all three size-consistency principles are obeyed by theories which construct the energy from localized orbitals. The self-interaction correction (SIC) to the local spin density approximation favors localized orbitals for most systems. If this fails for metals, then SIC gives rise to a “false surface energy”. The self-interaction correction is reviewed, along with its exact-theory “doppelganger”, the derivative discontinuity. The latter reveals the physical content of the exact Kohn-Sham orbital energies and resolves the “band-gap problem”.
Detection and prevention of important alpha-thalassemia variants.

M ost a-thalassemia variants (Table 1) arise from deletions of one or more of the four normal cu-glohin genes ((Y(Y/(Y(Y).‘-~ The more severe cr,-thalassemia syndromes are prevalent only among the populations from Southeast Asia (SEA): Southern China, Burma, Indochina, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.“.’ Homozygous c-w,-thalassemia (--/--), causes lethal hydrops fetalis with Barts hemoglohinopathy (Fig l), and threatens serious obstetric complications.8-‘0 Triple deletion (--/-a) hemoglobin (Hh) H disease causes a moderate microcytic hemolytic anemia, hut the compound heterozygotes for HhH/Constant Spring (--/(u”“(u) tend to he more severe.‘*““-‘” Heterozygous (pithalassemia (--/a~) double deletions and homozygous (-cu/-cr) single deletion Lu,-thalassemia produce asymptomatic microcytic anemias. Iieterozygous (-(Y/LY(Y) a2-thalassemias overlap both normals and a,-thalassemia heterozygotes. o(~Thalassemia variants occur in many other parts of the world; they significantly alter clinical manifestations of the sickle cell diseases.’
Shock Tube Study of Dimethylamine Oxidation: SHOCK TUBE STUDY OF DIMETHYLAMINE OXIDATION

Dimethylamine (DMA) ignition delay times and OH time histories during the oxidation process were investigated behind reflected shock waves. The ignition delay time measurements cover the temperature range of 1181–1498 K, with pressures near 0.9, 1.5, and 2.8 atm, and equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1, and 2, in 4% oxygen/argon. The ignition delay time data feature low scatter and can be correlated to a single expression with 2 ∼ 0.99: τign = 7.30 × 10−4 −0.68 Φ0.45 exp(18,265/), where τign is in μs, in atm, and in K. OH time histories were measured using laser absorption of the R1(5) line of the A-X(0,0) transition near 306.7 nm, in stoichiometric mixtures of 500 ppm DMA/O2/argon. The mechanism developed by Li et al. was used initially to simulate the measured DMA ignition delay times and the OH time histories. The Li et al. mechanism was then updated by adding the DMA unimolecular decomposition channel: DMA = CH3NH + CH3, with the reaction rate constant estimated by analogy to dimethyl ether decomposition, previously investigated by Cook et al. The reactions of DMA + OH were also updated based on recent work in our laboratory. The simulation results using the modified Li et al. mechanism are in good agreement with both the ignition delay times and OH time-history data.
Concurrent Signal Assignment Statements of VHDL

This chapter contains sections titled: Combinational versus sequential circuits Simple signal assignment statement Conditional signal assignment statement Selected signal assignment statement Conditional signal assignment statement versus selected signal assignment statement Synthesis guidelines Bibliographic notes ]]>
Design and implementation of the HPCS graph analysis benchmark on symmetric multiprocessors

Graph theoretic problems are representative of fundamental computations in traditional and emerging scientific disciplines like scientific computing and computational biology, as well as applications in national security. We present our design and implementation of a graph theory application that supports the kernels from the Scalable Synthetic Compact Applications (SSCA) benchmark suite, developed under the DARPA High Productivity Computing Systems (HPCS) program. This synthetic benchmark consists of four kernels that require irregular access to a large, directed, weighted multi-graph. We have developed a parallel implementation of this benchmark in C using the POSIX thread library for commodity symmetric multiprocessors (SMPs). In this paper, we primarily discuss the data layout choices and algorithmic design issues for each kernel, and also present execution time and benchmark validation results.
Mediating Post-Socialist Femininities

“Womanliness,” wrote psychoanalyst Joan Riviere, “could be assumed and worn as a mask” (1989 [1929], 38). Furthermore, Riviere argued, there was no difference between “genuine womanliness” and woma...
A Review of: “Seeds for the Future: The Impact of Genetically Modified Crops on the Environment”

There are many misunderstandings and a general mistrust surrounding the new agricultural biotechnologies and those who speak in favor of or against the subject. In Seeds for the Future, Jennifer A....
A self-configuring accelerometer hybrid

The SCAT (self-configuring acceleration transducer) CMOS chip is part of a hybrid circuit which buffers analog signals in the 1-Hz to 1-kHz range and has two pins: ground and supply. Since power to the hybrid is from a DC current source (2 mA to 20 mA) the voltage at the supply cable is the output signal. SCAT outputs a unique 36-b signature when power is applied and then becomes a buffer amplifier for a high-impedance, plastic, Kynar accelerometer. The author describes the unique sections of the SCAT chip used in the hybrid: (1) a buffer amplifier, (2) the signature logic with polysilicon fuses, (3) an oscillator, (4) a voltage/current reference, and (5) a power-off timer to avoid signature glitches. Prototype chips and hybrids met or exceeded all specifications. >
The Relationships of the Anolis of the Roquet Species Group (Sauria: Iguanidae). II. Comparative Chromosome Cytology

Karyotypic data are presented for members of the Lesser Antillean Anolis of the roquet group, and their geographic near neighbors. The roquet group is characterized by six pairs of metacentric macrochromosomes. The near neighbors to the south (A. chrysolepis) and west (A. lineatus) have seven pairs of macrochromosomes. The species to the north, A. octulatuis, has a distinctly different karyotype, with no sharp distinction between macrochromosomes and inicrochromosomes, and shows male chromosomnal heteromorphism. Within the roquet group, five forms have 12 pairs of microchromosomes, and three forms have 11 pairs. The latter is considered a specialized condition that only arose once within the group and is indicative of close taxonoinic relationship. For the student of vertebrate evolution, the New World lizard genus Anolis is a most convenient group. The numerous species, numbering approximately 200, are often abundant and easily obtained. Many are endemic to single island banks in the Caribbean, and detailed analyses of the relationships of these island forms can tell us much about evolutionary patterns in the characters that we choose to study, as well as about evolution in the lizards themselves. This is particularly true for Anolis because the broad patterns of evolution have been well worked out in an osteological study (Etheridge, 1960). Etheridge divides Anolis into two major groups, termed alpha and beta, and subdivides these groups into species series. The alpha group is predominantly South American and Antillean and seems to have moved secondarily into Central America as far north as Costa Rica. The beta group is primarily Mexican and Central American which radiated into South America, several of the islands adjacent to the Venezuela mainland, Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas. A preliminary study of the chromosomes of nine species of Anolis (Gorman, 1965) suggested that karyotypes would be a valuable character in the study of Anolis evolution. As in many reptiles and birds, the chromosomes of Anolis of many species fall into two sharply defined size classes termed macrochromosomes and microchromosomes (see Matthey, 1949 for general review). Gorman characterized beta anoles as having 14 macrocbromosomes. Alpha Anolis of several species series have 12 macrochromosomes, while in the bimaculattis series there is no sharp break between macrochromosomes and microchromosomes. In this series of species, Gorman and Atkins (1966) have described male chromosomal heteromorphism. Several members of the bimaculatus species series were examined; in all males 2n= 29 and in females 2n= 30. Both sexes have three pairs of large metacentric macrochromosomes, three pairs of large submetacentric chromosomes, three pairs of small metacentrics (approaching microchromosomes in size), and four pairs of microchromosomes (i.e., 26 autosomes). Males have three morphologically unpaired ehromosomes: an acrocentric (X1), a microchromosome (X2), and a small metacentric (Y). These form a trivalent at meiosis. The female formula may be expressed
Prevalence of Amenorrhea in High School and Collegiate Cross-Country Runners

Abstract Drinkwater has found that women who always had regular menstrual cycles have higher lumbar densities. Since there is little published data on menstrual status of athletes, 72 female cross-country runners were evaluated from three teams in Michigan. A questionnaire, consisting of 15 questions, which had previously been tested for reliability was completed by the subjects. This identified past and current menstrual history and exercise pattern. Nutritional analysis using Nutritionist IV was completed. Three usual days of food intake were recorded by collegiate athletes. Results indicated that of the high school runners (age 14–17 years), a total of 59% responded they were either amenorrheic (AM) or oligomenorrheic (OL). Of this group, 54% (n=15) have had either a stress fracture or shin splints. The greatest number, 61% (n=17) consumed 2–4 cups of milk/day, whereas 21% (n=6), consumed ≤ cup milk/day. Only 3% consumed a calcium supplement. Analysis of collegiate data (n=44) (ages 18–22 years) revealed 19, and 33% were AM or OL, respectively. Evaluation indicated 50% were within acceptable body mass intake range. The mean miles ran per week was 31–40. There was low caloric intake and x of 1805±655 kcals; only 50% met carbohydrate recommendations. Mean fat and calcium intakes were 26 gm and 296mg respectively. AM may result in low bone density at multiple skeletal sites. Optimal nutrition is vital to performance and the well-being of the female athlete.
Qualitative Explorations in Health Geography: Using Pragmatism and Related Concepts as Guides

Geographers who study health and health care increasingly turn to qualitative methodologies to explore aspects of problems passed over by descriptive or quantitative approaches. The concurrent focus on place and health has furthered this turn. To deepen the basis for qualitative research into health and place, this paper introduces pragmatism as a philosophical basis for such work. Subsequently, the paper considers the concept of place from the perspective of pragmatism and discusses a framework termed “place integration.” Concepts consistent with pragmatism and place integration—social capital, core participation, and community reconstruction—are then suggested as possible guides for qualitative inquiry into both health and health care problems. The objective is a philosophically grounded qualitative health geography that focuses on situated experience and integrative processes in place, generates new concepts to meliorate health and health care problems, and begins to connect what have been the disease ...
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Associated with Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia and Pontine Ischemic Stroke

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a heterogeneous, common, neurocutaneous disorder presenting different complications during a life span, including cerebrovascular dysplasia. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of NF1 associated with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia and pontine ischemic stroke. We describe a 57-year-old man with NF1 who presented an acute onset right-sided facial palsy and hemiplegia, dysarthria, and gait imbalance. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an acute left paramedian pontine infarct and a hypoplastic right vertebral artery. Brain Computed Tomography Angiography revealed the occurrence of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia. Co-occurrence of VBD and NF1 might not be merely casual and it may significantly heighten the mortality rate in this multisystem disorder. We suggest a possible role of VBD in the genesis of our patient's clinical-radiological features and prompt the early detection of asymptomatic arteriopathy in individuals with NF1 in order to ameliorate patients' quality of life and life expectancy.
Pathophysiologic alterations in Biomphalaria glabrata infected with Angiostrongylus costaricensis.

Abstract Hemolymph glucose, alkaline phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, and creatine phosphokinase in Biomphalaria glabrata infected with Angiostrongylus costaricensis were significantly higher on day 27 postinfection (PI) than in uninfected snails. Hemolymph total calcium from infected snails was less on days 6, 12, and 27 PI than that from controls. Total hemolymph protein was similar for controls and infected animals during the entire study. Throughout the study the mean number of amoebocytes/mm 3 hemolymph from infected snails was significantly less than that for controls. Mean total wet weights of digestive gland and foot muscle from infected and uninfected snails was similar throughout the study. Mean μg glycogen/mg wet weight of digestive gland from infected snails was significantly greater on days 24, 27, and 28 PI than that from controls. Mean μg glycogen/mg wet weight of foot muscle from infected snails was significantly reduced between days 12 and 28 PI from that of uninfected snails. It is suggested that hemolymph glucose and digestive gland glycogen in infected snails are augmented by glycogen breakdown in the foot muscle of parasitized animals. Elevations in hemolymph enzymes are due to tissue destruction by larvae emerging from the foot muscle of infected snails. Parasite-induced derangements in shell metabolism underlie observed changes in hemolymph calcium in infected snails.
Drug treatment of social phobia

Social phobia is a potentially serious anxiety disorder that has attracted research interest in the U.S.A. very recently. Patients with social phobia suffer severe anxiety only in the context of social situations. Men are more likely to be afflicted than women. Alcohol and drug abuse are frequent complications. Two classes of medication are promising in treating this condition--beta-adrenergic receptor blockers and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Data supporting the use of these drugs are reviewed and recommendations for pharmacologic management of social phobics are outlined.
Molecular Recognition of the Nucleosome by Chromatin Enzymes and Factors

Eukaryotic DNA is packaged in the nucleus as chromatin, and the fundamental repeating unit of chromatin is the nucleosome. The packaging of histone proteins and DNA into nucleosomes has important consequences for gene regulation, and dozens of chromatin enzymes and factors that target the nucleosome for gene activation and repression have been discovered. However, the molecular basis for how these chromatin enzymes recognize the 200 kDa nucleosome is largely unknown.My laboratory investigates how chromatin enzymes interact with the nucleosome. We determined the first crystal structure of a chromatin protein in complex with the nucleosome. Our structure of the 300 kDa RCC1/nucleosome core particle complex at 2.9 A resolution explains how RCC1's β-propeller domain recognizes the architecture of the nucleosome through a combination of both protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Our crystal structure also provides a first atomic view of the nucleosome core particle containing the Widom 601 nucleosome positioning sequence. We find that the 601 DNA forms a 145 bp nucleosome core particle and is thus overwound compared to the human alpha-satellite DNA used in prior nucleosome crystals. I will also discuss the molecular basis for why the Widom 601 DNA sequence is a strong nucleosome positioning sequence.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Near-equilibrium heliosphere - Far-equilibrium heliosheath

Space plasmas are systems in stationary states out of thermal equilibrium, and thus, their phase space distributions cannot be analyzed in the framework of classical Statistical Mechanics. Recent advances in theoretical space physics have shown that non-extensive Statistical Mechanics offers a solid statistical foundation for these distributions. The kappa index that governs these distributions is significant for its role in identifying the nonequilibrium stationary states and measuring their "thermodynamic distance" from thermal equilibrium. While inner heliosphere plasmas reside in near equilibrium states with large kappa indices, generally >2.5, analysis of the IBEX ENA-spectra showed that inner heliosheath resides in states far from equilibrium with small kappa indices <2.5.
The Pervasiveness of Telemedicine: Adoption With or Without a Research Base

Arguably, telemedicine could claim that it is the oldest of the health information technologies, dating from the first telephone consultation in the 1800s. Modern telemedicine encompasses a variety of technologies and uses, ranging from direct patient care to both patient and provider education. Because of this, the definition of telemedicine remains elusive but its disparate applications belong in this special issue of Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM).
213 CENTRAL HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF DOPAMINE AND VOLUME EXPANSION IN ACUTE ABDOMINAL DISTENSION (AAD)

In children AAD often follows major trauma, surgery, or infection. We have shown that AAD reduced cardiac output 36% in the dog. This decrease in CO was attributed to either a decrease in contractility or actual fall in ventricular preload. To elucidate the mechanism of this change we studied the central hemodynamic effects of dopamine (D) and volume expansion (V) in dogs with AAD. 7 dogs were anesthetized, paralyzed, ventilated, and their abdomens distended by N2 to mmHg. Animals were instrumented to measure right atrial, pulmonary artery wedge, left ventricle, aortic (Aop), and abdominal pressures and heart rate (HR). Each experiment had five 30 minute steps––two control distension (C) periods, three intervention periods (D at 10 μg/kg/min; V (D5LR) at 40 ml/kg/30'; or V+D). CO was measured and Systemic vascular resistance and stroke volume (SVR,SV) calculated. (Results X±SEM, *p<0.05 vs C; †p<0.01 vs C). V increased CO, SV, and decreased HR and SVR. D had little effect. These results suggest that the central hemodynamic effects of AAD are primarily due to reduced ventricular preload rather than diminished left ventricular contractility.
Herbert Abrams in China: International Social Medicine.

It is a pleasure to be invited to add to the warm tribute to Herb Abrams by Julius Richmond in the previous issue of the Journal of Public Health Policy. Herb, as noted in the editorial introducing this issue, was one of the original members of the Journal's Editorial Board. His extraordinary contributions to public health and to social medicine have been widely recognized and highly honored. The remarkable regard in which Herb was held by his Chinese colleagues was poignantly evident during his final illness. As his widow retold the story of his last months and hospitalization in Tucson, messages and a notable visit distinguished the Chinese farewell to Herb from all others. First, it was the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences that sent a special communication. Not long after came a very personal missive to Herb from China's national government, the People's Republic of China (PRC). And finally, just before his death, a Chinese diplomat working in San Francisco flew to Tucson carrying special greetings to Herb from all of the people of China. These unprecedented honors recognized Herb's remarkable work in China in the 1940s. As a young medical officer in the US Public Health Service assigned to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), Herb was sent to China in 1945 to help in the effort to eradicate cholera. Most of coastal China was in the hands of the Japanese invaders. Herb worked in inland areas, first in the wartime capital of unoccupied China, a city known at that time as Chungking, a name now transliterated into English as
Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid Associated with Hyperproliferation of the Conjunctival Epithelium

We determined the mitotic rate, measured by evaluating uptake of tritiated thymidine autoradiographically, and the frequency of goblet cells in conjunctival epithelial biopsy specimens from nine normal subjects and from 11 patients (seven women and four men ranging in age from 50 to 80 years) with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. The mitotic rate of patients with the disease was significantly higher than that of normal subjects, 7.2 ± 2.2 vs 1.6 ± 0.2 labeled cells per 100 basal epithelial cells (P
A Further Analysis of Fluency within Stuttered Speech

This study involved an analysis of some of the characteristics of fluent speech produced by 14 adult stutterers. Measures included listener judgments of speaking rate and listener identifications o...
Monolithic GaAs Integrated Optical Receiver For High Speed Interconnect Applications

A monolithic GaAs integrated optical receiver for high speed interconnect applications is described. Integrating an MSM detector, low-noise preamplifier, gain stages and output driver, it converts 850 nm lightwave signals to logic voltages for use in electronic systems. The device has a -15 dBm sensitivity and provides ECL output levels at speeds of 2 GBPS. The device provides a single component optical to electronic conversion, and is being used to implement a 16 X 16 fiber optic crossbar switching system.
The relationship of perceived social support to substance use in offspring of alcoholics

Abstract The present study examined the relationship of perceived social support (PSS) to substance use among adolescents with [family history positive (FH+)] and without [family history negative (FH−)] a family history of alcohol dependence. A sample of 144 adolescent offspring of alcoholic fathers and a control group (n=125) were assessed in relation to substance use and their PSS from both family and friends. The effects of gender and age were also examined. Overall, friend PSS was higher than family PSS, regardless of paternal history. Females scored higher than males on friend PSS. Older adolescents (19–21 years old) perceived higher social support from friends than younger adolescents (14–15 years old). Heavy marijuana and tobacco users reported lower family and friend PSS than light users, while heavy alcohol users reported higher friend PSS than light users. Young FH+ adolescents reported using marijuana at an earlier age than young FH− adolescents. Since the influence of friend PSS on substance use provides a more complex picture than family PSS among adolescents, future analyses will focus on the underlying mechanisms of peer influence on drinking and drug use.
Echolalic Responses by a Child With Autism to Four Experimental Conditions of Sociolinguistic Input

Studies of the immediate verbal imitations (IVls) of subjects with echolalia report that featuresof linguistic or social input alone affect the number of IVIs elicited. This experimental study of achild with echolalia and autism controlled each of these variables while introducing a systematicchange in the other. The subject produced more (p < .05) IVIs in response to unknown lexicalwords presented with a high degree of directiveness (Condition D) than in response to threeother conditions of stimulus presentation (e.g., unknown lexical words, minimally directive style.)Thus, an interaction between the effects of linguistic and social input was demonstrated. IVlswere produced across all conditions, primarily during first presentations of lexical stimuli. Onlythe IVis elicited by first presentations of the lexical stimuli during Condition D differed significantly(p < .05) from the number of IVis elicited by first presentations of lexical stimuli in otherconditions. These findings viewed together suggest tha...
Generating and testing predictions about community structure: Which theory is relevant and can it be tested with observational data?

Three issues are discussed relevant to the controversy over using null models and observational data on guild structure to test community-level predictions based on limiting similarity theory. First, I argue that most limiting similarity theory is not based on reasonable assumptions for plants and that the theory that is relevant does not generate any predictions about expected guild proportionality on a small spatial scale. Therefore, regardless of adequacy of the statistical methods, the predictions being tested by the body of literature using null models to test for niche limitation are unlikely to be relevant in most plant comunities. Second, assuming that the predictions are after all worth being tested, I argue that most tests using the guild approach do not provide adequate explanations of how the defined guilds could lead to greater competition within vs. between guilds. If this is not true for the particular guilds used, the predictions of guild proportionality or size constancy will not be valid. Third, I address the controversy over whether field experiments can provide more solid evidence than observational data about the role of competition in determining community structure by (1) suggesting methods of dealing with potential drawbacks of field experiments, and (2) suggesting alternative experimental approaches for directly addressing issues about community structure.
Financial Feasibility of Robotics in Neurorehabilitation

Background: The primary barrier to obtaining robotic equipment is the cost of the device. Methods: A break-even analysis was performed for 2 robotic and 1 nonrobotic locomotor training (LT) devices. Results: The time for a clinic to break even after purchasing various LT devices ranged between 1.6 years for the nonrobotic device and 2.36 years for the robotic device. However, the 5-year projection showed that the most profitable LT device was a robotic device and the least profitable device was the nonrobotic device. Conclusion: Adding robotics to a hospital-based outpatient physical therapy clinic can be financially feasible.
Cost-Availability Curves for Hierarchical Implementation of Residential Energy-Efficiency Measures

Historical residential electricity data and natural gas consumption data were collected for, respectively, 1,200 and 178 residences in a small town in the USA. These data were merged with local building and weather databases, and energy consumption models were developed for each residence, revealing substantial variation in heating and cooling intensity. After estimating approximate physical building characteristics, energy profiles for each residence were calculated, and savings from adoption of the most cost-effective energy-efficiency measures for each residence were estimated. Effectively, we wish to leverage commonly available data sets to infer characteristics of building envelopes and equipment, without the need for detailed on-site audits. This study evaluates the potential energy savings for the residences studied and, by extrapolation, for the entire town, as a function of cost if the savings measures were to be implemented in rank-order of cost effectiveness to show that savings penetration for the community comes with nonlinearly increasing cost. The results show that nearly a 32 % collective savings in HVAC energy use could be achieved with a collective levelized cost for energy-saving measures of $10/mmBTU saved if the most cost-effective measures among the entire community are implemented first.
Pet Food Processing—Understanding Transformations in Starch during Extrusion and Baking

Pet foods contain a multitude of ingredients as they must satisfy all of a pet's daily nutritional requirements, including carbohydrates, protein, fat, and micronutrients. Processing dry pet foods typically involves baking or extrusion. Extrusion has a number of advantages over conventional batch methods: a single extruder can perform several functions, and a wide variety of products can be processed using the same equipment by altering the processing conditions, screw profile, die, and ingredients. Due to the nature of the baking process, baking is a much lower throughput process compared with extrusion. Starch is an important part of a typical dry pet food formulation and undergoes several important changes during processing that impact the digestibility, palatability, and physical attributes of the final product. Notable starch-related phenomena include gelatinization and amylose-lipid complexation. Proximate analysis of dry pet foods after baking or extrusion confirmed that final products were isonutr...
Improved entropy rate estimation in physiological data

Calculating entropy rate in physiologic signals has proven very useful in many settings. Common entropy estimates for this purpose are sample entropy (SampEn) and its less robust elder cousin, approximate entropy (ApEn). Both approaches count matches within a tolerance r for templates of length m consecutive observations. When physiologic data records are long and well-behaved, both approaches work very well for a wide range of m and r. However, more attention to the details of the estimation algorithm is needed for short records and signals with anomalies. In addition, interpretation of the magnitude of these estimates is highly dependent on how r is chosen and precludes comparison across studies with even slightly different methodologies. In this paper, we summarize recent novel approaches to improve the accuracy of entropy estimation. An important (but not necessarily new) alternative to current approaches is to develop estimates that convert probabilities to densities by normalizing by the matching region volume. This approach leads to a novel concept introduced here of reporting entropy rate in equivalent Gaussian white noise units. Another approach is to allow r to vary so that a pre-specified number of matches are found, called the minimum numerator count, to ensure confident probability estimation. The approaches are illustrated using a simple example of detecting abnormal cardiac rhythms in heart rate records.
Interventions to Improve Patient Comprehension in Informed Consent for Medical and Surgical Procedures: A Systematic Review

Background Patient understanding in clinical informed consent is often poor. Little is known about the effectiveness of interventions to improve comprehension or the extent to which such interventions address different elements of understanding in informed consent. Purpose . To systematically review communication interventions to improve patient comprehension in informed consent for medical and surgical procedures. Data Sources. A systematic literature search of English-language articles in MEDLINE (1949-2008) and EMBASE (1974-2008) was performed. In addition, a published bibliography of empirical research on informed consent and the reference lists of all eligible studies were reviewed. Study Selection. Randomized controlled trials and controlled trials with nonrandom allocation were included if they compared comprehension in informed consent for a medical or surgical procedure. Only studies that used a quantitative, objective measure of understanding were included. All studies addressed informed consent for a needed or recommended procedure in actual patients. Data Extraction. Reviewers independently extracted data using a standardized form. All results were compared, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Data Synthesis. Forty-four studies were eligible. Intervention categories included written information, audiovisual/multimedia, extended discussions, and test/feedback techniques. The majority of studies assessed patient understanding of procedural risks; other elements included benefits, alternatives, and general knowledge about the procedure. Only 6 of 44 studies assessed all 4 elements of understanding. Interventions were generally effective in improving patient comprehension, especially regarding risks and general knowledge. Limitations. Many studies failed to include adequate description of the study population, and outcome measures varied widely. Conclusions . A wide range of communication interventions improve comprehension in clinical informed consent. Decisions to enhance informed consent should consider the importance of different elements of understanding, beyond procedural risks, as well as feasibility and acceptability of the intervention to clinicians and patients. Conceptual clarity regarding the key elements of informed consent knowledge will help to focus improvements and standardize evaluations.
Floc variability under changing turbulent stresses and sediment availability on a wave energetic muddy shelf

Abstract The interplay between cohesive sediment flocculation, turbulence, and sediment availability is studied using field observations collected on the muddy Atchafalaya inner shelf, Louisiana, USA. Observations were made at two sites, characterized by surficial sediments of different grain size. At the coarse-sediment site, a negative correlation between floc size and suspended sediment concentration was observed for the first time in a field experiment under energetic wave conditions. This agrees with previous laboratory studies and field observations, and suggests that strong near-bed turbulence associated with significant sediment resuspension also results in the breaking of macro-flocs ( 230 - μ m mode). At the fine-sediment site, the relative abundance of clay and fine silt available for flocculation appears to promote persistent macro-flocs of approximately 300 - μ m . The observations support the assumption that sediment supply and surficial sediment properties, in addition to turbulence and suspended sediment concentration, play an important role in flocculation.
A New Measurement of the Average Far-Ultraviolet Extinction Curve

We have measured the extinction curve in the far-ultraviolet wavelength region of (900-1200 A) using spectra obtained with the Berkeley EUV/FUV spectrometer during the ORFEUS I and the ORFEUS II (Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer) missions in 1993 and 1996. From the complete sample of early-type stars observed during these missions, we have selected pairs of stars with the same spectral type but different reddenings to measure the differential FUV extinction. We model the effects of molecular hydrogen absorption and exclude affected regions of the spectrum to determine the extinction from dust alone. We minimize errors from inaccuracies in the cataloged spectral types of the stars by making our own determinations of spectral types based on their IUE spectra. We find substantial scatter in the curves of individual star pairs and present a detailed examination of the uncertainties and their effects on each extinction curve. We find that, given the potentially large uncertainties inherent in using the pair method at FUV wavelengths, a careful analysis of measurement uncertainties is critical to assessing the true dust extinction. We present a new measurement of the average far-ultraviolet extinction curve to the Lyman limit; our new measurement is consistent with an extrapolation of the standard extinction curve of Savage & Mathis.