cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An analysis of ten years of cesarean section at the Cincinnati General Hospital

Abstract Recent trends in the use of the cesarean section operation to alleviate obstetrical difficulties have been studied by numerous authors 1–5 during the past five years. All have noted a steady increase in incidence, broadening of indication, with decreasing fetal and maternal mortality. This change in attitude appears to coincide with the appearance of freely available antibiotics, chemotherapy, widespread development of blood banks, improvement in surgical technique, better regional anesthesia, and the increasing use of the extraperitoneal approach. D'Esopo 1 noted that, in 1948, 70 per cent of the total operative deliveries at the Sloane Hospital were cesarean sections. This connotes a steady decrease in the number of difficult vaginal deliveries and this substitution has been accomplished with an extremely low maternal mortality rate. No maternal deaths occurred in 1,064 consecutive cesarean sections. D'Esopo 1 further speculates that at some future time all potentially difficult operative deliveries may be by section and only "easy" deliveries will be handled vaginally. Normal vaginal delivery will always be safer than delivery by section, and the items listed above make vaginal delivery even safer. If, however, it can be shown that the maternal risk in cesarean section is not greater than in difficult vaginal operations, and the fetal mortality and fetal trauma are less by this method, then a general acceptance of this concept may be forthcoming. For the past nine years at the Sloane Hospital delivery by section has not been more hazardous for the mother than by vaginal operation, low forceps excluded. In an effort to compare the present status of cesarean section in this institution with that of other large teaching hospitals and to determine the relative maternal and fetal risks, this study was carried out. The results form the object of this paper.
A neural network model for mortality prediction in ICU

Scoring the severity of illness of ICU patients can provide evaluation of a patient's situation and thus help doctors make decisions on what treatment to take. This study aimed to develop an artificial neural network model for patient-specific prediction of in-hospital mortality. Data from PhysioNet Challenge 2012 was used. 12,000 records were divided to a training set, a test set and a validation set, each of which contains 4000 records. Outcomes are provided for the training set. A neural network model was developed to predict the risk of inhospital mortality using various physiological measurements from the ICU. Twenty-six features were selected after a thorough investigation over the different variables and features. A two-layer neural network with fifteen neurons in the hidden layer was used for classification. One hundred voting classifiers were trained and the model's output was the average of the one hundred outputs. A fuzzy threshold was utilized to determine the outcome of each record from the output of the network. Our model yielded an event 1 score of 0.5088 and an event 2 score of 82.211 on the test data set.
Serge Patrice Thibodeau and the Sufi Encounter

Serge Patrice Thibodeau's poetry of the mid-1990s is striking as a reflection of the Acadian poet's strong attraction to Islamic spirituality and particularly Sufism. This is especially true in Le quatuor de l'errance and La traversee du desert , published jointly in 1995, and in Dans la Cite (1997). Thibodeau signals his affinity with Sufism through the epigraphs of Le quatuor de l'errance , most of which are taken from Sufi masters. The companion collection, La traversee du desert , contains no such epigraphs, but the integration of Sufi discourse is no less evident, establishing a clear continuity between the two collections that extends beyond their co-publication. The third volume, Dans la Cite, reintroduces two Sufi epigraphs (both by Ibn Arabi), interpolates Arabic script, and refers to Rumi and Ibn Arabi (along with John of the Cross) within the text.
Wellness in older adults: a concept analysis.

PURPOSE. The purpose of this analysis is to examine the concept of wellness within the context of older adulthood. Identifying characteristics of wellness will clarify and develop conceptual strengths and limitations, providing a step toward evaluating its relevance in older adults and increasing utility in geriatric nursing. ORGANIZING FRAMEWORK. Rodger's evolutionary perspective. METHODS. Computer and manual searches were conducted of articles in the English language from 1950 to 2010, addressing wellness across the life span or among older adult populations. An inductive analysis of articles produced descriptive themes. FINDINGS. A historical time line traced the evolution of the wellness concept and its operationalization. Wellness has evolved from a little used concept to one commonly applied across many industries. Antecedents, attributes, and consequences of wellness are described. Concepts related to wellness are also identified. CONCLUSIONS. This concept analysis adds clarity to wellness in older adults. The state of wellness development as a concept in geriatric nursing is moving from conceptualization to use and testing in nursing theory and interventions. Increased knowledge of wellness will enable geriatric nurses to discover the strengths of older adults thereby promoting their ongoing growth and development while simultaneously guiding care for their changing and diverse health.
Projection-based dose metric: accuracy testing and applications for CT design

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a projection-based dose metric that enables computationally efficient dose estimation. The two physical quantities determining dose, absorbed energy and mass, were estimated in projection space. The absorbed energy was estimated using the difference between the imparted energy and detected energy. The mass was estimated using the area under the attenuation profile. A series of phantom simulations were conducted to test the metric’s applicability for multi-material phantoms, different kVp settings, and bowtie filters. Projection-based dose estimates were benchmarked against results from the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The projection-based dose metric shows a strong linear correlation with MC dose estimates (R 2 > 0.96). The prediction errors for projection-based dose metric are below 14%. This study demonstrates a computationally efficient and relatively accurate dose estimation method based on the projection data. It further suggests the possibility to achieve real-time and patient-specific dose optimization when applied prior to a CT scan.
Global Scale Attribution of Anthropogenic and Natural Dust Sources and their Emission Rates Based on MODIS Deep Blue Aerosol Products

[1] Our understanding of the global dust cycle is limited by a dearth of information about dust sources, especially small-scale features which could account for a large fraction of global emissions. Here we present a global-scale high-resolution (0.1°) mapping of sources based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Deep Blue estimates of dust optical depth in conjunction with other data sets including land use. We ascribe dust sources to natural and anthropogenic (primarily agricultural) origins, calculate their respective contributions to emissions, and extensively compare these products against literature. Natural dust sources globally account for 75% of emissions; anthropogenic sources account for 25%. North Africa accounts for 55% of global dust emissions with only 8% being anthropogenic, mostly from the Sahel. Elsewhere, anthropogenic dust emissions can be much higher (75% in Australia). Hydrologic dust sources (e.g., ephemeral water bodies) account for 31% worldwide; 15% of them are natural while 85% are anthropogenic. Globally, 20% of emissions are from vegetated surfaces, primarily desert shrublands and agricultural lands. Since anthropogenic dust sources are associated with land use and ephemeral water bodies, both in turn linked to the hydrological cycle, their emissions are affected by climate variability. Such changes in dust emissions can impact climate, air quality, and human health. Improved dust emission estimates will require a better mapping of threshold wind velocities, vegetation dynamics, and surface conditions (soil moisture and land use) especially in the sensitive regions identified here, as well as improved ability to address small-scale convective processes producing dust via cold pool (haboob) events frequent in monsoon regimes.
Impact of Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair Mesh on Open Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Objectives Open radical retropubic prostatectomies (RRP) have been abandoned after previous laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) with mesh, which can be a relative contraindication to open RRP. Radiation therapy and radical perineal prostatectomy are alternative treatment options for prostate cancer when faced with this dilemma. Our objective is to report our experience with open RRP after LIHR. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2000 to December 2007 of all open RRP executed by a single surgeon (F.F.M.) with prior LIHR. All information on LIHR, including laterality and its effect on pelvic lymphadenectomy (LAD), were analyzed. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative data were recorded. Results Of the 949 men who underwent RRP performed by this surgeon, a cohort of 21 men had prior LIHR (a total of 29 IHR: 13 unilateral and 8 bilateral). The mean age and PSA were 61.0 years and 5.8 ng/mL, respectively. Of the men, 18 and 3 men presented with T1c and T2a clinical stage, respectively. Preoperatively 18 men, 2 men, and 1 man had a Gleason score of 6, 3+4, and 8, respectively. All RRP subsequent to LIHR were successful with minimal complications. A total of 4, 4, 11, and 2 men had stage pT2a, pT2b, pT2c, and pT3a, respectively. Fifteen men (71%) had either unilateral (4 men) or bilateral (11) LAD (all pN0), whereas 6 men had no LAD because of severe pelvic scaring. Conclusions Our experience demonstrates that open RRP after LIHR with mesh can typically be performed with minimal risks and in carefully selected patients for best outcomes, but LAD might be compromised.
Effects of Dietary Protein and Energy Levels on Weight Gains, Body Composition, and RNA: DNA Ratios of Fingerling Walleyes

Abstract The effects of various levels of dietary energy and protein on the growth rate, body composition, and muscle RNA:DNA ratios of walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum) were studied during a 10-week period. A factorial treatment design was used to provide three levels of dietary metabolizable energy (ME), 3,310, 3,530, and 3,750 kcal ME/kg diet, and four levels of protein, 37, 44, 51, and 58%. Both dietary protein and energy affected weight gain and length change (P < 0.05), but no interaction effects were observed. Maximum weight gain occurred with the 51% protein and 3,530 kcal ME!kg diet. Neither dietary protein nor energy affected the condition factor of the fish. The percentages of body fat, protein, ash, and moisture were affected by dietary protein (P < 0.05), but only body fat and moisture were affected by dietary energy (P < 0.05). The percentage of body fat decreased as dietary protein was increased, but it increased as dietary energy was increased. The percentage of body moisture varied inversel...
Design of a 15-MeV CW Microtron

With the above-described adjustments a CW microtron should be realizable producing an output energy of 15 MeV in 39 turns. The salient design characteristics of this machine are listed in Table II and the early orbits are plotted in Figure 3. An investigation of the dependence of orbit stability on the angle of injection shows that this is critical. For the chosen conditions electrons injected more than 1° from the assigned input beam direction (10° to the cavity axis) mill not be accepted into stable orbits. Thus an electron gun is necessary which will provide a large current within a very small angular spread. In addition, deviations from the chosen entering phase angle of more than half a degree will result in the subsequent orbits being unstable. The accelerator thus starts off by reducing the intensity of the beam injected into the cavity from the cathode by a factor of 360. Nevertheless, with an efficient electron gun and good homogeneity in the magnetic field, final beam currents approaching 100 ?a should be obtainable.
Key obstacles to EDI success: from the US small manufacturing companies’ perspective

This study first empirically investigated key EDI obstacles experienced by US small manufacturing firms and, then, examined the relationships between the identified obstacles and their realized EDI benefits. This research revealed the following important findings. First, four dimensions of obstacles were derived: lack of managerial leadership/organizational readiness, lack of integration of EDI with internal/external computer systems, potential technical concerns, and security/legal concerns. Second, the lack of integration of EDI with internal/external computer systems turned out to be the most significant barrier to achieving the overall EDI success and three key EDI benefits, such as reduced administrative/transaction costs, improved information accuracy, and enhanced competitiveness in the marketplace. Third, the “lack of managerial leadership/organizational readiness” and “technical concerns” dimensions were found to be the second and third most significant obstacles to the reduction of administrative/transaction costs, respectively. Finally, the security/legal concerns dimension is considered a significant barrier to the overall EDI success.
Pion induced single charge exchange in deuterium

We report the measurement of the differential cross section for [sup 2]H([pi][sup [minus]],[pi][sup 0]) for laboratory angles 0[degree]--145[degree], at incident pion energies of 164, 263, and 371 MeV. A Faddeev calculation at 164 MeV incorporating Pauli-blocking and multiple-scattering effects describes those data well. At the two higher energies the [sup 2]H([pi][sup [minus]],[pi][sup 0]) cross section is essentially identical to the [sup 1]H([pi][sup [minus]],[pi][sup 0]) cross section, except at forward angles where the former is suppressed by the Pauli principle. This experiment was the first to make use of a major component of the Neutral Meson Spectrometer at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
An Investigation of the Functional Significance of Responses of the Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) to Chorus Noise

Abstract We evaluated the hypothesis that adjustments in call duration made by male Gray Treefrogs render their calls less easily masked in noise and so facilitate communication with females in choruses. We also tested whether shifts in male call duration and rate can be elicited through changes in the level of filtered background noise. We found that males increased the number of pulses in their calls while lowering call rate with elevations in noise level in a fashion similar to that reported during broadcasts of calls. In phonotaxis tests with females using unmodulated or modulated background noise and calls (10, 20, 30, or 40 pulses long) presented at either unequal or equal rates, we failed to find significant differences in noise levels at call recognition thresholds for calls of different duration. However, calls were detected more easily (i.e., noise levels at recognition thresholds were higher) when the noise background was modulated as compared to unmodulated. Our results and those of an earlier...
Determinants of tapping speed in normal control subjects and subjects with Parkinson's disease: differing effects of brief and continued practice.

BACKGROUND Alternate tapping speed is widely used as a measure of bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD). Tapping speed in normal control subjects and factors that might influence tapping speed have not been systematically examined. OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of age, hand dominance, and gender on tapping speed in normal control subjects and to compare the effects of practice on tapping speed in normal and PD control subjects. METHODS Tapping speed for three sequential trials in the dominant and nondominant hand was examined in 100 normal control subjects and 60 subjects with PD. The effect of hourly practice over 26 hours (19 trials) was investigated in 14 normal and 24 PD subjects. RESULTS The speed with which normal subjects alternately tapped two counters was negatively correlated with age, was greater in the dominant hand, was not related to gender, and improved with short-term practice (three trials) and with continued practice over 26 hours. Parkinsonian subjects, in general, tapped more slowly than normal control subjects and more slowly in the more affected arm. Parkinsonian subjects benefited from short-term practice as much as normal control subjects but, unlike normal control subjects, did not improve with continued practice over 26 hours. CONCLUSIONS Alternate tapping speed is influenced by age, hand dominance, Parkinson's disease, and practice. Subjects with PD do not benefit as much from continued practice as do normal subjects, suggesting some limitation or impairment of procedural (motor) learning in PD.
Spanish-English Immersion in the Wake of California Proposition 227: Five Cases.

Two‐way bilingual immersion programs are noteworthy within the context of US public education because, in them, the children of immigrants are essential assets. Language‐minority and English‐speaking pupils are grouped together, starting in kindergarten or earlier and extending at least through grade five, with a goal of bilingual proficiency and biliteracy for all. This paper explores two‐way immersion educators’ and parents’ responses to California Proposition 227, which severely restricted bilingual education. Given this obstacle, what has motivated the maintenance and further initiation of two‐way bilingual immersion? And to what ends? Answers hinge on varied institutional climates at the school district level and parent–teacher activism towards the goal of truly multicultural education. Proposition 227 was a disastrous move, but dedicated educators, parents and communities have been proactive in creating two‐way bilingual programs to help maintain bilingual education in a way that benefits all students.
Predesign and Postoccupancy Analysis of Staff Behavior in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

This research provides data on behavioral issues associated with the design of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Behavior was examined utilizing both predesign research (PDR) and postoccupancy evaluation (POE) techniques; data were collected prior to the remodeling of a NICU and after the remodeling was completed. Infants in the original unit were located in closed bays. Infant beds in the new unit were distributed in an open floor plan with 60% more area. Behavioral mapping, interview, and questionnaire methods were used to examine medical staff activity patterns and perceptions of the modified environment. One hundred twenty-four hours of predesign and postconstruction mapping data were gathered. The hypothesis that the total amount of time staff spent walking from activity to activity would be reduced was not supported, although when the data were weighted to reflect the impact of the size of the large unit, the ratio of time spent traveling to a total unit area was found to be less in the open-ba...
Caffeine-stimulation of ejaculated human spermatozoa

Abstract Preliminary observations indicate that ejaculated human spermatozoa treated with 4 mM caffeine solution showed increased activity and viability. Since it is not a rare incidence to find infertile males whose sperms show poor activity and to assume there is a possible relationship between motility, viability, and conception, clinical application has now been instituted.
Transfection by Exogenous and Endogenous Murine Retrovirus DNAs

Abstract We have used DNA transfection to study the endogenous retrovirus genomes inherited by uninfected mouse cells. Quantitative assays for infectious DNAs of ecotropic and xenotropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) were developed using donor DNAs of cells that were exogenously infected with ecotropic Moloney, AKR or BALB MuLVs, or with xenotropic AKR, BALB or NZB MuLVs. The DNAs of cells exogenously infected with ecotropic MuLVs had specific infectivities of approximately 0.5 infectious units (IU) per μg DNA in transfection assays on NIH/3T3 cells. The DNAs of cells exogenously infected with xenotropic MuLVs had specific infectivities of approximately 0.2 IU/μg DNA in transfection assays on mink CCL64 cells. In contrast, the DNAs of uninfected NIH/3T3, BALB/3T3 and AKR-2B mouse cells were noninfectious when assayed for infectious endogenous ecotropic MuLV DNAs (
Density functional theory investigation of the deprotonation of oxete

Abstract The deprotonation of oxete by ether solvated methyl lithium was investigated by geometry optimization of reactants, transition states and products using the density functional theory (DFT) method (B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)). The calculations suggest that allylic deprotonation is favored over the corresponding vinylic process by 1.5 kcal/mol in the transition structures and 1.7 kcal/mol in the products. This is in contrast to previous calculations of products (MP2/6-31++G(d,p)//HF/6-31++G(d,p)) that favored vinylic deprotonation.
A spectrum of neutral argon hydride

Abstract An emission spectrum near 7670 A, arising from a transition between two excited states of neutral argon hydride has been analyzed and the identity of the emitter confirmed by isotopic studies. The analysis shows that the transition is of the type 2Π(b)-2Σ+. The lower state, A2Σ+, is predissociated to the extent that the lines of ArH are diffuse whereas the lines of ArD are sharp. This predissociation is probably caused by interaction with the unstable ground state, X2Σ+. The main results of the analysis are: State Constant 40ArH 40ArD Unit B 2 Π ν 00 13 023 13 040.4 cm−1 B 0 ′ 10.13 5.260 cm−1 ω′ — 1950 cm−1 A 2 Σ + B 0 ″ 10.200 5.2702 cm−1 ω″ 2828 2017 cm−1 τ e ″ 1.283 A
Neurotensin-related peptides inhibit spontaneous longitudinal contractions of porcine distal jejunum.

Abstract The tridecapeptide neurotensin (NT) and its C-terminal homologs, including xenopsin (XP) and neuromedin N (NM-N), reduced the amplitude of spontaneous contractions in longitudinal smooth muscle strips from the porcine distal jejunum in vitro. The rank order of potency (IC 50 in nM) was XP (0.1) > NT (0.9) ≈ avian XP (1.0) > NM-N (1.6), which could not be explained on the basis of differential peptide degradation. Tachyphylaxis and cross-tachyphylaxis were observed after repeated NT and XP addition to muscle strips. The action NT was mimicked by norepinephrine (NE), but not by opioid peptides, somatostatin, or vasoactive intestinal peptide. NE was nearly 100-fold less potent than NT and did not produce a state of tachyphylaxis to NT. The effects of NT and NE were unaltered by the neuronal conduction blocker tetrodotoxin (70 nM). However, the actions of NE, unlike those of NT, were reduced by the α-adrenoceptor blocker phentolamine (70 nM), the K + -channel blocker apamin (7 nM) and the Ca 2+ -channel blocker verapamil (0.7 μM). These results suggest that NT and related peptides, through a nonadrenergic mechanism, interact with smooth muscle receptors to modulate jejunoileal motor function in the pig.
Patterns of occult bleeding in asymptomatic colorectal cancer

The assumption that asymptomatic colorectal cancers bleed provides the rationale for widespread stool screening. The authors studied 12 patients with unoperated colorectal cancer but without colorectal symptoms and six healthy volunteers as laboratory controls. All stools were collected for 2 weeks and analyzed by the HemoQuant and Hemoccult tests. In controls, the mean HemoQuant value was 0.7 mg hemoglobin (Hb)/g stool (range, 0.1-1.8) and all stools were Hemoccult-negative. In cancer patients, the mean HemoQuant was 3.3 mg Hb/g (range, 0.3-13.2); stools were within the normal HemoQuant range (less than 2 mg Hb/g) in 38% and negative by Hemoccult in 70%. The mean cancer detection rate testing a single stool per patient was 57% for HemoQuant and 25% for Hemoccult (P less than 0.001). The detection rate rose testing multiple stools and was maximal with five stools at 83% for HemoQuant compared to 31% for Hemoccult (P less than 0.001). The authors conclude that fecal blood levels are commonly normal with asymptomatic colorectal cancer. Although higher with HemoQuant than Hemoccult, cancer detection rates by fecal blood testing appear to be lower than previously reported.
A Comparison of Three Methods for Predicting Hearing Loss from Acoustic Reflex Thresholds

Previously reported acoustic reflex threshold data from normal and hearing-impaired subjects indicate that the effect of stimulus bandwidth on reflex thresholds is altered by sensorineural hearing ...
Impact of land‐surface roughness on surface winds during hurricane landfall

This study investigates the impact of land-surface roughness on surface winds during hurricane Wilma's landfall using high-resolution simulations by the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Based on idealized experiments with enhanced land-surface roughness, it is found that the overall storm intensity decreases with increase in land-surface roughness during landfall. However, there is no apparent trend in reducing the maximum gusting winds when land-surface roughness was increased. This result suggests that hurricane wind damage may not be assessed properly based solely on the overall storm intensity. The localized damaging winds are intimately involved with the hurricane boundary-layer secondary circulations. When the downdraughts of the circulations are in phase with the strong hurricane momentum aloft, they can effectively transport momentum downward to result in localized damaging winds. Larger land-surface roughness can strengthen boundary-layer secondary circulations by creating stronger local convergence, and thus stronger downdraughts and localized damaging winds despite a weak storm intensity. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Short-term protein loading in diabetics with a ten-year duration of disease.

• The concept of renal functional reserve has recently been introduced. To test this ability of the kidneys to increase the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) above the baseline level, the GFR response to short-term protein load was measured. Recent studies have provided conflicting data concerning the GFR response to a protein load in insulin-dependent diabetics who are known to have increased baseline GFRs. Thus, we studied nine insulin-dependent diabetics with a disease of at least a ten-year duration (none were hypertensive or proteinuric) and compared their data with those of five nondiabetic controls with normal renal function. All the diabetics, except one, showed a significant increase in GFR (mean ± SEM, 60±9 to 74±14 mL/min/sq m); the controls also had increased GFRs (mean± SEM, 53±6 to 69±6 mL/min/sq m). The one patient who demonstrated no rise in the GFR had the lowest GFR measured, 33 mL/min/sq m. To explore the mechanism of this response, we measured the plasma levels of putative mediators glucagon and human growth hormone. Although glucagon showed the expected rise after the protein meal, the variability was so large that no statistically significant relationship could be identified. Human growth hormone remained constant and low in the controls and showed more variability and was higher in the diabetics; again, no relationship to the GFR could be demonstrated. Thus, our data demonstrated a normal response to a short-term protein load by a group of well-defined diabetic subjects who would be at risk to show subtle renal abnormalities. (AJDC1986;140:473-476)
Psychophysically measured task strategy for disparity discrimination is reflected in V2 neurons

In perceptual tasks, subjects attempt to rely on their most informative cues. Such strategic choices should be reflected in the types of sensory neurons that are used. We investigated this in a binocular-disparity discrimination task. Using psychophysical reverse-correlation, also known as image classification, we identified the perceptual strategies of two macaques (Macaca mulatta). Correlations between reported disparity signs and disparity noise samples for each trial yielded detection 'filters'. Filter amplitude was greater at near disparities than at far disparities, indicating that the subjects relied more on near disparities. Recordings from both macaques' disparity-selective V2 neurons showed a correlation between neuronal responses and perceptual judgment in near-preferring, but not far-preferring, units, mirroring the psychophysically measured strategy. After one monkey learned to weight near and far disparities equally, activity in its far-preferring neurons correlated with choice. Thus, the pattern of correlations between neuronal activity and perceptual reports indicates how subjects use their neuronal signals.
Hyperlinking as Gatekeeping: online newspaper coverage of the execution of an American terrorist

This study focuses on the online coverage of American terrorist Timothy McVeigh's execution on the websites of the top 15 print newspapers cited by Columbia Journalism Review as the "Best American Newspapers." Using content analysis, the study compares the 15 newspapers' websites by measuring the number, destination, and characteristics of hyperlinks that accompany these stories. The results suggest that online newspapers use hyperlinks as a gatekeeping device because they are unlikely to offer external hyperlinks. The study also shows that online newspapers are not taking advantage of multimedia and interactivity on the Web.
Accessibility of cancer care: disparities, outcomes and mitigation

This short paper discusses a research framework for healthcare accessibility using cancer care as an example. The United States’ National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers (US-NCI-CCs) form the ‘backbone’ of the cancer care system in the United States, and their attendance is associated with better outcomes. Three interconnected themes are proposed for the study of US-NCI-CC accessibility: (1) measuring disparities in access to the US-NCI-CCs, (2) examining the pathway from accessibility to utilization of cancer care services and then to cancer outcomes (e.g. cancer-specific mortality), and (3) designing policy scenarios for minimal disparities in accessibility.
Wealth and welfare states: Is America a laggard or a leader?

Wealth and welfare states: Is America a laggard or a leader? By Irwin Garfinkel, Lee Rainwater, and Timothy Smeeding, New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 2010, 254 pp., US$35.00 (paperback), ISB...
Comment: Clarifying Getting Older and Getting Richer Effects

The author comments on the analysis of McNaughton, Piggott, and Purcal that summarized his earlier findings and explains why McNaughton, Piggott, and Purcal took issue with his conclusions. He proposes a “displaced constant-relevant risk aversion” utility function and illustrates that two factors, current wealth and time left to investment horizon, have a bearing on our maximum tolerable equity exposure. He shows that in this framework, it is conceivable that equity tolerance will rise, and not fall, nearing the end of an investment horizon that accumulated enough savings (wealth) to be willing to take equity risk.
Tibias—A microcomputer-based analysis system for isoelectric focusing and electrophoretic patterns

A program is described for a computer-aided analysis system for isoelectric focusing (IEF) patterns. This system is primarily aimed at comparing and statistically analyzing large numbers of one-dimensional electrofocusing patterns in the search for specific tumor markers in pancreatic ductal secretions. It is designed to collect raw densitometric data, allow interactive processing, matching and statistical tests, and prepare high-quality plots of data at various stages.
Serotonin modulates responses to species-specific vocalizations in the inferior colliculus

Neuromodulators such as serotonin are capable of altering the neural processing of stimuli across many sensory modalities. In the inferior colliculus, a major midbrain auditory gateway, serotonin alters the way that individual neurons respond to simple tone bursts and linear frequency modulated sweeps. The effects of serotonin are complex, and vary among neurons. How serotonin transforms the responses to spectrotemporally complex sounds of the type normally heard in natural settings has been poorly examined. To explore this issue further, the effects of iontophoretically applied serotonin on the responses of individual inferior colliculus neurons to a variety of recorded species-specific vocalizations were examined. These experiments were performed in the Mexican free-tailed bat, a species that uses a rich repertoire of vocalizations for the purposes of communication as well as echolocation. Serotonin frequently changed the number of recorded calls that were capable of evoking a response from individual neurons, sometimes increasing (15% of serotonin-responsive neurons), but usually decreasing (62% of serotonin-responsive neurons), this number. A functional consequence of these serotonin-evoked changes would be to change the population response to species-specific vocalizations.
Laws and meta-laws of nature: Conservation laws and symmetries

Abstract Symmetry principles are commonly said to explain conservation laws—and were so employed even by Lagrange and Hamilton, long before Noether's theorem. But within a Hamiltonian framework, the conservation laws likewise entail the symmetries. Why, then, are symmetries explanatorily prior to conservation laws? I explain how the relation between ordinary (i.e., first-order) laws and the facts they govern (a relation involving counterfactuals) may be reproduced one level higher: as a relation between symmetries and the ordinary laws they govern. In that event, symmetries are meta-laws; they are not mere byproducts of the dynamical and force laws. Symmetries then explain conservation laws whereas conservation laws lack the modal status to explain symmetries. I elaborate the variety of natural necessity that meta-laws would possess. Proposed metaphysical accounts of natural law should aim to accommodate the distinction between meta-laws and mere byproducts of the laws just as they must accommodate the distinction between laws and accidents.
Predicting Public Opinion About Juvenile Waivers

The accountability movement of the juvenile justice system in the late 1980s and early 1990s encouraged more punitive practices. Public opinion was strong during this time. The attitudes about the ...
Effects of Corticotrophin, Hydrocortisone and Methopyrapone on the Circulating Eosinophiles in Man

2-METHYL-1,2-bis(3-pyridyl)-1-propanone (methopyrapone) has been shown to stimulate the secretion of corticotrophin (ACTH) in the pituitary by inhibition of production of cortisol. 11-Desoxycortisol (compound S) is a precursor of cortisol and 11β-hydroxylation of compound S converts it into cortisol. Methopyrapone (SU-4885) inhibits llβ-hydroxylation of 11-deoxycortisol1. The result is the rise of compound S and fall of cortisol in the adrenal cortex and the blood. Secretion of corticotrophin or its administration by the parenteral route stimulates the adrenal cortex. The resultant release of hydrocortisone and other glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex causes a marked eosinopenia. A clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate and compare the effects of exogenous administration of ACTH and hydrocortisone and endogenous secretion of corticotrophin by methopyrapone. This work is a part of our neuroendocrinological investigation of the role of methopyrapone and phrenotropic drugs in man2.
Vessel dimensions in liana and tree species of Gnetum (Gnetales)

Maximum vessel diameters were examined in the secondary xylem of stems of Gnetum of various sizes. One tree (G. gnemon) and 13 liana species were compared. In three species, vessel length distributions were determined by the latex paint method, and showed many short and fewer long vessels. Latex and compressed air methods, used to find the maximum vessel lengths, showed that maximum vessel lengths were similar for three species of Gnetum. In old stems, mean and maximum vessel diameters tended to be greater in lianas than in the tree species. The skewed distribution of vessel lengths and the trend of wider vessels in lianas as compared to trees were similar to those distributions and trends described previously for angiosperms. In random samples of macerated wood of three species, simple perforation plates were most common in vessel members of all species. Foraminate and modified foraminate perforations were less frequent. Average diameter of vessel members with either foraminate or modified foraminate perforations was less than for those with simple perforations. The resemblance of Gnetum vessels to those of angiosperm trees and vines is most likely a case of convergent evolution (homoplasy) in xylem characteristics.
An experimental study of the territorial function of vocal and visual display in the male red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Abstract Both muted and epaulet-coloured male red-winged blackbirds were less successful than normals in maintaining territory. This suggests that vocal and visual display are necessary for normal territory maintenance in this species. Decreased success was indicated by loss of territory or increased frequency of trespassing by conspecific males. A seasonal difference was noted in the ability of experimental males to maintain their territories. It is suggested that the observed results were probably due to the effects of muting and epaulet-colouration upon advertising song and song-spread and bill-up displays. A three-level territorial defence system is proposed for this species.
THE ROLE OF PATERNAL VARIABLES IN DIVORCED AND MARRIED FAMILIES: Predictability of Adolescent Adjustment

The predictability of adolescent adjustment, based on teacher reports, in divorced and married families was examined in relationship to four variables: paternal mood, spouse-ex-spouse relationship, father-adolescent relationship, and parental visitation. Analyses indicated that the father-adolescent relationship was predictive of adolescent functioning in divorced families, and the spousal relationship and paternal mood were similarly predictive in married families.
Dynamics of the STAT3 transcription factor: nuclear import dependent on Ran and importin-β1.

The signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) induces transcription of genes that control differentiation, inflammation, proliferation, and tumor cell invasion. Cytokines such as interleukin-6 and interferon stimulate the specific tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3, which confers its ability to bind consensus DNA targets. In addition, unphosphorylated STAT3 has been demonstrated to induce specific gene expression. STAT3 must gain entrance to the nucleus to impact transcription, however access to the nucleus is a tightly regulated process. Because nuclear trafficking is critical to the function of STAT3, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which STAT3 is imported to the nucleus. Live cell imaging techniques were used with STAT3 tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP) or photoactivatable GFP to follow the cellular dynamics of both unphosphorylated and tyrosine phosphorylated forms. Cytokine activation did not alter the rate of STAT3 nuclear import or nuclear export. In addition, Forster resonance energy transfer experiments revealed homomeric interaction of unphosphorylated STAT3 dependent on its amino terminus, but this dimerization is not necessary for its nuclear import. Previous work demonstrated the adapter importin-α3 binds to STAT3 and is required for nuclear import. To determine whether STAT3 nuclear import is mediated by the importin-α/importin-β1 heterodimer, the effects of siRNA to importin-β1 were evaluated. Results indicate STAT3 nuclear import is dependent on the function of importin-β1. Since the Ran GTPase is necessary to bind importin-β1 in the nucleus for release of importin-α-cargo, the effect of a GTPase deficient mutant of Ran was tested. Expression of the Ran interfering mutant inhibited STAT3 nuclear import. This study defines importin-α/importin-β1/Ran as the molecular mechanism by which STAT3 traffics to the nucleus.
Further examination of nonverbal manifestations of interaction involvement

This research was undertaken in the interest of corroborating expected and unexpected findings of an earlier study of interaction involvement and nonverbal behavior. Some support was found for the prediction that involvement would relate positively to object‐focused gesturing and eye gaze and negatively to body‐focused gesturing and body movement. No support was found for earlier sex differences in high‐ and low‐involved individuals’ nonverbal behavior.
Circular dichroism and absorption of the polytetrapeptide of elastin: A polymer model for the β-turn

Summary Circular dichroism and absorption data are reported for the polytetrapeptide of elastin, HCO-(Val-Pro-Gly-Gly)40-Val-OMe. The circular dichroism pattern, with a negative band at 224 nm, a positive band at 205 nm and a second negative band below 190 nm, is distinct from the circular dichroism patterns exhibited by the α-helix, β-pleated sheet and random coil conformations. As previous nuclear magnetic resonance studies have demonstrated that the polytetrapeptide is comprised of repeating β-turns, the absorption and circular dichroism data is presented as a model system for the β-turn conformational feature which is commonly found in globular proteins. The absorption and circular dichroism data are resolved into component Gaussian curves.
Blood Coagulation Changes after Hypoxemia: a Fetal Lamb Model

The effects of fetal hypoxemia on blood coagulation (platelet count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, factors II, V, VI, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII and von Willebrands activities, fibrin degradation products, and fibrin monomer) were evaluated in nine chronically catheterized fetal lambs early in the third trimester of pregnancy (107-110 days gestation). Seven chronically catheterized fetal lambs of similar gestational ages served as controls. The hypoxemic episode (pO2 14 mm Hg) was maintained for 1 hr in the experimental group during which time there were only minimal changes in PCO2, arterial pressure, heart rate, and pH. Epinephrine and norepinephrine levels increased significantly in stressed animals--22 pg/ml pre- to 1025 pg/ml postepinephrine, and 475 pg/ml pre- to 2292 pg/ml postnorepinephrine. There were no significant changes in blood coagulation factor activities related to the hypoxic stress although, one fetus who experienced acidemia did develop a transient increase in fibrin monomer. Slight through significant increases in VIII coagulant activity activity (4.0%), von Willebrand activity (5.9%), and factor XII activity (4.3%) occurred in both the hypoxemic and control fetal lambs. These changes were associated with minimal increases in the white blood cell count (15%) and slight decreases in the mean arterial pressure (3.9 mm Hg) hemoglobin (1.2 g), and hematocrit (2.9%) and may have been related to the blood loss of 25% that occurred as a result of sampling in both groups. There were no differences between the hypoxic and control animals' levels of coagulation factor activities when measured during an 18-day follow-up period except for a slight increase in factor X activity (10%) in the control animals not apparent in the nine hypoxic animals. Thus an episode of severe fetal hypoxemia in the absence of hypotension, acidosis, and hypercarbia does not lead to acute or chronic alterations in blood coagulation factor activities in the fetal lamb.
Hyperplastic Breast Anomalies in the Female Adolescent Breast

Hypoplastic breast anomalies remain a reconstructive challenge. In this article, the authors review the spectrum of nonsyndromic breast hypoplasia in the adolescent girl, namely idiopathic breast hypoplasia and tuberous breast deformity. Challenges specific to this population include (1) identifying the ideal timing for surgery, (2) choosing the optimal reconstructive method while taking into consideration ongoing changes in the female body (e.g., future pregnancy), and (3) considering the use of a two-stage reconstructive approach to gradually expand the skin envelope. A comprehensive review of surgical techniques that address these conditions is provided, taking into account the evolution and the most recent advances in surgical techniques.
La Paz–El Alto

Abstract The conurbation of La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia, the highest seat of government in the world, can be described as an indigenous urban center overlooking a colonial city. In this metropolitan area of 1.4 million people, location and altitude accurately predict class and ethnicity as well as the level of city services, demonstrating how social relations adapt to and shape the built environment. This profile shows how the implementation of the neo-liberal project influenced the organization of urban space and concludes with a discussion of some of the tensions generated by these policies and how they are being manifested in this unique metropolis.
Parallel image registration with a thin client interface

Despite its high significance, the clinical utilization of image registration remains limited because of its lengthy execution time and a lack of easy access. The focus of this work was twofold. First, we accelerated our course-to-fine, volume subdivision-based image registration algorithm by a novel parallel implementation that maintains the accuracy of our uniprocessor implementation. Second, we developed a thin-client computing model with a user-friendly interface to perform rigid and nonrigid image registration. Our novel parallel computing model uses the message passing interface model on a 32-core cluster. The results show that, compared with the uniprocessor implementation, the parallel implementation of our image registration algorithm is approximately 5 times faster for rigid image registration and approximately 9 times faster for nonrigid registration for the images used. To test the viability of such systems for clinical use, we developed a thin client in the form of a plug-in in OsiriX, a well-known open source PACS workstation and DICOM viewer, and used it for two applications. The first application registered the baseline and follow-up MR brain images, whose subtraction was used to track progression of multiple sclerosis. The second application registered pretreatment PET and intratreatment CT of radiofrequency ablation patients to demonstrate a new capability of multimodality imaging guidance. The registration acceleration coupled with the remote implementation using a thin client should ultimately increase accuracy, speed, and access of image registration-based interpretations in a number of diagnostic and interventional applications.
Robust parametric classical control design

This paper extends well-known graphical design tools such as the Nyquist plot, Bode plot, and Nichols charts to the domain of control systems containing parameter uncertainty. We have specifically considered linear interval control systems, namely those where the uncertain parameters appear linearly in the characteristic polynomial and vary in intervals, because in these cases exact construction of frequency envelopes is possible. Using these developments, we calculate various extremal stability margins for such systems, and these are used with standard classical control design techniques to deal with robustness with respect to parametric uncertainty. In addition, we give an effective technique to iteratively select values of the design parameters within given ranges so that the closed loop system produces improved gain or phase margin. >