cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Cardiac Surgery: A Case Report of a Nine-Year-Old Female with Williams Syndrome.

ABSTRACTBackground: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in paediatric patients following cardiac surgery has been well reported. Patients with Williams syndrome often require surgical intervention to correct congenital cardiovascular abnormalities and typically present with pre-existing interfering symptoms of anxiety. These patients may be at an elevated risk of developing PTSD following surgical interventions, which has yet to be investigated fully.Methods: In this report, we describe the case of a nine-year-old female with Williams syndrome who developed PTSD following extensive cardiovascular surgery.Results and conclusions: This report details the symptoms and outcome of this specific patient with the intent of educating healthcare providers about this possible risk, as well as some potential treatment and prevention options.
Transient characterization of graphene NEMS switch ESD protection structures

Above-IC graphene NEMS (gNEMS) switch electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structures are designed to replace traditional in-Si PN-based ESD structures. Built in CMOS back-end without PN junctions, gNEMS eliminates ESD-induced parasitics (leakage, capacitance, noise) inherent to PN junctions. Transient characterization of gNEMS ESD structures were conducted by transmission line pulsing (TLP) measurement to understand impacts of zapping waveforms on ESD behaviors. gNEMS ESD switch is a potential ESD protection solution to advanced ICs at nano nodes.
Evaluating the impact of climate change on fluvial flood risk in a mixed-use watershed

Abstract Predicting flood risk is important for climate change adaptation. We quantify fluvial flood risk due to changing climate in a mixed-use watershed in Michigan, USA. We apply two approaches to project future climate change: an ensemble of temperature and precipitation perturbations on the historical record and an ensemble of global and regional climate models. We incorporate climate projections into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to estimate daily streamflow, then quantify flood risk using indices related to flood probability, duration, magnitude, and frequency. Results indicate rising temperatures may counteract small increases in precipitation, likely due to increased evapotranspiration. Climate model data without bias correction used in SWAT produced reasonable future streamflow changes—similar to the perturbation of historical climate—therefore retaining the predicted change in the flood frequency distribution. This work advances the application of climate models in SWAT for flood risk evaluation at watershed scales.
Surgical Outcomes After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Ipilimumab for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of using neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus ipilimumab followed by surgery as a treatment strategy for stage II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Methods From 2013 to 2017, postoperative data from patients who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus ipilimumab in the TOP1201 trial, an open label phase II trial (NCT01820754), were prospectively collected. The surgical outcomes from TOP1201 were compared with outcomes in a historical cohort of patients receiving standard preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery identified from our institution's prospectively collected thoracic surgery database. Results In the TOP1201 trial, 13 patients were treated with preoperative chemotherapy and ipilimumab followed by surgery. In the historical cohort, 42 patients received preoperative chemotherapy by a platinum doublet regimen preoperative chemotherapy by a platinum doublet regimen without ipilimumab followed by lobectomy or pneumonectomy. The 30-day mortality in both groups was 0%. The most frequently occurring perioperative complications in the TOP1201 group were prolonged air leak (n = 2, 15%) and urinary tract infection (n = 2, 15%). The most common perioperative complication in the preoperative chemotherapy alone group was atrial fibrillation (n = 6, 14%). One patient (8%) had atrial fibrillation in the TOP1201 group. There was no apparent increased occurrence of adverse surgical outcomes for patients in the TOP1201 group compared with patients receiving standard of care neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone before surgery for stage II–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Conclusions This report is the first to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of surgical resection after treatment with ipilimumab and chemotherapy in stage II–IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer.
Sex differences in political leadership in an egalitarian society

Abstract We test the contribution of sex differences in physical formidability, education, and cooperation to the acquisition of political leadership in a small-scale society. Among forager-farmers from the Bolivian Amazon, we find that men are more likely to exercise different forms of political leadership, including verbal influence during community meetings, coordination of community projects, and dispute resolution. We show that these differences in leadership are not due to gender per se but are associated with men's greater number of cooperation partners, greater access to schooling, and greater body size and physical strength. Men's advantage in cooperation partner number is tied to their participation in larger groups and to the opportunity costs of women's intrahousehold labor. We argue these results highlight the mutual influence of sexual selection and the sexual division of labor in shaping how women and men acquire leadership.
Risk-Reducing Salpingectomy Versus Standard Tubal Sterilization: Lessons From Offering Women Options for Interval Sterilization.

Objectives In women receiving sterilization, the removal of the entire fallopian tube, a procedure referred to as a risk-reducing salpingectomy (RRS), reduces subsequent ovarian cancer risk compared with standard tubal sterilization procedures. There are limited data on which surgical procedure women will choose when educated about the benefits of an RRS. Our objective was to study the proportion of women desiring sterilization that would choose an RRS. Methods This cohort study included women 30 years of age and older with a living biological child who requested laparoscopic sterilization at a tertiary academic hospital. Participants were given a decision aid and offered an RRS or a standard tubal sterilization procedure with titanium clips. The primary outcome was to determine the proportion of women who would choose an RRS. Other outcomes included estimated blood loss and operative time, which was compared between groups, along with complications. Results Fourteen of the 18 (78%) women who participated in our study chose RRS. Estimated blood loss and operating time were similar among women who underwent RRS and standard tubal sterilizations. There were no significant complications in either group. The study was ended early based on emerging data and a change in national practice patterns. Conclusions Because of the elective nature of sterilization and the complexities of cancer risk reduction, a patient-centered approach is beneficial for sterilization counseling. Our results support offering RRS as an alternative to standard tubal sterilization.
Combining Washout and Noncontrast Data From Adrenal Protocol CT: Improving Diagnostic Performance

Rationale and Objectives To determine if combination of washout and noncontrast data from delayed adrenal computed tomography (CT) improves diagnostic performance, and demonstration of an optimizing analytical framework. Materials and Methods This retrospective study consisted of 97 adrenal lesions, in 96 patients, with pathologically proven adrenal lesions (75 benign; 22 malignant), who had undergone noncontrast, portal- and approximate 15-minute delayed-phase CT. Lesion CT attenuations (Hounsfield units [HU]) during each phase, and “absolute” and “relative” percent enhancement washouts (APEW and RPEW) were assessed. The optimum combination of sequential parameters and thresholds was determined by recursive partitioning analysis; resultant diagnostic performance was compared to commonly applied single-parameter criteria for malignancy (noncontrast > 10 HU, APEW Results The above single-parameter criteria yielded sensitivities, specificities, and accuracies for malignancy of 100.0%, 41.3%, and 54.6%; 97.9%, 61.3%, and 69.1%; and 96.6%, 74.7%, and 78.4%, respectively. Recursive partitioning analysis identified noncontrast ≥24.75 HU, with subsequent APEW ≤63.49%, as the optimum sequential parameter-threshold combination, which yielded increased sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100.0%, 85.3%, and 90.7%, respectively. Discrimination using the combined sequential classifier yielded statistically significant improvements in accuracy when compared to the above conventional single-parameter criteria (all P ≤ .039). Conclusion Sequential application of noncontrast and washout criteria from delayed contrast-enhanced adrenal CT can improve diagnostic performance beyond that of commonly applied single-parameter criteria. Validation of the sequential ordering and refinement of the specific threshold values warrant further study.
Clinical Characteristics and Etiology of Bilateral Vestibular Loss in a Cohort from Central Illinois.

Abstract Background: Previous series of bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) identified numerous etiologies, but surprisingly, a cause in a significant number of cases remains unknown. In an effort to understand possible etiology and management strategies, a global effort is currently in progress. Here I contribute my ten-year experience with both acute and chronic BVL during the 2007-2017 decade. Methods: This is a retrospective review of the charts and EMR of patients diagnosed with BVL in the last ten years. Following Institutional IRB approval, we identified 57 patients with a diagnosis of BVL, and utilized the current diagnostic criteria listed by the Barany society (1). The inclusion criteria included patients with BVL of any cause, within an age span older than 18 and a neuro-otologic examination supporting the clinical impression of BVL. Results: During the current decade 2007-2017 I identified two broad categories of BVL (acute and chronic) in 57 patients; only 41 of them had records available. The etiology includes: Idiopathic: n= 9, Wernicke’s encephalopathy n= 11, superficial siderosis n= 3, paraneoplastic syndrome: n=3, bilateral vestibular neuritis (recurrent AVS lasting days without cochlear symptoms) n= 3, simultaneous ototoxicity of aminoglycoside and chemotherapy toxicity n= 2 ,MELAS n= 2, Meniere’s disease treated with intra-tympanic streptomycin in one ear n = 1, acute phenytoin intoxication: n=1 , combined chronic unilateral tumor related vestibulopathy and new contralateral vestibular neuritis (this patient presented with Betcherew’s phenomenon) n=1, bilateral AICA stroke n= 1, mixed spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, n= 2 and CANVAS n= 2 . Conclusion; This cohort included a 28% overall incidence of acute and subacute BVL; among them 65% improved with intervention. In the thiamine deficiency group specifically, the vestibular function improved in 80% of the patients. Even though acute, subacute or chronic showed slightly asymmetric horizontal-VOR gain loss, it never did cause spontaneous, primary straight gaze horizontal nystagmus. n=39/41 patients had abnormal manual HIT, n=26/41 BVL patients tested with vHIT immediately after manual testing showed decreased VOR gain ,including two with covert saccades. Two thiamine patients with positive bedside pre-treatment manual HIT, tested after treatment with high-dose thiamine showed improved VOR.
Trace element (Mn, Zn, Ni, V) and authigenic uranium (aU) geochemistry reveal sedimentary redox history on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, North Pacific Ocean

Abstract Changes in meridional overturning circulation and water mass chemistry can be recorded by oxygen concentrations in the deep ocean. Because the deep Pacific is the largest ocean reservoir, its oxygen concentrations may be related to global climate change. In this study, oxygen conditions in the past are reconstructed by contrasting the sedimentary geochemistry of multiple redox-sensitive trace elements (Mn, Ni, Zn, V corrected for terrigenous and hydrothermal inputs) and authigenic U (aU) from six sediment cores on the Juan de Fuca Ridge from 2.7-2.8 km depth. We find that Mn and Ni are indicators for oxygen-rich conditions, while Zn, V, and aU are indicators for oxygen-poor conditions. Relative Redox Potentials (RRPs) for each core are calculated by converting excess metal fluxes into binary presence/absence designations, weighting each element by the strength and direction of its redox indication, summing the five elements, and then averaging the data in 5kyr bins. Metal depositional histories from all six cores demonstrate low oxygen conditions during interglacial periods, particularly during 100–120 ka (MIS5) but also 200–250 ka (MIS7), and high oxygen conditions during glacial periods (MIS2-4 and MIS6). This redox pattern does not appear to be driven by organic matter flux to the sediment, as reconstructed by three different paleo-productivity proxies (organic carbon, opal, and excess barium). Instead higher oxygen concentrations on the Juan de Fuca Ridge may be a result of better ventilation during glacial periods, possibly due to enhanced North Pacific Intermediate Water formation. Alternatively, sedimentary redox conditions on the Juan de Fuca Ridge may be locally controlled by the deposition of hydrothermal sulfides from nearby vent fields.
Logistics and Uptake of Genetic Testing for Patients Referred for Telegenetic Counselling for Cancer

Purpose: There is a dearth of information about the uptake of genetic testing after telegenetic (videoconference) counselling for hereditary cancer, which has been previously reported as a limitation of this service delivery model. Methods: We performed a review of the triage list for patients referred to The Ohio State University (OSU) from two community cancer centres for telegenetic counselling appointments from April 1, 2014 to May 31, 2016. Results: A total of 179 patients were referred for telegenetic counselling, and of these 62.6% (112/179) completed a 30-60 minute telegenetic counselling appointment. Of those counselled, 82.1% (92/112) completed genetic testing, 12.0% (11/92) of whom were found to have a pathogenic mutation. Of those with mutations, 45.5% (5/11) returned for a follow-up telegenetic counselling session to review results in more detail. In addition, 18.5% (17/92) of patients tested had at least one variant of uncertain significance (VUS). Conclusions: The presence of a nurse/nurse practitioner with the patient at the remote site during the telegenetic counselling session may have facilitated higher completion rates for genetic testing compared to previous reports in the literature, and appropriateness of genetic testing in this method of providing genetic counselling is reflected in the rates of results identifying deleterious mutations and variants of uncertain significance.
Antenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Structural Anomalies with Ultrasound

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses antenatal diagnosis of congenital structural anomalies (CSAs) with ultrasound. CSAs encompass a broad spectrum of conditions, including those with minimal involvement and disability and those incompatible with extrauterine life. With the advent of ultrasound, CSAs that grossly alter normal fetal anatomy can be screened for and detected as early as the second trimester of pregnancy. The fetus is ideal for ultrasound evaluation because it is floating in a fluid medium that provides maximum contrast with fetal tissues and, thus, optimum fetal anatomical characterization. With the advent of diagnostic ultrasound, many pregnancies at risk for congenital structural anomalies can be accurately evaluated and the anomaly either diagnosed or excluded. If excluded, the pregnancy can continue with the assurance that the chance of giving birth to an affected fetus is quite low. Those congenital anomalies amenable to surgical repair following birth have also been diagnosed with ultrasound. This allows for optimal care of the newborn at a center equipped with a newborn intensive care unit as well as pediatric surgeons.
Hormonal Control of Feeding Behavior and Energy Balance

Life ultimately depends on an organism’s capacity to sustain the flame of intracellular metabolism. Hence all living animals store fuel within their bodies, and they possess many behavioral and physiological processes to insure the relative stability of these stores. While eating and related instrumental behaviors oversee the maintenance of adequate energy intake, hormones and ancillary patterns of enzyme induction establish a balance between the storage and usage of the ingested nutrients.
Gender differences and normal left ventricular anatomy in an adult population free of hypertension ☆: A cardiovascular magnetic resonance study of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort

Abstract Objectives We sought to derive gender-specific cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reference values for normative left ventricular (LV) anatomy and function in a healthy adult population of clinically relevant age. Background Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly applied in the clinical setting, but age-relevant, gender-specific normative values are currently unavailable. Methods A representative sample of 318 Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring participants free of clinically overt cardiovascular disease underwent CMR examination to determine LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (EDV and ESV, respectively), mass, ejection fraction (EF) and linear dimensions (wall thickness, cavity length). Subjects with a clinical history of hypertension or those with a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic pressure ≥90 mm Hg at any FHS cycle examination were excluded, leaving 142 subjects (63 men, 79 women; age 57 ± 9 years). Results All volumetric (EDV, ESV, mass) and unidimensional measures were significantly greater (p Conclusions Cardiovascular magnetic resonance measures of LV volumes, mass and linear dimensions differ significantly according to gender and body size. This study provides gender-specific normal CMR reference values, uniquely derived from a population-based sample of persons free of cardiovascular disease and clinical hypertension. These data may serve as a reference to identify LV pathology in the adult population.
1213. Evaluation of an Alcohol-Based Antiseptic for Nasal Decolonization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Background Due to concerns for emergence of mupirocin resistance, there is an interest in use of topical antiseptics for nasal decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus. Alcohol-based nasal antiseptics have recently been developed as an alternative to mupirocin, but there is limited data on efficacy, particularly among patients where the burden of carriage is often high.
LGBTI Rights in Turkey: Sexuality and the State in the Middle East

The LGBTI community in Turkey face real dangers. In 2015, the Turkish police interrupted the LGBTI Pride march in Istanbul, using tear gas and rubber bullets against the marchers. This marked the first attempt by the authorities to stop the parade by force, and similar actions occurred the following year. Here, Fait Muedini examines these levels of discrimination in Turkey, as well as exploring how activists are working to improve human rights for LGBTI individuals living in this hostile environment. Muedini bases his analysis on interviews taken with a number of NGO leaders and activists of leading LGBTI organisations in the region, including Lambda Istanbul, Kaos GL, Pembe Hayat, Social Policies, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD), and Families of LGBT's in Istanbul (LISTAG). The original information provided by these interviews illuminate the challenges facing the LGBTI community, and the brave actions taken by activists in their attempts to challenge the state and secure sexual equality.
Time Chart of the Justices Revisited: An Analysis of the Influences on the Time It Takes to Compose the Majority Opinion on the U.S. Supreme Court1

What affects the amount of time it takes for a justice to construct a majority opinion? We hypothesize that the amount of time expended on constructing the majority opinion is a function of its aut...
Biodegradable zinc oxide composite scaffolds promote osteochondral differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Osteoarthritis (OA) involves the degeneration of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. The capacity of articular cartilage to repair and regenerate is limited. A biodegradable, fibrous scaffold containing zinc oxide (ZnO) was fabricated and evaluated for osteochondral tissue engineering applications. ZnO has shown promise for a variety of biomedical applications but has had limited use in tissue engineering. Composite scaffolds consisted of ZnO nanoparticles embedded in slow degrading, polycaprolactone to allow for dissolution of zinc ions over time. Zinc has well-known insulin-mimetic properties and can be beneficial for cartilage and bone regeneration. Fibrous ZnO composite scaffolds, having varying concentrations of 1-10 wt.% ZnO, were fabricated using the electrospinning technique and evaluated for human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation along chondrocyte and osteoblast lineages. Slow release of the zinc was observed for all ZnO composite scaffolds. MSC chondrogenic differentiation was promoted on low percentage ZnO composite scaffolds as indicated by the highest collagen type II production and expression of cartilage-specific genes, while osteogenic differentiation was promoted on high percentage ZnO composite scaffolds as indicated by the highest alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen production, and expression of bone-specific genes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of ZnO-containing composites as a potential scaffold for osteochondral tissue engineering.
Abstract 348: Loss of Cadherin-11 Prevents Aortic Valve Interstitial Cell Contraction

Introduction: Calcific aortic valve disease affects 25% of the Western population over 65. Dystrophic calcification is initiated by TGF-β-mediated myofibroblastic differentiation of resident aortic...
Deterring Wartime Atrocities: Hard Lessons from the Yugoslav Tribunal

Advocates of wartime international criminal tribunals (ICTs) hope that such tribunals can deter combatant atrocities against civilians. Yet, more than twenty-five years after the establishment of t...
Chapter 9 – Use of Force in Law Enforcement and Corrections

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the liability issues surrounding the claims of excessive force in police and correctional work. This topic is of critical importance to officers, because they must be aware of how the courts have established standards to evaluate such claims. Moreover, supervisory personnel must understand their role in training officers in proper use-of-force decision-making and use-of-force procedures, developing policy guidelines for agency personnel, and investigating claims of excessive force. Allegations of excessive force and brutality are addressed and legal precedents are presented. The use of force by police and correctional officers is a critical topic in civil liability and is of fundamental importance. Understanding how the courts examine claims of excessive force is essential. Officers can never justify their use of force for punishment or revenge rationales. Legitimate force used by officers must be within the framework of standards established by the U. S. Supreme Court. The Court has established three standards of review, depending on the status of the individual. The use of force in policing requires a Fourth Amendment review under the standard of “objective reasonableness” established in the Graham decision. The Court identified five factors for analyzing claims of excessive force. These factors underscore the ideology that the suspect dictates the degree of force that an officer applies and officers should make certain to articulate them when justifying their force decision making.
Interest in Genetic Feedback for Alcohol Use Disorder and Related Substance Use and Psychiatric Outcomes among Young Adults.

An exponential growing number of individuals are accessing genetic risk information via direct to consumer companies. Alcohol dependence is the third most accessed genetic risk score on a publicly available direct to consumer website. Better understanding of the degree to which individuals are interested in receiving personalized genetic feedback, the factors that relate to interest, and genetic knowledge will be critical to lay the foundation for precision medicine initiatives, especially for substance use and psychiatric outcomes, where less is known. To assess interest in receiving genetic feedback for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and understanding of genetic concepts related to psychiatric conditions, we conducted a survey with participants recruited from a registry that enrolled incoming cohorts of freshmen at an urban public university; 205 participants (76.5% female; 58.9% self-reported as White; Mage = 24.48 years) completed the survey. Results indicated that participants are highly interested in receiving genetic feedback for AUD (79.0%) but there is a lack of understanding of complex genetic concepts in a sizable proportion of the sample (25.4%). Additional research is needed to assess how to address this lack of knowledge before genetic feedback for AUD can be returned in a way that benefits the individual.
Injection Moldable Pet

Glass reinforced injection moldable PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)) resins have become a major engineering thermoplastic. Discovery of injection moldable PETs will be discussed with particular emphasis on crystallization. General processing characteristics and physical properties are presented as well as recent developments in new PET’S with superior processing and/or product properties.
Is natural gas really the answer?: Targeting natural gas in US climate change mitigation policy

Abstract Since use of natural gas emits less carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) than other fossil fuels and CO 2 is an important greenhouse gas, policies to encourage greater natural gas use are often touted as one strategy to reduce global warming. In this analysis, we examine the impacts of lower natural gas prices, brought about by government initiatives or market forces, on greenhouse gas emissions. The most surprising result of this analysis is that lower gas prices appear to have little impact on US greenhouse gas emission trends. However, lower gas prices and commensurate overall lower fossil energy costs do defer energy conservation efforts, stimulate more energy use economy-wide, and may displace cleaner renewable sources of energy. These results argue for a careful examination of attributes needed to align policy options intended to increase efficient gas use and those intended to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Immunochemistry of sperm-whale myoglobin. 18. Accurate delineation of the single reactive region in sequence 120-153 by study of synthetic peptides.

Abstract Previous reports from this laboratory have shown that in the entire sequence 120–153 of myoglobin (Mb), a single antigenic reactive region existed within sequence 140–151. In the preceding communication, it was demonstrated that lysines 140 and 145 were not essential parts of a reactive region in native Mb. It was therefore concluded that the reactive region occupied the sequence 146–151. In the present paper, strong support from an independent approach is provided by studying the immunochemistry of synthetic peptides corresponding to various parts of the region. Peptides 146–151, 145–151, 146–153 and 147–153 were prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis, purified, characterized and their interaction with three different antisera to Mb studied. With antiserum G1, peptides 145–151, 146–151 and 146–153 possessed comparable inhibitory activities of the reaction of Mb with its antisera. For this antiserum, therefore, residues 145 on one side and 152 and 153 on the other added no contribution to the inhibitory ability, and the reactive region against this antiserum occupied sequence 146–151 entirely. Similarly, in antiserum G3, specificity was directed against a reactive region occupying sequence 146–151. With antiserum G4, the inhibitory abilities of peptides 146–151 and 146–153 were comparable but appreciably lower than that of peptide 145–151. For antiserum G4, lysine 145 may be part of the antigenic reactive region of the free peptide. With the present antisera, peptide 147–153 exhibited a negligible inhibitory activity. From these findings, it was concluded that the antigenic reactive region in segment 120–153 occupies sequence 146–151 invariably, + lysine 145 with some antisera.
The neuropathogenic contributions of lysosomal dysfunction.

Multiple lines of evidence implicate lysosomes in a variety of pathogenic events that produce neurodegeneration. Genetic mutations that cause specific enzyme deficiencies account for more than 40 lysosomal storage disorders. These mostly pre-adult diseases are associated with abnormal brain development and mental retardation. Such disorders are characterized by intracellular deposition and protein aggregation, events also found in age-related neurodegenerative diseases including (i) Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies (ii) Lewy body disorders and synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease, and (iii) Huntington's disease and other polyglutamine expansion disorders. Of particular interest for this review is evidence that alterations to the lysosomal system contribute to protein deposits associated with different types of age-related neurodegeneration. Lysosomes are in fact highly susceptible to free radical oxidative stress in the aging brain, leading to the gradual loss of their processing capacity over the lifespan of an individual. Several studies point to this lysosomal disturbance as being involved in amyloidogenic processing, formation of paired helical filaments, and the aggregation of α-synuclein and mutant huntingtin proteins. Most notably, experimentally induced lysosomal dysfunction, both in vitro and in vivo, recapitulates important pathological features of age-related diseases including the link between protein deposition and synaptic loss.
Teaching culturally effective diabetes care: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Background and Objectives: Increased cultural competence is a tool in the fight to eliminate health disparities in people with diabetes. However, questions remain regarding the best cultural competence teaching, evaluation, and dissemination methods. An Internet-based approach requires less facilitator time and provides greater ease of dissemination. We developed and tested a skills-focused, Internet-based course on cultural competence in the context of type 2 diabetes. Methods: To test the effectiveness of the course, a randomized controlled trial was conducted on a national sample of 122 family medicine residents. The primary outcome was measured by changes in score on the Cultural Competence Assessment Tool (CCAT), a new self-assessment tool developed for this study. Results: Total CCAT score increased significantly after the completion of the Internet course for 58 residents in the experimental group (83.55 before the course, 192.09 after the course) but did not change for the 64 residents in the control group (177.58 at baseline, 177.84 at end of study). On multivariate analysis, the only significant predictor of total CCAT score change was having taken the online course. Conclusions: A skills-based course on cultural competence, delivered via the Internet, is an effective educational strategy. It has potential for dissemination of standardized content. (Fam Med 2009;41(3):167-74.)
From unicuspid to quadricuspid: Influence of aortic valve morphology on aortic three-dimensional hemodynamics

Purpose To assess the impact of aortic valve morphology on aortic hemodynamics between normal tricuspid and congenitally anomalous aortic valves ranging from unicuspid to quadricuspid morphology. Materials and Methods Aortic three-dimensional (3D) blood flow was evaluated by 4D flow MRI in 14 healthy volunteers with normal trileaflet valves and 14 patients with unicuspid (n = 3), bicuspid (n = 9, 3 “true” bicuspid, 3 right–left (RL), 3 right-noncoronary (RN) leaflet fusion, and quadricuspid aortic valves (n = 2). Data analysis included the co-registered visualization of aortic valve morphology with systolic 3D blood flow. The influence of valve morphology on aortic hemodynamics was quantified by valve flow angle. Results All RL-bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) were associated with flow jets directed toward the right anterior aortic wall while RN-fusion and unicuspid valves resulted in flow jet patterns toward the right-posterior or posterior wall. Flow angles were clearly influenced by valve morphology (47° ± 10, 28° ± 2, 29° ± 18, 18° ± 12, 15° ± 2 for unicuspid, true BAV, RN-BAV, RL-BAV, quadricuspid valves) and increased compared with controls (7.2° ± 1.1, P = 0.001). Conclusion Altered 3D aortic hemodynamics are impacted by the morphology of congenitally malformed aortic valves.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1342–1346. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Global Attraction to Solitary Waves

We study properties of solitary wave solutions of the form \(\phi(x)e^{-i\omega t}\), with ω real and \(\phi(x)\)) localized in space. In the first section, we sketch two fundamental results on stability of solitary waves: Derrick’s theorem on instability of time-independent solutions and the Vakhitov–Kolokolov stability criterion for spectral stability of solitary waves.
Distributed Colony-Level Algorithm Switching for Robot Swarm Foraging

Swarm robotics utilizes a large number of simple robots to accomplish a task, instead of a single complex robot. Communications constraints often force these systems to be distributed and leaderless, placing restrictions on the types of algorithms which can be executed by the swarm. The performance of a swarm algorithm is affected by the environment in which the swarm operates. Different environments may call for different algorithms to be chosen, but often no single robot has enough information to make this decision. In this paper, we focus on foraging as a multi-robot task and present two distributed foraging algorithms, each of which performs best for different food locations. We then present a third adaptive algorithm in which the swarm as a whole is able to choose the best algorithm for the given situation by combining individual-level and distributed colony-level algorithm switching. We show that this adaptive method combines the benefits of the other methods, and yields the best overall performance.
Error Sources When Land Vehicle Dead Reckoning with Differential Wheelspeeds

: This paper compares a differential wheelspeed–based dead-reckoning system with a gyro-based system for land navigation. Test results show that the two schemes perform equally well when modeling assumptions hold, such as when navigating smooth road surfaces. However, the wheelspeed-heading estimator's position errors grow about twice as fast as the gyro-based system's when navigating speed bumps and uneven road surfaces. In contrast to statements made in the literature, increasing the resolution of the stock wheelspeed sensors by an order of magnitude does not increase the positioning accuracy of either estimator, and longitudinal slip of the vehicle tires does not appear to be a dominant error source. Ultimately, the limiting factor for dead-reckoning performance appears to be road surface unevenness.
Acute Pulmonary Embolism Masquerading as Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction

It is always important to maintain a high index of suspicion in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Death in patients with undiagnosed PE was shown to be 4 - 6 times higher than in those with a definite diagnosis and treatment. The ECG as much as it has great utility, unfortunately lacks sensitivity and specificity, providing findings that might serve as red herrings to the unsuspecting physician by suggesting an alternative diagnosis. This report describes a woman whose EKG showed ST segment elevations suggestive of acute inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI), but eventually was found to have a sub-massive PE.
Saliency and Saccade Encoding in the Frontal Eye Field During Natural Scene Search

The frontal eye field (FEF) plays a central role in saccade selection and execution. Using artificial stimuli, many studies have shown that the activity of neurons in the FEF is affected by both visually salient stimuli in a neuron's receptive field and upcoming saccades in a certain direction. However, the extent to which visual and motor information is represented in the FEF in the context of the cluttered natural scenes we encounter during everyday life has not been explored. Here, we model the activities of neurons in the FEF, recorded while monkeys were searching natural scenes, using both visual and saccade information. We compare the contribution of bottom-up visual saliency (based on low-level features such as brightness, orientation, and color) and saccade direction. We find that, while saliency is correlated with the activities of some neurons, this relationship is ultimately driven by activities related to movement. Although bottom-up visual saliency contributes to the choice of saccade targets, it does not appear that FEF neurons actively encode the kind of saliency posited by popular saliency map theories. Instead, our results emphasize the FEF's role in the stages of saccade planning directly related to movement generation.
On the use of the upper triangular (or QR) decomposition for developing constitutive equations for Green-elastic materials

Abstract In this paper, we show that the well known decomposition of a matrix into an orthogonal matrix (Q) and a upper triangular matrix (R), can be used to develop a remarkably simple representation for constitutive equations for anisotropic Green elastic materials. Using this decomposition (in which the upper triangular matrix is related to the Cholesky factorization of the Cauchy Green stretch tensor C), in lieu of the traditional polar decomposition, provides significant advantages: (1) the decomposition is very simple, fast and widely implemented in every major linear algebra package and does not require knowledge of eigenvalues. (2) The factorization allows us to decompose the total deformation into a sequence of simple, physically visualizable, meaningful elementary deformations. (3) It provides a remarkably simple representation of the stress response in terms of the derivatives of the strain energy (see Eqs. (26) , (27) , (28) ) especially for anisotropic materials. (4) It provides a unified and simple way of considering triclinic, monoclinic, orthorhombic, and transversely isotropic materials and satisfies the “orthogonality” criterion described by Criscione (2005) in order to minimize experimental error propagation. The results, which were inspired by and are closely related to the developments by Criscione et al., 2001 , Criscione and Hunter, 2003 and follows many of their ideas, are in a much simpler and computationally tractable form than that given by Criscione and coworkers while retaining every desirable feature of the decomposition presented by them.
Two-Point Method for Determination of Undisturbed Reservoir Temperature

The modeling of primary oil production and the design of EOR operations require knowledge of the undisturbed reservoir temperature. The drilling process, however, greatly alters the temperature of the reservoir immediately surrounding the well. In this paper, the authors present a method to determine the undisturbed reservoir temperature based on temperature measurements taken a short time after cessation of drilling.
Agronomic and Seed Characteristics of Soybean with Reduced Raffinose and Stachyose

Monogastric animals cannot readily digest the raffinose and stachyose in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], which reduces the amount of metabolizable energy that can be obtained from soybean meal. Soybean cultivars homozygous for the recessive allele stc1a from PI200508 have a reduced content of raffinose and stachyose and an increased content of sucrose. The objective of our study was to evaluate the influence of the stc1a allele on agronomic and seed traits. Two populations were developed by crossing two high-yielding cultivars to a donor with the stc1a stc1a genotype. Lines from each population with the stc1a stc1a genotype (stc1a lines) and Stc1a Stc1a genotype (Stc1a lines) were grown in replicated tests at three Iowa locations during 2002. There were no significant differences in the mean performance of stc1a and Stc1a lines in one or both of the populations for field emergence, seed yield, maturity, lodging, height, protein, oil, palmitate, stearate, oleate, linoleate, or linolenate. It should be possible to develop stc1a stc1a cultivars with reduced raffinose and stachyose that perform as well as conventional Stc1a Stc1a cultivars for all the agronomic and seed traits evaluated.
Companion-star beam steering of high-energy particles from Hercules X-1

A recent model1 for the 1011–1015 eV γ-ray emission from the 1.24-s X-ray pulsar Hercules X-l postulates coherent charged particle beams as the photon source, through a cascade process in intervening matter in the binary system HZ Her/Her X-1. This interpretation is complicated by a 1985 observation2 of ∼1012-eV γ-ray pulsations during at least the first hour of the nominal 6-h X-ray eclipse of Her X-1 by HZ Her, which would completely absorb a particle (or photon) beam propagating along or near the line of sight to Her X-1. Here we show that the presence of even a weak dipole magnetic field around the companion star is sufficient to steer such a beam to a suitable target region for producing the observed γ-rays. We demonstrate that models such as that in ref. 1 must include such effects, and we discuss the effects of such beam steering on γ-ray and neutrino observations.
747: Comparison of 12-hour urine and protein/creatinine ratio to 24-hour urine for the diagnosis of preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: The standard threshold value of proteinuria in the setting of hypertension for the diagnosis of preeclampsia is a 24-hour urine protein (24-hr) ≥ 300mg. Equivalent values have been generated for more convenient and/or costeffective tests, such as the 12-hour urine protein (12-hr) and protein:creatinine ratio (PCR), but these have not been tested prospectively. The purpose was to compare the performance of the 12-hr and PCR to a standard 24-hr ≥ 300mg for the diagnosis of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective observational study of women admitted to the Lehigh Valley Health Network from 7/1/2010 to 12/31/2011 for diagnosis and/or management of preeclampsia. For each patient, PCR, 12-hr and 24-hr urine specimens were collected. Only the 24-hr result was used for clinical management. Test characteristics for identifying 24-hr ≥ 300mg were calculated. Cutoff values were based on previously published data. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were enrolled during the study period, 12 of which were subsequently excluded (11 delivered prior to completion, 1 was excluded due to lab error) for a final cohort of 90 patients. Twenty-eight (31%) of the final cohort had 24-hr ≥ 300mg. Both 12-hr > 165mg and PCR > 0.15 correlate significantly with 24-hr ≥ 300mg (r=0.99, p 165mg and PCR > 0.15 are shown in Table 3. CONCLUSION: 12-hr > 165mg performed well as a predictor of 24-hr ≥ 300mg, with the benefit of a shorter evaluation time. The high negative predictive value of PCR suggests that it may be most useful in identifying patients that do not have 24-hr ≥ 300mg. Use of both these tests can be considered in the evaluation and management of patients with suspected preeclampsia.
The structure of ion implanted ceramics

Abstract The structure of ion implanted ceramics may be crystalline with large concentrations of point defects, point defect clusters, and dislocations, or it may be amorphous. The details of the implanted microstructure depend upon the implantation parameters including ion species, fluence, and substrate temperature. For a given set of implantation parameters, the as-implanted microstructure depends upon the type of chemical bonding present in the ceramic. A second level of structure is the distribution of the implanted ions between substitutional and interstitial lattice sites and among various residual charge states. The amorphous state may contain different short-range order for different implanted ion species. Recent results for these various effects are reviewed.
AN EXPERIMENTALLY VERIFIED VARIABLE-RELUCTANCE MACHINE MODEL IMPLEMENTED IN THE SABER™ CIRCUIT SIMULATOR

ABSTRACT This paper presents an experimentally verified model for a variable-reluctance machine (VRM), implemented in the MAST™modeling language for use with the Saber® circuit simulator. The Saber model is based on a previously developed analytic model of the VRM which summarizes the terminal magnetization characteristics of the VRM. Saber output is compared to experimental data at two different operating points to demonstrate the ability of the simulator to accurately predict VRM operation over a wide range of operating conditions. The paper includes a discussion of the commutation and current regulation templates which are needed to support VRM simulation.
DSYSTM: A Basic Computer Program for the Causal Analysis of Contingency Data

DSYSTM is an interactive BASIC program designed to perform a linear-graph analysis of contingency table data. The method, which follows that described by Davis (1976), is termed "d-systems analysis." The program handles polytomous variables, both prior and dependent. Data may be submitted interactively or stored and appended as data-sets. The input consists of tables of frequencies or proportions and the output includes parameter estimates and test statistics. The program is especially suitable for the analysis of change models.
Mechanism for gastric accumulation of meperidine and effect of antacid.

The effect of hydrogen ion activity (pH) on the degree of meperidine sequestration in gastric contents was studied in 15 patients. Those patients with higher gastric juice cH+(lower pH) showed greater accumulation with time. At a cH+ more than 10,000 nmol/l, (pH 7) gastric concentrations remained low, being only slightly greater than those of plasma. Oral administration of antacid may be a practical method for preventing sequestration of meperidine in gastric juice.
Repatriation transitions: psychological preparedness, cultural identity, and attributions among American managers

Abstract The research examined preparedness for repatriation, cultural identity change, and attributions of causality on the repatriation experience. Forty-four American managers returning from 6 months to 4 years abroad participated in the study. In line with the predictions, preparedness for repatriation and cultural identity change predicted repatriation distress. Those repatriates who were the least prepared and had the most cultural identity change experienced more severe repatriate distress. Additionally, confirming a third hypothesis, sojourners attributed the cause of the distress more to situational locus of causality, more to external control and less to personal control. Preparedness and repatriation experience were assessed by several new author-designed measures. The repatriation preparedness scale, the psychological subscale of the repatriation experience assessment, and a scale of self-change as an outcome of overseas living were highly internally consistent.