cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a gynecologic brachytherapy curriculum and simulation modules to improve radiation oncology trainees’ skills and confidence

Abstract Purpose Brachytherapy in the management of cervical cancer is directly linked to improved survival. Unfortunately, we continue to see a decline in its utilization. A recent survey of U.S. residents demonstrated limited caseload as the greatest barrier to achieving independence in brachytherapy practice. To improve residents’ brachytherapy skills and confidence in performing brachytherapy independently, a gynecologic brachytherapy simulation course was developed and tested. Methods and Materials The gynecologic brachytherapy curriculum and simulation modules were developed using a combination of didactic education, self-study, practicums, and patient-centered cases. The simulation modules consisted of 2-h sessions. The first hour occurred within a simulated OR environment, where residents independently performed all aspects of applicator insertion in a cadaver model. The second hour consisted of contouring, dosimetric planning, and treatment evaluation. A brachytherapy training survey developed by the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology was given before and after the course. Results The perceived ability to perform brachytherapy independently for a given disease site correlated directly with number of cases performed. Most residents believed that after performing five cases they would be capable of performing additional cases independently (10 of 18). All strongly agreed (8 of 18) or agreed (10 of 18) this to be true after 15 cases. Compared with survey data before the brachytherapy simulation course, trainees felt that their ability to independently perform brachytherapy (p Conclusions A brachytherapy simulation course can be used to gain further experience in a controlled environment. Our results demonstrate that gynecologic brachytherapy simulation increased trainees’ confidence in performing the procedures independently.
Clinical outcomes and inflammatory marker levels in patients with Covid-19 and obesity at an inner-city safety net hospital.

Objectives Patients with Covid-19 and obesity have worse clinical outcomes which may be driven by increased inflammation. This study aimed to characterize the association between clinical outcomes in patients with obesity and inflammatory markers. Methods We analyzed data for patients aged ≥18 years admitted with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine the association between BMI and intensive care unit (ICU) transfer and all-cause mortality. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], ferritin, and D-dimer) were compared between patients with and without obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2). Results Of 791 patients with Covid-19, 361 (45.6%) had obesity. In multivariate analyses, BMI ≥35 was associated with a higher odds of ICU transfer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.388 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.074–5.310) and hospital mortality (aOR = 4.3, 95% CI: 1.69–10.82). Compared to those with BMI<30, patients with obesity had lower ferritin (444 vs 637 ng/mL; p<0.001) and lower D-dimer (293 vs 350 mcg/mL; p = 0.009), non-significant differences in CRP (72.8 vs 84.1 mg/L, p = 0.099), and higher LDH (375 vs 340, p = 0.009) on the first hospital day. Conclusions Patients with obesity were more likely to have poor outcomes even without increased inflammation.
Negative correlation between average speed and average turning angle naturally arises for sparsely sampled cell movement data

Mechanisms regulating cell movement are not fully understood. One major feature that may allow cells to displace far from an initial location is persistence, the ability to perform movements in a direction similar to the previous movement direction. The level of cell persistence is determined by the turning angles (angles between two sequential movement vectors). Several recent studies, including one in eLife \cite{Jerison.e20}, found that a cell9s average speed and average turning angle are negatively correlated, and suggested a fundamental cell-intrinsic movement program whereby cells with lower turning ability are intrinsically faster. Using simulations, we show that a negative correlation between the measured average cell9s speed and average turning angle naturally arises due to sampling when the frequency of sampling is lower than that of the cell9s decisions to change movement direction. Interestingly, assuming heterogeneity in the cell9s persistence ability (determined by the concentration parameter of the von Mises-Fisher distribution) but not in the cell9s speed results in high differences in measured average speed per cell and a strong negative correlation between cell9s speed and average turning angle. Our results thus suggest that the observed negative correlation between a cell9s speed and turning angle need not arise due to cell9s intrinsic program, but can be a simple consequence of experimental measurements. Additional analyses show, however, that while theoretically it is possible to discriminate between the alternatives when recording cell movements at high frequencies, experimentally high imaging frequencies are associated with increased noise, and this represents a major barrier to determine whether a cell-intrinsic correlation between cell9s speed and its turning ability truly exists.
RV Failure in Pulmonary Hypertension Amplified by Secondary Hemochromatosis

Introduction A 38-year-old female with history of beta thalassemia requiring several blood transfusions yearly presented with fatigue and dyspnea. Case Report Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed severe RV dysfunction and severe tricuspid regurgitation (figure 1) with elevated estimated RV systolic pressure. A presumptive diagnosis of right heart failure secondary to PH was made and the patient was empirically started on PH-specific therapy. The PH team was consulted. Careful review of the TTE revealed several features that were inconsistent with a RV failing due to high afterload. Systolic interventricular septal flattening occurs when the RV is being subjected to a high pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Notching of the RV outflow tract (RVOT) Doppler and earlier time to peak velocity (acceleration time) occurs with high pulmonary arterial impedance. None of these features were present on TTE. Right heart catheterization was confirmatory, demonstrating right atrial pressure 19 mmHg, pulmonary artery pressure 33/22 mmHg, wedge pressure 8 mmHg, PVR 4 Woods units, and cardiac index 2.6 L/min/m2. The degree of RV dysfunction was felt to be out of proportion to the degree of PH. Taken together with frequent premature ventricular contractions, cardiac MRI was performed to evaluate for another etiology of RV failure. T2 measurements were consistent with cardiac iron overload (figure 1). Serum ferritin was 26,713 ng/mL. Secondary hemochromatosis was diagnosed due to frequent blood transfusions for thalassemia management. The patient underwent IV iron chelation therapy with improvement in RV function and tricuspid regurgitation. Summary The severity of RV failure should be interpreted relative to the severity of PVR elevation in PH. Septal position and RVOT Doppler assessment on TTE can provide valuable insight into the physiology and mechanism of right ventricular failure. This case demonstrates this application, with subsequent use of MRI to confirm a rare diagnosis of RV failure due to secondary hemochromatosis
VEHICLE SIZING MODEL FOR BUS TRANSIT NETWORKS

An iterative procedure to select vehicle sizes for the routes of a bus system with a given network configuration and origin-destination demand matrix is presented. The procedure starts by assigning a set of initial route service frequencies to compute route-level descriptors through a transit trip assignment model. The vehicle size for each route is computed analytically by a mathematical model that minimizes the total cost (operator cost and user cost) of each individual bus route. Revised frequencies are determined by applying a maximum allowed load factor consistent with the calculated vehicle sizes. The procedure terminates when frequencies of two consecutive iterations converge. The model is illustrated through a case application to the existing transit system in Austin, Texas. The result confirms the potential benefits of using variable vehicle sizes on different routes. However, the number of vehicle sizes in a system should be limited to avoid operational complexity and associated maintenance costs. In general, it appears that smaller buses could be operated on most of the bus routes in most North American cities to provide better service quality and lower operator cost.
Report Prepared for the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights Regarding the Verdict of the Khamovnichesky District Court of the City of Moscow Against M.B. Khodorkovsky and P.L. Lebedev , Criminal Case N 1-23/10, 27 December 2010

This report resulted from an invitation received on April 1, 2011 from the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights "to participate in an independent public expert analaysis of official documents and proceedings in the recent criminal case concerning M.B. Khodorkovsky and P.L. Lebedev, who were convicted by a judgment announced on December 27, 2010." The report was submitted to the Council on October 1, 2011. It was the only report submitted from the United States, the other reports having been sought and received from scholars in Russia, Germany, and the Netherlands.On December 21, 2011, the Council released this report in Russian along with the reports of the other scholars. On the basis of these reports, the Council recommended that legal proceedings begin to annul the convictions. This report evaluates the verdict in the case for compliance with Russia's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. The report concludes that the verdict in this case reveals violations of the defendants' human rights protected under Articles 3, 6 and 7 of the Convention and that other Convention rights also may have been violated.
ACTIVE-ating Artificial Intelligence: Integrating Active Learning in an Introductory Course

his column describes my experience with using a new classroom space (the ACTIVE Center), which was designed to facilitate group-based active learning and problem solving, to teach an introductory artificial intelligence course. By restructuring the course into a format that was roughly half lecture and half small-group problem-solving, I was able to significantly increase student engagement, their understanding and retention of difficult concepts, and my own enjoyment in teaching the class.
“gRpas”, a tool for performance testing and analysis

This paper presents “gRpas”, a tool written in Java and designed to help analyzing test results from scientific computing applications. “gRpas” stands for “gather Results / plot, analyze, and store”. As one of its main features, the tool is easy to interface with the user program. Furthermore it provides for one click data filtering and plot generation, effective graphical display of program output, and statistical report generation on algorithm results and performance. gRpas also has built-in functionality for comparison testing between two or more algorithms or algorithm versions. We will present examples of its use with parallel multivariate integration routines. However, its target applications cover a wide class of scientific computing programs.
Lessons Learned from UV Absorption Lines at z=0

Insights from UV absorption lines that arise from gas in our own galaxy help us to interpret the composition of very distant gas systems that are seen in QSO spectra. For instance, what we know about the depletions of free atoms as they condense onto dust grains nearby can be applied elsewhere, so that we can differentiate between low intrinsic heavy element abundances and the effects of such depletions. Experience from recent, very sensitive observations indicate that some elements created by the r- and s-process neutron capture nucleosynthesis may show absorption features in other systems at about the 1 mA level. The abundance of chlorine in neutral form is strongly enhanced by the presence of H2. Thus a detectable Cl I absorption at 1347 A should persuade us to search for and study the Lyman and Werner bands of this important molecule. Finally, in the course of vigorous research by many investigators in the field of UV absorption line spectroscopy, we have learned some important lessons on methodology and how to lessen the impact of errors.
Isolation and characterization of three endosomal fractions from the liver of normal rats after lipoprotein loading.

In earlier research we isolated and characterized three endosomal fractions from livers of estradiol-treated rats (1987. Belcher et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 84: 6785; 1989. Jackle et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 86: 1880). We now describe the isolation of comparable endosomal fractions from untreated rats. The fraction of lowest density was composed almost exclusively of lipoprotein-filled multivesicular bodies (MVBs); the intermediate density fraction was composed of smaller lipoprotein-filled vesicles that were also multivesicular and had more numerous membranous appendages; the fraction of highest density was composed of membranes resembling the appendages of the two vesicular fractions. The paucity of contamination of these fractions with nonendosomal organelles is supported by their ultrastructural characteristics and by the proteins, lipids, and marker enzymes of their membranes. Only small amounts of MVBs could be separated from untreated rats not given a load of lipoproteins. However, after injection of large amounts of beta-very low density lipoproteins (beta-VLDL) from cholesterol-fed rabbits, the mass of MVBs increased dramatically. Under these conditions radiolabeled beta-VLDL and epidermal growth factor taken up by the liver accumulated in isolated endosomes at rates similar to those found for LDL in estradiol-treated rats. Although chylomicrons and chylomicron remnants were rapidly taken up by the liver of normal rats, chylomicrons and chylomicron remnants accumulated in endosomes at a lower rate than beta-VLDL. These findings, which differ from earlier data in estradiol-treated rats (1989 Jackle et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 86: 1880) that showed equivalent rates of processing of chylomicron remnants and beta-VLDL, suggest that extracellular processing of chylomicron remnants in the liver normally ; precedes endocytosis.
Genetic Analysis of the Bacteriophage λ attL Nucleoprotein Complex

Site-specific recombination in bacteriophage λ involves interactions among proteins required for integration and excision of DNA molecules. We have analyzed the elements required to form an in vivo nucleoprotein complex of integrase (Int) and integration host factor (IHF). Interaction of Int with the core (the site of strand exchange) is stabilized by the flanking arm region of attL. IHF, in addition to Int, is required for efficient Int-core binding. We used the in vivo attL binding assay to characterize several Int variants for their abilities to form stable attL complexes. Substitution of Int active site tyrosine 342 by phenylalanine had no effect on the ability of the protein to form attL complexes. Three other amino acids that are completely conserved in the integrase family of recombinases (arginine 212, histidine 308, and arginine 311) were separately substituted by glutamine, leucine, and histidine, respectively. In each case, the mutant protein was altered in its ability to form attL complexes while retaining its ability to bind to the λ arm-type sites. We propose that, in addition to their role in catalysis, this triad of amino acids helps the Int protein to interact with the λ core sites.
Cold Temperature Episode at Seedling and Flowering Stages Reduces Growth and Yield Components in Sorghum

Cold temperature is one of the major abiotic constraints to sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production in the United States. Though the effect on germination and establishment are well documented, the impact of the stress on adult plant traits is not known. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of cold temperature at two growth stages and identify genetic sources of tolerance for use in breeding programs. Three genotypes, Shan Qui red (tolerant), SrN39 (susceptible), and pioneer 84G62, were subjected to two temperature regimes, cold temperature [15°C (day) and 13°C (night)] and control temperature [25°C (day) and 23°C (night)], at seedling and flowering stages using growth chambers, and the stresses lasted 10 d. Another 136 accessions were evaluated in the field under cold and control temperatures imposed by varying planting dates. Data were collected on emergence, seedling growth parameters, phenology, and yield components. Early season cold stress reduced seedling vigor (3.4 vs. 1.2) and leaf chlorophyll content (28.83 vs. 36.59) and delayed flowering and maturity by 8 and 4 d, respectively, but had no effect on yield components and plant height. Stress at flowering stage delayed maturity by 9 d and significantly reduced all yield components. The effect of cold stress at seedling stage may not be critical to yield provided that emergence is not affected. Stress at flowering, however, may be detrimental and the effects seem irreversible. Kansas State Univ., Dep. of Agronomy, Manhattan, KS 66506. Received 10 Dec. 2011. *Corresponding author (ttesso@ksu.edu). Abbreviations: SQR, Shan Qui Red; TKW, thousand kernel weight. Published in Crop Sci. 53:564–574 (2013). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2011.12.0649 © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.
The inheritance of pheromone production in the sulphur butterflies Colias eurytheme and C. Philodice

The inheritance of male pheromone production in the sulphur butterflies Colias eurytheme and C. philodice was determined by gas chromatographic analyses of wing extracts from various genotypes derived from interspecific crosses. A wing ultraviolet-reflectance pattern (found only in C eurytheme males) which is controlled by an X-linked gene served as a marker for determining the relative influence of this chromosome v. the autosomes on pheromone production. The data indicate that production of the most important C. philodice wing compounds, three different n-hexyl esters, is controlled by one or more autosomal genes that are at least codominant. The X-chromosome carries most of the genes or the gene controlling production of the most important C. eurytheme compound, 13-methyl heptacosane. Expression of this compound in hybrids displays a codominant pattern. Because the wing ultraviolet-reflectance pattern of male C. eurytheme is an important courtship signal, it appears that all of the genes controlling the male courtship signals of this species are inherited as a co-adapted gene complex on the X-chromosome. The evolution of X-chromosomal control of both the visual (wing UV-reflectance pattern) and olfactory (13-methyl heptacosane) components of the courtship communication system of C. eurytheme is discussed and compared to the mode of inheritance of other communication systems.
MS analysis of nucleic acids in the post-genomic era

The completion of the Human Genome Project, which is widely regarded as one of the most significant accomplishments at the turn of the new millennium, was fueled by the development of analytical technologies capable of performing high-throughput sequencing of nucleic acids (NAs) with high accuracy and low cost.1 In the post-genomic era, the challenge is to elucidate the function of the vast majority of the genome sequence, estimated to comprise ~98.5% of the total 3 billion base pairs, that does not code for proteins.2 The observation that well-defined 3D structures determine catalytic RNA and riboswitch biological function has led to the realization that sequence information alone is not sufficient to explain the function of noncoding elements. This realization has sharply increased the need for diversified experimental approaches to annotate the enormous body of genetic information accumulated over the years by large-scale sequencing projects. By virtue of its versatility in biopolymer analysis and breadth of accessible information, MS is poised to play a major role in the investigation of the structure–function relationships of noncoding elements. Unique among the platforms employed for NA analysis, MS can analyze the covalent adducts and noncovalent complexes of all classes of biopolymers, which are readily recognizable from their characteristic mass signatures. This versatility offers the opportunity of pursuing the direct characterization of functional assemblies without requiring antibodies, specific staining, or radioactive/fluorescent labels. Modest sample consumption facilitates the exploration of systems that are not amenable to overexpression or amplification by reverse transcription and PCR. In addition to ligand identity and stoichiometry, MS can also offer a direct assessment of binding activity, which is critical to understand the mechanism of action of functional assemblies. This Feature provides a brief overview of the different aspects of MS technologies that make them well-suited for NA studies and summarizes cutting-edge applications that illustrate the yet unfulfilled potential in different areas of NA research.
Three-dimensional heat transfer and fluid exchange through single-hole baffles in industry hydrothermal autoclaves

Hydrothermal growth is the industrial method of preference to synthesize high-quality single crystals. The growth vessels, called autoclaves, are cylindrical containers filled with solutions of the crystal material. Under normal conditions, the fluid flows are three-dimensional. A baffle is used to partition the container into two chambers. This paper presents a systematic investigation on the transports through the baffle openings. Results indicate that a single-hole baffle is effective in controlling the fluid exchange and heat transfer between the two chambers. A smaller baffle opening establishes more uniform temperatures in the chambers. The flow structure shows that there is a pair of flow streams across the baffle opening. However, the heat exchange carried by this pair of streams, as well as heat exchange through molecular diffusion, is small. The transport through baffle opening is dominated by turbulence diffusion. Further heat transfer analysis shows that the characteristic length scale in industry growth vessels is a combination of the diameter of the baffle opening, the diameter of the autoclave, and the height of the chambers.
SKELETAL, INTESTINAL AND RENAL CALCIUM DYNAMICS IN HYPERPARATHYROIDISM.

The effects of parathyroid hormone on bone formation, bone resorption, intestinal absorption of calcium and renal tubular transport of calcium and phosphorus have been evaluated before and after treatment in 2 patients with parathyroid adenomas and in a third with a hyperparathyroid-like state secondary to a localized bronchogenic carcinoma. All patients underwent simultaneous 9-day balance and calcium47 kinetic studies. Renal clearances of creatinine and phosphorus were determined in all and the clearance of ultrafiltrable calcium in one. Bone formation and resorption ranged from slightly low to 4 times normal in the hyperparathyroid state. Bone resorption promptly fell after removing both parathyroid adenomas, as suggested by an immediate fall in serum calcium in 2 patients. Intestinal absorption of calcium was increased in all and promptly fell after treatment. The renal tubular reabsorption of phosphorus rose in all patients after treatment, and the renal tubular reabsorption of calcium transiently fe...
Cytokine networks in Pemphigus vulgaris: An integrated viewpoint

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune bullous skin disease where tolerance to the desmosomal protein desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), and perhaps additional epidermal targets, is lost, leading to the production of autoantibodies directed against cellular adhesion molecules. As auto-reactive T cells are involved in the induction and maintenance of antibody production, it has been hypothesized that cytokines play a crucial role in disease pathogenesis. Qualitative and quantitative alterations in cytokine profiles have been previously reported; however, despite recent advancements, the characterization of the disease supporting cytokine network in PV has yet to be fully elucidated. It is overwhelmingly suggested that PV is a TH2-mediated disease, confirmed by the majority of studies demonstrating an increase in TH2-type cytokines. Recently, a focus has been placed on the contribution of the newly discovered TH17 subset to autoimmune states, and current evidence suggests that this inflammatory pathway may play a role ...
Sub-optimal Convergence of Non-symmetric Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for Odd Polynomial Approximations

We numerically verify that the non-symmetric interior penalty Galerkin method and the Oden-Babus?ka-Baumann method have sub-optimal convergence properties when measured in the L 2-norm for odd polynomial approximations. We provide numerical examples that use piece-wise linear and cubic polynomials to approximate a second-order elliptic problem in one and two dimensions.
Formation and Collapse of Single-Monomer-Thick Monolayers of Poly(n-butyl acrylate) at the Air―Water Interface

The behavior of poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA) spread at the air−water interface has been studied for a full range of surface coverages and several molecular weights. At low and intermediate surface coverages, the surface pressure−area isotherm behavior of the polymer is found to follow the expected scaling laws. In the dilute regime the pressure is an increasing function of surface coverage and a decreasing function of molecular weight. In the semidilute regime the surface pressure becomes independent of molecular weight, and a Flory exponent for the two-dimensional radius of gyration is found to be ν = 0.57 ± 0.02. Beginning in the high coverage concentrated regime, at a surface pressure of around 15 mN/m, and through the full coverage regime (where the water in the subphase is fully covered and not exposed to air), X-ray reflectivity (XR) measurements show the formation of a continuous water-free monolayer (i.e., one monomer thick) film of the polymer. At surface concentrations above the transition poin...
II—James Woodward: Mechanistic Explanation: Its Scope and Limits

This paper, part of an Aristotelian Society (2013) symposium with John Dupre, explores the question of whether all or most explanations in biology are, or ideally should be, ‘mechanistic’. I begin by providing an account of mechanistic explanation, making use of the interventionist ideas about causation I have developed elsewhere. This account emphasizes the way in which mechanistic explanations, at least in the biological sciences, integrate difference-making and spatio-temporal information, and exhibit what I call fine-tunedness of organization. I also emphasize the role played by modularity conditions in mechanistic explanation. I will then argue, in agreement with Dupre, that, given this account, it is plausible that many biological systems require explanations that are relatively non-mechanical or depart from expectations one associates with the behaviour of machines
Effects of ACTH(1−24) on single unit activity in the brainstem of the rat

Abstract Central administration of corticotropin-like peptides generally blocks the analgesic action of opiate ligands, yet it is unclear whether this is due to an independent hyperalgesic action of corticotropin or to some other mechanism. Single cells in the ventromedial medulla of the anaesthetized rat were characterized as either excited by noxious stimuli or inhibited. Injections of ACTH(1–24) excited cells that were excited by noxious stimuli and inhibited cells that were inhibited by noxious stimuli. The results support an independent role for corticotropin-like peptides in pain-modulating mechanisms.
Learning from Bion's legacy to groups

Bion's creativity is discussed in the context of the 20th Century's socio-political challenges, chaos and violence. Major misunderstandings and misconstructions of his theoretical contribution as w...
Regression Analysis Based on the Signs of the Residuals

Abstract Consider the regression model Y i = f(X i ) + E i, in which the errors are independent and have median 0. Then H 0: f ≡ h may be rejected for large values of , where S i = sgn(Y i — h(X i )) and γ ij = 1 or 0 according as X i and X j are in some sense “close” or not. The distribution of Q under H 0 can be obtained exactly by complete enumeration, or approximately using easily calculated moments; confidence regions for f or its parameters can be obtained by inverting the test. Certain tests in the literature are special cases.
Permanent transvenous pacemaker implantation in forty dogs

Permanent transvenous cardiac pacemakers were implanted in 40 dogs. Electrocardiographic diagnoses included persistent atrial standstill (3 dogs), sick sinus syndrome (8 dogs), and high-grade second-degree or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block (29 dogs). Thirteen dogs were alive and well 4 to 42 months after pacemaker implantation (mean, 16.9 months). The mean and median survival times of the 26 dogs that died or were euthanatized during the study were 17.9 months and 13 months, respectively. Most of these dogs succumbed to problems unrelated to the arrhythmia and pacemaker implant. One dog was lost to follow-up. Complications associated with permanent transvenous pacemaker implantation included lead dislodgement, infection, hematoma formation, skeletal muscle stimulation, ventricular arrhythmia, migration of the pulse generator, and skin erosion. Lead dislodgement was the most common complication, occurring in 7 of 9 dogs paced using untined electrode leads and in 6 of 30 dogs paced using tined leads. Lead dislodgement did not occur in the only dog paced using an actively fixed endocardial lead. It was concluded that permanent transvenous cardiac pacing is a feasible, less traumatic alternative to epimyocardial pacing in dogs, but that successful use of this technique requires careful implantation technique and anticipation of the potential complications.
The Effects of Temporal Modulation on the Oblique Effect in Humans

Contrast thresholds were measured for vertical and oblique grating patterns. As shown previously, at higher spatial frequencies sensitivity for vertical is much greater than that for oblique. Present results show that this difference in sensitivity is found only with low rates of temporal modulation; with higher temporal frequencies this orientation difference disappears. Moreover, when contrast thresholds are based on the perception of flicker, vertical and oblique sensitivities are essentially identical even at low flicker rates. These results indicate that the so-called ‘oblique effect’ is confined to mechanisms with poor temporal resolving power, probably the sustained channels which have been studied psychophysically and neurophysiologically by others.
Degraders and ionization cooling

Procedures are given for minimizing the increase in phase space when a beam is degraded, with and without an axial magnetic field and in a lithium lens. Optimum focusing of the beam onto the degrader is recommended. The transverse diffusion of the beam is as important as the spread in angle, so high density, low Z materials such as diamond and boron carbide are the best. For chaotic beams, focusing by increasing axial fields is suitable and the corresponding acceptance is calculated. Ionization cooling of muon beams by various materials is compared for typical cases.
A bifunctional, site-isolated metal-organic framework-based tandem catalyst.

Herein, we present the synthesis of a metal–organic framework-based tandem catalyst that contains two distinct catalytic domains. Zn(II)-based IRMOF-9-Irdcppy-NH2 (IRMOF = isoreticular metal–organic framework) has both organocatalytic amine and organometallic Ir(I) groups that were incorporated by both pre- and postsynthetic functionalization methods. The isolated amine and Ir(I) sites of IRMOF-9-Irdcppy-NH2 are shown to be independently catalytically active for performing a Knoevenagel condensation and allylic N-alkylation, respectively. More importantly, IRMOF-9-Irdcppy-NH2 can act as a tandem catalyst for both of these organic transformations in a one-pot reaction, which cannot be achieved efficiently using the combined, homogeneous analogues.
The Essential Adenosine Stacking in a Two-Base-Pair Minimal Kissing Complex

A stable RNA helix requires at least three base pairs. Surprisingly, a tertiary kissing complex formed between two GACG hairpin loops contains only two GC pairs. In the NMR structure of this complex, the two flanking adenosines stack on the kissing GC pair. This observation raised a possibility that the 5'-dangling adenines contribute to the formation and stability of the kissing interaction. To test this hypothesis, we took a two-pronged approach to examine the effects of various mutational and chemical modifications of the flanking adenosines on the folding of the kissing complex. using mass spectrometry, we studied dimerization of various kissing hairpins. using optical tweezers, we monitored mechanical unfolding of intramolecular kissing complexes at single-molecule level. In both experiments, replacing either adenine with a uridine abolished the kissing interaction, suggesting that a minimal kissing complex must contain two GC pairs flanked by inter-strand stacking adenines. The stabilizing effect by the adenines can be explained by the fact that the stacking purine nucleobases shield the hydrogen bonds of the adjacent GC pairs, preventing them from fraying. Unlike in the context of secondary structure, the 5'-unpaired adenines in the tertiary structure are structurally constrained in a way that allows for effective stacking onto the adjacent base pairs.
REVASCULARIZATION TRENDS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS AND MULTIVESSEL CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE PRESENTING WITH NON-ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: INSIGHTS FROM THE NCDR®

Current guidelines recommend CABG over PCI in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and multivessel CAD (mvCAD). However, the revascularization decision in these patients may differ in the setting of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). We sought to study temporal trends in the management
AIDS and Reproductive Decisions: Having Children in Fear and Trembling

Women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) face a 20-30% risk of transmitting the virus perinatally and 25-30% of infected infants die before 2 years of age. The phenomenon of growing numbers of HIV-infected women in the US raises complex ethical questions about the individual rights of these women to reproductive freedom versus the societal goal of reducing the spread of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Proposed is a model for assessment of the ethical dimensions of reproductive choices comprised of 4 elements: 1) the ability and willingness of parents to assume proper responsibility for the child 2) the magnitude of the threatened harm 3) the probability that harm will actually occur and 4) the burden that parents must assume to avert the threatened harm. The risks of perinatal HIV infection lie on the margins of societal acceptability yet careful moral scrutiny is called for on a case-by-case basis. Use of the above model would suggest justification for an asymptomatic women recently infected with HIV married to an uninfected man who is committed to raising a child with the help of a large extended family and opposed to abortion to continue with her pregnancy. On the other hand the model would not support continuation of pregnancy in the case of a homeless drug addict in poor health whose previous children have been placed in foster care. Also problematic is determination of the type of counseling that should be provided to HIV-positive women. Most appropriate at this time appears to be a moral education model of nondirective counseling aimed at providing support to a womans choice after she has pondered all the ethical dilemmas posed by reproduction.
Management of refractory overactive bladder

Overactive bladder has significant impact on a patient’s quality of life. Conservative and pharmacologic management are effective in most patients. Whereas treatment options were limited many years ago for patients who failed first-line therapy, there are now multiple minimally invasive options for them. Detrusor injection of botulinum toxin, which is not yet officially approved for the treatment of idiopathic overactive bladder, significantly improves patient’s symptoms and quality of life, and is well tolerated. Two types of neuromodulation are also available: posterior tibial nerve stimulation and sacral nerve stimulation. Promising new medications are in the pipeline. For those who do not respond to the minimally invasive options, augmentation cystoplasty or urinary diversion remain options.
Mycotoxicoses: Toxic Fungi in Tobaccos

Cigarette, cigar, and pipe tobaccos contain Alternaria spores and dematiaceous mycelia, with cigarette tobaccos being more heavily laden. A smoke aerosol generated from hay on which the fungus had been cultured caused, among other pathologic changes, pulmonary emphysema in mice.
Effects of maternal employment patterns on adolescents' substance use and other risk-taking behaviors

Employment for mothers with school-age children has generated great concern regarding its possible harmful effects on adolescents and their families. We examined the influence of maternal employment on the risk-taking behavior of adolescents in two-parent families. Three hundred and eighty-nine high school students completed a 48-item survey in which they indicated their mother's and father's employment patterns, and their own risk-taking behaviors (e.g., substance use, driving while under the influence). Results showed no significant effects of maternal employment on adolescent risk-taking behaviors.
Acceleration of chemo-sensory information processing using transient features

Abstract A snapshot from the steady-state response of chemical sensors conveys, on average, more mature and relevant information regarding the analyte than a snapshot from the transient can provide. Nevertheless, time constraints in many applications make it infeasible to wait for and extract steady-state features. Substituting them by transient ones is the only viable solution to accelerate odor processing. Based on measurements recorded from metal-oxide sensors, we point to a correlation between a transient feature and the steady-state resistance that are observed in response to fixed analyte concentration. We utilize this correlation to expedite standard quantification and classification substantially while ensuring the performance that the steady-state feature can provide.
Interocular transfer of adaptation to spatial frequency during retinal ischaemia.

PROLONGED inspection of a grating pattern of repetitive light and dark contours produces a transient reduction in the visibility of low-contrast gratings the spatial frequency and orientation of which are similar to that of the inspected grating. This after-effect, often referred to as adaptation, occurs even when one eye performs the inspection and its partner is tested. Certain properties of this after-effect, with other data, suggest that its locus is visual cortex1–7, but the evidence is largely indirect because of the difficulty of identifying sites of action within the stages of the human visual system. One of the few techniques available for inferentially partitioning the visual system stages is retinal pressure blinding, a heroic but effective method for functionally uncoupling the retina from higher stages8–11.
Designing Common-Mode (CM) EMI Noise Cancellation Without Y-Capacitor

It is well known that common-mode (CM) conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) is caused by the common-mode current flowing through the parasitic capacitance of transistors, diodes, and transformers to ground in the power circuit. We need to attenuate this noise to avoid the interface with the other system. Conventionally it should be achieved from adding a magnetic choke and capacitors into across input power line, which will be affecting cost increase for power supply area. To reduce total cost of power supply, there has been in recent years a desire to introduce noise cancellation technique. Also recent safety requirement has been tightened. So, medical equipment, handheld, and portable equipment should be able to have a limitation of leakage current. Connecting a Y-capacitor between the primary return line terminal and the secondary return line terminal is a very common measure in EMI design for an isolated switching mode power supply. However, it has still a cost increase and too much leakage current flowing through transformer. This paper shows how to reduce leakage inductance with noise cancellation technique and EMI performance data with test result for less than 10W application.
Artists and subversive metadata

This article will explore information design as a form of contemporary artistic practice and how artistic and philosophical concepts such as the “performative utterance” operate at the edges of metadata and large-scale technology projects such as the Semantic Web. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radio surf in polar ice: A new method of ultrahigh energy neutrino detection

We explore a new mechanism for detection of neutrino-induced showers via surface waves at radio frequencies. Air-dielectric surface waves exist on a plane boundaries that have attenuation lengths 2.82 that of the dielectric, and their amplitudes fall only by the inverse square root of propagation distance. Allowing for substantial coupling uncertainties, surface waves may provide a useful mechanism for neutrino detection in polar ice, promoting the development of neutrino telescopes in the energy regime above 10{sup 15} eV.
Science Language Accommodation in Elementary School Read-Alouds

This study examines the pedagogical functions of accommodation (i.e. provision of simplified science speech) in science read-aloud sessions facilitated by five elementary teachers. We conceive of read-alouds as communicative events wherein teachers, faced with the task of orally delivering a science text of relatively high linguistic complexity, open up an alternate channel of communication, namely oral discussion. By doing so, teachers grant students access to a simplified linguistic input, a strategy designed to promote student comprehension of the textual contents of children's science books. It was found that nearly half (46%) of the read-aloud time was allotted to discussions with an increased percentage of less sophisticated words and reduced use of more sophisticated vocabulary than found in the books through communicative strategies such as simplified rewording, simplified definition, and simplified questioning. Further, aloud reading of more linguistically complex books required longer periods of...
A comparison of the effects of strontium chloride and calcium chloride on alveolar bone.

Both strontium and calcium, in high local concentrations, stimulate bone formation. The newly formed bone is no more subject to osteoclastic attack than normal bone. The bone response to response to calcium in that the response is faster but of shorter duration. The response to both strontium and calcium is repetitive.
Experimental demonstration of light-assisted, templated self assembly using photonic-crystal slabs

We demonstrate experimentally that the near field of a photonic-crystal slab can be used to trap square arrays of nanoparticles. This process of light-assisted, templated, self assembly exploits the guided-resonance mode of the photonic crystal for force enhancement.
Targeting Aβ and tau in Alzheimer's disease, an early interim report

The amyloid beta (Abeta) and tau proteins, which misfold, aggregate, and accumulate in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, are implicated as central factors in a complex neurodegenerative cascade. Studies of mutations that cause early onset AD and promote Abeta accumulation in the brain strongly support the notion that inhibiting Abeta aggregation will prevent AD. Similarly, genetic studies of frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17 MAPT) showing that mutations in the MAPT gene encoding tau lead to abnormal tau accumulation and neurodegeneration. Such genetic studies clearly show that tau dysfunction and aggregation can be central to neurodegeneration, however, most likely in a secondary fashion in relation to AD. Additional pathologic, biochemical, and modeling studies further support the concept that Abeta and tau are prime targets for disease modifying therapies in AD. Treatment strategies aimed at preventing the aggregation and accumulation of Abeta, tau, or both proteins should therefore be theoretically possible, assuming that treatment can be initiated before either irreversible damage is present or downstream, self-sustaining, pathological cascades have been initiated. Herein, we will review recent advances and also potential setbacks with respect to the myriad of therapeutic strategies that are designed to slow down, prevent, or clear the accumulation of either "pathological" Abeta or tau. We will also discuss the need for thoughtful prioritization with respect to clinical development of the preclinically validated modifiers of Abeta and tau pathology. The current number of candidate therapies targeting Abeta is becoming so large that a triage process is clearly needed to insure that resources are invested in a way such that the best candidates for disease modifying therapy are rapidly moved toward clinical trials. Finally, we will discuss the challenges for an appropriate "triage" after potential disease modifying therapies targeting tau and Abeta have entered clinical trials.
Palm vein recognition using adaptive Gabor filter

Vein pattern recognition is one of the newest biometric techniques researched today. One of the reliable and robust personal identification authentication approaches using palm vein patterns is presented in this paper. In our work, we consider the palm vein as a piece of texture and apply texture-based feature extraction techniques to palm vein authentication. A Gabor filter provides the optimized resolution in both the spatial and frequency domains, thus it is a basis for extracting local features in the palm vein recognition. However, Gabor filter has many potential parameter combinations to use, and it is a common practice now to use multiple Gabor filters or to determine desired single combination by experience. The overall aim of this work is to discuss the optimization algorithm that determines the best parameter values of a single Gabor filter for palm vein recognition. In order to obtain effective pattern of palm vascular, we proposed an innovative and robust adaptive Gabor filter method to encode the palm vein features in bit string representation. The bit string representation, called VeinCode, offers speedy template matching and enables more effective template storage and retrieval. The similarity of two VeinCodes is measured by normalized Hamming distance. A total of 4140 palm vein images were collected form 207 persons to verify the validity of the proposed palm vein recognition approach. High accuracy has been obtained by the proposed method and the speed of this method is rapid enough for real-time palm vein recognition. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed approach is feasible and effective in palm vein recognition.