cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overview of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock

In recent years, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMO) has proliferated in cardiovascular intensive care units (ICUs) partially due to advances in technology with the development of smaller, more portable machines, and the increasing numbers of patients with end-stage heart failure and cardiogenic shock. The use of ECMO has been found to improve survival rates in this deadly situation. Due to higher volumes of patients requiring ECMO, additional qualified resources for providing ECMO services may be necessary. The purpose of this article was to review cardiogenic shock etiologies, the role of ECMO, and to discuss the transition process of implementing a nurse-run ECMO program.
Persistent chest pain following oral dipyridamole for Thallium 201 myocardial imaging

A patient was admitted to the hospital with acute chest pain. After acute myocardial infarction was ruled out, he underwent a stress thallium 201 scintigraphy using oral dipyridamole and developed persistent angina with ST-segment elevation. This complication has not been reported previously. It is recommended that appropriate intervention be available if severe ischemia develops following administration of dipyridamole for diagnostic imaging.
Nutraceutical roles of dietary fiber.

ABSTRACT Over the years numerous studies have lauded the benefits of a high fiber diet. In fact, fiber along with β-carotene and co-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may be viewed as the emissaries of the modern day nutraceutical and functional foods field. In accordance, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the use of several health claims related to either the specific or general fiber content of a food. Fiberous molecules include the complex carbohydrates cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin, algal polysaccharides and mucilages along with the polyphenolic structural molecule lignin. While by strict definition fiber is not considered dietary essential, the health promoting benefits of higher fiber diet has made this class of nutrients very recognizable in the rapidly developing nutraceutical field. Fiber consumption has been linked in decreased incidence of heart disease, various types of cancer, and diverticulosis. While still controversial, it has also been proposed that fiber m...
Novel adaptive blind-equalizer-order selection scheme for multiple-input multiple-output channels

This paper introduces a novel adaptive finiteimpulse-response (FIR) equalizer-order selection scheme for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. The model-order selection for blind FIR equalizers is determined heuristically but hardly on any theoretical basis. However, this heuristical strategy would often lead to a suboptimal solution. Thus, we design a non-pilot-aided MIMO channel-length estimation scheme and propose a new blind-equalizer-order determination scheme built on such an adaptive channel-length estimation method. Our simulations show that the proposed scheme greatly outperforms the conventional systems using the fixed heuristical model-order selection technique.
Calculating Reversible Potentials for Elementary Reactions in Acid and Base from Model Reaction Energies

Reversible potentials, U°, have been calculated based on reaction energies, Er, for the intermediate steps in the outer-sphere oxygen reduction reaction to water. The working formula is U° = (−Er eV-1 + c) V, where U° is the reversible potential and the reference energy of the electron is −4.6 eV on the physical (vacuum) or 0 V on the hydrogen scale. Results using a 6-31G** basis in the B3LYP hybrid density functional theory are shown to be comparable to ab initio MP2 results obtained previously for acid solution with c = 0.49 for the former and 0.50 for the latter. Both methods are shown to work for basic solution but, unlike in acid, the c values are different, 0.58 for B3LYP and 0.76 for MP2, reflecting differences in the two computational methods in treating anions.
Parasternal mediastinal exploration to evaluate resectability of thoracic neoplasms.

Abstract One hundred thirty-four patients suspected or known to have intrathoracic malignancy underwent parasternal mediastinotomy to establish a tissue diagnosis or evaluate resectability. One hundred five procedures were performed on the right side, 29 on the left. Unresectable tumor extension was documented in 94 patients. Eighteen patients underwent thoracotomy following a negative mediastinal biopsy. Resection was accomplished in 14 of these patients. Parasternal mediastinotomy is indicated when conventional methods of evaluation have failed to provide a tissue diagnosis. It is also useful as a means of assessing resectability in poor-risk patients. The procedure can be done with little danger and is well tolerated by patients.
Immunocytological localization of estrogen in human mammary carcinoma cells by horseradish--anti-horseradish peroxidase complex.

Tissues from 25 female and 2 male patients of mammary carcinoma were examined by the horseradish—anti-horseradish peroxidase complex to localize the presence of estrogen. Carcinoma cells of 10 female and 2 male patients showed positive staining by this technique. The nucleus and the cytoplasmic membrane showed the reaction. This method is useful in identifying the exact location of the hormones or hormone-like substances in the malignant cells and, perhaps, will be of great help in selecting the patients for management.
How ID models help with game-based learning: an examination of the gentry model in a participatory design project

Game-based learning has been a popular development and recommended as an effective pedagogy in educating new generations of learners. Few studies, however, have demonstrated the efficacy of game-based learning on learners’ academic performance with empirical data. The described learning outcomes of game-based pedagogy within the limited available research are diverse. One prominent explanation is the lack of established guidelines. This paper addresses the issues of game design guidelines through a qualitative phenomenographic perspective of the experience of a group of students designing an educational game utilizing an adapted instructional design (ID) model – the gentry model. The results revealed the participants benefited from the process primarily in two capacities: a significant growth in their knowledge of game design and content knowledge; and great enjoyment and high motivation in the learning process. We conclude ID models with proper adaption and adjustment are effective to provide guidance an...
BK channels mediate the voltage-dependent outward current in type I spiral ligament fibrocytes.

Abstract Recent experimental and clinical studies have provided considerable evidence to support the phenomenon of K + recycling in the mammalian cochlea. However, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying and regulating this process remain only partially understood. Here, we report that cultured type I spiral ligament fibrocytes (SLFs), a major component of the K + recycling pathway, have a dominant K + membrane conductance that is mediated by BK channels. The averaged half-maximal voltage-dependent membrane potential for the whole-cell currents was 70±1.2 mV at 1 nM intracellular free Ca 2+ and shifted to 38±0.2 mV at 20 μM intracellular free Ca 2+ ( n =4–6). The reversal potential of whole-cell tail currents against different bath K + concentrations was 52 mV per decade ( n =3–6). The sequence of relative ion permeability of the whole-cell conductance was K + >Rb + ≫Cs + >Na + ( n =5–17). The whole-cell currents were inhibited by extracellular tetraethylammonium and iberiotoxin (IbTx) with IC 50 values of 0.07 mM and 0.013 μM, respectively ( n =3–7). The membrane potentials of type I SLFs measured with conventional zero-current whole-cell configuration were highly K + -selective and sensitive to IbTx ( n =4–9). In addition, the BK channels in these cells exhibited voltage-dependent and incomplete inactivation properties and the recovery time was estimated to be ∼6 s with repetitive voltage pulses from −70 to 80 mV ( n =3). These data suggest that BK channels in type I SLFs play a major role in regulating the intracellular electrochemical gradient in the lateral wall syncytium responsible for facilitating the K + movement from perilymph to the stria vascularis.
GROWTH STIMULATION OF T47D HUMAN BREAST CANCER CELLS BY THE ANTI- PROGESTIN RU486

Our laboratory has previously reported that physiological levels of progestins stimulate growth of the human breast cancer cell line T47D. We have also determined that the antiprogestin RU486 inhibits this stimulation. Here we present the unexpected finding that RU486 alone also stimulates growth of these breast cancer cells. Thus, RU486 exhibits both antagonist and agonist-like activity, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of the antiestrogen tamoxifen. To our knowledge, this is the first report of stimulation of breast cancer growth by RU486.
Correlates of Death Anxiety in Nurses who Provide Aids Care

Within Martha E. Rogers' framework of the science of unitary human beings [1–3], a descriptive, correlational study was done to examine the relationships among spirituality, perceived social support, and death anxiety in nurses who provide AIDS care. Death anxiety was also examined as a predictor of nurses' willingness to care for AIDS patients. A convenience sample of 220 female RNs who provided AIDS care completed the Templer Death Anxiety Scale, the Spiritual Orientation Inventory, the Personal Resource Questionnaire-85, and the Willingness to Care for AIDS Patients Instrument. Multiple regression analyses indicated that death anxiety was significantly correlated with spirituality and nurses' willingness to care for patients with AIDS, yet no significant relationship was found between death anxiety and perceived social support. Analyses further revealed that despite high levels of death anxiety, the majority of nurses had a positive perception of death. Several personal, professional, and employment ch...
Differential Kernels for Group Velocity

Summary It is shown that the wavenumber dcrivative of the dispersion relation, dω(k)/dk, is a Frkchet differentiable gross Earth datum. The differential kernel functions are given explicitly as expressions quadratic in the normal mode eigenfknctions and their wavenumber derivatives. Explicit expressions for the latter are given as particular solutions to the inhomogeneous propagator equations and as expansions in terms of eigenfunctions. Both spherical stratification and plane stratification are considered in detail.
An analysis of the β transition of linear and branched polyethylenes by carbon-13 NMR

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation parameters have been obtained as a function of temperature for a set of branched polyethylenes whose β transition temperatures were determined independently. Resolvable spectra could be obtained at temperatures either corresponding to or very close to the temperature of the β transition. Together with results for other systems, these observations preclude the indentification of the β transition with the glass temperature. From the measured spin relaxation times and nuclear Overhauser enhancements average correlation times were calculated as a function of temperature. The average correlation times were calculated as a function of temperature. The average correlation time is on the order of 10−8−10−9 s at the β transition. These results argue strongly against it being assigned to the glass temperature.
Meteoric-like fabrics forming in marine waters: Implications for the use of petrography to identify diagenetic environments

Petrographic fabrics have long been used to identify meteoric diagenesis of carbonate sediments. However, on the basis of oxygen isotopic data, we document similar fabrics forming in marine pore fluids in the shallow subsurface of Great Bahama Bank. Therefore, petrographic fabrics alone are not reliable indicators of diagenetic environments, even for shallow-water sediments. In our study, skeletal grainstones show two distinct diagenetic assemblages: either dissolution of aragonitic grains and minimal cementation (high-permeability intervals) or abundant blocky spar cement and neomorphism of aragonitic skeletal grains (low-permeability intervals). These marine-burial fabrics are present as shallow as 110 m below sea level, well above the aragonite compensation depth, a feature that must be considered for models of diagenesis in ancient carbonate sediments. Marine-burial diagenesis may be important in ancient carbonate sediments deposited in moderate water depths or in shallow water during rising sea level where meteoric diagenesis is suppressed.
Events, Politics and Patterns of Policy‐Making: Impact of Major Incidents on Health Sector Regulatory Reforms in the UK and Japan

This article examines the major malpractice incidents in the late 1990s through early 2000s in the UK and Japan, comparing how these incidents opened up pathways for a new type of hospital regulation in each case. Applying John Kingdon's three-stream model of agenda-setting and policy change, the article argues that governance arrangements as well as the policy instruments that a government has at its disposal determine how an event could be translated into a political agenda by throwing light on the problems within the public domain. The long-term effect of such adverse events is therefore determined by how open the relevant institutional arrangements are, and is enhanced if actors constantly scrutinize the system by proactively setting the agenda. A higher level of political accountability in the UK led to British politicians taking a greater role in promoting patient-led reforms than Japanese counterparts. However, a political system with clear accountability is more conscious of its own involvement and any potential blame it might receive for policy failures. Therefore, the political class could become more engaged in continuous reforms and the delegation of tasks rather than a constant search for remedial actions. The article sheds light on the interactive aspects of the particular triggering events discussed through the decade of regulatory developments in the two health-care systems.
Regional variation in foliar chemistry and n cycling among forests of diverse history and composition

Although understanding of nitrogen cycling and nitrification in forest ecosystems has improved greatly over the past several decades, our ability to characterize spatial patterns is still quite limited. A number of studies have shown linkages between canopy chemistry and N cycling, but few have considered the degree to which these trends can provide an indicator of forest N status across large, heterogeneous landscapes. In this study, we examined relationships among canopy chemistry, nitrogen cycling, and soil carbon:nitrogen ratios across 30 forested stands in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Plots included a range of species (sugar maple, red maple, American beech, yellow birch, paper birch, red spruce, balsam fir, eastern hemlock) and were broadly grouped into two disturbance categories: those that were historically affected by intensive logging and/or fire and those that experienced minimal human disturbance. Across all plots, rates of net N mineralization and net nitrification were correlated wi...
SURVIVING SEXUAL VIOLENCE: A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

This chapter examines sexual assault from the point of view of a survivor, indicating that its consequences extend beyond the emotional or physical. Philosophical issues are raised by this experience, such as its effects on personal identity, notions of “harm“, the role of denial, victim blaming, as well as its political implications for gender equality. Given the significance of these concerns and the extent of sexual assaults, it is imperative the harms of violence against women be taken more seriously by philosophers.
Comparisons of polio-araiosis and leuko-araiosis in dementias of ischemic vascular and alzheimer types.

Computed tomography scanners were utilized to quantitate, by Hounsfield unit (HU) densities, normal and abnormal cerebral gray and white matter compartments and their perfusion values, among patients with probable dementia of ischemic vascular (IVD: n= 10,72.7 ± 9.0 years) and Alzheimer's types (DAT: n = 10, 72.7 ± 5.8 years). Results were compared with similar measures among age-matched normal volunteers (n = 10, 71.0 ± 8.2 years). "Normal" HU values for gray and white matter were previously obtained among younger normal volunteers (n = 27, 49.7 ± 8.9). After adjusting for cerebral atrophy, IVD patients showed reduced HU and cerebral blood flow (CBF) values in white matter, but gray matter HU values were only reduced in frontotemporal cortex. In DAT, mean HU and CBF values for cortical and subcortical gray matter were severely reduced compared with age-matched normal and with IVD patients. Cognitive test performance correlated directly with volumes of hypodense cortex or "polio-araiosis" in DAT, but not in IVD, in which cognitive performance correlated directly with volumes of leuko-araiosis.
Computing with nanoscale memory: Model and architecture

Emerging nanoscale devices hold tremendous potential in terms of integration density, low power operation and switching speed. Unlike CMOS devices, however, majority of these devices are not suitable for implementing cascaded, irregular logic structure. On the other hand, dense and periodic structures of most emerging nanodevices as well as their bi-stable nature make them amenable to large high-density memory array design. Moreover, self-assembly of many nanostructures is efficient for a bottom-up system design flow. Hence, reconfigurable computing paradigms that use memory as underlying computing element, appear promising for these devices. In this paper, first we study nanoscale FPGA, which extends conventional spatial CMOS FPGA architecture using nanoscale memory and interconnect. Next, we focus on a time-multiplexed memory based computing paradigm that employs two-dimensional memory for improved performance, integration density and resource usage.
Anatomic Ligament Repair Restores Ankle and Syndesmotic Rotational Stability as Much as Syndesmotic Screw Fixation

Objectives:To compare the external rotation stability of 3 different syndesmotic stabilization techniques in a cadaveric ankle fracture model.Methods:Nondestructive external rotation stresses of 4 N·m were applied to 8 cadaveric limbs using a hydraulic loading frame. Four conditions were tested usin
Reoperation for failed shoulder reconstruction following brachial plexus birth injury

Various approaches have been developed to treat the progressive shoulder deformity in patients with brachial plexus birth palsy. Reconstructive surgery for this condition consists of complex procedures with a risk for failure. This is a retrospective case review of the outcome in eight cases referred to us for reoperation for failed shoulder reconstructions. In each case, we describe the initial attempt(s) at surgical correction, the underlying causes of failure, and the procedures performed to rectify the problem. Results were assessed using pre- and post-operative Mallet shoulder scores. All eight patients realized improvement in shoulder function from reoperation. This case review identifies several aspects of reconstructive shoulder surgery for brachial plexus birth injury that may cause failure of the index procedure(s) and outlines critical steps in the evaluation and execution of shoulder reconstruction.
Characterization of annealed proton exchanged LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguides for nonlinear frequency conversion

A thorough and detailed characterization of annealed proton-exchanged (APE) waveguides in Z-cut LiNbO/sub 3/ is described. The mode index measurements in planar waveguides as a function of wavelength and annealing time are reported, including useful analytical relations for the refractive index change, its dispersion, and the depth profile as a function of annealing parameters. Analytical expressions for the mode propagation characteristics are presented and experimentally verified with reasonable accuracy. It is shown that the planar waveguide characterization results can be used to model the channel waveguide characteristics accurately. The model provides closed-form expressions for the mode index and the mode field profile, and the theoretical results are in excellent agreement with the measured data. The technique is used to accurately predict the phase mismatch between the fundamental and second harmonic modes in frequency-doubling experiments using APE channel waveguides. An optimum waveguide geometry for which the phase mismatch is relatively insensitive to the waveguide nonuniformity was predicted and verified experimentally. >
A Fine Structure in the Theory of Isols

In this paper we introduce a collection of isols having some interesting properties. Imagine a collection W of regressive isols with the following features: (1) u, v ϵ W implies that u ⩽ v or v ⩽ u, (2) u ⩽ v and v ϵ W imply u ϵ W, (3) W contains ℕ = {0,1,2,…} and some infinite isols, and (4) u eϵ W, u infinite, and u + v regressive imply u + v ϵ W. That such a collection W exists is proved in our paper. It has many nice features. It also satisfies (5) u, v ϵ W, u ⩽ v and u infinite imply v ⩽ g(u) for some recursive combinatorial function g, and (6) each u ϵ W is hereditarily odd-even and is hereditarily recursively strongly torre. The collection W that we obtain may be characterized in terms of a semiring of isols D(c) introduced by J. C. E. Dekker in [5]. We will show that W = D(c), where c is an infinite regressive isol that is called completely torre.
FINE‐SCALE GENETICALLY BASED DIFFERENTIATION OF LIFE‐HISTORY TRAITS IN THE PERENNIAL SHRUB LUPINUS ARBOREUS

Abstract Across large spatial scales, plants often exhibit genetically based differentiation in traits that allow adaptation to local sites. At smaller spatial scales, sharp boundaries between edaphic conditions also can create strong gradients in selection that counteract gene flow and result in local adaptation. Few studies, however, have examined the degree to which continuous populations of perennial plants exhibit genetically based differentiation in life-history traits over small spatial scales. We quantified the degree of genetically based differentiation in adaptive traits among bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus) from nearby dune and grassland sites (sites separated by <0.75 km) that formed part of a larger continuous population of L. arboreus. We also investigated the spatial genetic structure of bush lupine by examining how genetic structure differed between seeds and juvenile plants that were less than two years old. We calculated F-statistics from gel electrophoresis of 10 polymorphic loci. We the...
SupraPeds: Smart staff design and terrain characterization

We present a light, actuated smart staff with 5DOF tip force sensing which can be used by a humanoid robot operating in challenging terrain. The staff has an extension mechanism that employs mechanical multiplexing to achieve a high extension ratio in a stiff and compact package. The tip force sensor uses two metal diaphragms to achieve decoupling of axial and radial forces and the ability to tune the maximum range of forces in each direction independently. With the force sensor, the robot can characterize the coefficient of friction and orientation of a surface with simple motion primitives. Two sets of experiments were conducted with the smart staff manipulated by a 7 DOF robot arm. Using the sensor, the robot was able to determine the orientations of sloped surfaces within two degrees in two orthogonal directions.
Spectral Distribution of Neutrons in the Vicinity of a Resonance

The failure of the standard slowing-down solutions to reproduce the detailed flux distribution both in and far below a resonance is discussed. To first order, the neutron distribution in energy is ...
Text Classification-Based Automatic Recruitment of Patients for Clinical Trials: A Silver Standards-Based Case Study

A lack of recruitment of appropriate subjects plagues most clinical research trials. One barrier is an efficient way to identify eligible subjects. Researchers worked to harness computing power to improve automated identification of potential subjects for clinical trials with modest success. We use text classification to automatically identify patients for a hypothetical Acute Coronary Syndrome clinical research study from intensive care unit discharge summaries. We apply several state of the art classification methods including Bayesian Logistic Regression, AdaBoost, Support Vector Machines, and Random Forests to build models from administrative manually assigned ICD-9 codes. We then apply these models to discharge summaries labeled by a board certified cardiologist for patients eligible for the hypothetical research study. The best models perform with 0.95 area under the ROC curve for identifying eligible patients. This pilot study suggests that text-based classification holds promise for identification of potential clinical trial subjects. Our methods require further validation in studies involving multiple inclusion and exclusion criteria.
The Effects of Manager’s Sex on the Assignment to a Challenging or a Dull Task and Reasons for the Choice

The study investigates sex biases of college students and banking executives in the assignment of a stimulus person to a challenging or a dull task. For the challenging task, participants prefer th...
Enzymatic Production of Ribavirin from Orotidine by Erwinia carotovora AJ 2992

Microorganisms that produce ribavirin (1-β-d-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide; virazole®) directly from orotidine and 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (TCA) were screened from our stock cultures. Of the 425 strains, Erwinia carotovora AJ 2992 was found to possess potent ribavirin-producing ability, from orotidine and TCA. In the presence of intact cells of E. carotovora AJ 2992, 183 mm ribavirin was produced from 300 mm orotidine and 300 mm TCA on 48 hr reaction.
A REVIEW ON IN VITRO TISSUE CULTURE OF Populus euphratica AND THE RELATED PROBLEMS

It is important to study the propagation of Populus euphratica through in vitro tissue culture, since its cuttings are hard to root. In this paper, its in vitro regeneration and affecting factors are discussed. And the problems such as etiolation and vitrification are also discussed. It is pointed out that the mechanisms of etiolation and regeneration need to be further studied.
Determination of nitrate nitrogen in drinking water by ultraviolet spectrophotometry

Objective:Nitrate Nitrogen in drinking water was determined by Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry.Methods:The standard solution and drinking water samples were determined by Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry and Thymol spectrophotometry.Results:The method has good linearity.Conclusion:The method is simple and quick.It was suitable for the determination of nitrate nitrogen in drinking water.
A telephone survey on ways of public health information about influenza A among residents in Fuzhou City

Objective Communication is key for maintaining social order during public health emergencies.We conducted a survey in Fuzhou City to identify whether and how the public received messages during public health events and to provide evidence for developing future communication strategies.Methods Telephone survey was conducted among residents aged≥14y in August,2011,using a simple random sample of mobile phone numbers.Questions were asked regarding how they received information about 2009 influenza pandemic,and perceived convenient channels during future events.Results Of 2000 mobile phone numbers dialed,569 were answered,and 56.41% of those who answered(321) responded.235 received information during 2009 pandemic.The most common information channel was television(50.16%).Only 9.79% of respondents received information from Chinese CDC system.During a hypothetical future event,74.14% of respondents would like to receive information from television,42.05% from Internet,and 39.88% from newspaper.Regarding the most trusted channel,67.60% named television,9.76% Internet,and 5.51% newspaper.Conclusion Television was the most common channel through which information was received and anticipated.Surprisingly few residents received information from CDC.We recommend that public health information should be distributed through television and other channels most used by residents,and measures should be taken to improve the use the Chinese CDC system as a reliable source of information.
Colombia’s Indigenous Peoples Confront the Armed Conflict

In the last third of the twentieth century, Colombia’s indigenous peoples emerged as a political force in the national arena. This chapter discusses the indigenous movement’s surprising degree of clout—surprising because only 2 percent of the nation’s citizens are indigenous—and the ways the current crisis is affecting them. Following an overview of the country’s indigenous communities (pueblos 1 ) and a brief history of indigenous mobilizing, I examine indigenous participation during the National Constituent Assembly (Asamblea Nacional Constituyente, henceforth ANC) and the crafting of the 1991 Constitution. The constitution’s successes and failures are then taken up, focusing on indigenous matters, followed by a discussion of the situation of the country’s indigenous pueblos, focusing on the intractable and intensifying problems the country is currently facing. The chapter ends with some comments on the role of U.S. policy.
The Relational Republic: Macrolevel Conditions, 1790–1860

The double rule of apportionment fashioned at the 1787 Constitutional Convention served as the formal basis for the division of political representation within the U.S. Congress and the Electoral College for the next seventy-four years. The rule divided national representation among the states in three distinct ways: proportionally according to population in the U.S. House of Representatives, equally in the U.S. Senate, and the combined effect of these two methods in the Electoral College. The unique and combined distributional logics of these terms of apportionment sustained and oriented much of the constitutional development of the American political order until its collapse into civil war in 1861. Given the deep sectional divisions that animated the 1787 Convention's debate over representation, the new rule of apportionment initially inspired different expectations and anxieties concerning each section's future political strength within the national government. Southern statesmen recognized that the new rule's demographic calculus likely guaranteed northern state majorities in the House and the Electoral College until at least the 1800 Census. Many were convinced however that the new apportionment rule was particularly well designed for the South's rapidly growing population. The seemingly effortless development of the southwestern territory (and future states) of Kentucky and Tennessee throughout the 1780s provided reassuring evidence of the section's future strength in the Senate as well. Northern statesmen were decidedly less confident about the longerterm consequences of the new rule of apportionment.
Brownfield Redevelopment: Why Public Investments Can Pay Off

Brownfield redevelopment is traditionally associated with private investments and often through public-private partnerships to result in economically beneficial ventures. Public sector investments ...
Critical Review of the Millennium Project in Nepal

“Our Common Future” harmonized development policies around a new sustainable development (SD) paradigm, and experts also emphasize the importance of a democratic and equitable approach to define and achieve sustainable development. However, SD targets and indicators are often defined by a suite of experts or a few stakeholder groups, far removed from on-the-ground conditions. The most common expert-led development framework, the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), promoted one set of targets and indicators for all developing countries. While progress towards these targets was routinely reported at the national scale, these targets may not reflect context-specific sustainable development. We evaluated the relevance and comprehensiveness of MDG 7 (environmental sustainability) for Nepal. Although Nepal has met most of the MDG 7 (e.g., forest cover, protected areas coverage, water and sanitation), on closer inspection these indicators do not provide adequate context for ensuring that these targets provide the intended levels of development. Simple forest cover and protected area indicators belie the dearth of ecological conservation on the ground, and water and sanitation indicators do not reflect the inequality of access based on poverty and regions. While the Millennium Development Goals align with broad sustainability concerns in Nepal, these indicators do not reveal its true development conditions.
A Literary Genealogy of Avant-garde Orientalism

In the third chapter, the Avant-garde’s genealogical ties and ruptures with Romanticism are examined apropos of orientalism, an interest that emerged as an imaginative impulse but gradually ossified into the systematic if often biased study of selected cultures and communities. Focusing on James Clifford’s idea of creolization as an aspect of avant-garde representations of the East, the genealogy analyzes works by figures associated with Romanticism, Modernism, and the Avant-garde ranging from Coleridge, Shelley, Tennyson, and Baudelaire to Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Jean Genet, and Marguerite Duras, before concluding with Geoff Dyer’s postmillennial novel Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi.
The prognostic utility of hemoglobin and lymphocytopenia in bladder-sparing therapy.

370Background: Many patients with bladder cancer are found to have laboratory derrangements such as anemia and lymphocytopenia prior to treatment, though their prognostic value is unknown. We examined pretreatment lab values and clinical outcomes in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who underwent bladder sparing trimodality therapy (TMT). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 181 patients with T2-T4a bladder cancer who underwent TMT between 2001 and 2013. Pretreatment absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and hemoglobin (Hgb) values were collected, and cut-off values were established to be 1.5*10^9/L, 3.12, and 12 g/dl, respectively. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared with Kaplan Meier survival probabilities and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, controlling for gender, age, completeness of TURBT, response to TMT, cystectomy, clinical T stage, and hydronephros...
Configuring a robust nervous system with Fat cadherins

Atypical Fat cadherins represent a small but versatile group of signaling molecules that influence proliferation and tissue polarity. With huge extracellular domains and intracellular domains harboring many independent protein interaction sites, Fat cadherins are poised to translate local cell adhesion events into a variety of cell behaviors. The need for such global coordination is particularly prominent in the nervous system, where millions of morphologically diverse neurons are organized into functional networks. As we learn more about their biological functions and molecular properties, increasing evidence suggests that Fat cadherins mediate contact-induced changes that ultimately impose a structure to developing neuronal circuits.
Cytologic criteria to reduce error in EUS-FNA of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas

Introduction Standardization of error classification in pathology remains an important issue. This study assesses the extent of error in cytopathologic diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPN) of the pancreas. Because of morphologic overlap of SPN and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NET), we compared cytologic characteristics to determine which best distinguishes these entities. Materials and methods We collected cases diagnosed as SPN either by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) by cytology or surgical pathology from January 2000 to March 2013. An equal number of NET cases were randomly selected. Cytology and surgical pathology cases were evaluated for diagnostic errors and patient impact. Cytologic features in SPN and NET were scored based on presence of previously described characteristics. Results A total of 17 patients with EUS-FNA were diagnosed with SPN by cytology or surgical pathology. Of those, 14 had surgical follow-up and 13 had adequate cell blocks and immunohistochemistry. There were 5 discrepancies between cytology and surgical pathology (5 of 14, 36%). There were no false positives or false negatives, but 5 misclassifications: 4 diagnosed as NET on cytology, and 1 as NET versus SPN. All misclassification errors were associated with no harm. When compared with NET, fine chromatin, nuclear grooves, pseud papillae, pink stroma, and hyaline globules are statistically significantly associated with SPN. Conclusions EUS-FNA of pancreatic SPN has excellent positive and negative predictive value, with no false positives or false negatives in this 12-year study. Only misclassification errors as pancreatic NET were made with minimal impact. We suggest that the presence of 3 of 5 major cytologic criteria offer accuracy in diagnosing SPN to prevent misclassification.
Narrative (Re)Righting: Recovering and Rebuilding a Life Rocked by Trauma

ABSTRACTIn this paper, I write about and through my recent brush with death to narrate myself out of fear and desperation and into hope and acceptance. Storytelling helps me sort through the rubble and make sense of my life repeatedly rocked by trauma. Narrative reframing takes me a step further, empowering me to rebuild and reinvent my life through the stories I choose to tell as I move forward. Through this work, I am reminded rebuilding is temporary, continual, and precarious; and not only possible, but important and necessary.
Two-Photon N-Party Quantum Secret Sharing

We describe a multi-party quantum secret sharing protocol utilizing two-photon entangled states in which the source is one of the secret sharing participants. It is experimentally easier to realize than methods using GHZ states.
Iris anomalies and the incidence of ACTA2 mutation.

Background Central cysts of the iris pigment epithelium, or iris flocculi, are frequently reported in the literature in association with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection due to smooth muscle alpha-actin 2 ( ACTA2 ) mutations. Children with ACTA2 mutations may also present with congenital mydriasis. We report our experience regarding the frequency of ACTA2 mutation in children with the above iris anomalies. Methods This is a retrospective, consecutive case series of all children presenting for iris flocculi or congenital mydriasis at a single tertiary centre from October 2012 to December 2016. Results 13 children with iris flocculi and 3 with congenital mydriasis presented during the study period. 10 children with iris flocculi completed genetic testing, and none were positive for ACTA2 mutation. All children with congenital mydriasis presented with a multisystem smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome; two of these three children tested positive for missense R179 ACTA2 mutations. Conclusions In this series, ACTA2 mutation or copy number variation was not detected in children presenting for iris flocculi, whereas congenital mydriasis was associated with R179 mutation in both cases that tested positive for ACTA2 mutation. The case of congenital mydriasis without typical cardiac features of the R179 ACTA2 phenotype or intracranial vasculopathy was negative for ACTA2 mutation. While all children presenting with these iris anomalies should be offered a genetic evaluation, incidence data should inform genetic counselling, particularly in the absence of a family history of aneurysm or sudden death, or systemic signs of smooth muscle dysfunction.
Experimental determination ofK I for surface cracks in a square tube under torsion: K I expressions were obtained for initially semielliptical inclined, longitudinal and transverse surface cracks in torsion using experimental fatigue-crack growth-rate measurements

This research used the fatigue-crack-growth-rate experimental method to obtainKI for initial semi-elliptical 45-deg inclined, longitudinal and transverse surface cracks in a hollow square tube subjected to pure torsion. Both side and corner surface cracks were investigated. Reference crack-growth-rate data using CT and SEN specimens taken from the mild-steel tubes were used in calculations. All cracks propagated in mode I on the surface at 45 deg to the longitudinal axis in the plane of the maximum tensile stress. Mixed-mode crack growth occurred subsurface for the longitudinal and transverse cracks. The experimental results were compared with other semi-elliptical surface crackKI solutions.
The poroelastic constants of multiple-porosity solids

Abstract Multiple-porosity models are commonly used to describe the poromechanical behavior of complex porous solids occurring in earth and life sciences. From the characterization standpoint, the poroelastic constants of such materials may be determined from the poroelastic constants of their single-porosity constituents. The uniqueness principle of the poroelastic energy density function is herein used to construct and solve a system of equations between the described sets of poroelastic constants in a multiple-porosity material. The method systematically applies to an arbitrary number of co-existing porosities. The presented energy-based approach resolves the perceived closure problem that was reported for solids with more than two porosity systems.
Nested Gaussian process modeling and imputation of high-dimensional incomplete data under uncertainty

Modern healthcare systems are increasingly investing in advanced sensing and information technology, leading to data-rich environments in hospitals. For example, when patients are admitted into an ...
Virtual reality for pain management in patients with heart failure: Study rationale and design.

Abstract Background Patients with advanced heart failure commonly experience acute and/or chronic moderate to severe pain related to disease, treatment, or both. While pain management strategies typically focus on drug therapies, non-pharmacological interventions may prove beneficial without risk of significant clinical side effects or contraindications. One novel strategy, virtual reality, has been shown to improve pain control in addition to usual pharmacological interventions. Methods This is a prospective, two-armed, single center randomized controlled pilot study of a virtual reality intervention in 128 hospitalized subjects with ACC/AHA stage C or stage D heart failure who self-report pain rated 4/10 or greater compared to an active control, two-dimensional guided imagery. The primary outcome is change in self-reported pain score measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (Short Form). Secondary end points include changes in self-reported distress, quality of life, and satisfaction with pain management. Conclusion This randomized controlled study aims to provide empiric data to support application and expansion of novel technologies such as virtual reality to augment usual pharmacological pain management strategies in hospitalized patients with heart failure.
ARAPID: Towards Integrating Crowdsourced Playtesting into the Game Development Environment

Iterative playtesting of games is crucial, but remains a time consuming and ad-hoc process. In this work, we streamlined and systematized the playtesting process by adding support for crowdsourced, on-demand playtesting directly into a game development environment to test and evaluate platform games. Our system, called ARAPID (As Rapid As Possible Iterative Design), manages playtesting from a control panel in Unity and recruits players from Mechanical Turk. With this system, game designers can launch playtests and visualize results directly in the editor. To better understand and evaluate this approach, we ran three studies on two basic platform games. First, a game designer used ARAPID to playtest and rapidly iterate on the design of the games; we found the games were improved toward specific design goals. Second, we analyzed the impact of different forms of recruitment on playtesting speed; we found that pre-recruitment and over-recruitment of players can reduce the time needed to run playtests. Third, we analyzed the impact of players' familiarity with the game on the precision of playtest results; we found that whether or not players are allowed to replay the game can impact results.
Associations of Inflammation, Physical Activity, and Sleep in a Diverse Population of Women.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in United States with a recent rise seen in young adults, particularly women. Systemic inflammation, physical activity, an...
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

This chapter reviews technical aspects of sentinel lymph node biopsy including preoperative preparation, instrumentation and equipment, patient positioning, incision technique, extent of biopsy, irrigation, hemostasis, and wound closure. The authors also offer pearls and pitfalls.
Precision design of stable genetic circuits carried in highly-insulated E. coli genomic landing pads

Genetic circuits have many applications, from guiding living therapeutics to ordering process in a bioreactor, but to be useful they have to be genetically stable and not hinder the host. Encoding circuits in the genome reduces burden, but this decreases performance and can interfere with native transcription. We have designed genomic landing pads in Escherichia coli at high-expression sites, flanked by ultrastrong double terminators. DNA payloads >8 kb are targeted to the landing pads using phage integrases. One landing pad is dedicated to carrying a sensor array, and two are used to carry genetic circuits. NOT/NOR gates based on repressors are optimized for the genome and characterized in the landing pads. These data are used, in conjunction with design automation software (Cello 2.0), to design circuits that perform quantitatively as predicted. These circuits require fourfold less RNA polymerase than when carried on a plasmid and are stable for weeks in a recA+ strain without selection. This approach enables the design of synthetic regulatory networks to guide cells in environments or for applications where plasmid use is infeasible.
Accessible Computers in the University.

Analyzes the issues involved in setting up and maintaining an accessible mainframe computer system, and describes how one university did so using available adaptive components. A listing of univers...
Factors contributing to antihypertensive medication adherence among adults with intellectual and developmental disability

Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities often have hypertension and mental illness, and are prescribed medications for treatment. This study examined psychotropic medication adherence as a mediator between the association of residence type and antihypertensive medication adherence for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. We used Medicaid data of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who had hypertension and prescribed antihypertensive medication (N = 1,201) to measure the direct effect, indirect effect, and total effect of residence type (home vs. supervised setting) and antihypertensive medication adherence, with a mediator of psychotropic medication adherence. The indirect effect of psychotropic medication adherence on antihypertensive medication adherence was 1.26 (OR = 1.26, CI: 1.08-1.52), holding residency constant. The direct effect of residential type on antihypertensive medication adherence was 3.75 (OR = 3.75, CI: 1.61-8.75). This association may be due to some features of having a mental illness or maybe the result of being prescribed more than one medication.