cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Septal Myectomy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: National Outcomes of Concomitant Mitral Surgery.

Abstract Objectives To assess the frequency and implications of mitral valve (MV) surgery at the time of septal myectomy (SM) for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a national cohort. Patients and Methods The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to analyze surgical outcomes in patients with HCM undergoing SM from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2014. Univariate analyses were used to compare patients undergoing SM with vs without concomitant procedures, and logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with prolonged length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality. Numeric values of 10 or less were not reported per NIS data use agreements. Results The national cohort included 1174 adults with a primary diagnosis of HCM undergoing SM. Overall mean ± SD age was 54.4±14.5 years, and 45% of patients (n=529) were male. Isolated SM was performed in 67% (n=786), and the remainder had concomitant cardiac procedures, most frequently MV repair/replacement (22%, n=257). Median LOS was increased in those with concomitant MV surgery, 7 days, compared with isolated SM, 6 days (P Conclusion Intervention on the MV is more common nationally than in specialized centers, and the addition of MV replacement and other concomitant cardiac procedures was associated with increased rates of hospital mortality and LOS compared with patients undergoing isolated SM. These results suggest that concomitant MV intervention is associated with increased risk.
‘Side-Mismatched’ Single Lung Transplantation Does Not Compromise the Transplant Outcomes

Purpose There are controversies regarding which side of the lungs, under-perfused versus over-perfused to be replaced when performing single lung transplantation (LTx). Theoretically, under-perfused lung appears to be better replaced rather than over-perfused lung; however, occasionally over-perfused lung is chosen due to limited organ availability, size discrepancy between the sides, or anatomical complexity, and this is recognized as ‘side-mismatching’ in single LTx. This study aims at evaluating the impact of side-mismatching on transplant outcomes. Methods Graft side-mismatching was defined with a prospectively designed formula using baseline quantitative lung perfusion scan data, and the patients who underwent single LTx between January 2016 and June 2018 were stratified as either side-matched or side-mismatched. A retrospective review of the LTx database was used to obtain short- and mid-term outcomes as well as complications for those patients. Results Two hundred eighteen patients received single LTx between January 2016 and June 2018. Out of these, there were a total of 18 patients had a side-mismatched graft while those with a side-matched graft over the same time period were used as controls. There were no significant differences between the groups in their patients’ characteristics except more patients with age above 70 years old and less patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension noted in the side-mismatched group. While the size-mismatched group consisted of more patients who underwent right single than left single LTx and required more intraoperative cardiopulmonary support (25% vs. 8.2%, p Conclusion Our data suggest that there is no evident increased risk or compromised post-transplant outcomes in performing side-mismatched single LTx when appropriate lung graft as well as intraoperative cardiopulmonary support is chosen. This strategy could optimize organ utilization increasing effective organ supply and decreasing waitlist mortality. In addition, this may contribute to avoiding the surgical or anatomical complexity leading to improved transplant outcomes.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction: Docking Technique

Prior to Jobe’s description of a reconstruction technique for ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) insufficiency, the injury was career ending. Despite successful results in about 70 % of cases, concerns with elevation of the flexor-pronator mass, ulnar nerve complications and relatively large bone tunnels in the medial epicondyle of the humerus led to modifications to Jobe’s technique. One of the most novel modifications was the “docking technique.” Differences included: (1) arthroscopic evaluation and management, when indicated, of concomitant intra-articular pathology, (2) maintenance of the ulnar nerve in situ unless symptoms specifically indicate transposition, (3) use of a muscle splitting approach through the flexor mass, and (4) “docking” of the graft into a humeral socket. Ulnar preparation remained the same as originally described Jobe. These modifications facilitated improved graft tensioning while minimizing the number of large tunnels drilled in the relatively small medial epicondyle. Intraoperative morbidity was minimized by the muscle-splitting approach and the reservation of ulnar nerve transposition only when indicated based on preoperative exam. Clinical results have been excellent using this technique, and it is our preferred technique for UCL reconstruction.
Is team cohesion a double edged sword for promoting innovation in software development projects

Creation of new knowledge in teams requires collaboration among its team members. Although individual creativity is important, no single individual possesses all the skills and knowledge necessary to deal with complexity in knowledge work. Therefore, team cohesion is considered a prerequisite in innovation. However, in this study we argue that team cohesion could be a double edged sword. It could even be detrimental to innovation at high levels of team cohesion. The findings of this study with 56 software projects quantitatively support this premise. These findings have useful implications for practitioners engaged in knowledge work
Undergraduates’ Considerations in Declaring Either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology:

Undergraduate psychology majors (n = 277) completed a survey assessing their rationale for pursuing either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Only 52.9% correctly identifie...
Retrograde trafficking and plasma membrane recycling pathways of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The endosomal system functions as a network of protein and lipid sorting stations that receives molecules from endocytic and secretory pathways and directs them to the lysosome for degradation, or exports them from the endosome via retrograde trafficking or plasma membrane recycling pathways. Retrograde trafficking pathways describe endosome-to-Golgi transport while plasma membrane recycling pathways describe trafficking routes that return endocytosed molecules to the plasma membrane. These pathways are crucial for lysosome biogenesis, nutrient acquisition and homeostasis and for the physiological functions of many types of specialized cells. Retrograde and recycling sorting machineries of eukaryotic cells were identified chiefly through genetic screens using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae system and discovered to be highly conserved in structures and functions. In this review, we discuss advances regarding retrograde trafficking and recycling pathways, including new discoveries that challenge existing ideas about the organization of the endosomal system, as well as how these pathways intersect with cellular homeostasis pathways.
Investigation of flame-assisted fuel cells integrated with an auxiliary power unit gas turbine

Abstract Owing to several unsuccessful attempts of integrating dual chambered solid oxide fuel cell stack with the auxiliary power unit (APU) gas turbine, a novel concept for integration of flame-assisted fuel cells (FFC) with the gas turbine of an APU is presented in this paper. A complete analytical model of the FFC integrated hybrid system is presented. The FFC gas turbine hybrid system is predicted to be up to 30% more efficient at sea level and 16% more efficient at cruising altitudes compared to standard gas turbine cycle. A FFC is characterized experimentally with model combustion exhaust for fuel-rich combustion of JP-5. The fuel cell displayed 75% fuel utilization at the operating voltage of 0.5 V, which is higher than previous studies in this field. The analytically predicted reversible voltage shows good agreement with the open circuit voltage of the FFC experimental results. Analysis of temperature entropy and pressure volume diagrams of the proposed system shows that as the equivalence ratio increases the portion of the total FFC gas turbine hybrid power generated by gas turbine decreases. The breakeven distance and the complexity of the proposed FFC gas turbine hybrid is significantly lower than previous studies.
Nuclear response of additive manufactured GRCop-84 copper for use in Lower hybrid launchers in a fusion environment

Abstract Recent advances in selective laser melting (SLM) 3D printing technology allow additive manufacture of lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) RF launchers from a new material, Glenn Research Copper 84 (GRCop-84), a Cr2Nb (8 at. % Cr, 4 at. % Nb) precipitation hardened alloy, in configurations unachievable with conventional machining. Tensile strength and thermal conductivity are compared to other competing high conductivity copper alloys for fusion use. Swelling and conductivity at 100 DPA when exposed to the Hanford Fast Flux Test Facility neutron spectrum is predicted in the 1–2 % and 65−70% IACS range, respectively, by comparison to copper alloys with similar precipitate and grain size. Self-similar ion irradiation of a GRCop-84 target at 430 °C to 20 DPA resulted in no noticeable void formation in FIB cross sections or TEM lamella.
Putting the Elder Futhark into a Young Spiritualism: A Semantic Analysis of an Odinist Divination Guidebook

The Nordic people embodied the Elder Futhark runes—the oldest-known form of the Germanic writing system—with esotericism (knowledge available only to a small group of people), seeing them as a direct line of communication to divinity. This mystical significance has been reintroduced to neopagan groups through guidebooks on runecasting, a divinatory practice in which the runes are interpreted negatively or positively depending on how they land. This analysis checks the interpretations of a popular Odinist writer against secular scholarship, evaluating for both semantic authenticity in the Germanic tradition and runic symbolism within Odinism—a modern religious sect based on pre-Christian roots in Northern Europe. All 24 runes are separated into three groups of eight depending on their relationship to the Old English and Old Norwegian rune poems, both of which are involved in the reconstruction of runic etymology. The findings indicate a range of ideological terminologies that either stem from intellectual obscurity or are anachronistic when compared to Germanic traditions. This illustrates a spiritual appropriation of the runic symbols rather than a return to pre-Christian concepts, thus disqualifying the text as a source of scholarship. Furthermore, the findings also define guidebooks as works of speculative literature—specifically, a revitalization of Gothic themes—within groups who have no sacred text. Further research should examine how other Odinist publications and practices create semantic derivations for religious purposes.
College Student Involvement in Hunting and Shooting Sports: What Drives Participation?:

Little is known about college students’ participation in shooting sports or hunting with firearms. It is also unknown how participation in these activities during the college years differs from chi...
Understanding how chemical structure affects ignition-delay-time ϕ-sensitivity

Abstract ϕ -sensitivity is the change in ignition delay time (IDT) with respect to the fuel-to-air equivalence ratio ( ϕ ). High ϕ -sensitivity is a desirable fuel property for applications in advanced compression ignition and multi-mode engine designs. Understanding how ϕ -sensitivity depends on chemical structure is essential for selecting promising biofuels from the ever-growing list of proposed candidates. In this study, we investigate the effect of chemical structure on ϕ -sensitivity with experiment, simulation, and theory. Experimental Advanced Fuel Ignition Delay Analyzer (AFIDA) measurements for 2,4-dimethylpentane and diisopropyl ether provide evidence that branching and functional groups strongly impact ϕ -sensitivity. Further insights into this dependence are obtained with 0-D kinetic simulations with existing mechanisms for n-pentane, diethyl ether, 3-pentanone, n-heptane, 2-methylhexane, 2,4-dimethylpentane, and 2,2,3-trimethylbutane. Quantum mechanical (QM) G4 calculations of low-temperature reactions help explain the observed experimental and simulation trends. Specifically, these QM calculations provide theoretical estimates of the ketohydroperoxide (KHP) dissociation rates, the HO 2 formation rates from peroxy radical (ROO), and the “cross-over” temperatures, i.e., the temperature at which ROO dissociation is favored compared to hydroperoxyl radical (QOOH) formation. Each of these reaction rates is compared to the n-alkane reference point to determine the impact of branching and different functional groups. Although kinetic mechanisms typically assume that KHP dissociation rates are invariant of chemical environment, our QM results suggest that this rate can span a range of roughly two orders of magnitude. We also discuss the importance of including the peroxy-hydroperoxy (OO-OOH) hydrogen transfer reaction for branched ethers. Finally, the insights gained assist in proposing a highly ϕ -sensitive compound, namely, isopropyl propyl ether.
The first observation on polymerization of 1,3-benzothiazines: synthesis of mono- and bis-thiazine monomers and thermal properties of their polymers

A monofunctional 1,3-benzothiazine (PH-a-BZT) has been synthesized by a method different from the one reported in the literature. Additionally, a difunctional version of 1,3-benzothiazine (PH-ddm-BZT) monomer has been synthesized. Polymerization of mono- and bis-thiazine monomers has been studied and confirmed for the first time. The two monomers are characterized with proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR) along with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The cross-linked polybenzothiazine which is derived from the bis-thiazine monomer shows excellent thermal properties as examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Polybenzothiazine is developed in hopes that it could mimic many of benzoxazine's popular attributes while containing sulfur in place of oxygen atoms. It can also possess unique advantages such as higher flame retardancy and adhesiveness to the metal substrate than polybenzoxazine due to the characteristic sulfur atom in its polymer.
Imaging of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors arising from embryonic neural crest tissue that represent a wide spectrum of disease. NETs are clinically classified as functioning tumors when the tumor induces symptoms caused by hormonal hypersecretion and results in a clinical syndrome versus nonfunctioning tumors when there are no signs of hypersecretion and no recognizable clinical syndrome. Imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis, staging, treatment selection, and follow-up of patients with NETs. The diagnosis of NETs relies on the combination of morphological and functional techniques, which provides complementary information that can be useful in optimizing patient management and outcome.
Exploring Condom Use Behaviors Among African American Adolescent Boys in the Deep South.

Risky sexual behaviors among adolescents can increase adverse outcomes including unplanned pregnancy or contraction or transmission of disease. Adolescents who engage in risky sexual activities are...
Queer generativity: temporal collisions of Fred Astaire’s Dancing Lessons

This essay queers the concept of generativity through the multimedia staging of the performance Fred Astaire’s Dancing Lessons. The analysis enlists Pryor’s framework of time slips to examine speci...
A multi-sensor satellite imagery approach to monitor on-farm reservoirs

Abstract Fresh water stored by on-farm reservoirs (OFRs) is an important component of surface hydrology and is critical for meeting global irrigation needs. Farmers use OFRs to store water during the wet season and for crop irrigation during the dry season, yet their seasonal and inter-annual variability and downstream impacts are not quantified. Therefore, OFRs' sub-weekly surface area changes are critical to understanding their dynamics and mitigating their downstream impacts. However, prior to the recent increase in satellite imagery availability and improvement in sensors' spatial resolution, monitoring the OFRs' sub-weekly surface area changes across space and time was challenging because OFRs occur in high numbers (i.e. hundreds) and are small water bodies ( 0.95) and small uncertainties (4–8%) when compared to the validation dataset. We found higher uncertainties (5–14%) when adding S1 to the Kalman filter—this is related to the higher uncertainties found for S1 (~20%). The algorithm can assimilate optical and radar satellite data to increase the OFRs' surface area time series cadence allowing us to investigate sub-weekly surface area changes. The algorithm is not sensor-specific, and it accounts for the uncertainties in both the sensors observations and the resulting surface areas, which are key advantages when compared to other algorithms used to combine satellite data. By improving the surface area observations cadence and providing the surface area uncertainties, the approach presented in this study has the potential to enhance water conservation plans by allowing better assessment and management of the OFRs.
Administering Research and Demonstration Projects Aimed at Promoting Evidence-Based Practice in Child Welfare: Challenges and Rewards

SUMMARY The Southern Regional Quality Improvement Center for Child Protection, funded by the Children's Bureau is administering research and demonstration projects in public child welfare agencies in four states to test models of structured clinical supervision in achieving organizational, social worker and client outcomes. These projects represent an attempt to promote evidence-based practice in the public agency. These projects are discussed within the context of the status of evidence-based practice in social work. The university has experienced number of challenges in provided technical assistance and conducting the cross-site evaluation of these projects which may be of interest to others attempting to foster evidence-based practice in this type of environment. These challenges, as well as promising solutions, are detailed in this article.
Neurodevelopmental and audiological outcome of healthy term newborns with moderately severe non‐haemolytic hyperbilirubinemia

Objective: Our objective was to examine the outcome of term infants who developed moderate non-haemolytic jaundice as information regarding the neurodevelopmental outcome of term infants with moderately severe non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinemia remains controversial. Study design: Thirty-nine term infants rehospitalised with non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinemia (serum bilirubin levels: 20–30 mg/dL) during the first 2 weeks of life (study group), were assessed and compared to 36 children born at term who did not develop neonatal jaundice (control group). Assessment consisted of the Bailey 2 test, speech evaluation, behavioural hearing test and a neurological examination. Results: The subjects were assessed at a mean age of 3 years. There was no difference between the groups with regard to background data, except for the mean gestational age (38 + 1.3 weeks (study group) vs. 39.5 + 1.4 weeks (control group), P= 0.01). There were no significant differences between the groups in outcome parameters initially, and after correcting for possible confounding factors. None of the children in either of the groups had a neurosensory hearing deficit or any significant neurological deficiency. There was no correlation of outcome parameters with the admission serum Bilirubin levels or with the duration of hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusion: No untoward outcome was found in term healthy infants with moderately severe non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinemia. Moreover, we did not find a correlation of outcome with serum bilirubin levels or with the duration of the hyperbilirubinemia in the study group.
A highly adaptive high-speed wireless transceiver

In personal communications systems, users contend for the resources of frequency and time, with re-use determined by spatial separation, power allocation, antenna beam patterns, data rate, and the required signal to interference ratio for reliable operation. We describe a highly adaptive system with distributed control, i.e., each link is optimized independently, with coupling only via the mutual interference. It will include frequency hopping, variable bit and power allocation, channel coding, adaptive equalization, coherent M-QAM signaling, rapid channel probing, and adaptive transmitter and receiver antenna arrays.
Robust stabilization of rigid body attitude motion in the presence of a stochastic input torque

This paper investigates robust asymptotic stabilization of rigid body attitude dynamics evolving on the tangent bundle of SO(3) using geometric stochastic feedback control, where the system is subject to a stochastic input torque. To start with, the attitude dynamics is interpreted in the Ito sense. However, due to evolution of the kinematic differential equation of the system on SO(3), analyzing the stochastic system on TSO(3) is non-trivial. To address this challenging problem of robust asymptotic stabilization of attitude dynamics, the back-stepping method along with a suitable Morse-Lyapunov (M-L) function candidate with constant control gain parameters are used to obtain a nonlinear stochastic feedback control law. The control gain matrix and the M-L function control gain can be obtained by solving a feasible LMI, which can guarantee the robust asymptotic stability of the rigid body on TSO(3). Numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate and validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in the state space of rigid body attitude motion in TSO(3).
EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION IN THE RABBIT WITH TRICHOSPORON CAPITATUM

Gilbert, Walter R., Jr. (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.) and Bernard F. Fetter. Experimental infection in the rabbit with Trichosporon capitatum . J. Bacteriol. 84: 961–966. 1962.—Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits were inoculated intravenously with a saline suspension of spores and hyphal fragments of Trichosporon capitatum . Nine of the animals succumbed spontaneously. The others were sacrificed at varying intervals. Autopsies revealed mycotic abscesses in the kidneys, which ruptured through into the tubules. The fungus also invaded the brain and heart, where it evoked a mixed reaction. The organism was recovered from the animals at the time of autopsy. Images
Foveation Period Stability And Oscillopsia Suppression In Congenital Nystagmus: An Hypothesis

Congenital nystagmus (CN) waveforms contain foveation periods that occur just before the eyes accelerate away from the target and occur when the eye is in position to place the target image, most of the time, on the fovea. Using phase-plane analysis, the authors studied the waveform changes in an individual with hereditary CN who experienced intermittent oscillopsia (OSOP) following an episode of loss of consciousness six years previously. His nystagmus showed two waveforms that alternated approximately every 2 sec. One waveform (with leftward fast phases) provided repeatable, well-developed foveation periods lasting typically 114 msec, during which the image of an object of regard was within 0.5° of the center of the fovea and image drift was 20°/sec as the image of the object of regard sw...
The Fishwrap personalized news system

Fishwrap is an experimental electronic newspaper system available at MIT. Fishwrap attempts to address the needs of the freshman integrating into the MIT community. Fishwrap attempts this by balancing an individual's desire for personalization with the need to participate and know about the world at large. This paper describes the scope of the experiment, the underlying technology, and the evaluation by participants. Access to Fishwrap's personalized news system appears as a World Wide Web (WWW) hypertext link. This link calls upon programs to subscribe the individual to the news service. At this time an individual access password is provided. After the initial session students can get Fishwrap from any computer connected to the MIT network with a WWW browser.
The Meaning of Intimacy: Logic and Methods

This commentary on Frost and Gola's (2015) article first identifies strengths of their article. It then discusses two directions along which their original work might be expanded: (i) the logic of the argument and (ii) the type of data collected.
Stockholders’ Reference-Dependent Preferences and the Market Reaction to Financial Disclosures

I examine the relation between stockholders’ reference-dependent risk preferences and the market response to earnings announcements using both security-level and investor-level data. I demonstrate that stockholders’ unrealized gain/loss position moderates their trading behavior in response to earnings announcements. I also present evidence that this behavior generates a short-window return underreaction to earnings news. My results vary along a number of dimensions predicted by recent models of stockholder behavior given reference-dependent preferences and address a number of concerns raised in prior studies.
Geometrical - factor determination using a monte carlo approach

Abstract A Monte Carlo technique is employed to compute the geometrical factor, path-length spectra, and zenith angle distribution for a variety of detector configurations. An incident flux is simulated by choosing four initial parameters for each of a large number of events according to the appropriate probability distributions. The resultant paths are individually tested to determine the exit plane from the detector and the path lenght within the detector. The desired data are tabulated by summing over numerous simulated events. The flexibility, speed, and accuracy achieved with this technique make it extremely useful for evaluating detector designs with simple or relatively complicated geometry.
Time course of appearance of alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites during development of chick ciliary ganglion and iris.

The binding of [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin (ABTX) to homogenates of ciliary ganglia and irises from embryonic and posthatching chickens has been examined. Specific, high-affinity binding was found in both tissues [K D (iris)=2.5 nM;K D (ganglion)=2.7 nM]. Binding is saturated above 10 nM toxin concentration and is inhibited by low concentrations of the nicotinic antagonistd-tubocurarine. The binding may be associated with a nicotinic cholinergic receptor in both tissues. The amount of binding in the iris begins to increase soon after functional innervation is first observed, at 12 days of incubation (d.i.), and continues to increase up to four months after hatching (a.h.), the oldest age tested. In contrast, ABTX binding in the ciliary ganglion increases fourfold between 7 and 11 d.i., after which the amount of binding remains unchanged up to four months a.h. When compared to the development of choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the ganglion and iris, ABTX binding follows a pattern similar to that of AChE activity. The largest increases in ChAc activity occur later than those of the postsynaptic markers. After 16 d.i. there are approximately 3×106 toxin molecules bound per neuron in the ciliary ganglion.
An oil demand and supply model incorporating monetary policy

Abstract Oil price inflation may have had a significant role in pushing the world economy into its worst post-war recession during 2008–2009. Reserve currency central banks pursued an overly expansionary monetary policy during 2001–2009, in the form of low or negative real interest rates and accompanied by a rapidly falling US dollar, while paying inadequate attention to the destabilizing effects on oil markets. In this paper, we show that monetary policy variables, namely key interest rates and the US dollar exchange rate, had a powerful effect on oil markets. World oil demand was significantly influenced by interest and dollar exchange rates, while oil supply was rigid. Oil demand and supply have very low price elasticity and this characteristic makes oil prices highly volatile and subject to wider fluctuations than the prices of other commodities. Aggressive monetary policy would stimulate oil demand, however, it would be met with rigid oil supply and would turn inflationary and disruptive to economic growth if there was little excess capacity in oil output. We argue that a measure of stability in oil markets cannot be achieved unless monetary policy is restrained and real interest rates become significantly positive. Monetary tightening during 1979–1982 might imply that monetary policy has to be restrained for a long period and with high interest rates in order to bring stability back to oil markets.
Widely tunable photocurrent-driven wavelength converters

Wavelength converters are seen as important to the scalability, flexibility, and cost of future optical networks. These devices have opportunities for deployment in optical switches, routers and add/drop multiplexers. This talk will outline the latest results of monolithic and hybrid photocurrent-driven wavelength converters (PD-WC) based on either the direct modulation of a bipolar cascade SGDBR laser or by external modulation using an Electro-absorption (EA), or Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator using integration building blocks such as a semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA), SGDBR lasers, PIN detectors and EA and MZ modulators. As the input and output waveguides are separate in this configuration of wavelength converter, an optical filter is not required to reject the input signal at the output which is desirable particularly with wavelength tunable applications where the response time of a filter could limit system performance.
American and South Korean Engineering Students’ Communication Motives and Their Student–Instructor Communication Satisfaction

The purpose of this study was twofold. The first purpose was to compare American and South Korean engineering students’ motives (i.e., relational, functional, excuse-making, participatory, and sycophantic) for communicating with their instructors and their student–instructor communication satisfaction. The second purpose was to examine the extent to which both American and South Korean engineering students’ motives for communicating with their instructors are related to their student–instructor communication satisfaction. Undergraduate students (N = 168) recruited from public universities in the United States and South Korea participated in this study. The results of a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), an independent sample t-tests, a series of zero-order Pearson correlational analyses, and Fisher z-tests revealed significant cultural differences and that the relationship between students’ communication motives and their student–instructor communication satisfaction largely are consistent betwee...
Extensions to constraint dependency parsing for spoken language processing

A text-based and spoken language processing framework based on the constraint dependency grammar (CDG) developed by Maruyama is discussed. The scope of CDG is expanded to allow for the analysis of sentences containing lexically ambiguous words, to allow feature analysis in constraints, and to efficiently process multiple sentence candidates that are likely to arise in spoken language processing. The benefits of the CDG parsing approach are summarized. Additionally, the development of CDG grammars using our grammar tools and parser is discussed.
The Clinical Utility of a Positive Antinuclear Antibody Test Result

Abstract Background This retrospective study investigated the clinical utility of a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test performed outside of the rheumatology setting. Prior studies have investigated the frequency of ANA positivity within the general population. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the clinical utility of a positive ANA test result in a real-world setting by reviewing the final diagnoses of patients who were referred to a tertiary rheumatology clinic for evaluation of a positive ANA test result. Methods We reviewed the records of patients presenting to the authors between July 2007 and July 2009. Patients were included in the evaluation if they were referred for a positive ANA test result. All relevant descriptive and laboratory data were collated, as were the initial reasons for ordering ANA testing and the ultimate diagnoses reached. Positive predictive values for a "positive ANA test result" were calculated for all antinuclear antibody-associated rheumatic diseases and for lupus specifically. Results A total of 232 patients were referred for a positive ANA test result. The positive predictive value of a positive ANA test result in this cohort was 2.1% for lupus and 9.1% for any antinuclear antibody-associated rheumatic disease. No antinuclear antibody-associated rheumatic disease was identified in patients with an ANA Conclusions In this retrospective study, more than 90% of patients who were referred to a tertiary rheumatology clinic for a positive ANA test result had no evidence for an ANA-associated rheumatic disease. The poor predictive value of a positive ANA in this cohort was largely attributable to unnecessary testing in patients with low pretest probabilities for ANA-associated rheumatic disease.
The Mechanics of Voltage Sensing in the Human BK Channel (Slo1)

BK channel activation is sensitive to the membrane potential by virtue of transmembrane helix bundles assembled into voltage sensor domains (VSDs). The BK VSDs are unique among related voltage-gated channels, in that they possess an additional, non-conserved, transmembrane helix S0, which does not carry sensing charges, but associates closely with S4. We have previously reported that the extracellular portions of S0 and S4 diverge upon activation (Pantazis et al., 2010). We are testing the hypothesis that S0 offers mechanical support for the activation of S4, such as a fulcrum does to a lever. To test this hypothesis, we introduced mutation M30P, predicted to introduce a kink near the middle of the putative S0 α-helix.M30P mutants exhibited voltage-dependent activation shifted to a significantly more depolarized (>150 mV) potential, while the timecourse of activation was also reduced by two orders of magnitude. M30P did not prevent β2-dependent inactivation, implying that it produced a subtle, rather than a gross, structural perturbation. However, since M30P did not neutralize sensing charges, the observed effects in voltage dependence and activation timecourse must have been due to a structural / mechanical perturbation. On contrast, mutation M30W, which introduces a bulkier residue but is predicted not to disrupt the α-helicity of S0, did not to perturb channel activation, in agreement with a previous investigation (Koval et al., 2007).Voltage sensing is an electromechanical process, requiring both charged residues to sense changes in the membrane potential, and a mechanical actuation that facilitates gating. Given the decentralized distribution of BK voltage-sensing charges in S2, S3 and S4, we suggest that S0 acts as a mechanical component that is unperturbed by membrane potential changes, but is essential to direct the motion of S4, to productively facilitate channel activation.
Transfer RNA content of runoff and complexed ribosomes of Escherichia coli.

Abstract Runoff ribosomes extracted from Escherichia coli and washed in a buffer with 10 m m -Mg2+ contain 1 to 2 equivalents of tRNA. However, this tRNA appears to be loosely and non-specifically bound, for it is readily displaced at 37 °C (but not at 0 °C) by added tRNA, and it is largely washed off by buffer containing 3 m m -Mg2+ (which preserves the integrity of the 70 s ribosomes) or by zonal centrifugation. Moreover, runoff in vitro (at 10 m m -Mg2+) yields 70 s ribosomes with no tRNA. It thus appears that runoff ribosomes are normally free of tRNA, though they can adsorb it under certain conditions; hence the integrity of the ribosome does not depend on the binding of tRNA. Complexed ribosomes, in contrast, carry two equivalents of tRNA that is not readily washed off or displaced. At 10 m m -Mg2+ these ribosomes also carry 1 to 2 additional equivalents of loosely bound tRNA. In free ribosomes the loosely bound tRNA may be located in the normal A and P binding sites, but in complexed ribosomes it must be located elsewhere since these sites are occupied.
WE‐D‐201B‐04: Advances in Instrumentation and Techniques for Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion SPECT

Myocardial perfusion (MP) SPECT (single‐photon emission computed tomography) is a leading diagnostic tool for cardiovascular disease. Its continued importance and popularity have been fueled by new advances in instrumentation and image reconstruction and processing methods. Quantitative three‐dimensional (3D) image reconstruction methods that model the counting statistics in the acquired data and the physics of the imaging process have been widely adopted in clinical practice. They provide improved reconstructed imagenoise and accurate compensation of image degrading factors including collimator‐detector blur, and photon attenuation and scatter in the patient resulting in significant improvement in both the quality and quantitative accuracy of MP SPECTimages. Extension of the quantitative 3D image reconstruction method to four‐dimensional (4D) has been shown to benefit 4D gated MP SPECT. Special collimators designed to provide both improved spatial resolution and increased detection efficiency have been developed and implemented on conventional SPECT systems for application to MP SPECT. The need to provide accurate attenuation compensation and anatomical correlation with MP information for individual patient has resulted in the development of multimodality SPECT/CT systems which have become standard system configuration. More recently, dedicated cardiac SPECT and SPECT/CT systems have emerged in the market place that hold great promise to advance MP SPECT a big step forward. The presentation will describe the basic principles of quantitative 3D and 4D image reconstruction methods. Advances in special collimation and SPECT/CT system designs for MP SPECT will be presented. The improvement in image quality and quantitative accuracy will be demonstrated by simulated, experimental phantom and clinical images. Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the basic principles of quantitative 3D and 4D image reconstruction methods that have led to significant improved quality and quantitative accuracy of 3D and 4D gated myocardial perfusion and SPECTimages. 2. Describe the recent advances in instrumentation for improve myocardial perfusion SPECT. 3. Demonstrate the advances using simulated, experimental phantom and clinical MP SPECTimages.
Relevance vector machines as a tool for forecasting geomagnetic storms during years 1996-2007

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the use of relevance vector machine (RVM) as a learning tool in order to generate 1-h (one hour) ahead forecasts for geomagnetic storms driven by the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere during the years 1996–2007. This epoch included solar cycle 23 with storms that were both ICME (interplanetary coronal mass ejection) and CIR (corotating interaction region) driven. Merged plasma and magnetic field measurements of the solar wind from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) and WIND satellites located upstream of the Earth's magnetosphere at 1-h cadence were used as inputs to the model. The magnetospheric response to the solar wind driving measured by the disturbance storm time or the Dst index (measured in nT) was used as the output to be forecasted. The model was first tested on previously reported storms in Wu and Lundstedt (1997) and it gave a linear correlation coefficient, ρ, of above 90% and prediction efficiency (PE) above 80%. During 1996–2007, several storms (within each year) were chosen as test cases to analyze the forecasting robustness of the model. The top three forecasts per year were analyzed to assess the generalization ability of the model. These included storms with varying intensities ranging from weak (−53.01 nT) to strong (−422.02 nT) and durations (119–445 h). The top RVM forecast in a given year had ρ above 85% (87.00–96.85%), PE > 73 % (73.59–93.59%), and a root mean square error (RMSE) ranging from 9.31 to 33.45 nT. A qualitative comparison is made with model forecasts previously reported by Ji et al. (2012) . We found that the robustness of the model with regards to fast learning and generating forecasts within acceptable error bounds makes it a very good proposition as a prediction tool (given the solar wind parameters) for space weather monitoring.
Ultrastructure and Enzymatic Deficiency of Fibroblast Cultures in Type II Glycogenosis

Extract: Fibroblast cultures from skin biopsy specimens of a girl with type II glycogenosis showed less than 5% of control activity of lysosomal acid α-glucosidase. These cells showed numerous intracellular vacuoles that resembled the abnormal lysosomes found in liver and other tissues of the patient. Their characteristic ultrastructural abnormality was seen in fibroblast and epithelial cells of the primary cultures and thereafter in all the subcultures of which to date eight passages have been examined. Control fibroblast cultures did not contain such inclusions.
An historical description and analysis of pronatalist policies in Italy, Germany and Sweden

The various pronatalist policies enacted between World War I and World War II by three European countries are presented within the context of a “coercive” and “noncoercive” policy dichotomy. The social context in which Italy, Germany, and Sweden enacted pronatalist policies is examined with special emphasis on Italian and German migration policies. An attempt is made to assess the impact of the various pronatalist measures on birth rates. Implications of the study indicate that knowledge of existing overt pronatalist policies and an understanding of the social milieu in which such policies are enacted will help present-day population policy planners.
A mutual information invariance approach to symmetry in discrete memoryless channels

There are numerous notions of symmetry for discrete memoryless channels. A common goal of these various definitions is that the capacity may be easily computed once the channel is declared to be symmetric. In this paper we focus on a class of definitions of symmetry characterized by the invariance of the channel mutual information over a group of permutations of the input distribution. For definitions of symmetry within this class, we give a simple proof of the optimality of the uniform distribution. The fundamental channels are all symmetric with a general enough definition of symmetry. This paper provides a definition of symmetry that covers these fundamental channels along with a proof that is simple enough to find itself on the chalkboard of even the most introductory class in information theory.
Environmental information framework: Technology facets of geoscience in research and public policy

"I work at my job at Microsoft for two reasons. To save the planet and to try to make Microsoft money. I mention the latter because in my opinion it just might be the only thing that will allow us to achieve the former".
Improving Decisions for Men With Prostate Cancer: Translational Outcomes Research

Purpose: We established a method to present a health related quality of life instrument in a format more readily interpretable by men with prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: Men with clinically localized prostate adenocarcinoma treated with radical prostatectomy (220), external beam radiotherapy (56) or interstitial seed brachytherapy (60) were prospectively recruited into the study. We assessed health related quality of life outcomes prospectively at baseline and 24 months after treatment using validated instruments. We defined good, intermediate and poor function for sexual, urinary and bowel domains, including good—the best response for all items in that scale, poor—the worst response for any item and intermediate—all others. We then compared bother scores in men at each symptom level.Results: Men with good baseline urinary and bowel function had almost no related bother (mean ± SD UCLA-PCI 98 ± 9 and 99 ± 8, respectively). Those with poor function had significant distress (mean UCLA-PCI 60 ± 30 an...
Stereo and motion cues effect on depth perception of volumetric data

Displays supporting stereoscopic and head-coupled motion parallax can enhance human perception of containing 3D surfaces and 3D networks but less for so volumetric data. Volumetric data is characterized by a heavy presence of transparency, occlusion and highly ambiguous spatial structure. There are many different rendering and visualization algorithms and interactive techniques that enhance perception of volume data and these techniques‟ effectiveness have been evaluated. However, how VR display technologies affect perception of volume data is less well studied. Therefore, we conduct two formal experiments on how various display conditions affect a participant‟s depth perception accuracy of a volumetric dataset. Our results show effects of VR displays for human depth perception accuracy for volumetric data. We discuss the implications of these finding for designing volumetric data visualization tools that use VR displays. In addition, we compare our result to previous works on 3D networks and discuss possible reasons for and implications of the different results.
Rates of suicide among males increase steadily from age 11 to 21: Developmental framework and outline for prevention

The paper has three purposes. First, explanations for the steady age-related increase in the rate of suicide among male youth from ages 11 to 21 are offered based on a review of epidemiological- and case-control evidence. It is concluded that depression and substance use disorders are major contributors to the age-related pattern in suicide. A general increased capacity for serious acts of aggression from ages 11 to 21 might also contribute to this pattern in suicide. Second, evidence that substance abuse and depression both contribute to, and are exacerbated by, difficulties in negotiating age-salient tasks is summarized. In this context, suicides among young males are posited to mark the endpoint of the bidirectional interplay of psychopathology and developmental difficulties. Third, informed by this developmental perspective, the authors make recommendations to reduce suicides in male youth, emphasizing strategies that may interrupt cycles of depression and/or substance abuse and developmental failure. Strategies to reduce the potential for fatalities, notably method restrictions, are also discussed.
Threats to biological diversity in marine and estuarine ecosystems of Florida

Abstract The Indian River Lagoon of east central Florida and the marine ecosystem of the Florida Keys are important natural ecosystems with ecological, economic, esthetic, and recreational values. Both ecosystems have high biological diversity and are threatened by a variety of anthropogenic impacts. Although all coastal marine and estuarine ecosystems are influenced by an interplay of oceanic and terrestrial influences, structural and functional characteristics and anthropogenic impacts are often site‐specific. This suggests that ecosystem management and research must focus on a holistic ecosystem approach that establishes ecosystem boundaries, considers the dynamic nature of ecosystem processes, and prioritizes issues and objectives. Although Florida has enacted a framework of coastal zone management legislation, no specific legislation has specifically addressed the issue of biological diversity conservation in marine and estuarine ecosystems. Implementation of a comprehensive coastal zone management p...