cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Update on fundoplication for the treatment of GERD.

Rudolph Nissen firstly implemented the idea of surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux more than 55 years ago. Today, laparoscopic fundoplication has become the surgical “golden standard” for the treatment of GERD. However, the initial enthusiasm and increasing number of performed procedures in the early 1990s declined dramatically between 2000 and 2006. Despite its excellent outcome, laparoscopic fundoplication is only offered to a minority of patients who are suffering from GERD. In this article we review the current indications for antireflux surgery, technical and intraoperative aspects of fundoplication, perioperative complications as well as short and long-term outcome. The focus is on the laparoscopic approach as the current surgical procedure of choice.
Primary graft dysfunction and long-term pulmonary function after lung transplantation.

Background Severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is associated with poor early outcomes after lung transplantation (LTx). Less is known about lingering effects of severe PGD on pulmonary function. The study’s aim was to determine whether development of severe primary graft dysfunction in the perioperative period was associated with reduced long term rates of survival or with diminished long term pulmonary function. Methods A retrospective review was performed on LTx recipients who received their transplant during the period from 1992 through 2005. PGD severity over the first 48 hours post-transplant was graded using International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation criteria. Pulmonary function was evaluated yearly, and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) was determined from measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Results A total of 374 patients survived at least 90 days post-transplant. Overall survival rates were worse in patients with Grade 3 PGD: 51% at 5 years and 11% at 10 years for patients with Grade 3 PGD; 64% at 5 years and 35% at 10 years for those with Grade 2 PGD; and 66% at 5 years and 38% at 10 years for Grade 0 to 1 PGD (p = 0.001). BOS-free survival rate for patients with Grade 3 PGD was lower compared to those with Grade 0 to 2 for bilateral lung recipients, but not for single-lung recipients. Bilateral lung recipients who developed Grade 3 PGD had a significantly worse mean FEV1 than those who did not. For single-lung recipients, PGD grade did not correlate with post-transplant pulmonary function. Conclusions Development of Grade 3 PGD in the early post-operative period negatively affects long-term survival, BOS-free survival and pulmonary function of bilateral lung transplant recipients who survive the peri-operative period.
Wave Front Sensor for Solar Concentrator Control (October 2007)

This article is the culmination of research directed into finding a system to control the position of the focal spot of paraboloid concentrators for use in terrestrial and space solar concentration applications. After a brief introduction into the area of study, the article describes how a normal Shack-Hartmann wave front sensor is modified for use in detecting and tracking the focal spot. The paper details the analysis and development of the algorithms used in locating the focal spot on a thruster absorber utilizing a correlation method and an area centroid method. The article concludes with a paragraph on suitable future work.
Single-stage treatment of lumbar fracture-dislocation using a combined anterior and posterior approach.

Complete fracture–dislocation is rare in the lumbar spine. Given the unstable nature of this injury, open reduction and rigid internal fixing are necessary for treatment. Most cases reported previously have been treated by a posterior approach to achieve reduction, internal fixing, and fusion [1–3]. In addition, some cases have been treated by use of the anterior approach alone [4] or the two-stage, combined anterior and posterior approach [5–7]. Our case involved a complete L4–5 fracture–dislocation with compression of the arteria iliaca communis by the L4 body and a triangular fracture fragment. Given the complexity of this fracture– dislocation and the potential for further injury to the great vessels, we performed a single-stage, combined anterior and posterior approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of complete lumbar fracture–dislocation treated by use of a single-stage, combined anterior and posterior approach.
A comparison of model based and direct optimization based filtering algorithms for shearwave velocity reconstruction for electrode vibration elastography

Tissue stiffness estimation plays an important role in cancer detection and treatment. The presence of stiffer regions in healthy tissue can be used as an indicator for the possibility of pathological changes. Electrode vibration elastography involves tracking of a mechanical shear wave in tissue using radio-frequency ultrasound echoes. Based on appropriate assumptions on tissue elasticity, this approach provides a direct way of measuring tissue stiffness from shear wave velocity, and enabling visualization in the form of tissue stiffness maps. In this study, two algorithms for shear wave velocity reconstruction in an electrode vibration setup are presented. The first method models the wave arrival time data using a hidden Markov model whose hidden states are local wave velocities that are estimated using a particle filter implementation. This is compared to a direct optimization-based function fitting approach that uses sequential quadratic programming to estimate the unknown velocities and locations of interfaces. The mean shear wave velocities obtained using the two algorithms are within 10% of each other. Moreover, the Young's modulus estimates obtained from an incompressibility assumption are within 15 kPa of those obtained from the true stiffness data obtained from mechanical testing. Based on visual inspection of the two filtering algorithms, the particle filtering method produces smoother velocity maps.
Non-Linear Finite Element Modeling of THUNDER Piezoelectric Actuators

A NASTRAN non-linear finite element model has been developed for predicting the dome heights of THUNDER (THin Layer UNimorph ferroelectric DrivER) piezoelectric actuators. To analytically validate the finite element model, a comparison was made with a non-linear plate solution using Von Karmen''s approximation. A 500 volt imput was used to examine the actuator deformation. The NASTRAN finite element model was also compared with experimental results. Four groups of specimens were fabricated and tested. Four different input voltages, which included 120, 160, 200, and 240 Vp-p with a 0 volts offset, were used for this comparison.
Mission Networks and the African Diaspora in Britain

Abstract Scholars have frequently commented on the networks fostered by Africans living in the diaspora. It is not commonly recognized that many African Christians also relied upon ‘mission networks.’ These networks exerted a degree of influence on migrants, but were also a great help, particularly to students, and for that reason many Africans valued them while living in Britain. Such was the case with G. Daniels Ekarte, who founded the African Churches Mission in Liverpool, and others including: James ‘Holy’ Johnson, Byang Kato, Parmenas Mukiri Githendu and Emmanuel Akingbala.
Heavier Ions with a Different Linear Energy Transfer Spectrum Kill More Cells Due to Similar Interference with the Ku-Dependent DNA Repair Pathway

Ionizing radiation kills cells mainly due to the generation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). High-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation induces more cell death and generates a higher relative biological effect (RBE) than low-LET ionizing radiation (such as X or γ ray). Although it is known that interference with the Ku-dependent nonhomologous ending-joining (NHEJ) pathway appears to be the major cause of iron-ion- and carbon-ion-induced cell death, it remains unclear whether other ions with a similar or different LET and higher RBE in terms of cell killing are controlled in the same way. In this study, we compared the clonogenic survival frequency of Ku80+/+ (NHEJ-proficient) and Ku80−/− (NHEJ-deficient) cells after exposure to iron (175 keV/μm), silicon (75 keV/μm), oxygen (25 keV/μm) and X ray (low-LET). The results showed that Ku80−/− cells had the same RBE value of 1 for cell killing for all types of ionizing radiation, whereas Ku80+/+ cells had different RBE values for cell killing that ...
The structure of 2,4‐dihydroxypyridines

Chemical experiments designed to give information regarding the structure of 2,4-dihydroxypyridines indicated that one rather active hydroxy group was present, but failed to detect a keto group. Acetylation produced only monoacetates but benzoylation in two cases gave dibenzoates also. Only monoethers resulted from diazomethane reaction. Comparison of the absorption of selected compounds between the wavelengths 220 and 340 mμ indicated that this region of the spectrum is unsatisfactory as a source of structural data.
Distribution of CGG repeat sizes within the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) homologue in a non-human primate population

Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of mental retardation, arises in individuals with more than 200 CGG repeats in the 5′ untranslated region of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. Although CGG repeat numbers comparable to those found in the normal human population are found in various non-human primates, neither the within-species size variation nor the propensity for expansion of the CGG repeat has been described for any non-human primate species. The allele distribution has now been determined for FMR1 (homologue) CGG repeats of 265 unrelated founder females of Macaca mulatta monkeys. Among 530 X chromosomes, at least 26 distinct repeat lengths were identified, ranging from 16 to 54 CGG repeats. Of these alleles 79% have between 25 and 33 CGG repeats. Detailed examination of the CGG region revealed a conserved G (CGG)2 G interruption, although in no case was an AGG trinucleotide detected. Two animals carried borderline premutation alleles with 54 CGG repeats, within the region of marginal instability for humans. Thus, M. mulatta may be useful as an animal model for the study of fragile X syndrome.
Etidronate therapy for hypercalcemia in subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is characterized by indurated violet skin nodules and, occasionally, life-threatening hypercalcemia. Current treatments of patients with SCFN-related hypercalcemia are often only partially successful and may be associated with prolonged hypercalcemia. We now report the use of etidronate, a bisphosphonate, to control hypercalcemia in an infant with SCFN.
Effect of cycloheximide on temperature regulation in rats

The effect of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, on temperature regulation in afebrile rats was studied to determine whether its reported antipyretic effect might be attributable to a non-specific antimetabolic effect. Within 60 min after administration of cycloheximide (5 mg/kg IP) to female rats at ambient temperatures of 34, 25 and 15°C, a significant decrease in colonic temperature was observed as compared with control rats administered saline IP. Measurements of rate of oxygen consumption showed that cycloheximide (5 mg/kg IP) significantly depressed the ability of rats to increase their heat production during a cold stress (15°C). In the cold the rate of oxygen consumption increased 8.7±0.8 ml/min/kg 0.75 in the control rats but only 1.8±0.9 ml/min/kg 0.75 in the cycloheximide-treated rats. Since the thermoregulatory changes accompanying cold stress are similar to those observed during the genesis of fever, these data suggest that cycloheximide may have a general depressant effect on heat production rather than a specific antipyretic effect.
A prospective randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial of omeprazole in the treatment of symptomatic Schatzki's ring after dilation

A prospective randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial of omeprazole in the treatment of symptomatic Schatzki's ring after dilation
Optimism and pessimism as predictors of physical and psychological health among grandmothers raising their grandchildren

Abstract This study examines the role of personality in predicting psychological and physical health among grandmothers who are coping with a non-normative non-traumatic stressor, i.e. serving as primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Using the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), a measure of personality disposition, we examine the contributions of both optimism and pessimism to health outcomes. ANOVAs and regression analyses of the LOT-R and self reports of health in 67 African American and Latino grandmothers revealed psychological (obsessive compulsive symptoms, depression, hostility) and physical (sleep disorder, hypertension) health outcomes are differentially predicted by optimism and pessimism among older and younger age-groups of grandmothers. Implications for grandmothers’ response to caregiving stress and for future studies of personality’s relation to health are discussed.
Genes determining blood cell traits.

Four genome-wide association studies report associations to a range of clinically relevant hematological traits. The candidate genes identified include many that are known to be important in iron homeostasis and red blood cell maturation.
The Psychological Origins of the Doctrine of Double Effect

The doctrine of double effect (DDE) is a moral principle that distinguishes between harm we cause as a means to an end and harm that we cause as a side-effect. As a purely descriptive matter, the DDE is well established that it describes a consistent feature of human moral judgment. There are, however, several rival theories of its psychological cause. I review these theories and consider their advantages and disadvantages. Critically, most extant psychological theories of the DDE regard it as an accidental byproduct of cognitive architecture. This may provide philosophers with some reason to question its normative significance.
Shedding of discs from rod outer segments in the rhesus monkey.

Renewal of the photosensitive outer segment of rod visual cells involves the continued assembly of new membranous discs accompanied by a balanced loss and destruction of old disc material. The process by which the old discs are detached from the rod outer segments in the retina of the rhesus monkey has been studied by electron microscopy. Discs are shed from the end of the cylindrical segment in groups generally containing 8–30 discs. The endmost discs curl up at the edge, displacing a small amount of cytoplasm into the space thereby created. The outer rod membrane then folds into the zone separating the deformed discs from the remainder of the outer segment. This serves to dissect away the terminal discs while reforming the membrane over the tip of the cell. Next, the shed discs are surrounded by cytoplasmic extensions from the pigment epithelium and withdrawn into the body of that cell within a phagosome.
Adaptive image acquisition by autodefocusing

We present an adaptive image-acquisition methodology by replacing the traditional birefringent filter with slight out-of-focus blur generated by the camera lens. Because many cameras already have adjustable lenses and autofocus systems, our method can exploit existing hardware by simply changing the focusing strategy. During the image acquisition, the optimal defocus setting is automatically adapted to the power spectrum of the scene, which is evaluated by a generic autocorrelation model. We develop a criterion to estimate reconstruction errors without the baseband knowledge of the scene. This metric helps the camera to choose the optimal defocus settings. An optimal Wiener filter then recovers the captured scene and yields sharper images with reduced aliasing. The numerical and visual results show that our method is superior to current acquisition methods used by most digital cameras.
The role of women in traditional healing among the Bambara of Mali

Although the Bambara of Mali are patrineal and patrilocal, women play important roles in the traditional healing system. These roles extend from the home, where women are often the household authorities on herbal remedies, to practitioner level as herbalists and to highly organized women's societies which focus on disease prevention and cure.
Incontinentia Pigmenti in a Male with Mosaic Klinefelter Syndrome: The Role of Fish Analysis

Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP) is an X-linked dominant genodermatosis with cutaneous, skeletal, ocular, neurological, and dental abnormalities. It has been mapped to chromosome Xq28 encoding the NF-kB essential modulator (NEMO). NEMO regulates many genes, such as those that prevent apoptosis. IP is usually lethal in males. However, patients with Klinefelter syndrome (47, XXY) are able to survive due to one normal X chromosome. We report a case of a male who presented after birth with multiple vesicles in a linear distribution on the calf progressing to persistent hyperpigmentation. At one month of age a punch biopsy showed verrucous hyperplasia with mild hypergranulosis, necrotic dyskeratinocytes and a lichenoid infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, eosinophils and melanophages. A diagnosis of IP was rendered. No additional physical findings were noted. The patient was evaluated for Klinefelter syndrome. While his karyotype was 46, XY by conventional cytogenetics, a dual color interphase FISH detected 92.5% 46, XY and 6.5% 47, XXY. Our patient’s unique genetic array allowed a mechanism to escape and otherwise fatal disorder. This case illustrates the potential utility of using FISH analysis to detect Klinefelter syndrome in a male patient with IP and normal conventional chromosomal analysis.
An Emerging Mycoplasma Associated with Trichomoniasis, Vaginal Infection and Disease

Humans are colonized by thousands of bacterial species, but it is difficult to assess the metabolic and pathogenic potential of the majority of these because they have yet to be cultured. Here, we characterize an uncultivated vaginal mycoplasma tightly associated with trichomoniasis that was previously known by its 16S rRNA sequence as “Mnola.” In this study, the mycoplasma was found almost exclusively in women infected with the sexually transmitted pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis, but rarely observed in women with no diagnosed disease. The genomes of four strains of this species were reconstructed using metagenome sequencing and assembly of DNA from four discrete mid-vaginal samples, one of which was obtained from a pregnant woman with trichomoniasis who delivered prematurely. These bacteria harbor several putative virulence factors and display unique metabolic strategies. Genes encoding proteins with high similarity to potential virulence factors include two collagenases, a hemolysin, an O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase and a feoB-type ferrous iron transport system. We propose the name “Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii” for this potential new pathogen.
ARE MAORI HAPU ‘HOUSES’? ARE WHAKAPAPA ‘STRATEGIC IMPROVISATIONS’? THE ETHNOHISTORICAL EVIDENCE FROM NGAI TUHOE

A recent exchange regarding the nature of Maori hapu has revived the old controversy whether or not ancestral descent groups can be organised on the basis of cognatic descent (through either or both parents in each generation). An innovative application of Levi-Strauss’s concept of a house society, and Bourdieu’s theory of practice, has challenged an answer to the old controversy, widely accepted since the 1970s, that hapu are entire descent categories narrowed to actively involved descent groups. The alternative view argues that Maori hapu were probably never based on such ambiguous grounds, but rather have developed since the 1880s as an ideology legitimating the solidarity of extended families (whanau), other kin, and non-kin closely associated with a meeting house and resourceful leadership able to extend hospitality. In defense of the earlier view that hapu are cognatic descent groups and categories, and probably have been at least since the 1840s, this essay reviews the recent exchange and examines the ethnohistorical evidence from one Maori iwi, Ngai Tuhoe.
Modes of Experiencing and Adapting to Retirement

Retirement is typically viewed as a monolithic event which affects all individuals in generally the same way. As a way of beginning to transcend stereotypic views and understand the complex reality of how individuals actually experience retirement, this study was directed toward identifying and describing diversity in modes of retirement adaptation. Twenty-four individuals, drawn from a range of occupational groups, were intensively interviewed one month prior to and six to eight months following retirement. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological method which generates systematic descriptions of the structure of an individual's experience. Comparisons among these analyses yielded four distinct ways of conceptualizing and experiencing retirement--as a transition to old age, as a new beginning, as a continuation of preretirement life structure, and as an imposed disruption. Features of each of these patterns of adaptation are described and implications of these findings for preretirement planning and counseling are discussed.
Necessity of Axillary Dissection in Elderly Women with Early Breast Cancer

The need for axillary dissection for staging and treating early breast cancer has been questioned recently. Can a patient forego axillary dissection, with its associated costs, risks, and morbidity, if it does not affect survival? The study attempted to find a subset of patients with early breast cancer in whom disease-free survival was independent of axillary lymph node status. If survival does not depend on lymph node status, axillary dissection could be omitted in the care of these patients. This study included 378 women over age 70 with T1 breast cancer diagnosed and treated during January 1992 to December 1999 at both of our institutions: a large tertiary teaching hospital in Columbus, Ohio and a breast cancer treatment center in West Columbia, South Carolina. We compared the disease-free survival, using the Kaplan-Meier estimate, in 334 node-negative patients and 44 node-positive patients with T1 breast cancer. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with T1N0 tumors were 86% and 77%, respectively; and the 3- and 5-year survival rates for T1 node-positive tumors were 81% and 69%, respectively (p = 0.0673). There was no statistical difference between the node-negative and node-positive groups. Axillary dissection in women over 70 years of age with early breast cancer may be unnecessary, as the presence of lymph node metastases does not appear to affect disease-free survival rates significantly in this patient group.
Effects of Copper and Cross-Linking on the Extracellular Matrix of Tissue-Engineered Arteries:

In many cases, the mechanical strengths of tissue-engineered arteries do not match the mechanical strengths of native arteries. Ultimate arterial strength is primarily dictated by collagen in the extracellular matrix, but collagen in engineered arteries is not as dense, as organized, or as mature as collagen in native arteries. One step in the maturation process of collagen is the formation of hydroxylysyl pyridinoline (HP) cross-links between and within collagen molecules. HP cross-link formation, which is triggered by the copper-activated enzyme lysyl oxidase, greatly increases collagen fibril stability and enhances tissue strength. Increased cross-link formation, in addition to increased collagen production, may yield a stronger engineered tissue. In this article, the effect of increasing culture medium copper ion concentration on engineered arterial tissue composition and mechanics was investigated. Engineered vessels grown in low copper ion concentrations for the first 4 weeks of culture, followed by higher copper ion concentrations for the last 3 weeks of culture, had significantly elevated levels of cross-link formation compared to those grown in low copper ion concentrations. In contrast, vessels grown in high copper ion concentrations throughout culture failed to develop higher collagen cross-link densities than those grown in low copper ion concentrations. Although the additional cross-linking of collagen in engineered vessels may provide collagen fibril stability and resistance to proteolysis, it failed to enhance global tissue strength.
Chemically exposed children: The child welfare response

Child Welfare Agencies, especially in urban areas, are confronted with multiple problems as they attempt to deal with the complex needs of chemically dependent families. Maternal chemical use places children at an elevated risk of placement and other negative events. This article critiques research on incidence and consequence of maternal chemical use and suggests strategies Child Welfare Agencies can employ in working with these vulnerable families.
Predictive value of the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index on perioperative complications and survival in patients undergoing surgery for advanced ovarian cancer

Objectives: To assess the ability of the Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) to predict perioperative complications and survival in patients undergoing primary debulking surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: Data were analyzed for all patients with stages IIIB–IV ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer who underwent primary cytoreduction at our institution from 1/2001 to 1/2010. The ACCI is a validated predictor of 1-year mortality and is based on age and the weighted scores of 19 medical comorbidities. Perioperative complications at up to 30 days postoperatively were graded for severity using a standardized institutional grading system. Patientswere divided into three groups based on an ACCI of 0–1, 2–3, and ≥4. Clinical and survival outcomes were assessed and compared for the three groups. Appropriate statistical tests were used. Results: A total of 567 patients met inclusion criteria, of whom 200 (35%) had an ACCI of 0–1, 272 (48%) had an ACCI of 2–3, and 95 (17%) had an ACCI of ≥4. The most common comorbidities were chronic pulmonary disease (n= 55, 10%), connective tissue disease (n= 37, 7%), other solid tumors (n= 32, 6%), and diabetes mellitus (n= 26, 5%). The ACCI was significantly associated with the rate of complete gross resection (0–1 = 44%, 2–3 = 31%, and ≥4 = 33%, P= 0.01) but was not associated with the rate of minor (47% vs. 47% vs. 43%, P= 0.82) or major (19% vs. 18% vs. 16%, P=0.83) complications. The ACCI was also significantly associated with progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Median PFS for patients who had an ACCI of 0–1, 2–3, and ≥4 was 20.3 months, 16 months, and 15.6 months, respectively (P=0.03). Median OS for patients who had an ACCI of 0–1, 2–3, and ≥4 was 65.3 months, 49.9 months, and 42.3 months, respectively (P b 0.001). Onmultivariate analysis, after adjusting for stage, histology, preoperative albumin, ascites volume, residual disease, and intraperitoneal chemotherapy administration, both PFS (P= 0.02) and OS (P b 0.001) remained significant. Conclusions: The ACCI was a significant predictor of PFS and OS in patients undergoing primary cytoreduction for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Prospective clinical trials in ovarian cancer should consider stratifying for comorbidity.
Effect of carbon nanotube dispersion on glass transition in cross-linked epoxy-carbon nanotube nanocomposites: role of interfacial interactions.

We have used atomistic molecular simulations to study the effect of nanofiller dispersion on the glass transition behavior of cross-linked epoxy–carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites. Specific chemical interactions at the interface of CNTs and cross-linked epoxy create an interphase region, whose impact on the properties of their nanocomposites increases with an increasing extent of dispersion. To investigate this aspect, we have compared the volumetric, structural, and dynamical properties of three systems: neat cross-linked epoxy, cross-linked epoxy nanocomposite containing dispersed CNTs, and cross-linked epoxy nanocomposite containing aggregated CNTs. We find that the nanocomposite containing dispersed CNTs shows a depression in the glass transition temperature (Tg) by ∼66 K as compared to the neat cross-linked epoxy, whereas such a large depression is absent in the nanocomposite containing aggregated CNTs. Our results suggest that the poor interfacial interactions between the CNTs and the cross-linked...
Gaetano Borriello, 1958-2015

The IEEE Pervasive Computing community wishes to remember and celebrate the achievements of Gaetano Borriello, one of the founding members of our editorial board, who died on 1 February 2015. Borriello was a giant in the field of ubiquitous computing, and his most recent work on the Open Data Kit (ODK) supported humanitarian aid, conservation, and outreach to the developing regions of the world. His legacy will live on through the efforts he began and through the impact and influence he has had in this community and around the world.
The decontrol of US oil production

Abstract Us domestic oil reserves and production levels have been declining, but the quantity of oil available on world markets for export to the USA is also likely to decrease in the future - as a result of declining world reserves and increased conservation by the oil exporting nations. President Carter's decontrol plan is therefore aimed at stimulating oil production within the USA as well as less wasteful petroleum use. This article assesses the effectiveness of the decontrol plan in the light of recent trends in US and world oil production and reserves. It concludes that the Carter plan could need substantial revision since its effect may be to reduce current US production in favour of higher prices after decontrol.
Tactical control system (TCS) for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs)

No abstract available.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The impact of DSS use and information load on errors and decision quality

Abstract This paper uses a laboratory experiment to examine the effect of DSS use on the decision maker’s error patterns and decision quality. The DSS used in our experiments is the widely used Expert Choice (EC) implementation of the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Perhaps surprisingly, our experiments do not provide general support for the often tacit assumption that the use of a DSS such as EC improves decision quality. Rather, we find that, whereas a DSS can help decision makers develop a better understanding of the essence of a decision problem and can reduce logical error (especially if the information load is high), it is also susceptible to introducing accidental effects such as mechanical errors. In some cases, as in our study, the accidental errors may outweigh the benefits of using a DSS, leading to lower quality decisions.
Measurements and standards for bulk-explosives detection

Recent years have seen a dramatic expansion in the application of radiation and isotopes to security screening. This has been driven primarily by increased incidents involving improvised explosive devices as well as their ease of assembly and leveraged disruption of transportation and commerce. With global expenditures for security-screening systems in the hundreds of billions of dollars, there is a pressing need to develop, apply, and harmonize standards for x-ray and gamma-ray screening systems used to detect explosives and other contraband. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has been facilitating the development of standard measurement tools that can be used to gauge the technical performance (imaging quality) and radiation safety of systems used to screen luggage, persons, vehicles, cargo, and left-behind objects. After a review of this new suite of national standard test methods, test objects, and radiation-measurement protocols, we highlight some of the technical trends that are enhancing the revision of baseline standards. Finally we advocate a more intentional use of technical-performance standards by security stakeholders and outline the advantages this would accrue.
Similar deficiencies in procedural dermatology and dermatopathology fellow evaluation despite different periods of ACGME accreditation: results of a national survey.

BACKGROUND Fellow evaluation is required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Procedural dermatology fellowship accreditation by the ACGME began in 2003 while dermatopathology accreditation began in 1976. OBJECTIVE The objective was to compare fellow evaluation rigor between ACGME-accredited procedural dermatology and dermatopathology fellowships. METHODS Questionnaires were mailed to fellowship directors of the ACGME-accredited (2006–2007) procedural dermatology and dermatopathology fellowship programs. Information was collected regarding evaluation form development, delivery, and collection. RESULTS The response rates were 74% (25/34) and 53% (24/45) for procedural and dermatopathology fellowship programs, respectively. Sixteen percent (4/25) of procedural dermatology and 25% (6/24) of dermatopathology programs do not evaluate fellows. Fifty percent or less of program (4/8 procedural dermatology and 3/7 dermatopathology) evaluation forms address all six core competencies required by the ACGME. CONCLUSION Procedural fellowships are evaluating fellows as rigorously as the more established dermatopathology fellowships. Both show room for improvement because one in five programs reported not evaluating fellows and roughly half of the evaluation forms provided do not address the six ACGME core competencies.
Rapid full-brain fMRI with an accelerated multi shot 3D EPI sequence using both UNFOLD and GRAPPA.

The desire to understand complex mental processes using functional MRI drives development of imaging techniques that scan the whole human brain at a high spatial and temporal resolution. In this work, an accelerated multishot three-dimensional echo-planar imaging sequence is proposed to increase the temporal resolution of these studies. A combination of two modern acceleration techniques, UNFOLD and GRAPPA is used in the secondary phase encoding direction to reduce the scan time effectively. The sequence (repetition time of 1.02 s) was compared with standard two-dimensional echo-planar imaging (3 s) and multishot three-dimensional echo-planar imaging (3 s) sequences with both block design and event-related functional MRI paradigms. With the same experimental setup and imaging time, the temporal resolution improvement with our sequence yields similar activation regions in the block design functional MRI paradigm with slightly increased t-scores. Moreover, additional information on the timing of rapid dynamic changes was extracted from accelerated images for the case of the event related complex mental paradigm. Magn Reson Med 000:000–000, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Test-Retest Reliability of a Touch Scale for Tactile Defensiveness

A touch scale for evaluation of tactile defensiveness in elementary school aged children has been developed and, in the current study, the test-retest reliability of the scale was investigated. Twenty-six children, thirteen males and thirteen females aged five to twelve, were administered the scale by a research assistant and then retested two weeks later. A Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was calculated and found to be significant in terms of variance shared between the first and second testing sessions (r = .5883, p = .001). The results suggest acceptable test-retest reliability for the touch scale, especially considering, (1) the limited variance of the response format upon which the reliability coefficient is based, (2) a two-week interval between tests, and (3) the relatively small sample size. Suggestions for future research are put forth.
Preliminary observations on the use of corynebacterium parvum in patients with primary intracranial tumors: Effect on intracranial pressure

It has been observed that patients with metastatic brain lesions developed neurologic symptoms when given Corynebacterium parvum. To obtain more information in patients with intracranial mass lesions, intracranial pressures (ICP) were measured or observed in six patients undergoing C. parvum therapy. All patients except two (one previously shunted, one recently operated) demonstrated a profound increase in ICP. It is presumed that either edema is formed within brain and tumor tissue (inasmuch as neurologic deterioration has not been observed in patients without an intracranial lesion) or transient increases in cerebral blood flow adversely alter an already compromised intracranial volume. Surgical decompression of tumor volume or use of Lasix® may abort this response to C. parvum infusion.
Neashore auto-suspending turbidity flows

Abstract A class of turbidity flows is investigated in which sediment is entrained sufficient to balance losses and an equilibrium flow is sustained. The analytical models for predicting equilibrium flow configurations are surveyed. These are found to differ by two orders of magnitude in the required flow speeds. Five field observations of self-sustaining turbidity flows are investigated as a test for the analytical models. The model of Bagnold (1962) is found to have skill in predicting all of the field observations. The significance of these flows to the reliability of pipelines, cables and other engineering structures on continental shelves is considered. Circumstantial evidence is presented that suggests that these flows may be a mechanism for offshore flows of sand from beaches during major storms.
Macroscopic structural coherence in two-component superconductivity

Abstract In two-component theory 1,2 pairing arises from localized negative-U states and mobility arises from extended single particle states. A small hybridization of localized and extended states enables mobility and pairing to provide a high T c . RPA analysis of the “normal” state implies uncondensed charged pairs carry current, while long lived single particle excitations are neutral electron-hole hybrids. At T c pairs condense and single particle states undergo Cooper pairing. In the superconducting state pair-pair excitations exist in the BCS-like fermionic gap. Signatures of this theory range from distinctive T c , Δ, H c , ξ, conductance anomalies in sound and bulk modulii at T c , linear temperature dependence of normal state resistivity, 2e charge carriers in the normal state, linear voltage dependence in normal-state-tunneling conductance, and finite zero-bias conductance in superconducting state tunneling. Quantitative comparisons with superconducting properties of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 were presented. 1 A distinctive signature is the prediction of dynamical structural correlations which are local above T c and macroscopic below T c . Experiments provide direct evidence for such dynamical correlations: neutron diffraction “thermal ovals”, 3 channeling experiment cross section changes as a function of temperature near T c , 4,5 pair-distribution-function neutron diffraction including enelastic and elastic scattering showing direct evidence for dynamic correlations which change at T c , 6 and EXAFS showing a large dynamical displacement of oxygen atoms tunneling between sites separated by 0.13A, 7 In two-component theory strong lattice coupling is consistent with low isotope shifts since tunneling occurs by a virtual Frank-Condon transition. 1,2 Predictions for the dynamical structure factor are presented.
Was kestel really the source of TIN for ancient bronze

A site in south-central Turkey has been proposed as the source for early bronze-age tin. Examination of the site shows that this proposal is confounded by the presence of extensive mining and smelting activities for lead. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Empirical versus Random Item Selection in the Design of Intelligence Test Short Forms--The WISC-R Example.

This study demonstrated that the design of cur rent intelligence test short forms could be improved by employing a more effective method of item selec tion based on psychometric theory. Two short forms of the recently published WISC-R were developed, one employing a design determined by empirical item analysis results of the standard test battery and the other employing the well-known Yudin scheme determined by systematic random selection of test items. In all analyses the item analysis method of item selection was shown to yield more accurate results than the Yudin procedure. Practi cal usefulness as well as limitations of the present WISC-R Short form are discussed.
Pyramid Power in Career Development

Stewart and Nejedlo discuss the use of the Career Development Pyramid as a model for career development and as a practical aid in career counseling. The model graphically depicts the synergistic relations of career choice factors, life-style, self-concept, and the specific job. The authors discuss the relationship between the quadrihedral model and current career development theories. They suggest applied uses of the pyramid and provide a working plan for copy and use by career development counselors.
N-Acetyl-l-cysteine Enhances Apoptosis through Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-κB in Hypoxic Murine Embryonic Fibroblasts

In this study, we investigated the role of reduced glutathione (GSH) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) in hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Hypoxia caused p53-dependent apoptosis in murine embryonic fibroblasts transfected with Ras and E1A. N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) but not other antioxidants, such as the vitamin E analog trolox and epigallocatechin-3-gallate, enhanced hypoxia-induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. NAC also enhanced hypoxia-induced apoptosis in two human cancer cell lines, MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells and A549 lung carcinoma cells. In murine embryonic fibroblasts, all three antioxidants blocked hypoxia-induced reactive oxygen species formation. NAC did not enhance hypoxia-induced cytochrome c release but did enhance poly-(ADP ribose) polymerase cleavage, indicating that NAC acted at a post-mitochondrial level. NAC-mediated enhancement of apoptosis was mimicked by incubating cells with GSH monoester, which increased intracellular GSH similarly to NAC. Hypoxia promoted degradation of an inhibitor of kappaB(IkappaBalpha), NFkappaB-p65 translocation into the nucleus, NFkappaB binding to DNA, and subsequent transactivation of NFkappaB, which increased X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein levels. NAC failed to block degradation by IkappaBalpha and sequestration of the p65 subunit of NFkappaB to the nucleus. However, NAC did abrogate hypoxia-induced NFkappaB binding to DNA, NFkappaB-dependent gene expression, and induction of X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. In conclusion, NAC enhanced hypoxic apoptosis by a mechanism apparently involving GSH-dependent suppression of NFkappaB transactivation.
Dose response of CaF2:Tm to charged particles of different LET

Thermoluminescent dosimeters are well established for performing calibrations in radiotherapy and for monitoring dose to personnel exposed to low linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation. Patients undergoing light ion therapy and astronauts engaged in space flight are, however, exposed to radiation fields consisting of a mix of low- and high-LET charged particles. In this study, glow curves from CaF2:Tm chips were examined after exposure to various electron and ion beams. The annealing and readout procedures for these chips were optimized for these beams. After a 10 min prereadout annealing at 100 degrees C, the optimized glow curve samples the light output between 95 and 335 degrees C with a heating rate of 2 degrees C/s. The ratio of the integral of the glow curve under peaks 4-6 to the integral under peak 3 was approximately 0.9 for electrons, 1.0 for entrance protons, 1.6 for peak protons, and 2.2 for entrance carbon, silicon, and iron ions. The integral light output per unit dose in water for the iron exposures was about half as much as for the electron exposures. The peak-area-ratio can be used to determine a dose response factor for different LET radiations.
Electrocardiographic changes associated with experimental alterations in blood potassium in cats

Abstract The increasing interest in electrocardiographic abnormalities which are not due to structural changes in the myocardium has prompted our study of the effect of potassium on the electrocardiogram. An intimate relationship of potassium to automatism and to bioelectric phenomena seems fairly certain, in the light of current knowledge, and numerous investigators have studied the effects of potassium on heart muscle strips, the intact heart, and heart-lung preparations. Electrocardiograms with concomitant potassium determinations on the intact, unanesthetized subject following potassium administration are rare. Wiggers 1 produced electrocardiographic changes similar to those due to coronary occlusion by applying with a brush a 20 per cent solution of potassium chloride directly to the ventricle of the dog. Wiggers and his associates 2, 3 described electrocardiographic changes in dogs following intravenous and intracardiac injections of potassium chloride. These changes varied with the amount of potassium chloride injected and with the site and speed of injection. Concentrations of serum potassium were not determined. Harris and Levin 4 noted slowing of the human heart and slight diminution in the height of the P waves following the administration of 5 c.c. of 5 per cent potassium chloride solution. They conclude that there is no relation between electrocardiographic changes and concentration of potassium in the serum, but from the data presented this conclusion does not seem justified. In five experiments on four dogs, Winkler, Hoff, and Smith 5 found marked changes in the electrocardiogram, with eventual cardiac arrest, following the intravenous administration of 1.12 per cent potassium chloride solution at the rate of 10 c.c. per minute. In the present study the potassium chloride was given intraperitoneally because Zwemer and Truszkowski 6 had found that this procedure gave more predictable results and smoother blood potassium curves.
MONOZYGOTIC (MZ) TWINS DISCORDANT FOR SEX

A pair of adolescent twins, discordant for sex, was identified as MZ on the basis of concordance for 22 blood groups and other biochemical markers. The proband has short stature, webbed neck, malformed left kidney, high plasma gonadotropins and other features of Turner's syndrome. Cytogenetic studies revealed a 46XY chromosome complement in peripheral blood, 46XY/45X in skin fibroblasts and 45X in fibroblasts cultured from streak gonads. Her MZ normal appearing male twin has a 46XY karyotype. The dermatoglyphics are similar in both twins but the total ridge count is higher in the girl. A review of the literature reveals 3 other reports of MZ twins discordant for sex. In one pair there was a phenotypically normal male with a 46XY karyotype, and the female twin had a 45X karyotype and findings of Turner's syndrome. In the second pair the male, although phenotypically normal, showed a 45X karyotype while the female twin showed 45X/46XY mosaicism with features consistent with mixed gonadal dysgenesis. Both members of the third twin pair showed findings characteristic of mixed gonadal dysgenesis. The male twin had a 45X/46XY chromosome complement and the female, with findings more suggestive of Turner's syndrome, had a 45X chromosome pattern. The concurrence of gonadal dysgenesis and MZ twinning may shed light on embryonic gonadal development and pathogenesis of the various types of gonadal dysgenesis.
Decomposition of large scale systems—I. Systems composed of lumped parameter elements

Abstract An algorithm is developed to decompose large scale systems into their irreducible cyclical nets i.e. nets which evolve because of recycle streams. Properties of boolean matrices and of graph theory are used in the algorithm. Some requirements in making linear and nonlinear underspecified systems determinate are also described.