cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of signal quality on six cardiac output estimators

The effect of signal quality on the accuracy of cardiac output (CO) estimation from arterial blood pressure (ABP) was evaluated using data from the MIMIC II database. Thermodilution CO (TCO) was the gold standard. A total of 121 records with 1,497 TCO measurements were used. Six lumped-parameter and systolic area CO estimators were tested, using ABP features and a robust heart rate (HR) estimate. Signal quality indices for ABP and HR were calculated using previously described metrics. For retrospective analysis, results showed that the Liljestrand method yielded the lowest error for all levels of signal quality. Increasing signal quality decreased error and only marginally reduced the amount of available data, as a signal quality level of 90% preserved sufficient data for almost continuous CO estimation. At the recommended signal quality thresholds, the lowest gross root mean square normalized error (RMSNE) was found to be 15.4% (or 0.74 L/min) and average RMSNE was 13.7% (0.71 L/min).
Vesical clear cell adenocarcinoma arising from endometriosis: A mullerian tumor, indistinguishable from ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma

Endometriosis is associated with increased rates of ovarian, particularly clear cell, adenocarcinomas. Malignant transformation of ovarian endometriosis is most common but rare cases have been reported in the bladder, abdominal wall, diaphragm, and rectum. We present the case of a 44-year-old female with vesical clear cell adenocarcinoma arising in a background of endometriosis in the absence of other pelvic endometriosis. The malignancy was diagnosed on transurethral resection of bladder tumor and managed with radical surgery. Histology and immunohistochemical findings were consistent mullerian origin and indistinguishable from similar tumors arising in the female genital tract. Extrapolating from the gynecologic literature, the recommendation was made for adjuvant chemotherapy. Further studies are needed to clarify the optimal treatment paradigm for ovarian and bladder clear cell adenocarcinomas.
Thermoplastic-based nanoblends: Preparation and characterizations

Abstract Chapter 2 explains recent technical advances on "Thermoplastic Based Nano Blends: Preparation and Characterizations". As chapter name implies, this chapter covers thermoplastic based nano blends, their manufacturing processes, and characterization methods. In so doing, latest literature results reviewed and wide range of modern characterization techniques examined, from microscopy and spectroscopy to diffraction, thermal analysis, rheology, and mechanical measurements paying attention to the characterization of nanoscale miscibility and interfaces, both in blends involving copolymers and their hybrid blend inorganic–organic nanocomposites. Interface modification of nano blends are also addressed. Finally, influence of processing on the generation of nano morphologies, and the dependence of these morphologies on the properties of blends.
The 1924 Lecture “The Concept of Time” as the Step Beyond Being and Time (1927) and After Deconstruction

This paper argues that Heidegger’s 1924 lecture on “The Concept of Time” can be appropriated and reinterpreted to surpass some of the inherent limits of Being and Time. Furthermore, it tries to demonstrate the passage beyond deconstruction, which also attempts to critique the unity, stability, and systematic nature of fundamental ontology in Being and Time and the latter’s attempts to destroy the history of metaphysical conceptions of time. The paper concludes with speculative metaphysical ruminations on future directions for continental philosophy.
Towards dynamic classification completeness in Twitter

In this paper we study the application of Matrix Completion in topic detection and classification in Twitter. The proposed method first employs Joint Complexity to perform topic detection based on score matrices. Based on the spatial correlation of tweets and the spatial characteristics of the score matrices, we apply a novel framework which extends the Matrix Completion to build dynamically complete matrices from a small number of random sample Joint Complexity scores. The experimental evaluation with real data from Twitter presents the topic detection accuracy based on complete reconstructed matrices, and thus reducing the exhaustive computation of Joint Complexity scores.
Room to Roam: Using GPS to Determine the Effect of Exhibit Size and Herd Size on Zoo Elephant Movement

Asian and African elephants (Elephas maximus and Loxodonta spp.) are particularly susceptible to welfare concerns in zoological institutions due to their high intelligence, complex social structures, and sheer size. Zoo elephants are also limited by the space available to them, and the resulting lack of exercise may contribute to a host of health issues, including obesity and foot disease. Zoos rely largely on changes to the exhibit size and herd size to promote elephant movement, yet the...
A Pilot Study on Professional Documentation: Do We Write From a Strengths Perspective?

Purpose There is growing evidence supporting the use of strengths-based practices when serving families. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of strengths-based approaches in the contex...
Effectiveness of surgical interventions for thoracic aortic aneurysms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and open repair in patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Methods PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, EBSCO Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus were searched from each database's inception to January 29, 2016. We selected studies that compared the two approaches in adults with TAAs and reported 30-day mortality or procedure complications. Two reviewers independently extracted data, and conflicts were resolved by consensus. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The main outcomes and measures were all-cause 30-day mortality, 30-day paraplegia or spinal cord ischemia, stroke, pulmonary complications, and length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Results Twenty-seven studies of moderate methodologic quality were included. TEVAR was associated with lower 30-day mortality in ruptured (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38-0.88) and intact (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.36-0.99) aneurysms. Paraplegia or spinal cord ischemia (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.2-0.61) and pulmonary complications (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.37-0.46) were reduced in patients undergoing TEVAR, whereas a reduction in stroke risk was not statistically significant (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.76-1.03). Pooled mean difference in length of hospital and ICU stay was lower for TEVAR by −5.17 days (95% CI, −7.77 to −2.57) and −5.89 days (95% CI, −9.65 to −2.12), respectively. Three studies showed that compared with open repair, a hybrid approach reduced hospital stay (pooled mean difference, −8.83 days; 95% CI, −14.37 to −3.29) and ICU stay (pooled mean difference, −3.17 days (95% CI, −5.54 to −0.97), with minimal evidence on other outcomes studied. Conclusions Observational evidence at high risk of confounding suggests that compared with open repair for TAA, TEVAR reduced risk of mortality, paraplegia, spinal cord ischemia, and pulmonary complications within 30 days of intervention. Patients undergoing TEVAR also had shorter length of hospital and ICU stay compared with patients undergoing open repair.
The Disorder Perceptions of Nonresidents: A Textual Analysis of Open–Ended Survey Responses to Photographic Stimuli:

Nonresidents’ perceptions of disorder are potentially consequential for neighborhoods in many ways, as disorder shapes individuals’ behavior within neighborhoods. Unfortunately, there is little res...
Shear Wave Ultrasonic Technique as an NDE Tool for Composite Laminates Before and After Curing

The highly anisotropic elastic properties of the plies in a composite laminate, especially those manufactured from unidirectional prepregs, interact strongly with the inplane vibration of shear ultrasonic waves propagating through its thickness1–3. The transmitted signals in a “crossed polarizer” configuration (with the transmitting and receiving transducers perpendicular to each other) were found to be particularly sensitive to ply orientation and layup sequence in a laminate4,5. This technique therefore holds good potential to be an NDE tool for detecting layup errors during the manufacturing of composite components. In such measurements, the transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer were rotated simultaneously, referred to as an azimuthal scan, while maintaining perpendicularity between them. The overall peak-to-peak amplitude of the RF waveform of the transmitted shear wave was recorded and plotted as a function of the transmitting transducer orientation. It was demonstrated experimentally that a single misoriented ply at the center of a 24-ply quasi-isotropic laminate can be detected with ease. Sensitivity to other errors in ply orientation and layup sequence have also been demonstrated.6 To continue the assessment of detection sensitivity, 48-ply graphite-epoxy laminates with and without intentional ply errors were fabricated. Azimuthal scans were performed to detect the errors and the results were quite successful, as described below.
Mechanisms Underlying Social Loafing in Technology Teams: An Empirical Analysis

Prior research has identified team size and dispersion as important antecedents of social loafing in technology-enabled teams. However, the underlying mechanisms through which team size and team dispersion cause individuals to engage in social loafing is significantly understudied and needs to be researched. To address this exigency, we use Bandura’s Theory of Moral Disengagement to explain why individuals under conditions of increasing team size and dispersion engage in social loafing behavior. We identify three mechanisms—advantageous comparison, displacement of responsibility and moral justification —that mediate the relationship between team size, dispersion and social loafing. Herein, we present the theory development and arguments for our hypotheses. We also present the initial findings from this study. Implications of the expected research findings are also discussed.
Intervento sulla crisi con donne maltrattate

Ogni 9 secondi, da qualche parte negli Stati Uniti, una donna viene aggredita o violentata da un partner che ha con lei un rapporto intimo; la causa maggiore di lesioni femminili e la violenza domestica (Roberts e Roberts, 2005, p. 4). Il maltrattamento di donne e/o la violenza da parte di un partner intimo e prevalente, nel corso della vita, per il 25% delle coppie americane; ne risulta, quindi, che questa attitudine sia riconosciuta come un dilagante e serio problema di giustizia criminale e di salute pubblica nella societa americana al giorno d’oggi (Roberts, 2002).
Age at natural menopause and total mortality and mortality from ischemic heart disease: the Adventist Health Study.

We studied the relationship between age at natural menopause and total mortality as well as mortality from ischemic heart disease in a cohort of 6182 California Seventh-Day Adventist women who reported a natural menopause. During follow-up from 1976 through 1988, there were 1831 deaths. A total of 308 deaths due to ischemic heart disease occurred in women who denied ischemic heart disease at start of follow-up. An early menopause was associated with increased total mortality (P value for linear trend 55 years), particularly in women who never have used postmenopausal estrogens.
Rebuilding the Pipeline of Investigators in Nephrology Research in the United States.

The increasing prevalence of kidney diseases in recent decades has vastly outpaced the slow growth of the nephrology workforce. The resulting shortage of nephrologists has consequences not only for medical practice but also, for nephrology research, which—in research funded by the National
Governance of Olympic Environmental Stakeholders

The purpose of this paper was to examine the governance mechanisms that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) utilizes to govern environmental stakeholders in the management of the Olympic Game...
The RAPID Fission Matrix Approach to Reactor Core Criticality Calculations

The Real-time Analysis for Particle transport and In-situ Detection (RAPID) code uses a unique, extremely fast, fission matrix–based methodology to compute the eigenvalue, and three-dimensional, pi...
Comment on Marques et al. (2018), Channel flow, tectonic overpressure, and exhumation of high-pressure rocks in the Greater Himalayas

Abstract. The upward-tapering channel model proposed by Marques et al (2018) has a “base” that forms part of the subducting footwall, and will therefore not close the channel. As a result there will be no return flow, and excess pressure will not develop in the channel. The excess (dynamic) pressures calculated from their model, which exceed lithostatic pressure by as much as 1.5 GPa, will cause elastic flexure of the upper plate, which will relieve the excess pressure. If the excess pressure is maintained by continued corner flow, flexure of the upper plate will lead to geologically unrealistic topographic and gravity anomalies.
Living Unhappily on Left Ventricular Assist Device Support: The Impetus for Shared Decision Making

Morrie Schwartz, a sociology professor who developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the subject of Mitch Albom’s book Tuesdays With Morrie , may be quoted as having said, “Dying is only one thing to be sad over…. Living unhappily is something else.”[(1)][1]. Although the field of
Light rail transit and housing markets in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: Announcement and operations effects using quasi-experimental methods

Abstract As planners and engineers in large cities around the United States continue to seek solutions to transportation-related problems such as congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and safe and efficient access to goods and services, light rail transit (LRT) systems have become an increasingly popular option. While LRT has the potential to address these issues, it also has the potential to create negative externalities. This study examines the effects that LRT has had on the single-family residence housing market in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in both the announcement and operations phases. Using spatially explicit quasi-experimental econometric models, we found that the announcement of the LRT led to increases in price per square feet for properties as distance to LRT station decreases while the price per square foot of properties decreases as distance to LRT station decreases after the system began operations. These results indicate that while land speculation may have resulted from the announcement of the LRT system, homeowners living closest to the stations during operations may have viewed the LRT stations more as a nuisance than a benefit.
Transient pelvic limb neuropathy following proximal metatarsal and tarsal magnetic resonance imaging in seven horses.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic limb neuropathy is a rare post‐anaesthetic complication. In the authors’ experiences, the incidence of post‐anaesthesia neuropathy is increased following MRI of the proximal metatarsus and tarsal regions when compared with previously reported incidences of post‐anaesthetic neuropathy. OBJECTIVES: This study reports the incidence, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of seven horses with post‐anaesthesia neuropathy following proximal metatarsal and tarsal MRI. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Case record review of horses receiving general anaesthesia for MRI between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 1134 MRI procedures were performed and reviewed for analysis. Eight cases of neuropathy were identified in 1088 limb scans (0.74%). Of these cases, one was subsequent to thoracic limb imaging (1/834; 0.12%) and seven were subsequent to imaging of proximal metatarsal and/or tarsal structures (7/181; 3.9%). Following proximal metatarsal and/or tarsal MRI, transient nondependent limb femoral neuropathy developed in six of the seven affected horses, with one additional horse developing peroneal neuropathy of the dependent limb. Recovery of pelvic limb function occurred within 72 h and 9 days in six and one horse, respectively. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Anaesthetic protocol and neuropathy treatment for the affected horses were not standardised. CONCLUSIONS: Though an uncommon complication in horses, transient neuropathy may occur more frequently following MRI of the proximal metatarsal and tarsal structures when compared with other MRI scans. This may be due to patient positioning and the requirement for limb traction for MRI of more proximal regions. Supportive care facilitates rapid return to function.
Why nonverbal immediacy matters: A motivation explanation

Instructional communication behaviors have been routinely associated with student learning outcomes for the past 40 years; however, the explanations for why these relationships exist remain somewha...
Newman and Covrig 2013 Consistency Model for Research.pdf

Consistency in the title, problem, purpose, and research question improve the logic and transparency of research. When these components of research are aligned research design and planning are more coherent and research reports are more readable. This article reviews the process for checking for and improving consistency. Numerous examples of consistency among these four components of research are provided and ways to remove inconsistency are outlined. A graphic, rubric and worksheet are provided to help researchers evaluate their own work or give feedback to the research work of others.
Efficient light emitting diodes based on metal halide perovskite nanocrystals

In this talk, I will present our recent efforts on the development of new materials and processing approaches to achieve efficient and stable perovskite light emitting diodes (LEDs) with tunable colors. First, surface passivation of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals will be discussed, which could not only reduce surface defects, but also protect the surface from the penetration of degradation agents (e.g. moisture). Second, a novel approach to achieve efficient blue emissions from hollow perovskite nanocrystals via quantum size effects will be introduced. Lastly, processing engineering to prepare metal halide perovskite thin films with desired morphological and electronic properties for LEDs will be discussed.
Multi-Level Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities with Limited Resources

Abstract In this paper, we consider electric vehicle charging facilities with limited space and power resources. We assume the facility offers a finite selection of levels, i.e., charging rates, for varying prices. Users arrive at the facility randomly, requiring a random amount of charge and possessing a random impatience factor dictating their value of time. Each user then chooses a charging rate that minimizes their total cost that includes an opportunity cost for the time required to charge associated with their impatience factor. Knowing the probability distribution of user charging demands, user impatience factors, and the number of arrivals at a charging facility, we present high-confidence bounds on the total number of active users and aggregate power use of all active users at any given time. We present a case study to illustrate the results.
Review of Spider Ecology During Carrion Decomposition, with a Field Study on Density and Taxa Richness in Pitfall Trap Captures of Geophilic Spiders (Aranea: Anyphaenidae, Corinnidae, Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Salticidae)

During a recent pig carrion succession study in northwest Florida, United States, we noticed an abundance of spiders but found that literature on spider ecology at carrion is sparse and scattered. We compiled a literature review of 569 carrion succession studies, of which 37 studies specifically mentioned the presence of spiders, with less than a third providing species-level identifications and only half providing family-level identifications. Nineteen spider families have been reported at carrion in the literature. Spiders are recognized as generalist, opportunistic predators in carrion succession studies, but only 38% of the studies that mentioned spiders during carrion succession included any ecological information. Data on spiders in the present experiment were compared to background samples, finding that the difference in abundance was statistically significant for all spider species combined. Seven species of spiders from five families were identified from both background and carrion succession samples; statistical differences in abundance were found for three species: the linyphiid Florinda coccinea and the lycosids Tigrosa annexa and Pirata seminolus. The family Corinnidae is reported from carrion for the first time. This research reviews the existing literature on spider ecology during carrion succession, provides additional data on species identity and abundance, and demonstrates the potential significance of spiders in carrion ecology and forensic investigations.
Acoustical Imaging Techniques—Theoretical and Experimental Results

Ultrasonic evaluation of materials has experienced tremendous growth in recent years- especially for composite materials in the automotive and aerospace industries. Of special interest is the ability to precisely identify small defects or faults at various depths inside the material. The range resolution is inherently limited by the transmitting pulse width and operating frequency. Improvement can be made by using large amplitude narrow pulses. However, a very narrow pulse is difficult to produce in practice, besides which its instantaneous ultrasonic intensity could cause damage to the transmitting transducer and/or the target. In addition to the range resolution limitation, we observed that the typical acoustic imaging system has some range accuracy problems related to the limited coherence of trigger time from the microprocessor controlled ultrasonic pulse transmission. This has caused a range inaccuracy of as much as one millimeter in water at an operating frequency of 2.25 MHz.
THE EFFECT OF SEXCOMBLESS IN GENETIC MOSAICS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

Gynandric basitarsi possessing areas heterozygous for the sexlinked mutant sexcombless (sx) and hemizygous for it, and mosaic basitarsi possessingsx/+,sx/sx and +/+ areas have been studied for the developmental expression ofsx andsx/sx patches in the sex comb region. The mosaic basitarsi were obtained as the result of somatic crossing over following X-ray exposure of larvae. In order to observe the sex comb-forming potencies in these XX tissues the flies had been made homozygous for the genetra which transforms females into phenotypic males. The development ofsx/+;tra/tra females is greatly prolonged over that of normal females.
A short-range gauge field

Non-Abelian gauge fields have been investigated on the classical level. The fields are subject to the action principle employed by Yang and Mills for free gauge fields. We have found a field which satisfies this action principle everywhere except on a world line; it has components which are short range and the range properties have been expressed gauge invariantly. The field is singular on a world line and is thus associated with a point particle of some kind. The internal holonomy group belonging to this field is nonsemi-simple, which has the consequence that some components do not contribute to the energy density. The field is not expected to have a direct physical interpretation. Gauge fields with the holonomy groupO3 have also been considered. An ansatz for, the gauge fields has been found for which the free Yang-Mills equations acquire a relatively simple form. Due to the nonlinear nature of the equations, solutions have not been obtained. However, we show that if the field equations are satisfied every where and if a longrange component of the field exists then there will also be a short-range component.
RoboFlow: A flow-based visual programming language for mobile manipulation tasks

General-purpose robots can perform a range of useful tasks in human environments; however, programming them to robustly function in all possible environments that they might encounter is unfeasible. Instead, our research aims to develop robots that can be programmed by its end-users in their context of use, so that the robot needs to robustly function in only one particular environment. This requires intuitive ways in which end-users can program their robot. To that end, this paper contributes a flow-based visual programming language, called RoboFlow, that allows programming of generalizable mobile manipulation tasks. RoboFlow is designed to (i) ensure a robust low-level implementation of program procedures on a mobile manipulator, and (ii) restrict the high-level programming as much as possible to avoid user errors while enabling expressive programs that involve branching, looping, and nesting. We present an implementation of RoboFlow on a PR2 mobile manipulator and demonstrate the generalizability and error handling properties of RoboFlow programs on everyday mobile manipulation tasks in human environments.
Temperate zone sporadic-E maps /f/0/E/s/ greater than 7 MHz/

Three maps are presented of f(0) sporadic-E greater than 7 MHz for temperate zones. During map preparation it was assumed that: (1) the geographical area would be between plus and minus 60 deg geomagnetic latitude, excluding the equatorial zone, (2) the maps would be for f(0) sporadic-E greater than 7 MHz, (3) sunspot cycle variation would be ignored, (4) one map would represent the peak sporadic-E period with a discontinuity at the geographic equator, (5) one map would represent non-peak periods with a discontinuity at the geographic equator, (6) one map would represent all twelve months with no equatorial discontinuity, and (7) previously determined coefficients for median and upper decile f(0) sporadic-E would be extrapolated to 7 MHz.
Can Ultrasonography of Median Nerve Differentiate between Mild, Moderate and Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? (P5.108)

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether cross sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet, measured by high resolution ultrasonography (US) can differentiate between electrophysiologically defined mild, moderate and severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Background: Several studies have indicated that CSA of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet measured by US has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of CTS; CSA of more than 0.10 cm2 is generally considered as the criterion. However, there have been questions raised regarding its sensitivity in mild and severe CTS. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of patients confirmed to have CTS by electrodiagnostic studies; a simple grading was used to classify CTS into mild (abnormal sensory conduction only), moderate (abnormal sensory and motor conduction) or severe (additional presence of denervation of abductor pollicic brevis). US measurement of CSA of median nerve at distal wrist crease was performed using 18 M Hz probe. RESULTS: 30 Patients with mild CTS showed mean CSA of 0.11cm2 with STD of .019 with sensitivity of 73.3 %. Among 75 patients with moderate CTS , mean CSA was .15 cm2 with STD of .03 and sensitivity of 92% . Among 35 patients with severe CTS mean CSA was .188 cm2 with STD .05. and sensitivity of 100 % CONCLUSIONS: US measurement of CSA of median nerve has high sensitivity in moderate and severe CTS. CSA values of .2 cm2 or more indicate severe CTS (76%). CSA 0f more than .15 cm2 is not seen in mild CTS and indicates moderate or severe CTS. Disclosure: Dr. Iyer has nothing to disclose.
A near-lossless trellis-searched predictive image compression system

This paper presents a near-lossless image compression system where the coded image is within some prespecified maximum error of the original image at each and every pixel. The system is predictive and codes the image one row at a time. The encoder uses the Viterbi algorithm to choose among all admissible reproductions for the given image row the one that can be described with the fewest number of bits. In this paper we present a version of the system which employs run-length and Huffman coding to describe the reproductions for an image row. In addition, the system uses context modeling to further reduce the bit rate. Experimental results are presented showing the performance of the system on the large set of images provided by the ISO/IEC ITC Standards Committee.
Reciprocity in the Pupil-Teacher Interactions of Autistic and Mildly Handicapped Preschool Children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reciprocal interactions of autistic and mildly handicapped preschool children with their teacher. Four children from each of the diagnostic categori...
The Thrombospondin1-TGF-β Pathway and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is characterized by abnormal remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the trabecular meshwork and in the connective tissue beams of the lamina cribrosa (LC) at the optic nerve head (ONH), which is associated with axonal damage. Mechanical strain can stimulate ECM remodeling and increased expression of matricellular proteins. Thrombospondins 1 and 2 are induced by cyclic mechanical strain in the eye in both the trabecular meshwork and in the LC region of the ONH. TGF-betas 1 and 2 are increased in glaucoma and play a role in the pathologic remodeling of the ECM in the eye in glaucoma. In this study, we address the role of thrombospondin1 as a regulator of latent TGF-beta activation and discuss the potential therapeutic use of antagonists of the thrombospondin1-TGF-beta pathway for treatment of glaucoma.
Phage & phosphatase: a novel phage-based probe for rapid, multi-platform detection of bacteria

Genetic engineering of bacteriophages allows for the development of rapid, highly specific, and easily manufactured probes for the detection of bacterial pathogens. A challenge for novel probes is the ease of their adoption in real world laboratories. We have engineered the bacteriophage T7, which targets Escherichia coli, to carry the alkaline phosphatase gene, phoA. This inclusion results in phoA overexpression following phage infection of E. coli. Alkaline phosphatase is commonly used in a wide range of diagnostics, and thus a signal produced by our phage-based probe could be detected using common laboratory equipment. Our work demonstrates the successful: (i) modification of T7 phage to carry phoA; (ii) overexpression of alkaline phosphatase in E. coli; and (iii) detection of this T7-induced alkaline phosphatase activity using commercially available colorimetric and chemilumiscent methods. Furthermore, we demonstrate the application of our phage-based probe to rapidly detect low levels of bacteria and discern the antibiotic resistance of E. coli isolates. Using our bioengineered phage-based probe we were able to detect 10(3) CFU per mL of E. coli in 6 hours using a chemiluminescent substrate and 10(4) CFU per mL within 7.5 hours using a colorimetric substrate. We also show the application of this phage-based probe for antibiotic resistance testing. We were able to determine whether an E. coli isolate was resistant to ampicillin within 4.5 hours using chemiluminescent substrate and within 6 hours using a colorimetric substrate. This phage-based scheme could be readily adopted in labs without significant capital investments and can be translated to other phage-bacteria pairs for further detection.
The evaluation and management of accidental hypothermia.

Accidental hypothermia is defined as an unintentional decrease in core body temperature to below 35°C. Hypothermia causes hundreds of deaths in the United States annually. Victims of accidental hypothermia present year-round and in all climates with a potentially confusing array of signs and symptoms, but increasing severity of hypothermia produces a predictable pattern of systemic organ dysfunction and associated clinical manifestations. The management of hypothermic patients differs in several important respects from that of euthermic patients, so advance knowledge about hypothermia is prerequisite to optimal management. The paucity of randomized clinical trials with hypothermic patients precludes creation of evidence-based treatment guidelines, but a clinically sound management strategy, tailored to individual patient characteristics and institutional expertise and resources, can nonetheless be gleaned from the literature. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of accidental hypothermia. Initial evaluation and stabilization, selection of a rewarming strategy, and criteria for withholding or withdrawing support are discussed.
Marketing Heritage: Archaeology and the Consumption of the Past

Marketing Heritage: Archaeology and the Consumption of the Past. Yorke Rowan and Uzi Baram, eds. Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press, 2004. 315 pp.
Oxidation of benzene by radiolytically produced OH radicals

Abstract The radiolysis of N2O saturated-aqueous solutions of benzene-14C has been examined using radio-liquid chromatographic methods to follow the quantitative aspects of the reactions of hydroxycyclohexadienyl radicals. In the absence of a radical oxidant, at least five important products are produced. The total yield of 5.8 observed for the incorporation of benzene into products accounts for essentially all of the radicals initially produced from the water. Dimeric products predominate with a total yield of 4.1. Phenol is produced with a yield of only 0.8 indicating a disproportionation/combination ratio for hydroxycyclohexadienyl radicals of ⪕0.4. In the presence of 2 m m ferricyanide the hydroxycyclohexadienyl radicals are quantitatively oxidized to phenol with no trace (
Application of optimal impulsive control method to advertising

Advertising departments in companies face hard choices when have to decide how much and when to spend on advertising over the year in order to maximize the customer goodwill and minimize the advertising expenditure. To address these issues, this paper proposes an optimal impulsive control method, in which the control is discrete and only applied when the goodwill is below some pre-specified level. Optimality conditions for impulse driven systems are derived first. Simulation results based on optimal impulsive control method and an existing technique are presented. Analysis of the results shows that integrated goodwill is greater with the optimal impulsive control method. Furthermore, this paper describes how to find a feasible suboptimal solution when an optimal solution does not exist.
Bacterial response to labile dissolved organic matter increases associated with marine discontinuities

Selected oligotrophic or low-nutrient (LN) bacteria were used in laboratory studies to measure the amounts of available or labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in waters collected from various locations and depths in the central and northeastern Pacific Ocean. Two parameters, bacterial specific growth rates and maximum cell densities, were examined as indicators of DOC availability in unsupplemented seawater samples. Maximum growth rates of LN bacteria were 0.1–0.3 h−1 regardless of sample location. Growth rates were slightly depressed due to anthropogenic inputs such as chlorine or metals. The range of specific growth rates measured for the test bacteria is considerably less (approximately 3-fold) than that for maximum cell density (approximately three orders of magnitude). Highest levels of labile DOC (as determined by maximum cell densities attained) were observed in waters collected from interfaces or discontinuities such as surface films, thermocline and oxygen minima waters, chlorophyll maxima and ammonium regeneration zones, benthic boundary layers, sediment/water interface and sediment trap supernatants. We estimate labile DOC pools of < 1% to approximately 45% of the total measured DOC.
Gastric and duodenal motility, food intake and hunger measured in man during a 24-hr period.

The relationship between gastric and duodenal motility, reports of hunger, and spontaneous food intake were studied over a 24-hr period in 3 healthy young women. Hunger began to increase soon after the end of a meal and continued to increase until it fell abruptly at the time of the next meal, when the process began again. Neither gastric nor duodenal motility had any influence upon food intake. Although hunger usually increased during periods of gastric and duodenal motility, it also increased in the absence of such motility, and on one occasion, did not increase during nearly 2 hr of gastric motility. It was concluded that neither gastric nor duodenal motility influenced either food intake or reports of hunger.
Long-term residue of DDT compounds in forest soils in Maine☆

Soils in forests sprayed aerially with DDT in 1958-1967 have been sampled for persistence of residues at intervals since then and most recently in 1993. Results of all the samples are presented and show persistence through 30 years, with evidence of decline of residue only in the third decade. The metabolites of DDT--DDE and DDD--increased over time, each comprising about a third of total residue in 1993. Residue continues to be held in the organic mat with little evidence of movement downward to the inorganic soil horizons.
Probing structural phase transitions of crystalline C60 via resistivity measurements of metal film overlayers

Abstract The electrical resistance of thin silver films deposited on C 60 crystals shows anomalies near 261, 240, and 100 K. These temperatures coincide, respectively, with the bulk rotational, surface rotational, and quenched disorder structural phase transitions of crystalline C 60 . Films of other metals on C 60 show similar behavior. Our findings demonstrate that thin metal film overlayers are sensitive probes of the structural phase transitions in C 60 , and also provide evidence for a novel structural-electronic interaction at the metal/C 60 interface.
Barred olivine chondrules in ordinary chondrites

The characteristics of 125 barred olivine chondrules identified in polished thin sections of 26 H-L-LL3-6 chondrites were studied, using an electron microprobe for determining mineral abundances and a broad-beam electron microprobe for determining bulk compositions. Compared with all chondrule types in the H-L-LL3 ordinary chondrites, the barred olivine chondrules were found to be enriched in FeO, Al2O3, Na2O, and K2O and depleted in SiO2 and MgO; they were also found to be enriched in the feldspathic component. It is concluded that the precursor components of barred olivine chondrules consisted of a mixture of an olivine-rich component, a refractory-rich component containing Al2O3, TiO2, and CaO, and a volatile-rich alkalic component. This unusual combination implies high temperatures of melting for the refractory component and low temperatures for the volatile component, supporting the hypothesis of Grossman and Wasson (1983) that the alkalies condensed on the alumina already available.
The Value of Psychosocial Factors in Patient Selection and Outcomes after Heart Transplantation

Heart transplantation remains the gold standard treatment for advanced heart failure, although its use is limited by donor organ availability. To ensure that the rare resource of a donor heart is allocated appropriately, the evaluation of the heart transplant candidates includes extensive medical and psychosocial assessments. These psychosocial factors are critically important to understand pre-heart transplant because it is known that psychosocial evaluation and psychosocial comorbidities have a strong association with post-heart transplant outcomes. The critical factors to assess are psychological functioning, adherence to medical recommendations, and social support. These factors are likely inter-related and have been shown to have an effect on the health-related quality of life and overall survival. Recently, new tools have been developed to standardize the evaluation process. In this review, we will discuss the tools available to assess psychosocial factors in the transplant candidate and discuss the role these factors have on post-heart transplant outcomes.
HYDROLYSIS OF CARDIOLIPIN BY SNAKE VENOM PHOSPHOLIPASE A.

Abstract Phospholipase A (phosphatide acyl-hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4) from snake venom has been shwn to hydrolyze cardiolipin in wet ether and yield lyso-cardiolipin. The enzyme reaction is slow but is greatly stimulated by the addition of beef heart lecithin. The lysocardiolipin was characterized by chemical and chromatographic analysis and by its hydrolysis products. Lyso-cardiolipin has an ester:P ratio of 0.96 and yields monoglycerides upon acetic acid hydrolysis. Cardiolipin, on the other hand, has an ester:P ratio of 1.0 and yield diglycerides upon acetic acid hydrolysis. The fatty acids on the cardiolipin and lyso-cardiolipin are the same and thus it appears that these fatty acids have a fairly random distribution.
On the use of the maximum likelihood estimation for analysis of vibrato tones

Abstract Characteristics of frequency vibrato are usually explained by the frequency center, rate, and extent. For analysis of vibrato tones, we apply the maximum likelihood estimation to the enhanced fundamental frequency track obtained from a short-time Fourier transform. We have also suggested the values of the parameters in the estimation and the averaging process to reduce the estimation error. Experiments show that the proposed method can be used for accurate and reliable analysis of vibrato tones.
Pressure Drop and Mass Transfer in Two-Pass Ribbed Channels

The combined effects of the sharp 180-deg turn and of the rib configuration on the pressure drop and mass transfer characteristics in a two-pass square channel with a pair of opposite rib-roughened walls (to simulate turbine airfoil cooling passages) were determined for a Reynolds number range of 10,000-60,000. Heat transfer enhancements were compared for the first pass and for the two-pass channel with the sharp 180-deg turn. Correlations for the fully-developed friction factors and loss coefficients were obtained.
Advanced optical concepts for electron cooling

Abstract The results of explorations of non-traditional solutions of beam transport which could raise the electron cooling rates and efficiency are presented. The proposed optical elements, methods, and conceptual designs are summarized in the following. (1) Magnetized electron beam acceleration and transport with discontinuous solenoid to provide matching between the electron gun and solenoid of the cooling section. These concepts allow the possibility to design and build economical, high beam quality accelerators for electron cooling over a wide energy range, up to that suited for hadron colliders. (2) A special beam adapter (skew quadrupole block) to transform between a magnetized and a flat beam state. This element meets a variety of uses in electron cooling trends. (3) Injectors with ring-shaped cathodes and resonance concentrators of hollow beams involving (optionally) beam adapters. (4) An isochronous (at no RF) electron recirculator ring with a solenoid in the cooling section and beam adapters. (5) Electron storage rings incorporating strong wigglers, solenoid in cooling section with beam adapters, non-coupled focusing outside the cooling section, and (optionally) a strong longitudinal optics for beam compression in wigglers. (6) Hadron beam optics in the cooling section with non-extended beams and dispersion introduced in order to maximize the transverse cooling rate. (7) Low-energy cooling with matched electron and hadron beams. (8) Low-energy cooling with hollow beams.
Plasma phospholipid mass transfer rate: relationship to plasma phospholipid and cholesteryl ester transfer activities and lipid parameters

Abstract Human plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) has been shown to facilitate the transfer of phospholipid from liposomes or isolated very low and low density lipoproteins to high density lipoproteins. Its activity in plasma and its physiological function are presently unknown. To elucidate the role of PLTP in lipoprotein metabolism and to delineate factors that may affect the rate of phospholipid transfer between lipoproteins, we determined the plasma phospholipid mass transfer rate (PLTR) in 16 healthy adult volunteers and assessed its relationship to plasma lipid levels, and to phospholipid transfer activity (PLTA) and cholesteryl ester transfer activity (CETA) measured by radioassays. The plasma PLTR in these subjects was 27.2 ± 11.8 nmol/ml per h at 37°C (mean ± S.D.), and their PLTA and CETA were 13.0 ± 1.7 μmol/ml per h and 72.8 ± 15.7 nmol/ml per h, respectively. Plasma PLTR was correlated directly with total, non-HDL, and HDL triglyceride ( r s = 0.76, P r s > 0.53, P r s = −0.54, P
A centering balloon for photodynamic therapy of esophageal cancer tested in a canine model.

Delivery of uniform circumferential light is desirable during photodynamic therapy of early or advanced esophageal cancer in human beings. Studies were performed in the canine esophagus to investigate whether use of a centering balloon would improve circumferential illumination of esophageal mucosa for photodynamic therapy of esophageal cancer. When the centering balloon was used, photodynamic therapy produced uniform and circumferential injury. With the cylindrical diffuser used in human studies, non-uniform and focal esophageal injury occurred. Placement of isotropic probes on the balloon wall allowed measurement and verification of relatively uniform light doses delivered to esophageal mucosa during batloon photodynamic therapy. The centering balloon has a potential role in improving light dosimetry during esophageal photodynamic therapy.
Transport in Hydrophobized Montmorillonite Thin Films

SWy-I montmorillonite clay treated with short-chain and long-chain aliphatic, aromatic, and aliphatic-aromatic quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) was investigated. The transport properties of the electroactive probes Fe(CN) 6 3- , Ru(NH 3 ) 6 3+ , and p-benzoquinone have been studied by cyclic voltammetric techniques. Coverage at 3.7% and lower of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the clay had little impact on the hydrophobic behavior of the film or on the retention of the probe molecule. At 37% coverage, all of the short-chain QAC behaved similarly and inhibited expansion of the clay-reducing transport of the anion, but had little impact on the cation or neutral aromatic. The long-chain QAC all behaved similarly and disrupted the clay structure such that the water-soluble ionic probes travel in pinholes while the aromatic is retained in hydrophobic domains.
Predicting possible directed-graph patterns of gene expressions in studies involving multiple treatments

Analysis of gene expression data from studies to assess patterns of gene expression to multiple treatments is usually challenging due to the inadequacy of sample size. We introduce an approach of representing gene expression response to multiple treatments using directed graphs and establish a relationship between sample size and a graph property known as contractibility. We exploit this relationship to predict patterns of gene response using synthetic replicates generated from real samples to produce most probable patterns for each pattern observed based on experimental replicates. Prediction based on gene expression simulation was validated with 4 different distribution models of gene expression, including Gaussian, Gaussian mixture, Weibull, and log normal. Across all distributions, we showed that predicting comparison outcomes was quite accurate, with accuracy generally above 0.85. Further, we showed how to apply this method to analyze gene responses to multiple treatments with few samples.