cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partnered status and receipt of guideline‐concordant adjuvant chemotherapy among patients with colon cancer

Background Partnered status is an independent predictor of clinical outcomes, including overall survival, among patients with cancer. However, the mechanisms by which partnered status impacts survival are not fully understood and to the authors' knowledge the associations between partnered status and the specific attributes of chemotherapy have not been studied to date. Methods The current study was an observational study of patients with resected American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III colon cancer diagnosed from 2008 through 2015 and recruited from an academic cancer center and 2 large community oncology practices. Outcome measures were specific attributes of adjuvant chemotherapy. Partnered status (partnered vs unpartnered) was the primary independent variable. Bivariate comparisons between independent variables and the primary outcomes were performed. Associations between partnered status and the outcomes also were analyzed using multivariable generalized estimating equations using a logit link. Results Data were collected from 436 patients. Of these patients, approximately 65% were from community oncology practices. Approximately 62% were partnered (married or living with a partner), and approximately 86% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Among these individuals, 87% received multiagent chemotherapy and 65% completed 6 months of therapy. Partnered patients were found to have a higher odds of completing chemotherapy (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.04-3.77). Conclusions In this innovative investigation of the associations between partnered status and specific attributes of curative-intent chemotherapy, approximately 35% of patients terminated chemotherapy early. Having a partner increased the odds of completing therapy, which may be one mechanism through which having a partner improves disease-specific outcomes among patients with colon cancer. Identifying those aspects of partner support that can be reproduced with community or clinical personnel may help unpartnered patients to complete the recommended course of curative-intent chemotherapy.
Adaptive Assist-as-needed Control Based on Actor-Critic Reinforcement Learning

In robot-assisted rehabilitation, assist-as-needed (AAN) controllers have been proposed to promote subjects’ active participation, which is thought to lead to better training outcomes. Most of these AAN controllers require a patient-specific manual tuning of the parameters defining the underlying force-field, which typically results in a tedious and time-consuming process. In this paper, we propose a reinforcement-learning-based impedance controller that actively reshapes the stiffness of the force-field to the subject’s performance, while providing assistance only when needed. This adaptability is made possible by correlating the subject’s most recent performance to the ultimate control objective in real-time. In addition, the proposed controller is built upon action dependent heuristic dynamic programming using the actor-critic structure, and therefore does not require prior knowledge of the system model. The controller is experimentally validated with healthy subjects through a simulated ankle mobilization training session using a powered ankle-foot orthosis.
Defending Free Will

This chapter will address seven questions regarding freedom of the will: (1) Just what is freedom of the will? (2) Does freedom require control? (3) Does freedom require that the agent could have done otherwise? (4) Does predictability preclude freedom? (5) Is an act’s freedom compatible with its causal explanation? (6) How can freedom of the will be evidentiated? (7) Is free will unscientific? Drawing on John Locke’s famous example of a person who freely chooses to remain in a locked room, I argue that freedom does neither require control, nor require that the agent could have done otherwise. Instead, I argue that acting from the agent’s own, appropriately formed motives is the very essence of free will. I conclude, accordingly, that predictability does not preclude freedom—at least not necessarily.
Research integrity in forensic anthropology

Research represents the driving force for change and advancement in the forensic sciences [1]. Of course, forensic science features casework and the application of our scientific knowledge to medic...
The Effects of Reputation Threat and Whistle-Blowing Report Source on Chief Audit Executives' Investigation Decisions

THE EFFECTS OF REPUTATION THREAT AND WHISTLE-BLOWING REPORT SOURCE ON CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVES’ INVESTIGATION DECISIONS By Cynthia Peterson Guthrie, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2008 Dissertation Director: Carolyn Strand Norman, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Accounting This study examines the effects of reputation threats and anonymous whistle-blowing channels on Chief Audit Executives’ (CAEs) decisions to investigate whistle-blowing allegations. Participants were 94 CAEs and Deputy CAEs from publicly traded companies in the eastern half of the United States. Participants received whistleblowing reports from either an anonymous or a non-anonymous source. In the high reputation threat condition the whistle-blowing report alleged that the wrongdoing was perpetrated by the exploitation of substantial weaknesses in internal controls that had been previously evaluated by external auditors and the internal audit function. The report in the lower threat condition alleged that the wrongdoing was accomplished by the circumvention of internal controls. Findings show that CAEs found anonymous whistle-blowing reports to be significantly less credible than nonxi anonymous reports. Although CAEs assessed lower credibility ratings for the reports alleging wrongdoing by the exploitation of substantial weaknesses in internal controls, they perceived greater personal and departmental responsibility in this condition. CAEs did not, however, perceive a significant reputation threat in either the Exploitation or Circumvention condition. Regardless of report source credibility, perceived reputation threat, or felt responsibility, CAEs’ resource allocation decisions consistently demonstrated a determination to thoroughly investigate the allegations of wrongdoing and uncover the truth.
Photoaffinity labeling with cyclic nucleotides.

Abstract Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light radioactivity from labeled cyclic adenosine 3' : 5'-monophosphate was incorporated into high affinity macromolecular receptors in extracts of testis and adrenal cortex. The bond formed was stable in both 10 % trichloroacetic acid and 1 % sodium dodecyl sulfate, and is consequently thought to be covalent. This incorporation was linearly proportional to the amount of cyclic adenosine 3' : 5'-monophosphate bound by these extracts. Several proteins lacking the ability to bind the cyclic nucleotide did not incorporate significant radioactivity upon irradiation. Incorporation was inhibited by unlabeled cyclic adenosine 3' : 5'-monophosphate and by analogues which compete for its binding sites. Radioactivity from tritiated cyclic guanosine 3' : 5'-monophosphate was similarly incorporated into testicular extracts upon irradiation. These observations indicate that covalent labeling of receptors for cyclic nucleotides can be accomplished by ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of the unmodified ligand.
Semimartingales and Stochastic Integrals

The purpose of the theory of stochastic integration is to give a reasonable meaning to the idea of a differential to as wide a class of stochastic processes as possible. We saw in Sect. 7 of Chap. I that using Stieltjes integration on a path-by-path basis excludes such fundamental processes as Brownian motion, and martingales in general. Markov processes also in general have paths of unbounded variation and are similarly excluded. Therefore we must find an approach more general than Stieltjes integration.
Performance evaluation of a prototype multi-bounce time-of-flight mass spectrometer in linear mode and applications in space science

Abstract Mass spectrometry is a powerful tool to measure the composition of volatile and semi volatile gases. The necessity to accurately identify and quantify unknown species lead to the requirements of a mass spectrometer as the detector of choice in most separation science and direct sample analysis situations. Advantages of time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) are the high mass resolution, high mass range, and the measurement of the entire mass range in each extraction. The multi-bounce time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MBTOF) described in this work, takes advantage of a small footprint without sacrificing mass resolution. To achieve this, the MBTOF prototype uses a linear flight path with dual lens stacks. Ions are bounced in between the mirrors for a specified duration whereby increasing their flight time and resolution. The number of bounces can tune the resolution of the instrument. To show the minimum capabilities of the instrument and further applications of it, MBTOF was operated in linear mode. The instrument is designed for a multibounce passage of the ion optics and the focal point of the ion optics is optimized for this application, therefore the resolution in linear mode is limited. However, even in linear mode of operation, the mass resolution meets or exceeds that of a quadrupole mass spectrometer with limited power supplies required for operations. The measurements presented here are based on lab measurements of the early lab prototype MBTOF operated in a linear flight mode with low ion source extraction fields. A detailed evaluation including filament characterization, dynamic range and resolution are investigated. Further discussion involving applications on planetary missions for rocket science, coupling of MBTOF with laser thermal desorption or gas chromatography for potential organic determination in deep space are included.
Local (Immunoglobulin A) Immune Response by the Intestine to Cholera Toxin and Its Partial Suppression with Combined Systemic and Intra-Intestinal Immunization

Chronically isolated Thiry-Vella (T-V) ileal loops in rabbits were used to study the local and systemic immune response to purified cholera toxin (CT). Immunization consisted of intraloop (i.l.), subcutaneous (s.c.), or combined i.l. and s.c. inoculation of CT. Fluid from the loops and sera were tested for neutralization of CT by the blueing test and for relative content of isotype-specific (immunoglobulins A [IgA] and G [IgG]) anti-CT. To demonstrate protection against CT, fluid production by the chronic T-V loops was measured after challenge with CT; an “acute” loop prepared from adjacent intestine at the time of challenge was also tested in some animals. The highest neutralizing titers in loop fluids were found in animals receiving i.l. or i.l. and s.c. inoculations, whereas titers in sera were highest in rabbits receiving s.c. or i.l. and s.c. inoculations. IgA anti-CT in fluids became greatest after i.l. inoculation alone and was lowest in s.c. animals. Combined s.c. and i.l. immunization was accompanied by reduced content of IgA anti-CT in fluids as compared with that obtained with i.l. inoculation alone. This finding strongly suggested a suppressive effect on local immunization by s.c. inoculation. While this suppression may have been due to a direct (toxigenic) effect of CT on lymphocytes, an immunogenic mechanism, probably mediated through suppressor T cells, is favored. Little IgG anti-CT was detected in any loop fluids, but high levels were found in sera after two s.c. inoculations or four i.l. inoculations. Neutralization titers for the fluid specimens showed much better correlation with IgA anti-CT values than with IgG anti-CT values. The chronic and acute T-V loops showed protection against fluid production after exposure to CT in systemically and locally immunized animals. However, IgG anti-CT usually appeared in both loops; leakage of serum antibodies because of surgical manipulation was felt, therefore, to invalidate these protection results as a demonstration of local immunity. In challenge studies in undisturbed chronic loops, only local immunization alone was found to result in definite protection.
Helical Aggregation of Cyanine Dyes on DNA Templates: Effect of Dye Structure on Formation of Homo- and Heteroaggregates

UV−visible and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic experiments were used to characterize DNA-templated helical aggregates formed from a variety of symmetrical, cationic cyanine dyes. Two types of electronic couplings can be observed in these aggregates: face-to-face interactions between dye monomers and end-to-end interactions between dye dimers. The face-to-face interactions yield approximately 4-fold stronger couplings due to greater orbital overlap. Variation of the heterocyclic groups on the dye reveals that aggregation on DNA follows the following trend: quinoline > benzothiazole > benzoxazole > dimethylindole. This trend follows the tendency of these dyes to aggregate in aqueous solution. Within the benzothiazole class of dyes, a dicarbocyanine dye (pentamethine bridge) aggregates much more readily than the carbocyanine (trimethine bridge) analogue. However, a tricarbocyanine dye (heptamethine bridge) aggregates less readily than the dicarbocyanine, in contrast to their relative tendency to aggr...
Saturnine gout: lead-induced formation of guanine crystals

Intravenous injection of a sublethal dose of lead acetate into a domestic pig resulted in a 4.5-fold increase of guanine in the urine, indicating an impairment in the conversion of guanine to xanthine. This impairment is probably due to the inhibition of guanine aminohydrolase (guanase), since the activity of this enzyme is inhibited by Pb2+ (the inhibition constant being 3.0 X 10(-6)M). Postmortem histological examination revealed concretions of crystalline material in the epiphyseal plate of the femoral head. Extraction of the section containing the concretions showed that they were guanine. The relation of these findings to saturnine gout is discussed.
Fractal Shear Bands at Elastic-Plastic Transitions in Random Mohr-Coulomb Materials

This paper studies fractal patterns forming at elastic-plastic transitions in soil- and rock-like materials. Taking either friction or cohesion as nonfractal vector random fields with weak noise-to-signal ratios, it is found that the evolving set of plastic grains (i.e., a shear-band system) is always a monotonically growing fractal under increasing macroscopic load in plane strain. Statistical analysis is used to assess the anisotropy of those shear bands. All the macroscopic responses display smooth transitions, but as the randomness vanishes, they turn into a sharp response of an idealized homogeneous material. Parametric study shows that increasing hardening or friction makes the transition more rapid. In addition, randomness in cohesion has a stronger effect than randomness in friction, whereas dilatation has practically no influence. Adapting the concept of scaling functions, the authors find the elastic-plastic transitions in random Mohr-Coulomb media to be similar to phase transitions in condensed-matter physics: the fully plastic state is a critical point, and with three order parameters (reduced Mohr-Coulomb stress, reduced plastic volume fraction, and reduced fractal dimension), three scaling functions are introduced to unify the responses of different materials. The critical exponents are demonstrated to be universal regardless of the randomness in various constitutive properties and their random noise levels.
Echocardiographic recognition of pulmonary arterial disease and determination of Its cause

Echocardiography provided the initial diagnosis of significant pulmonary hypertension, unrelated to left heart pathologic conditions, in 10 patients: four with acute pulmonary embolism; five with chronic pulmonary hypertension, primary in three patients and secondary to tumor emboli in the other two patients; and one with Eisenmenger's syndrome due to previously unsuspected atrial septal defects. Referral diagnoses were pericardial disease in five patients (including three with suspected tamponade), and right ventricular infarction versus pericarditis, atrial septal defect, dyspnea, inferoposterior infarction (by electrocardiography), and Ebstein's malformation in one patient each. The echocardiographic diagnoses were confirmed by lung scan (ventilation/perfusion mismatches were interpreted as high probability for pulmonary emboli in all four patients considered to have acute pulmonary emboli by echocardiographic study), pulmonary angiography (one patient), cardiac catheterization (four patients), and autopsy (three patients). No patient had evident aortic or mitral valvular, myocardial, or other left heart pathologic condition. In acute pulmonary embolism, mean right ventricular diameter was increased at 4.2 cm (range 3.2 to 6 cm) and right ventricular wall thickness was normal (mean 4.5 mm, range 3 to 5 mm). Moderate or marked right ventricular hypokinesis was noted in two patients each. Doppler examination, performed in three patients, revealed tricuspid regurgitation in all, with an increased flow velocity suggestive of mild to moderate systolic pulmonary hypertension (right ventricular minus right atrial pressures of 28 to 36 mm Hg). Patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension also had right ventricular dilatation (mean 4.4 cm diameter, range 3 to 5.4 cm) and hypokinesis (marked in four and moderate in one patient), but wall thickness was increased in all (mean of 9 mm, range 6 to 14 mm) and the flow velocities in the tricuspid regurgitant jets, detected by Doppler in all patients, suggested higher right ventricular minus right atrial pressures of 44 to 104 mm Hg (mean 64 mm Hg). The single patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome had right ventricular dilatation (3.2 cm), hypertrophy (10 mm), and hypokinesis (mild). Only the patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome had Doppler or contrast echocardiographic evidence for an intracardiac or extracardiac shunt. In the absence of left heart pathologic conditions, right ventricular dilatation and hypokinesis strongly suggest pulmonary arterial or primary right ventricular disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Antiferromagnetic inclusions in lunar glass

The magnetic susceptibility of eleven glass spherules from the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 fines and two specimens of a relatively large glass spherical shell were studied as a function of temperature from room temperature to liquid helium temperatures. All but one specimen showed the presence of antiferromagnetic inclusions. Closely spaced temperature measurements of the magnetic susceptibility below 77 K on five of the specimens showed antiferromagnetic temperature transitions (Neel transitions). With the exception of ilmenite in one specimen, these transitions did not correspond to any transitions in known antiferromagnetic compounds.
Azadirachtin potentiates the action of ecdysteroid agonist RH-2485 in Spodoptera littoralis

Edysteroid agonist RH-2485 induces an immediate and fatal molt in Spodoptera littoralis when added to the diet of the 2nd and 4th instar larvae at 1 ppm, and to that of the 6th instar larvae at 0.001 ppm concentration. Ten times lower doses fed to the larvae continuously allow an apparently normal larval development that is terminated by a supernumerary larval molt. The other effects of RH-2485 include death during metamorphosis and impaired fertility of emerged adults. The number of progeny is reduced even with low RH-2485 doses that do not interfere with moltings; e.g., insects fed 0.0001 ppm since the 2nd, 4th, and 6th instar produce 72%, 62%, and 22%, respectively, less progeny than the controls. Feeding larvae with 10-1000 ppm Suneem oil (containing about 0.1-10 ppm azadirachtin) causes, in a stage- and dose-dependent manner, a cessation or reduction of feeding, delay of molts, death of larvae and pupae, and sterility of emerged adults; with 10 ppm Suneem oil, the number of progeny is reduced by 20-32%. Presence of Suneem oil in the diet does not influence the potential of RH-2485 to induce a prompt molt, but it increases ten times the potency to elicit a supernumerary larval molt. Certain combinations of RH-2485 with Suneem oil provoke up to 3 extra larval molts. Lethal developmental derangements and sterility are more frequent, and the response of larvae of different age is more uniform, when Suneem oil and RH-2485 are combined than when each of these agents is administered alone.
Analysis of an Improved IMU-Based Observer for Multirotor Helicopters

Multirotor helicopters are increasingly popular platforms in the robotics community. Making them fully autonomous requires accurate state estimation. We review an improved dynamic model for multirotor helicopters and analyze the observability properties of an estimator based on this model. The model allows better use of IMU data to facilitate accurate state estimates even when updates from a sensor measuring position become less frequent and less accurate. We demonstrate that the position update rate can be cut in half versus typical approaches while maintaining the same accuracy. We also find that velocity estimates are at least twice as accurate independent of the position update rate.
Incidental Finding of Vaginitis on Liquid-Based Papanicolaou Test Compared to Wet Mount and DNA Probe

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the incidental diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast/ Candida on the liquid-based Papanicolaou (Pap) test when compared to wet mount/KOH prep/whiff test, and DNA probe. Methods: Six-hundred and nine (609) women who underwent a Pap test also had a wet mount/KOH prep/whiff test, and DNA probe performed evaluating for Trichomonas, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast/candidiasis. Pap specimens showing incidental infection were evaluated for diagnostic accuracy by comparing results with the wet mount/KOH prep/whiff test and the DNA probe. Results: Of 609 women evaluated, 145 (23.8%) Pap tests, 161 (26.4%) wet mount/KOH prep/whiff tests, and 365 (59.9%) DNA probes noted the presence of vaginal infections. The specificity and positive predictive value of the Pap test, when compared to the DNA probe, were: 99.6% and 93.1% for Trichomonas; 99.3% and 97.1% for bacterial vaginosis; and 96.3% and 61.5% for yeast/Candida. The same...
Stream health index for the Puget Sound Lowland

Stream health is often measured by the multimetric benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI). For Puget Sound Lowland (PSL) streams, the B-IBI comprises ten metrics which quantify the well-being of benthic inhabitants of the stream. Each metric is convened to a score of 1, 3 or 5, where a higher value indicates a healthier stream with respect to the metric. Summing the metric scores yields the B-IBI. Stream health is then rated as very poor, poor, fair, good or excellent according to the index value. Different metrics may.be measured on different scales. A scoring scheme is therefore required to standardize values across metrics. Conventional scoring for the B-IBI metrics requires subjective and space/time-dependent input on the cutoff points for discretizing each metric. In contrast, simple statistical standardization (centering and division by the standard deviation) appears to be more natural, is non-study-specific, and maps the metric space onto a continuous scale centered at 0. Comprising the same ten metrics of the PSL B-IBI, our stream health index for the Puget Sound Lowland (SHIPSL) is the sum of all statistically standardized scores. We use benthic taxonomy data on field samples from 1997 to develop a SHIPSL-based rating scheme of grades A to F for stream health. We also discuss an alternative version of SHIPSL defined using 'gold-standard' values. Bootstrap simulations are used to compare the performance of the two versions of SHIPSL to B-IBI in reflecting PSL stream health. Results show that both versions of SHIPSL are more efficient in measuring stream health. Without sacrificing information on underlying biological conditions, SHIPSL reduce bias and variability of the health index, and eliminates sensitivity of the rating to slight changes in the metric scoring scheme.
Catecholamines in peripheral tissues of mice and cell counts of sympathetic ganglia after the prenatal and postnatal administration of the nerve growth factor antiserum.

One group of mice was exposed prenatally on the 15th, 16th and 17th day of gestation to the Nerve Growth Factor-antiserum (900 units/g per day), two other groups of mice were, after such prenatal treatment, also treated with 450 or 900 units/g per day postnattly for 6 days and a fourth group was treated postnatally only with 450 units/g per day for 6 days. One-and-a-half to71/2 months following such treatments the catecholamine content of major peripheral tissues was measured and total cell counts were performed on 107 sympathetic ganglia (superior cervical, stellate, superior mesenteric, celiac and cardiac ganglia) from anti-serum-treated and control mice. Prenatal exposure to the antiserum caused a moderate decrease in ganglionic cell counts with a corresponding moderate decrease of norepinephrine levels in submaxillary glands and small intestine; insignificant decreases in renal and uterine norepinephrine concentrations were seen, while the spleen and heart were nearly devoid of norepinephrine. Postnatal antiserum treatment was more effective causing marked reductions of tissue norepinephrine levels and ganglionic cell populations. The combined pre- and postnatal treatments gave the greatest effects. The norepinephrine levels were reduced to consistently negligible quantities in the heart, spleen, submaxillary glands and small intestine and renal and uterine norepinephrine concentrations were also significantly decreased. Only 1·7–8·2 per cent of the cell populations of the various sympathetic ganglia survived the combined pre- and postnatal treatments.
Identifying vulnerabilities of quantum cryptography in secure optical data transport

The last two decades have witnessed an exciting advanced research field that stems from non-classical atomic theory, the quantum mechanics. This research promises an interesting applicability in computation, known as quantum computation, and also in secure data communications, known as quantum cryptography. Quantum cryptography capitalizes on the inherent random polarization state of single photons, which are associated with binary logic values. Because the polarization state of a photon is not reproducible by an eavesdropper between the source and the destination, polarized photons are used with an intelligent algorithm to disseminate the cryptographic key with high security from the source to the destination, a process known as quantum key distribution. However, although the polarization state of a photon remains intact in free-space propagation, it does not remain so in dielectric medium and thus quantum cryptography is not problem-free. In this paper we review quantum cryptography and we identify the various steps in the quantum key identification process. We then analyze and discuss issues related to quantum key distribution that rise in pragmatic fiber-optic transmission and in communication network topologies. In addition, we identify a major weakness of the method that is prone to attacking and which incapacitates quantum cryptography in fiber communications.
Predictive value of HemoCue capillary whole blood glucose measurements in pregnancy.

We determined the ability of capillary whole blood glucose concentrations to predict venous plasma and whole blood glucose levels. During a standard oral glucose tolerance test in 29 pregnant women, paired capillary and venous blood samples were collected for analysis of glucose concentrations by the HemoCue photometer and by central laboratory methods. Glucose concentrations determined serially in a single blood sample by the HemoCue method were highly reproducible, with a coefficient of variation of 2.3%. However, glucose levels in blood from two different fingersticks from the same patient varied on average by 3 mg/dL, with a maximum difference of 14 mg/dL. Although capillary whole blood glucose results obtained by the HemoCue method correlated well with venous plasma or whole blood glucose measurements (r = 0.98 and r = 0.97, respectively) over the range investigated (60-250 mg/dL), individual capillary whole blood glucose measurements were only a fair predictor of venous values, with 95% of measured venous levels within ±26 mg/dL and ±20 mg/dL for concentrations predicted for plasma and whole blood, respectively. Sampling factors rather than measurement accuracy limit the ability of capillary whole blood glucose measurements to predict venous concentrations.
Overuse in pediatrics: time to "pull the trigger"?

In this issue of Hospital Pediatrics , Narayanan et al1 report that acquisition of serum magnesium levels, although commonplace, changes clinical management in only a small and predictable subset of hospitalized children (ie, those with oncologic abdominal surgery requiring total parenteral nutrition, solid organ transplant, and short bowel syndrome diagnoses). Serum magnesium levels ordered in other pediatric inpatient contexts are rarely helpful. Checking a simple magnesium level may not seem to have a profound financial impact initially, but the authors quickly point out that the cumulative financial burden is substantial. The high frequency of unnecessary laboratory testing revealed here is a prime example of overuse in medical care and is likely applicable to myriad other laboratory, radiology, and ancillary services.2 For hospitalized children, consider the repeat abdominal radiograph after a constipation clean out (do we really need radiographic evidence that the bowels …
Characteristics Of 1/f Noise Of The Buried-Channel Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)

Low frequency noise with power spectra of the form 1/f' has been investigated for an n-buried channel CCD by measuring the drain-to-source noise voltage. When VG = 0 to -1 V, the device is in the surface-channel mode and the power spectra of the noise exhibits 'y = 1. As the gate voltage decreases, the noise for f 50 Hz peaks twice at VG = -2 and -3 V. Between the two peaks, there occurs a dip at VG = -2.4 V where -y takes a maximum value of 1.7. The preliminary results indicate that the noise is primarily due to tunneling of electrons at the silicon-silicon dioxide interface to traps located inside the oxide. The traps farther from the interface affect the noise for f 50 Hz.
Rate of Relative Growth of Orthogonal Polynomials

Abstract Let 0 p n = | a n − a /2| + | b n − b | → 0. define a polynomial sequence { p n } by the recurrence relation xp n ( x ) = a n + 1 ( x ) + b n p n ( x ) + a n p n − 1 ( x ). It was proved that [formula] This paper investigates the rate of growth of such a sequence relative to its sums in terms of the rate of convergance of ϵ n . Some applications to orthogonal polynomials are given.
Use of Medications for Secondary Prevention After Coronary Bypass Surgery Compared With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objectives This study sought to compare use of evidence-based secondary preventive medications after coronary bypass surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background Use of cardioprotective medication after coronary revascularization has been inconsistent and relatively low in older studies. Methods We studied patients in a large integrated healthcare delivery system who underwent CABG or PCI for new onset coronary disease. We used data from health plan databases about prescriptions dispensed during the first year after initial coronary revascularization to identify patients who never filled a prescription and to calculate the medication possession ratio among patients who filled at least 1 prescription. We focused on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and statins. Results Between 2000 and 2007, 8,837 patients with new onset coronary disease underwent initial CABG, and 14,516 underwent initial PCI. Patients receiving CABG were more likely than patients receiving PCI to not fill a prescription for a statin (7.1% vs. 4.8%, p Conclusions Patients who received CABG were generally less likely than patients who received PCI to fill prescriptions for secondary preventive medications and to use those medications consistently in the first year after the procedure.
Real-time update of access control policies

Access control policies are security policies that govern access to resources. The need for real-time update of such policies while they are in effect and enforcing the changes immediately, arise in many scenarios. Consider, for example, a military environment responding to an international crisis, such as a war. In such situations, countries change strategies necessitating a change of policies. Moreover, the changes to policies must take place in real-time while the policies are in effect. In this paper we address the problem of real-time update of access control policies in the context of a database system. Access control policies, governing access to the data objects, are specified in the form of policy objects. The data objects and policy objects are accessed and modified through transactions. We consider an environment in which different kinds of transactions execute concurrently some of which may be policy update transactions. We propose algorithms for the concurrent and real-time update of security policies. The algorithms differ on the basis of the concurrency provided and the semantic knowledge used.
A model of the hydrodynamic behavior of irradiated DNA: Dependence on molecular conformation

The model presented here describes the DNA viscosity and viscoelastometric responses to ionizing radiation-induced molecular breakdown. Four DNA conformations are considered: (1) linear chain, (2) relaxed circle, (3) supercoiled circle, and (4) supercoiled linear. The model includes the systems of differential equations for calculating the size distributions of DNA molecules as functions of dose. Thedistributions are used in the usual hydrodynamic formulae for heterogeneouspopulations of polymer molecules. The sensitivity of viscoelastometry for the estimation of D37 is better than that of viscometry. The model predicts a considerable difference between the radiation responsesof linear and circular DNAs. The prediction is confirmed by experimental data for T4 DNA [C. S. Lange et al. (1984) Rad. Res.100, 1–15] and E. coli DNA [S. E. Bresler et al. (1984) Biophys. J.45, 749–754]. Thus, ionizing radiation can be used to determine the original conformation of DNA molecules.
Combining laser scanning confocal microscopy and electron microscopy in studies of the insect nervous system

Abstract Experimentally determining the synaptic interconnections between neurons in the nervous system is laborious and difficult in any animal species, but especially so in many invertebrates, including insects, where neurons generally have large, finely branching neuritic trees that form both pre- and postsynaptic specializations in dense neuropils with other neuritic trees. Electron microscopy is needed to identify synapses, but correlation of synapse type and location with the overall branching patterns of neurons, which are visible readily only in the light microscope or through extensive reconstruction of serial electron-microscope sections, is very difficult. In this paper, we present a simple method that we have developed (Sun et al. (1995) J. Histochem. Cytochem., 43: 329–335) that combines laser scanning confocal microscopy and electron microscopy for the study of synaptic relationships of neurons in the antennal lobe, the first central neuropil in the olfactory pathway, of the moth Manduca sexta. Briefly, neurons are labeled by intracellular injection with neurobiotin or biocytin, and then processed with a gold-particle tag for electron microscopic study and a fluorescent tag for confocal microscopy, and embedded in plastic. The fluorescence of the labeled neuron in the plastic blocks is imaged in three dimensions with laser scanning confocal microscopy and then the neuron is thin-sectioned at precisely chosen depths for electron microscopic study. The fluorescence pattern can be monitored repeatedly between episodes of thin-sectioning, and subtraction of a fluorescence image from the previous fluorescence image reveals which fluorescent processes have been sectioned. In this way, electron microscopic detail can be mapped onto a three-dimensional light microscopic image of the neuron.
Association of thatch with populations of hairy chinch bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) in turf

Hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirlus Montandon, population density increased in plots where a thick thatch layer was induced by applications of the fungicide mancozeb. However, the rate of chinch bug development was similar in plots treated with mancozeb and in untreated plots. Hairy chinch bugs released into thatched and dethatched plots at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center of Michigan State University had a short-term habitat preference for thatchy turf. The mean number of hairy chinch bugs per sample 24 h after release was 6.9 in thatched plots compared with 2.1 in dethatched plots. In a survey of 108 randomly selected home lawns in the Lansing, Mich., area, thatch thickness was greater in infested lawns (7.8 mm) compared with uninfested lawns (5.1 mm). In a 12-mo period from August 1986 to August 1987, thatch thickness in survey lawns significantly increased from 6.5 to 10.0 mm in infested lawns but not in uninfested lawns.
Relationship between scale effect and structure levels in fibrous structures

A series of testing samples of fibers, yarns, fabrics, and coated fabrics of the same source were prepared and then tested at constant strain rate but different gauge lengths on an Instron tester for tensile test. The results are compared to see the scale effect at different structure levels of fibrous materials. Discussions and explanations of the data are provided as well.
Effect of memory support and elicited production on fast mapping of new words by adolescents with Down syndrome.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether memory support and elicited production differentially benefited fast mapping of new vocabulary (comprehension, production accuracy, and sp...
Microcharacterization of liquid delivery metalorganic chemical vapor deposition processed thin film materials exhibiting giant magnetoresistance

Thin films of La0.6Ca0.4MnO3 (LCMO) have been produced on (001) oriented LaAlO3 (LAO) and yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates by liquid-delivery metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (LD-MOCVD). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that the films were epitaxially grown on LAO substrates and were monocrystalline at a thickness of less than 500 A. At a thickness of greater than 500 A, the films became polycrystalline but maintained their high texture (preferred crystalline orientation). Films grown on YSZ were always polycrystalline but were also highly oriented. Regardless of the substrate, the 1500 A thick polycrystalline films exhibited substantially significant magnetoresistance ratios even above room temperature.
Bigbackground-based illumination compensation for surveillance video

Illumination changes cause challenging problems for video surveillance algorithms, as objects of interest become masked by changes in background appearance. It is desired for such algorithms to maintain a consistent perception of a scene regardless of illumination variation. This work introduces a concept we call Big Background, which is a model for representing large, persistent scene features based on chromatic self-similarity. This model is found to comprise 50% to 90% of surveillance scenes. The large, stable regions represented by the model are used as reference points for performing illumination compensation. The presented compensation technique is demonstrated to decrease improper false-positive classification of background pixels by an average of 83% compared to the uncompensated case and by 25% to 43% compared to compensation techniques from the literature.
The effect of growth hormone supplementation on late nutritional independence in pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome.

Abstract Purpose The use of growth hormone (GH) supplementation for intestinal adaptation among adult patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) has provided mixed results. This report examines the effect of GH supplementation on SBS in pediatric patients. Methods Two girls with SBS from neonatal gastrointestinal catastrophes received exogenous GH at 0.3 mg/kg per week subcutaneously and concurrent glutamine supplementation, beginning at 6 and 6½ years of age. Changes in growth (height and weight) and changes in enteral and parenteral energy requirements were evaluated. Results Treatment duration was 8 and 2.5 years, respectively. Patient weights increased from the 5th to the 41st percentile and from the 17th to the 23rd percentile, respectively. Height increased from the 1st to the 57th percentile in the former patient and increased from less than the 1st to the 17th percentile in the latter. Both patients are independent of parenteral nutrition and take enteral nutrition alone. Tolerance for enteral diets was significantly improved in each girl, with only 2 stools per day maintained in one patient. Conclusions The data show that late exogenous treatment with GH and glutamine supplementation improved growth parameters in pediatric patients with SBS. Growth hormone and glutamine supplementation may be beneficial in promoting late intestinal adaptation in pediatric patients with SBS. These data also suggest that these adjuncts may be useful in the early phases of intestinal adaptation.
CoG kits: a bridge between commodity distributed computing and high-performance grids

Emerging national-scale "Computational Grid" infrastructures are deploying advanced services beyond those taken for granted in today’s Internet: for example, authentication, remote access to computers, resource management, and directory services. The availability of these services represents both an opportunity and a challenge for the application developer: an opportunity because they enable access to remote resources in new ways, a challenge because these services may not be compatible with the commodity distributed-computing technologies used for application development. The Commodity Grid project is working to overcome this difficulty by creating what we call Commodity Grid Toolkits (CoG Kits) that define mappings and interfaces between Grid and particular commodity frameworks. In this paper, we explain why CoG Kits are important, describe the design and implementation of a Java CoG Kit, and use examples to illustrate how CoG Kits can enable new approaches to application development based on the integrated use of commodity and Grid technologies.
Simultaneous HPLC Analysis of Catecholamines and Indoleamines in Mouse Brain Tissue Following Acetate Extraction and Treatment with Ascorbate Oxidase

Abstract A refined HPLC Method for the determination of monoamine levels in six brain regions is presented. Analyses are made for the olfactory tubercles, prefrontal cortex, septum, striatum, amygdala and hypothalamus of adult male ICR mice. This system permits the simultaneous analysis of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and their major metabolites during a single run of approximately twenty-five minutes without prior clean-up of samples.
Multirate linear multistep methods

The design of a code which uses different stepsizes for different components of a system of ordinary differential equations is discussed. Methods are suggested which achieve moderate efficiency for problems having some components with a much slower rate of variation than others. Techniques for estimating errors in the different components are analyzed and applied to automatic stepsize and order control. Difficulties, absent from non-multirate methods, arise in the automatic selection of stepsizes, leading to a suggested organization of the code that is counter-intuitive. An experimental code and some initial experiments are described.
Why T waves change: A reminiscence and essay

The following article is a personal reflection on my study of a subject which has long interested me. The subject is the T wave, and especially the T wave changes occurring as a marker of cardiac memory. My interest evolved over coffees that Mauricio Rosenbaum and I used to share at the Hotel Algonquin during his frequent trips from Buenos Aires to New York. There is something about the Algonquin, whose scarred wooden tabletops carry the imprints of Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, and the 1920's New York literati, and there was something about Mauricio—clinician-scientist, friend, and raconteur extraordinaire—that made his repeated challenges to me to "look at cardiac memory before you begin losing your own" irresistible. So began my personal voyage into trying to understand the T wave. My guideposts were the experiments of Wilson and Finch, 1 the astute observations of a host of investigators who followed, and Mauricio's iconoclastic insights. The story is far from over…I doubt I'll see the end of it in my lifetime. But if the beauty of discovery is in the voyage, then it has been – for me - a memorable trip.
An operator theory of linear functional differential equations

Abstract An operator theory, based on convolution rings and modules, is developed for various classes of first-order vector functional differential equations of the retarded type with finite and infinite delays. The existence and construction of complete solutions is approached in a novel manner by incorporating initial data into the operator framework. Results are then obtained on exponential and asymptotic stability. The operator framework is also applied to the study of state feedback. Constructive results on spectrum assignability and stabilizability by feedback are given.
DNA strand scission by iron complexes of meso-tetra(N-methylpyridyl)porphines.

Abstract The DNA strand scission activities of three positional isomers of Fe(III) meso -tetra( N -methylpyridyl)porphine (Fe(III)T n MPyP, where n = 2, 3 or 4) have been investigated using PM2 DNA as a substrate. A significant degree of strand scission activity was noted in the presence of oxygen without the addition of a reducing agent. This activity was probably due to the presence of reducing agents in the agarose gels used to separate the DNA forms, as higher levels were recorded with reducing agents added to the strand scission mixture. The relative order of strand scission activity in the absence of added reducing agents was found to be Fe(III)T2MPyP > Fe(III)T4MPyP > Fe(III)T3MPyP. Comparative studies were also made with Fe(II)bleomycin. High concentrations of some reducing agents inhibited strand scission. Oxygen was required to produce optimal strand scission activity for all three porphyrins. It was also noted from spectroscopic measurements that the reduced porphyrins were degraded in the presence of oxygen. Studies with a series of potential strand scission inhibitors suggest that hydrogen peroxide and possibly peroxy radicals are intermediates in the reaction mechanism, while diffusible hydroxyl radicals appear to be excluded. However, superoxide radicals cannot be ruled out.
Fetal cortical transplants ameliorate thalamic atrophy ipsilateral to neonatal frontal cortex lesions

Thalamic atrophy develops ipsilateral to neonatal frontal cortex lesions. Fetal cortex transplants placed in these lesions at birth ameliorate the thalamic atrophy. This could be due to trophic effects of the transplants on the neonatal host thalamus, host cortex, or both.