cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coronary Artery CT Angiography for Plaque Imaging

Cardiac CT is becoming a mainstream and integral part of many cardiology practices based on a vast base of literature supporting and validating its clinical utility. As the technology continues to advance, coronary imaging has improved in stride. In the next several years, cardiac CT may become the “gatekeeper” of cardiac testing, surpassing the more common and widespread nuclear testing as the initial strategy in evaluating ischemia. Unfortunately, in spite of an arsenal of tests available to detect clinically significant stable coronary artery disease, many people continue to suffer acute myocardial infarction and other acute coronary syndromes, leading to significant morbidity and mortality due to unstable coronary artery disease. These unstable, “vulnerable” plaques continue to plague cardiologists across the globe. The ability to identify vulnerable plaque is a step in the right direction toward therapy. It is in this particular arena that advancements in cardiac CT technology may bear the most fruit. A growing body of evidence supporting the utility of cardiac CT in plaque imaging has emerged and has demonstrated that potentially unstable coronary artery disease is able to be identified accurately and noninvasively.
A cooperative learning approach to database group projects: integrating theory and practice

This paper describes the use of cooperative learning concepts in support of an introductory database management course that emphasizes the theoretical and practical aspects of database application development. The database practice is realized through the use of cooperative group projects. The course project is divided into three main phases, involving requirements analysis and conceptual design, relational database mapping and prototyping, and database system implementation using Microsoft Access/sup TM/. Students are required to actively participate in each phase, with students assuming different roles in each phase to allow them to experience different leadership responsibilities. This paper also describes a cooperative learning approach to integrating the practical use of a database product into the theoretical curriculum of a database management course. The paper concludes with a detailed evaluation of the group projects effect on the student's performance in the class.
Organizational responsiveness to children and families: Findings from a national survey of nonprofit child welfare agencies

Abstract Although child welfare practice at the frontline, organizational, and systemic levels is predicated on responsiveness to children and families, research has not determined why some child welfare agencies are more responsive to consumers than others. This study examines the influence of children and families on agency operations (“consumer-centricity”) among a national sample of nonprofit child welfare agencies. In testing for external and internal determinants of consumer-centricity, we find that agencies reported a high level of consumer-centricity overall. Multivariate analyses indicate that interorganizational competition was the principal predictor of consumer-centricity; in contrast, internal agency attributes such as administrative infrastructural supports and accreditation status, service technology, agency leadership, and structural characteristics were not associated with consumer-centricity. We propose three areas for continuing child welfare research on consumer-centricity and identify direct and indirect strategies that child welfare policymakers and practitioners may use to promote consumer-centricity among nonprofit child welfare agencies.
Photoacoustic signal enhancement

Methods for enhancing the photoacoustic signal for both the gas microphone and the piezoelectric detection techniques are described. Measured values of the enhanced signals are comparable to the values predicted by theory. The ability to increase the photoacoustic signal may be particularly valuable in investigations where low light intensity is desirable to avoid surface damage or where the sample itself gives a very weak signal.
Single-mode waveguide microcavity for fast optical switching.

We investigate the properties of a tunable single-mode waveguide microcavity that is well suited for frequency modulation and switching. The cavity mode has a volume of less than one cubic half-wavelength, and the resonant frequency is tuned by refractive-index modulation. We suggest using a photorefractive effect to drive the device, based on the photoionization of deep donor levels known as DX centers in compound semiconductors. Picosecond on–off switching times are achievable when two of these cavities are placed in series. The resulting switch has the advantages of being compact and requiring as little as 10 pJ of energy of operate.
Personnel Reform in the States: A Look at Progress Fifteen Years after the Winter Commission

Trends in states’ civil service reforms since the Winter Commission’s report was published in 1993 are described and evaluated in the context of its recommendations. The authors argue that the commission’s reform agenda relies on a public service bargain that requires public employees, elected officials, and other stakeholders to respect, trust, and support each other’s efforts to serve the public interest. Its recommendations for modernizing state and local personnel systems are discussed and related to the “reinvention” and New Public Management initiatives of the past 20 years. Many of these ideas have been adopted by state governments, but there is no single reform model that has been followed across the states. Some states, such as Georgia and Florida, have engaged in radical reforms that include replacing traditional merit systems with at-will employment models. The general pattern involves decentralization, deregulation, and limitation of employee protections. While many of the management-oriented changes advocated by the Winter Commission are staples of states’ civil service reforms, its emphasis on a “trust and lead” strategy based on public service values, partnership, and leadership in the public interest has not received much attention. In general, objective evaluations of states’ reforms are needed to determine whether their purposes are being achieved.
Osteopetrosis—Prosthodontic treatment

Abstract The general, physical, and dental findings of osteopetrosis were described. The diagnosis and treatment of a patient with this disease were discussed. The patient was successfully treated with maxillary and mandibular overlay dentures. The treatment improved the patient's appearance, morale, and general outlook on life.
A FMS physical simulator

Abstract An integrated scale model of a flexible production line and an automated storage and retrieval system is described. The scale model is developed for the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California. The model has been used for educational purposes as well as for physical simulation of new scheduling and control algorithms.
Family planning and conjugal roles: some further evidence.

267 15-45 year old Protestant which nonfarm women were studied for 1 year in Fayette County Kentucky to assess family structures and decision making regarding contraceptive usage and the role of the male in decision making. A 17-item Likert-type scale was constructed using questions designed to measure togetherness/separateness with regard to family activities and decisions. Despite the nearly equal percentages currently using contraception with medically approved methods segregated couples have been less effective at birth control than those who shared a more joint conjugal relationship. The implication is that regardless of how medically sound a contraceptive technique may be in the absence of an effective family structure for using the technique contraceptive failure will continue and particular methods must be fitted to the needs of particular couples.
Frequency-selective I/Q imbalance compensation for OFDM transmitters using online frequency-domain adaptive predistortion

I/Q imbalance in practical direct-conversion transmitters is a major impairment in OFDM systems. The demand for transmit OFDM signals with low error vector magnitude (EVM) while using increasing bandwidths illuminate the need for robust and high performance frequency-selective I/Q imbalance compensation in OFDM direct-conversion transmitters. Inspired by the 2008 work of Zou, Valkama, and Renfors, this paper extends an approach for compensating frequency-selective I/Q imbalance using a frequency-domain adaptive predistortion scheme and loopback signal path from RF to baseband. The proposed extended method is able to operate fully online (i.e., in normal transmission mode) and recursively using an operational OFDM signal and does not require a special calibration signal or calibration mode. The online and recursive nature of the proposed extended algorithm allows for seamless tracking of any dynamic characteristics associated with I/Q imbalance and simplifies transmitter operation. For the specific frequency-selective I/Q imbalance case considered, simulations show a significant improvement in the image rejection ratio (IRR) over the signal band, showing performance on par with that reported in the cited 2008 work which used a non recursive version of the method based on offline operation, a calibration mode, and a customized pilot signal. Several aspects of the approach are tunable for any given application, allowing the system designer to balance achieved IRR against convergence time, tracking speed, and computational complexity.
Use of second-look laparotomy in the management of patients with ovarian epithelial malignancies

Abstract Between June 1976 and January 1986, 94 evaluable patients with stage I–IV disease underwent second-look laparotomy as part of their treatment for ovarian epithelial carcinomas. Stage and residual tumor size after initial debulking surgery demonstrated a significant association with absence of disease at reexploration. Forty-nine patients (52%) had no evidence of disease at second-look laparotomy. Thirty patients (32%) had macroscopic residual tumor, and 15 patients (16%) had microscopic disease at reexploration. Patients with a negative second-look laparotomy had an excellent prognosis; uncorrected 2- and 5-year survival rates exceed 90%. None of the patients with stage I or II disease developed recurrent tumor after a negative second-look laparotomy. However, 7 of the 25 (28%) patients with stage III disease and a negative second-look have demonstrated recurrent carcinomas. Recurrences were documented from 15.4 to 51.7 months after second-look laparotomy and were located within the abdominal cavity. Life table methods demonstrated improved survival for patients with microscopic disease as compared to those with gross tumor at second-look survery. Both groups had similar mean patient ages and tumor stage distributions. Patients with microscopic residual disease had uncorrected 2- and 5-year survival rates of 76 and 64%. The 2-year uncorrected survival rate for patients with gross tumor at second-look laparotomy was 25%. Thirty patients with macroscopic disease at second-look laparotomy underwent a repeat attempt at tumor debulking. Seventeen patients completed second-look surgery with residual disease less than 1 cm in maximum dimensions. Life table methods demonstrated improved survival when residual disease was less than 1 cm. Regardless of residual tumor size after reexploration, patients with gross tumor had a worse survival than those with microscopic disease.
Sun‐zi and the art of war: The rhetoric of parsimony

Daoist (Taoist) philosophical rhetoric is an integral part of China's magnificent cultural heritage, and analysis of Daoist rhetoric offers the potential to enhance understanding of human communication and inform rhetorical theory and practice. While studies of Daoist rhetoric are increasing, a masterpiece of Daoist thought, Sun‐zi's (Sun‐tzu's) Art of War, has not been examined for its rhetorical implications. This study suggests that war is a useful metaphor for rhetoric, and that Art of War provides a comprehensive, insightful, and unique rhetorical theory based on parsimony: extreme economy in the expenditure of resources.
A cost-effective peripheral venous port system placed at the bedside.

High costs and a paucity of available operating time have led us to seek alternatives to operatively placed vascular access systems. This prospective study is the initial report of a peripheral port system (P.A.S. PORT System, Pharmacia Deltec, Inc.) placed at the bedside. Seventy-nine patients (52 male, 27 female), ages 3-92 years, had ports implanted by surgical residents with attending supervision. Sixty-eight (86%) received the P.A.S. PORT for long-term antibiotics, antifungal, or antiviral therapy; four (5%) for TPN infusion; three (4%) for blood products; two (3%) for chemotherapy; and two (3%) for iv narcotics. Ports were placed in 10 (13%) HIV(+) patients, three (4%) who were fully anticoagulated, and one who was a hemophiliac with a platelet count of zero. Eight patients (10%) developed superficial phlebitis, all of which resolved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents within 48 hr without port removal. Seven patients (9%) had their port removed due to infection. The average hospital charge to place the P.A.S. PORT System was $1488.00 vs $2811.00 for a tunneled external chest catheter and $3729.00 for the placement of a chest port. Bedside insertion of vascular access devices can be safely performed with acceptable infection rates allowing more efficient use of hospital operating rooms and with substantial cost savings.
High‐low quartz inversion up to 10,000 bars

The high-low quartz inversion temperature has been measured up to 10,000 bars. The relation of change of the inversion temperature with pressure to Earth-structure problems is discussed. Apparatus which has a working range up to 1400°C and 10,000 bars is described.
Causes and Consequences: Responsibility in the Political Thought of Max Weber

Many scholars view Max Weber's exposition of an “ethic of responsibility” in his 1919 lecture “Politik als Beruf” as a defense of pragmatic political action. This article re-examines Weber's argument in the context of his social scientific writings. It argues that Weber's political “ethic” is far more demanding than commentators have hitherto supposed. The conception of responsibility that emerges from Weber's work poses a serious challenge to the conventional modern equation of “acting responsibly” with “pursuing collectively desirable ends in an instrumentally rational fashion.”
Amperometric titration of cerium(iii) with ferricyanide

Abstract Milligram and larger quantities of cerous cerium may be determined accurately and precisely, even in the presence of large amounts of ceric salts, by amperometric titration in 3 to 4M potassium carbonate solution with potassium ferricyanide. A rotating platinum microelectrode held at the potential of the saturated calomel electrode is recommended.
REDUCTION OF THE ZERO-ORDER INTENSITY IN BINARY DAMMANN GRATINGS

The source of the reduction in the zero-order intensity in binary Dammann gratings is described as an error in the areas in the phase areas within the unit cell of the grating. Equations for determining the amount of error required to produce a specific reduction ratio are given. A two-dimensional, N = 1, Dammann grating that creates a 3 × 3 beam fan-out with a 24% reduction of the zero order provides an example of such an effect. The calculation shows agreement with the measured error.
A VLSI implementation of a correlator/digital-filter based on distributed arithmetic

The design of a VLSI chip which applies the ideas of distributed arithmetic to a nonrecursive digital filter is described. The main features of this design are very high precision and a high degree of flexibility, which allows one chip to implement a large number of quite different digital filters and correlators. >
A design pattern-based video summarization technique: moving from low-level signals to high-level structure

Video summaries are becoming increasingly popular as a way to convert large chunks of video into smaller, more comprehensible units. Many video summarization techniques rely on finding features in the video or audio streams, using them to identify clips, and then assembling the most salient clips into a shorter version of the original. An alternative approach is to match and take advantage of the known structure of a video sequence to find salient elements, and then match those segments into a summary design pattern. With this techniques, the final product is more elegantly watchable, with fewer artifacts of concatenation, and the final product is usually more content bearing than summaries composed with simple signal analysis techniques.
The role of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) in postmenopausal health.

: Concerns about long-term therapy with HRT have recently highlighted interest in a class of compounds active in the estrogen receptor, but with selectivity in their actions, known as the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Tamoxifen is recognized as the first widely marketed SERM, but its selectivity focuses interest on its approved indications: the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Raloxifene has been approved in most countries of the world for the treatment and prevention of oseoporosis, and it displays a pattern of actions highly matched to the needs and concerns of many postmenopausal women. Further study of current and future SERMs promises to open new vistas in patient-specific management of the field of postmenopausal health.
Vital Role for CD8+ Cells in Controlling Retroviral Infections

Antiviral adaptive immune defenses consist of humoral and cell-mediated responses, which together eliminate extracellular and intracellular virus. As most retrovirus-infected individuals do not raise efficient protective antivirus immune responses, the relative importance of humoral and cell-mediated responses in restraining retroviral infection is not well understood. We utilized retrovirus-resistant I/LnJ mice, which control infection with mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and murine leukemia virus (MuLV) via an adaptive immune mechanism, to assess the contribution of cellular responses and virus-neutralizing antibodies (Abs) to the control of retroviral infection. We found that in retrovirus-infected CD8-deficient I/LnJ mice, viral titers exceed the neutralizing capability of antiviral Abs, resulting in augmented virus spread and disease induction. Thus, even in the presence of robust neutralizing Ab responses, CD8-mediated responses are essential for full protection against retroviral infection.
Evaluating a software engineering project course model based on studio presentations

We present a model for a software engineering project course that has proven successful as the capstone of our required sequence of software courses in our computer science major. It differs from many similar courses because all teams work on the same project, defined by the instructor (not projects for "real" customers). The course's project centers on weekly "studio presentations" during which student teams present preliminary results and receive immediate feedback. This model allows us to efficiently offer a project course for over a hundred students. The nature of the project itself supports other course goals. Assessment of our program and the course indicates that the course successfully fulfills its role within our degree program
Wireless reactive power transfer for off-shore energy harvesting

A method of energy transfer originally developed by Nikola Tesla, may allow the means to transmit off-shore ocean energy, without the use of wires, to distribution points inland. An experiment with this method was conducted by powering a 25 Watt incandescent light bulb at a distance of 20 meters along a 4.5 meter water channel. The salinity of water was increased until it approached that of ocean concentrations. Full energy transmission was observed at resistance levels even higher than those in ocean measurements.
An analysis of paralleled SiC bipolar devices

SiC semiconductor devices are becoming more common in high power applications. This is largely due to higher blocking voltages and faster switching speeds. The development of SiC devices, specifically thyristors and GTOs, is still an evolving process [1]. There is not yet a single device capable of handling the magnitude of current typically seen in transmission and distribution systems and as a result these devices must be paralleled into a single switching position. SiC thyristors were used to carry out a study on paralleled SiC bipolar devices. Si bipolar devices are much better matched than SiC devices, but they exhibit much slower turn-on times [2]. Thus, the most suitable method of inducing current sharing in these devices is through gate control. However, SiC devices exhibit fast turn-on times while being poorly matched. Using various methods of gate control for SiC bipolar devices in parallel does not significantly affect the current sharing. The best way to improve current sharing is obtained using series resistors. These resistors should be chosen so that the voltage drop and power losses are minimized. The effects of thermal runaway are observed as well. As a device rises in temperature relative to the other devices, it conducts more current due to its negative temperature coefficient of on-state resistance. In order to maintain proper heat sharing, a design for a package is presented that includes three thyristors in parallel on a common substrate.
Histone Sequence Database: New histone fold family members

Searches of the major public protein databases with core and linker chicken and human histone sequences have resulted in the compilation of an annotated set of histone protein sequences. In addition, new database searches with two distinct motif search algorithms have identified several members of the histone fold family, including human DRAP1 and yeast CSE4. Database resources include information on conflicts between similar sequence entries in different source databases, multiple sequence alignments, links to the Entrez integrated information retrieval system, structures for histone and histone fold proteins, and the ability to visualize structural data through Cn3D. The database currently contains >1000 protein sequences, which are searchable by protein type, accession number, organism name, or any other free text appearing in the definition line of the entry. All sequences and alignments in this database are available through the World Wide Web at http://www.nhgri.nih. gov/DIR/GTB/HISTONES or http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/Baxevani/HISTONES
Effect of the 2010 Chilean earthquake on posttraumatic stress: reducing sensitivity to unmeasured bias through study design.

In 2010, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit Chile, devastating parts of the country. Having just completed its national socioeconomic survey, the Chilean government reinterviewed a subsample of respondents, creating unusual longitudinal data about the same persons before and after a major disaster. The follow-up evaluated posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) using Davidson's Trauma Scale. We use these data with two goals in mind. Most studies of PTSS after disasters rely on recall to characterize the state of affairs before the disaster. We are able to use prospective data on preexposure conditions, free of recall bias, to study the effects of the earthquake. Second, we illustrate recent developments in statistical methodology for the design and analysis of observational studies. In particular, we use new and recent methods for multivariate matching to control 46 covariates that describe demographic variables, housing quality, wealth, health, and health insurance before the earthquake. We use the statistical theory of design sensitivity to select a study design with findings expected to be insensitive to small or moderate biases from failure to control some unmeasured covariate. PTSS were dramatically but unevenly elevated among residents of strongly shaken areas of Chile when compared with similar persons in largely untouched parts of the country. In 96% of exposed-control pairs exhibiting substantial PTSS, it was the exposed person who experienced stronger symptoms (95% confidence interval = 0.91-1.00). Language: en
Sameness of Fregean sense

This paper develops a criterion for sameness of Fregean senses. I consider three criteria: logical equivalence, intensional isomorphism, and epistemic equipollence. I reject the first two and argue for a version of the third.
In Pursuit of the Granary of Rome: France's Wheat Policy in Morocco, 1915-1931

Acquiring a colony and making a colonial venture profitable are two very different affairs. Throughout the French protectorate period in Morocco (1912-56), there was a sizable gap between colonial aspirations and realizations. Later, political and economic factors would be the primary cause. During the first two decades, however, this gap was caused by colonial idealism and ignorance of Moroccan environmental realities. French colonization in Morocco and the protectorate's first agricultural policy were based on legend rather than on sound economic logic. This article analyzes France's "wheat policy" in Morocco-the manifestation of a misguided colonial vision. Its purpose is both to help explain French colonialism in Morocco, and to paint the historical backdrop to modern irrigation agriculture in this country.
Replication in criminology: A necessary practice

Although researchers acknowledge the importance of replication in building scientific knowledge, replication studies seem to be published infrequently. The present study examines the extent to which replications are conducted in criminology. We conduct a content analysis of the five most influential journals in criminology. We also compare the replication rate in criminology with that in the social sciences and natural sciences. The results show that replication research is rarely published in these disciplines. In criminology journals in particular, replication studies constitute just over 2 percent of the articles published between 2006 and 2010. Further, those replication studies that were published in criminology journals in that period tended to conflict with the original studies. These findings call into question the utility of empirical results published in criminology journals for developing theory and policy. Strategies for promoting replication research in criminology are suggested.
Power emulation: a new paradigm for power estimation

In this work, we propose a new paradigm called power emulation, which exploits hardware acceleration to drastically speedup power estimation. Power emulation is based on the observation that most power estimation tools typically perform the following sequence of operations: simulating the circuit to obtain value traces or statistics for the inputs of its constituent components, evaluating power models for each circuit component based on the input values seen during simulation, and aggregating the power consumption of individual components to compute the circuit's power consumption. We further recognize that the steps involved in power estimation (power model evaluation, aggregation) can themselves be thought of as synthesizable functions and implemented as hardware circuits. Thus, any given design can be enhanced by adding to it "power estimation hardware", and the resulting power model enhanced circuit can be mapped onto a hardware prototyping platform. While drastic speedups in power estimation (orders of magnitude) are possible using this approach, a significant challenge arises due to the increase in circuit size as a result of adding power estimation hardware. We propose a systematic methodology to reduce the size of the power model enhanced circuit through a suite of techniques, including power model reuse across different circuit components, regulating the granularity of components for power modeling, exploiting inter-component power correlations, resource sharing for power model computations, and the use of block memories for efficient storage within power models. We demonstrate the benefits of the proposed power emulation paradigm by applying it to register-transfer level (RTL) power estimation for industrial designs, resulting in speedups from around 10X to over 500X compared to state-of-the-art commercial power estimation tools.
Complex genitourinary abnormalities on fetal MRI: imaging findings and approach to diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article is to present the fetal MRI patterns of complex genitourinary abnormalities including epispadias-exstrophy complex, cloacal malformation, urogenital sinus anomaly, posterior urethral valves, and other causes that result in lower urinary tract dilatation without oligohydramnios. Relevant embryology will be reviewed, and practical points will be provided that can aid in interpretation. CONCLUSION. Complex genitourinary abnormalities have recognizable imaging findings on fetal MRI. Imaging findings may be subtle; a high index of suspicion and a systematic checklist are useful for accurate diagnosis. Familiarity with fetal MRI patterns of complex genitourinary abnormalities is crucial for making more precise diagnoses that will likely impact pregnancy management, counseling, and postnatal treatment.
Is tagging effective?: overlapping ratios with other metadata fields

The potential advantages of tagging have been addressed in numerous literatures, however still the effectiveness of tagging in information retrieval has not confirmed yet along with continuous intensive debates between advocates of new tagging systems versus traditional controlled vocabulary metadata. Despite all the potential advantages of tagging, the overlapping ratios between tags and the words used in other metadata fields, such as title and description, are significant. In this study, with the data from Youtube.com videos, the degree of overlapping is examined among the fields of title, description and tag, with additional questions about tagging, such as changes in numbers of words in each metadata field over time and the difference between web site promotion videos and non-promotion videos. The findings include 1) the number of words in each metadata fields have increased over time; 2) web site promotional videos have more words in each metadata fields than non-promotional videos; 3) more than 50% of words are shared among metadata fields including the tag field; 4) as much as 25% of the videos have the exactly same words repeated among the metadata fields. More similar studies with data from other social tagging sites are suggested to verify these findings.
More Antarctic and Subantarctic Sea Anemones (Coelenterata: Corallimorpharia and Actiniaria)

Asterisks (*...*) indicate words or phrases that are to be italicized. Reproduced/modified by permission of the American Geophysical Union.
Setauket to Abbottabad: The Value of Film and Television in Teaching Human Intelligence

Espionage is often referred to as the world’s second oldest profession, and human intelligence is the oldest collection discipline. When many people think of espionage the images that often come to mind are fictional characters such as Jason Bourne or James Bond. Human intelligence encompasses much more than “secret agents” using their “toys” to collect top-secret information. Teaching human intelligence within an academic setting can be difficult because of the clandestine nature of tradecraft and sources of intelligence. Ironically, it is television and film that brought us Bourne and Bond that can also aid in the teaching of the variety of issues and concepts important to the study of human intelligence. This paper will examine how television and movies inspired by actual events are used as case studies to teach human intelligence in an academic setting. Cases are examined through the lenses of a variety of issues and concepts related to human intelligence, including source acquisition and development, sleepers, interrogation, denial and deception, and the legal and ethical issues impacting collection efforts. The Assets, The Americans, Turn, and Zero Dark Thirty are some of the titles that are utilized in this teaching approach and examples of how these specific titles are used are provided. This article is available in Journal of Strategic Security: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol8/iss3/5
Positive attitudes on aging: A life course view

Chosen as paper of the month in this issue of International Psychogeriatrics, Shenkin and colleagues (2014) tackle the complex but important issue of how older adults perceive the experience of aging and the life course factors that relate to these perceptions and attitudes. Taking advantage of data from a large, well-characterized group of healthy, community-living older persons in the United Kingdom (the Lothian Birth Cohort of 1963; Deary et al., 2007), the authors conclude that in spite of common tendencies in the medical literature, the popular press, or cultural stereotypes to focus on negative aspects of aging, older persons themselves generally report positive attitudes toward aging. Taking a life course approach, the authors conclude that the most significant and pervasive correlates associated with positive attitudes of aging across three assessed domains (psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth) are personality traits. In contrast, affective disturbances (depression/anxiety) are associated with more negative attitudes to aging. The authors also identify other potentially modifiable factors associated with attitudes to aging, including physical disability, social class, or living circumstances. The authors point out several limitations of this work, including the self-selected sample limiting generalizability; psychometric and conceptual drawbacks of the Attitudes on Aging Questionnaire; and variance not explained by a priori clinically focused predictor variables.
Reactions of Some Moths and Aquatic Insects to Light Traps Fitted with Polarizing Filters

The behavioral responses of many arthropods to polarized light have been investigated (Mazokhin-Porshnyakov 1969), but few attempts to make practical application of such reactions have been published. Substantial increases were observed in catches of Diptera and other insects from a suction-assisted New Jersey pattern trap, modified to emit light horizontally polarized by reflection (Kovrov and Monchadskiy 1963). In another study, Aphis fabae Scopoli was less attracted to lights fitted with polarizing filters than to lights with non polarizing filters (Kring 1969).
Role of spinal metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in pudendal inhibition of the nociceptive bladder reflex in cats

This study examined the role of spinal metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the nociceptive C-fiber afferent-mediated spinal bladder reflex and in the inhibtion of this reflex by pudendal ...
Modification of blood-pressure-measuring devices and the protocol of the british hypertension society

The market for blood-pressure-measuring devices is enormous and growing. Devices are required in a number of areas in hospitals, in doctors' offices, in paramedical areas and in the transport of patients; and there is a vast demand for self-measuring devices from the public. In Germany, for example, 12 million such devices are sold annually [1]. Only a fraction of the many hundreds of models available worldwide has been subjected to independent validation, though the number of devi E> 1359-5237 4 1 1999 February 1999 Paper alert 55 56 EN George A Mansoor Section of Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA EDITORIAL http://www.cardiosite.com http://www. cardiosite.com
Insulin-like growth factor and growth hormone receptor in nephrotic rats

In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of growth retardation in the nephrotic syndrome, specific serum and hepatic growth factors were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats in which nephrotic syndrome ...
Methylphenidate Effects on EEG and ADHD

The effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on the EEG during baseline and cognitive tasks were evaluated using spectral analysis in 23 boys, aged 9 to 11, with ADHD, and results were analyzed at the Departments of Psychology, State University of New York, Cortland, NY, and University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD.
Bluetooth low energy for wearable sensor-based healthcare systems

Wearable sensor-based healthcare systems have drawn a lot of attention from the scientific community and the industry during the past several years. As the healthcare cost is increasing and the population is aging, unobtrusive, low cost and accurate healthcare systems will potentially transform the future of healthcare. They are convenient to use, and can be utilized directly from home or community. These systems have various functionalities, such as bio-signal monitoring, signal analysis and biofeedback. They are consist of sub-systems including sensors, data aggregators, data processing units, connected by wired or wireless communication modules. The developing goal of the systems includes to increase the performance accuracy, to make the system smaller, to prolong the battery life and to lower the product cost. Bluetooth low energy (BLE), comparing to traditional wired or other wireless communication modules, is beneficial for these design goals. Devices with bluetooth low energy are attracting more scientists and engineers in research and are changing individuals' lives with products such as wearable sport bends, smart toothbrushes, and intelligent watches. In this paper, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art Bluetooth low energy technology. Further, we list and analyze the most popular commercial products and the available developing tools.
Higher Rate of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Pupura (TTP) Associated with Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) and Unrelated Donor Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT).

Abstract TTP is one of the complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In contrast to idiopathic cases, post-transplantation TTP may not be associated with severe von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease deficiency but rather a diffuse endothelial injury. Our aim was to define incidence, risk factors and mortality of TTP following allogeneic HSCT. 1312 patients with lymphoid malignancies (n=605), myeloid malignancies (n=688) or aplastic anemia (AA, n=18) who were treated with ablative preparative regimens (n=614) or reduced intensity regimens (n=697) followed by HSCT from an HLA matched related (MRD, n=694) or unrelated donor (MUD; n=461) and 1–3 antigen mismatched related (MMR, n=99) or unrelated donor (MMUD, n=57) between December 1997 and December 2004 were studied. Patients with prior allogeneic HSCT or graft failure were excluded. GVHD prophylaxis was tacrolimus-based in 1276 (97.3%) and cyclosporine based in 15 (1.1%) patients. Twenty patients did not receive GVHD prophylaxis per protocol. Anti-thymocyte-globulin (ATG) was added in 350 patients. Stem cell sources were bone marrow (n=626), peripheral blood (n=635) or cord blood (n=50). The following variables were evaluated: age, gender, primary diagnosis, disease status before HSCT, intensity of preparative regimen, stem cell source and acute GVHD(aGVHD) grade ≥2 (time dependent variable). Of the 1312 patients with a median follow-up from transplantation of 11.4 months (range, 5 days-7.2 years), 77 developed TTP (6%). The actuarial risk of developing TTP was 6.5% at 1 year. The median time of the onset of TTP was 67 days post HSCT (range, 11–1812) with 27 cases (35%) presenting after day 100. Female gender, lymphoid malignancies, unrelated or antigen mismatched related donor and aGVHD grade ≥2 were found to be independent risk factors. (Table1). Among the patients who had aGVHD grade≥2, the median time of interval between the onsets of two events was 25 days (range, 2–335 days). All patients were treated with therapeutic plasma exchange (PE). Of the 77 patients only 1 died of TTP (intracranial hemorrhage). The overall one-year survival after TTP was 29% and the most common cause of death were acute or chronic GVHD (n=35, 55%) and primary disease progression (n=10, 16%). Stem cell donors other than MRD, lymphoid malignancies and aGVHD≥2 have been established as risk factors associated with development of TTP and therapeutic PE has been shown to decrease TTP related mortality. Risk factors for TTP after allogeneic HSCT Variables sample size events HR 95% CI p Male 793 33 1.0 Female 518 44 2.2 1.3–3.6 0.002 Myleoid malignancy 688 33 1.0 Lymphoid malignancy 605 42 1.9 1.1–3.3 0.03 AA 18 2 1.3 0.2–8.0 0.75 MRD 694 28 1.0 MUD 461 40 2.9 1.6–5.1 MMR 99 7 2.4 0.9–6.0 0.06 MMUD 57 2 1.7 0.4–7.6 0.5 aGVHD ≥2 370 39 3.3 2.0–5.5
Case Study of High-Dose Ketamine for Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a life-altering and debilitating chronic pain condition. The authors are presenting a case study of a female who received high-dose ketamine for the management of her CRPS. The innovative treatment lies not only within the pharmacologic management of her pain, but also in the fact that she was the first patient to be admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit solely for pain control. The primary component of the pharmacotherapy treatment strategy plan was escalating-dose ketamine infusion via patient-controlled-analgesia approved by the pharmacy and therapeutics committee guided therapy for this patient. The expertise of advanced practice nurses blended exquisitely to ensure patient and family-centered care and the coordination of care across the illness trajectory. The patient experienced positive outcomes.
Vector Instruction Set Extensions for Efficient Computation of Keccak

We investigate the design of a new instruction set for the Keccak permutation, a cryptographic kernel for hashing, authenticated encryption, keystream generation and random-number generation. Keccak is the basis of the SHA-3 standard and the newly proposed Keyak and Ketje authenticated ciphers. We develop the instruction extensions for a 128-bit interface, commonly available in the vector-processing unit of many modern processors. We examine the trade-off between flexibility and efficiency, and we propose a set of six custom instructions to support a broad range of Keccak -based cryptographic applications. We motivate our custom-instruction selections using a design space exploration that considers various methods of partitioning the state and the operations of the Keccak permutation, and we demonstrate an efficient implementation of this permutation with the proposed instructions. To evaluate their performance, we integrate a simulation model of the proposed ARM NEON vector instructions into the GEM5 micro-architecture simulator. With this simulation model, we evaluate the performance improvement for several cryptographic operations that use the Keccak permutation. Compared to a state-of-the-art NEON software implementation, we demonstrate a performance improvement of 2.2x for SHA-3. Compared to optimized 32-bit assembly programming, we demonstrate a performance improvement of 2.6x, 1.6x, and 1.4x for River Keyak , Ketje SR and Ketje JR respectively. The proposed instructions require 4,658 gate-equivalent (GE) in 90 nm, which represents only a tiny fraction of the hardware cost of a modern processor.
Food capture kinematics of the suction feeding horn shark, Heterodontus francisci

The goal of this study was to examine the feeding kinematics of the horn shark, Heterodontus francisci, a member of the most basal clade of galeomorph sharks, the Heterodontiformes. The accessibility of the food was manipulated to determine if the horn shark modulated capture. Three different methods of presenting food were used to mimic the different positions of prey items found in the natural diet of the horn shark. Food was presented unattached to the substrate, securely attached, or fitted snugly in a tube. Using high-speed video kinematic analysis, capture events were examined. Heterodontus francisci uses inertial suction facilitated by rapid mandible depression and labial cartilage protrusion to capture food. The horn shark conforms to a capture kinematic profile characteristic of both basal and derived inertial suction feeding sharks. Unusual post-capture behaviors include body leveraging, use of the mouth to form a seal over food, and chisel-like palatoquadrate protrusion. When presented with food of different accessibility, Heterodontus francisci used one consistent kinematic pattern for capture that was not modulated. Only post-capture behaviors varied according to food accessibility.
Suppression of cable suspended parallel manipulator vibration utilizing input shaping

Cable Suspended Parallel Manipulators (CSPMs) are a class of cable robots that are held in tension by the end-effector weight. Controlling the complex CSPM motion requires advanced knowledge of the equilibrium positions and the system dynamics. Additionally, the changing cable lengths alter the natural frequencies of the manipulator as it moves around the workspace. This paper presents the modeling and control of a large scale CSPM with an extendable end-effector. The dominant dynamics were used to design a control system to limit the end-effector vibration. The simulated results are compared to a full-scale experimental setup to verify the key findings.
Effects of a cafeteria diet on delay discounting in adolescent and adult rats: Alterations on dopaminergic sensitivity:

Diet-induced obesity is a laboratory procedure in which nonhuman animals are chronically exposed to a high-fat, high-sugar diet (i.e. cafeteria diet), which results in weight gain, altered sensitiv...
Predicting Staff Assault in Juvenile Correctional Facilities

ABSTRACTThis study examines the predictive utility of the community-based Positive Achievement Change Tool–Prescreen (PACT-PS) for staff assault in a sample of 787 state-committed male youth. Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicated the PACT-PS failed to predict staff assault across racial/ethnic groups. Notably, this study also found youth with serious delinquent histories and prior commitments improved the PACT-PS’s ability to predict staff assault. Limitations of this study, suggestions for future research, and practical implications are discussed.
Infrastructure and applications of Internet of Things in smart grids: A survey

The Internet of things (IoT) is a rapidly evolving technology capable of transforming numerous areas of our lives. Smart Grid (SG) is one of such areas, which has an immense potential of development, following the advances in IoT technology. The goal of the current survey is to summarize the infrastructure and applications of IoT in SGs. The infrastructure aspect is described from the viewpoints of physical and software implementation. A general configuration of IoT processing layers with a respect to SGs' infrastructure is introduced in this description. Applications of IoT in SGs are described for several structural and functional parts of SGs: Customer Interactions, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Smart Metering, Grid Maintenance and Management. A summary of application advantages, such as real-time bidirectional data communication and advanced sensing, and implementation challenges, such as interoperability of various technological standards and rigorous privacy and security requirements, of IoT in SGs are presented in this survey.