cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Young Children's Understanding of the Psychological Causes of Behavior

In 1989, Miller and Aloise challenged the prevailing belief that preschoolers tend to explain others' behavior in terms of external events or a person's physical attributes and have little understanding of psychological causes. That review documented preschoolers' understanding of, and even preference for, psychological causes as part of an emerging renaissance in developmental social-cognitive research. The present, updated review (97 articles, participant ages 3 months to 6 years) suggests the emergence of a transformative new perspective in which social-cognition is balanced between social and cognitive aspects rather than tilted toward cognition. Recent research on infants' awareness of mental states, young children's understanding of social categories and their judgments of the trustworthiness of informants, and cultural context reveals various ways in which preschoolers' social-causal reasoning is social.
Probability and Expectations

The first two chapters of this book review some of the tools from probability that are useful for statistics. These two chapters are no substitute for the prerequisite of a calculus-based course in probability and statistics at the level of Hogg and Tanis (2005), Larsen and Marx (2011), Wackerly et al. (2008), Walpole et al. (2006), DeGroot and Schervish (2012), Hogg et al. (2012), Rice (2006), or Rohatgi (1984).
FETAL INCUBATOR STUDIES. I. ELECTROLYTE EXCHANGE ACROSS THE FETAL RABBIT ALVEOLAR MEMBRANE.

Abstract Electrolyte exchange between blood serum and immersion fluid across the fetal alveolar membrane was studied in a pressurized immersion chamber. Fetal rabbits of varying gestational age were immersed in fluids of varying composition for 6 hours. Fetal serum sodium, potassium, uric acid, and urea demonstrated no evidence of coming into equilibrium with the surrounding immersion fluid. A similarity between the apparent osmoregulatory function of fetal avleolar membrane and the gills of fish has been suggested.
Dynamic Spectrum Access Algorithms Based on Survival Analysis

In this study, we design and implement two algorithms for dynamic spectrum access that are based on survival analysis. They use a non-parametric estimate of the cumulative hazard function to predict the remaining idle time available for secondary transmission subject to the constraint of a preset probability of successful completion. In addition to theoretical performance analysis of the algorithms, we evaluate them using data collected from a long term evolution band to model primary user activity to demonstrate their effectiveness in real-world scenarios, even at fine time scales. The algorithms are run in different configurations, i.e., they are trained and run on a few combinations of data sets. Our results show that as long as the cumulative hazard functions are fairly similar across datasets, the algorithms can be trained on one dataset and run on that of another without any significant degradation of performance. The algorithms achieve fairly high white space utilization and have a measured probability of interference that is at or below the preset threshold.
Q-Learning Algorithm for VoLTE Closed Loop Power Control in Indoor Small Cells

We propose a reinforcement learning (RL) based closed loop power control algorithm for the downlink of the voice over LTE (VoLTE) radio bearer for an indoor environment served by small cells. The main contributions of our paper are to 1) use RL to solve performance tuning problems in an indoor cellular network for voice bearers and 2) show that our derived lower bound loss in effective signal to interference plus noise ratio due to neighboring cell failure is sufficient for VoLTE power control purposes in practical cellular networks. In our simulation, the proposed RL-based power control algorithm significantly improves both voice retainability and mean opinion score compared to current industry standards. The improvement is due to maintaining an effective downlink signal to interference plus noise ratio against adverse network operational issues and faults.
Fad diets: facts for dental professionals.

ABSTRACT Background The author examined fad diet practices associated with oral health status and the role of the dental practitioner in addressing relevant issues. Conclusions The author reviewed the literature regarding overweight and obesity in the United States to interpret issues that might arise in reviewing fad diet practices among dental patients. The author provides suggestions for assisting patients in choosing dietary and lifestyle behaviors that are based on current public health evidence in support of achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight. Clinical Implications Dental professionals are well-positioned to guide patients toward dietary choices that support dental health and the attainment of a healthy weight associated with a decreased risk of developing chronic diseases.
Bounds for the Greatest and the Least Characteristic Roots of a Positive Definite Matrix Using Powers of 2

In an earlier paper [1], we showed how to get bounds for the greatest and the least characteristic roots of a positive definite matrix using some simple inequalities for the trace. Here we show how we can obtain improved results using powers of 2.
Cygnets: Intracellular Guanosine 3′,5′-Cyclic Monophosphate Sensing in Primary Cells Using Fluorescence Energy Transfer

Publisher Summary Guanosine 3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) is a key player in the regulation of various physiological processes, including smooth muscle tone, neuronal excitability, epithelial electrolyte transport, phototransduction in the retina, and cell adhesion. Genetically encoded indicators based on the insertion of conformationally sensitive domains between two mutants of green fluorescent protein (GFP) that participate in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) have proved to be powerful tools for observing the dynamics of intracellular signaling molecules noninvasively. Transfection efficiency and cygnet expression may be low in some cells, particularly in primary cultures. Optimal expression may require alternative transfection reagents and optimization of transfection conditions, depending on the cell type. Since excessive illumination of cygnets may result in photobleaching of GFP mutants, fluorophore excitation should occur at the minimum intensity, frequency, and duration possible. The emission profiles of ECFP and citrine should be monitored to ascertain that changes in FRET are not due to aberrant behavior of the individual fluorophores due to photobleaching or other phenomena such as pH-induced alterations.
Coherent Functions in Autonomous Systems.

A fuzzy controller can be seen as an algorithm that, given a fuzzy set (input) and a set of linguistic rules, computes the degree of possibility of every control value. Using a valid and complete proof system for possibilistic logic, we will prove that fuzzy controllers enjoy the following property: every possibility measure that satisfies the degrees of possibility of the input and of the linguistic rules also satisfies, for every control value, the degree of possibility computed by the fuzzy controller. We will call such property the coherence between input, task description and output. A general definition of coherent function is given, and we will see that coherent functions form a class of functions that properly contains fuzzy controllers. Moreover, we will present an application of coherent functions to a task different from control, namely localization in mobile robotics.
Nonlinear optical properties of chalcogenide hybrid inorganic/organic polymers (CHIPs) using the Z-scan technique

The linear and nonlinear optical behavior of novel sulfur based polymer materials are evaluated at the optical communication wavelength, 1550 nm. These polymers are attractive for near-IR (NIR) and mid-IR applications. The two photon absorption (TPA) coefficient (β) and second order refractive index (n2) of chalcogenide hybrid inorganic/organic polymers (CHIPs) from poly(sulfur-random-(1,3-diisopropenylbenzen) (poly(S-r-DIB)) are measured via the Z-scan technique. In this study, we investigated the linear and nonlinear optical behavior of two types of CHIPs where the weight percentage of sulfur is varied (poly(S50%-r-DIB50%) and poly(S70%-r-DIB30%)). The TPA coefficients for poly(S50%-r-DIB50%) and poly(S70%-r-DIB30%) obtained were 0.11 cm/GW and 0.063 cm/GW, respectively. The n2 for poly(S50%-r-DIB50%) and poly(S70%-r-DIB30%) was measured and determined to be 2.45 × 10−15 cm2/W and 3.06 × 10−15 cm2/W, respectively, and are in good agreement with Miller’s rule prediction. These materials exhibit low cost, low temperature processing, high transparency in the near to mid-IR range (except a few interval ranges) and relatively high refractive index, providing a unique set of properties for optics and photonics device applications.
Pediatric Neurosurgical ICU: Special Issues

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses trauma, craniosynostosis, hydrocephalus, cranial–spinal anomalies, and brain tumors to illustrate certain special issues that must be dealt with in the pediatric intensive care unit. In children, delay in diagnosis is common and can be seen in terms of the size to which a brain tumor will grow before anyone suspects what is occurring. Hematomas in children develop in the same areas as in adults. One unique difference is the tremendous edema that can occur diffusely through the brain, sometimes with trivial injury. The ventricles become slitlike and the child rapidly goes into coma when often there is no hematoma involved. The craniosynostosis is a congenital anomaly of the skull—a premature closure of one or more of its sutures. The standard method of treatment is to create linear craniectomies lined with plastic film to keep the iatrogenic fractures from healing prematurely. Sagittal synostosis is the most common variety. Its correction should be by way of an operation that has almost no morbidity and no mortality.
Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases in Mongolia.

Mongolia which is located in Northern Asia between Russia and China is endowed with one of lowest population density in the world. Acute hepatitis due all types of hepatitis virus has been reported in Mongolia. Also, dual and triple hepatitis viruses, HBV, HDV and HCV are highly prevalent among patients with chronic liver disease living in Mongolia. Due to these facts, liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Mongolia. The national immunization program including vaccination against hepatitis B was started in 1991 and screening of blood donations for HBsAg and anti-HCV was introduced in 1993 and 1997 respectively. The incidence of hepatitis viruses showing a downhill course in some parts of Mongolia, but comprehensive efforts are needed to control hepatitis viruses and containment of hepatitis related liver diseases and liver cancer in Mongolia. How to cite this article Tsatsralt OB. Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases in Mongolia. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2015;5(1):37-39.
Variation of global diurnal temperature range associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation

Abstract This study examines the impact of the intraseasonal Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) on global land surface diurnal temperature range (DTR) using two daily surface air temperature datasets. The results show that the MJO significantly affects DTR over all the continents. The two datasets are highly consistent with each other, suggesting that the results are robust. Significant correlations exist in all seasons over the tropical continents, including Africa, India, southeast Asia, Australia, central America and Amazon. In the extratropics, the correlations change with season. The highest correlations occur in winter for Europe, in winter and spring for China, in autumn for United States, and in summer and winter for Canada. The surface DTR anomalies coincide well with the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies at the top of the atmosphere, suggesting that variations of DTR are associated with variations of clouds, which is consistent with the results of previous studies on DTR trend and variability at seasonal to multi-decadal time-scales. The DTR variations are also associated with changes of deep convection, soil moisture and snow cover.
IgM AL amyloidosis: delineating disease biology and outcomes with clinical, genomic and bone marrow morphological features.

This study evaluates newly diagnosed IgM (6%, n = 75/1174) vs. non-IgM light chain amyloidosis patients. IgM amyloid patients had lower light chains (12.5 vs. 22.5 mg/dL; p 1 organ involvement (31% vs. 44%, p = 0.02) was less common in IgM amyloidosis, while soft tissue and peripheral nerve involvement was more common. t(11;14) was less common (27% vs. 50%, p = 0.008) in IgM amyloidosis. Rates of MYD88L265P and CXCR4WHIM mutation in IgM amyloidosis were 58% (29/50) and 17% (8/46). Diagnosis after hematopathology review in IgM amyloidosis was pure plasma cell neoplasm (PPCN) in 23% (16/70), lymphoplasmacytic neoplasm (LPL) in 63% (44/70) patients, and other (14%). LPL vs. PPCN groups had distinct genetic abnormalities: t(11;14): 0% (0/18) vs. 60% (9/15), p < 0.001; MYD88L265P mutation: 84% (27/32) vs. 0% (0/14), p < 0.001; CXCR4 mutation: 29% (8/28) vs. 0% (0/14), p = 0.04. Overall survival was shorter in IgM AL when stratified by Mayo 2012 stage; stage 1/2 (59 vs. 125.9 months, p = 0.003) and stage 3/4 (6.5 vs. 12.9 months, p = 0.075), likely due to lower hematologic response rates (6 months: 39% vs. 59%, p = 0.008). We characterized two subtypes of IgM amyloidosis (LPL/PPCN). This can aid in therapeutic decision-making, with treatment directed at the clonal disease.
Chiral Tricationic Tris(1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) Cobalt(III) Hydrogen Bond Donor Catalysts with Defined Carbon/Metal Configurations; Matched/Mismatched Effects upon Enantioselectivities with Enantiomeric Chiral Counter Anions

The enantiopure and diastereopure salts Λ- or Δ-[Co((S,S)-dpen)3]3+ 2Cl–BArf– (Λ- or Δ-(S,S)-13+ 2Cl–BArf–; dpen/BArf = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine/B(3,5-C6H3(CF3)2)4) and Λ-(S,S)-13+ 3Cl– are trea...
Patterns and correlates of substance use among young adult African American women.

Patterns and correlates of substance use among urban African American young women (ages 18–19, n = 459) were examined. Four patterns were identified: no/infrequent alcohol and marijuana use (64.9%)...
Development of a cost-effective medium for submerged production of fungal aryl alcohol oxidase using a genetically modified Aspergillus nidulans strain

Abstract Aryl alcohol oxidase (AAO), an extracellular H2O2-providing enzyme, plays a central role in lignin depolymerization. Cost-effective production of AAO has not been achieved, due to the low yield of enzyme-producing microorganisms and the high cost of fermentation media. This study aims to develop a cost-effective medium for high-yield production of AAO in submerged culture using a recombinant Aspergillus nidulans strain. Results demonstrate that corn steep liquor (CSL) was a rich but inexpensive nitrogen source for AAO production, and CSL can provide enough trace metals and vitamins (i.e. pyridoxine) for A. nidulans. A 2-level Plackett-Burman design was utilized to determine the main affecting factors in AAO production. The medium was further optimized by a 3-level Box-Behnken design to obtain the optimum medium component concentrations (61.0 g/L maltose, 26.4 g/L CSL, and 13.8 g/L NaNO3). The greatest AAO activity achieved was 1021 U/L with a protein concentration of 0.75 g/L.
Chapter 10 – Photobioregulatory Mechanisms

Publisher Summary Living organisms can utilize the energy of light in two ways—light can be used as a source of energy to facilitate a process, such as photosynthesis, that otherwise would be thermodynamically unfeasible; alternatively, light can be used as a source of information, as in photo morphogenesis. There are five properties of light that can serve as a source of information, quantity, quality, spatial asymmetry, periodicity, and polarization. Pigments that may play a role in photo morphogenesis, using light as the source of information, include flavins and flavoproteins, carotenoids and carotenoproteins, biliproteins, cytochromes, and chlorophylls. Phytochrome that is used in the photo morphogenetic system is also described. Major discrepancies arise in attempts to quantitatively assess the accessibility of the chromophore and to predict the secondary structure of phytochrome. Intact phytochrome is shown to be a dimer. Small angle X-ray scattering as well as electron microscope studies have yielded a model of the phytochrome dimer that entails a distinct separation of the nonchromophore and chromophore domains.
CME: Crowned-Dens-Syndrom – das Chamäleon der Nackenschmerzen

Zusammenfassung. Das Crowned-Dens-Syndrom (CDS) ist eine seltene, unterdiagnostizierte Differenzialdiagnose der akuten Nackenschmerzen. Die Diagnosefindung stellt im klinischen Alltag eine Herausfo...
Intra-operative Laxity Following Total Knee Arthroplasty is Highly Variable and Different Than Osteoarthritic and Normal Knees

BackgroundAchieving a stable joint is an important yet challenging part of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Neither manual manipulation of the knee nor instrumented sensors biomechanically characterize knee laxity or objectively characterize how TKA changes the laxity of an osteoarthritic (OA) knee. Therefore, the purposes of this study were: 1) objectively characterize changes in knee laxity due to TKA, 2) objectively determine whether TKA resulted in equal amounts of varus-valgus motion under a given load (i.e., balance) and 3) determine how TKA knee laxity and balance differ from values seen in non-osteoarthritic knees. MethodsTwo surgeons used a custom navigation system and intra-operative device to record varus-valgus motion under quantified loads in a cohort of 31 patients (34 knees) undergoing primary TKA. Similar data previously were collected from a cohort of 42 native cadaveric knees. ResultsPerforming a TKA resulted in a "looser knee" on average, but great variability existed within and between surgeons. Under the maximum applied moment, 20 knees were "looser" in the varus-valgus direction, while 14 were "tighter". Surgeon 1 generally "loosened" knees (OA laxity 6.1{degrees}{+/-}2.3{degrees}, TKA laxity 10.1{degrees}{+/-}3.6{degrees}), while Surgeon 2 did not substantially alter knee laxity (OA laxity 8.2{degrees}{+/-}2.4{degrees}, TKA laxity 7.5{degrees}{+/-}3.3{degrees}). TKA resulted in balanced knees, and, while several differences in laxity were observed between OA, TKA, and cadaveric knees, balance was only different under the maximum load between OA and cadaveric knees. ConclusionsLarge variability exists within and between surgeons suggests in what is considered acceptable laxity and balance of the TKA knee when it is assessed by only manual manipulation of the leg. Knees were "balanced" yet displayed different amounts of motion under applied load. Clinical RelevanceOur results suggest that current assessments of knee laxity may leave different patients with biomechanically different knees. Objective intra-operative measurements should inform surgical technique to ensure consistency across different patients. Level of EvidenceLevel II prospective observational study
Fenomenologia Tego, Co Implikowane (Phenomenology of the Implicit)

Polish Abstract: Podjeto probe zasugerowania alternatywy podejście do niektorych problemow centralnych do filozofii transcendentalnej. W szczegolności, wydaje sie, ze pres ent zrozumienie przedrefleksyjna świadomośc, refleksja i ich wzajemne relacje mogą nabrac wiekszego znaczenia stopien rygorystyczności i przejrzystości. W tym celu zwraca sie uwage na wstepne warunki odniesienia to są związane z rozroznieniem fenomenologicznym pomiedzy niejawnym experience i explicite odbicie. English Abstract: An attempt is made to suggest an alternative approach to certain of the problems central to transcendental philosophy. In particular, it seems that the present understanding of pre-reflective awareness, of reflection, and of their interrelation can acquire a greater degree of rigour and clarity. To this end, attention is paid to preconditions of reference that are entailed by the phenomenological distinction between implicit experience and explicit reflection.
How Do Price-Based Sales Affect Market Basket Prices? Evidence for Fresh Food Products in German Grocery Stores?

Sales of fresh food products are a predominant feature in retail pricing around the world. Price-based sales offer significant price cuts in products for a limited time and are the most popular form of promotional sales in Europe. From a consumer perspective, it is of interest to determine whether such price-based sales are reflected in the price of typical market baskets, or whether they are financed by price increases for other products as suggested by the loss-leader hypothesis. Competitive market theories suggest that a sale signals a reduction in market basket price. Within this setting, this article empirically examines the implications of sales for the market basket prices. Results are drawn from analysis of a unique data set for fresh food items in German grocery stores over the period from 1995 to 2000. Results indicate that in the short-run the market basket price for fresh food decreases with the number of fresh food product sales, consistent with competitive pricing. However, over time, our dynamic modelling results are consistent with a dynamic form of the loss-leader hypothesis as evidence is found that market basket price increases over time overwhelming the short-run reduction.
Gaps in standards for integrating artificial intelligence technologies into ophthalmic practice.

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of healthcare standards and their relevance to multiple ophthalmic workflows, with a specific emphasis on describing gaps in standards development needed for improved integration of artificial intelligence technologies into ophthalmic practice. Recent findings Healthcare standards are an essential component of data exchange and critical for clinical practice, research, and public health surveillance activities. Standards enable interoperability between clinical information systems, healthcare information exchange between institutions, and clinical decision support in a complex health information technology ecosystem. There are several gaps in standards in ophthalmology, including relatively low adoption of imaging standards, lack of use cases for integrating apps providing artificial intelligence -based decision support, lack of common data models to harmonize big data repositories, and no standards regarding interfaces and algorithmic outputs. Summary These gaps in standards represent opportunities for future work to develop improved data flow between various elements of the digital health ecosystem. This will enable more widespread adoption and integration of artificial intelligence-based tools into clinical practice. Engagement and support from the ophthalmology community for standards development will be important for advancing this work.
A Study of the Relationship of Print Ad Recall and Individual Biorhythms

A group of women college students were exposed to a portfolio of print ads then tested for four types of unaided recall. Three biorhythm scores were computed for each subject from birthdate information. Individual age, grade point average, and various biorhythm measures were regressed against the four ad recall scores. Significant correlations were found between the biorhythm measures and three of the four ad recall measures. Results indicate that biorhythm theory offers potential for increased understanding of certain areas of consumer behavior.
Chapter 52 Differential regulation of dopamine metabolism in solid fetal substantia nigra transplants and their terminals in the host striatum

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the differential regulation of dopamine metabolism in solid fetal substantia nigra transplants and their terminals in the host striatum. Male Sprague–Dawley rats, weightng 300 g at the start of the experiment, were used in an experiment described in the chapter. They were group housed in standard laboratory cages with unlimited access to water and standard laboratory food. Room temperature was maintained at 21°C and a 12:12 light/dark cycle was in effect. The rats received a micro-injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the left medial forebrain bundle to destroy the ascending dopamine (DA) projections. The rats were evaluated for their turning behavior after a challenge both with apomorphine (APO) (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) and, separately, with amphetamine (AMPH) (5 mg/kg i.p.) This behavioral testing was performed before transplantation and again at least 3 months following transplantation. All the rats successfully lesioned with 6-OHDA showed strong ipsilateral and contralateral turning behavior after challenge, respectively, with AMPH and APO. The DA content in the transplant itself was higher than that of the adjacent 6-OHDA lesioned striatum, with a significant difference between the transplants of the compensated as compared to that of the noncompensated rats.
Rapid Assay for In Situ Identification of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci Recovered by Membrane Filtration from Swimming Pool Water

A rapid, in situ thermonuclease test that identifies colonies of Staphylococcus aureus among staphylococci isolated from swimming pool water by membrane filtration recovery on various selective and differential media is described.
Systematic Design of Medical Capsule Robots

Medical capsule robots that navigate inside the body as diagnostic and interventional tools are an emerging and challenging research area within medical CPSs. These robots must provide locomotion, sensing, actuation, and communication within severe size, power, and computational constraints. This paper presents the first effort for an open architecture, platform design, software infrastructure, and a supporting modular design environment for medical capsule robots to further this research area.
Length of time between hospital admission and ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest complicating acute myocardial infarction: effect on prognosis.

We performed a community-wide study in metropolitan Baltimore to examine the prognostic role of length of time between hospital admission and ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest (VFib/CA) complicating acute myocardial infarction (MI). Risk of developing VFib/CA was particularly marked in the first few hours after admission to the hospital. We compared 128 patients experiencing VFib/CA within 48 hours of admission and 80 patients developing these complications after more than 48 hours. Patients with "early" VFib/CA exhibited a lower in-hospital case-fatality rate than those with "late" VBib/CA (67% versus 88%; p less than .01). Likewise, of patients discharged alive from the hospital and followed for as long as six years a greater proportion of the 38 with histories of "early" VFib/CA survived than of the 11 who had experienced "late" VFib/CA during hospital admission (.05 less than p less than .10). These results suggest that whereas "early" VFib/CA may reflect transitory myocardial electrical instability, "late" VFib/CA may indicate chronic instability and thus imply a poor prognosis.
Chromium Poisoning of Cathodes by Ferritic Stainless Steel

Chromium poisoning of cathodes has been reported by several groups developing solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) with metallic bipolar plates. Typically, chromium is presumed to migrate from the bipolar plates into the cathodevia a volatile oxyhydroxide species. In this paper we report results of experiments where cells measuring 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm were operated with 430 SS and E-Brite bipolar plates and with two different cathode materials. At 700°C, the SOFC degradation rate (percent loss of peak current generating capability) was about 3 times faster than at 800°C. In addition, samples of cathode material coated onto the stainless steel were equilibrated at temperatures of 700°C and 800°C in 25% humid air and analyzed for chromium content. It appears that chromium oxide covering the metal can react chemically with the cathode materials.
Lattice Mode Degeneracy in Mo S 2 and Other Layer Compounds

The observed degeneracy of mutually exclusive infrared- and Raman-active modes in Mo${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ is traced by means of group theory to the weak van der Waals interaction between layers.
Dual-frequency dual-polarized sixteen-element stacked patch microstrip array antenna for soil moisture and sea surface salinity missions

A dual-polarized dual-band active/passive (radar/radiometer) microstrip array for remote-sensing applications is described. The measurement results meet the requirements for center-frequencies and frequency-bands, low-sidelobes ( 90%) and low cross-polarization (<-40 dB).
Khovanov Homology: Torsion and Thickness

We partially solve the conjecture by A.Shumakovitch about torsion in the Khovanov homology of prime, non-split links in S^3. We give a size restriction on the Khovanov homology of almost alternating links. We relate the Khovanov homology of the connected sum of a link diagram and the Hopf link with the Khovanov homology of the diagram via a short exact sequence of homology which splits. Finally we show that our results can be adapted to reduced Khovanov homology and we show that there is a long exact sequence connecting reduced Khovanov homology with unreduced homology.
The Exercise Profile

: Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed in approximately 700 members of the health professions. It was found that although the diets of both exercisers and nonexercisers contained about the same number of calories, there was a great difference in the proportions of nutrients involved in these calories. For the exercisers, the intake of every vitamin, mineral and amino acid studied exceeded that for the nonexercisers, and many of the differences were statistically significant. Since these nutrients are classified as resistance agents because they decrease the likelihood of disease, the dietary pattern adopted by these exercisers should be encouraged. The nonexercisers consumed more refined carbohydrates than did the exercisers; the difference was highly significant statistically. Since refined carbohydrates are classified as susceptibility agents because they enhance the possibility of disease, the dietary pattern adopted by these nonexercisers is to be avoided. Diet and exercise, either independently or together, affect emotional health. A poor nutrient intake and lack of exercise are susceptibility factors which diminish mental health, whereas a good nutrient intake and exercise are resistance factors which promote mental health.
Pharmacokinetics and tumor retention of 125I-labeled RGD peptide are improved by PEGylation

Abstract Tumor growth and metastasis are angiogenesis dependent. Overexpression of integrin α v β 3 in angiogenic vessels as well as various malignant human tumors suggests the potential of suitably labeled antagonists of this adhesion receptor for radionuclide imaging and therapy of tumors. Small head-to-tail cyclic peptides including the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) amino acid sequence have been radiolabeled and studied in preclinical animal models. However, the fast blood clearance, high kidney and liver uptake, and rapid washout from tumors make this type of tracer ineffective for clinical applications. In this study we modified the cyclic pentapeptide c(RGDyK) with monofunctional methoxy-PEG (mPEG, M.W. = 2,000) and labeled the RGD-mPEG conjugate with 125 I. We studied the tumor targeting efficacy and in vivo pharmacokinetic properties of 125 I-RGD-mPEG by means of direct tissue sampling and autoradiography in mice xenografted subcutaneously with U87MG glioblastoma. Compared to the 125 I-RGD analog, this PEGylated RGD peptide revealed faster blood clearance, lower kidney uptake, and prolonged tumor uptake without compromising the receptor targeting ability.
Mitral valve replacement in infants and children 5 years of age or younger: evolution in practice and outcome over three decades with a focus on supra-annular prosthesis implantation.

Objective Successful mitral valve replacement in young children is limited by the lack of small prosthetic valves. Supra-annular prosthesis implantation can facilitate mitral valve replacement with a larger prosthesis in children with a small annulus, but little is known about its effect on the outcomes of mitral valve replacement in young children. Methods One hundred eighteen children underwent mitral valve replacement at 5 years of age or younger from 1976–2006. Mitral valve replacement was supra-annular in 37 (32%) patients. Results Survival was 74% ± 4% at 1 year and 56% ± 5% at 10 years but improved over time (10-year survival of 83% ± 7% from 1994–2006). Factors associated with worse survival included earlier mitral valve replacement date, age less than 1 year, complete atrioventricular canal, and additional procedures at mitral valve replacement, but not supra-annular mitral valve replacement. As survival improved during our more recent experience, the risks of supra-annular mitral valve replacement became apparent; survival was worse among patients with a supra-annular prosthesis after 1991. A pacemaker was placed in 18 (15%) patients within 1 month of mitral valve replacement and was less likely in patients who had undergone supra-annular mitral valve replacement. Among early survivors, freedom from redo mitral valve replacement was 72% ± 5% at 5 years and 45% ± 7% at 10 years. Twenty-one patients with a supra-annular prosthesis underwent redo mitral valve replacement. The second prosthesis was annular in 15 of these patients and upsized in all but 1, but 5 required pacemaker placement for heart block. Conclusions Supra-annular mitral valve replacement was associated with worse survival than annular mitral valve replacement in our recent experience. Patients with supra-annular mitral valve replacement were less likely to have operative complete heart block but remained at risk when the prosthesis was subsequently replaced.
Test Results of AC Superconducting Cables

All the major components of an ac superconducting power transmission system have been developed. A summary of test results during the developmental stages is given. A Test Facility designed to demonstrate and evaluate cables rated for 138 kV, 1000 MVA 3 oservice is under construction. Most of the equipment has been installed and tested; results are presented.
Scratch input: creating large, inexpensive, unpowered and mobile finger input surfaces

We present Scratch Input, an acoustic-based input technique that relies on the unique sound produced when a fingernail is dragged over the surface of a textured material, such as wood, fabric, or wall paint. We employ a simple sensor that can be easily coupled with existing surfaces, such as walls and tables, turning them into large, unpowered and ad hoc finger input surfaces. Our sensor is sufficiently small that it could be incorporated into a mobile device, allowing any suitable surface on which it rests to be appropriated as a gestural input surface. Several example applications were developed to demonstrate possible interactions. We conclude with a study that shows users can perform six Scratch Input gestures at about 90% accuracy with less than five minutes of training and on wide variety of surfaces.
Musculoskeletal occupational injury among surgeons: effects for patients, providers, and institutions.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine the risk of occupational musculoskeletal injury during a surgeon's career and the effects of these injuries for patients, providers, and institutions. We hypothesized that surgeons have occupational injuries, which affect work performance. Materials and methods Electronic RedCAP surveys on workplace injury were distributed statewide via e-mail to the members of the Tennessee chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey data. Results A total of 260 of 793 surveys (33%) were returned. Forty percent of surgeons sustained ≥1 injuries in the workplace. Although 50% of injured surgeons received medical care for their most recent injuries, only 20% of these injuries were reported to their institution. Twenty-two percent of injured surgeons missed work and 35% performed fewer operations while they were recovering from their injury. Fifty-three percent of injured surgeons reported that pain from their injury had a minimal or moderate effect on their performance in the operating room. Conclusions Surgeons appear to be at moderate risk for occupation-related injuries. The low rate of institutional reporting for these injuries is concerning, as this is a required step to access institutional support once injured. Surgeon injury results in lost productivity due to missed workdays and may impact the quality of surgical care because of performance issues while recovering from injury.
The role of endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Abstract Purpose: Increasingly, otolaryngologists are treating patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who suffer from associated sinusitis refractory to medical therapy. Despite this trend, few reports in the literature detail the mode of surgical therapy, pathogens, and outcome in this patient population. Our aim in this study was to describe our experience in treating these patients, with particular attention to surgical outcome and pathogens. Patients and Methods: We reviewed our experience with performing sinus surgery in 33 AIDS patients. Endoscopic sinus procedures were performed in 24 patients, while the remaining nine patients underwent nasal antral windows and/or Caldwell-Luc operations. Follow-up information was obtained in 16 of the 24 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. Results: At an average follow-up time of 16 months, 14 of the endoscopic sinus surgery patients reported improvement from their preoperative condition. Thirty-seven pathogens were identified in 23 patients. A larger percentage of nontraditional pathogens was found in these patients, which suggests a larger role for microbiologic diagnosis and treatment versus empiric therapy. Conclusion: Patients with AIDS and chronic sinusitis may benefit from endoscopic sinus procedures.
Using concept expansion and level integration in an introductory computer science course

An introduction to computer science is supposed to teach problem solving and programming skills, but far too often only the latter is emphasized. One reason for this is the organization of texts by syntactic categories for a particular programming language. We report on an approach that uses concept expansion (expanding a concept from its simple form to more complex forms as needed to aid in problem solving) and level integration (combining several concepts at the same level of difficulty). Three detailed examples are given: flow of control, recursion, and information hiding. We have been using this approach at New Mexico State for the last two years and have found it to be helpful in restoring the intended balance between problem solving and acquiring programming skills.
Do Costs Differ Between For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Producers of Higher Education?

In theory, not-for-profit organizations will be characterized by higher production costs per unit of output than for-profit producers of otherwise-identical goods/services, since profit maximization implies cost minimization per unit of output; breaking even does not imply cost minimization and, indeed, may imply inflated costs. We explore the empirical validity of this hypothesis in the context of higher education. Using 1996 data, we estimate multiproduct cost functions for 1,450 public, 1,316 private, not-for-profit, and 176 private, for-profit institutions of higher education in the United States. We fail to find a statistically significant difference between for-profit and not-for-profit private providers, but do find a statistically significant difference between private, not-for-profit institutions and public institutions.
DAEδALUS: A Phased Neutrino Physics Program Using Cyclotron Decay-at-Rest Neutrino Sources

Abstract DAE δ ALUS is a proposed phased neutrino physics program consisting of two flagship experiments: a search for CP violation in the neutrino sector and a definitive search for sterile neutrinos. Ultimately, DAE δ ALUS will comprise several accelerator-based modules located at three different distances from a single, large underground detector such as LENA, MEMPHYS, or Hyper-K. Each of these modules will employ new low cost, high power cyclotrons to produce pion decay-at-rest neutrino beams, which can be used to search for evidence of CP violation in the oscillation probability of muon antineutrinos to electron antineutrinos over baselines of ∼20 km. However, at an early phase of the program, the high power DAE δ ALUS injector cyclotron can also be used to produce an intense isotope decay-at-rest neutrino beam. IsoDAR is a proposed experiment, which uses a 8Li decay-at-rest neutrino beam to preform a definitive search for sterile neutrinos by installing the DAE δ ALUS injector cyclotron in an underground lab close to a large liquid scintillator detector such as KamLAND. IsoDAR can rule out the parameter space allowed by global fits to the Reactor, SAGE, and GALLEX anomalies at 20 σ in 5 years. These two flagship searches make a compelling case for the DAE δ ALUS phased neutrino physics program.
Differential Functions of Interferon-Upregulated Sp100 Isoforms: Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Promoter-Based Immediate-Early Gene Suppression and PML Protection from ICP0-Mediated Degradation

Cells have intrinsic defenses against virus infection, acting before the innate or the adaptive immune response. Preexisting antiviral proteins such as PML, Daxx, and Sp100 are stored in specific nuclear domains (ND10). In herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the immediate-early protein ICP0 serves as a counterdefense through degradation of the detrimental protein PML. We asked whether interferon (IFN)-upregulated Sp100 is similarly antagonized by ICP0 in normal human fibroblasts by using a selective-knockdown approach. We find that of the four Sp100 isoforms, the three containing a SAND domain block the transcription of HSV-1 proteins ICP0 and ICP4 at the promoter level and that IFN changes the differential splicing of the Sp100 transcript in favor of the inhibitor Sp100C. At the protein level, ICP0 activity does not lead to the hydrolysis of any of the Sp100 isoforms. The SAND domain-containing isoforms are not general inhibitors of viral promoters, as the activity of the major immediate-early cytomegalovirus promoter is not diminished, whereas the long terminal repeat of a retrovirus, like the ICP0 promoter, is strongly inhibited. Since we could not find a specific promoter region in the ICP0 gene that responds to the SAND domain-containing isoforms, we questioned whether Sp100 could act through other antiviral proteins such as PML. We find that all four Sp100 isoforms stabilize ND10 and protect PML from ICP0-based hydrolysis. Loss of either all PML isoforms or all Sp100 isoforms reduces the opposite constituent ND10 protein, suggesting that various interdependent mechanisms of ND10-based proteins inhibit virus infection at the immediate-early level.
miRNA Profiles of Monocyte-Lineage Cells Are Consistent with Complicated Roles in HIV-1 Restriction

Long-lived HIV-1 reservoirs include tissue macrophages. Monocyte-derived macrophages are more susceptible to infection and more permissive to HIV-1 replication than monocytes for reasons that may include the effects of different populations of miRNAs in these two cell classes. Specifically, miRs-28-3p, -150, -223, -198, and -382 exert direct or indirect negative effects on HIV-1 and are reportedly downmodulated during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. Here, new experimental results are presented along with reviews and analysis of published studies and publicly available datasets, supporting a broader role of miRNAs in HIV-1 restriction than would be suggested by a simple and uniform downregulation of anti-HIV miRNAs during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. Although miR-223 is downregulated in macrophages, other putatively antiviral miRNAs are more abundant in macrophages than in monocytes or are rare and/or variably present in both cell classes. Our analyses point to the need for further studies to determine miRNA profiles of monocytes and macrophages, including classic and newly identified subpopulations; examine the sensitivity of miRNA profiling to cell isolation and differentiation protocols; and characterize rigorously the antiviral effects of previously reported and novel predicted miRNA-HIV-1 interactions in cell-specific contexts.
A nonlinear lag correction algorithm for a-Si flat-panel x-ray detectors.

Purpose: Detector lag, or residual signal, in a-Si flat-panel (FP) detectors can cause significant shading artifacts in cone-beam computed tomographyreconstructions. To date, most correction models have assumed a linear, time-invariant (LTI) model and correct lag by deconvolution with an impulse response function (IRF). However, the lag correction is sensitive to both the exposure intensity and the technique used for determining the IRF. Even when the LTI correction that produces the minimum error is found, residual artifact remains. A new non-LTI method was developed to take into account the IRF measurement technique and exposure dependencies. Methods: First, a multiexponential (N = 4) LTI model was implemented for lag correction. Next, a non-LTI lag correction, known as the nonlinear consistent stored charge (NLCSC) method, was developed based on the LTI multiexponential method. It differs from other nonlinear lag correction algorithms in that it maintains a consistent estimate of the amount of charge stored in the FP and it does not require intimate knowledge of the semiconductor parameters specific to the FP. For the NLCSC method, all coefficients of the IRF are functions of exposure intensity. Another nonlinear lag correction method that only used an intensity weighting of the IRF was also compared. The correction algorithms were applied to step-response projection data and CT acquisitions of a large pelvic phantom and an acrylic head phantom. The authors collected rising and falling edge step-response data on a Varian 4030CB a-Si FP detector operating in dynamic gain mode at 15 fps at nine incident exposures (2.0%–92% of the detector saturation exposure). For projection data, 1st and 50th frame lag were measured before and after correction. For the CT reconstructions, five pairs of ROIs were defined and the maximum and mean signal differences within a pair were calculated for the different exposures and step-response edge techniques. Results: The LTI corrections left residual 1st and 50th frame lag up to 1.4% and 0.48%, while the NLCSC lag correction reduced 1st and 50th frame residual lags to less than 0.29% and 0.0052%. For CT reconstructions, the NLCSC lag correction gave an average error of 11 HU for the pelvic phantom and 3 HU for the head phantom, compared to 14–19 HU and 2–11 HU for the LTI corrections and 15 HU and 9 HU for the intensity weighted non-LTI algorithm. The maximum ROI error was always smallest for the NLCSC correction. The NLCSC correction was also superior to the intensity weighting algorithm. Conclusions: The NLCSC lag algorithm corrected for the exposure dependence of lag, provided superior image improvement for the pelvic phantom reconstruction, and gave similar results to the best case LTI results for the head phantom. The blurred ring artifact that is left over in the LTI corrections was better removed by the NLCSC correction in all cases.