cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biotic Validation of Small Open-top Chambers in a Tundra Ecosystem

Summary Small open-top chambers (OTC) are used widely in ecosystem warming experiments. The efficacy of the open-top chamber as an analogue of climatic warming is examined. Twenty-four small OTCs were used to passively warm canopy temperatures in wet meadow tundra at Barrow, Alaska, during two consecutive summers with contrasting surface air-temperatures. Fortuitously, the seasonal average temperature regime within chambers in the colder year (1995) was similar to the controls of the warmer year (1996); this allowed a comparison of natural vs. chamber warming. All measured plant responses behaved similarly to both year and treatment 68% of the time. A comparison of the populations of the warmer summer's control with the cooler summer's OTC found no statistical difference in 80% of the response variables measured. A meta-analysis also found no significant difference between the responses of the two populations. These results give empirical biotic validation for the use of the OTC as an analogue of regional climate warming.
Optical properties of II-VI semiconductor nanoclusters for use as phosphors

The optical properties of both II-VI (direct gap) and type IV (indirect gap) nanosize semiconductors are significantly affected not only by their size, but by the nature of the chemical interface of the cluster with the embedding medium. This affects the light conversion efficiency and can alter the shape and position (i.e. the color) of the photoluminescence (PL). As the goal of our work is to embed nanoclusters into either organic or inorganic matrices for use as near UV, LED-excited phosphor thin films, understanding and controlling this interface is very important for preserving the high Q.E. of nanoclusters known for dilute solution conditions. We describe a room temperature synthesis of semiconductor nanoclusters which employs inexpensive, less toxic ionic precursors (metal salts), and simple coordinating solvents (e.g. tetrahydrofuran). This allows us to add passivating agents, ions, metal or semiconductor coatings to identical, highly dispersed bare clusters, post-synthesis. We can also increase the cluster size by heterogeneous growth on the seed nanoclusters. One of the most interesting observations for our II-VI nanomaterials is that both the absorbance excitonic features and the photoluminescence (PL) energy and intensity depend on the nature of the surface as well as the average size. In CdS, for example, the presence of electron traps (i.e Cd(II) sites) decreases the exciton absorbance peak amplitude but increases the PL nearly two-fold. Hole traps (i.e. S(II)) have the opposite effect. In the coordinating solvents used for the synthesis, the PL yield for d~2 nm, blue emitting CdSe clusters increases dramatically with sample age as the multiple absorbance features sharpen. Liquid chromatographic (LC) separation of the nanoclusters from other chemicals and different sized clusters is used to investigate the intrinsic optical properties of the purified clusters and identify which clusters are contributing most strongly to the PL. Both LC and dynamic light scattering, show that as the nanocluster concentration approaches 1 x 10-4M and above, a large loss in light emission occurs due to association or "clumping" of clusters. Overcoming this natural tendency toward aggregation may be the most significant technical obstacle to the use of nanoclusters in thin film phosphors.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Operative time is a poor surrogate for the learning curve in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Background Previous studies have relied on conversion rate and operative time for construction of learning curves in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The authors hypothesized that conversion rate and operative time were less important than complication and readmission rates in defining good outcomes and hence the learning curve.
Acute demyelinating optic neuritis

Acute demyelinating optic neuritis is an important diagnosis because of its implications for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). This review describes the characteristic presentation of acute demyelinating optic neuritis, including clinical features that distinguish this entity from other causes of optic neuropathy. The authors review the findings of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial, highlighting the relationship between optic neuritis and MS. A summary of the most recent treatment guidelines for short-term corticosteroid therapy, as well as for long-term immunomodulatory agents, is presented. The article concludes with the authors’ management recommendations.
SHIFT: a new programming language for simulation

ABSTRACT SHIFT is a prgramming language with simulation semantics. The main distinguishing features of SHIFT are: 1) itmodels agents that have continuous time and discrete event dynamics and provides explicit syntax to specify suchbehavior; 2) it models systems that consist of heterogeneous set of interacting agents where models of individualagents are known and the goal is the study of the emergent behavior resulting from their interaction; 3) it cansimulate a dynamic set of agents; and 4) it can represent changes in the interaction dependencies among the agents.This paper provides an overview of the concepts and constructs in the SHIFT language.Keywords : simulation , evaluation , continuous , discrete object-oriented ,framework 1. Introduction We have developed an new programming language, SHIFT, that is targeted to implementing simulation frameworks. SHIFT incorporates system theoretic concepts into an object-oriented programming language and offers the properlevel of abstraction for describing complex applications such as automated highway systems, air traffic control sys-tems, robotic shopfloors, coordinated submarines and other systems whose operation cannot be captured easily by
The Impact of Sport and Non-Sport Activities on College Persistence of Freshmen

This study explored the relationship between participation in sport and non-sport activities and freshmen persistence in college. Three categories of persistence behavior were employed: (1) continu...
Event detection from time series data

In the past few years there has been increased interest in using data-mining techniques to extract interesting patterns from time series data generated by sensors monitoring temporally varying phenomenon. Most work has assumed that raw data is somehow processed to generate a sequence of events, which is then mined for interesting episodes. In some cases the rule for determining when a sensor reading should generate an event is well known. However, if the phenomenon is ill-understood, stating such a rule is difficult. Detection of events in such an environment is the focus of this paper. Consider a dynamic phenomenon whose behavior changes enough over time to be considered a qualitatively significant change. The problem we investigate is of identifying the time points at which the behavior change occurs. In the statistics literature this has been called the change-point detection problem. The standard approach has been to (a) upriori determine the number of change-points that are to be discovered, and (b) decide the function that will be used for curve fitting in the interval between successive change-points. In this paper we generalize along both these dimensions. We propose an iterative algorithm that fits a model to a time segment, and uses a likelihood criterion to determine if the segment should be partitioned further, i.e. if it contains a new changepoint. In this paper we present algorithms for both the batch and incremental versions of the problem, and evaluate their behavior with synthetic and real data. Finally, we present initial results comparing the change-points detected by the batch algorithm with those detected by people using visual inspection.
Thermal gravity, black holes, and cosmological entropy

Taking seriously the interpretation of black hole entropy as the logarithm of the number of microstates, we argue that thermal gravitons may undergo a phase transition to a kind of black hole condensate. The phase transition proceeds via nucleation of black holes at a rate governed by a saddle point configuration whose free energy is of order the inverse temperature in Planck units. Whether the universe remains in a low entropy state as opposed to the high entropy black hole condensate depends sensitively on its thermal history. Our results may clarify an old observation of Penrose regarding the very low entropy state of the universe.
Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus as Determinants of Multiple Lacunar Infarcts

Background and Purpose We investigated the relationship between hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and lacunes. Methods From 1237 cases of ischemic stroke in the Stroke Data Bank of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, data from 637 patients whose initial computed tomograms showed lacunar (n=184) or nonlacunar infarcts (n=453) were analyzed. The group with lacunar infarcts was further divided into subgroups according to whether the patients had multiple (n=40) or single (n=144) lacunar infarcts. The association of hypertension and diabetes mellitus with lacunar infarcts was investigated using logistic regression models that included age, sex, and cardiac disease. Similar models were used to analyze the effects of diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Results Hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 6.0) and diabetes (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.5) were significantly related to multiple but not to single lacunes. Cardiac disease was inversely associated with both single and multiple lacunes. Diastolic blood pressure significantly affected the probability of multiple lacunar infarcts (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.9), whereas systolic pressure did not. Conclusions There may be etiologically distinct lacunar infarct subgroups, with multiple lacunes being strongly related to hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Other stroke risk factors may be more important in patients with single lacunes. Diastolic rather than systolic pressure seems to be a major determinant of multiple lacunes.
Diagnostics of Robust Growth Curve Modeling Using Student's t Distribution

Growth curve models with different types of distributions of random effects and of intraindividual measurement errors for robust analysis are compared. After demonstrating the influence of distribution specification on parameter estimation, 3 methods for diagnosing the distributions for both random effects and intraindividual measurement errors are proposed and evaluated. The methods include (a) distribution checking based on individual growth curve analysis; (b) distribution comparison based on Deviance Information Criterion, and (c) post hoc checking of degrees of freedom estimates for t distributions. The performance of the methods is compared through simulation studies. When the sample size is reasonably large, the method of post hoc checking of degrees of freedom estimates works best. A web interface is developed to ease the use of the 3 methods. Application of the 3 methods is illustrated through growth curve analysis of mathematical ability development using data on the Peabody Individual Achievement Test Mathematics assessment from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2005).
Safe and Effective Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke Caused by Left Atrial Myxoma

Atrial myxoma may be associated with syncope or sudden death attributed to left-sided cardiac outflow obstruction or embolization caused by tumor dislodgement or thrombus formation. Definitive treatment for primary and secondary stroke prevention is surgical resection. The role of thrombolysis in acute brain ischemia in patients with atrial myxoma is not defined. There are few data available regarding safety and efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic strokes caused by atrial myxoma. Prior case reports described partial success using intra-arterial local thrombolysis; however, this is invasive and can be associated with significant complications. A previously reported case of systemic thrombolysis resulted in development of cerebral hemorrhage. We describe a young man who presented with syncope and a dense stroke developing as a complication of atrial myxoma, followed by a remarkable recovery after treatment with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and urgent cardiac surgery. Contrary to some expert opinion, systemic thrombolytic therapy may be safely and effectively used to treat acute ischemic strokes from atrial myxoma.
Walking model with no energy cost

We have numerically found periodic collisionless motions of a walking model consisting of linked rigid objects. Unlike previous designs, this model can walk on level ground at noninfinitesimal speed with zero energy input. The model avoids collisional losses by using an internal mode of oscillation: swaying of the upper body coupled to the legs by springs. Appropriate synchronized internal oscillations set the foot-strike collision to zero velocity. The concept might be of use for energy-efficient robots and may also help to explain aspects of human and animal locomotion efficiency.
Reliability considerations in the design of solar photovoltaic power systems

Abstract This paper presents a systems level approach to reliability analyses for solar photovoltaic systems and illustrates how these analyses can be useful in photovoltaic systems design even though detailed reliability data are not yet available. Traditional reliability techniques and trade-offs are discussed and relationships between reliability, maintainability and availability are reviewed using minimum life cycle cost as the parameter to be optimized. A list of available techniques which are useful today is presented, as well as a list which provides a series of techniques that will be useful when more field and test reliability data on photovoltaic systems are available. Three typical solar photovoltaic systems are illustrated in block diagram form and discussed. These are (1) a stand-alone photovoltaic system, (2) a stand-alone system with battery energy storage and (3) a system with a utility back-up. Each system is analyzed to the subsystem level using two reliability analysis techniques: the failure modes and effects analyses (FMEA) and the fault tree approach. The FMEA is an approach which starts at the lowest level of the system being analyzed and considers each subsystem failure one at a time and two at a time, and traces upward through the block diagram to identify the effect these failures have on the total system performance. A summary of these results gives the designer an indication of the critical subsystems. The fault tree analysis is a logic diagram approach which begins with a failure of the system at its highest level to be the primary output of the diagram. Inputs to the analysis are made from those levels which can cause failure at the highest level. Thus, only subsystems which can cause system failure are included in the diagram. If probabilities of failure are available for the various subsystems, fault trees may be used to construct a probability analysis of the system to predict the probability of success or reliability of the photovoltaic system involved. In this paper, this analysis is performed using assumed values of probability of success for the subsystems considered. This discussion presents the view that taking reliability and availability into consideration early in the design at the system level will prevent some major field problems. It will also favorably influence the subsystem design goals, especially the control subsystems. In addition, this approach should encourage the early development of complete photovoltaic systems that satisfy the demanding availability precedent set by the electric utilities.
The bad taste of medicines: overview of basic research on bitter taste.

Background: Many active pharmaceutical ingredients taste bitter and thus are aversive to children as well as many adults. Encapsulation of the medicine in pill or tablet form, an effective method for adults to avoid the unpleasant taste, is problematic for children. Many children cannot or will not swallow solid dose forms. Objective: This review highlights basic principles of gustatory function, with a special focus on the science of bitter taste, derived from studies of animal models and human psychophysics. We focus on the set of genes that encode the proteins that function as bitter receptors as well as the cascade of events that leads to multidimensional aspects of taste function, highlighting the role that animal models played in these discoveries. We also summarize psychophysical approaches to studying bitter taste in adult and pediatric populations, highlighting evidence of the similarities and differences in bitter taste perception and acceptance between adults and children and drawing on useful strategies from animal models. Results: Medicine often tastes bitter, and because children are more bitter-sensitive than are adults, this creates problems with compliance. Bitter arises from stimulating receptors in taste receptor cells, with signals processed in the taste bud and relayed to the brain. However, there are many gaps in our understanding of how best to measure bitterness and how to ameliorate it, including whether it is more efficiently addressed at the level of receptor and sensory signaling, at the level of central processing, or by masking techniques. All methods of measuring responsiveness to bitter ligands —in animal models through human psychophysics or with “electronic tongues”—have limitations. Conclusions: Better-tasting medications may enhance pediatric adherence to drug therapy. Sugars, acids, salt, and other substances reduce perceived bitterness of several pharmaceuticals, and although pleasant flavorings may help children consume some medicines, they often are not effective in suppressing bitter tastes. Further development of psychophysical tools for children will help us better understand their sensory worlds. Multiple testing strategies will help us refine methods to assess acceptance and compliance by various pediatric populations. Research involving animal models, in which the gustatory system can be more invasively manipulated, can elucidate mechanisms, ultimately providing potential targets. These approaches, combined with new technologies and guided by findings from clinical studies, will potentially lead to effective ways to enhance drug acceptance and compliance in pediatric populations. (Clin Ther. 2013;35:1225–1246) & 2013 Elsevier HS Jour
Interspecific aggression in two highly similar Stegastes damselfish

Interspecific aggression may be caused by competition for resources or result from species misidentification. Species may exhibit aggressive responses that are similar, or symmetrical, to each other, or one species may respond more aggressively than the other, exhibiting asymmetrical aggression. We examined aggressive symmetry in two territorial Caribbean damselfish species, the longfin damselfish (Stegastes diencaeous) and the dusky damselfish (S. adustus) because they exhibit qualities that make such relationships hard to predict. These two species show considerable habitat overlap, are closely related and are nearly identical in gross morphology, suggesting they would show the same intensity of aggressiveness to heterospecifics and conspecifics. However, longfins reach a larger adult size, which may cause these two species to instead aggress asymmetrically toward one another. We also tested residents' responses toward bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum), a common egg predator, to see if highly sim...
Interaction between glycophorin and phospholipids in recombined systems.

Both the MN-glycoprotein from human erythrocytes and the hydrophobic fragment from the protein isolated with trypsin treatment, T(is), have been recombined with egg phosphatidylcholine in bilayers at various phospholipid/protein ratios. In order to investigate the effect of the protein on the phospholipid headgroups, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were obtained with the MN-glycoprotein recombined with egg phosphtidylcholine, which revealed two classes of phospholipid enviroments, one immobilized and one not immobilized. Electron spin resonance (ESR) of fatty acid methyl ester spin labels provided supporting evidence. Computer analysis of the ESR spectra indicate that 4–5 moles of phospholipid are immobilized per mole of protein over a wide range of lipid-to-protein ratios. The immobilization of the phospholipids appears mediated by both the polar headgroups and the hydrocarbon tails of the phospholipid.
Targeting chaotic orbits to the Moon through recurrence

Abstract Transport times for a chaotic system are highly sensitive to initial conditions and parameter values. In a previous paper, we presented a technique to find rough orbits (epsilon chains) that achieve a desired transport rapidly. The strategy is to build the epsilon chain from segments of a long orbit — the point is that long orbits have recurrences in neighborhoods where faster orbits must also pass. If a local hyperbolicity condition is satisfied, then a nearby shadow orbit may be constructed with significantly smaller errors. In this paper, we modify the technique to find real orbits, in configuration space, of the restricted three body problem. We find a chaotic Earth-Moon transfer orbit that achieves ballistic capture and that requires 38% less total velocity boost than a comparable Hohmann transfer orbit.
Electrochemically Induced Iron Release of Adsorbed Horse Spleen Ferritin: Quantitation of Iron Using Long Optical Path Length Thin‐Layer Spectroelectrochemistry

In this work, long optical path length thin-layer electrochemical cell was constructed using indium-tin oxide on glass as the electrode material. Iron release from ferritin adsorbed on the electrode was induced by applying a negative potential sweep in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline. The usefulness of spectroelectrochemistry as a means of determining the quantity of iron released from an adsorbed layer of ferritin is demonstrated.
Assessing precision in the manuscript review process: A little better than a dice roll

The credibility of the publication system in science is determined in large part by the precision of the manuscript review process. Studies on the precision of the review process in scientific journals have reported conflicting results. This paper reviews those studies and re-examines the data reported. The findings indicate that highly selective decision-making with imprecise reviewers results in outcomes that are only slightly better than chance.
The Report Card: Progress Report or Final Grade?

IT IS NO coincidence that the appraisal 1 of the National Plan for Research on Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders 2 should be referred to as "a report card." As all of us recall, report cards are what we got in school to let us know how our performance stacked up against teacher and curriculum expectations. In this case, the curriculum designers were the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee (IOM) for the Study of See also pages 715, 727, 729, and 732 Research on Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders, chaired by James Leckman, MD, and Glen R. Elliot, MD, in consort with eminent committee members and task forces. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, Md, which developed the national plan, is presumably getting the report card. By way of history, the NIMH had asked the IOM to study the current status of research on child and adolescent
Electrochemical parameterization of 1,1′-disubstituted cobaltocenium compounds

Abstract Two new 1,1′-disubstituted cobaltocenium compounds, [(C5H4CHEt2)2Co][PF6] and [(C5H4SiMe3)2Co][PF6], were synthesized and the X-ray crystal structures were determined. The electrochemistry of seven 1,1′-disubstituted cobaltocenium compounds and the analogous ferrocene compounds was studied in methylene chloride using cyclic voltammetry. The affect of the various substituents on the redox potentials of these compounds was examined and trends in the electrochemical data were explored.
Visualization of tolerance for manufacturing

Abstract In this work we address the problem of visualizing the uncertainty in sensed data for manufacturing applications. Constructing guoinetric models for the objects from sense data is the intermediate step in a reverse engineering manufacturing system. Sensors are usually inaccurate, providing uncertain sense information. Wc construct geometric entities with uncertainty models for the objects under consideration from noisy measurements. This case study deals mainly with ways of visualizing the uncertainty in the geometric entities, in order to aid making later decisions on the geometry of the reconstructed parts.
Effect of Cyantraniliprole on Probing Behavior of the Potato Psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) as Measured by the Electrical Penetration Graph Technique

Zebra chip (ZC), an economically important disease of potato, is caused by 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' (Lso) transmitted by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae). Currently, using insecticides against potato psyllid is the only means to manage ZC. However, the ability of the potato psyllid to rapidly transmit Lso represents a substantial challenge in preventing the spread of ZC. Cyantraniliprole, a novel second-generation anthranilic diamide insecticide has been shown to deter insect feeding and reduce disease transmission. During this study, the effect of cyantraniliprole on potato psyllid probing behavior was assessed using electrical penetration graph technology and compared with abamectin, a commonly used insecticide to control potato psyllid. Results showed that both cyantraniliprole and abamectin significantly deterred probing behavior of the potato psyllid. Average duration of intercellular stylet penetration on cyantraniliprole- and abamectin-treated and untreated control plants was 2.36, 1.80, and 9.15 h, respectively. It took psyllids 1.82, 1.10, and 2.42 h to reach the xylem of cyantraniliprole- and abamectin-treated and untreated plants, respectively. Xylem sap ingestion duration averaged 0.53, 0.57, and 3.66 h on cyantraniliprole- and abamectin-treated and untreated controls, respectively. None of the psyllids exposed to insecticide-treated plants reached the phloem tissue, except one that bypassed the xylem. The insects completely ceased probing after 4.44 and 3.64 h on cyantraniliprole- and abamectin-treated plants, respectively, in contrast with those on untreated plants that probed throughout the entire 24-h experiment duration. These results indicate that cyantraniliprole is as effective as abamectin in deterring potato psyllid feeding and could significantly reduce transmission of Lso and the spread of ZC.
Combiner Performance Using Narrow-Band Noise Filtering and Enhanced Squelch

The use of "narrow-band" noise filters in the combiner control circuits of a quadruple-diversity post-detection combiner was found to reduce the average bit-error rate by a factor of 4.6; while the median output signal-to-noise ratio was increased by 2 dB. The use of an "enhanced-squelch" control of the postdetection combiner increased the output voice-channel signal-to-noise ratio by 3 dB, and effectively eliminated a high percentage of the noise bursts in the voice channels.
Distributed Control of Multiple Cognitive Radio Overlay for Primary Queue Stability

In this paper, we investigate distributed control of multiple secondary users attempting to access the channel of a high priority primary user. Our aim is to maximize the sum cognitive (secondary) user throughput under the constraint of primary user's queue stability. We consider the effect of primary user link adaptation that allows the primary transmitter (PTx) to adapt its transmission rate in response to the secondary interference-level at the primary receiver (PRx). To control the sum secondary interference to PRx beyond the traditional collision-avoidance paradigm, we propose a novel power-control algorithm for secondary nodes to function. To develop such a distributed algorithm and to improve secondary user adaptability, we allow secondary nodes to monitor primary's radio link control information on the feedback channel. We present practical schemes that approximate the optimum solution without relying on global channel information at each secondary node.
ALL-OPTICAL PROGRAMMABLE SWITCH WITH XOR GATE FUNCTIONS IN A DOPED SILICA THIN FILM

We demonstrate an all-optical programmable switch that can simulate the function of an XOR logic gate. This gate consists of a doped silica planar waveguide, a laser, and the means to couple two fundamental-frequency waves into different waveguiding modes, along with a second-harmonic wave coupled into one guiding mode. The measured SNR is 5.5 dB.
Retractions in the research literature: misconduct or mistakes?

Objective: To determine how commonly articles are retracted on the basis of unintentional mistakes, and whether these articles differ from those retracted for scientific misconduct in authorship, funding, type of study, publication, and time to retraction. Data source and study selection: All retractions of English language publications indexed in MEDLINE between 1982 and 2002 were extracted. Data extraction: Two reviewers categorised the reasons for retraction of each article as misconduct (falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism) or unintentional error (mistakes in sampling, procedures, or data analysis; failure to reproduce findings; accidental omission of information about methods or data analysis). Data synthesis: Of the 395 articles retracted between 1982 and 2002, 107 (27.1%) were retracted because of scientific misconduct, 244 (61.8%) because of unintentional errors, and 44 (11.1%) could not be categorised. Compared with articles retracted because of misconduct, articles with unintentional mistakes were more likely to have multiple authors, no reported funding source, and to be published in frequently cited journals. They were more likely to be retracted by the author(s) of the article, and the retraction was more likely to occur more promptly (mean, 2.0 years; 95% CI, 1.8–2.2) than articles withdrawn because of misconduct (mean, 3.3 years; 95% CI, 2.7–3.9) (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions: Retractions in the biomedical literature were more than twice as likely to result from unintentional mistakes than from scientific misconduct. The different characteristics of articles retracted for misconduct and for mistakes reflect distinct
Risk factors for perioperative airway difficulty and evaluation of intubation approaches among patients with benign goiter.

Objective:The objective was to determine patient and gland characteristics associated with difficult intubation in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for goiter and to assess different methods of intubation in these patients.Methods:This study was an IRB-approved, retrospective chart review of 112 consecutive patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy for thyroid goiter from 2009-2012 at an academic tertiary care facility in Bronx, New York. Patient demographics, thyroid gland characteristics (gland weight and nodule size), presence of preoperative symptoms (dyspnea, dysphagia, and hoarseness), and radiographical findings (tracheal compression, tracheal deviation, and substernal extension of the thyroid gland) were recorded. Anesthesia records were reviewed for method of intubation, as well as success or failure of intubation attempts.Results:Nineteen patients (17.0%) were men and 93 (83.0%) were women. The age of the patients included in the study ranged from 14 to 86 years with a mean ±...
Scalable hyperspectral image coding

Here we propose scalable three-dimensional set partitioned embedded block (3D-SPECK) - an embedded, block-based, wavelet transform coding algorithm of low complexity for hyperspectral image compression. Scalable 3D-SPECK supports both SNR and resolution progressive coding. After wavelet transform, 3D-SPECK treats each subband as a coding block. To generate SNR scalable bitstream, the stream is organized so that the same indexed bit planes are put together across coding blocks and subbands, so that the higher bit planes precede the lower ones. To generate resolution scalable bitstreams, each subband is encoded separately to generate a sub-bitstream. Rate is allocated amongst the sub-bitstreams produced for each block. To decode the image sequence to a particular level at a given rate, we need to encode each subband at a higher rate so that the algorithm can truncate the sub-bitstream to the assigned rate. Resolution scalable 3D-SPECK is efficient for the application of an image server. Results show that scalable 3D-SPECK provides excellent performance on hyperspectral image compression.
Alkenone paleothermometry: Biological lessons from marine sediment records off western South America

An empirical global core-top calibration that relates the alkenone unsaturation index U K 0 37 to mean annual SST (maSST) is statistically the same as that defined for a subarctic Pacific strain of Emiliania huxleyi (CCMP1742) grown exponentially in batch culture under isothermal conditions. Although both equations have been applied widely for paleoSST reconstruction, uncertainty still stems from two key ecological factors: variability in the details of biosynthesis among genetically distinct alkenone-producing strains, and impacts of nonthermal physiological growth factors on U K 0 37. New batch culture experiments with CCMP1742 here reveal that U K 0 37 diverge systematically from the core-top calibration in response to nutrient depletion and light deprivation, two physiological stresses experienced by phytoplankton populations in the real ocean. Other aspects of alkenone/alkenoate composition also respond to these stresses and may serve as signatures of such effects, providing an opportunity to detect, understand, and potentially correct for such impacts on the geologic record. A test case documents that sediments from the Southeast Pacific display the alkenone/alkenoate compositional signature characteristic of cells physiologically stressed by light deprivation. Such an observation could be explained if marine snow provided a major vector of sedimentation for these biomarkers. Late Pleistocene U K 0 37 records in the Southeast Pacific yield plausible paleotemperature histories of ice-age cooling, but ice-age alkenone/alkenoate signatures fall outside the range of modern calibration samples of similar U K 0 37. They better match core-top samples deposited beneath waters characterized by much cooler maSST, suggesting key features of ice-age ecology for alkenone-producing haptophytes were different from today, and that the U K 0 37 index taken alone may misgauge the total range of ice-age cooling at these locations. Analysis of the full spectrum of alkenone/alkenoate compositions preserved in sediments opens up a new opportunity that may improve the accuracy of paleotemperature estimates based on simple U K 0
MICROFILAMENTS IN EPIDERMAL CANCER CELLS

The occurrence and structure of microfilaments in epidermal cancers induced in mice by treatment with 3,4-benzpyrene were investigated with the electron microscope. With malignant change, pleomorphic, undifferentiated cells with a cortical zone of microfilaments became increasingly abundant. The microfilaments were 40 A in diameter and occupied the cortex of the cells beneath the plasma membrane, extended into cell processes, and were situated in the cores of microvilli. At high magnification, the filamentous areas were formed by an interconnected meshwork of filaments which in favorable planes had a polygonal arrangement. When exposed to high concentrations of cytochalasin B, the microfilaments became clumped and moderately disrupted. At the same time, the processes and microvilli of the cells were blunted. The structure of these filaments and their sensitivity to cytochalasin B place them in a class of microfilaments believed to be related to cell motility. Their presence in malignant cells may be correlated with the motile, invasive properties of these cells.
Dynamic damping control: implementation issues and simulation results

Dynamic damping laws have been investigated. The approach is based on modulating the velocity feedback gain based on a model of the manipulator inertia and the desired stiffness. By using different stiffness gains, different dynamic damping laws can be obtained. In particular, joint space, gripper space, and constant bandwidth versions have been developed. Simulations have been used to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of using dynamic damping control laws over conventional computed torque and proportional-derivative (PD) control laws. The disadvantages are greater computational requirements and greater coupling of joints. The advantages are guaranteed stability, greater bandwidth for small inertias, and more effective utilization of torque. It is shown that as the manipulator inertia decreases, the amount of torque commanded by the dynamic damping control law exceeds the torque commanded by computed torque and PD controllers, resulting in greater bandwidth. >
Perspective on "China's Medical Education and Interventional Neuroradiology Training".

More than any neurosurgical specialty, neurointerventional surgery is truly a multidisciplinary specialty, and training modern neurointerventionalists poses significant challenges. What was originally the domain of neuroradiologists, neurointerventional surgery now largely comprises neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, and neurologists with respective and potentially competing organizations, journals, and interests. Resident education for each of these specialties is often vastly different with regard to the spectrum of cerebrovascular disease encountered and the clinical management of that disease. Endovascular exposure during residency is also varied, not just among specialties, but even among different training programs within a given specialty. All of these factors combine to make it difficult to ensure uniform training for neurointerventional fellows.
Social support research in community psychology.

Social support is a central concept in community psychology. It is a concept that attempts to capture helping transactions that occur between people who share the same households, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, organizations, and other community settings. From our own experiences, we are all aware of the benefits that can occur, both tangible and intangible, when neighbors help neighbors in both everyday tasks and emergencies. We are aware that in response to disasters, entire communities can become mobilized in rendering help to family, friends, neighbors, and complete strangers. Intuitively, we understand how the degree of caring expressed between community members can contribute to our psychological sense of community and the perceived safety of the places in which we live. In some of the most challenging moments of our lives, when we are faced with profound loss, serious threats to health, or personal adversity, we often seek out others for information, reassurance, advice, or concrete aid. Because our experience of social support is common and at times dramatic, it is easy to comprehend that as social scientists we became fascinated with trying to measure these natural resources, understanding their relation to adapting to adversity, and harnessing their power in planned interventions
Disturbed Terminal Mineralization of Bone in Idiopathic Hypercalciuria

Hypercalciuric renal stone-formers are commonly divided into 3 different groups: Resorptive hypercalciuria, hyperabsorptive and renal hypercalciuria1–4. Patients with hyperabsorptive hypercalciuria have normal or low serum parathyroid hormone activities and normal to low urinary excretion of cAMP. In renal hypercalciuria elevated serum PTH levels and increased renal excretion of cAMP has been reported4–6. Bordier et al.6 published elevated immunoreactive parathyroid hormone levels and increased numbers of osteoclasts in bone biopsies obtained from patients with renal hypercalciuria. No information is available on bone histology in patients with hypercalciuria of the hyperabsorptive type. The present study evaluates quantitatively bone sections in 15 patients with hyperabsorptive hypercalciuria and recurrent stone-formation.
Liposomal Bupivacaine as an Adjunct to Postoperative Pain Control in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Although pain management affects rehabilitation, length of stay, and functional outcome, an optimized pain management protocol has yet to be standardized. Opioids are the primary agent used to control acute postoperative pain; however, they are associated with a wide range of side effects. Liposomal bupivacaine (LB), a long-acting analgesic agent administered intraoperatively, has been introduced as a new modality to control pain for up to 72 hours after operation without affecting motor function. Methods Six hundred eighty-six primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients, who received the standard THA pain management protocol, were compared to a cohort of 586 primary THA patients, who were treated with an additional intraoperative injection of LB. All other pain management parameters and standard of care were identical. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ .05. Results Although patient-reported pain scores were statistically similar, the LB cohort demonstrated a significant decrease in total narcotic use ( P P = .016). Physical therapy milestones were significantly achieved to a greater degree ( P P = .072 and .811, respectively); however, the LB cohort exhibited a decrease in length of stay by 0.31 days ( P P = .017). Conclusion LB is a valuable adjunct to our THA pain management protocol, as we strive to achieve improved patient outcomes, reductions in length of stay, and enhanced quality of THA care.
Algorithms for tracking with a foveal sensor

A foveal sensor employs a small region of high acuity surrounded by a periphery of lesser acuity. This paper describes an approach for managing such a sensor for tracking a single target. This approach seeks to adaptively position the high-acuity region of the sensor to keep it centered on the target. This scheme is incorporated into a Kalman filter, suitably modified to account for the nonlinearity and spatial agility of the sensor. It is evaluated using simulations in a two-dimensional target tracking scenario.
Characterization of an Extended Reactive Noble-Metal/III-V Semiconductor Interface: Cu/GaAs(110)

We examine the electronic structure of the Cu/GaAs(110) interface using high resolution synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy. Analysis of valence band and core level spectra indicate that a reactive, extended interface is formed when Cu is deposited on the cleaved GaAs(110) surface at room temperature. Arsenic 3d core level data show a single reacted component shifted 500 meV to lower binding energy while the Ga 3d core shows a reacted component shifted by 800 meV below the substrate position. Core level attenuation curves indicate preferential As outdiffusion with the As signal at 30% of initial intensity for 100 ML of Cu while the Ga intensity for the same coverage has dropped to 2% of initial intensity. Band bending results show two separate regions of interest with a secondary pinning position 775 meV below the CBM for n-type GaAs. Results are discussed in light of thermodynamic and electronegativity parameters as well as other transition and rare-earth metal GaAs interfaces.
Influence of TiO2 nanostructures on the optical absorption of organic-inorganic perovskite

This work aims to reveal the strong influence of TiO2 nanostructures on the light absorption property of TiO2 and perovskite mixture. Three TiO2 nanostructures, i.e., nanoparticles (S1), ultrapure nanorods (S2), and ultrasmall nanorods (S3), were studied: S1 was selected as a baseline; S2 and S3 were synthesized from S1 by using modified hydrothermal processes. Mesoporous TiO2 thin films were spin-coated from solutions containing these TiO2 nanorods and nanoparticles (S1 as baseline). Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 was then incorporated into these mesoporous TiO2 thin films. Optical absorption results showed that the perovskite mixture with ultrasmall TiO2 nanostructures (S3) has significantly higher optical absorption coefficient. Finite-difference time domain models were built based on three distinct nanostructures of TiO2 and CH3NH3PbI3 mixtures fabricated (S1 to S3) to understand their optical absorption properties. Our work is promising to fabricate TiO2 nanostructures, as a backbone structure, for a series of applications including photovoltaics and photodetection.
Enhancing Sensitivity of a Miniature Spectrometer Using a Real-Time Image Processing Algorithm

A real-time image processing algorithm is developed to enhance the sensitivity of a planar single-mode waveguide miniature spectrometer with integrated waveguide gratings. A novel approach of averaging along the arcs in a curved coordinate system is introduced which allows for collecting more light, thereby enhancing the sensitivity. The algorithm is tested using CdSeS/ZnS quantum dots drop casted on the surface of a single-mode waveguide. Measurements indicate that a monolayer of quantum dots is expected to produce guided mode attenuation approximately 11 times above the noise level.
Factors influencing low incidence of living donors for renal transplantation in Poland.

Purpose of the study To answer the question: "Why are only 3.8% of kidney transplantations in Poland from living donors?" Material and methods The research was conducted using data from anonymous polls addressed to family members of dialyzed patients (potential donors). Results Almost everybody (98%) had heard about the possibility of treating renal insufficiency by kidney transplantation, but only 77% knew about the possibility of giving their own kidney to a related person. Merely 36% had been informed about this treatment method by a doctor. The most common fears within respondents were those of: health worsening after donating a kidney--45%, and the operation itself (taking an organ)--39%.