cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between device-detected burden and duration of atrial fibrillation and risk of ischemic stroke

Background Wider availability of continuous rhythm monitoring has made feasible the incorporation of metrics of atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and duration into the decision to initiate anticoagulation. However, the relationship between thresholds of burden and duration and underlying risk factors at which anticoagulation should be considered remains unclear. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships of these metrics with each other and the outcome of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods We identified patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) with atrial leads who had at least 1 interrogation in 2016 demonstrating nonpermanent AF and were not receiving oral anticoagulation (OAC). We evaluated the relationship between burden (ie, percentage of time spent in AF), the longest single episode of AF, and risk factors (ie, CHA2DS2-VASc score) in predicting risk of stroke/TIA. Results The study included 384 patients with mean follow-up of 3.2 ± 0.8 years and incidence of stroke/TIA of 14.8% during follow-up (∼4.6% per year). The burden of AF and the duration of longest episode demonstrated a significant positive correlation to each other but not CHA2DS2-VASc score. Importantly, although the CHA2DS2-VASc score was predictive of stroke/TIA, neither burden nor duration was associated with stroke/TIA. Conclusion Among patients with CIED-detected AF not receiving OAC, the amount of AF (measured by either burden or duration) does not seem to significantly impact stroke risk, whereas CHA2DS2-VASc score does. These data suggest that among patients with CIED-detected AF, once AF occurs, stroke risk seems to be predominantly driven by underlying risk factors.
A Charge Management System for Gravitational Reference Sensors – Design and Instrument Testing

Gravitational reference sensors (GRSs) are imperative to Earth geodesy missions and gravitational wave observations in space. A typical GRS consists of a test mass (TM) surrounded by a capacitive electrode housing to perform sensitive relative position measurements and to apply small forces to the TM. This paper specifically discusses advancements in the charge management system (CMS) for the GRS being used in the LISA mission. Space radiation accumulating charge on the TM will eventually generate unwanted forces on the TM due to stray electric fields in the spacecraft. Thus, the TM charge must be kept close to a zero potential. The TM charge will be controlled in a contact-free manner by shining UV light and exploiting the photoelectric effect. A major design improvement for future missions is using UV LEDs, which can be pulsed. This facilitates more advanced charge control schemes for a continuous science measurement. The UV LEDs are housed in an aluminum block and controlled with supporting electronics via the charge management device (CMD). The CMD needs to be integrated with the spacecraft computer and needs to contain redundancy to survive the 10+ year LISA mission. The CMD is a NASA deliverable for the ESA mission and has begun the process of technology advancement and testing. The unit has custom PCBs designed to supply both continuous and pulsed current to the UV LEDs, readback telemetry data, manage CMD power needs, and synchronize with the spacecraft computer to communicate with spacecraft operators. The system achieved TRL 4 at the end of 2018 and surpassed all requirements for performance, redundancy, and lifetime. The system is capable of generating stable and robust square UV light pulses, has the capacity to drive the UV LEDs at their full dynamic range, and meets requirements on power, pulse properties, stability, and commanding speed. This technology features novel discharge methods and improvements on past missions in terms of noise level and continuous science measurements. The CMD design and testing results in this study are critical to the success of LISA, future Earth geodesy missions, and future science missions relying on precision inertial sensor technology.
Risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) from hospital admission and the impact of protection efforts on acute stroke treatment.

Abstract Background It is unclear how interventions designed to restrict community and in-hospital exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus influenced stroke care for patients seeking acute treatment. Therefore, we aimed to determine how these COVID-19 interventions impacted acute stroke treatment times and to assess the risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their stay in our medical center. Methods Retrospective, single center, two-phase study evaluating hospital and community trends from 12/2019 – 04/2020 compared to the previous year and pre/post (n = 156/93) intervention implementation. Phase I assessed stroke treatment times, delay to hospital arrival, and witnessed stroke volume. Phase II, a post-implementation telephone survey, assessed risk of developing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19. Results Stroke volume declined by 29% (p Conclusions Seeking acute stroke medical care outweighs the risk of COVID-19 exposure.
Generational research and advertising to various age cohorts

In a previous editorial, I called for more research on advertising to younger consumers, with a special focus on Millennials, given that group’s growing size and influence (Taylor 2018). While adve...
Growth in Body Size: A Compendium of Findings on Contemporary Children Living in Different Parts of the World

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on somatic development during the segment of human ontogeny between birth and the beginning of adolescence. From studies across the globe, findings are assembled for groups of infants and children measured largely between 1950 and 1965. Body weight and stature are investigated widely. Other variables, including head girth, sitting height, chest girth, shoulder width, hip width, arm girth, and calf girth are also discussed. The chapter serves a threefold function: It colligates quantities of knowledge currently scattered in scientific journals, books, monographs, and unpublished documents; it provides composite statistics able to support more substantial and precise inferences than the statistics available in the piecemeal reports; and it yields new generalizations through the alignment and intercomparison of results.
Influences of Arthropod Vectors on Encephalitic Arboviruses

This chapter describes viruses that can cause encephalitic symptoms in vertebrate hosts and whose transmission cycle involves arthropod vectors, for example, species of mosquito or tick. The dependence of these viruses on their arthropod vectors and the complexity of the interactions between these viruses and the vector can have a number of consequences. The biology and life cycle of these vectors, can, for example, influence virus evolution and the genetic diversity of the pathogen.
Extent of the rain‐snow transition zone in the western U.S. under historic and projected climate

This study investigates the extent of the rain-snow transition zone across the complex terrain of the western United States for both late 20th century climate and projected changes in climate by the mid-21st century. Observed and projected temperature and precipitation data at 4 km resolution were used with an empirical probabilistic precipitation phase model to estimate and map the likelihood of snow versus rain occurrence. This approach identifies areas most likely to undergo precipitation phase change over the next half century. At broad scales, these projections indicate an average 30% decrease in areal extent of winter wet-day temperatures conducive to snowfall over the western United States. At higher resolution scales, this approach identifies existing and potential experimental sites best suited for research investigating the mechanisms linking precipitation phase change to a broad array of processes, such as shifts in rain-on-snow flood risk, timing of water resource availability, and ecosystem dynamics.
Household food insecurity is associated with depression among young Cambodian women in Massachusetts (LB476)

Background: The Cambodian refugee population in the United States is at increased risk for household food insecurity and adverse mental health. There is limited literature regarding the association between food insecurity and mental health in young Cambodian women. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between depression status and household food insecurity among young Cambodian women in Massachusetts. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with young women of Cambodian heritage ages 15-30 years of age (n=127). The dependent variable, household food security score, was measured using the USDA 6-item module. The independent variable, depression score, was ascertained using the Harvard Trauma Scale. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine the association between depression status and household food security score, controlling for age and pregnancy status. Results: Of 127 women, 25.6% lived in low/very low food secure households. The mean depression...
Influence of Cortisol on the Utilization of Precursors of Nucleic Acids and Protein by Lymphoid Cells in Vitro

Abstract Effects of cortisol on rat and rabbit lymphoid cells incubated in vitro have been studied. Cells either obtained from cortisol-treated rats or exposed to cortisol in vitro at concentrations of 1 x 10-8 to 1 x 10-5 m showed a diminished degree of incorporation of radioactive precursors into RNA, DNA, and protein. The onset of the effects of cortisol added in vitro was gradual and the effects increased in magnitude with time. Removal of steroid from the cell suspension did not alter the degree of inhibition that already existed. However, with further incubation after removal of steroid there was no further progression or diminution of the inhibitory effect. Cells were not affected when incubated with steroid at 2°. The gradual onset of the effects of cortisol added in vitro was not eliminated by increasing steroid concentration or by varying of several other parameters. In studies with the use of thymocytes with prelabeled RNA, DNA, or protein, incubation with cortisol did not enhance degradation or produce leakage from the cell of the macromolecules. The relative order of sensitivity of lymphoid cells to cortisol added in vitro was as follows: rat thymocytes, rabbit mesenteric node cells, rat mesenteric node cells, and rabbit thymocytes. The steroid inhibitory effects on rabbit node cells also occurred when cells were stimulated in vitro by a thymic fraction containing thymosin, a lymphocytopoietic factor. Thymocytes incubated in vitro after exposure to cortisol in vivo or in vitro exhibited decreased incorporation of precursors into the trichloracetic acid-soluble as well as the trichloracetic acid-insoluble fraction. Medium requirements and the time course for effects on both fractions were the same. Cortisol added in vitro also inhibited α-aminoisobutyric acid and 1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid uptake. The data presented indicate a steroid influence on amino acid transport as well as on intracellular accumulation of phosphorylated nucleosides and guanine.
Non-complete relief method for measuring surface stresses in surrounding rocks

The measurement of surface stresses in surrounding rocks with the use of a relief method of annular hole-drilling was studied by numerical analysis. The stress relief process by hole-drilling was then simulated with the use of finite element method. The influences of the borehole diameter (d), the initial stresses and the ratio of the initial principle stresses on the variations of the remained stress and the released stress in function of the relief depth (h) were discussed. The relation between the non-dimensional ratio of the released principle strains and that of the initial principle stresses, and the effect of the elastic modulus and the Poisson ratio of the rock mass on the stress relief curves were studied. The results show that the stress relief behavior formulated with the non-dimensional ratio of the released stress and the ratio of h/d is only sensitive to the ratio of the initial principle stresses and the Poisson ratio. The stresses are completely released when h equals 1.6d, and the tensile stresses take place on the bore core surface in the relief measurement process. Finally, a non-complete relief method of annular hole-drilling for measuring surface stress in surrounding rocks is proposed and the procedure is presented.
Uranium(VI) Fluoride

[7783-81-5] F6U (MW 352.03) InChI = 1S/6FH.U/h6*1H;/q;;;;;;+6/p-6 InChIKey = SANRKQGLYCLAFE-UHFFFAOYSA-H (strong oxidant;1 fluorinating agent;2 mild Lewis acid3) Physical Data: mp 64.8 °C; sublimes at 56.5 °C; vapor pressure at room temperature 115 mmHg.4 Solubility: sol Freon, chloroform, methylene chloride. Form Supplied in: white crystalline compound. Available in the 235U depleted form as a byproduct of uranium enrichment plants. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: UF6, depleted of fissionable 235U, contains less than 0.20% 235U. It is corrosive, moisture sensitive, and mildly radioactive (low level of radiation). Caution should be exercised against these potential hazards. UF6 is best handled in all copper apparatus. However, Freon solutions of UF6 are stable and do not attack glass. This reagent should only be handled in a fume hood.
A human cytomegalovirus function inhibits replication of herpes simplex virus.

Human embryonic lung (HEL) cells infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) restricted the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). A delay in HSV replication of 15 h as well as a consistent, almost 3 log inhibition of HSV replication in HCMV-infected cell cultures harvested 24 to 72 h after superinfection were observed compared with controls infected with HSV alone. Treatment of HCMV-infected HEL cells with cycloheximide (100 micrograms/ml) for 3 or 24 h, conditions known to result in accumulation of HCMV immediate-early and early mRNA, was demonstrated effective in blocking HCMV protein synthesis, as shown by immunoprecipitation with HCMV antibody-positive polyvalent serum. Cycloheximide treatment of HCMV-infected HEL cells and removal of the cycloheximide block before superinfection inhibited HSV-1 replication more efficiently than non-drug-treated superinfected controls. HCMV DNA-negative temperature-sensitive mutants restricted HSV as efficiently as wild-type HCMV suggesting that immediate-early and/or early events which occur before viral DNA synthesis are sufficient for inhibition of HSV. Inhibition of HSV-1 in HCMV-infected HEL cells was unaffected by elevated temperature (40.5 degrees C). However, prior UV irradiation of HCMV removed the block to HSV replication, demonstrating the requirement for an active HCMV genome. HSV-2 replication was similarly inhibited in HCMV-infected HEL cells. However, replication of adenovirus, another DNA virus, was not restricted in these cells under the same conditions. Superinfection of HCMV-infected HEL cells with HSV-1 labeled with [3H]thymidine provided evidence that the labeled virus could penetrate to the nucleus of cells after superinfection. Evidence for penetration of superinfecting HSV into HCMV-infected cells was also provided by blot hybridization of HSV DNA synthesized in cells infected with HSV alone versus superinfected cell cultures at 0 and 48 h after superinfection. In addition, superinfection with vesicular stomatitis virus ruled out a role for interferon in restriction of HSV replication in this system. Images
Suppression Analysis Reveals a Functional Difference between the Serines in Positions Two and Five in the Consensus Sequence of the C-Terminal Domain of Yeast RNA Polymerase II

The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II contains a repetitive C-terminal domain (CTD) consisting of tandem repeats of the consensus sequence Tyr l Ser 2 Pro 3 Thr 4 Ser 5 Pro 6 Ser 7 . Substitution of nonphosphe rylatable amino acids at positions two or five of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CTD is lethal. We developed a selection ssytem for isolating suppressors of this lethal phenotype and cloned a gene, SCA1 (suppressor of CTD alanine), which complements recessive suppressors of lethal multiple-substitution mutations. A partial deletion of SCA1 ( sca1 Δ:: hisG ) suppresses alanine or glutamate substitutions at position two of the consensus CTD sequence, and a lethal CTD truncation mutation, but SCA1 deletion does not suppress alanine or glutamate substitutions at position five. SCA1 is identical to SRB9 , a suppressor of a cold-sensitive CTD truncation mutation. Strains carrying dominant SRB mutations have the same suppression properties as a sca1Δ::hisG strain. These results reveal a functional difference between positions two and five of the consensus CTD heptapeptide repeat. The ability of SCA1 and SRB mutant alleles to suppress CTD truncation mutations suggest that substitutions at position two, but not at position five, cause a defect in RNA polymerase II function similar to that introduced by CTD truncation.
LexA Represses CTXΦ Transcription by Blocking Access of the α C-terminal Domain of RNA Polymerase to Promoter DNA

Abstract CTXΦ is a Vibrio cholerae-specific temperate filamentous phage that encodes cholera toxin. CTXΦ lysogens can be induced with DNA damage-inducing agents such as UV light, leading to the release of CTXΦ virions and the rapid dissemination of cholera toxin genes to new V. cholerae hosts. This environmental regulation is directly mediated by LexA, the host-encoded global SOS transcription factor. LexA and a phage-encoded repressor, RstR, both repress transcription from PrstA, the primary CTXΦ promoter. Because the LexA binding site is located upstream of the core PrstA promoter and overlaps with A-tract sequences, we speculated that LexA represses PrstA by occluding a promoter UP element, a binding site for the C-terminal domain of the α subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP) (αCTD). Using in vitro transcription assays, we have shown that the LexA binding site stimulates maximal rstA transcription in the absence of any added factors. The αCTD of RNAP is required for this stimulation, demonstrating that the LexA site contains, or overlaps with, a promoter UP element. LexA represses rstA transcription by normal RNAP but fails to repress rstA transcription catalyzed by RNAP lacking the αCTD. DNase I footprint analysis mapped the αCTD binding site to the upstream promoter region that includes the LexA binding site. The addition of free α subunits blocked the binding of LexA to rstA promoter DNA, indicating that LexA and the αCTD directly compete for binding to their respective sites. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a repressor blocking transcription initiation by occluding a promoter UP element.
A synthesis of clinical recommendations and primary research for survivors of prostate or breast cancer.

Studies have documented the efficacy of cancer treatments available, specifically for patients with prostate or breast cancer, but few articles have compared prostate or breast cancer recommendations from the patient’s perspective. In this article, the authors compare and contrast published clinical recommendations for advanced practice RNs who treat patients with prostate or breast cancer to qualitative studies that explore the experiences of cancer survivors. Treatment options, along with recommendations and resources, are included. The nurse clinician’s role in caring for patients with prostate or breast cancer is diverse and complex, and evidence supports the role of the nurse clinician in improving patient care. Implementing findings from qualitative studies that focus on patients’ perspectives in conjunction with clinical recommendations is essential when developing care plans for patients with cancer.
Mechanisms of Nutritionally Caused Congenital Malformations: The Role of Methionine in Counteracting Antiserum-Induced Embryopathy • 362

Mechanisms of Nutritionally Caused Congenital Malformations: The Role of Methionine in Counteracting Antiserum-Induced Embryopathy • 362
Reactions of Male and Female Inmates to Prison Confinement: Further Evidence for a Two-Component Model

The goal of the study was to address the limitations of previous studies on the TwoComponent Model of inmates’ reaction to prison confinement, and present the analysis of the impact of confinement on both male and female inmates in a federal co-correctional facility. The Two-Component Model proposes that the effects of prison confinement differ in response to two different types of prison conditions: (1) those that remain constant, and (2) those that vary over time. Violence, loss of freedom, limited facilities and competition for limited resources, among others, represent some of the constant conditions. Gradual increase in familiarity with procedures, norms and staff, among others, represent the changing conditions. Based on findings of previous studies, the authors hypothesized that: 1) Reactions to the prison environment would not change or become more negative over time. 2) Health and emotional outcomes would improve over time. 3) Self-reported social support within and outside the prison would decrease over time, and 4) No change would occur over time in coping behavior and tolerance for prison conditions.
Blurring the Inputs: A Natural Language Approach to Sensitivity Analysis

To document model parameter uncertainties and to automate sensitivity analyses for numerical simulation codes, a natural-language-based method to specify tolerances has been developed. With this new method, uncertainties are expressed in a natural manner, i.e., as one would on an engineering drawing, namely, 5.25 +/- 0.01. This approach is robust and readily adapted to various application domains because it does not rely on parsing the particular structure of input file formats. Instead, tolerances of a standard format are added to existing fields within an input file. As a demonstration of the power of this simple, natural language approach, a Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis is performed for three disparate simulation codes: fluid dynamics (LAURA), radiation (HARA), and ablation (FIAT). Effort required to harness each code for sensitivity analysis was recorded to demonstrate the generality and flexibility of this new approach.
Experiments in a shock wave/homogeneous turbulence interaction

Mast of the previous work on shock wave interaction with turbulent flows wes limited to shock wave/boundary layer interaction. The present study is f0cussir.g on the interactions of the normal shack wave with homogeneauslgrid-generated turbulence. A shack wave formed in a shack-tube is passing through a grid and the induced flow behind the shock has the features of a compressible flow with free stream turbulence. The decaying turbulence is subjected to an interaction with the reflected shock traveling in the opposite direction. Data were sampled simultaneously from four channels of high frequency response pressure transducers and hot-wires. Turbulence is considerably amplified during the interaction while spectral energy changed too. Results indicated that the amplification ratio is not the same for all investigated length scales and turbulence intensities during interactions with shock waves of the same strength.
Cell cycle regulation and the timing of chromosome replication in a marine synechococcus (cyanobacteria) during light‐ and nitrogen‐limited growth

Cell cycle behavior in the marine Synechococcus strain WH8101 was examined in detail over a wide range of light- and nitrogen-limited growth rates. The presence of bimodal DNA frequency distributions under all conditions confirms that the overlapping rounds of DNA replication that characterize E. coli and other fast-growing prokaryotes are not present in this organism. Although chromosome replication time, C, was constrained to a fairly narrow range of values overall, it nevertheless did vary with growth rate and limiting factor. Light-limited cells growing at moderate rates had higher C values than did N-limited cells growing at comparable rates (by as much as a factor of 2). As these cells became light saturated, however, C decreased sharply to the level observed under N limitation. The post-replication period, D, decreased monotonically with growth rate under both light and N limitation, approaching a constant value at moderate to high growth rates. Average cell volume at the time of initiation of DNA replication was calculated from the values of C and D, combined with directly measured mean cell volume, and was found to be constant at all growth rates above ∼0.7 d−1. This pattern was confirmed by estimates of initiation volume based on flow cytometric light scatter measurements, and suggests that as has been found in other prokaryotic systems, cell mass may play an important role in regulating the timing of chromosome replication in cyanobacteria. Furthermore, because the magnitude of C+D influences average cell mass (given a constant mass at initiation), changes in these parameters (particularly C) may be responsible for the previously reported nonlinear relationship between light-limited growth rate and both RNA cell−1 and average cell volume.
Multiple mobile user tracking with neural network-based adaptive array antennas

The problem of multiple source tracking with neural network- based adaptive array antennas for wireless terrestrial and satellite mobile communications is considered to this paper. The Neural Multiple Source Tracking algorithm which is based on an architecture of a family of radial basis function neural networks is introduced. In the first stage a number of RBFNNs are trained to perform the detection phase, while in the second state another set of networks is trained for the direction of arrival estimation phase. The field of view of the antenna array is divided into separate angular sectors, which are in turn assigned to a different pair of RBFNN's. When a network detects one or more sources in the first stage, the corresponding second state networks are activated to perform the direction of arrival estimation step. No prior knowledge of the number of present sources is required. Simulation results are performed to investigate the validity of the algorithm for various angular separations, with sources of random relative SNR and when the system suffers from frequency errors. The aforementioned approach results in substantial reduction of the computational complexity associated with the network training.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Dynamics of International Criminal Tribunals

Waging war appears to be a constant feature of human behaviour. Until World War II, violations of the Law of War were generally punishable before national tribunals; this practice, however, proved unsatisfactory. The Nuremberg and Tokyo International War Crimes Tribunals appeared as the first successful attempts to delocalise proceedings related thereto, bearing in mind the absolute primacy of inflicting exemplary punishment on the guilty. The International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda upheld an extended definition of punishable crimes under Conventional and/or Customary Law, while instituting more guarantees of fairness, i.e.: judges chosen from outside the warring parties, rejection of the death penalty, awarding compensation to victims and ensuring the protection of witnesses. Despite the application of ex posto facto law, it is worth recalling that human rights protection is clearly identified as an essential focus of the later ad hoc tribunals. However, only the institution of a permanent international criminal tribunal seems conductive to setting the seal on the determination of the international community to put in place an effective deterrent to resorting to war as a means of settling inter-societal disputes.
Mobile Sounding Observations of Lake-Effect Snowbands in Western and Central New York

Abstract Measurements of the thermodynamic environments in the vicinity of lake-effect snowbands were obtained during the winter of 1987/88, using portable radiosonde equipment. During the experimental period, a total of 17 soundings were launched on ten field days. These soundings covered both single- and multiple-band events under a variety of conditions, including heavy snowfall rates of up to 13 cm h−1. As expected, the soundings showed moist-adiabatic conditions within the cloud layer with a stable layer at cloud-top level. In an intense single-band case, soundings showed a parcel buoyancy of 2.5°C within the hand at 2 km above ground level (AGL). Furthermore, the base of the inversion within the band was displaced some 0.6 km above that of the surrounding environment. Sensible heating of the low-level air as it flowed over the warm lake is postulated to be the primary source of this temperature surplus. Strong surface convergence and parcel buoyancy within the band apparently combined to produce the...
Chemical vapor deposition of graphene on large-domain ultra-flat copper

Abstract Copper foil is the most commonly used substrate for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene, despite the impact of its surface roughness and polycrystalline structure on the resulting graphene. Here we present a method of preparing thick, ultra-flat copper substrates for growing graphene by CVD. We demonstrate the growth of graphene on these substrates using the common Atmospheric Pressure CVD (APCVD) and Low Pressure CVD (LPCVD) methods. We show that compared to copper foil, graphene grown on these thick ultra-flat copper substrates by APCVD results in 50 times smoother graphene on copper. Furthermore, the thick copper substrates have at least 5 times larger copper domains, compared to conventionally prepared copper foil. The evolution of the surface roughness in each growth method is also presented.
Development of an index of abundance for pygmy rabbit populations

ABSTRACT The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a cryptic, burrowing lagomorph of conservation concern for which an efficient method to monitor populations is needed for conservation planning. We developed an index of abundance based on density of active burrow systems at 7 sites (57.2–118.5 ha) in east central Idaho. We conducted censuses of burrow systems and used mark-resight surveys of 80 radio-collared individuals to estimate density of rabbits. At 5 sites, we also used a second method to estimate rabbit numbers based on presence of tracks in snow around burrow systems. We evaluated patterns of burrow use by individuals and examined the relationship between vegetation structure and density of rabbits. Density of active burrow systems varied from 0.19 to 3.46 per ha, and density of rabbits ranged from 0.02 to 0.46 per ha. Number of burrow systems used by individuals increased with density of available burrows, which supported a nonlinear relationship between abundance of burrows and rabbits. Pop...
Predicting skin test sensitivity and total serum IgE levels in family members

Abstract A total of 278 individuals in 42 randomly ascertained nuclear families were studied to determine correlations among family members for skin test response and total serum IgE levels. The major aim was to determine whether these measures of allergic response in family members could be used to predict whether the last child in the family would be skin test positive. There were significant correlations in total log[IgE] levels between parents and their children and an even higher correlation between siblings. For the measurement of skin test response (allergy index), the only significant correlation was between siblings. Discriminant analysis was performed with the fourth child in the family as the index case. This was done to determine how many of the index cases could be correctly predicted to be skin test positive or negative based on family information. With just the skin test results on the parents, only three of the 13 positive index cases were correctly predicted. However, when the mean value far the skin test results in the siblings (mean allergy index) was used, eight of the 13 skin test positive index cases were correctly predicted. These results suggest that, although there is a high degree of concordance for allergic disease within families, information from other siblings may be the most useful predictor of allergic status in another child.
Matrix augmentation and partitioning in the updating of the basis inverse

A compact and flexible updating procedure using matrix augmentation is developed. It is shown that the representation of the updated inverse does not grow monotonically in size, and may actually decrease during certain simplex iterations. Angular structures, such as GUB, are handled naturally within the partitioning framework, and require no modifications of the simplex method.
Effects of preparation, experimenter contact, and a maintained reduction alternative on a broad-spectrum program for eliminating smoking

Abstract The present investigation compared the successful two-stage treatment reported by Lando (1977) against an intensified version of a less successful three-stage program (Lando, 1978). Minimal experimenter contact and maintained reduction for nonabstinent subjects were also assessed. Subjects were 44 males and 56 females. Although there was a consistent trend for two-stage treatment to produce better results than three-stage treatment, differences between these conditions were significant only at 12-month follow-up. Intensive contact was superior to minimal contact only at Week 1. The maintained reduction procedure was not successfully implemented. Significant interactions were evident between experimenter contact and treatment stages throughout the follow-up period, with two-stage subjects appearing to benefit from intensive contact and three-stage subjects actually doing better under minimal contact. Results supported the efficacy of the two-stage aversion and maintenance program first reported by Lando (1977). Results also contradicted the assumption that more complex is necessarily better and pointed to the inadequacy of simple post hoc alternatives for nonabstinent subjects.
Adaptive multiresolution refinement with distance fields

This paper describes a multiresolution approach to field modeling that can be used with any meshfree or mesh-based method for adaptive solution refinement. The refined solution is represented as a superposition of a coarse (unrefined) solution and a sequence of refinements that provide additional degrees of freedom with higher spatial or functional resolution. Each refinement is treated as a solution to a boundary-value problem within a specified refinement window. The proposed approach is based on the meshfree method with distance fields (Comput. Mech. 2000; 25:305–316, Eng. Comput. 2002; 18(4):295–311) and guarantees Cm continuity of the refined solutions with matching or non-matching grids. The method does not restrict the shape of the refinement window and does not place any constraints on the type of basis functions, or relative position and resolution of the refinement grids. Combining the proposed approach with hierarchical space decompositions and a posteriori error estimators results in an effective tool for automatic solution refinement. Carefully chosen numerical examples illustrate the power and advantages of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of shear and pH on starch phosphates prepared by reactive extrusion as a sustained release agent

Characteristics of native starch have limited its application in solid dosage forms as a sustained release agent. There is a growing interest in improving starch functionality for sustained release applications because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study investigated the effects of different shear and pH conditions on starch extrudates prepared via reactive extrusion to act as an excipient in sustaining drug release. Starches, including waxy corn, common corn, and potato, were used to prepare starch phosphates at a shear rate of 50 or 200 rpm and at pH 9.0 or 11.0. The reaction efficiency of phosphorylation was improved when extruded at 200 rpm. Unmodified starch extrudates exhibited more degradation at 200 rpm with a shorter residence time over those at 50 rpm with a longer residence time. The carbohydrate profiles of starch phosphates showed an increased proportion of high molecular-weight components at 200 rpm, possibly due to an increase in cross-linking reaction at a higher shear rate. Both waxy corn and potato phosphates exhibited an n value indicative of anomalous transport, but most common corn phosphates showed an n value indicative of Fickian diffusion. Waxy corn phosphates exhibited different rheological properties but similar drug release profiles. Common corn phosphates exhibited rigid gel conformations, and exhibited slower drug release than unmodified ones. Potato starch phosphates exhibited considerable differences in their rheological properties drug release profiles between 50 and 200 rpm with phosphates at 200 rpm showing more fluid-like properties and poor drug release. The results demonstrate that the reaction efficiency of phosphorylation by reactive extrusion and subsequently drug release can be affected by the shear rate and pH for different starch types.
Highly effective combination of LSD1 (KDM1A) antagonist and pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor against human AML cells

The histone demethylase LSD1 (KDM1A) demethylates mono- and di-methylated (Me2) lysine (K) 4 on histone H3. High LSD1 expression blocks differentiation and confers a poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, treatment with the novel LSD1 antagonist SP2509 attenuated the binding of LSD1 with the corepressor CoREST, increased the permissive H3K4Me3 mark on the target gene promoters, and increased the levels of p21, p27 and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α in cultured AML cells. In addition, SP2509 treatment or LSD1 shRNA inhibited the colony growth of AML cells. SP2509 also induced morphological features of differentiation in the cultured and primary AML blasts. SP2509 induced more apoptosis of AML cells expressing mutant NPM1 than mixed-lineage leukemia fusion oncoproteins. Treatment with SP2509 alone significantly improved the survival of immune-depleted mice following tail-vein infusion and engraftment of cultured or primary human AML cells. Co-treatment with pan-HDAC inhibitor (HDI) panobinostat (PS) and SP2509 was synergistically lethal against cultured and primary AML blasts. Compared with each agent alone, co-treatment with SP2509 and PS significantly improved the survival of the mice engrafted with the human AML cells, without exhibiting any toxicity. Collectively, these findings show that the combination of LSD1 antagonist and pan-HDI is a promising therapy warranting further testing against AML.
Benefit segmentation for fund raisers

This study establishes the applicability of benefit segmentation to gift giving behavior in American philanthropy. Dimensions of the fundraising ‘product’ and resultant benefit segments are developed from a sample of donors across the continental United States. Five donor segments are presented that demonstrate face validity, predictive validity, and strategic practicality. Both donor and community-based socio-economic characteristics are important descriptors of differences between donor segments. Implications of these findings are discussed.
SU-E-J-150: To Design a Methodology Based on Numerical Phantom for Reconstruction of Dose Delivered to Moving Lung Tumors.

Purpose: To design a methodology based on numerical phantom for reconstruction of dose delivered to moving lungtumors.Methods: MatlabTM 7.6 was used to generate a 4D numerical lung phantom (NLP). Customer parameter files were used as input to this NLP, which consists of multiple ellipsoids representing body, lung, cord and tumor. In this study, we studied the impact of varying breathing pattern on a left lower lobe tumor, where the tumor motion was simulated on the daily breathing pattern of the patient acquired using real time positioning management (RPMTM) system from Varian Medical Systems. Based on the daily breathing pattern, the original RPM signal and the original tumor trajectory, 5 sets of motion trajectories were simulated. This was then used to build 10 different phases of the numerical phantom. Average Intensity Projection (AIP) was then generated from the different phases. The actual delivered dose on the 5 AIP sets were compared to the intended dose on the original planning AIP image set. Results: The mean target coverage (TC) recomputed on the 5 AIP sets was approximately 18% lower than the TC for the planning AIP image set. The mean homogeneity index (HI) recomputed on the 5 sets, was approximately 5 times higher than HI for the planning AIP image set. The lung NTDmean dose was approximately 9.5 Gy3 and did not differ much. Conclusions: The presented numerical simulation framework may assist in monitoring the changes in dose accumulation due to changes in the patient's breathing on a daily basis. This can also be used for validation of new motion tracking algorithms and its impact of dose coverage.
Upregulated tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression in the hypoplastic lung in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Recent studies using animal models of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) have reported a reduction in both surfactant (SF) phospholipids and proteins in CDH lungs compared to controls, resulting in biophysical and physiologic impairment of SF function in the hypoplastic CDH lung. Furthermore, SF replacement has been shown to improve physiological function in CDH lungs. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a polypeptide whose overproduction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of pathological conditions, such as neonatal and adult respiratory distress syndrome. TNF-α has been shown to selectively inhibit the de-novo synthesis of SF phospholipid components in type II pneumocytes. It has been demonstrated that TNF-α is synthesized locally in lung and functions in an autocrine/paracrine mode. The aim of this study was to investigate TNF-α messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in hypoplastic CDH lung using in-situ hybridization histochemistry, to determine the molecular basis of the SF deficiency in the hypoplastic CDH lung. Lung-tissue samples were obtained at autopsy from 7 full-term newborns (age range: 1–21 days) with CDH and 4 stillborns with CDH. Normal lung tissue from eight infants with sudden infant death syndrome (age range: 5–30 days) acted as controls. In-situ hybridization was performed using TNF-α specific and digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probe and visualized by nitroblue tetrazolium staining. In control lung tissue, mRNA expression of TNF-α was absent or weak in type II pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages. In contrast, mRNA expression of TNF-α was markedly increased in both type II pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages in hypoplastic CDH lung. Our findings of up-regulated TNF-α gene expression in CDH lung suggest that the SF deficiency observed in hypoplastic CDH lung may be the result of increased local production of TNF-α.
Proper Orthogonal Decomposition on a Subsonic Jet Exhausted from an Axisymmetric Nozzle and Chevron Nozzles with Varying Penetration

This paper utilizes Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) to study a jet engine exhaust to identify differences between a baseline axisymmetric jet and one with chevrons. The analysis is done using flow velocity data obtained from Particle Image Velocimetry and performed for the flow exhausting through a baseline conical nozzle, low penetration chevron nozzle, and high penetration chevron nozzle. The mean velocity and TKE results show the chevron configurations reduce the potential core length, increase the jet spread, and reduce TKE levels near the end of the potential core. POD was then used to further quantify these results. The POD modes for the chevron flows and baseline flows are very similar but the energy within the POD modes is lower for the chevron cases which are consistent with the TKE results. Projection of the PIV images from the chevron configurations onto the baseline POD modes is used to directly quantify changes to the energy distribution of the largescale structures. It is seen that both near the nozzle and downstream, the highest energy containing modes are attenuated for the chevron cases. The reduction in growth of the large-scale structures near the jet exit is due to the increased spread of the jet and ultimately the stabilization of the jet column mode instabilities.
Initial experience with Symbios Model 7008 pacemaker.

Le Symbios 7008 est capable de traiter les bradycardies et les tachycardies. Nous rapportons ici notre experience initiale chez 21 patients chez qui ce boitier a ete implante. Tous presentaient des tachyarythmies supraventriculaires qui ont ete arretees par stimulation auriculaire rapide (19 pts) ou sequentielle. Plus de la moitie des patients presentaient aussi des bradyarythmies necessitant une stimulation et ont done ainsi beneficie des deux fonctions du boitier. En l'etat actuel des choses, l'experience est favorable. The Symbios 7008 pacemaker is capable of treating both bradycardias and tachycardias. In this report, we summarize operation of the pacemaker and the initial experience in 21 patients who have received implants. All patients have supraventricular tachyarrhythmias that have been terminated successfully with automatic atrial burst pacing (19 patients) or AV sequential pacing. More than half of the patients also have bradyarrhythmias requiring pacing and thus benefit from both functions of the device. Experience to date has been favorable.
Cryogenic Drilling: A New Drilling Method for Environmental Remediation

Cryogenic drilling is a technique developed at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, for drilling in unstable sediments of environmental monitoring, for characterizing, and for remediation wells. The method uses standard air rotary drilling techniques, but with cold nitrogen rather than ambient air as the circulating fluid in order to freeze and stabilize the borehole wall. Several laboratory and full-scale field tests have been performed. A 52-foot-deep (16 m) soil boring and 24-foot (7 m) monitoring well have been drilled as part of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Site Characterization Project. Continued testing and refinement of the equipment and operational method are in progress. The method has been proposed for use as part of the Department of Energy (DOE) weapons site cleanup at locations with unstable sediments such as Hanford, Sandia, and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL).
Long-term outcomes after fetal therapy for congenital high airway obstructive syndrome

Abstract Background/Purpose Congenital high airway obstructive syndrome (CHAOS) is a rare and devastating condition that is uniformly fatal without fetal intervention. We sought to describe fetal treatment and long-term outcomes of CHAOS at a single referral center. Methods The medical records of patients with fetal CHAOS evaluated at our center between 1993 and 2011 were reviewed. Maternal history, radiographic findings, antenatal management, and postnatal outcomes were compared. Results Twelve fetuses with CHAOS were identified. Eleven had concomitant hydrops at diagnosis. Six were electively terminated, and 2 had intra- or peripartum demise. Four patients underwent fetal intervention. Two underwent delivery via ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure with tracheostomy placement only, and 2 underwent fetal bronchoscopy with attempted wire tracheoplasty followed by EXIT with tracheostomy at delivery. All 4 patients who underwent EXIT were alive at last follow-up. One patient was ventilator and tracheostomy free and feeding by mouth. Conclusion Long-term and tracheostomy-free survival is possible with appropriate fetal intervention even in the presence of hydrops. Fetal intervention earlier in pregnancy may improve long-term outcomes, but patient selection for intervention remains challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging may help select those patients for whom fetal intervention before EXIT delivery may be beneficial.