cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Left Ventricular Diameter and Risk Stratification for Sudden Cardiac Death

Background Left ventricular (LV) diameter is routinely measured on the echocardiogram but has not been jointly evaluated with the ejection fraction (EF) for risk stratification of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Methods and Results From a large ongoing community-based study of SCD (The Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study; population ≈1 million), SCD cases were compared with geographic controls. LVEF and LV diameter, measured using the LV internal dimension in diastole (categorized as normal, mild, moderate , or severe dilatation using American Society of Echocardiography definitions) were assessed from echocardiograms prior but unrelated to the SCD event. Cases (n=418; 69.5±13.8 years), compared with controls (n=329; 67.7±11.9 years), more commonly had severe LV dysfunction (EF ≤35%; 30.5% versus 18.8%; P <0.01) and larger LV diameter (52.2±10.5 mm versus 49.7±7.9 mm; P <0.01). Moderate or severe LV dilatation (16.3% versus 8.2%; P =0.001) and severe LV dilatation (8.1% versus 2.1%; P <0.001) were significantly more frequent in cases. In multivariable analysis, severe LV dilatation was an independent predictor of SCD (odds ratio 2.5 [95% CI 1.03 to 5.9]; P =0.04). In addition, subjects with both EF ≤35% and severe LV dilatation had higher odds for SCD compared with those with low EF only (odds ratio 3.8 [95% CI 1.5 to 10.2] for both versus 1.7 [95% CI 1.2 to 2.5] for low EF only), suggesting that severe LV dilatation additively increased SCD risk. Conclusion LV diameter may contribute to risk stratification for SCD independent of the LVEF. This readily available echocardiographic measure warrants further prospective evaluation.
IL-17 Is a Critical Component of Vaccine-Induced Protection against Lung Infection by Lipopolysaccharide-Heterologous Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In a murine model of acute fatal pneumonia, we previously showed that nasal immunization with a live-attenuated aroA deletant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 elicited LPS serogroup-specific protection, indicating that opsonic Ab to the LPS O Ag was the most important immune effector. Because P. aeruginosa strain PA14 possesses additional virulence factors, we hypothesized that a live-attenuated vaccine based on PA14 might elicit a broader array of immune effectors. Thus, an aroA deletant of PA14, denoted PA14DeltaaroA, was constructed. PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice were protected against lethal pneumonia caused not only by the parental strain but also by cytotoxic variants of the O Ag-heterologous P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PAO6a,d. Remarkably, serum from PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice had very low levels of opsonic activity against strain PAO1 and could not passively transfer protection, suggesting that an antibody-independent mechanism was needed for the observed cross-serogroup protection. Compared with control mice, PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice had more rapid recruitment of neutrophils to the airways early after challenge. T cells isolated from P. aeruginosa DeltaaroA-immunized mice proliferated and produced IL-17 in high quantities after coculture with gentamicin-killed P. aeruginosa. Six hours following challenge, PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice had significantly higher levels of IL-17 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with unimmunized, Escherichia coli-immunized, or PAO1DeltaaroA-immunized mice. Antibody-mediated depletion of IL-17 before challenge or absence of the IL-17 receptor abrogated the PA14DeltaaroA vaccine's protection against lethal pneumonia. These data show that IL-17 plays a critical role in antibody-independent vaccine-induced protection against LPS-heterologous strains of P. aeruginosa in the lung.
Improved network analysis of coupled antenna diversity performance

This paper presents a new framework for the analysis of mutually coupled diversity antennas based on network theory. The network model incorporates the matching network between the antennas and front-end amplifiers and uses a realistic model for the amplifier noise. The resulting analysis includes the impact of the coupled-antenna radiation patterns and impedance characteristics in determining the branch signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Application of the formulation to coupled dipole antennas characterized using full-wave electromagnetic analysis illustrates that a matching network providing a minimum amplifier noise figure achieves significantly better diversity performance than one providing maximum power transfer.
“Bouncing Back” from Adversity: Athletes’ Experiences of Resilience

The purpose of this study was to explore athletes’ perceptions and experiences of resilience. Ten high-level athletes were interviewed regarding the most difficult adversities that they had ever had to overcome in sport. Richardson and colleagues’ (Richardson, Neiger, Jensen, & Kumpfer, 1990) resiliency model served as a guiding theoretical framework in the process of data collection and analysis. Inductive analysis (Patton, 2002; Thomas, 2006) was used to explore the data for key themes and patterns of relationships. Five general dimensions emerged that described the resilience experience of the athletes. These dimensions include breadth and duration, agitation, sociocultural influences, personal resources, and positive outcomes. A conceptual model of the resilience process as experienced by the athletes in this study is presented as a preliminary framework for future studies of resilience in sport.
Predictors of Resident Satisfaction in Caring for Limited English Proficient Families: A Multisite Study

Abstract Objective To assess residents' self-efficacy, satisfaction and frustration in the care of limited English proficient (LEP) families and to identify individual and programmatic factors associated with the above outcomes. Methods A multisite cross-sectional survey of pediatric residents currently in training and caring for LEP families was conducted. Resident self-efficacy scores in specific skill domains were assessed. Clustered multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify individual and programmatic factors associated with increased satisfaction and frustration. Qualitative analyses were also utilized to identify themes related to frustrating aspects of care. Results A total of 271 of 449 eligible residents representing 7 US pediatric residency programs participated in our study (60% response rate). A majority of residents (51%) rated their self-efficacy in the overall care of LEP families as low. Satisfaction was associated with a high self-efficacy score (odds ratio [OR] 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8–12.6), increasing year in training (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.01–10.2), frequent non-English language use (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1–8.8), and instruction on the use of interpreters (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.02–3.64). Satisfaction was inversely associated with increased LEP patient volumes (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.18–0.91). Clinical inefficiency related to interpreter use and distrust of interpreter skills were frequently cited as aspects that contribute to overall frustration. Conclusions A majority of residents reported lacking self-efficacy in their ability to deliver care to LEP patients, which may influence overall satisfaction with such encounters. Strategies that promote resident self-efficacy and assess non-English language proficiency should be included in future training curricula. Exposing trainees to best practices in interpreter-based encounters may further promote resident satisfaction.
Production of defective MS2 virions in resting Escherichia coli

Abstract Starvation of Escherichia coli for nitrogen, glucose, or sulfur was initiated by cellular consumption of the nutrient in a medium designed to contain only a limiting amount of nitrogen, glucose, or sulfur. MS2 infection of nitrogen-starved cells resulted in a normal yield of plaque-forming units. MS2 infection of sulfur-starved or glucose-starved E. coli , however, resulted in a 100-fold decrease in the yield of plaque-forming units. Further investigation of MS2 infection in sulfur-starved E. coli showed the major cause of the decrease in yield of plaque-forming units was the synthesis of noninfective virions.
A quest for an Internet video quality-of-experience metric

An imminent challenge that content providers, CDNs, third-party analytics and optimization services, and video player designers in the Internet video ecosystem face is the lack of a single "gold standard" to evaluate different competing solutions. Existing techniques that describe the quality of the encoded signal or controlled studies to measure opinion scores do not translate directly into user experience at scale. Recent work shows that measurable performance metrics such as buffering, startup time, bitrate, and number of bitrate switches impact user experience. However, converting these observations into a quantitative quality-of-experience metric turns out to be challenging since these metrics are interrelated in complex and sometimes counter-intuitive ways, and their relationship to user experience can be unpredictable. To further complicate things, many confounding factors are introduced by the nature of the content itself (e.g., user interest, genre). We believe that the issue of interdependency can be addressed by casting this as a machine learning problem to build a suitable predictive model from empirical observations. We also show that setting up the problem based on domain-specific and measurement-driven insights can minimize the impact of the various confounding factors to improve the prediction performance.
Agonists vs levodopa in PD The thrilla of whitha

Levodopa treatment has substantially improved the quality and duration of life for patients with PD. It was recognized early on, however, that symptomatic treatment of PD with levodopa had treatment-related complications such as dyskinesias, short-duration responses (SDRs), and behavioral and psychiatric problems. Further, patients with PD continue to decline in functional abilities and have a shortened life expectancy. A potential role for dopamine agonists in PD treatment was recognized by Cotzias et al.1 in the late 1960s with apomorphine being the first agonist to be evaluated in a PD clinical trial. Apomorphine was efficacious when administered orally, but a liver metabolite of the drug caused renal failure, prohibiting its use as an oral agent for the treatment of patients with PD. Agonists have several potential advantages over levodopa. Agonists do not require metabolism to an active form (as is the case for levodopa) and do not compete with dietary amino acids for active transport across the gut epithelium and blood-brain barrier. There may also be increased reproducibility of the dose-response and time-action curves. Further, unlike levodopa, agonists may not generate potentially toxic free radicals and may be neuroprotective. Four dopamine agonist drugs are approved for use in PD in the United States: bromocriptine, pergolide, pramipexole, and ropinirole. In general, there are more similarities than differences among these drugs.2 Direct clinical comparisons between these four dopamine agonists are limited; their relative clinical efficacy remains unclear, and no consistent differences have been established. Each agonist has a similar frequency of dopaminergic side effects: nausea, orthostatic symptoms, somnolence, and hallucinations. The two initial agonists, bromocriptine and pergolide, are ergot derivatives and occasionally result in leg edema, Raynaud’s phenomenon, erythromelalgia, and pleural and peritoneal fibrosis. Recent direct comparisons of dopamine agonists vs levodopa for patients with early and mild PD have provided …
Female faculty: Challenges and choices in the United States and beyond

It is useful to examine the challenges that female faculty members face in international institutions as well as in American colleges and universities.
Estimating Cloud Type from Pyranometer Observations

In this paper the authors evaluate an inexpensive and automatable method to estimate cloud type at a given location during daylight hours using the time series of irradiance from a pyranometer. The motivation for this investigation is to provide ground-based estimates of cloud type at locations where there are no human observations of sky condition. A pyranometer naturally measures the effect of intervening clouds along the solar beam path to the sensor. Because a daily time series of irradiance is nonstationary, it is appropriately scaled to yield a stationary time series. From the latter, the standard deviation and ratio of observed irradiance to clear-sky irradiance derived from a 21-min moving window are related to one of the following cloud types or conditions: cirrus, cumulus, cirrus and cumulus, stratus, precipitation or fog, no clouds, and other clouds. Comparisons with human observations at the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Calibration and Radiation Testbed site in northern Oklahoma show that the pyranometer method and human observations are in agreement about 45% of the time. Many of the differences can be attributed to two factors: 1) the pyranometer method is weighted toward clouds crossing the sun’s path, while the human observer can view clouds over the entire sky, and 2) the presence of aerosols causes the pyranometer to overestimate the occurrence of cirrus and cirrus plus cumulus. When attenuation of the solar beam by aerosols is negligible or can be accounted for, the pyranometer method should be especially useful for cloud-type assessment where no other sky observations are available.
Status and issues in the development of a γ-ray laser. II. Giant resonances for the pumping of nuclei

A γ-ray laser would stimulate the emission of radiation of wavelengths below 1 A from excited states of nuclei. However, the anticipation of a need for high pump powers tended to discourage early research and the difficulties in demonstrating a device were first assumed to be insurmountable. Over the past decade, advances in pulsed-power technology have changed these perceptions and studies have built a strong momentum. A nuclear analog of the ruby laser has been proposed and many of the component steps for pumping the nuclei have been demonstrated experimentally. A quantitative model based upon the new data and concepts has shown the γ-ray laser to be feasible if some real isotope has its properties sufficiently close to the ideals modeled. The greatest positive impact upon feasibility has come from the discovery of giant resonances for pumping nuclei that greatly reduce the levels of pump power needed.
Fast algorithm for calculation of inhomogeneity gradient in magnetic resonance imaging data.

Purpose To develop and implement a new approach for correcting the intensity inhomogeneity in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Materials and Methods The algorithm is based on the assumption that intensity inhomogeneity in MR data is multiplicative and smoothly varying. Using a statistically stable method, the algorithm first calculates the partial derivative of the inhomogeneity gradient across the data. The algorithm then solves for the gradient field and fits it to a parametric surface. It was tested on both simulated and real human and animal MRI data. Results The algorithm is shown to restore the homogeneity in all images that were tested. On real human brain images the algorithm demonstrated superior or comparable performance relative to some of the commonly used intensity inhomogeneity correction methods such as SPM, BrainSuite, and N3. Conclusion The proposed algorithm provides an alternative method for correcting the intensity inhomogeneity in MR images. It is shown to be fast and its performance is superior or comparable to algorithms described in the published literature. Due to its generality, this algorithm is applicable to MR images of both humans and animals. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;32:1197–1208. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Physical and Chemical Stability of Palonosetron HCl in 4 Infusion Solutions

BACKGROUNDPalonosetron HCl is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist used for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Palonosetron HCl may be diluted in an infusion solution for administraton. Consequently, stability information is needed for palonosetron HCl admixed in common infusion solutions.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the physical and chemical stability of palonosetron HCl in concentrations of 5 and 30 μg/mL in dextrose 5% injection, NaCl 0.9% injection, dextrose 5% in NaCl 0.45% injection, and dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's injection.METHODSTriplicate test samples of palonosetron HCl at each concentration in each diluent were tested. Samples were stored and evaluated at appropriate intervals for up to 48 hours at room temperature (~23 °C) and 14 days under refrigeration (4 °C). Physical stability was assessed using turbidimetric and particulate measurement, as well as visual inspection. Chemical stability was assessed by HPLC.RESULTSAll of the admixtures were initially clear and colorl...
Molecular C dynamics downstream: the biochemical decomposition sequence and its impact on soil organic matter structure and function.

Abstract Advances in spectroscopic and other chemical methods have greatly enhanced our ability to characterize soil organic matter chemistry. As a result, the molecular characteristics of soil C are now known for a range of ecosystems, soil types, and management intensities. Placing this knowledge into a broader ecological and management context is difficult, however, and remains one of the fundamental challenges of soil organic matter research. Here we present a conceptual model of molecular soil C dynamics to stimulate inter-disciplinary research into the ecological implications of molecular C turnover and its management- and process-level controls. Our model describes three properties of soil C dynamics: 1) soil size fractions have unique molecular patterns that reflect varying degrees of biological and physical control over decomposition; 2) there is a common decomposition sequence independent of plant inputs or other ecosystem properties; and 3) molecular decomposition sequences, although consistent, are not uniform and can be altered by processes that accelerate or slow the microbial transformation of specific molecules. The consequences of this model include several key points. First, lignin presents a constraint to decomposition of plant litter and particulate C (> 53 μm) but exerts little influence on more stable mineral-associated soil fractions
Relationship of glioblastoma multiforme to the lateral ventricles predicts survival following tumor resection

Objective There has been an increased focus on the region adjacent to the lateral ventricles (LV) as a potential source of malignant tumors and/or more aggressive disease. We set out to determine if glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) bordering the LV was associated with decreased survival as compared to non-LV GBM. Methods We reviewed the clinical records of 69 consecutive patients undergoing craniotomy for GBM at a single academic institution. Twenty-six patients were identified with contrast-enhancing lesions (CEL) bor- dering the LV (LV CEL). These 26 patients were matched with 26 patients with CEL not bordering the LV (non-LV CEL). These cohorts were matched for factors consistently shown to be associated with survival, which were age, tumor size, Karnofsky performance score, extent of resection, Gliadel implantation, and Temodar chemotherapy. Overall survival was compared between the cohorts via Log-rank analysis. Results Despite similarities in pre-operative clinical status, tumor size, peri-operative outcome, and treatment regimens, the median survival for patients with LV CEL was signifi- cantly decreased as compared to patients with non-LV CEL (8 months vs. 11 months), P = 0.02. Additionally, survival analysis in patients stratified by primary and secondary resection also demonstrated a strong trend towards decreased survival after resection of LV CEL. After primary and sec- ondary resection, patients with LV CEL versus non-LV CEL had a median survival of 11 months vs. 14 months (P = 0.10) and 7 months vs. 10 months (P = 0.11), respectively. Con- clusion While the causal factors underlying this observation are not provided with this observational study, GBM border- ing the LV may carry a prognostic significance.
Age effects on the predictors of technical workers' commitment and willingness to turnover

Building commitment and preventing costly turnover of technical employees are key challenges facing organizations today. We examine whether the elements of the employment relationship that predict commitment and willingness to change companies vary significantly with age. Using a sample of over 3000 technical professionals from six large companies, we find that in comparison to those under 30, satisfaction with job security is more strongly related to the commitment of more senior workers (ages 31–45 and those over age 45) and to their desire to remain with their companies. In contrast, satisfaction with work–life balance is more strongly related to commitment of those under age 30 than those over 30. Also, for the under-30s, satisfaction with opportunities to develop technical skills and pay linked to individual performance has a stronger negative relationship with willingness to change companies than for those over 45. While statistically significant, the size of the age effects is small, suggesting popular and managerial attention devoted to differences among age groups may be overblown. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New designs for sensory materials: Conducting polymers displaying molecular recognition

The integration of molecular recognition elements into conducting polymers holds great promise for the formation of new types of sensory materials. We describe some of our recent results in this area which focus on producing polymers which are responsive to alkali ions and electron deficient organic molecules.
Information-theoretic perspective of photon-counting integral imaging

Photon-counting integral imaging has been introduced recently and its applications in 3D object sensing, visualization, recognition and classification under photon-starved conditions have been demonstrated. This paper reviews the underlying information-theoretic foundation behind the observation that such complex tasks can be performed by means of imaging with far fewer photons than conventional imaging systems.
Small Satellite Solar Thermal Propulsion System Design: An Engineering Model

This paper presents an initial investigation into the design of a solar thermal propulsion concept for an increasingly important class of spacecrafts. Small satellites have been receiving renewed attention over the last decade. The proposed heat exchanger solar thermal propulsion concept attempts to move away from traditional solar thermal propulsion concepts. In this concept thermal energy in the form of heat is moved from the solar array to the propellant. Excess thermal energy is radiated into space. Initial thrust force and specific impulse values obtained by the use of established mathematical relations, produce numerical values that are not only comparable with the traditional solar thermal concept, but also with other small satellite propulsion types. A small satellite with an on-board propulsion system will expand the capability of small-satellites for the use in formation flying and station keeping. It will also provide a viable option for de-orbit at the end of mission life, thereby contributing to the effective removal of orbital spacecrafts once have completed their missions.
Application of the Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia(CSEA) on Emergency Treatment of Cesarean Section

Objective: Investigation has been made on safety and clinical results of the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia(CSEA) applying to emergency treatment of cesarean section operations.Method: Randomly divided 60 cases necessary for emergency treatment of cesarean section operation into CSEA and epidural anesthesia(EA) groups,where the CSEA group applying 0.75% bupivacaine HCl 8～12mg+10% GS and the EA group applying 2% lidocaine HCL 10～15ml(1/200000 adrenailne HCL),control the anesthetic peak plane of both groups to T6 level,test and record the BP,SPO2,EKG,HR,anesthetic block effect,initial block time,peak plane time of spinal nerve,time between anesthesia and fetus out(I-D),Apgar score of neonate and adverse effects.Result: The time from initial to peak anesthesia of CSEA group is shorter than EA group(P0.01),I – D of CSEA group is shorter than EA group(P0.01),then the anesthetic block effect of CSEA group is better than that of EA group;no substantial difference for APgar Score and adverse effects between the two groups.Conclusion: Combined the advantages of SA and EA,CSEA has the advantages of fast initiation,complete block,less interference to circulation and respiratory systems,and safe to mothers and infants.It is safe and feasible for emergent treatment of cesarean section operations.
Excellence in Spinal Neurosurgery

The New Oxford English Dictionary defines excellence as ‘‘the possession chiefly of good qualities in an eminent or unusual degree surpassing merit or skill.’’ The definition of medicine is ‘‘the art of restoring and preserving health.’’ Consequently, excellence in medicine is the art of restoring and preserving health with surpassing merit or skill. For patients, the price of mediocrity is high if it means morbidity or mortality. Therefore, the cost of mediocrity, in both human and financial terms, is higher than the cost of excellence. Nonetheless, the financial cost of pursuing excellence, particularly when it involves sophisticated methods of diagnosis and treatment, can be high and somehow must be reconciled with the total resources available for health care. 1 Excellence does not translate to the same objective in every situation. The excellence, ie, the goal, of a spine surgeon is not that of a vascular surgeon. The excellence of an internal medicine doctor is not that of a pediatrician. The definition of excellence or the pursuit of excellence involves a struggle to obtain mastery or complete control of doing something considered eminently worth doing. My definition includes that aspect of excellence, but I also define excellence in spinal neurosurgery as a wheel supported by multiple spokes. The spokes consist of leadership, family, physical and mental fitness, mentoring, education, judgment, patient care, research, friendship, obligation to society, and technical mastery.
Urethral Pressure Profiles Before and After Ornade Administration in Patients With Stress Urinary Incontinence

AbstractUrethral pressure profilometry was done on 12 women with stress urinary incontinence and in 6 women with no history of incontinence, before and 1 to 2 hours after the administration of Ornade. Eleven of the 12 women with stress urinary incontinence had increases in the maximal urethral pressure of 20 per cent or more over the control value. Only 1 of the 6 control women exhibited an increase in the maximal urethral pressure of >20 per cent after the administration of Ornade. It is believed that the phenylpropanolamine component of Ornade stimulates α-adrenergic receptors at the vesical neck and in the proximal urethra to achieve the therapeutic effect of reducing or eliminating stress urinary incontinence. This drug is preferred over ephedrine primarily because of its sustained release, allowing dosage twice a day, and because of its relative freedom from side effects.
Joint effects of objectively-measured sedentary time and physical activity on all-cause mortality.

Abstract Objective Examine the joint effects of objectively-measured sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on all-cause mortality. Methods The present study included data from the 2003–2006 National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey, with mortality follow-up data (via National Death Index) through 2011 (N = 5575 U.S. adults). Sedentary time (activity counts/min between 0 and 99) and MVPA (activity counts/min ≥ 2020) were objectively measured using the ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer. Results The median age of the participants was 50 yrs; proportion of men was 50.2%; proportion of whites was 53.8%, 18.7% for blacks; median follow-up was 81 months; and 511 deaths occurred over the follow-up period. After adjusting for age, gender, race-ethnicity, cotinine, weight status, poverty level, C-reactive protein and comorbid illness (summed score of 0–8 chronic diseases), and for a 1 min increase in MVPA and sedentary time, both MVPA (HR adjusted = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96–0.99; P = 0.04) and sedentary time (HR adjusted = 1.001; 95% CI: 1.0003–1.002; P = 0.008) were independently associated with all-cause mortality. Further, MVPA was associated with all-cause mortality among those with greater (above median) sedentary time (HR adjusted = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93–0.97; P adjusted = 0.998; 95% CI: 0.996–1.001; P = .32), but sedentary time was associated with increased mortality risk among those below median levels of MVPA (HR = 1.002; 95% CI: 1.001–1.003; P Conclusions Sedentary time and MVPA are independently associated with all-cause mortality. Above median sedentary time levels did not negate the beneficial effects of MVPA on all-cause mortality risk.
Cardiac CT: present and future applications

### Learning objectives Since its initial introduction about two decades ago, cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has rapidly evolved into one of the most versatile imaging modalities for evaluation of the cardiovascular system. Technical advances including prospective ECG gating, padding, variable pitch, weight-based lowering of tube potential (70 peak kilovoltage (kVp) in select patients) and iterative reconstruction algorithms have led to substantial improvement in image quality while reducing radiation exposure and contrast dose.1–3 Even though 64-slice systems are adequate for most CCT applications, 256-slice and 320-slice systems allow full volume acquisition in one to two cardiac cycles with superior image quality while significantly reducing radiation dose.4 ,5 Dual-source CT systems provide even higher temporal resolution virtually eliminating artefacts caused by high heart rates.6 More recently, multienergy CT has shown the potential for improved characterisation of atherosclerotic plaque and myocardial perfusion imaging.7 ,8 ### Coronary artery imaging #### Coronary artery calcification scoring Accurate quantification of the extent of coronary artery calcification can be performed using ECG-gated non-contrast CT with reasonably low radiation exposure. Coronary artery calcification scoring (CACS) is an established and extensively validated imaging biomarker for cardiovascular risk,9 allowing enhanced risk reclassification for the prediction of all-cause mortality and cardiac-specific mortality in asymptomatic subjects.10–12 The 2010 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recognise CACS as a Class IIa recommendation for screening of asymptomatic adults with intermediate risk (10–20%, 10 years based on Framingham Risk Score) and patients with diabetes; Class IIb recommendation for low-risk individuals (6–10%, 10 years risk) and for individuals who have a family history …
High-resolution compositional remote sensing of the Transantarctic Mountains: application to the WorldView-2 dataset

The WorldView-2 (WV2) instrument, operated by DigitalGlobe, is the only high-resolution multispectral sensor currently capable of imaging the entirety of the Transantarctic Mountains (TAM), making it a valuable resource for remote compositional investigations. Through the utility of both field- and laboratory-based verification techniques, this study shows that biotic and abiotic chemical variations can be readily observed and mapped remotely. Within the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), primary compositional variability, intra-lithologic compositional heterogeneity and variations in surface weathering and oxidation can be successfully identified and mapped, providing confidence in both the spectral capabilities of the WV2 instrument and the methodologies associated with calibrating and correcting these data. These studies within the MDV provide confidence in extending these analyses to more remote regions of the TAM, including the vicinity of Shackleton Glacier. The identification of comparable geochemical variations in these remote locations provides valuable additions to the currently available geologic maps at much lower spatial resolutions. This work confirms the utility of the WV2 instrument to identifying, quantifying and mapping geochemical variations throughout the TAM, supporting future field work and providing geospatial context for localized field and laboratory analyses.
Cluster Chemistry and Isolobal Fragments

This chapter deals with “clusters”, which was famously phrased by a prominent organometallic chemist F. Albert Cotton. A cluster is usually a group of two or more metal atoms where direct and substantial metal bonding is present. They have attracted immense interest among chemists and biologists because of their important role in material and biological functions. A few well-known examples of clusters include iron-sulfur clusters as electron carriers, boron clusters for organic transformations, and zeolites for water purification. Because of their many important applications it is necessary to have knowledge and an understanding of these clusters. Another imperative subject that this section deals with is “isolobal fragments”. These consider the structures of inorganic and organic molecular fragments to predict the bonding properties of organometallic compounds. For further knowledge of chemistry, one must have the basic understanding of these topics.
Uterine Transplantation: Surgical Innovation in the Treatment of Uterine Factor Infertility

Uterine factor infertility (UFI) is a condition that affects thousands of women and is estimated to have a prevalence as high as one in five hundred reproductive-aged women. A wide range of circumstances can lead to UFI and include women with congenital absence of a uterus (Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser or MRKH syndrome), women who have undergone iatrogenic removal of the uterus, or women who have uteri that are in situ but have been damaged by infection or surgical instrumentation. There have been 17 published reports of human uterine transplantation in the world. This article will summarize the history of human uterine transplantation and discuss our current understanding of the medical, surgical, and ethical considerations surrounding this innovative procedure.
Time-varying stochastic and analytical assesment of CVR in DER integrated distribution feeder

Conservation voltage reduction (CVR) is broadly recognized as a smart-grid technique for load and loss minimization by reducing the operational voltage at the distribution substation. Advantages of CVR deployment in distributed energy resource (DER) integrated system are quite substantial due to the power transfer from various locations to the sinks/loads. However, due to the stochastic nature of photovoltaic (PV)/wind based DERs and loads, benefits of CVR might vary from time to time. This paper demonstrates the use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to measure the benefits of CVR at different time instances by estimating the CVR factors, the voltage sensitivity factors, and the loss factor considering load and PV uncertainty. This analysis gives flexibility to the utilities to decide on the timing on CVR arrangements in a specific distribution feeder and good knowledge about CVR benefits for a chosen feeder. Beta and normal distributions are used for solar and load uncertainty modeling, respectively. In addition, the paper provides a probabilistic analysis on the predictive CVR-off operational voltage during the CVR deployment time for approximate estimation of the factors. An existing distribution feeder in Duke Energy's service territory is used to conduct a time-series analysis for analyzing the results.
Exact confidence limits for the probability of response in two-stage designs

In addition to point estimate for the probability of response in a two-stage design (e.g., Simon's two-stage design for a Phase II clinical trial with binary endpoints), confidence limits should be Cute the confidence interval does not guarantee coverage probability in a two-stage setting. The existing exact approach to calculate one-sided limits is based on the overall number of responses to order the sample space. This approach could be conservative because many sample points have the same limits. We propose a new exact one-sided interval based on p-value for the sample space ordering. Exact intervals are computed by using binomial distributions directly, instead of a normal approximation. Both exact intervals preserve the nominal confidence level. The proposed exact interval based on the p-value generally performs better than the other exact interval with regard to expected length and simple average length of confidence intervals. Therefore, the new interval calculation based on p-value is recommended for use in practice.
The Study of Men’s Lives

In this book the lives of a group of men are explored as they pass from early adolescence into early adulthood. The men, all born between 1940 and 1946, became participants in a longitudinal study of development begun in 1955 by Lawrence Kohlberg. At 3- to 4-year intervals for the next 20 years, first as adolescents, then as men, they were intensively interviewed, revealing their values, goals, and perspectives on their lives. In addition, their parents, teachers, and classmates offered information about them through interviews and rating scales. There are literally thousands of pages of information collected from and about these men—transcribed interviews, questionnaires, rating scales, interviewer impressions—and it is possible to follow their lives from early adolescence, when they entered the study, through early adulthood, when the study ended.
Clinical Evaluation of the Genetics of Male Infertility

Clinical evaluation for genetic abnormalities is at the crossroads of investigational and practical patient management. Whereas scientific investigation begs for further evaluation of the likely genetic anomalies that underlie many cases of male infertility, clinical testing and consultation must, wherever possible, be practical and directed toward optimizing patient outcome. Men with congenital obstructive azoospermia as well as patients with severely defective spermatogenesis will commonly have identifiable genetic abnormalities. Men with bilateral congenital absence of the vas deferens are commonly cystic fibrosis (CF) carriers, and their female partner should be tested for CF gene mutations before conception. Severely defective spermatogenesis may reflect a karyotypic abnormality or partial deletion of the Y chromosome. Detection of Y microdeletions or specific chromosome anomalies may affect the chance of sperm retrieval in azoospermic men, whereas it appears that the use of sperm from men with genetic abnormalities does not affect intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes. Specific genetic testing is warranted for certain subsets of infertile men. Other genetic tests (sperm DNA integrity testing, sperm aneuploidy analysis) are being evaluated and may prove to be clinically useful in the future.
2.10 – Mars

Of all the planets, Mars is the most Earthlike, inviting geochemical comparisons. Geochemical data for Mars are derived from spacecraft remote sensing, surface measurements and Martian meteorites. These analyses of exposed crustal materials enable estimates of bulk planet composition and inferences about its iron-rich mantle and core, as well as constraints on planetary differentiation and crust-mantle evolution. Mars probably had an early magma ocean, but there is no evidence for plate tectonics or crustal recycling any time in its history. The crust is basaltic in composition and lithologically heterogeneous, with radiometric crystallization ages ranging from ~4 billion years to within the last several hundred million years. Mantle sources for magmas vary considerably in incompatible element abundances. Although Mars is volatile element-rich, estimations of the amount of water delivered to the surface by volcanism are controversial. Low-temperature aqueous alteration affected the ancient Martian surface, producing clay minerals, sulfates, and other secondary minerals. Weathering and diagenetic trends are distinct from terrestrial chemical alteration, indicating different aqueous conditions. Organic matter has been found in Martian meteorites, but no geochemical signal of life has yet been discovered. Dynamic geochemical cycles for some volatile elements are revealed by stable isotope measurements. Long-term secular changes in chemical and mineralogical compositions of igneous rocks and sediments have been documented but are not well understood.
Invisible Seeds: Life-Concepts in Augustine

Augustine of Hippo marks the boundary between the Hellenistic world and medieval Christendom. He created a new Platonic synthesis of Christianity and Hellenistic philosophy, characterized by a dual creation, hylomorphic biology, and a subjective human soul with both intellect and will. Augustine supported the idea of animal souls and some equivalent organizing principle in plants. His interpretation of invisible seeds and kinds within the invisible creation set up future problems for interpreting biological kinds. His formulation of will and intellect along new, subjective lines changed epistemology and ideas of human identity. It also set the groundwork for Cartesian dualism.
Audio Hiding based on Wavelet Transform and Linear Predictive Coding

In this work an efficient method for hiding a speech in audio is proposed. The features of secret speech is extracted with LPC (Linear Predictive Coding), and these parameters embedded in audio in chaotic order. Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is applied on audio frames to split the signal in high and low frequencies. The embedding parameters are embedded in high frequency. The stego audio is perceptually indistinguishable from the equivalent cover audio. The proposed method allows hiding a same duration of speech (secret) and audio (cover). The stego audio is subjected to objective tests such signal to noise ratio (SNR), signal to noise ratio segmental (SNRseg), Segmental Spectral SNR, Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Correlation (Rxy ) to determine the similarity with original audio .
Initial Upper Paleolithic: A (near) global problem and a global opportunity

Abstract The Initial Upper Paleolithic is an excellent test case for evaluating different approaches to understanding cultural variation and continuity across broad regions. The central questions about the origins of the IUP, namely the roles of cultural transmission and convergence in explaining its broad distribution across Eurasia, are common to many periods and locations. This chapter begins with a brief overview of the concept of the Initial Upper Paleolithic, its history and the features which define it. It then summarizes some of the major research questions about the IUP phenomenon, and details the contributions of the papers in this special issue toward resolving them.
Coherent Elastic Neutrino–Nucleus Scattering

In the SM, CEνNS is mediated via Z0 exchange. Being a neutral current process CEνNS is insensitive to the flavor of the incoming neutrino resulting in an identical scattering cross-section for all neutrino types apart from some minor corrections.
An Exploratory Study Of The Determinants Of Tuition For Online MBA Programs

The number of online MBA programs has increased in recent years while the demand is stabilizing. In light of this trend, the pricing of online MBA programs is an important issue for university administrators and policy makers, who are concerned about program competitiveness and public access to higher education. This study examines the drivers of tuition levels for online MBA programs. Utilizing data from 149 programs in the United States, the influence of various variables on tuition levels is empirically established. The findings indicate that residency and GMAT requirements, as well as enrollment size and student-to-faculty ratio, are important determinants of tuition for online MBA programs. The empirical framework presented in this paper allows university administrators to establish if the tuitions charged for their programs are consistent with market norms, and thereby determine the potential need for adjustment in tuition levels.
A Lesson Before Dying: Embracing Innovations for Community Engagement as a Survival Strategy for Media in Crisis

As media organizations confront an uncertain future unleashed by disruptive technologies, they are searching for ways to successfully navigate the changing information landscape. This paper argues that one way out of the present crises is for media to embrace a culture of innovation and use engaging communication technologies that are mutually beneficial to the media and to the communities they serve. The paper maps trends in media innovations and then reports on a unique innovation project that designed a new digital tool to help media re- engage their communities in new ways. The success of the project suggests that innovative tools and services that are specifically geared towards community engagement can provide a lifeline for media in crises as well as transform community news, information distribution and visualization, and impact community conversations, making new media technology a valued ally to media organizations and communities rather than a disruptive threat.
Affordable photolithography with biomedical applications

In this work we present an affordable approach for developing a photolithography system with the capability of producing samples with a minimum feature size down to 30 /spl/mu/m while staying within a budget of $5000.00. Such a system will provide a cost-effective method for creating micro-scale biomedical devices. To improve the system robustness, a dose control system was developed to compensate for fluctuations in the power of the light source. To demonstrate the system's performance, a set of inertial focusing devices were fabricated.
Barriers to College and Health Care Careers Among US Students From a Rural Community.

Introduction Despite rural origin being a strong predictor of rural practice for health care professionals, rural students face educational barriers and are underrepresented in medical schools. The aim of this study was to identify rural high school students' perceived barriers to college and health-related careers and compare whether perceptions were similar based on gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and parental education. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey of all high school students from one rural Michigan community. The survey included 13 multiple-choice and 5 short-answer questions. We compared results using χ2 analysis and logistic regression. Free-text answers were grouped thematically and analyzed for patterns. Results Survey response rate was 97.1% (506/521); 45.3% (229/506) of students were contemplating health care careers. Rural females were more likely to plan on college (females 83.9%, males 75.6%, P=0.03) and to contemplate a health care career (females 64.1%, males 25.2%, P<0.01). Students of lower SES and those who would be first-generation college students were less likely to plan on college (SES: low 76.8%, high 84.7%, P=.04; parental college: yes 84.4%, no 72.0%, P<0.01), although they were equally likely as other students to consider a health care career. Gender and parental education were significant independent predictors of plans for college; female gender was the only significant predictor for health care interest. The most frequently reported barrier to post-high school education was financial, and for health care training, it was academic success. Conclusions Rural students are interested in health-related careers. Addressing perceived academic and financial barriers for students from high-need rural communities may inform targeted interventions to increase the rural health care workforce.