cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Barriers to Discharge in Geriatric Long Staying Inpatient and Emergency Department Admissions: A Descriptive Study

Background: This study describes long length of stay during emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions, barriers to discharge, and discharge solutions for geriatric patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical record review of a random sample of 150 ED patients and 150 inpatients with long length of stay (LOS) encounters. Cohorts were characterized by demographics, social determinants of health (e.g., health insurance, housing), medical comorbidities at admission, discharge care coordination, and final disposition. Results: In the ED, the primary barrier to discharge was inadequate inpatient bed availability (63%). In the inpatient setting, barriers to discharge were predominantly due to a demonstrated medical requirement for continued hospitalization (55%), followed by difficulty with coordinating discharge to a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation center (22%). Discussion: Among long LOS ED patients, discharge delays were often the result of unavailable inpatient beds and services. Reducing the LOS for ED patients may require further investigation as to which hospital services are most frequently utilized by geriatric patients and structuring inpatient bed allocation to prevent extended patient boarding in the ED. Reducing long inpatient LOS may require early identification of high-risk patients and strengthening of relationships with community-based services.
Transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by actinomycetes isolated from TNT-contaminated and uncontaminated environments

Actinomycete strains isolated from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated and uncontaminated environments were compared for TNT tolerance and abilities to transform TNT. Regardless of previous TNT exposure history, no significant differences in TNT tolerance were seen among strains. Selected strains did not significantly mineralize [14C]TNT. The actinomycetes did, however, transform TNT into reduced intermediates. The data indicate that, in actinomycete-rich aerobic environments like composts, actinomycetes will transform TNT into intermediates which are known to form recalcitrant polymers.
USB3.1 transmitter compliance specification definition methodology

This paper demonstrates the modeling methodology of the transmitter compliance test and the full link test which is used to develop the 10Gbps USB3.1 compliance specification and the reference equalization.
What Lies Beneath: A Case for Disaggregated Analysis in Evaluating Structural Policy Shifts

Much of the theoretical and empirical research regarding the impact of policy shifts on the economies of developing countries has tended to focus on macrolevel aggregates, without adequate attention to sectoral-level dynamics. In the research in which such dynamics are emphasized, the focus has primarily been on the Latin American experience, where macroeconomic instability can be attributed to the impact of structural reforms on the sectoral-level dynamics of these economies. What appears to be missing from the present research is an adequate consideration of scenarios in which seemingly positive trends in macrolevel aggregates can sometimes mask problems of concentrated productivity and employment growth that exist at the sectoral level. This paper seeks to address this aspect more closely. By focusing on the Indian manufacturing sector in the pre- and postliberalization periods, this paper shows that positive trends in aggregate productivity may sometimes hide problems of structural heterogeneity and c...
Interpreting learning control of molecular fragmentation

This presentation will focus on progress toward uncovering the physical mechanisms underlying control in a series of closed loop molecular fragmentation experiments using shaped ultrafast laser pulses.
Grazing Impacts of Diverse Zooplankton Taxa on Thin Layers

Abstract : The US Navy needs to know how distributions and abundances of light-scattering and sound-scattering organisms in the ocean vary in space and time, particularly in the vertical dimension. Recent field observations have shown that many biological properties may vary substantially over small (e.g. centimeter) scales, commonly referred to as "thin layers" (e.g. Cowles et al. 1998, 1999, Hanson & Donaghay 1998, Holliday et al. 1999, Dekshenieks et al. 2001, Alldredge et al. 2002, Rines et al. 2002). Our previous ONR-funded research has allowed us to begin to understand how zooplankton interact with thin layers and how they can take advantage of biomass of prey concentrated in these small-scale features (Avent et al. 1998, Bollens 2000, Bochdansky & Bollens 2004, Clay et al. 2004, Ignoffo et al., 2005). However, there is almost no information regarding how zooplankton can influence the characteristics and persistence of thin layers. In this project we proposed to address this issue, with two main long-term goals: First, to determine to what extent zooplankton graze and export carbon from thin layers; and second, to determine whether and how zooplankton influence the physical (e.g. optical and acoustical), chemical, and biological characteristics of thin layers with their presence. These goals require determination of rate processes such as feeding activity and excretion, which are very difficult to assess in the field. Thus our research is focused on detailed experimental studies of biological rate processes and behaviors that contribute to the recycling and expert of material in and around thin layers.
A simulation-based virtual environment to study cooperative robotic systems

Simulation plays important roles in experimenting with, understanding, and evaluating the performance of cooperative robotic systems. Typically, simulation-based studies of robotic systems are conducted on the computer, without involving any real system components. This paper presents a new hybrid approach to simulation that allows real robots as well as robot models to work together in a simulation-based virtual environment. This capability of robot-in-the-loop simulation effectively bridges conventional simulation and real system execution, augmenting them to constitute an incremental study and measurement process. It is especially useful for large-scale cooperative robotic systems whose complexity and scalability severely limit experimentations in a physical environment using real robots. We present the architecture of this simulation-based virtual environment that, together with an incremental study process and associated experimental frames, can support systematic analysis of cooperative robotic systems. An example of robotic convoy is provided. Some measurement metrics are developed and simulation results are described. An experimental setup for robot-in-the-loop simulation is discussed.
Revolutions in Twentieth-Century Physics, by David J. Griffiths: Scope: general interest. Level: general readership, non-specialists, pre-university

In the preface of this book, it is described as ‘intended for anyone with a serious interest in the great ideas that have shaped modern physics’. The ‘serious’ should be noted; while the level of t...
Regulation of renal pelvic pressure by diuresis and micturition

The influence of the voiding cycle and diuresis on the hydrodynamic pressures of the renal pelvis in the multicalyceal kidney of miniature pigs has been examined. Identification of the pressure patterns characteristic of the renal pelvis with an undisturbed pelviureteric and ureterovesical junction was emphasized. The frequency and amplitude of contractions in the renal pelvis were measured bilaterally. The patterns of renal pelvic pressure changes were interpreted during bladder filling and emptying and diuresis to evaluate the mechanisms facilitating the pressure isolation of the upper urinary tract. These studies were undertaken in the awake pig equipped with a long-term radiotelemetry implant transmitting renal pelvic and urinary bladder pressure. The results show that renal pelvic contractions are low-pressure events having an amplitude of 10.3 +/- 4.2 cmH2O and a frequency of 6.6 +/- 0.7 contractions/min. During basal hydration, the process of renal pelvic filling and emptying is active, with rhythmic pelvic contractions. The left and right renal pelvis demonstrate approximately equal frequency, 1.04:1.00, but are not synchronous. Furosemide-stimulated diuresis produces radical changes in the renal pelvis by transforming emptying from an active to passive mode and facilitating the transmission of voiding pressures and spontaneous bladder pressures to the kidney.
Within salvation: girl hawkers and the colonial state in development era Lagos.

On October 6, 1946, the Lagos Daily Service newspaper published an unsigned letter from one of its readers who wrote in to complain about a controversial new Lagos Township ordinance, the Children and Young Person’s Ordinance of 1943. Although the law had been passed three years prior, it had gone un-enforced pending the end of the Second World War. When it was finally put into effect, contemporaries observed that it featured two fundamental innovations in child welfare legislation for colonial Lagos.
A solar heater for disinfesting stored cowpeas on subsistence farms

Abstract The construction and testing of a solar heater for eliminating Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) infestations in 50 kg cowpea bulks is described. Research station and on-farm experiments at four different sites in northern Cameroon demonstrated the effectiveness of the solar heater in eliminating C. maculatus infestations. The heaters made of solar radiation-absorbing black plastic covered with a sheet of clear plastic to trap the solar radiation attained temperatures lethal to C. maculatus larvae on four different test dates. On-farm tests coupled with farmer feedback provided evidence that these solar heaters are a practical and useful new approach to preserving cowpeas for use by low resource producers.
Simulating the effect of the two-spin approximation on the generation of protein structures from NOE data

The use of structural information derived from NMR data, when combined with computer modeling techniques, has enabled the structures of many proteins to be determined ( 1-6). Among the most useful structural information is interproton distances which can be derived from nuclear Overhauser enhancement experiments. For small rigid molecules, the intensity of the NOE between protons i andj is proportional to the inverse sixth power of the distance between the two protons. In macromolecules, indirect magnetization transfer (spin diffusion) from nearby protons and intramolecular dynamics affect the magnitude of the NOE between protons i andj and contribute to errors in estimating interproton distances from NOE cross peaks ( 7-9). Several methods have been proposed for dealing with the spin-diffusion problem. These methods make use of the relaxation matrix to incorporate multispin effects (10-14). The simplest but least systematic approach is to calculate a theoretical spectrum from the relaxation matrix using a trial structure, and to adjust distances by trial and error between pairs of protons whose calculated cross peaks have the largest deviations from the experimental values ( 15-18). In another approach theoretical cross peaks from a trial structure are merged with experimental NOES ( I2,19,20), and after the solution of the Bloch equations is inverted to obtain the relaxation matrix, the resulting distances can be added as constraints in a molecular-dynamics or distance geometry refinement. The most rigorous and computationally intensive procedures involve the direct refinement of calculated against experimental NOE spectra, either by analytically evaluating the gradients of the calculated NOES with respect to coordinates (21-23) or by using a Monte-Carlo procedure (24). Despite the recent focus on incorporating spin-diffusion effects in the refinement of macromolecular structures, it is unclear how much error is introduced by spin diffusion. This is of interest because, although the direct refinement of calculated against experimental NOE intensities is in principle the more “correct” procedure, it is much more computationally intensive than re-
New Perspectives on Faculty Evaluation: Systemic Change and Enduring Values

ABSTRACT We have inherited an educational architecture that, ironically, often gets in the way of its reason for being—to improve and expand learning. Organizational theorists call this classic trait of bureaucracies “goal displacement.” (O'Banion and Milliron in College Conversations on Learning; League of Innovation Learning Abstract)
Elastic Scattering Angular Distributions of Fast Neutrons on Light Nuclei

New measurements of the total cross section of ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}$ (resolution 4 kev) give maxima of 7.75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20 barns ($\ensuremath{\Gamma}=25$ kev) and 5.25\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20 barns ($\ensuremath{\Gamma}=8$ kev) for the 0.62 Mev and 0.81 Mev resonances, consistent with $J=3$ and $J=2$ for the respective compound state spin values. Elastic scattering angular distributions indicate that the 0.62-Mev resonance may be formed by $p$-wave neutrons with the $s$-wave potential scattering (${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}54.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$) spin-dependent and all channel spin 1, or possibly by $d$-wave neutrons with the resonance scattering all channel spin 2. Potential scattering phase shifts for ${\mathrm{B}}^{10}$ are ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}53.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ at 0.55 Mev; ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}60.7\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{1}=\ensuremath{-}4.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ at 1.00 Mev; and ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}66.9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{1}=\ensuremath{-}10.3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, and ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{2}=\ensuremath{-}2.9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ at 1.50 Mev. The 0.43-Mev resonance in ${\mathrm{B}}^{11}$, agrees with a $J=2$, $l=1$ assignment, while the 1.28-Mev resonance is best fitted by $J=3$, $l=2$; with a mixing ratio of channel spin 2 equal to 10 times channel spin 1. Potential scattering is nearly all $s$-wave up to 1.50 Mev where ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ has pure $s$-wave scattering at 0.55 Mev (${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}50.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$) and 1.00 Mev (${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}68.9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$), and at 1.50 Mev a small amount of $p$-wave appears, (${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}79.4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{1}=\ensuremath{-}5.7\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$). In general the observed $s$-wave phase shifts are larger than those calculated from a hard sphere model, whereas the $p$- and $d$-wave phase shifts are smaller.
The Pb207/Pb206 ages of some stone meteorites

Abstract The isotopic compositions have been determined for the leads isolated from three stone meteorites. Based upon certain assumptions, Pb 207 /Pb 206 ages of about 4.5 × 10 9 years are calculated for the meteorites. The lead data indicate that the concentrations of uranium should be about 0.1 p.p.m. and the concentrations of thorium should be about 0.5 p.p.m. in stone meteorites.
Comparing loop diuretics in chronic kidney disease.

To the Editor: Vasavada et al1 recently concluded that one must administer twice as much oral furosemide as oral torsemide to induce a similar acute natriuresis in patients with chronic kidney disease. It is therefore difficult to understand why the investigators chose to administer 40 mg of torsemide once a day and 40 mg of furosemide twice a day in the chronic phase of the study. Based on their bioequivalency data, one would predict that each 40 mg dose of furosemide was much less potent than each 40 mg dose of torsemide. Because of its short duration of action, doses of furosemide that are too small to be effective will still be ineffective even if given twice a day; the first goal of diuretic therapy is to find an effective single dose2. Furthermore, "there were no differences in [electrolyte] excretion rate profiles between the diuretics." Therefore, it is incorrect to assume that bioequivalent single doses (80 mg of furosemide and 40 mg of torsemide) will still be therapeutically equivalent when one diuretic is given as a single daily dose while the other is given in divided doses. In this study, because each 40 mg dose of furosemide probably induced a smaller natriuresis than each 40 mg dose of torsemide, one would predict that postdiuretic sodium retention was greater with torsemide than with furosemide. And because torsemide was given only once a day, these predictions may explain why neither diuretic induced a fall in body weight. In my view, the proper comparison would have been to compare bioequivalent doses of furosemide and torsemide, both given once or both given twice a day.
Sketching culture, sketching nature: uncovering anchors of everyday nature for urban youth

There has, historically, been considerable uncertainty over the meaning of ‘urban nature’ and, therefore, the extent to which culture and nature are bound in the urban setting. We explore, in this paper, the spatiality of everyday nature as experienced by youth in an urban setting. To do so, we draw on the results of a participatory mapping activity that was designed to elicit information about where youth felt most connected to nature while in the city. Using sketch-map survey instruments, we collected hand-drawn responses from forty-three high school students in the downtown core of Tacoma, Washington. Data were digitized and analyzed in a GIS, and results were revealing of the contingency of the ‘nature’ concept in urban space as well as the centrality of ‘loose’ space to urban experiences that are evocative of being in nature.
Can the Course of Chronic Renal Disease Be Modified by Therapeutic Intervention

I N RENAL DISEASES characterized by irreversible renal injury the presence of renal insufficiency is an ominous sign since a steady decline in renal function is usually the inevitable clinical course. In some types of renal disease, such as severe proliferative glomerulonephritis and polycystic nephropathy, it seems likely that progressive destruction of the renal parenchyma results from the initial underlying disease. In other types, however, characterized primarily by interstitial scarring and glomerular sclerosis the cause of progressive deterioration of renal tissue has been less apparent. Nevertheless, previous studies have shown that in most patients with chronic glomerulonephritis, reflux nephropathy and similar types of renal disease, renal function decreases in a linear fashion in individual patients, although the rate of decline differs among patients. Recent experimental evidence suggests that progressive renal disease may, at least in part, reflect a pathogenic mechanism that is independent of the original disease. In addition, these studies indicate that therapeutic manipUlations in diet, by reductions in protein intake and/or phosphate intake can markedly attenuate the natural course of chronic renal insufficiency. These data therefore, provide the exciting possibility that the clinical course of at least some groups of patients with chronic renal disease may be alterable through changes in diet. In this Controversy Section two laboratories in the forefront of these experimental studies review evidence demonstrating that the natural course of several experimental models of chronic renal failure can be modified by dietary manipulation, and provide arguments for the factor(s) which are most likely responsible for the progressive nature of the destructive lesion . The potential clinical implication of these experimental studies is clearly evident and, hopefully, will be tested in future clinical trials.
CESIUM EXTRACTION FROM A NOVEL CHEMICAL DECONTAMINATION PROCESS SOLVENT USING MAGNETIC MICROPARTICLES

The chemical, 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDPA), has been the subject of recent publications and patents regarding decontamination and decommissioning applications, and its superiority as a decontamination agent has been highlighted in various field demonstrations. To recycle the aqueous HEDPA solvent and/or facilitate waste formation, it would be advantageous to remove dissolved radionuclides that originated from the contaminated surfaces. Cesium isotopes (137, 135Cs) comprise the vast majority of radioactivity found in potential applications at nuclear power facilities. The present study evaluated magnetic microparticles containing embedded silicotitanate powders for uptake of 137Cs from HEDPA solution. Results indicate that the kinetics are rapid, reaching ∼95% of equilibrium within 10 min. The distribution coefficient (K d) was between 3000 and 10,000 mL/g (90–98% 137Cs removed) depending on particle mass-to-solution volume ratios. The excellent sorption of 137Cs indicates that particle ba...
Effects of Pure Tone Synchronous and Delayed Auditory Feedback on Keytapping Performance to a Programmed Visual Stimulus

Thirty-two female subjects tapped on a felt-padded key to a programmed repetitive flashing visual signal under various conditions of pure tone SAF and DAF. Two SLs of sound, 20 dB and 60 dB, and se...
Short-term environmental enrichment decreases the mnemonic response to estrogen in young, but not aged, female mice.

The present study was designed to examine if 4 weeks of exposure to an enriched housing environment affects the ability of estrogen to facilitate object recognition in young and aged female mice. Object recognition was tested using a novel object recognition task. Ovariectomized young and aged female mice were maintained in standard or enriched housing for 4 weeks prior to and then throughout object recognition testing. Immediately after training, mice were injected intraperitoneally with vehicle or 0.2 mg/kg 17 β-estradiol and then were re-tested 24 and 48 h later. Among young females, estradiol alone improved object recognition at both delays relative to chance, an effect not present in enriched females treated with estradiol. Enrichment alone had no significant effect on object recognition in young females at either delay. In contrast, enrichment alone in aged females significantly enhanced both 24- and 48-h object recognition relative to chance, an effect not present in mice treated with both enrichment and estradiol. Estradiol alone had no effect on object recognition in aged females at either delay. Together, these data indicate that estradiol and enrichment alone differentially affect object recognition in young and aged females. However, the fact that the combination of estradiol and enrichment treatments did not affect object recognition at either age suggests that co-administration of both treatments is less effective than the most effective single treatment at each age.
Slow-transit constipation

Idiopathic slow-transit constipation is a clinical syndrome predominantly affecting women, characterized by intractable constipation and delayed colonic transit. This syndrome is attributed to disordered colonic motor function. The disorder spans a spectrum of variable severity, ranging from patients who have relatively mild delays in transit but are otherwise indistinguishable from irritable bowel syndrome to patients with colonic inertia or chronic megacolon. The diagnosis is made after excluding colonic obstruction, metabolic disorders (hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia), drug-induced constipation, and pelvic floor dysfunction (as discussed by Wald ). Most patients are treated with one or more pharmacologic agents, including dietary fiber supplementation, saline laxatives (milk of magnesia), osmotic agents (lactulose, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol 3350), and stimulant laxatives (bisacodyl and glycerol). A subtotal colectomy is effective and occasionally is indicated for patients with medically refractory, severe slow-transit constipation, provided pelvic floor dysfunction has been excluded or treated.
Toward comparison-based adaptive operator selection

Adaptive Operator Selection (AOS) turns the impacts of the applications of variation operators into Operator Selection through a Credit Assignment mechanism. However, most Credit Assignment schemes make direct use of the fitness gain between parent and offspring. A first issue is that the Operator Selection technique that uses such kind of Credit Assignment is likely to be highly dependent on the a priori unknown bounds of the fitness function. Additionally, these bounds are likely to change along evolution, as fitness gains tend to get smaller as convergence occurs. Furthermore, and maybe more importantly, a fitness-based credit assignment forbid any invariance by monotonous transformation of the fitness, what is a usual source of robustness for comparison-based Evolutionary Algorithms. In this context, this paper proposes two new Credit Assignment mechanisms, one inspired by the Area Under the Curve paradigm, and the other close to the Sum of Ranks. Using fitness improvement as raw reward, and directly coupled to a Multi-Armed Bandit Operator Selection Rule, the resulting AOS obtain very good performances on both the OneMax problem and some artificial scenarios, while demonstrating their robustness with respect to hyper-parameter and fitness transformations. Furthermore, using fitness ranks as raw reward results in a fully comparison-based AOS with reasonable performances.
Congenital muscular torticollis and sternomastoid tumor: results of nonoperative treatment

Abstract Background: Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) and sternocleidomastoid tumor of infancy remains to be one of the mysteries of pediatric surgery. Its cause is still debated and its management is controversial. Methods: Fifty-seven infants and children treated consecutively for sternomastoid tumors and CMT over a 5-year period (1992 to 1997) at the Pediatric Surgery Clinic of Social Security Council Ankara Children's Hospital are reviewed. The obstetric history was recorded in 48 patients. A lump in the neck, head tilt, plagiocephaly, and facial asymmetry were reasons for refferal correlating with the age of admission. Under 18 months of age passive and active stretching exercses (PSE and ASE) were initiated in all of the cases. Results: In 28 children under the age of 3 months the outcome was excellent with none needing surgery. Successively 25% of the 3- to 6-month-old infants, 70% of the 6- to 18-month-old children, and 100% of all the older children required surgery. Spontaneous normal vaginal delivery was recorded in 23 of 48 (48%) cases, whereas vaginal vacuum extraction in four cases, vaginal forceps in six, vaginal as breech in two, and caesarean section in 11 was noted. Conclusions: It was concluded that PSE and ASE are highly effective for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis. The success rate of conservative treatment is primarily dependent on the patients' age at the initiation of exercises. The hypothesis of injury through the birth canal and intrauterine malposition are valid only in 12 (25%) and 13 (27%) of cases, respectively. Therefore, it is difficult to attribute as an etiologic factor.
Recent deformation rates on Venus

Constraints on the recent geological evolution of Venus may be provided by quantitative estimates of the rates of the principal resurfacing processes, volcanism and tectonism. This paper focuses on the latter, using impact craters as strain indicators. The total postimpact tectonic strain lies in the range 0.5-6.5%, which defines a recent mean strain rate of 10(exp -18)-10(exp -17)/s when divided by the mean surface age. Interpretation of the cratering record as one of pure production requires a decline in resurfacing rates at about 500 Ma (catastrophic resurfacing model). If distributed tectonic resurfacing contributed strongly before that time, as suggested by the widespread occurrence of tessera as inliers, the mean global strain rate must have been at least approximately 10(exp -15)/s, which is also typical of terrestrial active margins. Numerical calculations of the response of the lithosphere to inferred mantle convective forces were performed to test the hypothesis that a decrease in surface strain rate by at least two orders of magnitude could be caused by a steady decline in heat flow over the last billion years. Parameterized convection models predict that the mean global thermal gradient decreases by only about 5 K/km over this time; even with the exponential dependence of viscosity upon temperature, the surface strain rate drops by little more than one order of magnitude. Strongly unsteady cooling and very low thermal gradients today are necessary to satisfy the catastrophic model. An alternative, uniformitarian resurfacing hypothesis holds that Venus is resurfaced in quasi-random 'patches' several hundred kilometers in size that occur in response to changing mantle convection patterns.
Brain Activation and Sentence Comprehension

Letters from: [ Brenda Rapp and Michael McCloskey ][1] [ M. A. Just, et al. ][1] In their report “Brain activation modulated by sentence comprehension” ([4 Oct., p. 114][2]), M. A. Just et al . conclude that “[t]he answer to the question of how the brain responds to increased
Inclusion or Mini-root Homograft Aortic Valve Replacement

The insertion of a cryopreserved aortic homograft valve by the mini-root or inclusion cylinder technique is used less frequently than either the scalloped free-hand technique or the total root replacement. Indications for the use of the mini-root or cylinder inclusion technique are relatively infrequent. This procedure is a compromise between the scalloped technique and the root technique and is, therefore, useful in patients who have an aortic root that measures 27 mm to 31 mm in diameter and, thus, would be a bit large for the scallop technique. The mini-root is also somewhat helpful in the moderately distorted aortic root. It has the advantage of an inclusion technique, and therefore, bleeding from the root after insertion is not seen. In some situations, the mini-root inclusion technique may solve problems of distortion, enlarged or bulbous sinuses of Valsalva, or small root abscesses.
Group II Tris(glycolato)silicates as Precursors to Silicate Glasses and Ceramics

Group II tris(glycolato)silicates, MSi(OCH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}O){sub 3} (where M = Ba, Ca, Mg), can be synthesized directly by reaction of silica with ethylene glycol and alkaline-earth (group II) oxides at 200 C. These hexa-alkoxy silicates serve as precursors to silicate glass and ceramic powders. They are readily modified by exchange with longer-chain diols into proper precursors. These rheologically useful precursors may provide access to silicate or aluminosilicate powders, thin films, fibers, and coatings. Thus, the authors have examined the utility of hexacoordinate glycolatosilicates as model precursors. Pyrolysis of the compounds, MSi(OCH{sub 2}CH{sub 2})O{sub 3}, in air transforms them to their anticipated ceramic products, MO{center_dot}SiO{sub 2}. The phase transformation and chemical changes that occur during pyrolysis were characterized using X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hexacoordinate glycolatosilicates oxidatively decompose at {approx}300 C to form amorphous materials. Moderate to significant quantities of the group II carbonates, MCO{sub 3} (15--50 wt%), form coincidentally as the amorphous intermediates trap CO{sub 2} generated by ligand oxidation. At {approx}900 C, the amorphous materials crystallize into the expected, phase-pure, MO{center_dot}SiO{sub 2}.
Tissue coexpression of LBP and CD14 mRNA in a mouse model of sepsis.

Abstract Background.Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) markedly increases the sensitivity of immune cells to LPS and CD14 expression correlates with cellular responsiveness to LPS. LBP gene expression can be induced in multiple organs following injury and CD14 upregulation on monocytes correlates with the infection and mortality rates in severely injured patients. We sought to determine the time-course induction of LBP and CD14 gene expression following experimental peritonitis. Material and methods.BALB/c mice were subjected to laparotomy alone or laparotomy with cecal ligation and puncture and treated with Imipenem. At serial time points, animals were sacrificed and tissues harvested for isolation of RNA and protein. LBP, CD14, and cytokine mRNAs were analyzed by Northern blot analysis and TaqMan fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. Results.LBP and CD14 mRNA levels were significantly increased in all three organs from CLP mice compared to sham-operated mice. IL-1 mRNA levels increased in all three organs following CLP with significantly higher levels found in the lungs compared to the kidney and liver. No significant differences were noted in local TNF mRNA levels. Conclusions.LBP, CD14, and IL-1 mRNA levels are induced concurrently in the lung, kidney, and liver after cecal ligation and puncture. Given the synergistic affect of LBP and CD14 in potentiating LPS-induced production of inflammatory cytokines and the hypothesized role of such cytokines in the etiology of MSOF following injury and sepsis, our findings suggest a mechanism by which these organs may be rendered more susceptible to a “second hit” from endotoxemia after initial injury.
Whole bladder photodynamic therapy for transitional cell carcinoma of bladder

Abstract Our preliminary studies indicate that the bulb-tip technique for whole bladder photodynamic therapy (PDT) illuminates the entire bladder mucosa and is applicable to the managemenent of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. This treatment modality may be an option to patients whoie are failures to other standard treatments. A randomized clinical study is needed to decide on PDT as a primary treatment oc choice for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Isolation of an ATPase from the membrane complex of the hen's egg.

Abstract The ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) activity of the vitelline-plasma membrane complex markedly increases at the time of ovulation. A fraction, high in ATPase activity, that remains in the supernatant after centrifugation at 100000 × g for 60 min, can be isolated from this membrane complex. The method for solubilizing this fraction utilizes repeated extraction in buffered KCl and differential centrifugation, a procedure analogous to that used to solubilize muscle. ATPase. The solubilized fraction provides three bands on gel electrophoresis and demonstrates a 30-fold increase in activity over the bound fraction. It is stable during storage at 4° for many days. The fraction can be isolated from the unfertilized egg and appears to differ from the cleavage-membrane ATPase of the fertilized egg.
Identification of the fusion-from-without determinants of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein B

Fusion-from-without (FFWO) is the rapid induction of cell fusion at high multiplicities of infection and in the absence of viral protein synthesis. The ANG path strain and several other strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) effectively cause FFWO of Vero cells. FFWO-inducing strains of HSV-1 contain syncytial mutations in the gB cytoplasmic domain; however, not all strains with such syncytial mutations cause FFWO. By characterization of recombinant viruses containing chimeric gB genes, it was shown that determinants in both the gB ectodomain and gB cytoplasmic domain control the FFWO phenotype of HSV-1. The complete nucleotide sequence of the ANG path gB gene was determined. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of ANG path gB with other HSV-1 gB sequences showed that the gB genes of FFWO-inducing viruses must contain both syncytial mutations in the gB cytoplasmic domain and the fast rate-of-entry determinant at residue 553 in the gB ectodomain.
Crystal Structure and Morphology of Nanocrystalline TiN Thin Films

Titanium nitride (TiN) thin films were grown employing radiofrequency (RF) magnetron sputtering under varying nitrogen gas flow rates. Characterization of the grown materials was done by grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the crystal structure and texture of the grown TiN layers are dependent on the ratio of nitrogen to argon in the reactive gas mixture during deposition. TiN coatings initially showed (111) preferred orientation, then mixed (111) and (002) texturing, followed by completely (002) texturing with increasing nitrogen content. The analyses indicate that the nitrogen incorporation into the layers and the associated chemistry determine the texturing and lattice parameters.
Child’s Weight Status and Parent’s Response to a School-Based Body Mass Index Screening and Parent Notification Program:

This study examined the response of parents of elementary school-aged children to a school-based body mass index (BMI) screening and parent notification program conducted in one Minnesota school district in 2010-2011 and whether parent's response was moderated by child's weight status. Randomly selected parents (N = 122) of second- and fourth-grade students completed a mailed self-administered anonymous survey. Child's weight status was determined using measured height and weight. Most parents read the BMI notification letter and considered it helpful, independent of child's weight status. Parents of overweight children were significantly more likely than parents of normal weight children to report healthy lifestyle changes. This low-intensity intervention has the potential to support children, especially overweight children, and their parents to make healthy lifestyle changes. Future studies should investigate whether parent's response contributes to improved short- and long-term health outcomes for children.
GAY-RELATED THEMES IN THE FAIRY TALES OF OSCAR WILDE

IT IS A CRITICAL COMMONPLACE that homosexuality — or, to use a more common term of the period, “male love” — appears as a theme in certain of Oscar Wilde’s works.1 It is also a critical commonplace that many Victorian readers were aware of this fact.2 Scant attention, however, has been given to homosexual themes in Wilde’s first book, his 1888 collection of fairy tales, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, which he supplemented in 1891 with a second collection, A House of Pomegranates. The lack of critical attention is surprising, considering that the fairy tales not only mark the beginning of Wilde’s “reputation as an author” (Ellmann 299), but were written in the wake of his first homosexual experience — with Robert Ross in 1886 — a coincidence which gives us grounds to expect, or at least suspect, the presence of homosexual themes.3
Fast finite element far-field computations for electromagnetics

Summary form only given. Often the end product of an electromagnetic simulation is a far-field quantity such as antenna gain, radiated power or radar cross section (RCS). When the underlying CEM solver is a frequency domain finite element method which solves for the near-field electric fields, an extra near-to-far-field transformation step must be invoked for each frequency and excitation. Traditionally this step involves the integration of equivalent electric and magnetic currents over a surface enclosing the object under investigation. However, the challenge of evaluating such radiation integrals is two-fold: (1) The presence of the curl operator in the evaluation of the equivalent electric currents reduces its effective approximation order leading to inaccuracies; (2) The numerical integration of the radiation integrals could be time consuming since the integration work for a single observation direction scales quadratically with electric size, i.e. O(kd)2 and the angular sampling of the Ewald sphere increases linearly O(kd), leading to a total of O(N2) operations (where N is the number of equivalent surface current samples). These effects are further exacerbated over wide bandwidths, and multi-port excitations, severely slowing down computations.To combat this unfavorable complexity, Stephenson in (M. Stephenson, OSU, Thesis, 2007) used a divide-and-conquer algorithm along with fast interpolations, similar in spirit to the fast multipole method, to compute the radiation integrals over the Ewald sphere at O(N1.5) cost. Following a completely different vision, Monk in (P. Monk et al., Journal of Computational Physics, pp.614-641, 2001) proposed a variational computation of the near-to-far-field transform for TVFEM that improves accuracy. Following Monk's approach, we propose a variational near-to-far-field transform that leverages the benefits of model order reduction (MOR) in both frequency and observation angle parameters. The method is based on a simple and elegant matrix representation of the near-to-far-field transform that requires only sparse matrix vector multiplications instead of integral evaluations. The paper, first outlines previous research on this topic, and then proceed by formulating the fast near-to-far-field transformation in the context of second-order tangential vector finite elements. Results from phased arrays and scattering problems will be used to showcase the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed methodology.
Protein carboxymethylation: Effects of 2% sodium chloride administration on protein carboxymethylase and its endogenous substrates in rat posterior pituitary

Abstract Protein carboxymethylase and methyl acceptor proteins have been studied in the posterior pituitary of control and NaCl treated rats. Salt loading stimulates the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial axis causing the secretion of neurohypophysial peptides. Under these conditions there was a progressive decrease of methyl acceptor proteins with the greatest fall occurring between 1 and 2 days after salt loading. Electrophoretic analysis of the methyl acceptor proteins showed a single major peak of methylated proteins accounting for up to 80% of the total radioactivity. The molecular weight (11,000) and the disappearance of this peak after salt loading suggested that this methyl acceptor protein is neurophysin. After prolonged stimulation of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial axis there was a progressive increase in protein carboxymethylase specific activity.
Numerical methods for solving moment equations in kinetic theory of neuronal network dynamics

Recently developed kinetic theory and related closures for neuronal network dynamics have been demonstrated to be a powerful theoretical framework for investigating coarse-grained dynamical properties of neuronal networks. The moment equations arising from the kinetic theory are a system of (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations (PDE) on a bounded domain with nonlinear boundary conditions. The PDEs themselves are self-consistently specified by parameters which are functions of the boundary values of the solution. The moment equations can be stiff in space and time. Numerical methods are presented here for efficiently and accurately solving these moment equations. The essential ingredients in our numerical methods include: (i) the system is discretized in time with an implicit Euler method within a spectral deferred correction framework, therefore, the PDEs of the kinetic theory are reduced to a sequence, in time, of boundary value problems (BVPs) with nonlinear boundary conditions; (ii) a set of auxiliary parameters is introduced to recast the original BVP with nonlinear boundary conditions as BVPs with linear boundary conditions - with additional algebraic constraints on the auxiliary parameters; (iii) a careful combination of two Newton's iterates for the nonlinear BVP with linear boundary condition, interlaced with a Newton's iterate for solving the associated algebraic constraints is constructed to achieve quadratic convergence for obtaining the solutions with self-consistent parameters. It is shown that a simple fixed-point iteration can only achieve a linear convergence for the self-consistent parameters. The practicability and efficiency of our numerical methods for solving the moment equations of the kinetic theory are illustrated with numerical examples. It is further demonstrated that the moment equations derived from the kinetic theory of neuronal network dynamics can very well capture the coarse-grained dynamical properties of integrate-and-fire neuronal networks.
Perspectives on education and training in clinical psychology: integrating reactions.

Reacting to the conceptual matrix of C.R. Snyder and T.R. Elliott as described in their article, “Twenty-First Century Graduate Education in Clinical Psychology: A Four Level Matrix Model” (this issue), a perspective is provided through the roles of a clinical training director and a clinical child and pediatric psychologist. Changing the direction of clinical psychology is complicated but the subfield of pediatric psychology demonstrates how such changes can be integrated with a focus on healthy development and promotion of strengths, on policy and public health concerns, and on program evaluation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol.
Alliances among community colleges: Odd bedfellows or lasting partners?

This chapter discusses the experiences of five two-year colleges that formed a statewide alliance. It details how the motivation for joining the alliance varied among the college leaders and describes the challenges the partners faced.
Theory of anisotropic growth rates in the ordering of an f.c.c. alloy

Abstract A multiple-order-parameter theory of ordering on a binary face-centred-cubic (f.c.c.) crystal lattice is used to model diffuse interphase boundaries and provide expressions for the anisotropy of the kinetic coefficient that characterizes the speed of the order–disorder boundary. The anisotropy is varied parametrically with the ratio of two gradient energy coefficients. In contrast to the results from single-order-parameter theories, the orientation dependence of the kinetic coefficient differs significantly from that of the surface energy. Although the interfacial free energy anisotropy from this model is not strong enough to eliminate any orientations in the (three-dimensional) equilibrium shapes, the kinetic coefficient is sufficiently anisotropic to eliminate some orientations during growth. The long-time kinetic growth shapes show the development of edges and corners in a definite sequence as the anisotropy increases.
Awareness of biologically confirmed HCV among a community residing sample of drug users in Baltimore City.

The present study sought to examine: (1) the prevalence and correlates of biologically confirmed Hepatitis C (HCV) and (2) the prevalence and correlates of prior HCV diagnosis and an unmet need for HCV treatment, among a community residing sample of drug users. The current study used a subset of HCV tested participants from the larger NEURO-HIV Epidemiologic Study from Baltimore, Maryland (Mage = 34.81, SD = 9.25; 46 % female). All participants were tested for HCV at baseline. Self-report was used to assess awareness of an HCV diagnosis and participation in treatment. Of the 782 participants tested for HCV, 19 % reported having received an HCV diagnosis in the past while 48 % tested positive for HCV. Only 6 % reported having received treatment for any form of hepatitis. Of those who tested HCV positive, 63 % reported never being diagnosed, and only 13 % received any treatment for HCV. We found that only 35 % of those who reported a prior HCV diagnosis received any treatment. The findings regarding lack of HCV awareness and diagnosis were considerable as expected. These deficits suggest that there are numerous gaps in patients’ knowledge and beliefs regarding HCV that may interfere at multiple steps along the path from diagnosis to treatment. This study clearly demonstrates that a critical need exists to improve public knowledge of HCV risk factors, the need for testing, and the availability of effective treatment.