cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Function and disability in late life: comparison of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument to the Short-Form-36 and the London Handicap Scale

Purpose: We evaluated the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument's (LLFDI) concurrent validity, comprehensiveness and precision by comparing it with the Short-Form-36 physical functioning (PF-10) and the London Handicap Scale (LHS).Methods: We administered the LLFDI, PF-10 and LHS to 75 community-dwelling adults (> 60 years of age). We used Pearson correlation coefficients to examine concurrent validity and Rasch analysis to compare the item hierarchies, content ranges and precision of the PF-10 and LLFDI function domains, and the LHS and the LLFDI disability domains.Results: LLFDI Function (lower extremity scales) and PF-10 scores were highly correlated (r = 0.74 − 0.86, p > 0.001); moderate correlations were found between the LHS and the LLFDI Disability limitation (r = 0.66, p < 0.0001) and Disability frequency (r = 0.47, p < 0.001) scores. The LLFDI had a wider range of content coverage, less ceiling effects and better relative precision across the spectrum of function and disability than the PF...
Invention and Innovation: A Case Study in Metals

We explore an improved method for the measurement of innovation and innovative activity across long life-cycles especially where patentable technology plays a part in the innovation. In a previous publication we were able to distinguish four stages of a long life cycle. In this article we examine whether the patent life cycle and the production activity life cycle are related. Two conventional schools of thought commonly exist in reference to measurement of technical innovation, one suggesting the use of patents as the best indicator of innovative activity, and the other recommending alternative means, not using patent data. This article proposes a novel method of measurement utilizing yearly patent counts. A model was developed using nine metals whose yearly production activity was correlated with patent counts associated with the same materials. This correlated data was then entered into best-fit equations to obtain fitted patent and activity life cycle curves. Differences in the origins of these fitted curves were interpreted as lags of time in the life cycle of the patent or activity thus allowing for comparisons between patents and innovation activity. The behavior of the number of patents with time was found to be similar to production growth, making patents a measure and representation of technical innovation. In conclusion we were able to categorize the metals into three groups. Group 1, containing nickel and chromium, are metals whose patent activity is driving their production. Group 2, containing aluminum, zinc and copper, are metals in which production is driving the patenting. Group 3, which is composed of the Stage IV metals iron, manganese, molybdenum and tungsten, represents materials that have no current innovative activity that can be measured or correlated to the patent activity. The results suggest a fertile field of future research extending the initial pattern equation model to include R&D, Patents, and Performance, as well as Sales, as innovation activity. Further, the model shows promise for the analysis and assessment of existing and future industrial technology life cycles involving materials, processes, products, software and service innovations.
The ROCSAT-3/COSMIC mission and applications of GPS radio occultation data to weather and climate

The atmospheric limb sounding technique based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) has been shown to be accurate and of very high vertical resolution. The fact that the GPS radio occultation (RO) technique is not affected by clouds or precipitation, has no instrument drift, and requires no calibration makes it ideally suited for climate monitoring and global weather prediction. The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (ROCSAT-3/COSMIC) mission will be launched in late 2005, and will provide ~2,500 GPS radio occultation soundings per day to support operational weather prediction, climate analysis, and ionospheric research. Other radio occultation missions are expected to coincide with COSMIC promising additional data. In this paper, we provide status overview of the COSMIC mission, describe its science goals, and review selected GPS RO studies that are relevant to weather prediction and climate analysis.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Theory and Applications of the Minimum Spanning Tree Rank Histogram

Abstract A minimum spanning tree (MST) rank histogram (RH) is a multidimensional ensemble reliability verification tool. The construction of debiased, decorrelated, and covariance-homogenized MST RHs is described. Experiments using Euclidean L2, variance, and Mahalanobis norms imply that, unless the number of ensemble members is less than or equal to the number of dimensions being verified, the Mahalanobis norm transforms the problem into a space where ensemble imperfections are most readily identified. Short-Range Ensemble Forecast Mahalanobis-normed MST RHs for a cluster of northeastern U.S. cities show that forecasts of the temperature–humidity index are the most reliable of those considered, followed by mean sea level pressure, 2-m temperature, and 10-m wind speed forecasts. MST RHs of a Southwest city cluster illustrate that 2-m temperature forecasts are the most reliable weather component in this region, followed by mean sea level pressure, 10-m wind speed, and the temperature–humidity index. Foreca...
Immunotherapy in asthma

Abstract Since both allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis are inflammatory respiratory responses, study of a nasal challenge model should help elucidate mediator release in the allergic diathesis of the lower airway. Total allergen load and "priming" are significant factors in nasal and bronchial reactivity. In IgE-mediated allergic reactions, an immediate early response is followed by a delayed response, with symptoms persisting after exposure to the allergen. With immunotherapy, IgG titers rise, and the clinical response reflects a balance between the protective IgG response and the IgE-mediated allergic response. In the model studied, mast cell activation and mediator release correlated with the onset of early-phase allergic symptoms. By reducing the magnitude of mediator release and the severity of symptoms, immunotherapy may be used along with environmental controls and pharmacologic therapy to "turn off" the allergic reaction.
The Hardy-Weinberg principle and its applications in modern population genetics

The discovery of the Hardy-Weinberg principle marked the beginning of the field of population genetics. Over the past hundred years, it has provided a starting point for many population genetic investigations. In this review, the Hardy-Weinberg principle, its statistical testing, and several of its applications in various modern population genetic research areas, including allelic variability and selection in the human leukocyte antigen region, microsatellite genotyping error detection, and accuracy of haplotype estimation, are discussed.
Revisiting risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Do we need to start from scratch?

t t i b t c t While the majority of those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) will remain asymptomatic, a significant subset will suffer the devastating complication of sudden cardiac death (SCD). It is difficult to disagree with the notion that implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is warranted for secondary prevention after cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia in HCM, but the implantation of an ICD for primary prevention is more controversial as a result of competing risks. Rigorous prediction of the risk of SCD remains the major challenge for those caring for individuals or families with HCM. A number of factors have been associated with the risk of SCD in observational studies and adopted for clinical use through consensus. These include (1) family history of CM-related SCD, (2) history of unexplained syncope, (3) eft ventricular wall thickness 30 mm, (4) nonsustained entricular tachycardia on ambulatory Holter electrocardioram, and (5) a hypotensive or attenuated blood pressure esponse to exercise. These risk markers have a reasonable negative predictive value (approximately 90%) in typical probands, but their positive predictive value is relatively low (in the range of 15%–20%) even in typical clinical cohorts. The majority of patients with HCM will fall into an intermediate group where the benefit of ICD remains unclear. Of note, appropriate ICD intervention rates do not iffer among patients with 1, 2, or 3 traditional risk factors, uggesting substantial confounding of current prediction odels. In sum, the present risk stratification algorithm offers no prospective quantitative estimate of SCD risk and is of little utility in the very subset of patients who would likely benefit most from ICD implantation. The failure of current risk stratification algorithms is firmly rooted in the fundamental biology of HCM. Studies of HCM risk to date have not included any rigorous data on relatedness. Probands, who have presented clinically, are not discriminated from asymptomatic family members detected on screening. The mode of entry to individual studies is often unclear, leading to the selection of individuals in
Tensor-Based Multiple Object Trajectory Indexing and Retrieval

This paper presents novel tensor-based object trajectory modelling techniques for simultaneous representation of multiple objects motion trajectories in a content based indexing and retrieval framework. Three different tensor decomposition techniques-PARAFAC, HOSVD and Multiple-SVD-are explored to achieve this goal with the aim of using a minimum set of coefficients and data-dependant bases. These tensor de-compositions have been applied to represent full as well as segmented trajectories. Our simulation results show that the PARAFAC-based representation provides higher compression ratio, superior precision-recallmetrics, and smaller query processing time compared to the other tensor-based approaches.
Mapping deep nested do-loop DSP algorithms to large scale FPGA array structures

Recently, FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) technology have made significant advances in both speed and capacity. Millions of logic gates are now available for reconfiguration programming. To fully exploit the potential of so many programmable devices, powerful design methodology must be developed. In this paper, we propose a novel systematic computer-aided design methodology that can efficiently implement deeply nested do-loop algorithms on a FPGA. Specifically, our design methodology maps the loop dependence graph onto a linear array of locally connected processing elements to exploit parallelism. Due to the regular structure of this linear array of processors, it can be easily implemented on a FPGA. While this method is based on conventional systolic array design methodology, our proposed approach exhibits two distinct features that contribute to its superior performance: 1) We developed a novel multiple-order dependence graph representation that is able to efficiently represent distinct, yet correct algorithm execution orders. 2) We developed new FPGA-specific architectural constraints during the mapping process. As such, FPGA implementations based on our approach will utilize much fewer lookup tables while achieving superior performance.
A Cognitive Approach to Brailling Errors.

This article analyzes a corpus of 1,600 brailling errors made by one expert braillist. It presents a testable model of braille writing and shows that the subject braillist stores standard braille contractions as part of the orthographic representation of words, rather than imposing contractions on a serially ordered string of letters.
Professional Orientation and Pluralistic Ignorance Among Jail Correctional Officers

Research about the attitudes and beliefs of correctional officers has historically been conducted in prison facilities while ignoring jail settings. This study contributes to our understanding of correctional officers by examining the perceptions of those who work in jails, specifically measuring professional orientations about counseling roles, punitiveness, corruption of authority by inmates, and social distance from inmates. The study also examines whether officers are accurate in estimating these same perceptions of their peers, a line of inquiry that has been relatively ignored. Findings indicate that the sample was concerned about various aspects of their job and the management of inmates. Specifically, officers were uncertain about adopting counseling roles, were somewhat punitive, and were concerned both with maintaining social distance from inmates and with an inmate's ability to corrupt their authority. Officers also misperceived the professional orientation of their fellow officers and assumed their peer group to be less progressive than they actually were.
Why Bother? Measuring Economic Rights: The Research Agenda

Measuring human rights is a complex challenge—particularly economic rights, which are by definition “progressively realized” (hence, must be measured over time) and are often conflated with measures of economic development. This article provides an overview of contemporary scholarly and policy efforts at measuring economic rights. It argues for an approach that captures both policy performance and the process by which economic rights can be realized in different societies, over time. Drawing on the author's own research with grassroots economic rights advocates, the article also highlights the political imperative of more effectively measuring such rights.
Controversies in the management of atypical hyperplasia: Conservative management vs. simple hysterectomy

Objective: Review the status of diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia. Discuss therapeutic options based on recently prospective pathologic studies. Research: Review recent prospective histopathology studies of atypical endometrial hyperplasia. Discuss recent advances in treatment of atypical endometrial hyperplasia. Review pretreatment imaging studies and their impact on treatment decision-making. Results: The diagnosis of atypical endometrial hyperplasia by endometrial biopsy is associated with a higher-than-expected incidence of invasive adenocarcinoma in hysterectomy specimens. This calls into question the safety of conservative therapy. Newer imaging studies and improved pathologic diagnosis may help to identify patients eligible for conservative therapy. Conclusions: Atypical endometrial hyperplasia is typically associated with invasive endometrial adenocarcinoma. Adequate sampling and expert pathological review may be helpful. Further research and clinical trials will answer the question of optimal treatment of atypical endometrial hyperplasia for those patients who desire preservation of fertility.
Rheological characterization of asphalt in a temperature-gradient combinatorial squeeze-flow setup

A new technique for parallel rheological characterization of asphalt in a combinatorial squeeze-flow array is described. The basis of the technique is a device that is capable of subjecting multiple samples simultaneously to constant volume (Type B) squeeze flow with application of a temperature gradient. The time-dependent sample dimensions, which are calculated from digital images taken through the transparent top plate, are used to derive the flow curves. The results obtained using the combinatorial setup compared favorably with those obtained using conventional parallel-plate torsional flow in a commercial rheometer. With the existing setup, the accessible shear rate range is limited to about one decade at a single temperature.
Implementing Quality Improvement Programs Designed to Enhance Customer Satisfaction: Quasi-Experiments in the United States and Spain

Abstract A multinational firm uses sophisticated, state-of-the-art methods to design and implement customer satisfaction improvement programs in the United States and Spain. Quasi-experimental analysis reveals a complex and surprising picture that highlights (1) implementation issues (empowerment), (2) a construct of residual satisfaction not captured by customer needs, and (3) the managerial need for combining nonequivalent controls and nonequivalent dependent variables.
Toward an Evolutionary Psychology of the Family

Kinship has been central to evolutionary biological analyses of social behavior since Hamilton (1964) extended the concept of Darwinian fi tness to include an individual’s actions that benefi t not only direct descendents but also collateral kin. No longer were organisms simply reproductive strategists, they also were nepotistic strategists. This concept revolutionized how biologists understand social interaction and infl uence. This chapter provides an overview of some of the ways evolutionary psychologists see humans as nepotistic strategists, introducing concepts that will be important to understanding the chapters on animal and human kinship to follow.
Effectiveness of perioperative bupivacaine infiltration in tonsillectomy patients.

Abstract Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of perioperative local anesthesia in tonsillectomy patients. Design: Two-group prospective, blinded, randomized study. Patients in one group received a local infiltration of 10 mL 0.5% bupivacaine solution, and in the other group they were infiltrated with 10 mL of normal saline. Results: Thirty-four adults agreed to participate in the study over a 2-year period, with 20 patients returning completed questionnaire forms. Regarding pain intensity over a 10-day period, oral analgesic use after surgery, and oral intake after surgery, there were no differences between the two groups, with P values of.25,.32, and.34, respectively. Conclusion: The effect of perioperative local marcain infiltration in tonsillectomy patients was similar to placebo. (Am J Otolaryngol 2002;23:76-80. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.)
Narrowband interference rejection using small FFT block sizes

The performance of fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based excision processing (suppression of narrowband interference collocated in frequency with direct-sequence spread-spectrum signals) using block sizes which have time durations less than a bit time is examined. The FFT block size is chosen to provide frequency resolution consistent with the interference environment, and it is smaller than the number of samples taken during the data bit period. This technique is favorable in situations where the interference is sparse and the processing gains are large. Rectangular windowing with nonoverlapped processing and Hann and Hamming windowing with 50% overlapped processing are compared. Results for single continuous wave interference signals at jammer-to-signal ratios of 0 to 100 dB are presented. The performance for this method of processing is comparable to that for systems where the block size is coincident with the data bit duration, but the processing load has been reduced. >
The membranous parts of the brain, meninges and their blood vessels in Amblystoma

The meninges, endolymphatic organs, and membranous parts of the brain of adult A. Tigrinum have been examined microscopically and the realted blood vessels are described in detail.
A system for improving distance and large-scale classes

The emergence of large-scale classes and distance education has created problems that cannot be adequately addressed by the traditional student-teacher based model of interaction. Students in large-scale classes and distance education environments do not receive the same kind of interaction with the instructor they may have received in smaller, more traditional classroom settings. Our experiences have resulted in "lessons learned" and solutions that address issues that arise in distance and large-scale education. This paper presents these solutions and an in-progress system that facilitates the interaction and information flow of students, raters, and instructors.
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Mupirocin in the Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease

Seventy-six human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage were randomized to treatment groups receiving intranasal mupirocin or placebo twice daily for 5 days. Nasal cultures for S. aureus were obtained at 1, 2, 6, and 10 weeks after therapy. At 1 week, 88% of mupirocin-treated patients had negative nasal cultures compared with 8% in placebo patients (P<.001). The percentage of mupirocin-treated patients with persistently negative nasal cultures decreased over time (63%, 45%, and 29% at 2, 6, and 10 weeks, respectively) but remained significantly greater than the placebo group (3% at 2, 6, and 10 weeks). In mupirocin-treated patients, most (16/19) instances of nasal recolonization were with pretreatment strains (determined by means of by pulsed field gel electrophoresis); mupirocin resistance was not observed. Five days of treatment with mupirocin eliminated S. aureus nasal carriage in HIV-infected patients for several weeks; however, since the effect waned over time, intermittent dosing regimens should be considered for long-term eradication.
In vitro enamel effects of a resin-modified glass ionomer: fluoride uptake and resistance to demineralization.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro effects of a resin-modified glass-ionomer restorative material on human enamel. Methoeh: Enamel specimens were restored with PhotacFil, a resin-modified glass ionomer; Ketac-Fil, an autopolymerizing glass ionomer and silver amalgam. The samples were pH cycled and then subjected to an artificial caries challenge. Specimens were evaluated by fluoride microdrill biopsy and quantitative microradiography at 1, 2, and 3 mm J~om restorations. Data on fluoride content, lesion depth, and mineral content were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, Student’s t test, Neuman-Keuls procedure (multiple [pairwise] comparison), and Pearson’s product-moment correlation tests. Results: There were significant differences in fluoride uptake, lesion depth, and mineral density between groups. Significant correlational relationships were also determined. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Photac-Fil and Ketac-Fil prevent in-vitro demineralization of enamel and suggests different mechanisms of action for each material. (Pediatr Dent 20:411-417, 1998)
The Evidence-Based Safety of Pediatric Regional Anesthesia and Complications

In the first edition of “Complications in Regional Anesthesia,” Broadman 1 produced a chapter that essentially reported a synopsis of all of the complications that were available at that time in the English-language literature that were associated with the placement of regional blocks in infants and children, and the limited safety record associated with caudal block placements. The caudal block safety record was based on three moderately sized series, 750–7800 blocks, which had been safely performed by anesthesiologists that are now recognized authorities in the field of pediatric regional anesthesia. 2, 3, 4 All of the potential problems or complications associated with the placement of regional anesthesia blocks at the time of the first writing were unfortunately derived from single case reports.
Somos Mexicanos y Hablamos Mexicano Aquí: Rural Farmworker Families Struggle to Maintain Cultural and Linguistic Identity in Michigan

This article presents the narratives centered on intergenerational linguistic and cultural transmission for three farmworker families. It does so through the analysis of personal narratives provided by three families in rural Michigan, which were collected over a five-year span. The participants discuss the sociocultural significance of maintaining their heritage language (HL) despite the dominant society's attempts to supplant their community's language with English. From their descriptions it is clear that Spanish is both a linguistic and cultural marker of group membership and cultural identity and a way to communicate home pedagogies. It is through this HL that intergenerational knowledge is transmitted to assist younger generations in maintaining strong relationships with their ethnic community while developing relationships with the surrounding Anglo-American community. Families utilize home pedagogies to empower youth and sustain networks with other regional HL communities.
Fringe Area Sewerage Problems

The paper reviews the problems and some of the means of solving fringe area sewerage problems. In the discussion the relative merits of septic tanks, package plants, and oxidation ponds are considered from the standpoint of construction and operation.
Children hospitalized with lower extremity fractures in the United States in 2006: A population-based approach

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic and hospitalization characteristics of children hospitalized with lower extremity fractures in the United States in 2006. METHODS: Children aged 0 to 20 years with a diagnosis of lower extremity fracture in the 2006 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) were included. Lower extremity fractures were defined by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes 820-829 under "Injury and Poisoning (800-999)." Patient demographic and hospitalization-related data were analyzed by chi-square testing and unbalanced analysis of variance. RESULTS: There were more boys than girls with lower extremity fractures and 53% had private insurance as their primary payer. About one half of the children were between the ages of 13 and 20 years, but all ages were represented from age 0 to 20. White children accounted for 56%. Urban hospitalizations accounted for 93% of cases and 66 percent of admissions were to teaching hospitals. All patients had an average length of stay (LOS) 4.04 days, and infant patients had the longest average LOS of 5.46 days. The average number of diagnoses per patient was 3.07, and the average number of procedures per patient was 2.21. The average charge per discharge was $35,236, and the oldest patients had the largest average charge of $41,907. The average number of comorbidities increased with increasing patient age. There was a 55.6% greater mortality risk in non-teaching hospitals than in teaching hospitals and there was at least ten times the mortality risk in rural hospitals than in urban hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an understanding of the demographic and hospitalization characteristics of children with lower extremity fractures in the United States in 2006. This information may be useful in implementing measures to help prevent similar injuries in the future. Further research is required to determine causality of the associations found including increased mortality risk for this population at rural and non-teaching hospitals. Language: en
Science for All: Historical Perspectives on Policy for Science Education Reform

Tracing more than a hundred years of US policies aimed at extending equitable science education opportunities to all students, In this chapter, I describe the many factors that have shaped those policies and influenced their implementation and outcomes. Beginning with an early twentieth century focus on the practical and civic benefits of science education, especially as a tool for helping to assimilate large numbers of new immigrants, science education policy has been shaped by a changing set of imperatives such as the need for a highly trained scientific workforce during World War II and the Cold War and a push toward racial equality during the Civil Rights era. In this chapter, I distill some lessons from these and other key periods in US history when science education was in the foreground and describe the tensions between the educational ideals of a democratic society and the practical demands of economic growth and national security.
Möbius invariant besov p-spaces and hankel operators in the bergman space on the ball in C n

In this paper, we extend the ddinition of Besov p-spaces to higher dimensions. We characterize these spaces and solve a conjecture given by Zhu. We also prove that for n ≥ 2, the Schatten ideal S p of the Bergman space on the unit ball in C n contains nonzero Hankel operators with antiholomorphic symbols if and only if p>2n.
Does Prior Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement Compromise Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes

Abstract Background Open and arthroscopic approaches have been described to address femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Despite good outcomes, there is a subset of patients who subsequently require total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, there is a paucity of data on the outcomes of THA after surgery for FAI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether clinical outcomes of THA are affected by prior open or arthroscopic treatment of FAI. Methods This case-matched retrospective review included 23 patients (24 hips) that underwent THA after previous surgery for FAI (14 arthroscopic and 10 open) and compared them to 24 matched controls with no history of prior surgery on the operative hip. The controls were matched for age, sex, surgical approach, implants used, and preoperative modified Harris hip score (mHHS) did not differ between groups. The primary outcome measure was the mHHS. Operative time, blood loss, and the presence of heterotopic ossification after THA were also compared between groups. Results There was no significant difference in mean mHHS between the FAI treatment group 92.9 ± 12.7 and controls 95.2 ± 6.6 ( P = .43) at a mean follow-up after THA of 33 (24-70) months. Increased operative times were noted for THA after surgical hip dislocation (SHD; mean 109.3 ± 29.8) compared to controls (mean 88.0 ± 24.2; P P Conclusions Clinical outcomes after THA are not affected by prior open or arthroscopic procedures for FAI. However, increased operative times and an increased risk of heterotopic ossification were noted after SHD.
Multi-Resolution Global Population Model for Overflight Risk Analyses

In 2003, RTI International selected the LandScan 2002 Global Population Database, distributed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as a consistent and reliable source for population count distributions needed to estimate overflight risks. Oak Ridge National Laboratory provided raw LandScan 2002 data in packed binary files, which were large and incompatible with RTI International risk estimation software. To ensure compatibility and reduce storage requirements, RTI International developed a process to convert the packed binary files into Environmental Systems Research Institute’s ArcView shapefile format, and reorganize the data into multi-resolution coverage population tiles. This paper presents the methodology used to accomplish these processing steps. The resulting multi-resolution population coverage preserves resolution in areas with high population density and along coastlines, while dramatically reducing computational effort and storage requirements. This methodology gracefully solves the data intensive problem of building a population model while providing simple, easy to comprehend graphics depicting population data on a geographical display.
Chemical and Bacterial Inhibition of Gas Formation in Bacterial Cultures

Inhibitory influences, chemical and bacterial, on the production of gas by bacteria have been noticed by few investigators. Pakes and Jollyman1 found that sodium nitrate has a suppressing effect on the generation of gas from sodium formate by B. coli-communis, B. enteritidis Gdirtner and the pneumobacillus of Friedlander. Herter2 noticed that sodium benzoate added to nutrient broth inhibits the evolution of
Detectability of change in winter precipitation within mountain landscapes: Spatial patterns and uncertainty

Detecting long-term change in seasonal precipitation using ground observations is dependent on the representativity of the point measurement to the surrounding landscape. In mountainous regions, representativity can be poor and lead to large uncertainties in precipitation estimates at high elevations or in areas where observations are sparse. If the uncertainty in the estimate is large compared to the long-term shifts in precipitation, then the change will likely go undetected. In this analysis, we examine the minimum detectable change across mountainous terrain in western Montana, USA. We ask the question: What is the minimum amount of change that is necessary to be detected using our best estimates of precipitation in complex terrain? We evaluate the spatial uncertainty in the precipitation estimates by conditioning historic regional climate model simulations to ground observations using Bayesian inference. By using this uncertainty as a null hypothesis, we test for detectability across the study region. To provide context for the detectability calculations, we look at a range of future scenarios from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) multimodel ensemble downscaled to 4 km resolution using the MACAv2-METDATA data set. When using the ensemble averages we find that approximately 65% of the significant increases in winter precipitation go undetected at midelevations. At high elevation, approximately 75% of significant increases in winter precipitation are undetectable. Areas where change can be detected are largely controlled by topographic features. Elevation and aspect are key characteristics that determine whether or not changes in winter precipitation can be detected. Furthermore, we find that undetected increases in winter precipitation at high elevation will likely remain as snow under climate change scenarios. Therefore, there is potential for these areas to offset snowpack loss at lower elevations and confound the effects of climate change on water resources.
Congenital and Hereditary Diseases of the Spinal Cord

Congenital anomalies of the spinal cord can pose a diagnostic dilemma to the radiologist. Several classification systems of these anomalies exist. Antenatal ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging is playing an increasingly important role in the early diagnosis and management of patients. Understanding the underlying anatomy as well as embryology of these disorders can be valuable in correctly identifying the type of spinal cord dysraphic defect. Hereditary spinal cord diseases are rare but can be devastating. When the onset is in adulthood, delay in diagnosis is common. Although the spine findings are nonspecific, some imaging features combined with brain imaging findings can be distinctive. Sometimes, the radiologist may be the first to raise the possibility of these disorders.
Levomilnacipran (Fetzima) for Major Depressive Disorder

Levomilnacipran should not be used in patients with mild to moderate depression until studies have proven its effectiveness. It is somewhat effective in patients with moderate to severe depression. The short-term adverse effect profile of levomilnacipran is similar to that of other SNRIs.
Sunlit Uplands: The Genius of the NICE Reference Case

The NICE reference case has received widespread acceptance in health technology assessment. The lifetime cost-per-QALY model and constructed claims for product impact have been widely emulated in country-specific guidelines for formulary submission as well as in publications in the leading health technology journals. Unfortunately, from the perspective of the standards of normal science, adherence to the reference case standard means that the claims made are typically non-evaluable. They have to be taken at face value. They may suggest potential evaluable hypotheses for clinical and cost-effectiveness claims, but there is no requirement in the reference case for claims to be put in an evaluable form and for manufacturers to suggest possible protocols for product impact assessment. This is not an acceptable situation. Absent the standards for falsification and replication, which are at the core of the scientific method, we have no idea whether the claims accepted by NICE are right or even if they are wrong. If we accept the reference case paradigm should we conclude that the sunlit uplands of formulary decisions based on non-evaluable simulated claims for cost-effectiveness has been reached? Have we rejected natural selection in favor of intelligent design? Conflict of Interest None Type: Commentary
Education: Accelerating the practice of engineering

Considers the course structure of engineering students at the Harvey Mudd College, Los Angeles. The author explains that the students must complete at least a third of their curricular programme in the humanities and social sciences, the aim being to `humanise' engineers. An integral part of this engineering course is the design engineering phase where teams of three or four undergraduates undertake professional design and development projects for industry and government, which helps in giving them an insight to industry.
Tarp-assisted cooling as a method of whole-body cooling in hyperthermic individuals

Study objective We investigated the efficacy of tarp-assisted cooling as a body cooling modality. Methods Participants exercised on a motorized treadmill in hot conditions (ambient temperature 39.5°C [103.1°F], SD 3.1°C [5.58°F]; relative humidity 38.1% [SD 6.7%]) until they reached exercise-induced hyperthermia. After exercise, participants were cooled with either partial immersion using a tarp-assisted cooling method (water temperature 9.20°C [48.56°F], SD 2.81°C [5.06°F]) or passive cooling in a climatic chamber. Results There were no differences in exercise duration (mean difference=0.10 minutes; 95% CI –5.98 to 6.17 minutes or end exercise rectal temperature (mean difference=0.10°C [0.18°F]; 95% CI –0.05°C to 0.25°C [–0.09°F to 0.45°F] between tarp-assisted cooling (48.47 minutes [SD 8.27 minutes]; rectal temperature 39.73°C [103.51°F], SD 0.27°C [0.49°F]) and passive cooling (48.37 minutes [SD 7.10 minutes]; 39.63°C [103.33°F], SD 0.40°C [0.72°F]). Cooling time to rectal temperature 38.25°C (100.85°F) was significantly faster in tarp-assisted cooling (10.30 minutes [SD 1.33 minutes]) than passive cooling (42.78 [SD 5.87 minutes]). Cooling rates for tarp-assisted cooling and passive cooling were 0.17°C/min (0.31°F/min), SD 0.07°C/min (0.13°F/min) and 0.04°C/min (0.07°F/min), SD 0.01°C/min (0.02°F/min), respectively (mean difference=0.13°C [0.23°F]; 95% CI 0.09°C to 0.17°C [0.16°F to 0.31°F]. No sex differences were observed in tarp-assisted cooling rates (men 0.17°C/min [0.31°F/min], SD 0.07°C/min [0.13°F/min]; women 0.16°C/min [0.29°F/min], SD 0.07°C/min [0.13°F/min]; mean difference=0.02°C/min [0.04°F/min]; 95% CI –0.06°C/min to 0.10°C/min [–0.11°F/min to 0.18°F/min]). Women (0.04°C/min [0.07°F/min], SD 0.01°C/min [0.02°F/min]) had greater cooling rates than men (0.03°C/min [0.05°F/min], SD 0.01°C/min [0.02°F/min]) in passive cooling, with negligible clinical effect (mean difference=0.01°C/min [0.02°F/min]; 95% CI 0.001°C/min to 0.024°C/min [0.002°F/min to 0.04°F/min]). Body mass was moderately negatively correlated with the cooling rate in passive cooling ( r =–0.580) but not in tarp-assisted cooling ( r =–0.206). Conclusion In the absence of a stationary cooling method such as cold-water immersion, tarp-assisted cooling can serve as an alternative, field-expedient method to provide on-site cooling with a satisfactory cooling rate.
Relative efficacy of tranexamic acid and preoperative anemia treatment for reducing transfusions in total joint arthroplasty

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a perioperative blood management (PBM) protocol at a large, tertiary hospital at reducing blood transfusions after total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA or TKA). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective review of the PBM for patients undergoing THA or TKA was performed. Adjusted multiple logistic and Poisson regression models examined the effect of patient characteristics and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors on the likelihood of transfusion and units transfused. RESULTS Of 883 study patients, 330 (37.4%) had surgery before PBM protocol implementation and served as the control population while 553 (62.6%) were eligible for the protocol. Having a higher preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) was independently associated with a decreased odds of transfusion (odds ratio [OR], 0.480; p < 0.001). Preoperative treatment for anemia (88 [15.9%] patients) did result in a significant, yet modest, increase in preoperative Hb (11.92 g/dL to 12.35 g/dL; p < 0.001) but treatment was not a significant predictor of transfusion. Receiving intraoperative tranexamic acid (TXA; 204 [36.9%] patients) had the greatest effect in reducing the odds of transfusion (OR, 0.289; p < 0.001) and the number of units transfused (-0.6; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION Having a decreased Hb was shown to be an independent risk factor both for requiring a perioperative blood transfusion and for the volume of transfusion. The very modest increase in Hb achieved by the costly and time-consuming preoperative anemia optimization program, however, may not be justified when the use of intraoperative TXA led to drastic reductions in both transfusions and transfusion volumes.
Quantitative EEG for Non-seizure Indications

Detection of pathological changes in the brain’s “background” activity plays a key role in optimal management of several common conditions in the neurological intensive care unit (neuro ICU). Important applications include monitoring for delayed ischemia in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), monitoring for recovery following anoxic brain injury, monitoring for signs of secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI), monitoring the depth of pharmacologically induced coma in patients undergoing treatment for refractory status epilepticus (SE), and evaluating cerebral metabolism with deep hypothermia during surgery. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) plays a key role in each of these applications, as a technology that enables more effective visualization of the relevant EEG features than is possible with conventional visual analysis used in isolation. In this chapter, each of these applications will be reviewed.
An active Thevenin equivalent circuit approach to problems with non-linear circuit loads

The analysis of electromagnetic coupling in nonlinear circuits requires a bidirectional, fully consistent approach. Nonlinear responses of semiconductor devices in electronic circuit components can change the impedances seen at circuit nodes, changing the boundary conditions encountered by impressed electromagnetic fields, and thus changing the characteristics of the energy coupled from these external fields into that circuit. It is important to include the coupling in the circuit simulation self-consistently because this allows us to accurately predict the responses to various EMI/EMC problems of interest. It is also important to predict circuit responses efficiently because that opens the door to statistical applications for the technique being used. In this paper, we review a technique that we have developed called ATHENA (A THevenin Equivalent Network Approach). This approach is shown to be quite robust in that it is computationally efficient, it can be implemented in a variety of commonly available circuit solving codes, it already includes a few additional techniques required to enhance its implementation in those codes, and it is quite accurate.
Effects of chlorpyrifos and trichloropyridinol on HEK 293 human embryonic kidney cells

Abstract Chlorpyrifos (CPF) [O, O-diethyl - O -3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate] is an organophosphate insecticide widely used for agricultural and urban pest control. Trichloropyridinol (TCP; 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol), the primary metabolite of CPF, is often used as a generic biomarker of exposure for CPF and related compounds. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells were exposed to CPF and TCP with varying concentrations and exposure periods. Cell cultures enable the cost-effective study of specific biomarkers to help determine toxicity pathways to predict the effects of chemical exposures without relying on whole animals. Both CPF and TCP were found to induce cytotoxic effects with CPF being more toxic than TCP with EC 50 values of 68.82 μg/mL and 146.87 μg·ml −1 respectively. Cell flow cytometric analyses revealed that exposure to either CPF or TCP leads to an initial burst of apoptotic induction followed by a slow recruitment of cells leading towards further apoptosis. CPF produced a strong induction of IL6, while TCP exposure resulted in a strong induction of IL1α. Importantly, the concentrations of CPF and TCP required for these cytokine inductions were higher than those required to induce apoptosis. These data suggest CPF and TCP are cytotoxic to HEK 293 cells but that the mechanism may not be related to an inflammatory response. CPF and TCP also varied in their effects on the HEK 293 proteome with 5 unique proteins detected after exposure to CPF and 31 unique proteins after TCP exposure.
Trainee social justice advocacy: investigating the roles of training factors and multicultural competence

Theoretical research asserts that social justice advocacy (SJA) represents an extension of multicultural competence (MC). However, limited empirical literature examines if and how SJA manifests and...
An Exact Discretization of a Lax Equation for Shock Clustering and Burgers Turbulence I: Dynamical Aspects and Exact Solvability

We consider a finite dimensional system which arises as an exact discretization of the Lax equation for shock clustering, which describes the evolution of the generator of a Markov process with a finite number of states. The spectral curve of the system is a nodal curve which is fully reducible. In this work, we will show that the flow is conjugate to a straight line motion, and we will also show that the equation is exactly solvable. En route, we will establish a dictionary between an open, dense set of the lower triangular infinitesimal generator matrices and an associated set of algebro-geometric data.
The Morphology of Crystalline Synthetic Polymers

Crystalline organic high polymers in their solid state have very complex morphologies. This is due to the chainlike nature of their constituent molecules, which leads to crystallization behavior and morphologies that are in most aspects only rarely encountered in more traditional “small molecule” solids, and in other aspects are unique to polymers. Moreover, this chainlike nature leads to a wealth of phenomena and a rich diversity of morphological behavior that is, on the one hand, a boon to the experimentalist, for it provides an almost endless source of study, and, on the other hand, a source of despair for those who, like ourselves, attempt to summarize the behavior of these materials. There is a real danger that too great a preoccupation with the details of the morphology of one or two individual polymers will both obscure important aspects of behavior common to all polymers and also mislead the reader into perceiving a simplicity that in fact does not exist.